"I Wrote This For You"

This speaks to me:

You think you’re waiting for help.For someone to tell you what the right thing to do is.Even though, at the back of your mind, you already know what that is. So all you’re really waiting for, is a time when you’re forced to do it.

Last week-or the week before, Georgia made an amazing post on "It's just how I see things" you should see it. And you should read it. Very inspiring and colorful and uplifting!

 

here  

“Heartache just stretches
the boundaries of your heart.
I’ll fill it for you.”

— Daily Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson.

here 

I hate to send you bad vibes. I do. But, things have been going worse for me...I am trying to look up..I am. 

But I keep going further down.

My boyfriend is performing with his band at the SOS music festival! And I can't wait. I am so proud of him. But my heart is not happy. I hope no one else knows how that feels, because it's an ugly feeling. I refuse to believe, though that this world is not a beautiful place. It is a beautiful place. And it has some amazing people. 

My father wrote me a letter, and I am waiting for it to reach me. I expect it to be here by Friday, which is kind of scary, it's all about Mohammed. How cool is my dad anyway? He wrote me a letter!!

Unfinished Business..

• Award: 
  

I was given the “Queen of all things Awe-summm!” award by the AMAZING chick named Hermia!:

 

1. List seven things that make you awe-summm!!!
2. Pass the award on to 7 bloggers.
3. Tag those 7 bloggers.
4. Don’t forget to link the Queen that tagged us.
5. Copy the picture and put it into your sidebar.

Seven things… 

1. I love books and I love to write, I wanted to be a genetic engineer, I ended up with an Economics degree. 
2. I am the eldest of 3 girls and a boy and I love taking them out (I am also the shortest of the 3 girls) also, from my dad's side I have 16 cousins, 5 aunts (one passed away) and 2 uncles. Yay for big families! You should see our gatherings; crazy! 
3. I can be insanely hesitant, or very impulsive. Sometimes both, the hesitancy triggers the impulsiveness.  
4. I am very left handed. I mean it. I have the coordination of a three year old when using my right hand.

5. I can spend HOURS at the bookstore. I feel secure and at home when amongst books.
6. I have the awesome-est boyfriend in the world. And he can sing amazingly.
7. I am very short. 153cm and I have tiny feet..size 36 (you can use a converter to figure that out).

I now award this to the following bloggers…
1. Georgia! I tagged her profile because I couldn't decide which blog I like best!
2.May from Letters from May 
3. Sara, because she just graduated.
4. Alissa from Grace's Birdcage :)
5. Belle
6. Shokoofeh
7. Anna from Little Reminders of Love.

• Announcing the giveaway winner! I decided on two people. Because I couldn't pick. Locuasia and Cait from in company with sparkles :) Please send me your address girls! [s.saye7 [at] gmail [dot] com]

I am sorry for telling some of you I had tagged them without actually publishing the post! *blushes*

Now I'll make a proper post!

Beauty...always

I am writing this as I talk to my sister; Shokoofeh, a very lovely person.
She asked me to smile
and be strong
and be happy

I am writing this when I am in doubt.

but she made me certain, that through the distance,
you can feel.
You can tell if someone is smiling- or not.
And ask them to smile.
And they do.
She asked.
I smiled.

Thank you, sweet girl.
Also, thank you for making me check this. 

And with the lines "you are my sweetest downfall" on repeat in my mind.

I want this song to be played at my wedding:

Like an apple on a tree
Hiding out behind the leaves
I was difficult to reach
But you picked me
Like a shell upon a beach
Just another pretty piece
I was difficult to see
But you picked me
Yeah you picked me

I miss you blog. I miss you all. I miss everyone I see daily. I have been distant. And emotional. Hormonal.

Do I have to mention how I feel about MJ's death?

On a lighter note! Remember my cousins? Jen and Pete are coming! On Thursday!!! I haven't seen them in 10 and 12 years respectively. I am so EXCITED!!!!

Family Tree

What do you call those who are your mother's cousin's children? Well not children, they are all grown men and women now... ladies and gents. Your great cousins?

You see, my great grandmother was Austrian (mother's side, her name was Marie) and my grandfather had one sister(Kathrine) who lives in England and one brother who lived in France (Tony). He also had one half brother, who lives in the US (Ahmed) and one half sister who lives here in Egypt.(Fathia)

 

here

My great-aunt, who lives in England has three children; two sons. One works in South Africa (Uncle Steve) and I get to see every now and then. And one has passed away(Uncle Douglas), and it saddens me to say that I have met him a few, counted times. And a daughter(Auntie Susan)

 

here

Uncle Douglas, had three children: One older son(Alex) and twins(Nikki and Peter) who are one year older than I am. I remember, when I was in the UK (probably 10 years ago) I used to color with Nikki and read with Pete, and teach them how to write their names in Arabic..I remember the ice cream truck. All very good, and very distant memories. If you could see the grown men and ladies they are now. You might understand how I am overwhelmed. Because, at one time, they were my favorite people to play with.

Auntie Susan has two children; Jen and Harry. Jen is five years younger and Harry is, I think, 13 now. Now, they have visited Egypt and we visited the Pharonic Village...This side of my family, I may not know very well but love so much because, they are related to my grandfather...and my grandfather, I love so much.

Uncle Steve is a development man. He has studies economics, and I kind of look up to him. I do. He has two children Matthew. And Aida, who I have yet to see, who is half Indian, 1/4 Egyptian 1/4 British and South African by nationality!

 

here

You ask me, why am I telling you this?

Because Facebook has reunited us! Alex and Peter have grown to be very hansome young men. Jennifer and Nicole have grown to be very beautiful young ladies. And, I, am still me...only a few curves added. (haha)

We Don't Celebrate Father's Day

so I decided I would celebrate my very own occasion: I resigned!!!!

 

here

You see, I figured this act, in iteself, is a luxury! It is one of my very first acts of independance too!

and Happy Summer!

This part of the post is dedicated to Shokoofeh, and the people of Iran;

here

Don't ever lose hope, it will be okay. Sooner than you realize.

Pray for them.

Silence, No More

I know I should've announced the giveaway winner on Tuesday...

I am not okay. Emotionally.

But! I am very happy for my sister!! My little sister! The one that has been there all my life. Or at least ever since I can remember (she's only 18 months younger) has graduated yesterday, with high honors. Because I love my sister. I think it's the love you get that makes you want to excel. Or maybe it's just me. She loves psychology so much. A lot.

My mind is thinking in fragments.

Work has been ugly, too.

My boyfriend and I have not been that great, as well.

I will make a proper post soon. One for my sister. And another for the giveaway (you can still comment and enter if you want). And another post, since I have been awarded.

An Almost Post

I almost bought my Hayek prints yesterday! (I haven't yet paid)... Does this make me silly? I mean, when someone asks me how old I am, I say "almost 22"... Just like when I was a kid, and being older was cool. "Almost 9". I still do that. And I refer to my boyfriend as "almost fiance" because, well we're not literally engaged yet.

here

On a professional level, I have verbally expressed my desire to resign (how professional does that sound!). I have made friends with the people here, but I can't say that I am happy, on the professional level. This is not the path that I want to take. Not at all. I wrote my resignation letter. 11th of July, I will be free. So, I guess I will be joining the consumer crowd again, till I find a spot among the producer people.

If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I feel ill I will double my labour.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
Today I will be the master of my emotions. Oq Mandino

here

What do you think you will remember during your last moments alive? See this video? It made me think. A lot.

And this is for me. and you. and everyone.

I am kind of lost.. or maybe it's me, imposing all this on myself, thinking the negative thoughts, and surrounding myself with negative energy..I also miss my boyfriend's presence. To know that he's not there just for the weekend, you know? It's a weird feeling, like he's here but not permanantly, so I have to be nice regardless of whether he's kept me waiting, for example, only because we don't have much time to spend together. Am I making sense?

I am listening to everyone's mellow music suggestions! Right now it's Azure Ray(thank you)...ah, I want peace of mind. Or lack of responsibility. Maybe my childhood back? I wouldn't mind

Mini-cocooning

here

Please make sure you check my giveaway post. Will announce a winner by..Tuesday!
Don't forget to include you email :)

I am trying to put my life together now..I am trying to figure it all out.

I am trying to be happy.

What are your dreams? And your favorite mellow song?

Forgot to Mention!

Massar Egbari performed yesterday; great band. Friends of Mohammed's. Will make a detailed post about them sometime. I have something in mind...posting about the underground bands here.

On Friday, I went to Prince Taz palace, to watch Nagham Masry perform.

New place added to places I have never been before. It was also my first time to the citadel yesterday!

Swine Flu at AUC?

My Real Imaginary Friend; An Introduction.

Yesterday I took part in this; the World Food Programme's "Walk the World" event in Egypt, at the Salah El-Din Citadel in Cairo. The very few steps I took, meant something, despite being (seeming) so insignificant.
And it was a glimpse, a very quick and sparkling glimpse, of what I want to do with my life: make a change. Or a difference, or both.

 

Mohammed Ali Mosque

And this brings me to what- or rather who- this post is about.
You see, I listen to Nile FM, religiously so, when I am on my way home. I started doing so because, it sometimes takes me well over an hour to get home, but it has turned into more than a habit. At 4 pm, there's a show with an amazing host; The Big Drive Home.

He cracks me up. He makes me smile. He makes me think. Wait a minute, it's just not me! He cracks ALL Cairo up, he makes everyone smile, and think, and enjoy their tedious drive home! I like to think of him as my real imaginary friend. Imaginary because we're not really friends and real because, well, he is a (great) person and he exists.

His name is Mohamed Safi. And he is so cool (Did I just sound like a 13 year old airhead?), he can do this:

He plays FreeRice with the listeners. Because, I guess, he cares. You should play to! It's fun. I promise (I provided the link so no excuses!)

And yesterday, at the event, he wrote what I think was an incredibly good and touching speech. I went up to him and asked if I could have it and post it on here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Honoraries, Dignitaries, Walkers,

On behalf of Nile Radio Production's Nile FM and Nugoom FM, please allow me to express what a pleasure it is for us to be part of this prestigious event, an event that has grown to become the biggest annual fundraising endeavor in the world.

Over 250,000 people walked the world in 2008 to express their adamant support to the essential cause, this year with our joint and continued efforts, that number will hopefully become significantly higher, with the ultimate beneficiaries, being the children we are gathered for here today.

Fighting hunger is no easy task, but we strongly believe in the theory that states the significance of the insignificant. With each grain of rice we donate, with each dollar or pound we give up, we are making a change. Just as the waves of the sea are all interconnected, so are we as human beings. If a wave changes direction or gains momentum, it indirectly affects each and every single wave in the ocean. And even if this change is considered minute, negligible or deemed insignificant, it is a change nonetheless. Let us all make waves of change to the positive, and that is why we walk today.

We wouldl ike to extend out thanks and gratitude to all entities that helped put Egypt on the map today. The UN WFP, and all commercial and non commercial entities walking together for the benefit of children's nutritional needs worldwide.

With every step people take this day all over the world, more and more children are guaranteed the basic nutritional rights they deserve, and at Nile &Nugoom FM, we promise to be with you all, and with the children...every step of the way.

The part where he mentions the waves, reminds me of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" so much! Also, I took the pictures! Am I getting any better? more here

And as you travel the long road...

Since everyone is doing it, I thought I might do it too! My very own giveaway. And since I am blessed with talented friends, the oldest of which being Mohamed Hayek! I sought his help :)

About:

Now, Hayek and I got to know each other on the bus to school when I was a freshman (he was a senior and very nice to me) That was exactly eight years ago, he was and still is very into diving. Two years later (6 years ago) he started taking his childhood photography curiosity seriously. In his own words: " I love shooting people in action because they give the most priceless facial expressions when they're not focusing on the camera in front of them" Hayek also likes shooting old/historic places around Cairo and capturing lively and moving colors. Not to mention that he loves the sun (I think it's a Virgo thing!! Did I mention he is a fellow Virgo?) and you can see that in his pictures. Speaking of motion, he is always more than willing to cover events, concerts and sports games! Take a look at his work here.
Oh and you know what? He's just had his fat-ha a couple of weeks ago!! + wedding ring so I think that makes him engaged :) I am sincerely happy for him!

1. So what I need from you is to tell me your perception of Egypt, if you have one and which picture you like the most.
   
2. Also, you could describe your favorite sound, something to touch, scent...anything that involves a sense of your five(or six) senses.
   
3. Or both!

Hayek and I will pick our favorite answer(s) or do it through a random number generator (I still haven't decided yet, honestly..and the winner gets to pick their favorite picture and send me their address so I can mail a high resolution print of it! I am very excited :) Please include your email in your comment.

Obama #Cairospeech

 

here  

Obama has arrived. At my university. My boyfriend and I, we argued a lot about it. I have a huge amount of respect for Obama and what he's doing and what he has done and achieved. To become president, isn't that enough for him to deserve my respect?
links:
1
2
3
4
5 The speech

Thank you, President Obama, for such an eloquent speech. Thank you for not using the word "terrorist". Thank you for quoting all three Holy books.

Did you watch it? Did you read it? What do you think?

Lots of Goodies!!

Oh, hello friend.

A Letter to the Amazing American President (because I can)

here

Dear Mr. Obama,

I know you are too smart not to notice, but I thought that I should verbalize my needs, and worries, and complaints. Even if you are not to read this. Maybe, in my mind, if I address this to you, you might have me in mind as you notice.

You are coming tomorrow, you are staying at Al-Tahra Qubbah palace, which is 10 minutes away from where I live. The lanes have been painted on the roads you are going to take, and the walls, too, have been painted. The plants on the sidewalk; we don't have those in our daily lives, they're fresh and green and new, and they only put them when someone important is going to grace the street/road with their presence. I hope you feel special. I haven't been to the airport lately, but maybe they've done that at the airport as well. I live 20 minutes away from the airport and your visit starts at 10 am, so I don't know if I will be going to work tomorrow.

here

President Obama, they have even hidden the slums away from your eyes with bilboards! And that torn down building, which has been left there for ages, they were in the process of hiding it this morning. I haven't been to university for quite a while, having graduated, but I heard they're prettifying it massively over there. I only mention what I have seen, and you know what? they have passed by all the shops, even jewelers downtown and told them not to open until 3 pm. in what way is that fair? And the gas station I go to, is shut for tomorrow, because it's close to where you will be staying.

Some final exams have been postponed, some people are going to stay home all day. I had plans of going out with my boyfriend and his stepbrother and his wife, I don't know about that anymore.

On a final note, I have always wanted to meet you, especially after reading "Dreams from My Father" but I know how quite impossible this is.

Take care and have a safe trip, don't worry about the traffic, they'll have it removed for you!

Warmest Regards,
Sara

PS I am sure you'll love all the places you'll visit.

Dear time, slow down.

One day, you will wake up to realize your hair is greying, and your best guy friend is balding. Except that, this day came to soon for me.

 

here

Today, as we sat there (at my favorite cafe), Amr and I, him at almost 23 and I at almost 22, it hit us!
It also hit us that time is passing us by, unnoticed. Like trees that flash by when you are on a train. And it shouldn't be that way for people our age. We should be enjoying every moment of it.

• This is a link to an old Egypian Coca-Cola commercial. I think it's funny, in its own way.

 

here  

• I was thinking of writing another series, since mainly my boyfriend and I know a lot of very talented people. Musically and photographically, I was thinking of "featuring" them on here, because they are so good, you guys deserve to know about them. What do you think?

• Would you quit your job, knowing you wouldn't find another alternative soon? Just for the sake of having time for yourself, and actually enjoying your time? I need your help.

• My heart goes to those on the AirFrance plane that has gone missing, and their families. It is sad, I hope nothing extremely bad has happened to them.
  

• On a lighter note, check all them middlemen here.

• Did you know that Obama is giving his speech at Cairo Univeristy!! I am proud to be a CU graduate!