Taxes, debit, Marx, Bureaucracy, TB, medicine, rural areas, crime, juvenile delinquency, Marx, Population, 4 Ps, Jujitsu, NPV, Marx, communism, Social suicide, Anomie, Pasrsons, Spencer, division of labor, Marx Marx Marx!
ENOUGH!
after exaclty 2 weeks of CONSTANT examination, my mind is ready to explode! So much info in so little time!
I keep wishing those will be my last exams for some time now, but i have a gut feeling that i failed one class in one major.
And i try being postive about the other major despite of the fact that i blew that 4.0 right out of the window when i picked a fight with my Prof! ( he's a bastard)
But the only thing that puts a smile on my face is that come Thrusday i will be Tanning on the beach in my new tanning oil, with good music and maybe - if i still have my eyesight after all that cramming - that other Dan Brown book.
i have 5 hours till my next exam - and 10 hours till the one after, so blogging is not such a good idea at the moment.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Salaamomania!
Yes it has begun!!
Another summer of Salaamomania!
This time around things are much smoother!
My babies are so excited about the trainees so they have been with them 24/7 ever since they arrived.
And it helps that they are 3 hot girls!! hehe
All of my LC are guys so they are taking goooood care of the Salaam girls :)
I hope they get along well with Purvi..
And for now i am stuck studying for my injustice exams!
Another summer of Salaamomania!
This time around things are much smoother!
My babies are so excited about the trainees so they have been with them 24/7 ever since they arrived.
And it helps that they are 3 hot girls!! hehe
All of my LC are guys so they are taking goooood care of the Salaam girls :)
I hope they get along well with Purvi..
And for now i am stuck studying for my injustice exams!
Monday, May 30, 2005
Salaam Frenzyy!
I have never been the type to have Butterflies in my stomac before an exciting trip, or to cry when a friend is leaving, or to even have this knots inside when you are really sad.
That's why when poo left, i didn't cry much - i teared, but i could have stopped them easily.
Few things make me sad.
Or that's what i thought until last night - i finished my exam and for the past 4 semesters my ritual is to have the day off studying that day - and it usually includes Poo.
Yesterday it was off - but completely poo-free!
and that's when the knots came!
I am somewhat looking forward to the Salaam Frenzy this summer - but i have my doubts, will they be as fun and dorky as kait? will they be as annoying and obnoxious as Scott? will they be as funny and sweet as Eric? as crazy as marianne? as girlie and smilie as Holly?
I guess we will see - partaaaaaaay is on Thursday and i must say kenny is gonna kill us for spashing a considerable sum of our - now not so big - budget for these dudes!
But hey - am still the boss till the 18th! so i might as well enjoy it :P
That's why when poo left, i didn't cry much - i teared, but i could have stopped them easily.
Few things make me sad.
Or that's what i thought until last night - i finished my exam and for the past 4 semesters my ritual is to have the day off studying that day - and it usually includes Poo.
Yesterday it was off - but completely poo-free!
and that's when the knots came!
I am somewhat looking forward to the Salaam Frenzy this summer - but i have my doubts, will they be as fun and dorky as kait? will they be as annoying and obnoxious as Scott? will they be as funny and sweet as Eric? as crazy as marianne? as girlie and smilie as Holly?
I guess we will see - partaaaaaaay is on Thursday and i must say kenny is gonna kill us for spashing a considerable sum of our - now not so big - budget for these dudes!
But hey - am still the boss till the 18th! so i might as well enjoy it :P
Friday, May 27, 2005
Sunday, May 22, 2005
My Political Profile!
So i saw that on Bowman's Blog, and i decided why don't i just see what i am like.
Turns out i am more conservative than i thought - huh?
Your Political Profile |
| Overall: 65% Conservative, 35% Liberal |
| Social Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal |
| Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal |
| Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal |
| Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal |
| Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal |
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Goodbye, Farewell, Aufwiederseh'n, Adieu
This Post goes out to Tom and Thea, who will be leaving Egypt in 3 weeks.
Tom is going to the Netherlands to work on AI, and Thea is going to Ethiopia to work with Ericsson.
Tonight was probably the last night we went out together all 3, we went for fish in Bahari, and then we went to the Hisham Hindi spot, which is a coffee shop right by the sea. We got totally ripped off there (which i kinda feel guilty for, each item cost 8 pounds, even water)
I had such a great time, as thea and tom are one of my few friends who i can enjoy a simple outing with, like that cofee shop on the beach plus we alsways have the most interesting conversations.
I felt kinda blue coz i will seriously miss them both eventhough i know i will see tom in IC inshaallah and thea will definely coming back to Egypt.
Among other things I will miss how positive tom always is and how he loves everything about Egypt.
And i will miss playing the arabic-maltese game with Thea.
So to those to nomaders, have fun in your next chapters of life
ta ta for now :)
Tom is going to the Netherlands to work on AI, and Thea is going to Ethiopia to work with Ericsson.
Tonight was probably the last night we went out together all 3, we went for fish in Bahari, and then we went to the Hisham Hindi spot, which is a coffee shop right by the sea. We got totally ripped off there (which i kinda feel guilty for, each item cost 8 pounds, even water)
I had such a great time, as thea and tom are one of my few friends who i can enjoy a simple outing with, like that cofee shop on the beach plus we alsways have the most interesting conversations.
I felt kinda blue coz i will seriously miss them both eventhough i know i will see tom in IC inshaallah and thea will definely coming back to Egypt.
Among other things I will miss how positive tom always is and how he loves everything about Egypt.
And i will miss playing the arabic-maltese game with Thea.
So to those to nomaders, have fun in your next chapters of life
ta ta for now :)
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
I am 22!!
Last Friday the 29th was my 22nd Birthday!
22 Years of Louly on this Earth.
Now let me tell you, 22 is quite a meaningless age coz i have no new age to look forward to. I already have my ID card, my Lisence, i am allowed to drink, enter a Pub, vote and do whatever the hell i want!
For my Birthday i got a new phone, 4 new tops a nice purse and 6 pairs of socks :P - 3 oof those from my mom ( yep i am mommy's little girl)
On the day i headed off to Cairo, to the Airport to take a plane to Shram El Sheikh where i spent a nice 3 days. And I am now quite sunburnt!
NB: Egypt Air SUCKS!!
And strangely enough my two brothers did not even text me on my Birthday!
22 Years of Louly on this Earth.
Now let me tell you, 22 is quite a meaningless age coz i have no new age to look forward to. I already have my ID card, my Lisence, i am allowed to drink, enter a Pub, vote and do whatever the hell i want!
For my Birthday i got a new phone, 4 new tops a nice purse and 6 pairs of socks :P - 3 oof those from my mom ( yep i am mommy's little girl)
On the day i headed off to Cairo, to the Airport to take a plane to Shram El Sheikh where i spent a nice 3 days. And I am now quite sunburnt!
NB: Egypt Air SUCKS!!
And strangely enough my two brothers did not even text me on my Birthday!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Hooked
After months of delay i am finally reading the da vinci code.
It took me a month and a half to read the first 60 pages, i didn't do much reading then.
It took me yesterday to get to read the following 200 pages!!
And i am officially hooked, my mind is now thinking 24/7 of what secret that the curator is hiding!
Yesterday I opened the book at 11:30 only to put it down, with a struggle, at 4 am!
I am expecting a few more days of lack of sleep.
It took me a month and a half to read the first 60 pages, i didn't do much reading then.
It took me yesterday to get to read the following 200 pages!!
And i am officially hooked, my mind is now thinking 24/7 of what secret that the curator is hiding!
Yesterday I opened the book at 11:30 only to put it down, with a struggle, at 4 am!
I am expecting a few more days of lack of sleep.
Monday, April 18, 2005
pathologic cleaning disorder!
Yes! that is me.
I am a pathological cleaner.
I am sitting in the NC office working on a computer when i realize that the Keyboard is extremely dirty, with some letters you cannot even see from all the dirt. So i turn off the computer and get my baby wipes and start cleaning it.
Now it still not sparkling but it's acceptable.
Tom of course was deeply disturbed not by the fact that did it, but by the fact that i really genuinly enjoyed it!
up untill now i have mentally cleaned up the office a zillion times, and i have a set plan for how i will start cleaning it when i move in.
Today i just realized,,, why wait?
I could do it over the labor day vacation. I have sunday and Monday off, just enough to do the first round of cleaning in the office.
Then by mid June i can do the second and round of cleaning, and finally by end of June the final step.
The worst thing about me which Tamer is yet to find out that I need a good physical working environment inorder to perfrom.
The good thing is i like creating it. :)
I am excited about cleaning Day - let's see hoe many people i can get to join me.
Yikes!
I am a pathological cleaner.
I am sitting in the NC office working on a computer when i realize that the Keyboard is extremely dirty, with some letters you cannot even see from all the dirt. So i turn off the computer and get my baby wipes and start cleaning it.
Now it still not sparkling but it's acceptable.
Tom of course was deeply disturbed not by the fact that did it, but by the fact that i really genuinly enjoyed it!
up untill now i have mentally cleaned up the office a zillion times, and i have a set plan for how i will start cleaning it when i move in.
Today i just realized,,, why wait?
I could do it over the labor day vacation. I have sunday and Monday off, just enough to do the first round of cleaning in the office.
Then by mid June i can do the second and round of cleaning, and finally by end of June the final step.
The worst thing about me which Tamer is yet to find out that I need a good physical working environment inorder to perfrom.
The good thing is i like creating it. :)
I am excited about cleaning Day - let's see hoe many people i can get to join me.
Yikes!
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Saturday, April 16, 2005
time to say goodbye
For the past month I have been convinced that it's cool that i am leaving my LC, and it will be great to receive less calls from the zillion i get daily from all my members.
I seriously could not wait to start my MC term and finish my LCP term.
But yesterday the Elections took place, and at one moment it hit me.
Someone was calling " Hey LCP,,LCP" so naturally i turned around and yelled "YES", only to get a reply " not you, we want margo".
It hit me,, my babies will no longer be my babies.
All those people who you have around you all the time, who can't wait till you call them to go out and hang out, who offer you their seat, or a ride in their car eventhough you live miles away.
I will not get to see them everyday, and hang out on a daily basis, i will not be pestered all the time with their phonecalls at 2 am and 8 am, and i will not be constantly asked questions about AIESEC.
And it hit me that i will seriously miss all of that.
I look at my LC and see people who I have grown really fond of, people that make me feel good about myself and happy with my LC and happy with the effort my team and I have done when we started all of this from scratch and I now feel so sad to leave.
Nader, Mamdouh, Mustafa, Hany, Ozzie, Hashem, Sara, Alaa and soo many others all my babies :)
(i really sound like jen and those ppl who've been in AIESEC for ages)
And soon my role will deminish, and Margo - also one of my babies, will be the new LCP, and a fine one i may say!
I never realized how much i love my LC till yesterday.
and quoting my dear friend poo " gay-sec will have to end someday"
I seriously could not wait to start my MC term and finish my LCP term.
But yesterday the Elections took place, and at one moment it hit me.
Someone was calling " Hey LCP,,LCP" so naturally i turned around and yelled "YES", only to get a reply " not you, we want margo".
It hit me,, my babies will no longer be my babies.
All those people who you have around you all the time, who can't wait till you call them to go out and hang out, who offer you their seat, or a ride in their car eventhough you live miles away.
I will not get to see them everyday, and hang out on a daily basis, i will not be pestered all the time with their phonecalls at 2 am and 8 am, and i will not be constantly asked questions about AIESEC.
And it hit me that i will seriously miss all of that.
I look at my LC and see people who I have grown really fond of, people that make me feel good about myself and happy with my LC and happy with the effort my team and I have done when we started all of this from scratch and I now feel so sad to leave.
Nader, Mamdouh, Mustafa, Hany, Ozzie, Hashem, Sara, Alaa and soo many others all my babies :)
(i really sound like jen and those ppl who've been in AIESEC for ages)
And soon my role will deminish, and Margo - also one of my babies, will be the new LCP, and a fine one i may say!
I never realized how much i love my LC till yesterday.
and quoting my dear friend poo " gay-sec will have to end someday"
Friday, April 08, 2005
what is this, week of the dead?!
damn, what a week.
I thought the exams made it bad but apparently not.
First, you have the Pope who passed away, and his funeral which was today.
Second, you have Shireen's grandma passed away as well.
Third, you got all those people who died and were injured in Khan El khalili.
Fourth, it's Nora's grandpa who passed away too.
I hope there are no weeks like that in a long long time.
I thought the exams made it bad but apparently not.
First, you have the Pope who passed away, and his funeral which was today.
Second, you have Shireen's grandma passed away as well.
Third, you got all those people who died and were injured in Khan El khalili.
Fourth, it's Nora's grandpa who passed away too.
I hope there are no weeks like that in a long long time.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
my biggest flaw
i plan too much and i want everything.
i hate that
so my motto from now on is
Carpe Diem!
this is THE challenge of the YEAR!
I am challenging myself to not think about anything that could or could not happen.
I am only allowed to think about events that are a maximum of 7 days from now.
(let's face it, i can't live day by day, and i already have a daily plan till the end of the month, so i can't not use it)
let's see if i can do that.
comon, i managed to food-control alright untill now. i should be able to do this.
i hate that
so my motto from now on is
Carpe Diem!
this is THE challenge of the YEAR!
I am challenging myself to not think about anything that could or could not happen.
I am only allowed to think about events that are a maximum of 7 days from now.
(let's face it, i can't live day by day, and i already have a daily plan till the end of the month, so i can't not use it)
let's see if i can do that.
comon, i managed to food-control alright untill now. i should be able to do this.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Addictive TV!
Yesterday was monday, the day where the TV from 9 to 10 and from 11 to 12 is sacred.
This is the time when the TV show 24 is shown.
My sister does not go on her daily Jog, my brother does not go out and goof around with his friends or play with his Need for Speed.
My friends are not out having fun, they don't answer their phones.
What's happening?
24
I have heard about and seen all sorts of people addicted to that show.
Each episode of the show represnts one Hour or Jack Bower's (the main character) Day.
Each season is 24 episodes each representing a day - therefore seasons are called Day one, Day two, Day three..etc
I have started watching Day one a year ago in one of its re-runs but decided not to watch it coz i didn't want to be committed to staying home to watch it.
It's now in Day three, and people still follow it and make it a highlight of their day.
TV can get sooo addictive. especially shows like 24 where you can't even blink, otherwise you'll miss something.
anyone here addicted?
This is the time when the TV show 24 is shown.
My sister does not go on her daily Jog, my brother does not go out and goof around with his friends or play with his Need for Speed.
My friends are not out having fun, they don't answer their phones.
What's happening?
24
I have heard about and seen all sorts of people addicted to that show.
Each episode of the show represnts one Hour or Jack Bower's (the main character) Day.
Each season is 24 episodes each representing a day - therefore seasons are called Day one, Day two, Day three..etc
I have started watching Day one a year ago in one of its re-runs but decided not to watch it coz i didn't want to be committed to staying home to watch it.
It's now in Day three, and people still follow it and make it a highlight of their day.
TV can get sooo addictive. especially shows like 24 where you can't even blink, otherwise you'll miss something.
anyone here addicted?
Saturday, April 02, 2005
A nightmare called Cairo
Some facts about Cairo:
Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world with 20-22 Million people living and working there (including day workers)
Along with Bombay and Rio de Janeiro, Cairo is the worst city to drive in.
An average taxi ride costs 10-20 pounds.
Getting ripped off is the norm.
If you are a girl in a Taxi, there is a 75% chance that the reason why the taxi driver keeps looking at you it's because his hand are in his pants, giving himself some "pleasure".
The amount of veiled girls/women and bearded men makes you feel like you are in an Iranian movie.
The color blue does now exist: the Nile has a brown color, kind of like the color you see in the toilet when you have diarrhea. The sky is gray as it is covered with a thick layer of Fog.
There is no correct accurate map of Cairo.
Crossing the street is an adventure that is as life threatening as jumping off the Himalaya Mountains.
And finally,,,,
Cairo is going to be my home in the very near future
Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world with 20-22 Million people living and working there (including day workers)
Along with Bombay and Rio de Janeiro, Cairo is the worst city to drive in.
An average taxi ride costs 10-20 pounds.
Getting ripped off is the norm.
If you are a girl in a Taxi, there is a 75% chance that the reason why the taxi driver keeps looking at you it's because his hand are in his pants, giving himself some "pleasure".
The amount of veiled girls/women and bearded men makes you feel like you are in an Iranian movie.
The color blue does now exist: the Nile has a brown color, kind of like the color you see in the toilet when you have diarrhea. The sky is gray as it is covered with a thick layer of Fog.
There is no correct accurate map of Cairo.
Crossing the street is an adventure that is as life threatening as jumping off the Himalaya Mountains.
And finally,,,,
Cairo is going to be my home in the very near future
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
this week
This week has been and still is an eventful week.after trying to memorize the countries of the world in a song, the highlights of my week are :
i had my first LC teambuilding, and it ROCKED!! that is the happiest i have ever been as LCP! i think it's by far the best AIESEC day of the year!and the great thing about it is that i have a kick-ass LC! i love them, i can finally say they are my babies ( just like jen says about like everyone in AIESEC :P )
The second highlight is that i get to see JEN!! yaaay! jen comes back to egypt for like a week - she arrives TOMORROW! awesmoe huh?
I have died my hair. it's hardly noticible, i have made it darker, from medium brown to dark brown. and i kinda like it. the problem is it has a red feel. i have never died my hair before! this is a first!
as for now i am officially taking a one week break from any serious or meaningful conversations ever. so assem and tamer, i am not participating in your discussions.
any one interested in talking about how hot brad pitt's ass is i am here :)
i had my first LC teambuilding, and it ROCKED!! that is the happiest i have ever been as LCP! i think it's by far the best AIESEC day of the year!and the great thing about it is that i have a kick-ass LC! i love them, i can finally say they are my babies ( just like jen says about like everyone in AIESEC :P )
The second highlight is that i get to see JEN!! yaaay! jen comes back to egypt for like a week - she arrives TOMORROW! awesmoe huh?
I have died my hair. it's hardly noticible, i have made it darker, from medium brown to dark brown. and i kinda like it. the problem is it has a red feel. i have never died my hair before! this is a first!
as for now i am officially taking a one week break from any serious or meaningful conversations ever. so assem and tamer, i am not participating in your discussions.
any one interested in talking about how hot brad pitt's ass is i am here :)
Monday, March 28, 2005
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Becoming a Ninja ( face veiled)
this is an experience that i remembered because of tamer's discussion about the term ninja.
At my first year in Alexandria University a public uni here, i had a friend called Hanaan. She had recently gotten veiled before entering college, she wore regular clothes, nice scarfs and wore make-up and looked very good, compared to all the others that go there.
The year after, i saw her - i only go for exams and field work, so i only see her a few times every semester - i found her still vieled, but she started to wear very long gowns and extremely loose.
The year after that, i didn't see her for an entire term. So i called her up and asked her where she was, and she told me, i got face-veiled, i keep trying to make eye contact with you so you would recognize me but you never do.
This year i have not seen her yet, maybe she dropped out and is reading koraan at home all day- or i still cannot tell her appart from all those face veiled girls in my department.
On the same topic, my first year the tayaar el eslami ( islamic group on campus) put up posters all over, encouraging girls to get veiled and stating how bad they will suffer in hell if they do not get veiled.
And as a matter of fact, more girls got veiled in the first year, where they were more than the un-vieled girls.
The second year the posters said that the veil is not enough, you should wear loose clothes and not show any detail of your body.
Consequently the amount of girls wearing loose clothes and gowns increased.
The third year, they started attacking the regular veil, calling it just like not wearing it at all, and Haraam etc. , and you should be face-veiled to be a good muslim.
They put being veiled with praying, when praying is a corner stone of religion, you have to do it to be a muslim. and being veiled is "supposedly" something you have to do. But if you do not do it, you are still a muslim.
The point of view now is changing, to be a muslim you HAVE to be veiled!
One of the students once said in a class with half of the girls not veieled (me included): "there are plenty of girl out there not veiled, but they are still good girls" one of the other guys objected.
ouch!
That is the evolution of the Islamic movement.
I bet you this is how it started with Iran.
At my first year in Alexandria University a public uni here, i had a friend called Hanaan. She had recently gotten veiled before entering college, she wore regular clothes, nice scarfs and wore make-up and looked very good, compared to all the others that go there.
The year after, i saw her - i only go for exams and field work, so i only see her a few times every semester - i found her still vieled, but she started to wear very long gowns and extremely loose.
The year after that, i didn't see her for an entire term. So i called her up and asked her where she was, and she told me, i got face-veiled, i keep trying to make eye contact with you so you would recognize me but you never do.
This year i have not seen her yet, maybe she dropped out and is reading koraan at home all day- or i still cannot tell her appart from all those face veiled girls in my department.
On the same topic, my first year the tayaar el eslami ( islamic group on campus) put up posters all over, encouraging girls to get veiled and stating how bad they will suffer in hell if they do not get veiled.
And as a matter of fact, more girls got veiled in the first year, where they were more than the un-vieled girls.
The second year the posters said that the veil is not enough, you should wear loose clothes and not show any detail of your body.
Consequently the amount of girls wearing loose clothes and gowns increased.
The third year, they started attacking the regular veil, calling it just like not wearing it at all, and Haraam etc. , and you should be face-veiled to be a good muslim.
They put being veiled with praying, when praying is a corner stone of religion, you have to do it to be a muslim. and being veiled is "supposedly" something you have to do. But if you do not do it, you are still a muslim.
The point of view now is changing, to be a muslim you HAVE to be veiled!
One of the students once said in a class with half of the girls not veieled (me included): "there are plenty of girl out there not veiled, but they are still good girls" one of the other guys objected.
ouch!
That is the evolution of the Islamic movement.
I bet you this is how it started with Iran.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
a little something i got from paddy
1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:36
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Abu Ali ( Egyptian Movie-sucks)
4. What is your favorite TV show at the moment? Friends
5. What did you have for breakfast? doughnuts
6. What is your middle name? Abd El Salaam
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Italian
8. What do you dislike? the smell of sweat
9. What is your favorite crisp flavor? salt and vinegar
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Nancy Ajram
11. What kind of car do you drive? Fiat 126 ( soooo tiny)
12. Favorite Sandwich? turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, oviles
13. What characteristic do you despise? Envy
14. Favorite item of clothing? Bra - it's such a great invention
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday,where would itbe? the bahamas
16. What color is your bathroom? white
17. Favorite brand of clothing? uhh..brands, me? no
18. Where would you retire to? uhh.. me? retire? never
19. Favorite time of the day? when i cuddle in my bed and sleep
20. most memorable birthday? 21st, my LC threw me a surprize birthday party - i didn't know at all
21. Where were you born? Alexandria
22. Favorite sport to watch? Soccer/Football
25. What fabric detergent do you use? let me ask my mom
26. Coke or Pepsi? i have converted to coke
27. Are you a morning or a night person? NIGHT NIGHT NIGHT
28. What is your shoe size? 39
29. Do you have any pets? no
30. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? i may be getting new make-up!
31. What did you want to be when you were little? a stinking rich housewife :P
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Abu Ali ( Egyptian Movie-sucks)
4. What is your favorite TV show at the moment? Friends
5. What did you have for breakfast? doughnuts
6. What is your middle name? Abd El Salaam
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Italian
8. What do you dislike? the smell of sweat
9. What is your favorite crisp flavor? salt and vinegar
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Nancy Ajram
11. What kind of car do you drive? Fiat 126 ( soooo tiny)
12. Favorite Sandwich? turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, oviles
13. What characteristic do you despise? Envy
14. Favorite item of clothing? Bra - it's such a great invention
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday,where would itbe? the bahamas
16. What color is your bathroom? white
17. Favorite brand of clothing? uhh..brands, me? no
18. Where would you retire to? uhh.. me? retire? never
19. Favorite time of the day? when i cuddle in my bed and sleep
20. most memorable birthday? 21st, my LC threw me a surprize birthday party - i didn't know at all
21. Where were you born? Alexandria
22. Favorite sport to watch? Soccer/Football
25. What fabric detergent do you use? let me ask my mom
26. Coke or Pepsi? i have converted to coke
27. Are you a morning or a night person? NIGHT NIGHT NIGHT
28. What is your shoe size? 39
29. Do you have any pets? no
30. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? i may be getting new make-up!
31. What did you want to be when you were little? a stinking rich housewife :P
Saturday, March 12, 2005
You are now reading the Blog of the MCVP Elect of AIESEC Egypt 05/06
With all sorts of Knots and Butterflies STILL in my stomach, I am Pleased to say,
I AM ON THE MC!!
After more than a month of waiting and convincing myself that it was a sure thing, I headed to Cairo for my Interview.
At exactly 12:35 pm of the 11th of March, I stepped into the AIESEC Office and greeted the 7 other candidates that were running for the MC.
At about 12:40 pm I started to Panic.
There I am with 7 great Individuals who are the Best people in AIESEC Egypt, and we are all running for the MC. Those dudes are as committed as passionate and as qualified as I am; probably even more, to be on this Team.
Suddenly I realized, it's not a sure thing anymore.
I entered my Interview and gave what I fear was one of my worst performances ever, where my face was all red, where I couldn't even force a smile and where my legs were twitching so bad it felt like an earthquake in there and where I went blank like so many times.
But the worst was yet to come, 24 hours of waiting, the 24 hours from hell (as poo would so eloquently put it).
And from exactly 8:14 pm of the 12th of March, till now, and probably for a few more days, I have the biggest most Stupidest Smile on my face - just like the one I had after my first kiss.
I AM ON THE MC!!!!!
It was a hell of an Experience, where -yes Assem you were correct- I learned A LOT!!
I learned not to take things for granted, not to be too sure of things otherwise you could become too big for your own shoes, and I have learned how badly I wanted to be part of this Team and how much it meant to me.
And so I would like to say to AIESEC in the Whole Wide World, Brace yourselves for the Best Team Ever, coz Tamer, Louly, Martha, Maggie, Tarek and Askoura will show you things you never dreamed possible!
I am So Happy :D:D:D:D so i will sing:
I feel Prettyyyyyyyyy oh so prettyyyyyyyy
I feel Prettyyyyyyyy and wittyyyyyyyy and Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
ha ha ha - i am not i swear, single and looking (for male)
I AM ON THE MC!!
After more than a month of waiting and convincing myself that it was a sure thing, I headed to Cairo for my Interview.
At exactly 12:35 pm of the 11th of March, I stepped into the AIESEC Office and greeted the 7 other candidates that were running for the MC.
At about 12:40 pm I started to Panic.
There I am with 7 great Individuals who are the Best people in AIESEC Egypt, and we are all running for the MC. Those dudes are as committed as passionate and as qualified as I am; probably even more, to be on this Team.
Suddenly I realized, it's not a sure thing anymore.
I entered my Interview and gave what I fear was one of my worst performances ever, where my face was all red, where I couldn't even force a smile and where my legs were twitching so bad it felt like an earthquake in there and where I went blank like so many times.
But the worst was yet to come, 24 hours of waiting, the 24 hours from hell (as poo would so eloquently put it).
And from exactly 8:14 pm of the 12th of March, till now, and probably for a few more days, I have the biggest most Stupidest Smile on my face - just like the one I had after my first kiss.
I AM ON THE MC!!!!!
It was a hell of an Experience, where -yes Assem you were correct- I learned A LOT!!
I learned not to take things for granted, not to be too sure of things otherwise you could become too big for your own shoes, and I have learned how badly I wanted to be part of this Team and how much it meant to me.
And so I would like to say to AIESEC in the Whole Wide World, Brace yourselves for the Best Team Ever, coz Tamer, Louly, Martha, Maggie, Tarek and Askoura will show you things you never dreamed possible!
I am So Happy :D:D:D:D so i will sing:
I feel Prettyyyyyyyyy oh so prettyyyyyyyy
I feel Prettyyyyyyyy and wittyyyyyyyy and Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
ha ha ha - i am not i swear, single and looking (for male)
Friday, March 11, 2005
The University of Doom and Gloom
For those who do not know I happen to be pursuing 2 Different Degrees.
A Marketing Degree in the Arab Academy for Science and Technology (a private uni) http://www.aast.edu/
And a Sociology Degree in The Faculty of Arts, Alex Uni (a public University) http://www.facultyofarts.com/
Difference? One costs 32.5 Egyptians pounds per year, and one costs 18,000 Egyptian pounds a year.
So which one in the University of Doom and Gloom? It's the Public one!
Why is it the Faculty of Doom?
Well coz if you go there, it means you are Doomed! Doomed to failure and mediocre Jobs that are not related whatsoever to your field, or you become a more appealing bride coz you have a higher education.
The mass that studies there, are people who could barely score anything in their finals, who are one of the worst possible college applicants in Egypt. (Excluding the other lower institutes or community colleges)
Only a few actually go there, to do something meaningful with the precious Knowledge in a faculty like this, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, History, Arabic and Islamic Studies, English and French lit.
But generally, if you are in this Uni, you are Doomed till doomsday!
Now why is it the Faculty of Gloom then?
Well it's a place where all the misguided ignorant youth find their way in life, usually they are miserable.
Some turn to Drugs and I ain't talking about a couple of spliffs every day!
Some turn to the Religious Group called El Tayaar El Eslamy (The Islamic Current) http://www.gam3aonline.com/
Those are not Terrorists, they just post posters on how even Hijaab (the veil) is not enough and is as haraam as not having it at all, and how you should cover all of yourself, like a Ninja.
They give girls like me dirty looks, or look the other way while recalling some verses of the Koran.
And they organize protests and put up posters encouraging people to go to/on ( thank you chris) "holy" Jihad with the US and Israel, and to stop eating McDonalds.
They put up the most peculiar (I have no other word to describe it) Slogans, kaate3oo montagan tankezoo mosleman (stop using a product, and you will save a Muslim)
Al Hegaab Al Hegaab Kabl Yom El Hessaab (The veil the veil before judgment day)
They also interrupt classes to read Koran out loud to people and urge people to leave their classes to go and pray.
So they are not actively violent, but they are a stepping stone to becoming a Terrorist or to becmoing an extremist who makes his life and the life of his family a living hell.
Other than that Students can get into other stuff, like Gawaz 3orfy, which is a marriage where two people sign a paper with 2 witnesses that they are married, and once they tear it apart then they are no longer married.
So it's an excuse to sleep well at night while you are doing your girl/boyfriend.
Girls end up pregnant and guys tear up the marriage paper once they find out about the baby, and the girls life is ruined - either suicide, being killed by her family, she runs away and becomes a prostitute or gets disowned by her family.
Now the least of the Glooms is you meet a good guy/girl, the guy becomes a mechanic or opens a shop selling mobile phones, and the girl is a good housewife, who works as a secretary with a sleazy boss and they live on their minimum wage and get 4 kids!
I am not saying people can't become a great success - but the likelihood is a Question.
And that was a glimpse of the Egyptian Life, which I think I am very lucky to have seen and even luckier that I am not actively part of it :)
A Marketing Degree in the Arab Academy for Science and Technology (a private uni) http://www.aast.edu/
And a Sociology Degree in The Faculty of Arts, Alex Uni (a public University) http://www.facultyofarts.com/
Difference? One costs 32.5 Egyptians pounds per year, and one costs 18,000 Egyptian pounds a year.
So which one in the University of Doom and Gloom? It's the Public one!
Why is it the Faculty of Doom?
Well coz if you go there, it means you are Doomed! Doomed to failure and mediocre Jobs that are not related whatsoever to your field, or you become a more appealing bride coz you have a higher education.
The mass that studies there, are people who could barely score anything in their finals, who are one of the worst possible college applicants in Egypt. (Excluding the other lower institutes or community colleges)
Only a few actually go there, to do something meaningful with the precious Knowledge in a faculty like this, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, History, Arabic and Islamic Studies, English and French lit.
But generally, if you are in this Uni, you are Doomed till doomsday!
Now why is it the Faculty of Gloom then?
Well it's a place where all the misguided ignorant youth find their way in life, usually they are miserable.
Some turn to Drugs and I ain't talking about a couple of spliffs every day!
Some turn to the Religious Group called El Tayaar El Eslamy (The Islamic Current) http://www.gam3aonline.com/
Those are not Terrorists, they just post posters on how even Hijaab (the veil) is not enough and is as haraam as not having it at all, and how you should cover all of yourself, like a Ninja.
They give girls like me dirty looks, or look the other way while recalling some verses of the Koran.
And they organize protests and put up posters encouraging people to go to/on ( thank you chris) "holy" Jihad with the US and Israel, and to stop eating McDonalds.
They put up the most peculiar (I have no other word to describe it) Slogans, kaate3oo montagan tankezoo mosleman (stop using a product, and you will save a Muslim)
Al Hegaab Al Hegaab Kabl Yom El Hessaab (The veil the veil before judgment day)
They also interrupt classes to read Koran out loud to people and urge people to leave their classes to go and pray.
So they are not actively violent, but they are a stepping stone to becoming a Terrorist or to becmoing an extremist who makes his life and the life of his family a living hell.
Other than that Students can get into other stuff, like Gawaz 3orfy, which is a marriage where two people sign a paper with 2 witnesses that they are married, and once they tear it apart then they are no longer married.
So it's an excuse to sleep well at night while you are doing your girl/boyfriend.
Girls end up pregnant and guys tear up the marriage paper once they find out about the baby, and the girls life is ruined - either suicide, being killed by her family, she runs away and becomes a prostitute or gets disowned by her family.
Now the least of the Glooms is you meet a good guy/girl, the guy becomes a mechanic or opens a shop selling mobile phones, and the girl is a good housewife, who works as a secretary with a sleazy boss and they live on their minimum wage and get 4 kids!
I am not saying people can't become a great success - but the likelihood is a Question.
And that was a glimpse of the Egyptian Life, which I think I am very lucky to have seen and even luckier that I am not actively part of it :)
Saturday, March 05, 2005
The Queen of Poker!
Yep that's me!
Today my LC and i and Chris Bowman ( Salaam Trainee in Cairo) went to spend a day in my Beach House.
We spent our day outside where the weather was great.
We had a great time, so if you didn't come, you missed out.
We started off by Playing Bullshit, which i was okay in ...
Then we moved on to Poker, We played the 5-Card Draw, and I RULED!!
i got a straight, a tripple, 2 doubles, doubles, and i think i got a full house too! and i got ALL their money!! ( well we played with monopoly money coz we were all broke)
Then chris decided to have us play some texas hit 'em or something game, where i completely sucked and lost all my money :)
The highlight of the day, was me kicking Kenny's ASS!! Kenny was a Tae-Kwoondo ( how the hell do you write that)
I have had 5 Lessons of Kickboxing in my Life,
And the Match begun!!
we were as excited as ever, kenny's lungs and my fittness thought differently!
So we ended our 90 Second match - sat in a nice shady place smoking and drinking pepsi.
A great Excercise!
Today my LC and i and Chris Bowman ( Salaam Trainee in Cairo) went to spend a day in my Beach House.
We spent our day outside where the weather was great.
We had a great time, so if you didn't come, you missed out.
We started off by Playing Bullshit, which i was okay in ...
Then we moved on to Poker, We played the 5-Card Draw, and I RULED!!
i got a straight, a tripple, 2 doubles, doubles, and i think i got a full house too! and i got ALL their money!! ( well we played with monopoly money coz we were all broke)
Then chris decided to have us play some texas hit 'em or something game, where i completely sucked and lost all my money :)
The highlight of the day, was me kicking Kenny's ASS!! Kenny was a Tae-Kwoondo ( how the hell do you write that)
I have had 5 Lessons of Kickboxing in my Life,
And the Match begun!!
we were as excited as ever, kenny's lungs and my fittness thought differently!
So we ended our 90 Second match - sat in a nice shady place smoking and drinking pepsi.
A great Excercise!
the eco. development theory!
okay everyone,
the economic theory of development ( check it out in my December Post i dunno how to link it here) is just a theory, not all theories can and are applied.
I believe people should have as many kids as they want as long as they can provide them with good chances and opportunitiest and resources to become good successful citizens and live a good life.
There's no way to enforce that except by educating people, you can't exactly force anyone!
More Educated people understand that concept, and have a bit of a long term view of things, uneducated people usually have many kids without looking at the consequences.
Of course we cannot generalize, but this would be the norm here in Egypt.
So if you educate people, then you got yourself a way to develop economically.
Look at this cenario:
Amm Mohamed El Bawaab ( Mr. Mohamed the doorman) is a man that cannot read or write, he has 2 kids and sends them to a public school, they both finish elementary school then work, therefore they can get jobs that are a bit better than a bawaab (doorman) their kids will go to school and stop after secondary school,( they can do even better than their parents) then they can get their kids all through high school, then their kids go to public college, and the next generation goes to a private school then a public uni and finally the generation after - goes to the AUC!
takes a long time when u start from the bottom but you get there at the end ! and you could jump a step or two.
but if the bawaab has 7 kids he wont be able to afford getting them to a school, and you have a whole new generation of Bawaabs!
so now do you see my point?!!!
the economic theory of development ( check it out in my December Post i dunno how to link it here) is just a theory, not all theories can and are applied.
I believe people should have as many kids as they want as long as they can provide them with good chances and opportunitiest and resources to become good successful citizens and live a good life.
There's no way to enforce that except by educating people, you can't exactly force anyone!
More Educated people understand that concept, and have a bit of a long term view of things, uneducated people usually have many kids without looking at the consequences.
Of course we cannot generalize, but this would be the norm here in Egypt.
So if you educate people, then you got yourself a way to develop economically.
Look at this cenario:
Amm Mohamed El Bawaab ( Mr. Mohamed the doorman) is a man that cannot read or write, he has 2 kids and sends them to a public school, they both finish elementary school then work, therefore they can get jobs that are a bit better than a bawaab (doorman) their kids will go to school and stop after secondary school,( they can do even better than their parents) then they can get their kids all through high school, then their kids go to public college, and the next generation goes to a private school then a public uni and finally the generation after - goes to the AUC!
takes a long time when u start from the bottom but you get there at the end ! and you could jump a step or two.
but if the bawaab has 7 kids he wont be able to afford getting them to a school, and you have a whole new generation of Bawaabs!
so now do you see my point?!!!
Thursday, March 03, 2005
kefaya
I came across this website called www.kefaya.com this is the campaign against having Mubarak be president for another 6-year term and also against having his son as his successor.
Interesting, but rather depressing.
There are several gloomy ways of looking at this "change" , pessimism is the norm while optimism seems minimal.
I have finally gotten a hold of the Egyptian consitution, which was a big surprize for me.
It was really hard to find i must say, has many stupid stuff in there, but it had great news :)
The conditions for being president are
1) Egyptian
2) from Egyptian Parents
3) Above 40 years of age
4) has all civil and political rights
So the president can be christian, and can be a WOMAN!!
In your face kenny :P
I told that fact to 3 of my friends from Uni, one of them - a muslim - comented that she does not want a women president. ( that friend is a female ).
Later on she commented how she would never have a christian president - she did not say that infront of my other 2 friends out of respect for them as they were christians.
If this is how educated people who will soon have a University Degree think like, i wonder what those other 51% illiterate Egyptians think!
Interesting, but rather depressing.
There are several gloomy ways of looking at this "change" , pessimism is the norm while optimism seems minimal.
I have finally gotten a hold of the Egyptian consitution, which was a big surprize for me.
It was really hard to find i must say, has many stupid stuff in there, but it had great news :)
The conditions for being president are
1) Egyptian
2) from Egyptian Parents
3) Above 40 years of age
4) has all civil and political rights
So the president can be christian, and can be a WOMAN!!
In your face kenny :P
I told that fact to 3 of my friends from Uni, one of them - a muslim - comented that she does not want a women president. ( that friend is a female ).
Later on she commented how she would never have a christian president - she did not say that infront of my other 2 friends out of respect for them as they were christians.
If this is how educated people who will soon have a University Degree think like, i wonder what those other 51% illiterate Egyptians think!
funny
if you check out the comments on my previous blog post you'll see that i am probably going to Israel alone.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
this is where i wana go.
Before i die, i would like to go to
1) France, becuase everyone says if you haven't been to paris, you haven't been anywhere. plus i get to practice my french.
2) Italy, the main attraction there is the history and monuments. The Music, the Opera, the night life.
3) the US of A! well whatever subject you talk about the US comes up, so it's a good thing to speak based on first hand experience. plus i wana see kait and holly :)
4) England - again. My dream is to have my masters there.
5) Ughanda, i dunno why but it's poor and it looks cool in all pics.
6) India, although the food will be an issue.
7) The carribean, okay it's not a country, but anywhere there would be nice!!
8) Israel - out of curiosity.
So who wants to join me on which trip?
1) France, becuase everyone says if you haven't been to paris, you haven't been anywhere. plus i get to practice my french.
2) Italy, the main attraction there is the history and monuments. The Music, the Opera, the night life.
3) the US of A! well whatever subject you talk about the US comes up, so it's a good thing to speak based on first hand experience. plus i wana see kait and holly :)
4) England - again. My dream is to have my masters there.
5) Ughanda, i dunno why but it's poor and it looks cool in all pics.
6) India, although the food will be an issue.
7) The carribean, okay it's not a country, but anywhere there would be nice!!
8) Israel - out of curiosity.
So who wants to join me on which trip?
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Democracy or conspiracy?
So Egypt is now going to have an Election like all civiliezed and some of the uncivilized countries of the world.
A step forward? yep it is.
But important questions do arrise:
1) how will the constitution be ammended? the wording of the amendment is as important as the decision its self.
2) why did this decision come in February after voting card are no longer being issued? this knowing that supporters are usually the ones who do vote!
3)why did this decision come so close to the elections? this leaves little time for candidates to announce themselves, prepare themselves and for parties to develop their leadership. it also leaves little time for us to make sure the wording of the amendment is correct. We may want to add more to it, like women being allowed to be president, or that the president can only be president for two terms, or to cut the term to 5 or 4 years instead of 6.
All too suspicious.
Is this a way to get Mubarak Re-elected and leaving America with no excuse to hassle Egypt about it?
Is it a way to get Jimmy ( Gamal Mubarak - Hosni Mubarak's son) to be president without upsetting the masses and America?
Or has Mubarak decided to call it quits and leave with the remainig dignity he has left?
Despite of all those concerns this is still a ray of light in a long dark tunnel.
Maybe in 20 Years they will let women run?
Maybe in 30 years we'd have the first female candidate.
What i do know though is that now and more than ever, i do want to eventually stay in Egypt and fight for what i believe in.
Kenny thinks me and him had a role in this decision, we opposed, we talked to people, we convinced people. We may have not worn t-shirts saying "Kefaya" ( Enough is Enough) like others have done, but he thinks we had a share.
A step forward? yep it is.
But important questions do arrise:
1) how will the constitution be ammended? the wording of the amendment is as important as the decision its self.
2) why did this decision come in February after voting card are no longer being issued? this knowing that supporters are usually the ones who do vote!
3)why did this decision come so close to the elections? this leaves little time for candidates to announce themselves, prepare themselves and for parties to develop their leadership. it also leaves little time for us to make sure the wording of the amendment is correct. We may want to add more to it, like women being allowed to be president, or that the president can only be president for two terms, or to cut the term to 5 or 4 years instead of 6.
All too suspicious.
Is this a way to get Mubarak Re-elected and leaving America with no excuse to hassle Egypt about it?
Is it a way to get Jimmy ( Gamal Mubarak - Hosni Mubarak's son) to be president without upsetting the masses and America?
Or has Mubarak decided to call it quits and leave with the remainig dignity he has left?
Despite of all those concerns this is still a ray of light in a long dark tunnel.
Maybe in 20 Years they will let women run?
Maybe in 30 years we'd have the first female candidate.
What i do know though is that now and more than ever, i do want to eventually stay in Egypt and fight for what i believe in.
Kenny thinks me and him had a role in this decision, we opposed, we talked to people, we convinced people. We may have not worn t-shirts saying "Kefaya" ( Enough is Enough) like others have done, but he thinks we had a share.
my song
contrary to common belief my song is not independent woman it is:
that I would be good even if i did nothing
that I would be good even if i got the thumbs down
that I would be good if I got and stayed sick
that I would be good even if I gained ten pounds
that i would be fine even even if I went bankrupt
that i would be good if I lost my hair and my youth
that i would be great if I was no longer queen
that i would be grand if i was not all knowing
that i would be loved even when i numb myself
that i would be good even when i am overwhelmed
that i would be loved even when i was fuming
that i would be good even if i was clingy
that i would be good even if i lost sanity
that i would be good
whether with or without you
i think this should be everyone's song
that I would be good even if i did nothing
that I would be good even if i got the thumbs down
that I would be good if I got and stayed sick
that I would be good even if I gained ten pounds
that i would be fine even even if I went bankrupt
that i would be good if I lost my hair and my youth
that i would be great if I was no longer queen
that i would be grand if i was not all knowing
that i would be loved even when i numb myself
that i would be good even when i am overwhelmed
that i would be loved even when i was fuming
that i would be good even if i was clingy
that i would be good even if i lost sanity
that i would be good
whether with or without you
i think this should be everyone's song
Sunday, February 20, 2005
The greatest inventions
Before i start, the best thing ever is a warm sunny morning - Ever since the weather got better here, i cannot stop smiling.
Now there are great inventions in the world today that also make me really happy :)
Blogging for one, it is such a cool thing - ever since i joined aiesec.ws and then nomadlife.org i can keep up with people all over the world, know their updates, read their funny stories and have great discussions - and though i have only heard of you from kenny our salaam trainee and my VPER and of course through nomadlife - thank you Dody :)
DSL - is such an amazing invention , i am online 24/7. and it's so freakingly fast!!
Torrents - i now can download all the movies and shows i want all the time with amazing quality.
Websites like www.torrentspy.com and www.torrentsearch.com are the coolest Ever!
MBC - the Middle Eastern Broadcasting Channel - is now a Network! With Channel 2 showing as i speak the coolest movies, and Channel 4 - great soaps and shows - a blast for me being a BIG couch Potato
Nokia - I just fell in love with a phone i saw on display. I have my heart set on it. It is the Nokia 2650 . It is white and so feminine and smooth. Even though i love the phone - my mom likes it too, so yay, i found a present for her for Mother's Day :D
MP3 Players - i can listen to my music EVERYWHERE!!
How cool is technology?
Now there are great inventions in the world today that also make me really happy :)
Blogging for one, it is such a cool thing - ever since i joined aiesec.ws and then nomadlife.org i can keep up with people all over the world, know their updates, read their funny stories and have great discussions - and though i have only heard of you from kenny our salaam trainee and my VPER and of course through nomadlife - thank you Dody :)
DSL - is such an amazing invention , i am online 24/7. and it's so freakingly fast!!
Torrents - i now can download all the movies and shows i want all the time with amazing quality.
Websites like www.torrentspy.com and www.torrentsearch.com are the coolest Ever!
MBC - the Middle Eastern Broadcasting Channel - is now a Network! With Channel 2 showing as i speak the coolest movies, and Channel 4 - great soaps and shows - a blast for me being a BIG couch Potato
Nokia - I just fell in love with a phone i saw on display. I have my heart set on it. It is the Nokia 2650 . It is white and so feminine and smooth. Even though i love the phone - my mom likes it too, so yay, i found a present for her for Mother's Day :D
MP3 Players - i can listen to my music EVERYWHERE!!
How cool is technology?
Friday, February 18, 2005
another one of my AIESEC related posts
I noticed that before i had NO posts whatsoever related to AIESEC, and in this past month i have had quite a few.
And this is a sweet addition.
I cannot remember ever being so excited about someone else going to a conference!
Tamer - inshaalaah - is going to IPM - yaaay. I felt soo bad for him when he thought he was not going, coz i can imagine the feeling.
Becoming MCP after all the hard work and sleepless nights, and not getting to do one of the most exciting things in the role, going to IPM - not a vey nice feeling.
And now that he is on his way to the Airport now, i am so excited for him. I can see him coming back with an amazing spirit!
When i became LCP i was very excited and happy with my LC, i loved being around them, loved being at the center, and the fact that i am the boss :)
As my term is entering its final quarter, i no longer feel the need to be at he center all the time.
I always thought it would be soooo hard not to be LCP anymore, going from the person people run to all the time whenever they have something and ask for advice , and the person people listen to and think greatly of to being just another someone,
but it feels so natural and great to gradually let other people show what they can do. I have already started focusing on the behind the scene stuff like BOA and all other sutff, and giving up other upfront stuff like holding LC meetings and so on for other EBs.
The fact that i have amazing potential successors makes me soo happy and makes this process of phasing out so smooth and fun.
I can't wait for those 3 months to whitness more action in Alex, and to see the new Leadership in our LC.
I can't wait to have an Alex delegation in NPM that is more that 3 people :P
and I can't wait to start my life in Cairo, with what i think will be the best team ever.
I can' wait to start working, and signing up for Yoga classes in this beautiful Gym in Maadi, Painting my flat baby blue, cooking, enjoying Fine Art and Music at the Opera House and all those other stuff that would probably take up an entire page.
To New Beginnings and Happy Successful Endings! :)
And this is a sweet addition.
I cannot remember ever being so excited about someone else going to a conference!
Tamer - inshaalaah - is going to IPM - yaaay. I felt soo bad for him when he thought he was not going, coz i can imagine the feeling.
Becoming MCP after all the hard work and sleepless nights, and not getting to do one of the most exciting things in the role, going to IPM - not a vey nice feeling.
And now that he is on his way to the Airport now, i am so excited for him. I can see him coming back with an amazing spirit!
When i became LCP i was very excited and happy with my LC, i loved being around them, loved being at the center, and the fact that i am the boss :)
As my term is entering its final quarter, i no longer feel the need to be at he center all the time.
I always thought it would be soooo hard not to be LCP anymore, going from the person people run to all the time whenever they have something and ask for advice , and the person people listen to and think greatly of to being just another someone,
but it feels so natural and great to gradually let other people show what they can do. I have already started focusing on the behind the scene stuff like BOA and all other sutff, and giving up other upfront stuff like holding LC meetings and so on for other EBs.
The fact that i have amazing potential successors makes me soo happy and makes this process of phasing out so smooth and fun.
I can't wait for those 3 months to whitness more action in Alex, and to see the new Leadership in our LC.
I can't wait to have an Alex delegation in NPM that is more that 3 people :P
and I can't wait to start my life in Cairo, with what i think will be the best team ever.
I can' wait to start working, and signing up for Yoga classes in this beautiful Gym in Maadi, Painting my flat baby blue, cooking, enjoying Fine Art and Music at the Opera House and all those other stuff that would probably take up an entire page.
To New Beginnings and Happy Successful Endings! :)
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
why oh why
I have been following the news in Lebanon, and i found out that they have asked Hariri's Son to step in in his father's political role.
Why? Why? Why?
Hariri, Hariri Junior
El Assad, El Assad Junior
and soon
Mubarak and Mubarak Junior
Do "Arab" Countries really believe in Monarcy that much?!
Arabs have a High Uncertainty Avoidance Index : 68
We hate change, and resent it more that necessary - i think.
Maybe people find it more comfortable to have the same name, as it implies less change.
Why? Why? Why?
Hariri, Hariri Junior
El Assad, El Assad Junior
and soon
Mubarak and Mubarak Junior
Do "Arab" Countries really believe in Monarcy that much?!
Arabs have a High Uncertainty Avoidance Index : 68
We hate change, and resent it more that necessary - i think.
Maybe people find it more comfortable to have the same name, as it implies less change.
A Love - Hate relationship!
paddy, a friend of mine , is a bit confuzed.
Do i love Egypt and want to live in it for the rest of my life?
Do i hate Egypt and want to get out of it?
Well paddy it is both. I rebell about what happens here because i want to change it. and the only way to start a change is to admit that it is needed.
Discussing it with people is the way to find ways and develop ideas on what needs to be changed and how. It not a way to complain about it.
So i would like to go abroad to experience stuff, but all the roads i will take will bring me back to Egypt, where i am REALLY needed and where i want to be!
For those who do not know i live in the beautiful city of Alexandria, where the sun shines almost 10 months of the Year, where i can smell the sea from my window and where i can enjoy the lazy afternoons with friends, family and loved ones.
It is also a city built by Alexander the Great.
If there is actually reincarnation - i would like to believe that I was Alexander the Great in a previous life.
and if i ever get a son i will call him Alex :D
Hi i am Alex from Alex! - (i will make sure my medical insurance covers schrinks)
One of the things why i am so proud of Egypt right now, is the increased awareness and interest in Democracy. More and more people are growing interest and are discussing this fact here in Egypt.
Finally
1) My condolences to all the Leabanese for what has happened to Rafik El Hariri.
2) Congrats Iraq for their Elections, i hope we see an elected president up n running by the end of the year
3) Poo and I had a lovely time last night, we had Breakfast together ( if you know what i mean ;) hahaha ( man she'll kill me if she reads this)
Do i love Egypt and want to live in it for the rest of my life?
Do i hate Egypt and want to get out of it?
Well paddy it is both. I rebell about what happens here because i want to change it. and the only way to start a change is to admit that it is needed.
Discussing it with people is the way to find ways and develop ideas on what needs to be changed and how. It not a way to complain about it.
So i would like to go abroad to experience stuff, but all the roads i will take will bring me back to Egypt, where i am REALLY needed and where i want to be!
For those who do not know i live in the beautiful city of Alexandria, where the sun shines almost 10 months of the Year, where i can smell the sea from my window and where i can enjoy the lazy afternoons with friends, family and loved ones.
It is also a city built by Alexander the Great.
If there is actually reincarnation - i would like to believe that I was Alexander the Great in a previous life.
and if i ever get a son i will call him Alex :D
Hi i am Alex from Alex! - (i will make sure my medical insurance covers schrinks)
One of the things why i am so proud of Egypt right now, is the increased awareness and interest in Democracy. More and more people are growing interest and are discussing this fact here in Egypt.
Finally
1) My condolences to all the Leabanese for what has happened to Rafik El Hariri.
2) Congrats Iraq for their Elections, i hope we see an elected president up n running by the end of the year
3) Poo and I had a lovely time last night, we had Breakfast together ( if you know what i mean ;) hahaha ( man she'll kill me if she reads this)
Monday, February 14, 2005
I have a date for Valentines!
Okay so its Valentine's day!
and in Egypt this is a HUGE thing! probably coz of the sexual frustration that is EVERYWHERE
hahaha
Sofar i have helped two couples picking out presents and planning their Night out, i have seen Red everywhere, love bugs and glitter all over.
AND I AM FINE!!
I do not wana watch romantic movies, and i do not wish i had someone!
i am completely OKAY!
plus i have a DATE with Poonam, a really good friend of mine! we will celebrate single life together!!
YAAY!!
:D:D:D
and in Egypt this is a HUGE thing! probably coz of the sexual frustration that is EVERYWHERE
hahaha
Sofar i have helped two couples picking out presents and planning their Night out, i have seen Red everywhere, love bugs and glitter all over.
AND I AM FINE!!
I do not wana watch romantic movies, and i do not wish i had someone!
i am completely OKAY!
plus i have a DATE with Poonam, a really good friend of mine! we will celebrate single life together!!
YAAY!!
:D:D:D
................
I actually did learn something from the MCP elections.
Jen keeps her promises
and she ROCKS!!
a big hug and kiss out to jen on valentines day ;)
Jen keeps her promises
and she ROCKS!!
a big hug and kiss out to jen on valentines day ;)
Saturday, February 12, 2005
too much time on ma hands
Yesterday i spoke with Assem ( Egypt/Canada) who kindof pointed out that i have way to much time on my hands.
Today i have checked Weblogs that belong to people i do not even know! some people of Jen's list.
So i kindof get the point Assem!
As i was checking those Blogs i Checked Assem's and Jill ( a girl from the US whom i met briefly in IC). Like me they ran for MCP and did not get it.
They all went on about how much they have learned yada yada yada, so i thought, what have i learned?
Nothing! (except that tamer is a great AIESECer and a great guy, which i already knew!!)
I gave a speech like any other Speech, i answered Questions, meh i would rate my perfromance at an even 6 out of 10.
I have given myself 8/10 before, but like once or twice.
Maybe that is why i have not learned?! I didn't exactly try that hard, the result was known from the beginning. Is that why?
Another thing is maybe our MC Elections? It's easier that EB selection!
7 minute speech?! when i ran for LCP i had 10 minutes.
1 hour of Q&A?!! again LC VPs Q&A is 1 hour!
It was basically 3 hours, and you're done! Not Nerve Racking, no butterflies, Nothing!
Change is needed.
As for me having waaaay too much time on my hand, it is so true. My Vacation has been a complete and utter Failure.
Number of Visits to the Gym?! ZERO
Number of Calories Eaten in one day? 3000?!! maybe more
Number of hours Slept in one day? 12
Visits to National Democratic Party? None
Articles written for magazines? None
Number of Movies seen? 10
Number of friends episodes seen? 40
Team day for EBs? Not Done
TL preparation? Not Done
I can find excuses for the last two things only!
Signs of Depression? Signs of Boredom? Signs of Irresponsibility?
Today i have checked Weblogs that belong to people i do not even know! some people of Jen's list.
So i kindof get the point Assem!
As i was checking those Blogs i Checked Assem's and Jill ( a girl from the US whom i met briefly in IC). Like me they ran for MCP and did not get it.
They all went on about how much they have learned yada yada yada, so i thought, what have i learned?
Nothing! (except that tamer is a great AIESECer and a great guy, which i already knew!!)
I gave a speech like any other Speech, i answered Questions, meh i would rate my perfromance at an even 6 out of 10.
I have given myself 8/10 before, but like once or twice.
Maybe that is why i have not learned?! I didn't exactly try that hard, the result was known from the beginning. Is that why?
Another thing is maybe our MC Elections? It's easier that EB selection!
7 minute speech?! when i ran for LCP i had 10 minutes.
1 hour of Q&A?!! again LC VPs Q&A is 1 hour!
It was basically 3 hours, and you're done! Not Nerve Racking, no butterflies, Nothing!
Change is needed.
As for me having waaaay too much time on my hand, it is so true. My Vacation has been a complete and utter Failure.
Number of Visits to the Gym?! ZERO
Number of Calories Eaten in one day? 3000?!! maybe more
Number of hours Slept in one day? 12
Visits to National Democratic Party? None
Articles written for magazines? None
Number of Movies seen? 10
Number of friends episodes seen? 40
Team day for EBs? Not Done
TL preparation? Not Done
I can find excuses for the last two things only!
Signs of Depression? Signs of Boredom? Signs of Irresponsibility?
Proud to be Egyptian?
A propos Soad's Comment and Nisrin's Post:
I think most Arabs went through what nisrin went through, not wanting to linked to Arabs.
Personally if i got to pick where i was from, it would most definetly be Egypt!
I am proud of all the blood I have, to be linked with the Prophet is an Honor, as well as being linked to the Ancient Egyptians and Mohamed Aly - one of the Best Leaders Egypt has ever had and many more.
See it's not the origin or blood we are ashamed of, its what the Arab world is coming to these days. After Pioneering in Everything, it is now in its darkest phases of ignorance corruption and retardation.
This being quite natural, is something we the so-called "Arab Countries" need to feel ashamed of, and that should refect on our behaviour so we can work on improving our status quo.
And like it or not, we are linked together -at least by the world community, so if Egypt advances on its own, it will be better off but the "Arab world" will still be in need.
And this leaves me with words from the AIESEC Power of One Presentation:
If it's not us, then who?
If it's not now, then when?
I think most Arabs went through what nisrin went through, not wanting to linked to Arabs.
Personally if i got to pick where i was from, it would most definetly be Egypt!
I am proud of all the blood I have, to be linked with the Prophet is an Honor, as well as being linked to the Ancient Egyptians and Mohamed Aly - one of the Best Leaders Egypt has ever had and many more.
See it's not the origin or blood we are ashamed of, its what the Arab world is coming to these days. After Pioneering in Everything, it is now in its darkest phases of ignorance corruption and retardation.
This being quite natural, is something we the so-called "Arab Countries" need to feel ashamed of, and that should refect on our behaviour so we can work on improving our status quo.
And like it or not, we are linked together -at least by the world community, so if Egypt advances on its own, it will be better off but the "Arab world" will still be in need.
And this leaves me with words from the AIESEC Power of One Presentation:
If it's not us, then who?
If it's not now, then when?
Thursday, February 10, 2005
What are Egyptians?
Responding to Nisrin's Post,
she said: "I have one question for all the Egyptians out there. If you take away everything Arab. If you take way Arabic and Arab culture from Egypt, what would you have left? The memory of an Ancient Egypt. Your history maybe of Ancient Egypt but your present is a part of the Arab World. "
so if we do remove all Islamic and Arab infulence, what will we be?!
what is left from our culture?!
Now honestly all arab countries share ONLY two things, Language, and Religion.
i think each country has its own unique culture, and it is a product of a lot of cultures mixed together.
Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria have their unique culture, parts of it maybe due to Arab influence, part french, part mediterranean and part african.
same applies to all other countries.
I am not against having a culture that could have an Arab part in it, but i am against being forced to be linked with other countries just coz they happen to also have a bit of an Arab culture too.
Put a kuwaiti or a person from Qatar next to a Leabnese or an Egyptian or a Moroccan, and they will not seem so similar afterall.
Now Nisrin said: "I have yet to meet an Egyptian who has convinced me they are not Arab. If you (you must be an Egyptian) can convince me you are not Arab, I will fly to Egypt tomorrow and cook you and whoever else you want to invite the most lavish Lebanese dinner ever known to man. "
Sadly i do not think i qualify for your lavish dinner. But i Do prove my theory.
My Ancestors came to Egypt with Mohamed Ali probably. This is from both sides - mom and dad.
Those acestors mixed with people here in Egypt. those people can be traced back to the Prophet - also on both sides.
So i as a person have both origins in me, and i presume those ancestors must have mixed with the decendants of the Ancient Egyptians.
Judging by my looks and the looks of my family, some meditteranean blood must be there as well( uhh nisrin by those looks i do not mean my bro's looks , when u come i will show you the rest of the family who look nothing like my bro)
I am therefore Egyptian! a Shaker Salad, peoples all mixed up together!
So it's unfair to say i am Arab, coz that is only a small part, not the whole.
and that in itsself is unique!
Here's another controversial question.
Are Egyptians Semits or are only israelis and Jews Semites?
So if the US passes a law condemning hatred to Semites, then it should be directed to Arabs as well huh?
she said: "I have one question for all the Egyptians out there. If you take away everything Arab. If you take way Arabic and Arab culture from Egypt, what would you have left? The memory of an Ancient Egypt. Your history maybe of Ancient Egypt but your present is a part of the Arab World. "
so if we do remove all Islamic and Arab infulence, what will we be?!
what is left from our culture?!
Now honestly all arab countries share ONLY two things, Language, and Religion.
i think each country has its own unique culture, and it is a product of a lot of cultures mixed together.
Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria have their unique culture, parts of it maybe due to Arab influence, part french, part mediterranean and part african.
same applies to all other countries.
I am not against having a culture that could have an Arab part in it, but i am against being forced to be linked with other countries just coz they happen to also have a bit of an Arab culture too.
Put a kuwaiti or a person from Qatar next to a Leabnese or an Egyptian or a Moroccan, and they will not seem so similar afterall.
Now Nisrin said: "I have yet to meet an Egyptian who has convinced me they are not Arab. If you (you must be an Egyptian) can convince me you are not Arab, I will fly to Egypt tomorrow and cook you and whoever else you want to invite the most lavish Lebanese dinner ever known to man. "
Sadly i do not think i qualify for your lavish dinner. But i Do prove my theory.
My Ancestors came to Egypt with Mohamed Ali probably. This is from both sides - mom and dad.
Those acestors mixed with people here in Egypt. those people can be traced back to the Prophet - also on both sides.
So i as a person have both origins in me, and i presume those ancestors must have mixed with the decendants of the Ancient Egyptians.
Judging by my looks and the looks of my family, some meditteranean blood must be there as well( uhh nisrin by those looks i do not mean my bro's looks , when u come i will show you the rest of the family who look nothing like my bro)
I am therefore Egyptian! a Shaker Salad, peoples all mixed up together!
So it's unfair to say i am Arab, coz that is only a small part, not the whole.
and that in itsself is unique!
Here's another controversial question.
Are Egyptians Semits or are only israelis and Jews Semites?
So if the US passes a law condemning hatred to Semites, then it should be directed to Arabs as well huh?
Egyptians are NOT Arabs!
just an explanation!
Egyptians are NOT Arabs!
that is why i refer to Arabs as "they"
I believe Egyptians have their own unique name, which is Egyptian.
A mixture of Ancient Egyptians, Turks, Eastern Europeans(places that used to be with the ottoman empire) , a little bit Italian, Greek and Arab Peoples.
Our loyalty is to Egypt, then to the entire World!
maybe i am wrong, but i just don't think we are Arabs!
maybe it's just coz i don't like people from the Arab Peninsula and i do not want to be associated with them?
do you think so?
comment and let me know!
Egyptians are NOT Arabs!
that is why i refer to Arabs as "they"
I believe Egyptians have their own unique name, which is Egyptian.
A mixture of Ancient Egyptians, Turks, Eastern Europeans(places that used to be with the ottoman empire) , a little bit Italian, Greek and Arab Peoples.
Our loyalty is to Egypt, then to the entire World!
maybe i am wrong, but i just don't think we are Arabs!
maybe it's just coz i don't like people from the Arab Peninsula and i do not want to be associated with them?
do you think so?
comment and let me know!
Peace?
you really think there can be peace now?
i doubt that will last:
from BBC:
"I am an Israeli and you would call me a hardliner because I believe in the inalienable right of Jews to the whole of the biblical holy land. However, if the Palestinians demonstrate their aim is for an independent democratic Arab state living side by side with a secure Jewish state then even I, albeit with a heavy heart, am prepared to trade land for peace. However the Palestinians have to demonstrate that this is their aim and gain the trust of me and people like me who have witnessed nearly 60 years of bloodshed. This must include the dismantling of groups such as Hamas."
Norman, Jerusalem, Israel
Okay I am someone who is very skeptical of the "palestinian cause", who thinks palestine is to blame for a lot of what they are in right now, and who thinks palestinian goverment cannot control all its people. Some would call me pro-israel (which i am not) or a traitor ( which i am not).
But THAT really got my blood boiling!
Now Arabs and Palestinians on the other hand think Israelis have no right to be in this area and they are "invadors" who came in and took their land.
When Nasser said in one of his speeches that we will keep pushing them untill they sink in the mediterranean, i am sure THAT got Israeli blood boiling too!
Looking back on history one can say that both Arabs and Jews have equal right to be in this territory.
is there anything wrong with them calling it "our" land?
Once both parties acknowledge that, that is when actual peace can happen.
For now let's just call it a ceasefire! and i dont think it will last for that long!
i doubt that will last:
from BBC:
"I am an Israeli and you would call me a hardliner because I believe in the inalienable right of Jews to the whole of the biblical holy land. However, if the Palestinians demonstrate their aim is for an independent democratic Arab state living side by side with a secure Jewish state then even I, albeit with a heavy heart, am prepared to trade land for peace. However the Palestinians have to demonstrate that this is their aim and gain the trust of me and people like me who have witnessed nearly 60 years of bloodshed. This must include the dismantling of groups such as Hamas."
Norman, Jerusalem, Israel
Okay I am someone who is very skeptical of the "palestinian cause", who thinks palestine is to blame for a lot of what they are in right now, and who thinks palestinian goverment cannot control all its people. Some would call me pro-israel (which i am not) or a traitor ( which i am not).
But THAT really got my blood boiling!
Now Arabs and Palestinians on the other hand think Israelis have no right to be in this area and they are "invadors" who came in and took their land.
When Nasser said in one of his speeches that we will keep pushing them untill they sink in the mediterranean, i am sure THAT got Israeli blood boiling too!
Looking back on history one can say that both Arabs and Jews have equal right to be in this territory.
is there anything wrong with them calling it "our" land?
Once both parties acknowledge that, that is when actual peace can happen.
For now let's just call it a ceasefire! and i dont think it will last for that long!
the best trainee ever?
AIESEC Alex has the best trainee ever.
i must admit i would rate our quality at a good 6/10 - coz our Traineeships are all english teaching and it's a hassle!
but still we managed to get the best trainee ever!
Purvi, was a member of AIESEC Uk, and was, according to her, not the most eager member ever.
yet she's so nice, so sweet, understanding and such a great person!
i just love her!
she just proves that you do not have to be an MCP or an LCP to be a great AIESECer and a great change Agent.
Her Luck landed her in a Traineeship, where they are not operating well enough to pay her, so we are finding her a new traineeship - a month now with nothing to do and she's still the most polite and sweet trainee ever!
one of the things i love about trainees is when they like your country! it just makes me feel happy. and trust me that does not happen a lot here in egypt!
it makes you like them even more.
Purvi is also the only trainee i have ever had to kiss (and no not on the cheek!!)
this goes out to you purvi! the best trainee anyone can hope for.
i consider myself lucky to have met someone like you.
P.S. kait and holly you ROCK
oh and trent even though you are not from my LC but you kick ass too (and no tom, this has nothing to do with how hot i think he is ) hahaha
i must admit i would rate our quality at a good 6/10 - coz our Traineeships are all english teaching and it's a hassle!
but still we managed to get the best trainee ever!
Purvi, was a member of AIESEC Uk, and was, according to her, not the most eager member ever.
yet she's so nice, so sweet, understanding and such a great person!
i just love her!
she just proves that you do not have to be an MCP or an LCP to be a great AIESECer and a great change Agent.
Her Luck landed her in a Traineeship, where they are not operating well enough to pay her, so we are finding her a new traineeship - a month now with nothing to do and she's still the most polite and sweet trainee ever!
one of the things i love about trainees is when they like your country! it just makes me feel happy. and trust me that does not happen a lot here in egypt!
it makes you like them even more.
Purvi is also the only trainee i have ever had to kiss (and no not on the cheek!!)
this goes out to you purvi! the best trainee anyone can hope for.
i consider myself lucky to have met someone like you.
P.S. kait and holly you ROCK
oh and trent even though you are not from my LC but you kick ass too (and no tom, this has nothing to do with how hot i think he is ) hahaha
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
future anxiety?
I may not be MCP of Egypt but thanks to insight i am still MCP of Colombia!
don't you just love that system, soo many fuck ups! probably hit the guiness book of records.
Moving on, i half-heartedly stepped down as VP thus having to endure yet another year of life in my beloved country Egypt, and post-poning my plans to conquer the Earth one year.
So what's next? where will i live in Cairo? another thing needs to be planned.
I am more relieved now that i know what's happening next year, though it's the 3rd best thing but at least i know!
for now i am excited about how to decorate my new FLAT in cairo!!
so color suggestions?!
BABY PINK!! yaaay
Purple?? naaah
BABY Blue?!! momkin!!
how about green and yellow? too garden-y?
i am open to suggestions.
i know how it's gona smell though! it's going to be apple cinnamon!!
well ta ta for now
don't you just love that system, soo many fuck ups! probably hit the guiness book of records.
Moving on, i half-heartedly stepped down as VP thus having to endure yet another year of life in my beloved country Egypt, and post-poning my plans to conquer the Earth one year.
So what's next? where will i live in Cairo? another thing needs to be planned.
I am more relieved now that i know what's happening next year, though it's the 3rd best thing but at least i know!
for now i am excited about how to decorate my new FLAT in cairo!!
so color suggestions?!
BABY PINK!! yaaay
Purple?? naaah
BABY Blue?!! momkin!!
how about green and yellow? too garden-y?
i am open to suggestions.
i know how it's gona smell though! it's going to be apple cinnamon!!
well ta ta for now
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
the quiet life
After exams and traveling and stuff, it's now the quiet life.
Promises to diet and go to the gym have not been kept. Being active and waking up early is a far off dream.
We are back to sleeping at 4 am, waking up at 2 and going out till 1 am.
so what's been going on?
the mega thing is that i am running for National Committee President of Egypt. This is not an easy thing, as i have to prepare myself.
I am still working on the best speech which is kindof hard as i am speaking to poele who i do not know that well.
The second big thing on my mind is what to do if i am not elected. Should i run for VP? should go abroad? should i look for a Job? should i do my masters?!
but thankfully that decision will be made after conference so i got time.
One other thing i am working on it to become more politically active. I am getting my voting card done and i am thinking about joining a political party.
I have heard about a political party whose goals are to make Egypt a secular country among other things. it is very modern and form the diggest opposition in Parliament ( 6 members of the parliament are of this Party, while the rest 400 and something are of the NDP)
I want to go to cairo to check it out.
I am also planning to attned some meetings of the NDP and see what goes on there.
Another big thing?!
well i am trying to write freelance to some magazines like campus and travel today.
i am still looking into this matter and trying to sort something out.
I am out of practice and i still need to improve but it's a start.
Lastly, i am trying to find a solution for my laptop which has a fucked screen
ebay here i come?
basically that's life in a nutshell sofar
Promises to diet and go to the gym have not been kept. Being active and waking up early is a far off dream.
We are back to sleeping at 4 am, waking up at 2 and going out till 1 am.
so what's been going on?
the mega thing is that i am running for National Committee President of Egypt. This is not an easy thing, as i have to prepare myself.
I am still working on the best speech which is kindof hard as i am speaking to poele who i do not know that well.
The second big thing on my mind is what to do if i am not elected. Should i run for VP? should go abroad? should i look for a Job? should i do my masters?!
but thankfully that decision will be made after conference so i got time.
One other thing i am working on it to become more politically active. I am getting my voting card done and i am thinking about joining a political party.
I have heard about a political party whose goals are to make Egypt a secular country among other things. it is very modern and form the diggest opposition in Parliament ( 6 members of the parliament are of this Party, while the rest 400 and something are of the NDP)
I want to go to cairo to check it out.
I am also planning to attned some meetings of the NDP and see what goes on there.
Another big thing?!
well i am trying to write freelance to some magazines like campus and travel today.
i am still looking into this matter and trying to sort something out.
I am out of practice and i still need to improve but it's a start.
Lastly, i am trying to find a solution for my laptop which has a fucked screen
ebay here i come?
basically that's life in a nutshell sofar
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
guess who's coming for dinner!!
my good friend Jen is coming for a visit to Egypt - and that is why we are all excited.
planning has started, and Jen time has begun.
Now those who know me know that i love jen coz of many things
she's nice funny sweet yada yada yada blah blah blah all mentioned in my MC application
- most importantly coz she has worked in the 2 most GREATEST organizations EVER!!
guess?!
- AIESEC - duuh?
- McDonald's
My eternal love and loyalty to both organizations make jen in a good position in my point of view.
she must be darn smart to chose those two GIANTS!
so jen - we have 14 hours of talking - stuff not related to AIESEC.
i am excited about you coming
and thank you for keeping your promise and coming to my elections. not many people can keep a promise, but you sure can.
PS: jen also started me on a popcorn fetish! i now have a popcorn maker at home!
she also made me love this font verdanda, and now everything i write is in it.
jen is also known for starting up a new dictionary in Egypt consisting of words like hoebagger, fatass, babe, hepes. also many swearwords which i am too polite to say, so ask her :P
planning has started, and Jen time has begun.
Now those who know me know that i love jen coz of many things
she's nice funny sweet yada yada yada blah blah blah all mentioned in my MC application
- most importantly coz she has worked in the 2 most GREATEST organizations EVER!!
guess?!
- AIESEC - duuh?
- McDonald's
My eternal love and loyalty to both organizations make jen in a good position in my point of view.
she must be darn smart to chose those two GIANTS!
so jen - we have 14 hours of talking - stuff not related to AIESEC.
i am excited about you coming
and thank you for keeping your promise and coming to my elections. not many people can keep a promise, but you sure can.
PS: jen also started me on a popcorn fetish! i now have a popcorn maker at home!
she also made me love this font verdanda, and now everything i write is in it.
jen is also known for starting up a new dictionary in Egypt consisting of words like hoebagger, fatass, babe, hepes. also many swearwords which i am too polite to say, so ask her :P
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
corruption rulz?!
so i stop by McDonald's - i am lovin' it by the way - to get some food.
as i am in the shop i see a cop putting this thingie on one of the wheel. i run out and resove the issue by agreeing to pay the fine.
Problem!! no money - i am eight pounds short
so i call up my dad n tell him to come over to give me some money as he was close by, and to save me the trouble of giong to the DMV to get a my lisence back.
for the record this would have been my SECOND fine. so kait and leila - i AM a good driver!!
so my dad comes with his friends, the dude sees em and apparently my dad's friend is this hot shot thing in the ministry of bullshit i guess ( we have too many unnecissary Ministries - 35 in total)
so the police officer spends 5 minutes appologizing for trying to give me a fine, gives me my Diver's License back and does not take a penny.
politically incorrect? yes
big mistake? yes
injustice? yes
it sure feels good to have things get done for ya. but it feels wrong!
as i am in the shop i see a cop putting this thingie on one of the wheel. i run out and resove the issue by agreeing to pay the fine.
Problem!! no money - i am eight pounds short
so i call up my dad n tell him to come over to give me some money as he was close by, and to save me the trouble of giong to the DMV to get a my lisence back.
for the record this would have been my SECOND fine. so kait and leila - i AM a good driver!!
so my dad comes with his friends, the dude sees em and apparently my dad's friend is this hot shot thing in the ministry of bullshit i guess ( we have too many unnecissary Ministries - 35 in total)
so the police officer spends 5 minutes appologizing for trying to give me a fine, gives me my Diver's License back and does not take a penny.
politically incorrect? yes
big mistake? yes
injustice? yes
it sure feels good to have things get done for ya. but it feels wrong!
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
giving thanks
I think thanksgiving is the best holiday on earth,
hats off america for creating this day - i hope all thw world celebrates it.
and i have decided to celebrate it with you.
it a day where you give thanks for what you have.
and we do not do that very often.
tragedies have to happen, people's lives have to be at stake for us to realize this.
and today i want to give thanks,
give thanks for my family, who have been there for me all the time, who are a living proof that there is something called unconditional love.
though they may not be perfect, i love them dearly. i almost lost a brother, and a father - two incidents that told me how important it is to tell people you love them, and how much they mean to you. I love you guys, you truly are the best anyone could hope for.
i want to give thanks for the friends i have, yosra, margo, poonam, roudy, nassef, nora, shireen, shady, Fou, zeinab, yasmine, lara, amy - i cannot imagine my life without you, every single one of you has been there for me in every different situation. i know, most of you don't know it, and some may not even share this same feeling but thank you, that you exist.
i wish you all the best - and lara, i haven't seen you in a few years now, but you are still one of my best friends - i wish you and waz the best future together.
i want to give thanks for my health - it has been the worst year sofar for me in this area but still seeing people die in Aisa, seeing all the sufering in the world i realize i am such a lucky person.
and i finally give thanks for, and this is weird, my ambition - it has got me closer and closer to who i wana be, it makes me eager to dream to learn and to try my best at everything i do. Whatever or whoever started my ambition since 8th grade at school, thank you.
hats off america for creating this day - i hope all thw world celebrates it.
and i have decided to celebrate it with you.
it a day where you give thanks for what you have.
and we do not do that very often.
tragedies have to happen, people's lives have to be at stake for us to realize this.
and today i want to give thanks,
give thanks for my family, who have been there for me all the time, who are a living proof that there is something called unconditional love.
though they may not be perfect, i love them dearly. i almost lost a brother, and a father - two incidents that told me how important it is to tell people you love them, and how much they mean to you. I love you guys, you truly are the best anyone could hope for.
i want to give thanks for the friends i have, yosra, margo, poonam, roudy, nassef, nora, shireen, shady, Fou, zeinab, yasmine, lara, amy - i cannot imagine my life without you, every single one of you has been there for me in every different situation. i know, most of you don't know it, and some may not even share this same feeling but thank you, that you exist.
i wish you all the best - and lara, i haven't seen you in a few years now, but you are still one of my best friends - i wish you and waz the best future together.
i want to give thanks for my health - it has been the worst year sofar for me in this area but still seeing people die in Aisa, seeing all the sufering in the world i realize i am such a lucky person.
and i finally give thanks for, and this is weird, my ambition - it has got me closer and closer to who i wana be, it makes me eager to dream to learn and to try my best at everything i do. Whatever or whoever started my ambition since 8th grade at school, thank you.
Friday, January 07, 2005
I'm on nomadlife now
Hey,
So after a few months of not knowing how to deal with this nomadlife thing - i finally got it.
This is Luli.
I am almost 22 Years old, almost a graduate.
I am LCP in an LC Alexandria in Egypt so that's how i heard about nomadlife.
and i want to see the world :)
So after a few months of not knowing how to deal with this nomadlife thing - i finally got it.
This is Luli.
I am almost 22 Years old, almost a graduate.
I am LCP in an LC Alexandria in Egypt so that's how i heard about nomadlife.
and i want to see the world :)
Saturday, January 01, 2005
The Spark.com!
So i have been taking those tests on www.thespark.com
i took the IQ test:
my IQ is 115 - it is above average where the average is 100
The Personality Test:
You are a Politician!
(Dominant Extroverted Abstract Thinker)
Last time i took it in school i was a submissive introverted abstract feeler!
Damn i have changed huh?
The American Test:
I am 55% American! yay?!
The Greed Test:
I am 28% Greedy - less than the average 32%
The Stress Test:
I am 20@ Stressed
The Vice-Presedential Test:
I am 10% Vice Presedential :(
The Dateable Test:
I am 65% Dateable !! YAAY :P
i took the IQ test:
my IQ is 115 - it is above average where the average is 100
The Personality Test:
You are a Politician!
(Dominant Extroverted Abstract Thinker)
Last time i took it in school i was a submissive introverted abstract feeler!
Damn i have changed huh?
The American Test:
I am 55% American! yay?!
The Greed Test:
I am 28% Greedy - less than the average 32%
The Stress Test:
I am 20@ Stressed
The Vice-Presedential Test:
I am 10% Vice Presedential :(
The Dateable Test:
I am 65% Dateable !! YAAY :P
Friday, December 31, 2004
my new theory of economic development!
my theory is not new - it's acctually been said.
i always thought that birth control is the best way to keep population growth low and achieve economic development.
i have changed my mind - if I do not have kids or only one kid and every other well educated person in egypt has only one kid - while the bawaab ( concierge) and the guy who picks up the trash keep on having 1/2 a dozzen kids then then there's no way the can achieve any growth!
so the key is - we should have a lot of kids who can work and be good productive citizens of the community.
so 2 things:
if i am president i will set a limit of every couple depending on thier income and wealth! wealthy couples with a collgege degree can have as many kids as they want - the bawaab can only have one!
the second thing is - i think i may even have kids myself . if i can't be president, i will give birth to one. i can give birth to 3 or 4 well educated change agents that would do something good in their life
so i won't get all the glory, but who cares! as long as the work gets done!
i always thought that birth control is the best way to keep population growth low and achieve economic development.
i have changed my mind - if I do not have kids or only one kid and every other well educated person in egypt has only one kid - while the bawaab ( concierge) and the guy who picks up the trash keep on having 1/2 a dozzen kids then then there's no way the can achieve any growth!
so the key is - we should have a lot of kids who can work and be good productive citizens of the community.
so 2 things:
if i am president i will set a limit of every couple depending on thier income and wealth! wealthy couples with a collgege degree can have as many kids as they want - the bawaab can only have one!
the second thing is - i think i may even have kids myself . if i can't be president, i will give birth to one. i can give birth to 3 or 4 well educated change agents that would do something good in their life
so i won't get all the glory, but who cares! as long as the work gets done!
New Years Resolutions
Here goes!
Now the Regulars for each year are:
- Lose Weight
- Work out
- look better
- work my ass out
Now to a brand new entry!!
- take kick boxing class
AND for the FIRST Time Ever!!
i will leave the option of falling in love open! - that does not mean that my resolution is falling in love - it is that if an opportunity comes along i will try my best to let it happen.
and...
oh and i have to be nicer to my grandma
Now the Regulars for each year are:
- Lose Weight
- Work out
- look better
- work my ass out
Now to a brand new entry!!
- take kick boxing class
AND for the FIRST Time Ever!!
i will leave the option of falling in love open! - that does not mean that my resolution is falling in love - it is that if an opportunity comes along i will try my best to let it happen.
and...
oh and i have to be nicer to my grandma
Scary experience
so i went to see Alexadner the other day - which was CRAP!
and the movie finishes at 1:40 AM!! such a long movie.
on the way home some dude in a cherokee kept following me n my sys home tying to pick us up!
yes, i PROUDLY live in a country where girls who go home at 2 am in winter are automatically thought of as prostitutes!
so he keeps follwoing us and my sister can't loose him! meh if i were driving i betcha i could have tricked him but my sis is way to innocent to do that.
so we finally fool him when we turn right to my place - i give him the finger ( well i HAD to! he was an ass)
then he followes us somehow again and blocks the entry to the garage and comes out of his car and bangs on our windows.
and tradadadaaaaaaaaaaaaa my bro to the rescue! i called him he came out of the house, made the guy drive away - and the sun shines again!
so i am now actively looking for how to make pepper sray - so i can defend myself.
my brother';s friend has that electric shock thing - which is SO cool! but it's too expensive
and the movie finishes at 1:40 AM!! such a long movie.
on the way home some dude in a cherokee kept following me n my sys home tying to pick us up!
yes, i PROUDLY live in a country where girls who go home at 2 am in winter are automatically thought of as prostitutes!
so he keeps follwoing us and my sister can't loose him! meh if i were driving i betcha i could have tricked him but my sis is way to innocent to do that.
so we finally fool him when we turn right to my place - i give him the finger ( well i HAD to! he was an ass)
then he followes us somehow again and blocks the entry to the garage and comes out of his car and bangs on our windows.
and tradadadaaaaaaaaaaaaa my bro to the rescue! i called him he came out of the house, made the guy drive away - and the sun shines again!
so i am now actively looking for how to make pepper sray - so i can defend myself.
my brother';s friend has that electric shock thing - which is SO cool! but it's too expensive
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
a day in the life of the likes of me ( crazy busy and stressed people)
9:30 Alarm
9:31 Snooze
9:50 finally get out of bed
10:15 out of the house
10:41 Arrive in University of Alexandira
11:30 fianlly get into my oral exam after almost an hour waiting on my feet
12:53 Arrive at the Accademy ( my other univeristy)
12:15 Lecture - Democracy and Peace are they related?
13:50 End of Lecture but continue discussion in corridor with classmate
13:59 Meet margo and hang out
14:30 Check email in Labs
14:59 meet margo again
15:40 get in car
16:10 drop margo off at the hilton for a company visit - she's 10 mins late
16:30 arrive at my dad's
17:50 leave my dad's
18:12 back in accademy ( i know i drove like a maniac and was about to have 3 accidents - i was late)
18:20 start LC meeting
20:21 finish LC meeting - very demotevated and disappointed!
21:15 arrive at margo's - help her with her project and - SPSS data entry!
23:00 leave margo's
23:02 coffee with shireen
23:45 leave to get home
00:00 arive at home
00:21 enty in my blog
hopefully when i am done i will watch a few episodes of friends then sleep.
i need help
9:31 Snooze
9:50 finally get out of bed
10:15 out of the house
10:41 Arrive in University of Alexandira
11:30 fianlly get into my oral exam after almost an hour waiting on my feet
12:53 Arrive at the Accademy ( my other univeristy)
12:15 Lecture - Democracy and Peace are they related?
13:50 End of Lecture but continue discussion in corridor with classmate
13:59 Meet margo and hang out
14:30 Check email in Labs
14:59 meet margo again
15:40 get in car
16:10 drop margo off at the hilton for a company visit - she's 10 mins late
16:30 arrive at my dad's
17:50 leave my dad's
18:12 back in accademy ( i know i drove like a maniac and was about to have 3 accidents - i was late)
18:20 start LC meeting
20:21 finish LC meeting - very demotevated and disappointed!
21:15 arrive at margo's - help her with her project and - SPSS data entry!
23:00 leave margo's
23:02 coffee with shireen
23:45 leave to get home
00:00 arive at home
00:21 enty in my blog
hopefully when i am done i will watch a few episodes of friends then sleep.
i need help
Saturday, December 04, 2004
cairo experience
walking out of my house in the morning after a huge fight with my parents about going to cairo on that day i kept cursing and was fuming mad at my parents for everything.
in cairo we went and visited the Cancer Institute - where children who suffer from cancer are placed.
That's when you see how lucky you are - healthy, with a roof on your head, and you can afford treatment if anything bad happens, and you have a family.
Being completely cold during this 2 hour experience made me look bad to the other half a dozzen girls whose eyes teared up every 5 minutes. But that was beacuse i was seeing things with my mind not with my heart.
2 resolutions:
1) I am a lucky person - thank god for that
2) something needs to change in this country
at the end of that day we started talking about the state of the world presentations we always get in our first natconf in AIESEC - and this was the real version of it. in 30 minutes we were wandering in the Grand Hyatt Hotel looking for celebrities in a stinking rich place, which luckily most of us got to spend a couple of nights there before. then we moved on to the tragic part of the presentation - real life hits you.
On the way home everyone called their parents - and i sent mine an i love you sms - which this morning was not an option.
One last observation - the private and the public parts of the hospital were exactly opposite to oneanother , with stricking differences.
My pure capitalist views disregard that - we cannot dicriminate against the rich in favor for the poor.
but then again i cannot be heartless, we can surely help the poor get better services.
It all boils down to politics
in cairo we went and visited the Cancer Institute - where children who suffer from cancer are placed.
That's when you see how lucky you are - healthy, with a roof on your head, and you can afford treatment if anything bad happens, and you have a family.
Being completely cold during this 2 hour experience made me look bad to the other half a dozzen girls whose eyes teared up every 5 minutes. But that was beacuse i was seeing things with my mind not with my heart.
2 resolutions:
1) I am a lucky person - thank god for that
2) something needs to change in this country
at the end of that day we started talking about the state of the world presentations we always get in our first natconf in AIESEC - and this was the real version of it. in 30 minutes we were wandering in the Grand Hyatt Hotel looking for celebrities in a stinking rich place, which luckily most of us got to spend a couple of nights there before. then we moved on to the tragic part of the presentation - real life hits you.
On the way home everyone called their parents - and i sent mine an i love you sms - which this morning was not an option.
One last observation - the private and the public parts of the hospital were exactly opposite to oneanother , with stricking differences.
My pure capitalist views disregard that - we cannot dicriminate against the rich in favor for the poor.
but then again i cannot be heartless, we can surely help the poor get better services.
It all boils down to politics
Thursday, December 02, 2004
genious or retard?!
I got some stuff in my blog working after 2.5 hours!
Genious : i got them right!
Retard: I got them after 2.5 hours!
Can't believe i am a senior! i.e. this is the final new year's eve i will spend studying!
Next Chrsitmas i may even have the day off!!
Next Week i am going to go get my voting card! i have decidednot to wait for anyone and do it myslef.
Exciting huh?
kenny and I want to start a website to encourage people to vote in 2005!
though it is doubtfull that it would change a thing we have a theory
If i do not vote then i abstain from my right - so i cannot complain on how the results are like.
If i DO vote - i have practiced my right - and if it is not heard i can now complain. Ofcourse the complaining phase and demanding a change will not happen anytime soon!
We have also come up with a pay-it-forward kind of system, where if each one of us convinced 10 to vote and these 10 convince 5 others and these 5 convince 5 more etc maybe officials will see that something wrong is happeing when the Nos have become so much more.
In the Election system in egypt we have a referrendum for those who do not know. Parliament selects one person and then a referendum is held, if this person gets a No then pariliament chooses another person and another eferendum is held.
What makes us so sure that the people we'll tell will say no?
Nothing - i have met in my discussions people who think that we cannot be governed in another way, we are born not to be lead but to be herded like a herd of cattle.
Others say change is necessary.
You know the Quote " the only think in life that is constant is Change"?
Well not in this country!!
"the only thing in like that is constant is MUBARAK"
hurrayy for that!
Genious : i got them right!
Retard: I got them after 2.5 hours!
Can't believe i am a senior! i.e. this is the final new year's eve i will spend studying!
Next Chrsitmas i may even have the day off!!
Next Week i am going to go get my voting card! i have decidednot to wait for anyone and do it myslef.
Exciting huh?
kenny and I want to start a website to encourage people to vote in 2005!
though it is doubtfull that it would change a thing we have a theory
If i do not vote then i abstain from my right - so i cannot complain on how the results are like.
If i DO vote - i have practiced my right - and if it is not heard i can now complain. Ofcourse the complaining phase and demanding a change will not happen anytime soon!
We have also come up with a pay-it-forward kind of system, where if each one of us convinced 10 to vote and these 10 convince 5 others and these 5 convince 5 more etc maybe officials will see that something wrong is happeing when the Nos have become so much more.
In the Election system in egypt we have a referrendum for those who do not know. Parliament selects one person and then a referendum is held, if this person gets a No then pariliament chooses another person and another eferendum is held.
What makes us so sure that the people we'll tell will say no?
Nothing - i have met in my discussions people who think that we cannot be governed in another way, we are born not to be lead but to be herded like a herd of cattle.
Others say change is necessary.
You know the Quote " the only think in life that is constant is Change"?
Well not in this country!!
"the only thing in like that is constant is MUBARAK"
hurrayy for that!
New Blog!
So the aiesec.ws blog has not been working for a looong time, so i have convertyed to this one.
Apparently owned by an aiesec alumni so it should be good huh ;)
i will move all my posts here and will post more regularly on here
Louly
Apparently owned by an aiesec alumni so it should be good huh ;)
i will move all my posts here and will post more regularly on here
Louly
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