Greetings from Free Tunisia!

I am in Tunisia. This is so much fun - Tunisia, post revolution!  The first thing I have noticed as I landed in Carthage Airport is that, unlike what the other Arab countries are going through at the moment, things in Tunisia are getting much and much better really quick. This was the impression of all the people I have asked who came with us. I must say what a blessed country and people there are. My family and I, minus Dad have arrived to Carthage Airport, Tunisia at 3:00 PM local time. We had no problem with the "entering" procedures - that was done pretty fast. However, we stayed about two hours waiting for our luggage, which was pretty frustrating, I must say; employees were just not doing their job. When we got out, we were greeted by all of our family/relatives, minus one of my maternal uncles and one of my paternal aunts. I guess we are always greeted by the largest number of people; we're lucky, but we also have a BIG family - I'm SO proud. It was also very nice to see Grandparents again.

We are in Bizerte now (the city where my paternal family lives). So far, sooo goood. We have reserved a furnished apartment for our neighbors. Apartment is in a compound that's on the beach, includes a swimming pool, soccer field, tennis court, and a resturaunt, plus, the compound is less than 5 minutes, by car, away from our home. We have also figured out that Rami's maternal Grandma is also coming to Tunisia. Exactly 10 days till Dad and neigbors will be with us. Can't wait! Yippeeeeee!!!!!!

Other notes:

Mom started her driving lessons - Good luck Mom! I'm glad I don't have to do that, since I took my driving licence last summer; it almost ruined my vaccation - oops! Don't worry mom, you'll do just good, since you already drove back in the U.S.

We're going to the beach this afternoon. I will take some pictures and upload them here...

I have been having a great time shopping with my cousins. Clothes are much much cheaper here than in Saudi Arabia. I have been having a great time shopping in some of the luxorious boutiqes here.

Tomorrow is my cousin's graduation party...It's gonna be fun...

Monday, July 4th, we'll be in Tunis, the capitol to spend a week there. All of us are really really looking forward to be there...

Till then, I wish everyone a happy weekend and a wonderful Summer vacation!!!

Tunisia, Sweet Home

On Sunday, June 26th, 2011, my family & I, minus Dad will be in FREE Tunisia... To me, Tunisia means spending time with family/relatives, friends, attending weddings, going to the beaches, Souqs, traditional restaurants and cafes, walking on the Corniche and stopping to have Crepe; cleaning my teeth (yes - visiting the dentist :D), a new hair style, and making regular visits to the many marvelous Turkish Baths! This Summer, however, will be a lot different - for all Tunisians, I guess. This is the first Summer after the successful revolution of my truly amazing country people. To me, this will also be the first summer in which I return to my family as a proud K-State Graduate, after being an Undergraduate for 5 years. Also, this summer, our Syrian neighbors are coming to Tunisia - Oh, what a joy! Rami, thanks for insisting on your parents that you need to be next to your one true friend, my brother; You did a good job! Khala Umm Rami, don't worry! You're going to love my country!

Other notes: Three days until my family and I will be in Free Tunisia.

- We have a sparkling, clean apartment now: scrubbed floors and walls, and shampooed rugs.
- Graduate School Application submitted! Please, wish me the best this time!
- Its 12:30 past midnight, and I need to shut down my computer and go to bed...

Long Time, No Blogging!

I know I haven't been blogging for quite some days now - I'm sorry. You know, mom bought me a diary that has 100 pages when I started middle school; I barely filled 5 pages. I'm just bad at keeping up with writing. However, I must also mention that a lot has been going on:

-  Grandparents left on Thursday, June 2nd, 2011. That day was an adventure for both my grandparents and my family...Here is a painful moment, where I find myself unable to excuse the retardation of our Arab countries. The way by which passengers get into and out of an airplane at all three airports of Jeddah (these are King Abdulaziz Airport, King Abdulaziz International Airport, and King Abdulaziz Airport for pilgrims), Saudi Arabia is very cruel. Unlike in most airports, where passengers enter the airplane directly from the gate, through a sky bridge, passengers departing from, or arriving through any of those three airports would have to take a bus that would take them from the gate to their airplane. From there then, passengers would "climb" up to the airplane through a 30 step stairs, while carrying their handbags, etc. The elderly, as well as people with special needs have the right to ask for a wheel chair and a mechanical "lift" that would lift them directly to the airplane. Mothers with children/carrying strollers don't have access to this service. While my grandparents did not use this service when they came here, it was obvious that grandpa would need a wheel chair and a lift this time. Mom, who was sitting with grandparents, while sister and I went to weigh their luggage and get the boarding passes for them, tried to introduce the idea that we would order a wheel chair and a lift for Grandpa (who celebrated his 86th birthday during his most recent visit with us, but still thinks he is 28), to grandparents. However, Grandpa literally refused, insisting that he would be able to climb the 30 staircase to the airplane!!! Our plans of ordering a wheel chair and a lift for him were thrown in the trash...Grandparent's luggage passed into the airplane, and it was time to tell them goodbye; such moments were tough, because it was obvious Grandpa is going to have a hard time. Dad got to accompany them till before they got into the bus (that will take them to the airplane)... When Dad came back, we decided to stay in the airport till Grandparents' airplane departures. While waiting, we went and had lunch in the largest restaurant in the airport. I had pasta and Caesar Salad - it was delicious, because I was hungry. The airplane departed 45 minutes after its scheduled departing time; this usually doesn't happen with the Saudi Airlines, and it just added to our nerves...Most importantly, Grandparents have arrived safely. We called them, and all I can tell is that I don't think Grandpa will ever make it again here. Maybe Granny will want to visit us again, but not Grandpa - I don't think he wants to do this again; Poor Grandpa - Can't blame him...  

       

- Other notes: Sister took Subject SAT Test in Math last week in Jeddah too. We spent two days, so it was also an opportunity for us to go shopping in some of the extravagant shopping malls I've ever seen in the Middle East. I did a good job. We went to Al-Andalus Mall, where I bought an outfit for Tunis (Navy blue cool linen pants + a long, white, 100% cotton top with a delicate brown leather belt. The next day, we went to Souq Al-Shatee, where I bought two Abayas in one time.Then, we went to The Mall of Arabia - largest mall in Saudi Arabia, as far as I know. I bought an outfit for Eid Al-Fitr, sunglasses, and beach flip flops. It was great...

- We started cleaning our house (deep cleaning - not just cleaning). This is what we call "The Annual Cleaning."This is the time when we get out our Summer clothes, and put away our Winter clothes. And in between this process, we discover that we need to get rid of some clothes - like either give them away, or, unfortunately...throw them away.

 - Its Monday, May 30, 2011. And its Memorial Day. I chose to type in this color - Champagne red - because this is Monday's "color" in my head. I discovered that almost everyone I ask happens to have a special color for each day of the week in his/her head.

- I cleaned my closet, wardrobe, and desk (the compiled mess of 5 years of college).

- Three days till Grandparents will leave us and go back home...I must mention that they've spent a good six months period with us...It's so sad to see them packing and leaving. However, it will be exactly three weeks and 5 days till we get to see them again in Tunisia, so I'm trying to stay tuned...

 P.S. I will post pictures of the graduation dress and the gifts I got, sometime today. Check those out under the "Graduation Party" post.

Fruits & The Cold Water

Mom forwarded me this in an email. I never learned about this in my past five years of college...Thanks Mom; We can learn a lot from each other. Enjoy!

Fruits & The Cold Water

by: Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Gahtani, and Dr. Steven Mac

Eating fruit
We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.
What is the correct way of eating fruits?
It means not eating fruits after your meals! * Fruits should be eaten on an empty stomach.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
Fruit is the most important food.
Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....  So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!
Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.
But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.
You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!
KIWI Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
APPLE An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants   & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke
STRAWBERRY Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.
ORANGE Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
WATERMELON Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.
GUAVA & PAPAYA Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.
Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer!
Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks (THIS IS NOT A JOKE) !
Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that well save at least one life.

I had two graduation parties so far - one for close family members, and another, in which we invited neighbors and friends. Both were crazy and went very well...I got LOTS of gifts, and screamed a lot, till I got a soar throat. I took lots of pictures, but will not upload any in here for the privacy of the people in those pictures. I'm just uploading pictures of the two cakes. The chocolate cake was the one we had in the "family" party. Sorry - these were the best pictures I found. Both cakes were made by "Queen's Taste" Bakery - The best in Taif. BTW, our neighbors own this bakery.

Isn't this one a piece of work?!...Good job Queen's Taste!

P.S. It's expected that I have another - a third - party in Tunisia for the large crowd (my maternal and paternal family/relatives). We'll see if we can squeeze in sometime for that during our "already squeezed" one month vacation...

Special Thanks!

Special thanks to my dear and wonderful parents, Mom and Dad, whom attending and graduating from college would have been impossible without them.


Special thanks to my dear and wonderful mother, who has home schooled all four of us - my siblings and I (me from fourth grade, my younger sister from first grade; my other two siblings never attended schools)...Mom, you certainly remember how - after you decided to get me out of school and home school me - I used to cry for long times, because I miss going to school and seeing my friends everyday; and how I used to whine and complain that "I have no life;" yet, you always tried to look for ways by which I can make new and "good" friends...You tried your best to let us enjoy our childhood and have fun - not just study...I really gave you a hard time, especially when I got to high school; these were tough times for me, and you were very patient. It's surprising how you've never thought of just throwing back into school, and just let me mind my own business?! I'm sure you were just thinking long term...Thanks Mom...Your hard work has payed off - You just have no idea how I'm really happy for you!...Here is your first Graduate - the rest are on their way. You should be a proud mother today. Mom, don't ever regret homeschooling your kids. Definitely, it was worth it...You deserve the respect of everyone! I just wish that EVERY mother would follow her footsteps!  No matter how much I write about you, its always not enough, mom...MOM - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!


Dad - it seems that I'm going to be your only kid who majored in the health field?! Thanks for being open-minded, and not only letting me major in what I like (even if it doesn't relate to your field), but directing and assisting me in discovering the major I like...Mathematics was not my passion, but you didn't make a big fuss out of discovering this...Oh! And you've also received the news of your daughter not getting into an internship by giving her a big hug and telling her she did a good job...You always told me that you love me, whether or not I got matched to an internship program, and whether or not I've passed Finance...Thanks for showing me how proud you are of me, and for sending an email to your friends to let them know your daughter has graduated. I know you must be desperately waiting to see me go out and finish school in the U.S. You are amazing and a role model for all fathers.


Younger sister: Hey, you're two years younger than me, but I must say you're one of my role models - Go Beavers! Thanks for taking my chores when I had projects to submit and finals to prepare for. Thanks for bringing me the "MIT Sister" T-Shirt. You've made me feel like I'm very special - that means a lot to me.  Thanks for buying me the graduation dress, shawl, and bangles with money from your scholarship - That also means a lot to me. The dress - What can I say about it?! Sooo Cute, like you! I love it! Everyone said it works as an engagement dress too - What a fine taste you've got, Sis.  

Youngest sister: Sweetie – My roommate J Thanks to you too, for taking on my chores when I had projects to submit and finals to prepare for; AND for sneaking inside my room (when I had my own room, before Grandparents came over, and I had to move back with you and Sister) and CLEANING it when Mom would step inside and find it upside down, and yell at me for not cleaning it for a month – I always found you by my side Sister, when I really needed you in times like this…Thanks for all the funny IM messages and emails I’d find when I sign in. Thanks for praying really hard for me when I go to my proctor’s office to take my exams; Thanks for praying so hard for me so I would do well on my exams – I really needed your prayers. Thanks for really caring about my blog and commenting; thanks for correcting my numerous grammatical errors (oops!) – I always take those into consideration and go back and edit those posts, without telling you Thanks, or publishing your comments – sorry Sister…Thanks for going shopping with me, when no one was really interested in going with me, because I’m a very picky shopper…Thanks a lot Sister…Good luck on your SAT next week!

Brother: Cute little brother, and my only brother – You’re very special and precious: Can’t wait for your 14^th birthday – Aaaaah!!! Special thanks for letting me use your one true love – your laptop for an entire half semester, when my computer started doing me “funny” things; I really appreciate that brother, and I know how tough those days must have been on you Bro…Thanks for being who you are!

P.S. Hey Brother, you really aren’t eating very well. Please, eat well. Also, please, convince Dad that you really need an email account now. I want to email you and chat with you like I do with sisters.

Grandparents: Thanks for accepting us like we are, even though we’re very different from our cousins; I know you love us a lot. Thanks for coming over and staying by my side during my last semester – I wouldn’t be better off without you by my side. Most importantly, thank you for all the Duaa’s/prayers you make for me when you go to Mecca and the encouragements I’ve been receiving from you. Granny: Thanks for making me the dishes I like (The spicy and sweet Asida, spicy & sweet Qursa, Rfisa, Cornbread, Corn cake, homemade cake donuts, Cookies, and Makrooth). Grandpa: you’re the one I used to come and sit with when I get bored from school. I’ve learned much more from the stories you tell me than from what I’ve learned in college! You have a good sense of humor. 

Aunti Umm Rami: Thank you thank you thank you very much for the encouragements I’ve been receiving from you since I was in high school. You used to bring me a present whenever I’m done with a semester! Thanks for being a wonderful neighbor. You and your family have been such a blessing to my family.   

Rami: Thanks for being my brother’s only brother. Remember when you used come downstairs whenever I’m done with a semester and ask if this is “the end of it?” Seems like you have been counting down with me, eh?…Thanks for being a cool brother, Rami. And thanks for the graduation gift I got from you! That was so sweet! I couldn’t throw away the box, ribbons and bag – so neat! Thanks!       

Josy: My best study buddy, friend, and big sister, whom I never met face to face. I was blessed to have known you for nearly five years now, and I’m sure our friendship will continue forever. I found you, when I had difficulties in school which even my parents couldn’t help with. Thanks for leaving warm and sweet IM messages, so I can read them before I go to take my exams. Thanks for the “BIG HUGS” you always send my way. I’m very lucky to have known you…You were very helpful, sweet and wonderful…

Special thanks to all my family in Tunisia, friends and all those who have cared about and asked about me, especially our friends in Jeddah.