Let me entertain you

To Nairobi, Kenya

2007-11-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

I am in the First class lounge waiting for my trip to Dubai, from which I will connect to Nairobi. So far, there have been enough "negative" cosmic signs to this trip. Two major ones were my incorrect hotel/ airport pick-up reservation and the other was the delay in my JED-DXB flight. Well, as long as my luggage doesn't get lost, I won't complain. I packed a big bag this time because I am carrying a couple boxes which I will give to people there. hehe, that didn't sound too good :P I am usually a little bit apprehensive whenever I am flying somewhere new, which I have never been to before. This time my level of nervousness is even higher because I am equally worried about real wild animals as much as human wild animals. I don't think being eaten by a lion in an elegant way to die. Too messy.

I always exercise responsible travel behavior. One important thing to remember by a woman travelling along, is to project quiet inner strength rather than look like a victim or look like someone looking for a challenge. Unfortunately, I seem like I simply just cannot get my mojo. I am feeling like a sitting duck. Images of violence and crime keep flashing through my head, thanks to Hollywood. Specifically, I am thinking about the movie "The Last King of Scotland". I know, that movie took place in Uganda. I plan to distract myself from the reality of being Africa alone by finally trying to learn Africa's geography by heart.

Maybe I can't relax because of all the issue pre-occupying my mind. Yes, you are right, I haven't been blogging much, so how the hell would you know what I am talking about!

Ok, that's my flight annoucement. I should give you a quick overview of how my first year at Cisco has been. Next time! :))

Don't ask me why I was researching Ibn Khaldun

2007-10-29T06:28:00.000-04:00

And found this:

On the culture of Bedouin nomads, which Ibn Khaldun uses the term Arabs to refer to, Ibn Khaldūn writes:

Arabs dominate only of the plains, because they are, by their savage nature, people of pillage and corruption. They pillage everything that they can take without fighting or taking risks, then flee to their refuge in the wilderness, and do not stand and do battle unless in self-defense. So when they encounter any difficulty or obstacle, they leave it alone and look for easier prey. And tribes well-fortified against them on the slopes of the hills escape their corruption and destruction, because they prefer not to climb hills, nor expend effort, nor take risks.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Khaldun

Hehe, interesting...

I'm on no sleep

2007-10-21T01:37:00.000-04:00

I haven't slept for a couple of days. Eid holidays are the kind of vacation you need vacation after. Plunged back into work and still working through a huge backlog. It doesn't help to throw in some training, office politics and personal life pressure. Oh and above all, I decided to blog!

I arrived early at the training center where I decided to complete a CCNA course (an hour before the training should start) I just woke up at 6 AM and couldn't go back to sleep. I thought I might as well go early and go through the material. Maybe socialize on facebook a little bit and write a post too! What a productive morning.

I went to sleep at 8.45 PM yesterday because I haven't slept the night before. I woke up at 10.40 PM by an SMS from the MD. That got my adrenanline up, so I loggged in and got some work done. By 3 AM, I was halfway sleepy again. Was hungry too but decided to skip on midnight snack. I wish I got Gilad's CD with me so I can work out in the hotel, instead of begging friends to play tennis with me.

The only way I can go to sleep is to have SOME sort of exercise or activity. I don't know where I get all thise energy that keeps me up all night. Usually, I avoid caffeine as much as possible to increase possibilities of sleep. However, the training center has that lovely Nescafe machine that has the "Shai Adani" option. Just like like the machine in the Cisco Dubai office...mmm... :))

Class is starting now (20 minutes late)

PART I

2007-09-19T23:00:00.000-04:00

There was once a little owl. This little light brown owl had big dreams. Dreams so big, that they crowded her life. But she didn’t care, she was not about to give up.

After that little owl grew up a little into medium owl. Her friends and family rarely forced that she conforms anymore. They accepted this owl. They loved this owl.

Nevertheless, when she became strong enough, she decided to seek her dreams at the magical forest; even though the story is a myth and the risk is immense.

Myth: Ye who yearn for power wizardry and riches beyond belief; the magic forest is where you should seek. The higher the price you pay, the greater the reward you receive.

But be warned, no armors of steel or swords of light can protect thy life from the biggest sacrifice of them all. The sacrifice of which all must pay to exit the forest,

Naive nor foolish was our medium owl, but rather quite well-equipped with very useful tools and weapons; her wings, her determination and her tongue.

In one quiet night, she waved good bye and set a flight. Away and away she flew, away from the woods of her childhood. How pretty did the little trees look from so far.

From above, she looked around, where might that forest be? For days and days, steadily she fluttered to the lush web of green. The closer she got, the more confident she felt.

Close to the rim, she met a little sparrow. Despite his size, this sparrow had a huge heart. A heart like she’s never seen before. A heart so big, that it pained his frail body

This little sparrow was also seeking the magical forest. However, he was not willing to pay the price. He covered himself with layers and layers of protection.

Leaves, twigs and copper coins, anything that his body can handle and everything that he believed would protect him. That would protect him from the ugly sacrifice.

But our owl didn’t worry, she had he wings that will fly her, her determination that will brace her and her tongue of which she can talk her self away from any danger.

Together they flew, beginning to discover the forest. They each ran in the direction he saw his goal. But they each returned to camp out together and get through the scary night.

Days passed by and owl is still searching. It would help if she knew exactly what she was looking for. In spite of initial failure, she did not lose ground.

The sparrow and the owl lived wonderful days together. But with the light of every passing day, it has become clearer and clearer how different they are

He was heading one way and she was heading another. Even if they wished their days together can last, they parted ways with the best of wishes.

The forest, even if desperately lacking in magic so far, it was quite rich with life. It was only time until she met her next companion, who was also on a journey

Shocking.

2007-04-12T23:00:00.000-04:00

"[Fortune] was after all a woman. Accordingly, she favors those bold enough to treat her roughly"

- The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli

BAK

2007-02-15T14:31:00.000-05:00

Back at Keyboard.
Funny how much you dont realize that you deserve time off until your body literally cries out for it. So, yesterday and today i tried to avoid work as much as I can, whether for Cisco or else. Except, of course, for the occasional mail-checking on my treo. hehehe...

What is funnier that i realized just how much i am emotionally connected to my laptop. As a result, here I am with an open laptop even though I've vowed not to do any serious work until tomorrow at least. After checking my personal email and letting people know that yes, I AM alive, i remembered my long-lost blog.

At first, I checked all my friends' blogs. I was SO happy to find out that they havent stopped blogging! I am definitely now more motivated to blog again.

So much has happned people over the last while. I don't know where to start. I met so many new people, travelled to many new places and experienced just enough to make me realize I still have a long way to go...

Therefore, I am just going to SKIP that part and start fresh =)

Mucho Gracias

2006-12-01T10:12:00.000-05:00

I was not talking about work. I did not quit Cisco. On the contrary, my job is my sanctuary. But thanks for all the thoughtful and concerned emails, text messages, calls and pings. lol

I was talking about a learning experience that I went through. I learned that you can hide your feelings only to a certain extent, especially negative things such as being taken advantage of. But a decision has been made. No more.

The sad thing is that I realized is that the more emotionally intelligent people around picked it up. When I treat myself like a machine, I start treating others like robots as well! Not cool.

Thanks for the words of support =)

2006-11-26T07:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I quit. I couldn’t do it. Strange. I’m not me anymore. I think I know why. Actually, I do know why. Sigh. What is happening? Where am I heading? Is this right? I don’t know what is right anymore. I used to know so well. I used to tell people. How sweet is the feeling of losing myself in work. Just drowning. Blocking out life. Ignoring facts. Living a dream. Or is this reality? Walla I don’t know anymore. I am lost. My shield is weakening. Curse you. Life couldn’t be about work all the time. How easy it is to lie. Which me am I now? How hard it is to lie. How easy it is to steal. I don’t lie.

I drink the color from the sky and turn blue.

Sweet Distraction

2006-11-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

You know what I am talking about. That thing, that person, that memory, that anticipation...something...always in the back of your mind. Even when you are at your busiest. may it be your friends, your family, your parents, your loved one...It is that happy place you go to when you mentally escape for a couple of fleeting moments. Then you come back with a slightly refreshed vigor for life.

Here is an excerpt from a song that with all the work I had, with all the travelling I did over the last month, somwhere between Dubai and London...it touched me. I am happy to be back in Riyadh. I love living in a country where you can pretend it is summer all year round....=)

Memories of yesterday
Can’t think about it
Nothing but you
Never gonna fade away
Even if you disappear from view

Sweet distraction
You’re always on my mind
Sweet distraction
Same feeling every time
Clear intention
Just wanna make you mine
Sweet distraction
Same feeling every time

Lazy summer days
Wash away
Under the spell
Of soft summer rain

We are all the same

Memories of yesterday
Daydreaming of when I held you close
Doesn’t matter what you say
You were the one I wanted most

Sweet distraction
You’re always on my mind
Sweet distraction
Same feeling every time
Clear intention
Just wanna make you mine
Sweet distraction
Same feeling every time

- From the beautiful lyrics of Alejandro DePinedo's “Lazy Summer Days”

UPDATE

2006-10-27T18:07:00.000-04:00

so my boss emails back saying that Saudi Arabia was the only region to submit on time. He copied in the GM and the rest of the team. Apparently everyone else was busy with Eid (Hmm...I WONDER WHY!) LOL. That's happens when you hire a nerd, hehehe. Actually, the whole team here in Saudi is just super. I am so happy to belong to such a team!!

Go Cisco KSA!!!!

2006-10-25T07:03:00.000-04:00

It's a good thing that "be popular" is not in my job description. I am quickly becoming The B****. Yea...um... some people don't appreciate you calling them to get something done during Eid when they are with their families. LOL

HELLO! PEOPLE, it's not like I don't have a life! (Well, I don't, but thats not the point) It's not my choice. You get a task and a deadline. It has to be done. All I am doing to consolidating their input for a quick report.

hehehe, ok so it's not as bad as I make it sound. Everybody is actually pretty nice. I guess they are used to this. I just feel bad.

UW Convocation

2006-10-23T03:16:00.000-04:00

I attended my convocation ceremony on Saturday. Suffice to say, I was impressed. Despite the slight boredom of waiting to hear other 799 names of people who graduated at the same time, it was quite exciting. The formality of it all makes it all so official! Being a systems-girl, I also had to be impressed by how organized it was. All what we graduates got was a quick brief before the ceremony. Everything else was organized by the university itself. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved it making it a smooth success!

We rented the gowns two hours before the ceremony. An hour and a half later, we started filing into the auditorium. My parents were inside already. My dear mother was taping everything on video. The funniest thing in the video was how looking around for them in the crowd. My mother was actually able to capture my expression the second I spotted them. LOL. It was like “Yay! Yay! I can see you!!” Hehehe. When we got to our seats, we remained standing until the faculty, dean and chancellor all came in as well.

The speech was disappointingly rather mundane. The message was something along the usual lines of seizing the day and looking up to our future. I don’t know what I was looking for, but it seemed irrelevant since most of us already know what our plans are and where our future is heading. I guess if it was least delivered with more gusto, it would have been delightful. Maybe I am being picky because I delivered the graduate speeches in high school and my undergraduate school and I know how it can more inspiring :P

The coolest thing is that I was hooded by Mike Lazaridis, the founder and CEO or RIM – the company which created the Blackberry. He’s like the Canadian Bill Gates. Fantastic! I met him before but it was nice having a 10-second private conversation about the future up on the stage with him =)) That was definitely inspiring!

I was hoping that my parents weren’t too bored because I was there chilling and joking around with my old classmates. It was lovely seeing some of them again. It reassured me that some of the friendships I built over the last years were strong and are going to last for a long time.

We had a private reception at CBET later on with some of our professors. I got to meet my friends’ parents as well. Too bad I missed on the tempting canapés because I was fasting :P In the end it was hard to say good bye again to my closest friends again =( Nevertheless, we made DRAFT plans for the summer.

I returned to Toronto with my parents. They then took me, my dear friend Veva and her friend from Duke University out to dinner at Spring Rolls, my favorite restaurant in Toronto =)))

Most people don’t necessarily prefer the company of their parents. Not me, though. My parents are some of the coolest, smartest, funniest people I ever knew :P I enjoy their company anytime, anywhere for however long! Even my friends enjoyed having dinner with them =) We talked about everything, from the most intellectual issues to the funniest jokes. All while taking pleasure in delicious food. It was the perfect end to a perfect day…

The ironic part is where many want to be as far away as possible from their parents but are stuck, I am a person who want to always be by their side but it seems fate always separates us. I haven’t been able to see them for over three weeks. They had to fly to Canada for me to be able to spend some time with them. It was very hard to have to leave them there. The reason is that they were continuing on to Paris for some business.

Sigh…Anyhow. The quick trip to Toronto was awesome. I was able to meet someone at the Cisco office there for a project I’m working on. During the day I was working in the hotel or the coffee shop, while at night I caught a show at my favorite stand-up comedy club. God, I love Toronto. I sure will miss it =)

I wish all my siblings and friends were there with me. I’m on my way back to be with you for eid!

This concludes the MBET chapter of my life. I guess I have to renovate the design of my blog now!

In Frankfurt Airport

2006-10-17T00:45:00.000-04:00

Could it be? Can I turn my back on Heathrow? Heathrow, my first love, the shopping sanctuary with the luxurious BA lounge? Oh my, it looks like it. My last couple of experiences with Heathrow have been very sad. Whether because of tightened security measures or because of mean BA employees or even because it’s simply so huge!

This is the second time in Frankfurt, however, this time it’s for three hours. I got invited to stay in the business lounge by a friend, but it turns out Lufthansa has stopped allowing visitors. As a result, I took my time to explore this new maze.

I arrived very early in the morning so as you can expect, it can be a little intimidating. Especially with the language barrier. Nevertheless, it turned out to be sooo much more easier to deal with than Heathrow. That ‘tension’ isn’t there. Here, I’m not worried of making a wrong turn then being accused of being a terrorist. But the best part is yet to come.

“Al dunya arzag”
Rough translation is that life has ups and downs. One day you are getting a royal first-class treatment, the other, you are another mundane traveler searching for any corner to lie down. Today is one of the latter days. Thanks to company policy, all employees fly economy class. Eventually, when you build enough miles, you get to stay in the lounge. Till then though, I am going to be one of those unfortunate travelers you find sprawling across two or three seats in airports. LOL

Here comes the reason why I suddenly fell in love with Frankfurt Airport…..

Next time you stop in Frankfurt for a couple of hours, go to the area between terminal A and B. If you arrive in terminal A, you will have to take the train to B and C. When you get there, start walking towards B. Suddenly, to your right, you will find chaise-lounge (sp?) chairs!!! Halleluiah!!!

It was like a dream…ma3goola? I can…rest my back?! How…THOUGHTFUL of them =))) You don’t have to pay $$$$$ for a business/ first class ticket to deserve to be treated like a human being. Oooh, I could have hugged whoever thought: “Hey, why don’t we install a couple of COMFORTABLE chairs, instead of normal airport let’s-test-your-back’s-endurance chairs, for people who might have to wait a couple of hours!”

So, this post is dedicated to that person. You, who had the brilliance and foresight to install those FREE chairs, thank you and god bless =)

p.s. I love wireless!

Home is where the heart is, right? But, where is my heart?

2006-10-16T08:05:00.000-04:00

Aha. So to all of you JEALOUS people, thanks A LOT. Muscat plan has been canned.

My family called me up and explained how tragic it would be if I miss another Eid away from them. I tried convincing them to JOIN me in Muscat, but to no avail. Sigh.

It’s not so bad really, I’ll be diving the whole week in Jeddah =)

I'm leaving to Toronto tonight. Going for a meeting there, then attend my convocation (graduation) ceremony on Saturday. I am sooo looking forward to it. I miss my MBET ppl!!! It's going to be so much fun. It would also be wonderful to see Waterloo again.

I wonder if it would hard to leave again.
I hate airports.

Making Eid plans!

2006-10-10T15:02:00.000-04:00

Many of you know how boring and sad it is to eat futoor by yourself, I have a suggestions on how to change that in 5 minutes!

For the last couple of days, I have been trying to plan my eid trip. Orginally, I was going to go on a business/ convocation trip back to Canada. I booked a flight back to Jeddah the night before eid so I can be with my family. Low and behold, I discover that my family will ALL be out of town. My choices to join them ranged between Cairo, Paris and London. :S That sucks. I checked out where my friends are going and my options expanded even further to Canada, USA, Cardiff, beirut and Jordan! Sigh...more options and non of which I like.

Then, it occured to me. Why don't I do what I REALLY want? There has been a couple of places on my mind which I have been thinking about. New places that I have never been before. I always wanted to go to those Arabic countries I have never visited! Suddenly, I had MORE options, non of which my FRIEDNS liked! LOL. I want to go to either Tunisia, Morocco or Oman.

So, today during my alone time with my salad and frozen lasagne, I decided. Oman it is!!! Thanks to a certain blogger who once visited this fantastic place and I have been curious ever since! It's an awesome hotel, plus the choice of activities are exciting! Scuba diving in the Indian Oceans (hello sharks!), Horseback riding into the desert, ATV adventures...you name it! The you come back to a luxurious hotel and treat yourself to world-class spa treatments.

So, I went ahead, called them up and booked three nights =) I told anyone who would like to join should confirm by tomorrow before 6pm.

Hehehe, suddenly my lonely futoor wasn't lonely no more. I kept getting so many calls! (from excited friends or confused parent LOL either way I was getting calls left and right :P)

So, people, moral of this post is, if you are lonely, think of an absolutely NEW place to go for Eid and suddenly you will be extremely popular for 30 minutes!!!

cheers!

thoughts in Riyo...

2006-10-09T02:55:00.000-04:00

I apologize for disappearing like that. I apologize to my family for barely having the time for them. However, I won't apologize to the world for living exactly how I like it =)

I know many will critisize how much I am dedicated. How I am not 'balancing' my professional and business life. How staying late and working weekends is not healthy.

How wrong they are. LOL. All that is unhealthy if you are unhappy, if you are compromising your personal relationships and if you are physically stressed out.

For me, this is what gives me self-satisfaction. Being single has its advantages, such as being selfish. I won't lie and say that I am not thinking about settling down. But not right now, I work too much, I travel too much and I think too much. I need a while to build myself here.

It is after that I will take a chance on someone, hope they are at least somewhat understanding, then find that elusive balance between a successful career and a happy relationship.

It is not easy dealing with my family, especially with a 'suitor' popping up every once in a while. Everytime I have to re-evaluate my life decisions. How can I be wrong when I am so happy? Will marriage really bring me happiness? Am I too demanding and selfish to think I can get both?

sigh...

I am a sponge. I am a sponge.

2006-09-25T05:46:00.000-04:00

So, yea, I thought it would be smart to skip taking a weekend since I will be away most of this week in London. I went to the office on both Thursday and Friday to catch up. Why already have to ‘catch up’ and it is still my first week?

It is not just the acronyms and lingo that is challenging. Oh no, those you pick up after the first two days. The hard part is that in my line of work, I must deal with everyone, channels, sales, partners, marketing…etc. As a result, I have to know how everything works and the names of everybody involved; externally and internally. Nice.

Well to be honest, I am lucky. The first projects I got involved in were with a very nice guy. I admit that in the beginning I was a little unsure of him and his attitude towards women working with him in the same office, but it turns out that he is a very respectable, intelligent and nice guy. All he wanted was to make sure that I am professional and serious and not here to waste his time and I respect that. I admire his confident attitude. Actually, it seem most of the people hired by this company are smart and confident. I quite like it =)

Despite the great atmosphere, how much can a sponge hold before it starts dripping? I will have to bring in additional dry area to absorb this deluge of information successfully. Aaaahhh :S Why did they not teach us THIS STUFF in school? It would have been nice to learn more about supply chains in Saudi Arabia or the true organizational structure of our ministries instead me scrambling to drink up everything in my way.

On a side note,
I am experiencing a very new feeling. It is very strange and not directly related to work. I also cannot fully explain it. I am scared of this feeling. There is something that I want very much. Something I have never wanted before. I hope I make the right decision.

I am in Riyadh’s airport now, going to Jeddah to catch my connecting flight to London. I hope my luck with airports has taken a turn to the positive!

Week #1 - warning: some csco acronyms + lingo ahead!

2006-09-21T10:15:00.000-04:00

WHOA.
WHOA.
Talk about get thrown right the middle of things!

Ice-breakers? Introductions? Pleasantries first?? Nu-uh. Not here. Not ever.
You know what you have to do. You know who need to talk to for it. You go introduce yourself. I am a bit concerned because a new male hire at least got an introductory email sent out. Sigh...I couldn't care less, but it gets old when I send an email intro-ing myself and asking for something then I get an email back thinking I am a Mr. and not a Ms.!

It's not like they didn't warn me. Oh they told me. They did joke about it all so sweetly. So I had some idea of what to expect.

But that was it. An idea.

First day was cool. The GM's PA turned out a very sweet girl (there are only three girls in the office, inluding myself, with one more potential PA for and RSM). She showed me around, introduced me to some ppl (most importantly the local IT support guy!) and signed me up for an access badge. An hour into the job, the Channel RSM requested a meeting with me at 5pm so I can get on board with the initiatives because he has been 'waiting' for me and we're 'late'!

LOL me? Late? Never! Well when it comes to work anyways :P I said sure! The second he turned around, I asked the PA for his name :P hehehe.

I got a new IBM laptop, which has been approved by my Master Geek Jedi. I also got a direct office line, a new cell number and my new Treo is on the way. My boss was happy because now they can REALLY 'harrass' me all the time. Hehehe...how sweet my boss is... he has no idea who's the one who will be interrupted all the time when I have all these gadgets >:)

I got involved in pretty neat projects from day 0 (including competitive intel!!!NICE!!!). I even found emails sent to my inbox 2 weeks ago expecting follow-up. So, YEA, I've been busy.

On a more positive side. The atmosphere here is great. Very professional. Some are nicer than others. I know more of the RSMs, SSEMs and CA ppl rather than AMs and SEs. Which is fine, becuase my department doesn't deal with them too much. The HR manager, the finance controller as well as marketing dir. are awesome ppl as well. My older cisco friends from Dubai also passed by.

Oooh Oooh and I got to see the new cisco logo, which is not publicized yet (we got a strict email not to use it yet, however, if you search hard enough I am sure you will find it. Just don't involve me :P).

One more thing, one of the members of my team (the one who flew here for my orientation) looks like an EXACT copy of Richard Gere! LOL, when I told him that, he laughed and said that yea, when we actually met him, it was kinda funny!

Occaionally, I go with the PA to the food court in Faisaliya mall for lunch. However, most of the time, I just grab some fruits and keep on working. My boss calls me keen and my mother asks of they pay 'overtime'. Huh? What's overtime?? All I know is that the report has to be DONE! I got a curveball thrown at me, something that will go straight up, but after I was done, the GM said I got an A+ on my first assignment. Yay!

The bad part is that I cancelled my weekend trip to Jeddah to see my family. The reason is that I am flying to London most of next week and there was some things that had to get done as well as a conference call. I was worried about looking EVEN MORE GEEKY (or keen - however you look at it) if I show up in the office on a Thursday morning (Westerners read: Saturday). But, alas, I wasn't the only one!!

That's how it works here, you got work, you get it done!

I'm sorry if the post seems less orgnized than usual, but there is so much to say! I am also writing this on a quick break in the office! So tune in again for my business trip to London!

"Good morning, geek!"

2006-09-16T09:51:00.000-04:00

My first day at Cisco Systems, Inc. I woke up on time. My bag was ready, like a good schoolgirl :P In it, I had my laptop, cables, file, contract, passport-size pictures, mobile make-up kit and of course, my lucky blue pen. I also had my outfit ready – favorite blue jeans, Adidas yellow top and blue Converse shoes. ‘What?!’, I hear you say? Blue jeans? Are you sure that’s appropriate? LOL Well, ladies and gents, let me remind you that I am working at Cisco in Saudi Arabia and specifically, Riyadh. i.e. It don’ matta what I wear. I could wear my lace lingerie for all they care! The reason? It’s because the female dress code in a Saudi professional environment is a black abaya coat and black scarf on my hair. And guess what… I love it! Hehehe… Some of you who know me, know that I have a liking for designer fashion – and what more beautiful designer fashion there is than business clothes! Nevertheless, this dress code in incredibly liberating.

- I can wake up FIFTEEN minutes later than usual
- I don’t have to worry about wrinkling my Karen Millen suit.
- AND, I can focus even more on work :D. Yay!

There is, however, one disadvantage. The only reason I cared to look good because it was a mask that hid my true self. With a trendy outfit, designer shoes and attractive hair, you might, with an untrained eye, mistake me for a fashion-conscious, elegant, mature woman.
:S
This morning, after I put on my comfy clothes and a touch of make-up, I looked at myself in the mirror. You know what I heard?

“Good morning, geek!”

Damn…It was the same morning greeting I heard every day for a year from my dear friend JB while I was finishing my MBET degree in Canada. Thanks man! JB, with his tiger-instinct to pick up signals of his own kind saw through my charade. He saw through the Gucci and the Prada. He KNEW me for what I really am. A hard-working, nerdy, measly, GAMING-FOR-LIFE! geek. LOL.

You can fool some people all the time, you can fool all the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.

Oh well, now without my security blanket, I will have to face the world naked. I picked up my DKNY (well I had to have SOMETHING!), held my head up high, walked out the door and had the BEST first day a person can ask for at his/ her first full-time job =)

Huh, what? You wanted to hear more about what actually happened there? Oh, ok. Next post then ;)

Quick Update

2006-09-16T09:37:00.000-04:00

Yeah, so I spent a lovely quick vacation in Prague. It was a nice transition from Canada to Riyadh. It is a beautiful city, but not my favorite.

Before moving to Riyadh, I spent some time with my family in Jeddah. It suddenly felt like the whole Canada experience passed in a blink... For a couple of fleeting moments, I was able to feel that blissful, content feeling of security....

I left suddenly to Riyadh. The reason is that weekend flights were ALL booked :S I missed my friends' gathering at Shimozi's house =( I'm sorry girl. I promise I will be there next weekend!

I applied to live here in Riyadh =D not bad, eh?

It takes time though, so for the time being, I am staying temporarily with my father's cousin. Three words: I HATE DIAL-UP.

Airport Musings

2006-08-30T22:41:00.000-04:00

Why is it that I am always either running late to get to an airport to catch a flight or getting there too early?
Why did the woman's smile at the boarding counter turn into a frown when she saw my infamous green passport?
Why do mothers don't notice how rude and annoying their children are?
When did Isreal suddenly become a 'cool' travel destination?
Why are Czech Airlines attendents rude and obnoxious?
Why did the customs lady in Prague refuse to lend me the pen infront of her so I can sign my entry card to Czech?
What was she saying in Czech with a sneer to the guy next to her?
Why did the weather turn cold and rainy after I packed for a summer weather?
Why did the woman sitting next to me during a direct flight from Toronto to Prague not shower before flying???

New goal in life: Get a private jet.

Good-bye Waterloo

2006-08-30T22:30:00.000-04:00

So I left Waterloo for good. The sadness has been slowly sinking in for a while...slowly realizing...I have created a home here...I am leaving home...again.

I really thought I will be strong enough and that - come on - it has only been one year! How attached could I have grown in only one year?

Well, my fellow friend, a lot. I have grown attached A LOT. It only really struck me hard when I got on that damned bus to the airport. How hard it was, how painful, only someone who has gone through a similar experience can understand. I am leaving home - again.

I left behind a house that I have built warmth in, places that I created memories at and friends that I lived, laughed, cried and loved with.

You have been my family.
I love you and I will miss you.
See you soon =)

Arabic Wikipedia Day

2006-08-21T10:24:00.000-04:00

August 26th, 2006 - I want YOU on your computer!

This post is for people who don't know what Wikipedia is, or at least know what it is but don't know how to contribute.

Wikipedia is the free online encyclopedia. Anyone can write in it about anything -within the rules of Wikipedia. For example, you can't go and create a node about youself and your hobbies unless you are like a famous person who deserves to be in an encyclopedia :P

So, are you a doctor? Are you a computer programmer? Are you a banker? Maybe you are just a very well-read person and you know more about al-motanabbi than most people? LOL Any 'knowledge' that you know more about, go and write a professional node in Arabic to add it the Arabic Wikipedia. Do try and learn the rules first so people don't get annoyed at you.

Arabic Wikipedia Day is really a cool, proactive step. It encourages even me, a strictly english contributor, to get out of my comfort zone. I know what I will contribute in Arabic will be of lesser quality, but that's what Wikipedia is for, right? It is open for everyone to join, contribute and edit work to create a body of knowledge that free and in Arabic.

+ Saudi Jeans

+ Naif

Have fun!

I can park a car!

2006-08-21T04:09:00.000-04:00

I did my driving license in Canada. However, it is only a G1, which means I can only drive with a licensed and experienced driver next to me. This DOES NOT mean I can't drive. I did not go through 30 terrible hours of driver training and classes to be told I can't drive! I probably am a safer driver than a lot of people because I learned how to drive 'defensively' =) Thus, the day the bill is signed that Saudi women can drive, I will be one of the first to get down to the street and drive legally, safely and within the speed limit!

Anyways, this is not the point of this post. The point is...Well...Ok...I can drive but I can't park in a normal parking lot under 1 minute if my life depended on it! Let alone parallel parking!! The reason is ... Besides my spatial handicap due to my female genes (All respect to females who DO have high spatial intelligence!), is that I haven't had enough practice! This always annoyed me but I never got around practicing it.

Also anyone who is reading this post and was with us a couple of weeks ago might remember how much trouble I had parking Sahar's car :S Having all you friend plus a couple of strangers stand outside the restuarant waiting and watching you attempt to park is not exactly my happy place.

I was checking out my favorite blogs and guess what I found! Someone pasted a link for a simulated parking exercise in a comment here how a Saudi women should not drive before trying this exercise out. I was like Yippeeeee!!!!! Thanks SomeGuyFromAnotherPlanet =)

Ok, I did crash a few cars several times in every direction, but that's what simulations are for, alright! Eventually I got it right! My simple mind suddenly clicked..AAAAAAAAAHHHHH so you turn the wheel in THAT direction to backup in THAT direction...I seeee...hehe.

To all you Saudi chicks, start practicing!

Pressure, pressure - I've been tagged...sigh

2006-08-19T01:18:00.000-04:00

I've been tagged by Raven AND Omar. Thanks guys, really appreciate the pressure. I'm going to get an earful because I am making an exception by answering! LOL
(yeah, so I changed some things - bite me :P)

1) if you could have dinner with any three (FIVE for me :P) people (except Mohammed, Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr, Ghandi) then who would they be?(don't say Mother Teresa either) -

JERRY SEINFELD!
Larry and Serge (even though apparently im not googley :P) - Every big shot out there is either writing a book or giving some interview about his 'views' on the future of technology. Except -correct me if I am wrong- those two geeks! Talk about smart :P If you really knew where the money is, you wouldn't tell the world now would you?
Sheikh Khaled Elgendy - now THAT is someone who you can have really amazing debates about religion, al3a8eeda and life. I have so many deep questions I would like to ask. I feel he is a rare gem among scholars in general.
Condolezza Rice - I'm curious about her. Read her bio on Wikipedia...very interesting.
My Parents - and I know you won't believe this, but my parents will always be on the list of people I want to always have endless dinners with. They are the most fascinating people. We also have the most fascinating discussions on the table!

what would you eat?

Usually I like to take non-Arabs to eat Arabic(Lebanese) food. They are always so amused! With Khaled Elgendy, we'll probably eat masa22a3a (Although I don't like it, I'll tell you why in the next question). With my parents, caviar for sure!

what restaurant would it be?

One of the best authentic Arabic food restaurant I have ever been to is Abou Esseid in Cairo (People who don't like Egypt, you don't know what your missing). It is a very up-scale restaurant, with a lovely authentic ambience to it.

I would invite Khaled Elgendy to my home. Apparently we make a very good masa22a3a. I don't know because I don't like eggplant. However, I am sure he would appreciate it ;) Plus I know my parents would love to have dinner with him as well.

My parents...oh my... we have so many favorite spots all over the world. If I had to choose it would be that private club in London.

2) if you could force everyone in the world to read one book (except for the Quran or the Bible) what would it be?

AHHHH..what a terrible question! So many...If I was dying and choosing a book will save my life then: In A Different Voice.

The reason is that it serves two purposes. First, it teaches about ethics. The second is that each gender is always trying to understand the other. I am not a big fan of books that oversimplify stuff like 'why men lie and woman cry' and crap like that. Regardless of the criticism this book has received, it's a good read.

Also, this website: www.savethemales.ca by Henry Makow. I don't agree with everything he says, but he opened my eyes about the negative motives behind the femenist movements.

Anything you read, always keep an open mind and a critical eye.

3) is there a tv show you'd cancel dinner with your best friend for if you knew that a new episode was going to be airing once only? what is it?

Non, you can download pretty much anything. Assuming no internet and no recording devices, it would be a one-time airing of an episode of Seinfeld that I have never seen.

4) if someone told you that you could only have one hobby/favorite pass time for the rest of your life, what would you pick?

Scuba dive!

5) which song is on the soundtrack of your life?

Easy! Cafe Del Mar, volume VI

6) how old were you when you had your first crush? who was it?

13, Backstreet Boys! (Quit Playin Games with myyyyy Heart!) LOL How can you NOT fall in love with them? :D

7) if you could read the thoughts of any one person, who would it be?

My father

8) if you could block your thoughts from only one person, who would it be?

God? lol dunno if that counts, sometimes I wish I could let my thoughts be heard without actually having to say it! Especially, when I am angry, upset or emotional. I have a hard time compiling thoughts into words.

9) if you could choose between life on earth forever or going to heaven, which would you choose?

Heaven for sure =)

10) when you die, what will your contribution to the world be?

Happy children and grandchildren! (there are too many depressed people in this world)
Lots of love, money and stories for them =)
Adding at least one concrete block to road towards the advancement of Arabs and our economy.
Published research or white paper in a top academic or professional journal (too ambitious?)
My Blog! =)

Now, who will I bless with tagging? I tag Genoveva, Urooj and Mr.Unethical! LOL You don't really have to though :P

New Blogger!

2006-08-18T00:30:00.000-04:00

While completely ignoring the fiascos happening between bloggers in the saudi blogsphere right now, I'd like to formally introduce yet another new blogger - Clareeish!

Woohooo! clap-clap-clap-clap-clap!!

I know, I know, the is what? The 50th person I've encouraged to become a blogger? hehe, I should get something from blogspot for this, despite all their shortcomings.

There is a difference though with clareeish and that she already used to 'blog' in her own way before. Clareeish is by far my favorite artist because her work speaks to me more than any other. Maybe because I also usually get to see all her work in progress too :P

The rest of you can see her finished work here.
Welcome Clareeish!

al-bo3bo3 (translation: the boogey-man)

2006-08-17T05:22:00.000-04:00

albo3bo3. al'3oul. the boogeyman. Yes, I'm 23 and I just had a boogey-man nightmare. Funny, right? Except if you know what shape my boogey-man takes, I don't think you will find it funny anymore. Unlike your boogeyman, mine is very real. In fact, I'm probably having nightmares because I will be meeting him very soon. very soon.

Let me introduce to you the religious policeman, or the RPM. Although the 'religious' or 'moral' policeman is not an alien concept to many religions and countries around the world, the RPM in Saudi Arabia is a very prominent member of society. You have the teacher, the pilot, the mosque's imam, the doctor, the normal policemen, the firefighters....then you have.... the RPM. This is my boogeyman. Here is why...

Around the world and over the centuaries, there has always been people who are righteous. They believed strongly in achieving a utopian state in the community they live in. As a result, they took it upon themselves to advice, correct and punish all who represented a blemish in that shiny dream.

Ok, sounds nice. I'm a believer in discipline and its importance. Sure, why not? Some heartfelt words of advice never hurt. Or actually putting cuffs on the bad seeds of society isn't a bad idea. And in Saudi Arabia, we have just that: dedicated personnel to take upon themselves to make sure our society is squeky clean.

So, why am I afraid?
Would I ever do anything that would offend my God? No
Would I ever do anything that would upset my family? No
Would I ever do anything that would shame myself? No

Then, what's the problem?
Well, In just a few weeks, I will be moving to Riyadh. Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is much more conservative. The more conservative a community is, the more servile they are. Ane the more servile they are, the stronger the RPMs are. RPMs flourish in Riyadh. I lived in Riyadh for the better chunk of my childhood. On several occasions, starting at 9 years old, although I had my trusty abaya and scarf on my hair, I got shouted at by RPM to cover my 'nudity'.

wtf? I hear you say? Well, apparently I had to cover my face as well. You can just imagine the trauma of a young girl going back to her mother in tears telling her the story of the man who yelled at her for being naked in the street. Mother explained that those RPMs are trying to enforce their own cultural beliefs as religious requirements. All I had to do in the streets of Riyadh is to keep a low profile as possible and cover my face around them to avoid harrassment. And so I did.

Ok, sunshine, so RPMs are a fact of life in Riyadh, you already know how to deal with them and you never really break the law in any way that will put you in a risky position (read: go on dates) - take a chill pill.

Well, my dear reader, the fact is that there has been many stories on how RPMs find those people with suspicious behavior. Their location and day-to-day activities are volunteered by equally righteous neighbors.

Guess who is going to live in Riyadh, alone, as a single girl, working for (gasp!) an American company that (gasp!) employs foreigners and (gasp!) allows the mixing of genders on its premises???!!!

Yes, yours truly. I may go live alone across the globe from my family and that it normal, but in RIYADH?!

ARE YOU CRAZY?!

Yes, it seems so. It also seems that I am in denial. My subconsious is afraid. very afraid. If being a single girl living alone isn't bad enough in the eyes of those RPM, I don't want to know what they think of working for the 'infidels'. What if some concerned neightbor (oh we know how 'concerned' neighbors can be in Riyadh) calls them up and reports me? I might lead the most boring life ever and those nosy bastards will still want to investigate why I live alone? This is the second time I dream of RPMs raiding my house and arresting me. I'm not worried about burlgers, I'm worried about being investigated, for the simple reason of being different. Let me tell you, it's not a nice feeling.

THE question of course is: am I blowing all this out of proportions? Did I just have molokia for dinner? Or is this just a reactions to some complex I developed as a child?

It is a known fact that RPMs in Saudi Arabia get carried away a lot. They act in a strange, erratic and dangerous behavior.

Man, I'm worried. I know my family is a bit worried as well. But, they are letting my do my thing. How will I live? Will I be so paranoid that I wouldn't even turn on the music in my house too high? Will I just go to work then come back and hide in my cocoon?

bleh. So boring. I apologize, I will try to have more pleasant dreams =)

Just Jump!

2006-08-12T01:17:00.000-04:00

I'm alive!!!!!!!!!! LOL. I did it! I did a tandem freefall from 14,000 feet high for 60 seconds then learned to parachute for 7 minutes. IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!

When I finally arrived to the place in the middle of nowhere, we watched a 10 minutes training video then trained for 20 minutes with an instructor on the ground. It was then I started getting the jitters. Am I really, really, really going to do this? LOL

We got on the airplane, went up to 14,000 feet, then... the airplane opened I could not believe that I could see the ground like that. I was the second in line. We stood by the airplane OPEN door and counted to three On three, we JUMPED!

OH

MY

GOD

The freefall is such a surreal experience... It is funny how familiar that feeling seemed. Think speed boat on steroids but of course without anything to hold on to! Guess what I was thinking while falling...

OPenParachuteopEnParachute..WOW THIS IS AWESOME....OpENpaRAchuteopENParaChuTE...ok ok ok NOW OPENPparachuteOPENPARACHUTEOPENPARACHUUUUUTE......

hehehe...As always, even with all excitement, I followed the instructions. I ain't gonna turn a rebel right now. I did everything the instructor told me. He even told me when we finally got to the ground is that when a first tandem jump DOES go according to directions...he doesn't know what to do? LOL usually he was to spin, turn and maneuver to fix the position. yay I get an A+ in skydiving :P My video is hilaaaaarous. All you can see is my mouth WIDE OPEN. You can't hear my shouting because of the heavy music background...but you can definately read my lips: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Then when we opened the parachute, the pull up was so hard. Now, I did go parasailing before, but navigating a free-flying parachute...HOLY COW...my arms could barely take it.

For the longest while, the ground seemed sooo faaaar away. But when it DID start to come closer, it started to come closer REAL FAST. very scary. However, we had a smooooth landing. On the ground, I was like: AGAIN! LOL. Then I stood up real quick and asked, where is my brother? ... my mom maaaay forgive me for doing this (She's used to it) but getting my only brother into it? hehe...he better not have a SINGLE scratch on him!

Hamdilla, everything went perfectly. The people at Burnaby Skydiving were awesome. A bunch of free-living souls. It was so refreshing being around people who live on the edge like this. It is so different from my well-planned, strategized, calculated, budgetted, and over-analyzed life. My instructor was doing his 5,000th jump! Amazing... Now that I did my 1st tandem jump, I need two more to qualify for the first freefall. Will I do ahead and get licensed to skydive? I dunno....

For the longest time my parents resisted to let me get a driver license (I wonder why?LOL) Despite that, I managed to get a scuba diving license and completed the 1st step towards a skydiving license...hmmm... do you think there is a connection???

After that, my friends and I tried to get to a cool chinese restaurant in Hamilton, but we didn't make it on time. I had a great time anyways, we stopped by a pizza place and discussed what's next on the list.

Take a guess =)

It's my birthday and I can jump from a plane if I want to!

2006-08-11T12:59:00.000-04:00

Yes, ladies and gents. I'm doing it! I admit when I woke up this morning I asked myself: "Am I really going to do it?"...."umm....YES!" LOL. Yay, adrenaline! LOTS of it :D

It was really a nice start to the day. I received a couple of e-cards and happy b-day calls from friends and family. I am especially happy because my MBET friends actually remembered! I really didn't expect much because MBET is over and all. Plus, I generally don't make a big deal out of birthdays (I just use them as an excuse to do dangerous things :P like uhh...SKYDIVING)
However, it turned out that they are true friends =))) Thnx!

My friends from Saudi also called and/or emailed. My cousins in Egypt called as well. I miss them so much!

Then...my mom called. Uh-oh. I was dying, DYING to tell her what I have planned for my birthday. She kept asking me, so how are you doing? What are your plans for the day? My cousins and sister know already, but I am hoping that she will not get any word about it. I did feel that I should still be responsible though. So, I told my father and asked him not to tell mom. I assured that it is safe and it is only a tandem jump not a freefall.

Before I hung-up the phone I heard my mom call out..."Don't do anything crazy like you always do! And if you do, take your brother with you!!"

hehehe...If only you knew dear mother what I am up to this year :P

btw, bloggers, I will need help with composing an apology letter when I send her the video of me and my brother in mid-air... I welcome any suggestions!

ICE: In Case of Emergency

2006-08-11T12:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my brother came home late. I know he finishes class by 4pm. However, it was 9.30pm until he actually came back. Naturally, I was worried sick.He is not carrying a Canadian Driver's license to help identify his number or address in case of an emergency. He is only carrying the Saudi ID, which is in Arabic (someone really smart didn't think it was necessary to have at least an English translation on the back). As a result of that, it would take a long time before I know if anything bad (لا قدر الله) happens. I was worried also because we are alone here in Canada. If anyone checked his mobile, they won't easily find a Canadian number and it would takes ages before they find the house number.

So, when I received this forwarded email, I really liked it and wanted to share it with everyone.

Btw, he was at the library and was swamped with so much work that he forgot to mention it to me. It's ok, I wasn't mad. We just agreed to always call-in with each other =)

Recently, the concept of “ICE” is catching up quickly. It is simply, yet an important method of contact during emergency situations.

As cell phones are carried by majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or person who should be contacted at during emergency as “ICE” (meaning In Case of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn’t know which number is call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose.

Following a disaster in London, the East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national “In case of Emergency (ICE)” campaign. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simple dialing the number stored as “ICE”. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference !

Tell everyone you know. It really could save your life, or put a loved one’s mind at rest.

Cry for help :P

2006-08-09T01:59:00.000-04:00

Dear bloggers and lurkers,
This post is a cry for help! Help me! I am losing it! LOL. Here, let me tell you a little story.

Back in 2001, in my senior year of high school. I was your average teenager. Wait. That's not right. I was not your average girl, but I was your typical video-gaming fanatic. I lived and grew up with the video-games that were around in that period. From PC games to console games such as Super Nintendo and Playstation, I was in love. That video-game world was my sanctuary. I was the invincible mortal kombat fighter, the fastest car-racer, the ever-winning Crash Bandicot. I was the UNBEATABLE super Mario.

In that world, I ruled. So, for all you gamers out there, you understand why we get addicted. More than addicted. If it was up to us, we would transport to that world permanently and rule that magic kingdom. I had dreams to participate one day in international gaming contests...And win.

However, it was that year, year 2001, when my virtual alter-ego died. To be exact, it was the night before the final Physics tawjeehi (senior high-school) exam. As always, I hid away in my world of treasure, monsters and magic whenever real-life was too stressful to face. On that dark night, out of the blue, I was pulled away. Pulled away so hard that the roots of my love were killed and my growth was stunted.

It seems that when life is most stressful that you can achieve incredible levels in your game, right? It was exactly that. I was swimming with Spyro, the super-hero dinosaur in the depths of a pixelized lake in search of treasure, when my mother suddenly PULLED the cable connected the playstation with the TV and the socket.

SILENCE...

All I can think of was when was the last time I saved.

I haven't saved for an hour and 45 minutes.

God knows how much you can do in an hour and 45 minutes.

It was horrendous. A terrible violent death of a (relatively) budding love. I felt actual physical pain when I was returned to the mundane world so violently...

I never touched video-games ever since.

During those last few years after that important, life-changing event. I understood my mother. She was looking out for me. She was worried not only about my grades, but my personality and my mental health. At some point, I even remember that I thanked her, even though I missed out on PS2. LOL

So, what is this post about? Well, ever since I came to Canada, I made some new friends. Friends who told tales of new games, new worlds, new lives. I listened. I was enthralled. I listened for a whole year because I resisted all temptations to touch that keyboard. I knew. I knew who I was and how I can be. I held adamantly unto my role of a fascinated observer by putting up the defense of too much studying.

Then, school was out...For good. I was out of my studying bubble. Without an armor to cling on, I was a weak, helpless girl in the face of temptation. It started out by my usual hanging out with my friends, then they started talked about this new RPG game they are playing. Heavens...I love RPG. They kept talking about knights, elves, goblins and zombies...A huge world of quests, treasure and wonderful new creatures. They knew how much I loved that world. They must have known. I wasn't satisfied with all this talk. I had to see for myself.

I followed them back to the dragon's den. It was a dark basement, cold (literally - to overcome overheating), dark and with humming computers, fully equipped with the latest, most expensive video cards, surround sound system and LAN network. Video-gaming Paradise.

As the story goes with any tale of seduction. A look, then a touch, then a taste...I was hooked. Like some kind of drug. The first night was magical. 12 hours straight to get the hang of it. Somewhere in those 12 hours, there was a re-birth. My friends were so welcoming as well. They gave me the most comfortable chair, the best headphones and explained the game so I can venture in that world as quickly as possible.

The name of the game is Oblivion. I was enchanted.

So, my friends, this is why I haven't been blogging for a while. I woke up everyday to rush to our little lab and conquer my enemies. Occasionally, we take breaks to eat and do various mundane human activities. Even then, my mind was still in Cyrodiil. I am a dark elf mage. A magician of sorts covered with heavy Dwarvian armor. I am still way behind than my friend the acrobatic master thief and the strong armored warrior. However, I still play to the best of my abilities. I do not look at the clock anymore. My love has been re-kindled.

Now, here is my dilemma. If you think that I am already knee-deep in problems, I beg to differ. The way you identify a real gaming addict is when they try to hide it. When they put the game on top of their priority life and everything, EVERYTHING comes in second. I feel like I am in quicksand. I can still breathe. I can still see the light. But, I am sinking...And sinking quickly. I have another confession. I come from a family of gamers, including my father. So it is in my genes. If video-gaming is anything like alcohol, then I am really in trouble. What is it about that magical world that draws me? Or is it that this world is so damn boring that it makes me look for more?

If you want to help, then here is how: If you know where I can buy some cool spells or some minataurs I can fight or zombies I can summon to play with, then please email me. If you hear of any conquests to travel to a lost island to find some enchanted crystals or mystical forests that I can explore, please don't hold back. Maybe it's not game over yet for this small, mundane world. Maybe I can redeem myself and keep myself at bay from the beautiful, utterly huge, magical world of Oblivion.

Reflections? huh?

2006-08-04T00:02:00.000-04:00

lol ok I guess I should do the I'm-reflecting-on-my-life-because-I-just-graduated. LOL. Honestly, I'm not like that. My wise moments of reflections and visions come randomly. I have no control over them. Generally, they come during showers and boring lectures. hehehe.

I guess I have nothing to reflect about because this year was ALL about reflecting. Plus, my plans are already laid out. I know where I am going, when I am going and what the hell I am going to do there! And that's just the way I like it. Clear, organized and neat.

I would say that the most important lesson I learned this year is SWOT. Yes, we all know SWOT, but what I learned how to apply SWOT analysis to real life. To succeed, you really define you strengths, accept your weaknesses, take full advantage of opportunities and minimize threats.

I learned that not every genius is successful and not every successful person is a genius. The determining point is Planning and Execution. If you plan, calculate and excute your moves right, you got a better chance of succeeding. It is not your grades, how fast you can solve a math problem or even your IQ. Those definitely help, but they do not guarantee anything. It is funny how much emphasis I used to put on those surface issues. Now, it is all about results.
--------------
On a side note, since I am still hanging around Canada for a while until my brother finishes his English program, I had some time to make a good meal. I made molokia today!!! That's my favorite dish, which is basically a type of green soup. A dear friend found it randomly in an Arabic store and bought it for me. My grandma would be so proud to find out that I know how to do this dish. Yum!

My friends are bloggers too! 2

2006-08-03T23:41:00.000-04:00

Some of my awesome MBET friends started blogs as well! Check them out. Genoveva, Sahar, JB and Urooj. They are smart and fantastic people! It has been an honor meeting them, working with them and becoming their friend =) I wish them all the best of luck, success and happiness!

MBET: check

2006-08-02T05:29:00.000-04:00

I am DONE with my degree! More later =)

no...no... :(

2006-07-31T21:51:00.000-04:00

+Sandmonkey

You know when you get into that mode where you don't measure days by sleep anymore? Time is the hours between each test. Those are the times where you are lost in a realm between books, real life and friends.

It is true that I am now focused on my finals. But in the back of my mind, there is a lot going on. If you are group studying, every once in a while you find that interesting conversations arise during breaks.

One topic of course was about the situation in the middle-east. More specifically, Lebanon. Very interesting comments and debates. The most interesting comment was made by a jewish-born-but-not-practicing friend. He said that, what happened in
Lebanon is like Rwanda. The Shi'ite and Sunni are like the Hutus and the Tutsis. I didn't agree with him. I didn't WANT to agree with him. I told him we live in peace. We have enough problems as it IS. No, it isn't the beginning of WWIII. NO, there won't BE civil wars. NO, we are not taking 1 step forward and 10 backwards. NO more.

Please no :( Please. I am young. I have dreams. I want to travel the world. I want to have children. I want to raise them in a happy environment. I want to have endless family lunches that only discusses fun stuff. I want to read more books. I want to find out what other technologies are we yet to invent. I want to make more friends.

I want to be happy without being scared, worried or guilty :(

I'm not alone. Stop the hate. Get a life.

Accounting Final test - in less than 7 hours

2006-07-31T02:40:00.000-04:00

I can't sleep again. I have a lot I would like to blog about, but I have been studying for the last two weeks. More intensely so for the last three days. It's almost over. Technically, I passed for my degree. My practicum team presented to our supervisor on Friday - and we passed! I only got two more finals on Monday and Tuesday. I finished studying for Monday's test on Friday and Tuesday's test on Saturday. So intense. I can't sleep. You know, I like you bloggers, all of you...the nice, the amusing, the fake, the smart, the dreamy, the sincere, the airheads, the entertaining, the rude, the informative and the plain dumb. Saudi blogs in particular, you kept me in touch. This is the first time in KSA's history people in saudi arabia can actually socialize (sort of). More about that later - i promise. Soon, I'll be back and blog from Saudi and hope my favorite links don't get blocked. I can't wait for the summer. I'm sad my UN application got rejected because I am under 25. I wanted to volunteer in a field mission. Things are getting worse in the middle east. I asked my boss to allow me in my contract to have the freedom to leave for a year or more to volunteer at a field mission after I turn 25. I can't sleep. Did I study enough? Did I study too much. Goddamn caffeine.

Amusing: Why should you marry a blogger (or not!)?

2006-07-29T23:28:00.000-04:00

+Sugar Cubes

+Khalida

+Jad

You know what's funny?

2006-07-28T01:38:00.000-04:00

When you got qualifications for a scholarship that are better than 1000 others who received it, but you don't get it because you are a girl and didn't pay the right people
When some people change their mind and decide to be nice and make a big fuss about you because they want to be associated with your success
When a measly, young, silly male 'cousin' tests your 'honor', while your own father treats your word as gold
When you find out that your dream is possibly at the only place you never considered
When you seem to be moving at the same trajectory as everyone else, yet always with something quite...off
When you doubt yourself at the time everyone believes in you most
When the biggest nerd in class calls you a geek

What a joke.

Cisco Systems Employee

2006-07-26T15:17:00.000-04:00

I made a decision. I accepted the job. Riyo, here I come =)

Masha'el Al-Shememri in Nasa

2006-07-21T11:30:00.000-04:00

This is absolutely fantastic! Too bad about the ignorant comments...

Sorry!

2006-07-20T13:24:00.000-04:00

Hey, I'm back. My blog was out for a day. Fixed the code. Thx W!

Useless

2006-07-17T23:12:00.000-04:00

There is nothing more humilating for a man than being useless. The men who are in charge or have some say or control over whether a country like Isreal rape a country like Lebanon are bunch of useless peices of shit. You are not men. You are ugly, selfish cowards. If you don't have the balls to do what it takes then why don't you just abdicate from your positions and allow the men who ARE willing to put themselves on the line and GET THE JOB DONE take charge. You yellow bastards are a disappointing disgrace. You shame yourselves and your families. A real man protects his people and doesn't look out only for his interests. Allah(God) will judge you harshly.

Read

Fleeing from Lebanon

2006-07-17T00:50:00.000-04:00

My very good friend Shimozi made it out alhamdilla. Read her amazing post about her experience. I still have a couple more stuck there. There is no way to contact them :( There are a couple of bloggers as well who are/were there or have family; Blackorchid, Trevelyana , Confused Arab Chick's grandmother, CD's parents and Didi's family. I am sure there are many more. God help them all.

2006-07-16T20:32:00.000-04:00

Your Linguistic Profile:

55% General American English

25% Yankee

15% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

considering...

2006-07-16T12:17:00.000-04:00

The chance is here. Will I do it?
How safe is it?
=)

In Toronto

2006-07-14T21:11:00.000-04:00

I love big cities. I have always been a big city girl and always will be. As much as I love little old Waterloo, I need to take a vacation every once and while. Come to the big city, breathe in the livelihood, take in the energy...it's very invigorating.

However, this weekend was not one I have planned to take a vacation from Waterloo. I came because my brother wanted to go to a Nickelback concert...whoever that is. So, being the older, responsible sister, I came with him. I gave all what he needs. I bought the ticket online, printed out, figured out how to go to Toronto, where to stay, the location of the concert, how he can go and come back and most importantly, gave him money. Yea, I know, I'm a dream sister. I cook his favorite dishes too ;) Except for fried stuff. I refuse to cook anything fried :S Sadly, that kind of eliminates 80% of what he eats! hehehe. In my house, you eat broccoli!

So, while I wait for my brother, I pretend to get some work done. Instead of work (come ON people, it IS friday!), I find myself pondering about some issues of my life. I was thinking about how my mother is always right.

For years, I yearned to jump off the 'nest' and fly. Now that I'm freakin flying all over the planet, there is nothing I want more that to go back to that cozy nest. I guess it's a more innate desire to settle down. I've had my share of experience of being 'on the road'. The last year in particular has been intense. All this responsibilities of breaking away from your parents suddenly shoved in my face. I am reminded of something I read a while ago:

Do you know what the ultimate sign that you have grown up? It is when you reach down the kitchen's sink and remove the gunk that is blocking the water from going down! LOL. It's true, isn't it? You grow up watching the adults do that kind of stuff and it never occurs to you that you will EVER do that icky crap. You can always call mom, dad, whoever. LOL. Then one day...one day...it creeps up to you...one day you reach out, full-force into that sink and fish out the potatoe peels. You suddenly stop. For those who know me, they know how I sound when I say: EEEEEWWWW.

LOL. I am sorry for those of you who think this is disgusting. But I meant it as a metaphor (It is generally a good idea NOT to peel stuff in the sink!). I am trying to communicate that kind of mindset where you suddenly realize...I am independent. Not the stupid, feminist, destiny's child-type of fake independence. But that quiet and very real acceptance that you really have said good-bye. Good-bye to being a confused, frustrated, intimidated young girl. That might sound as a good thing, but those things gave you excuses. Excuses to behave as haphazardly as you like. Excuses to have mood swings. Excuses to sway from being totally rude to sweet as candy. Not that I ever was really like that, but you know what I mean.

Wanting to go back to the nest does not mean I don't appreciate how much I grew up. On the contrary, I want to go back because I want to give back to my family. I want to contribute and help. I want that settled down, secure feeling =)

Which reminds me, my brother is still out. I am thinking about giving him a call just to 'check-up on him'. Maybe nag him a bit about not staying out too late. My mom would be so proud LOL =))

Peace out.

Gone Camping!

2006-07-11T09:10:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went up to Muskoka. A professor invited us to his cottage by Severn Falls. It was FANTASTIC. maaaan... I LOVED it.

We raced around the lake in the speed boat, went tubing, waterskiing, kayaking, had a BBQ, fireworks and played the guitar by the campfire. It was the ideal camping trip. Particularly because I got to sleep INSIDE the cottage instead of outside in a tent :P We also had electricity and running water (hehehe). However, I did gain more confidence in myself that I am tough enough to go to a *real* camping trip :P I think I fell in love with Canada all over again...

Some speakers...

2006-07-08T00:18:00.000-04:00

The following are some notable speakers we had in MBET in the last term that I personally liked. I just didn't have the time to blog about them. Here is a quick look =)

Dr. Brian Orend
Talked about Ethics, from a philisophical point of view. Very sharp, friendly and fun personality. He challenges you and your thoughts when he speaks. I am going to read his latest book as well as a book he recommended about Ethics from a feminist point of view.

Eugene Roman
Very smart guy! One of those larger than life personalities. He was one of the five-people team who invented some major breakthrough in laser technology. He was the final speaker of the year and talked to us about going out there and thinking out of the box, not taking things at face value.

Women's Rights

2006-07-02T10:10:00.000-04:00

I was very upset when I read this post in Arabic by a fellow blogger, Raed Al-saed. It is a month old, but I have only came across it recently. Nevertheless, I felt so strongly against it that I had to post my reaction.

While I always respect freedom of speech and the right for everyone to have their own opinions, I cannot stand ignorance! Raed put a disclaimer saying that he received this article as a forward in his email. However, that does not exonerate him from being affiliated to such an ignorant expression of opinion.

My argument is simple. I have three points to make:

While it is true that there women as described in the article, he failed to recognize that there men that are jut as shallow, under-educated and useless. It is unfair and ignorant to generalize.
The article describes a vicious cycle of ignorance. Men look down at women because of the way they have been raised, the women they have lived around and how their role models treated those women. When you shut-off women from participating in serious issues as well as fail to emphasize on them how important it is to be educated and a contributing member of society, what happens? They end up becoming individuals who are EXACTLY as described in the 'humorous' article. I do not blame anyone who ridicules a person who IS ignorant, useless and unsophisticated. However, the more you shut-off women, the worse the situation gets. I don't see how this is funny.
It is foolish to discourage those women who did manage to escape the viscous cycle of ignorance. Those women are highly educated, qualified and not shallow. While there are some characters whom we may question their intentions, that is applicable to both men and women. I believe, however, the more there are people contributing to society, the more there will be people with good intentions who will weed out the pretenders.

Women's 'rights' in Saudi Arabis did not suddenly pop up after 9/11. There has always been great female role models. Those women are educated and contributing members of society who are great examples for both boys and girls.

I was offended. Ignorance is not funny. It is sad.

interesting read

Terra Nova Market Research

2006-06-29T18:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we had a talk with a lady from TerraNova Market Strategies. It turned out to be a talk about how to conduct market research...YAWN! Right? It started that way. We all took over the last two rows of the room. The guy behind me instantly fell asleep. The guy next to him was engrossed in his sandwich. My two friends on my left opened up a laptop, plugged in headphones and started watching an episode of 24. I just kicked back and started figuring out my schedule this week...

Slowly...After about 15 minutes, I began to take notice. hmmm...This lady is actually saying some good stuff! With each passing minute I was growing more intrigued. What first caught my ear's attention is when she said how her firm refuses to conduct focus-groups. I was like..huh,interesting. So I started paying real attention.

The main idea is that market research has become to companies, "what a lamppost is to a drunk; for support and not for illumination". Everything a company wants to justify a proposition, it just throws money at it to do 'market research'. The result of that is a stack of information that doesn't really answer the question. So, what does the company do? More market rescues!

Wrong!

Market research should be exploratory not evalualative. What companies do all the time is go to customers and ask them what do you think of our products. Most of the time, they have some idea of what customers are currently thinking and are using market research to support that information. That is evalualative market research. Exploratory market research discovers new realms for innovation. A market research report should not be a source of dread but a source of inspiration!

Therefore, TerraNova does not conduct focus-groups, but 'discovery workshops'. In addition to that, there was a host of other methods. I also loved how in-depth their analysis goes. For example, she went on explaining the drivers and challenges of innovation. I have requested her slides, so I might post them some time =)

Randoms...

2006-06-28T18:47:00.000-04:00

I had interview #3. I told them before that 8am if fine because of the time difference. However, this time the person interviewing me was the person equivalent of the position I am applying from but in North Carolina. I wish I knew that :S We could have agreed on better timing. Waking up early is not a problem, because I normally wake up by 7am. The problem is that I am not a morning person. I prefer peace and quiet for the first two hours after waking up. I like to study and get some work done but prefer not to talk to people.
--------------------------------------
We had an all day workshop called ICE Leadership. ICE stands for: Integrate. Communicate. Execute. It was pretty cool. Angela is cool. She was trained in the military before working for Nortel. I also liked the 'mission' simulations. When it was my turn in the 'hot seat' I played the part of the CEO of the SuperBowl stadium. The crisis was that 20,000 people of the 75,000 are congested at the north gate. Cool stuff.
---------------------------------------
I get a reply back from company with more scheduled interviews. "I have asked them all to give you a hard time as I feel from the conversation we had you don't bruise easily :-))". uh-oh.Nice. Very nice. What did I get myself into? I replied: "I might not bruise easily, but I did cry watching Titanic ;-)" not really :P
---------------------------------------
Studying and assignments are never done. I am *so* grateful to certain friends who make it all bearable. Thanks... <3

Montreal: Day #3 - and back in Waterloo

2006-06-26T13:40:00.000-04:00

One word about the F1 race: it's LOUD. Even though I was fortunate enough to take the advice of my good friend and wore ear plugs, that only saved me from going deaf. Nevertheless, it was fantastic! Here are the Results

Tips if you're going to watch the Grand Prix - or any car racing event for that matter:

Buy bleachers tickets! If you are going to spend money buying general admission tickets, pay a little more and get actual seats! Even if you are the type that goes very early with your chair on you back to get a good location on the grass, there will STILL be others who were there earlier! And they STILL don't really get a good view.

The advantages of a general admission ticket though is that you can move around and watch the race from different angles.
Standing right by the track fence is exciting when the racers are parading before the race. However, when the race begins...not healthy.
Wear sneakers, if you got a general admission ticket, so you can climb up the metal bleachers from the side. Don't worry, you won't look like a monkey because there are other cheap(or student) monkeys like you!
Don't stand up on your fold-up, polyester chair. You WILL fall. No, not even if you are a graceful ballerina.
Binoculars, water(unless you want to drink the F1 diamond-dust water :S) and earplugs
Finally, summer = sunblock, even in Quebec.

In general, it was a great experience. The atmosphere, the amazing cars, the continuous and relentless advertising, the cute bodyguards, the cold, sugary lemonade...everything was awesome! Veva and I went for a nice seafood lunch at the St. Paul market (mmm...clam chowder and lobster salad!) and treated ourselves to diary queen after the hot day we spent at the track. Then we caught the 5pm train back to Waterloo.

I was back home at midnight, tired as hell, went to sleep with a smile on my face for a well-deserved and hectic(what else!) weekend =)

Would just like to give a shout-out to my girl White witch. Congratulations on getting engaged! I was there in spirit girl! I wish you all the hapiness in the world =)

Montreal: Day #2

2006-06-25T01:13:00.000-04:00

If there is a tourist prize for sight-seeing on steriod, Veva and I would have definately won today!

We woke up at 8am, had a nice waffle breakfast then started our journey. Suffice to say that we might not be able to pronounce the names of the stations, but we have become experts using Montreal subway system!

Checklist:

St Joseph Oratory
Little Italy
Mont-Royal Street
BioDome
Olympic Park
Planetarium
Notre-Dame Basilica Light Show

If you look at the subway station, you will notice that we went around in a circle around the whole of Montreal. By that, we have covered the essential touristic attractions for Montreal except for The Botanical garden. We just couldn't fit it anywhere! After we came back, we changed and met some friends for dinner at Crescent Street. It was insane! Free concerts again. The city was so alive!

After that, I met Confused Arab Chick! That girl is so cool! She was incredibley friendly =) It was getting late, so she took us to the top of Mount Royal for a breath-taking view of Montreal at night. Thanks CFA! You rock, girl ;)

After CFA dropped us at the hotel, I signed in to blog about the day before I fall asleep. I know what you are asking now...SunShine! Where are the pictures?!?! Well, as I started, I asked Veva to give me the SD card so I can copy the pictures. Guess what...she couldn't find it =( The theory is that when she droppped the camera during dinner, the SD fell out!

So after changing into my PJ's and settling in bed to blog, I change back and accopany my friend back to the restuarant. We searched the floors with the waiters. Sadly, no luck :( As a result my friend I am sad to tell you that there will be no pictures tonight.

I really wanted to blog more about each place we went to. But again, I am tired and ruined. Plus, it is a bad sad that we have lost all those pictures. Tomorrow is the Grand Prix, so the weekend is not over yet =)

Montreal: Day #1

2006-06-24T00:12:00.000-04:00

Finally, a trip for PURE fun rather than work. I'm on Montreal for the Grand Prix Formula 1 !!!!! Yes, world, I do know how to take a break once in a while and enjoy it =) I did take work with me of course, but, heh I'm betting against myself $10 that I won't touch anything :P

Different people from the class decided to go to Montreal with me and Genoveva. Most are going just for fun and not the F1 itself, so we didn't take the bus together or anything. Genoveva and I woke up Friday morning at 5am to catch the train at 6.50am from Waterloo. We arrived at...4pm. By the time we actually reached the hotel and checked in, it was 5pm. We were exhausted.

Nevertheless, not wanting to waste time, we got dressed and went to explore. Number 1 on our list was old Montreal. We saw everything!

There were some moments when I felt was in Beirut from the amount of Lebanese people. Generally, Montreal has a lot of Arabs! But it is also sooo beautiful. The impression that I got in the Winter was so unfair. It's georgous!

My friend and I walked from Old Montreal all the way to down-town. The city is so alive! We were starving, but I insisted on inviting my friend to a Lebanese restaurant. Ooooohhhh...warag 3enab, hommus, sambousak, baba gannoush,(heart) kebba (heart), fatoush, shish taouk...etc. The whole nine yards!!!! She loved it. Personally, I miss this food soooo much. Don't tell anyone, but we ate more than nice, elegant girls should eat :P:P:P I also got her to try Shisha! I personally don't like it, but I wanted her to have a wholesome Arabic dinner experience :P The waiter was happy to oblige and let her try a couple of puffs without having to order one! Tee-hee...very fun pictures!

I also met up with a friend from DAH who studies there now. After dinner, we walked down crescent road. It was great! So many activities were going on campaining for the F1 teams. The best was an open concert by Honda. They were singing Footloose, Thriller, U2 and all the favorite oldies! We hung around a bit, but we're SO TIRED by 10pm.

Ok, gotta go to sleep now. We're waking up really early again like real tourists!

Get one and put it at Kabayin Al Nouras :P

2006-06-20T12:37:00.000-04:00

Although I don't know why we still want to watch the World Cup...yea, Go Yal-A5dar...whatever...

We're changing the world =)

2006-06-18T17:20:00.000-04:00

You Rock, Manal!

Not again

2006-06-17T15:12:00.000-04:00

My wisdom tooth is annoying me again. However, this time on the other side. So annoying. I don't have time for this. I got a finance test a finance project on Monday. Didn't finish any...help.

The life of a jet-setter

2006-06-13T21:13:00.000-04:00

...not as a glamorous as it sounds. quick re-cap of the events of the last couple of days:

Boston: Sunday through Thursday

I met a lot of exciting people! Most notabley, GC venture capitalists. had dinner with them. I also met three of the companies they invested in. JumpTab have a great culture! ChoiceStream are competing in the same space as my practicum company and the last company is the company that will bring on the next generation of Internet TV (oh, I was in love!) I might apply to one of those start-ups.

I also met Jose and Ken Morris from the MIT Entrepreneurship center. What a character Morse is! Apparently, he had visited DAH in jeddah before and was not impressed (thx DAH). Harvard was cool as well. took a pic with papa harvard. We learned a lot from the seminar at CHOATE and the talk at the "Talk to an Angel" event at MIT. Note to self, IP lawyers are cool!

We visited Genzyme not bad. The largest green building in NA. had BOSTON CLAM CHOWDER! I missed it so much! Last time was in 2000. and of course, went shopping!!!! I bought a new suit 70% off! Finally, it was raining like hell! but, we survived and finally returned to Waterloo on Thursday.

Meeting + Riyadh: Friday through Tuesday

I went to a company on Friday morning in Cambridge before I left for Riaydh. I forgot to mention that I am working as a consultant for this company until August. They were recruiting from the MBET class and selected two applicants; me and another guy. Very interesting stuff. My first professional consulting experience! On Friday was our first meeting. We discussed requirements and deliverables as well as took a tour of the factory. I can'y disclose the name of the company because I signed an NDA . More later ;)

After the meeting I picked up my bags and headed to Pearson to fly to Riyadh. Cisco is flying me there for the final assessment. And the nightmare begins...

Yes, yes I know..it must be me. It's my fault. I must have upset the airport gods in another lifetime. Why else do I have SUCH BAD LUCK with airlines?

To make a long story short, Air Canada put my CONFIRMED reservation on standby. sounds wierd, doesn't it? They bumped me on the next plane to Heathrow. As a result, I missed my connection on BMI to Riyadh. I called the company's emergency line. They found another flight the next day and booked a night at Hilton Heathrow. The details I missed of course, include the drama and tragedy show that I played in. I post another time the complaint(hate) letter that I am sending to Air Canada.

The next day I get on an SV airplane and reached Riyadh at 10pm. A car from the hotel picked me up. God, I missed Riyadh. It looks so different yet feels the same!! I left in '99, so I have never seen al Faisaliyyah and al Mamlaka before. However, the dry, calm yet threatening atmosphere of the Saudi capital is the same =). I was checked-in a room in the 34th floor. The view was fantastic! Unfortunately, I was too nervous to sleep. I dozed off around 3.40am and woke up at 6.30am. You can imagine that my red-shot eyes were not very elegant :P

But, despite the jet-lag, the no sleep and the nervousness, I think did pretty well =) My next post is going to be about the whole event that lasted all day and the experience of being on of two girls among 20 [Saudi] guys applying for the same job! Bottomline is that I survived! My mother didn't make it to Riyadh. Instead, I did manage to squeeze in a quick night-out with my old homies from Riyadh from 7 to 9.30pm. We cruised Riyadh's 'tahlia' and had some drinks at some funky cafe. I rushed back and took a car from the hotel to the airport and flew to back to London.

I reached my beloved Heathrow at 5.30am. It was so surreal. One of those rare hours where heathrow is kinda empty and calm. It was so empty and I was so bored and sleepy that I was tempted to dance the funky chicken on star-bucks tables! LOL I was afraid that i would fall asleep and miss my flight to Toronto. Fortunately, I did still have some sane cells awake, so instead of doing the funky chicken I window shopped the closed designer shops over and over and over. When the shops opened I had my regular honey and vanilla-bean smoothie from Boots. FINALLY, at 8am they announced the gate on which to board the plane to Toronto. Guess what... Air Canada was delayed AGAIN. So, we didn't actually board until 9 and took off at 9.30. The Norwegian girl next to me was going to miss her connection to Alberta. I told her Welcome to Air Canada!... I really hope those a******* go bankrupt!

The airporter bus dropped in Waterloo after another hours. Back at my apartment, I just COLLAPSED and slept. I must be mad for the stressful life I lead. But, I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, this is the time, when we are young and 'healthy', to live life to the fullest! I am sad I missed seeing my family and friends in Jeddah, but I had to come back for classes. Wish me luck! I will know if I Cisco will hire me in a week.

I am searching for apartments in Amsterdam anyway :P

On the bus - I love wireless!

2006-06-08T09:13:00.000-04:00

wow, what a trip! The last couple of days have been so hectic!! Right now, I am on the bus, waiting for the late risers (Grrr.. don't you hate those people with no consideration for others?) This is the first time in days that I have been able to post. Boston is just awesome!!!!!

I will post the most interesting pictures once I download them. However, I don't that will be done until a couple of days. I am un-packing and re-packing again tonight when I get back to Waterloo. The reason is that I got a flight to Riyadh tomorrow! The final round of Cisco interviews is on the 12th. They're flying me over there.

My mother is going to meet me there =)

the 14-hours trip :S

2006-06-04T23:49:00.000-04:00

For some reason I didn't fully realize what it meant that we are going from Waterloo to Boston by coach (bus). I thought it would probably take 8 to 10 hours. Also, I will be among friends and we brought a lot of movies to play. It should be ok if not even fun, right?

WRONG!

First of all, after the third movie, I was bored! I actually *wanted* to work! Unfortunately, my laptop died after watching one movie on my own.

Then, we made like 7 stops? Once for coffee, once for lunch, once for dinner and couple of others along the way for good measure. That is not counting the stop at the border for 'registration' for non-canadians (ahem, ahem). My friends had a laugh how they would leave me there if the US border patrol refused to let me enter :P hehe. Actually, I was one of those who finished quickly regardless of the extra questions I was asked for the sole reason of having the good ol' green passport.

Ok, here my tips if you are going on a long bus trip:

Strategize your laptop usage as there are no power outlets on the bus (whaaat? no power! oh kill me now.)
A bit of innocent flirtation with US border patrol will go a long way (not true for individuals of the males species :P)
Make sure that ALL your downloaded movies are at least VCD if not DVD to play on the coach's DVD player.
BRING A PILLOW (some ppl did...what would I have done for a bit of support under my neck after the 7th hour!)
Yes, taking a lot of stops to use normal bathrooms instead of the joke in the back of the bus is convenient. However, take in consideration that unloading 25 ppl then boarding them back is going to take 30 minutes at least!
Don't invite or encourage your friend to sit beside you because after chatting for two, you will envy those who are sleeping across two seats (lol i was one with the two seats, but all of us shifted regularly to allow some ppl to sleep and to chat with different ppl)
Bring an MP3 player or something, cuz ppl tend to do wierd things when they are bored. Ex. sing wierd songs in a southern accent with that thing you blow into (what is it called again?)

There are lots more but there were my personal lessons =) We arrived around 10pm and took 30 minutes to check-in. Some people went out for a bite and to check out the town around 11pm, but I was too tired. Plus, we're about a 20 minute ride from downtown, so for those who don't know me, let me explain something:

Being a smart, strong and well-balanced woman doesn't eliminate the fear of taking the subway and walking down the street late at night. Yes, people who have travelled with me outside KSA find this out very quickly, lol. Around 10pm max, I tend to get scared. I clutch my purse like a floatie in the ocean, my eyes keep shifting everywhere and I begin singing the "let's go back home" song. Call me a geek, call me a party-pooper but having fun doesn't mean not being responsible!

As a result, I skipped out on going out tonight, but I'm sure we will have ample time in the following days to enjoy ourselves :D Also, I knew I wouldn't enjoy myself because I wasn't prepared. When I visit a new city (I stayed in Boston before, but that was back in 2000) I like to have a map, know it well, know where I'm going exactly and how I'm coming back. I don't like to just take off (especially at night)

Anyways, there is one sentence that always gives me a natural high:

"FREE INTERNET!"

So, stay tuned, lots of news and pictures for those interested in hearing more about HBS, (heart!) Sloan (heart!) and the latest news from Boston!

P.S. Verdicts...

Old School: D

Office Space: -N/A- I was anothe movie at the same time

Open Water: A!

The Fast and The Furious: -N/A- fell asleep

Being Cyrus (some modern indian movie): B+ - it was surprisingly pretty good!

Napolean Dynamite: F - this movies sucks! I don't what ppl find funny about some loser who dances like a freak.

I (Heart) Boston!

2006-06-03T20:38:00.000-04:00

Our class is going to a trip to Boston tomorrow! I'm so excited! In addition to a job interview, we're touring HBS and MIT! This our schedule:

Sunday June 4th
Travel to Boston: Coach will leave Needle's Hall at 8:00 am sharp.

Monday June 5th

7am - 1pm: Attend New England-Canada Business Council. Address Sheraton Colonial Hotel & Golf Club.
1pm - 3pm: Tour MIT and Harvard if possible.
4pm - 6pm: Meeting at the MIT Entrepreneurship Centre

Tuesday June 6th

8am - 10am: Breakfast with General Catalyst Partners
10am - 3pm: Visit Partners + Presentations
2.30pm - 4pm : Business Idea Pitches back at General Catalyst Partners
4pm - 6pm: Free time in Harvard Square
5pm - 6pm: Interviews for GC Scout
6pm: Barbeque dinner at Charles Hotel

Wednesday June 7th

8am: Breakfast at Choate
seminar titled "Start-ups 101" (which they normally present to the MIT Entrepreneurship program)
3:30pm - 5pm: Tour Genzyme's corporate HQ
7:00pm - 8:30pm: MIT Enterprise Forum "Talk to an Angel"

Thursday June 8th
Travel back to Waterloo =(

wish me luck!

Severe weather warning in Southern Ontario.

2006-05-31T21:54:00.000-04:00

NO S*** SHERLOCK!

So we've been seeing the thunderstom warning for a couple of days now. After class, my friends and I went to hang out at the grad house. We were sitting at the patio, making fun of the coming storm that we can see in the distance. Then a light drizzle started, so some friends decided to head back to class. I waited with others for one who didn't finish her food yet. After she was done, they decided to wait until the rain subsides because they were going to walk all the way to the parking lot. But I was going back to class, so I said goodbye and headed to class

Here is a map to give you an idea

So I was going from GH to NH, while the others to parking lot A...

How foolish of me...as I was walking as cute as a girl can be under the refereshing rain, with my Burberry umbrella, in less than 2 minutes, suddenly, OUT OF NOWHERE, it starts POURING! not just pouring, but huuuuge gusts of wind blew me away and thunder was ROARING. My cute umbrella BROKE of course. That flimsy peice of uselessness! So, I threw elegance aside and ran into building TC.

Ahem. TC building is where all the students get interviewed for their co-op jobs. So, you have this hall of students in suits sitting watching me behind the glass and I stumble inside the lobby and starts squeezing water out of my skirt! nuh-uh. not fashionable at all.

I drag my sorry ass to the washroom and discover that I cut my finger and my hair was disheveled. I give my friend with the car a call to see if she can pick me up from TC and give me a ride home. no answer.

The wind lightens up. I don't bother with an umbrella as I walk back to class. A guy from class asks:" Hey, was there a wet t-shirt contest at the grad house or what?"

HA HA HA.

I looked like a drowned RAT. Thank god I wore a tank top under my shirt though. Sheeeeeesh. I drop the stupid paper I wanted to drop and starting heading back out to home. ( I live a 10 minute walk from campus - grrrreat location!). When I step out, guess what happens?

Sun is shining! Birds are chirping! People walking around...like NOTHING happened. Of course, I look extremely funny all wet, dripping and muddy sandals.

Sigh.......

I turn on the weather channel back home: Tornado warning. niiiiice.

I want my team back

2006-05-30T23:40:00.000-04:00

I miss playing balot.
The team was always Dad & Bother vs. Sister & Me. And my mom always in the background blaming dad for distracting us from studying (hehehe). My dad is an awesome player. People always want to play his partner, except me :P. You know why? Because the fun for me is trying to beat him (never happened - maybe once? He felt sorry for me :P) I miss the fun, laughter, fights and banter. Apparently, my *younger* sister felt it was ok in the game to forget that i am her *older* sister and critisized EVERY SINGLE hand I played.
Playing online is not the same.
I tried to teach my friends in Canada how to play it :P They taught me Texas hold 'em Poker instead!

Humility...it's so sexy

2006-05-28T14:16:00.000-04:00

Quote that is paraphrased from a wise friend called DLo:
" It is so hard to find a humble engineer. I married the first smart, successful, humble engineer I met cuz you know what? Humility is so sexy"

It's so true. Once you remove yourself from the circle of the shallow and the dumb, you get in another trap, you get surrounded by the pompous and the arrogant. Whether in the engineering, the medical or the BUSINESS field, you will always find those who are too cocky for their own good. Living for a year in a competitive, business school environment only made me more aware and more capable of differentiating between the flowers and the weeds.

You cannot identify the weeds from the truly successful right away, but once you get too close, their stink repels you quicker than you can say "ewww!". Here are some hints: They are rude. They never listen and it's always 'me!me!me!' and the only way they feel superior is by putting you down.

I know what most of you are thinking.
Well, it's obvious PSYC 101. This arrogance is a sign of weakness. A beacon of insecurity. A proof of falsity.
And I agree...

On one hand, you have the smart, the hard-working, the competent and the proud. On the other, you have the pretenders, the ass-kissers, the stickers and the low-class. The easiest way to distinguish between the two groups is humility.

Humility...that is the key indicator of true success.

The Humble man does not need to speak of his achievements, his achievements speak for him.
The Humble, Accomplished man does not need to 'drop names' to show status, his status draws people to him.
The Humble, Accomplished, Esteemed man does not attack people to put them in thier place and passess it off as a 'joke', he welcomes and listens people because he knows how stupid is it to underestimate people or of if he really has something to say, he doesn't hide behind the armor of humor.

ولا لأ يا بو الشباب؟

A lot on my plate

2006-05-27T12:03:00.000-04:00

So, again, I'm at a cross-roads in my life. However, everytime I'm at a crossroads, the stakes seem to get higher and higher.
This time my options are as follows:
1- a job at a software high-tech start-up in Waterloo, Canada (already involved with them through MBET, little money, LOTS of experiences, awesome people to work with!)
2- a job at an established software company in Canada (good money, good experience, great entrepreneur, I can stay in Waterloo!)
3- PhD in Information Systems at UW (passionate about the field, lukewarm about my supervisor, don't want to spend another year alone until my brother joins me)
4- a job at CISCO (I don't know about the money, good experience, but parents are not too excited about me spending a year in Amsterdam)
5- Go back to Jeddah and dedicate mytime 100% to our start-up company with K,N, and R. (This is what I want, what I really, really want :( I have a lot of faith in the idea and my team, It's not so bad that we will have to spend some time in Japan too!)
6- A bunch of semi-interesting jobs in Jeddah (Tamer, NCB, P&G, Unilever, Zahid...etc)

So, I got a lot on my plate right now. It seems logical to stay another year in Waterloo to keep my apartment so my brother can get it next year when he comes (great, great location). But, that is definately not enough reason. I knew I will go on for a PhD not because of my grades, but because I love academia and research... however, MBET gave strength to the entrepreneur in me. I don't really want to go back, but the market in the ME is just wide-open... My father is on my side, if I choose to stay, but not for Amsterdam. My mom is against both! She wants me back... Don't tell me that I shouldn't listen to my parents and I should do what I really want. I know it's my life, but that is not how I run my life.

Good corporate governance policies require transparent communication between the CEO and board members. If I run my life the way I would like to run a company, then I would be the CEO and my parents are board memebers. I must take their insight and recommendation into consideration.

sigh...

On side note, I don't feel like writing my review of The Divinci Code just yet, but my verdict on the movie is: B.

make up your own opinion about this

2006-05-26T09:42:00.001-04:00

I just felt wierd when a child prays for forgiveness from his sins and the evils in his soul :s....umm, honey, you're six years old!

I wanted to give this preacher an objective review, so I listened to his speech. To begin with, I am generally not susceptible to this style of preaching. The shout-at-the-top-of-your-lungs, spew-all-kinds-of-cliches style of preaching. From what I could understand - his speech is not very easy to understand - he didn't bring anything new to the table (how controversial can you be when you are SIX). Verdict: D+

He basically memorized a speech. I don't see how this will help people. To be fair, maybe different people find inspiration in different things, right? I hope his efforts (or his parents, or his master shiekh, or whoever took the time to train this child) will do more good to whoever listens to him than damage to the child.

Generally, it is not recommended to brainwash children at such a young age...
Thanks to Didi for bringing this to my attention

What is happening to Egypt

2006-05-23T12:33:00.000-04:00

I spent a couple of summers at the AAST in Alexandria, Egypt. The reason is that my family was spending the summer there and I wanted to finish some credits for my undergraduate degree (as well as avoid taking any class with the accounting prof at my school!). So, I enrolled as a summer student for two years and took up to four courses. I must say it was a different experience.

Saudi Arabia is supposedly the most intolerant of all the Arabic/Islamic countries. Rules are strict and all must adhere. Egypt, was always known as the most tolerant because of the relatively high percentage of different faiths practiced there as well as it being a popular tourist destination.

Obviously, as with the rest of the Islamic world, the new wave of extremitism has caught on. In my opinion, I think Alexandria's situation is worse than Cairo. In addition to my first-hand experience there, this observation is clearly exemplified in the recent church attacks there.

What is worse is the news about condemning statues (such as pharonic sculptures) that we heard a couple of weeks ago. I sincerely hope that someone up there in Eygpt would put an end to this madness. I hope they do not do the same mistake of destroying precious acheological sites like KSA did.

So, why am I writing this?
Well, because my family is going again to this summer. My grandmother loves Egypt and she insists on going there every summer. What is different now is that I honestly don't want to go. Neither do my little sisters. It is strange change from a number of years ago, when Egypt was our second home. It was truly the most fun place I could imagine. The movie theatres, the culture, the beaches...everything. We weren't one of those terrible tourists that visited Egypt just for its 'nightlife'. My parents both attended university there. So, we were very much integrated into society there. We spoke the dialect, knew the places to go and cared about Egypt's economy and politics.

What changed is that Egypt is no longer the lovely picture that I have in mind. At least in Saudi, rules are clear and obvious. We have learned how to live with and around them. There is a certain degree of enforced tolerance between the extremists, the moderates and the liberals. Not so in Egypt.

It is uncomfortable now to walk in the streets of Alexandira. No matter how covered or uncovered you are...I don't know...there is a tight, upset tension. You no longer can have safe, balanced fun. It's either you are a 'bad' girl or you go attend those redundant religious lectures. There is no 'medium'. It is even SCARY now to even think about a quick trip to Sharm Al-Shiek.

I can articulate the change and talk about it. But, my little sisters couldn't. They just said: "Egypt?" ... and a sad face...
Even those little angels can sense the tension and frustration in the streets.

I love "Umm el Dunya" and I hope it changes to the better...

Diversity on Steroids!

2006-05-21T03:15:00.000-04:00

When my Orthodox Serbian friend asked me about my opinion of the war on Iraq while I was hanging out with my Catholic Spanish friend, my Syberian(yes, Syberia!) friend and my Jewsih friend, I was also text messaging my Vietnamese friend. It was then I realized how different my set of friends have become.

What I never realized before was how sheltered I was in Saudi Arabia. I'm not talking about being sheltered from life challenges, on the contrary, my parents always made sure that I had my fair share of challenges. I am talking about a different kind of shelter. A shelter from diversity.

No matter how different the people I knew in KSA, we are all basically in the same social circle. We are really all the same. The little differences between us in personality and opinions are negligible. There isn't enough diversity. You just can't meet new people.

But here in Canada...omg. diversity on steroids. The sheer velocity of meeting new people is over-whelming! I feel sorry for what I missed out on in the past. No matter how much you read or learn, it's not like the real thing. When you literally rub shoulders with people who are worlds apart from you. It's a very different and enriching experience - if you approach it the right way.

I have met people from different cultures and religions before, but not like this. I am living with an amazing number of different people day after day. I suddenly became aware of how different I am. I also became aware how some comments or opinions that I used to voice so naturally, have to be 'diplomatized' or neuralized because of the environment I am currently in.

Meeting new and different people is so addictive. You get into the most awesome conversations and debates. I learned so, so much, I can almost feel it physically!

I think the lack of diversity of probably one of the reasons why our Arabic countries are not innovative. We are stuck in Groupthink. Yea, we all took the advantages of diversity in Management 101, but who really applies it there?

Throw yourself in the wild! If you live abroad, don't completely stick with your own kind. Step out of your comfort zone with an open mind. Trust me, you won't regret it!

Partyin...

2006-05-20T19:17:00.000-04:00

I was in TO celebrating a friend's birthday. It was nice to get out for a while from the work bubble.

Smoke-filled room,
with an amber glow.

Whispers in your ear,
while you're moving slow.

Shadows dance,
all across the wall.

Reflections of a revival.

Oww %-\

2006-05-19T21:50:00.000-04:00

Pain :( whimper....
Wisdom tooth acting up again.
I don't have the time to deal with it.

Self-Made Man...by Norah Vincent

2006-05-15T16:08:00.000-04:00

Self-Made man is a book about a woman who completely immersed herself in a role of a man named Ned. The writer, Norah Vincent, lived as Ned for 18 months. To make sure that she lives the role right, not only did she enlist the help of professional make-up artists, she also built up her upper body and took voice lesson and tips on make cues. She took into consideration all the little details that really differeniates men from women. Then, she started off her adventure and talked about the friendships, career, relationship and other aspects of Ned.

At the beginning I had my own doubt about this book. I am have nothing against transvistites or other orientations. I'm cool with whatever rocks your boat. But, I was encouraged to read this book because she took this on as a journalist, not as a personal adventure. What I loved most is that she provides her own psychological and sociological analysis of the different situations she faces.

I must say I learned a lot about how men live and think. I am sure men will appreciate the credit that is given to them in this book, how they have it 'harder'. Men must live to the high expectations of thier bosses, wives (women in general) and society. I never believed in traditional feminism and always held men in high esteem. However, this book puts things in clear perspective =)

Rating: B+

I warn you, she is a lesbian. LOL but in the end of the book, she says that she missed and appreciated her feminanity more than ever. Therefore, I recommend reading this book but with an open and focused mind!

La Traviata

2006-05-14T21:28:00.000-04:00

Although I was supposed to go to Toronto this weekend, I stayed to work on - non other than - TAX. YES :S Again. Hopefully, this is the last assignment for Tax I ever have to do.

On Sunday a group from my class were invited to attend La Traviata. I decided it would be a nice break, since this weekend was a write-off anyways. I have a distinct taste for opera so, I wasn't sure about going. I have went to really upscale opera before and it would be hard to impress me. I checked out the program before going. It didn't look too bad =) So, I ended up going...

The story is based on the play “La Dame aux Camelias” by Alexandre Dumas. I recognized it because the second song in the first act is one of my father's favorites. My father has compilations of favorite opera pieces that he listens to in his car. I like that particular song, however, the opera is not one of my favorites.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. Rating: C

It is not one of my favorites because it is quiet sad. My favorites are more cheerful and have more dance scenes. I also gave it a C because the stage background was on the cheap side. Costumes, on the other hand, were well-made. I did appreciate the english subtitles (this particular opera was sung in Italian) but I didn't like the location of the projected subtitles. It was waaay up high above the stage. This was annoying because our seats were right upfront by the orchestra. Normally, these would be awesome seats, but since we kept looking up to the subtitles, the dress circle seats would have been a better choice.

I think I will join my father in learning Italian, just to be able to enjoy tradiational opera more.

It was a nice way to spend a sunday =)

Good News! but I'm also jealous.

2006-05-11T18:58:00.000-04:00

Arabic Internet users rejoice!
At last a dedicated, more sophisticaed Arabic search engine will be available.

When I first read a quick article at
New Scientest, I quickly did a brief research to know who is the smart company that seized this opportunity.

I found at this source that the venture is collaboration between Seekport from Germany (ha..interesting..) and MITSCO from Dubai (as usual.). However when I researched MITSCO, I found that it was Egyptian (ic.). Anybody got the real facts, please tell me.

and yes, jealous. I'm jealous because it's a high-tech venture and it's not in Saudi Arabia. I know in good ol' KSA oil & gas gas is our 'thing'. However, that is NOT really our 'thing' because it's NOT our freakin' oil :S. A handful - that is on one hand - own the @#$%*&^ oil. And what is worse, they don't really care about our economy and its sustainbility, dey care about da moneyyyy. And what's the easiest, fasted way to make money? SELL CRUDE BABY.

Now humor me for a second. I will invite you to my very own Utopia. Imagine - if you will - a country abundant with the hottest commidity of the centuary. Also, imagine it in the hands of real scientists and engineers, in the hands of visionary businessmen and entrepreneurs and operating in an unregulated, uncorrupted free market.

What are the possibilities?
What could have the results been?
Where could we have been on the map of world economy, instead of popping up in the map of War on Terror on Fox?

in the words of my third-grade Arabic teacher: s**** 5ano, ween ra7 mo55ik? Rakzi benti, rakzi.

Yea, I have always been a daydreamer.

if-scenarios belong in documents filed in the strategic planning department at Chevron and ExxonMobil, not in a wishful post on some young girl's blog.

SO, that's why i'm jealous. We don't have any other natural resources, we don't have cheap labor NOR skilled labor and we still got a loooong way before tourism becomes a viable industry in KSA. Technology is our only hope.

However, networking has already been dominated by FDIs, don't even mention semi-coducters and the enterprise solutions market is impossible to enter. Therefore, software IS THE ONLY WAY. I know, I know, that's still ambitious. However, with the advent of skilled labor in multimedia and graphics, software development is on the way. With right investment, management, and incentives, it's possible!

Call me a f****** dreamer, but I'm dedicated to this dream!

and dedication is the first indicator of success!!

Why the f*** did a german company develop an Arabic search engine instead of us?

GGGRRRrrrrrrrhhhhhhhh >:-<

When your life is in 'Chaos'

2006-05-08T10:58:00.000-04:00

Let's start by the question - What is chaos?

"systems governed by non-linear differential equations"*

How do you deal with chaos?

"The principal managerial implication of chaos theory is that small changes or shocks to the system can have major impacts"*

Therefore, to be able to manage chaos, minimize 'shocks' and 'changes' before bringing some order to this chaos.

Why am I writing this?

Granted, it is always hard to take major, life-changing decisions in your life. However, it is harder when you feel your life is in 'chaos'. The reason is the outcome of each alternative is ambigious and the probability of taking the right decision decreases significantly.

On the other hand, if your life is not chaos and hence, it is a system which is governed by linear equations, you can reasonabley predict the outcome of each decision (i.e. if you take decision x the result will be y)

So, I am writing this as a mini self-help guide for those who feel that their life is in 'chaos'

Conclusion

If you can reasonably predict the outcome of each alterntive infront of you, then rest assured, your life is not in 'chaos'. Embellishing will worsen your situation. Take a deep breath, relax and gather your courage to take a decision and taking responsibilities for the consequences.

If you have reached to the conclusion that your life IS in chaos, then stop there. DO NOT take any decisions now. Do not introduce new variables to the chaos of your life.
- If you are not sure if you should leave your job.
- If you are not sure he is the right one.
- If you are not sure if you should apply for another degree.

These are a sample of decisions you must make. Don't make any decisions if your life right now is not stable enough to visualize a graph.

Bring order to your life first, then plot the different points and THEN take an informed decision.

Don't give in to chaos.

*source:“Competing on the Entrepreneurial Edge”, Eisenhardt, Brown & Neck, Entrepreneurship as Strategy: Competing on the Entrepreneurial Edge, Meyer & Heppard, 2000, pages 49-62.

2006-05-06T16:30:00.001-04:00

You know what I'm going to go? I'm going to take a BIG, FAT AXE and then go knock ever-so-softly on my next door neighbor. Of course, he won't hear me because of all THAT NOISE, so I will have to knock HARDER. When he FINALLY opens the door, he will be surprised of course to see a nice girl in a pink t-shirt with her hands behind her back. So, he will get into his joey-how-you-doin-;) mode while I flash a charming, disarming smile =). Then, I will peak around to satisfy my curiousity and THEN I WILL LET HIM HAVE IT.

I don't know what the hell he is building there, but I'm pretty sure it's a treehouse or something INSIDE THE FREAKIN APARTMENT. sawing, hammering, dropping, sliding, drilling... I identified 12 different sounds from his apartment.

It's Saturday, for GOD's Sakes!

hmm...maybe I'll try asking him nicely first and then do the axe thingie.

Brilliant!

2006-05-06T14:48:00.000-04:00

Anytime is a good time to make fun of American presidents :P

Check out Frank Calienda

Here is the url in case the link doesn't work on my post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_fullscreen?video_id=lo6eablX-EE&l=185&t=OEgsToPDskJqe6mtmzjjMLSsOUMDpbgs&fs=1&title=Frank%20Caliend

Enjoy!

grrr...I can't figure out how to post a video link. I'll fix it later.

friday night ... can't sleep

2006-05-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

damn those undergrads. don't they know some of are GRADUATE students who wake up early on Saturday mornings to work? I'm too tired to go to the floor above me and give the chinese *&^%$ a peice of my mind. They go quiet for a while, then start up again with the banging and swishing. It's not only that, I can hear the party from the NEXT BUILDING. What the hell am I going to do about that? One of these days, they will turn me into one of those party-poopers who will CALL THE *&^%$#@ police.

sigh. maybe i just wish i was partying instead of trying to sleep?

My Reflections on Freakonomics

2006-05-05T14:24:00.000-04:00

If you know me, you would know I normally don't read the 'mainstream' books. Unless a best-seller is truly unique, best-sellers are usually on the bottom of my reading list. It's not from the principle "خالف تعرف", on the contrary, no one usually knows what I'm reading. The point I am trying to make that sometimes, there are true treasures which have been missed by the media. And sometimes, the media overhypes a book which is not that impressive.

Freakonomics is an example of that. An interesting book with potential that has been over-hyped by the media. I resisted buying it for while because my list of books to read - although has a quick turnover - is always long. A book has to be really, reallyyy special to skip the queue :P

After a while, I gave in. I bought Freakonomics after I read several reviews. When I finally got my hands on it, I started devouring it. I must admit, it's very catching in the beginning. However, as I reached the middle, I started getting uncomfortable.

ehhh... I like a book - especially non-fiction - that is not only entertaining but has valuable content. Valuable content is measure by the use of the information I gain. It is interesting to understand what school teachers and sumo wrestlers have in common or how the inner workings of a drug gang operate. Fortunately, I learned how to read and think critically. Critical thinking makes you absorb and synthesize information then interpret it to understand what is the author really saying. I must say, I am a bit disappointed. Not completely disappointed, but just a bit. I cannot confidently say that I have learned something truly valuable. For example, one chapter tries to answer the question: Why do drug-dealers live with their mother. The short answer: they don't make that much money. The other chapters are very different in topics but similar in the type of questions that 'no one ever thought of asking before'. I guess that is what makes the book unique, but it's frustrating in the way it deals with each 'problem'.

I can see the use of measuring teachers' cheating, but it stops there. Or, it veers into a direction that is anything BUT how to solve this problem. Maybe I am a person who likes depth rather than breadth. If you read the book, I strongly suggest that you read the introduction. The introduction works more like a disclaimer for the book. He explains how it doesn't have a unifying theme. LOL. He pretty much summed up all the possible criticism in those two words. I also understood why he made a point to mention the praise he got from some harvard professors on his book. He probably needed that to establish credibility. Harvard professor or not, I like a book with more focus than this. Then again, this is not an academic book, it is a 'best-seller' and to create a best-seller, you might have to sacrifice something to make it more interesting. Verdict: B-. I expected more.

If you are a true avid reader, I recommend that you DO NOT stick to only the well-known and popular books. You're knowledge is going to be limited and as useful 95% other readers in the world. I believe a person should specialize in a specific field, before he or she can cross-specialize and become truly knowledgable. If you read one day a book about politics, make a conscious effort to make the next book you read also about politics. Treat the bibliography as a suggested readings list. This is how you will make your knowledge a little less fragmented.

Of course, I am not completely condemning being a balanced, wholesome person by reading about different subjects. I am the first one to plead guilty of this! All I am saying is that choose the books you read intelligently. Fiction aside, don't read a book just because it is the next big thing. Make sure you have a clear path that is in line with your interests and select the books that will really add value.

Freakonomics is obviously the result of someone who read too little about a lot!

This is not an attack - just my own reflections =)

Kissing Hank's Ass

2006-05-01T16:19:00.000-04:00

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6632687078883055082&q=Kissing%2BHank%27s%2BAss&pl=true

I loved it! If you don't get it right away, it's ok. It took me while too to understand what the hell they are talking about.

hint: think who has promised you millions but you never saw him?

Waterloo

2006-04-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

Home. It's nice to have your place again. Quiet. Privacy. Healthy lifestyle. The weather is awesome. I'm still kind of tired. I am pulling working power-hours, trying to finish the projects I should have been working on during the break. LOL good to know I wasn't the only one.

Miss you Jeddah!

London - in 33 hours

2006-04-29T08:43:00.000-04:00

I arrived at heathrow around 6.30am. I took the tube to London central. God, I love the efficiency of the TUBE...sigh...
I had a nap until the after, then I met my friend (sitto doadoa!) at Wagamama. MmmMmMmmm... my friends and this restuarant are what really made this hectic stop in London worth it... hehehe, google it to find out more about Wagamama. I wish it would open in Jeddah (wait :s I live in Canada now - correction: I wish it would open in Waterloo!!)

I watched Inside Man in Leicester Square - rating: B+. Maybe it deserves more than this, but my friends and I were busy gossiping and laughing about a certain situation happening behind us. LOL mn jed saudiiiiiisss.

Of course, as always, around 10pm in London, I get kind of scared. Leicester Square after 10pm is a crime scene waiting to happen - and guess what - I don't want to be a witness to anything. So, as always, my friends give in and each one goes home early like a good girl =)

In the morning, we were planning to go to some Chic place in Knightsbridge, but I suggested some cute, cozy waffle place just off Oxford St, which is closer (Pure Waffle - on Duke St. - if you are intrested!). Rating: A!

I was so happy to meet up again with my inspirational, genius friend (Tazzona). I miss her so much! We have so much in common, yet we are different enough to have the most stimulating academic debates! I also met up with another friend. It was the first time I see her in a long time. Mashalla, her son has grown so much! Last time I saw him he was still an infant in a carriage. Now, he is so active, mashalla, you can't keep him still!

Doadoa and lamloom, my fellow capstone friends. God, last time I have seen them was last summer, when each of us was still in the beginning of the journey... We have changed and grown so much, yet inside, we are still the same good old friends. I just love our same old joke and same old anecdotes. Those are my real friends. The distance has only made me appreciate them more. I love them so much. I kept repeating to them, how much I wish I was with them in London!

After breakfast, my sweet dependable friends both helped me check-out and board the tube at Green Park Station. I took the tube to Heathrow again (and again - I must comment on efficency! Man, I'm a system's girl! So I appreciate the effort that has been done behind such an AMAZING system!!LOL)

So, now I'm at Heathrow again. Wonderful Heathrow...It's becomeing like home. It's kinda cool that I don't need directions anymore. Did some necessary shopping then checked-in the BA Lounge. Yea, yea I know I'm spoiled but it's too late now. In the words of Seinfeld: "Once you go first class, you can never go back!" So true...

So, in 33 hours in London, I did my usual routine. Wagamama, Hagen-Daaz, Movie in Leicester Square, cozy breakfast and heathrow shopping (If I had more time, the list would include Chocolate Bar at Harrods - oh well, less calories).

I have a long journey ahead. I hope I arrive in Toronto in time to catch the bus to Waterloo. Friends in Waterloo, I'm miss you =) I'm coming home....

Take-off in 8 hours

2006-04-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

I decided not to go to the family wedding before the flight. My mom decided to stay with me as well. It's kinda hard thinking I won't see my family like this again for at least another four months.

I met my friends over coffee during their lunch breaks to say the final good-byes. My relationship with them is still strong =) They all showed up except for a dear friend who couldn't get off advertising (Advice from this friend: DO not get a job where you have to work on Thursdays - equivalent to Saturdays on Monday weeks)

My dad and I were discussing my future plans. He strongly encourages that I go on. It's kinda hard to think about another five years of this seperation. I'm afraid of burning out.

After the family lunch, we went to Starbucks to celebrate my brother's birthday. It was a 'surprise'. Lots of his friends. Since when do 15 years old girls, run around showing off last season's LV and Gucci bags? It's so funny watching those budding airheads fluff around my brother LOL. My brother then took us (sisters) crusing in his red, sports car. It was really nice =) Siblings bonding while cruising in a speeding sports car playing LOUD music =)

I'm packed and ready - sort of. I'm taking my summer shoes this time with me. It's such a painful process, the process of elimination. Why can't I take all my shoes? MY BABIES. I love my shoes. Phase I of the elimination process I selected only half of my collection. The other half I put in a straight line. The procedure is as follows:

I start by placing the 'definately' on the left and the 'maybes' on the right, until they meet in the middle. After that I look for the middle and discard the right half of 'maybes' QUICKLY like taking a plaster of skin, without looking back. I just grit my teeth and BAM put back my sweet, sweet shoes on the shoe rack.

I know I will regret this. sigh... farewell. Stay warm Jeddah, stay warm...

I don't wanna miss a thing....

2006-04-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

It feels like yesterday I have just arrived in Jeddah. I can't believe I am leaving again. I hate flying now. I really do. The long hours, the flight connections, leaving loved ones behind whichever place I leave. I didn't have enough of Jeddah, my family and my friends. I am not satisfied yet. Do you know that feeling? When you dread the inevitable?? I know my flight is late Thursday to London... but I am in denial. I am using all my mental powers to push that date.

I asked my mother to accompany me to Toronto and stay with my for a while. Maybe a month? Until my brother comes and joins me in June :D LOL of course, she couldn't leave because my parents are busy with the new house. I asked her at least to come with until London... hehehe, yes, I am that desperate. She just patted me on the head.

It's funny how I consider myself a strong and independent person, but when it comes to family, they are my weakness. I love to travel the world and jet from one continent to another, but I feel actual, physical pain whenever I have to leave them behind.

My mom was reading the newspaper, then she started laughing. I came over to check out what she was laughing over. It was a cartoon which depicted a man inside a big a bird cage, holding the bars and looking outside. Then, in the next strip, the cage door is open for the man to flee, but the man stood with his back to the door and chose to stay in it!

She said this is you. Finally, you are given your freedom. I carry my passport (and an unlimited permission slip - necessary for saudi women to cross the border) with valid visas to all the major continents and I have my own account with a balance that no one knows how much and no one controls besides me =). I can fly to Russia if I choose to. I can work in Europe if I want to. However, I choose to turn my back to the world to stay in my parent's house.

With all the noise, with all the crowdedness(is this right?), with all the rules and regulations that come with my parent's house, I choose to stay in it. I want to live each day with my parents and my four other siblings (and grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends) and I don't wanna close my eyes, don't wanna fall asleep and I don't wanna miss a thing.

Funny how I always wanted to be a citizen of the world when I was young. Now, all I want to be is a citizen of the mama-and-papa's-house-of-fun.

Know your personality =)

2006-04-22T12:25:00.000-04:00

Draw a pig!
http://www.zipperfish.com/free/games/draw-a-pig.php

My Results:
- I'm a realist.
- I am direct, enjoy playing the devil's advocate and neither fear nor avoid discussions.
- I am emotional and niave. I care little for details and am a risk-taker.
- I am insecure or living through a period of major change.
- I am a GREAT listener.
- I have no sex life.

aha. yea, rub it in my face. oh well, at least I am a GREAT listener =)

M or T

2006-04-21T23:08:00.000-04:00

Remember when we used to laugh so much? I never laughed with anyone as much or as whole-heartedly as I did with you. I think you feel the same?

Can you base a friendship on laughing? We laughed about everything; life, people, politics, religion and the future. As I look back, it is fascinating how we could always laugh, no matter how bad it was and no matter how terrible a situation either of us is going through. Something was always funny. Someone always made the other laugh.

I remember you with smile because when I think of you, I remember the good times. I remember the jokes. Am I exaggerating? Is my memory playing tricks on me? Wasn’t it like that? So funny? Wasn’t that why we clicked?

The obvious answer is no, you cannot base a friendship on laughter only and maybe that is why we drifted. Because things are still funny whenever we talk, which is occasionally?

You, my friend, were a true friend. You cross my mind more often than you think and I am always there for you.

CISCO

2006-04-21T15:31:00.001-04:00

i passed! i passed! i passed the interview =)
CISCO wants me again on the 12th of June in Riyadh for the final round. This is going to be tricky. I have a trip to Boston during that week. Plus, the flight from Toronto to Riyadh is so tiring. I will try to see if I can arrange an alternative.

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

How low can they go?

2006-04-20T19:40:00.000-04:00

God or the Girl? - A reality show...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189741,00.html

They say the way they will execute the show will make it a documentary about the struggle catholic priests wanna-bes face. I don't like it. What do you think?

Am I wrong?

2006-04-16T19:52:00.001-04:00

I went yesterday to a wedding. It was fun! More like a DJ party than a regular wedding. Of course, the older women were complaining as usual (nothing ever pleases them! They always find something to critisize)

I wore my red dress with black lace. It felt nice to be back and dress up for a change, instead of daily 'college clother', like jeans and t-shirt everyday! I missed my shoes!!!!!! LOL

Anyways, there has been one subject on my mind since I came back. I want to know if I AM WRONG.
Here is a little bit of a background on myself, before I get to the point.

All my life, I have never had a boyfriend. Specifically saudi. my top 5 reason are as follows:
5. It's socially unacceptable (no debate here - it still is)
4. Pre-marital relationships are more problems than they are worth, too much of a hassle in this country.
3. The risk of falling for a 'bastard' can be a fatal socially. Your rep, down the drain.
2. Religiously wrong

and the number one reason is...

1. my mom explicitly told me: banat al nas ma ye9a7bo - and you happen to be bint nas.

straight-forward and direct. sigh...fine.

I would like to point out here that I, like all normal girls, have had crushes and personal admirers some time or another. But, I never let it ever cross that line. The thought of a relationship never crossed my mind!

Then, around 16 years oId, when I moved back to Jeddah. Things changed. More and more, i see a friend whispering in a cell phone and laughing. or another coincidently bumping into a cute guy in al-sawari. or when girls go to al rimal beach in the weekend (my mom didnt let me go) and then chatter about it on Saturday (beginning of the week here) about who has crush on who.

At that point of my life, I didn't want a relationship, I just wanted to be part of that in-crowd that looked like so much fun! I had many heated debates with my mom.

Fortunately, I was basically pre-occupied with my future and getting into an ivey league school in the states. It's amazing how you can block out everything is your life when you completely focus on a goal. School, TOEFL, SAT, SAT II and university research and applications was all what was on my mind. I didn't think about it that much.

flash-forwad. 9/11 happens. no studying abroad for you young lady!

I stay in saudi. ok cool. np. when you fall, you stand up again. plus my best friend told me im too depressing and im complaining too much. fine. I get into a wonderful school in Jeddah and I spend four great years.

During these four years, the thought of getting a relationship still never crossed my mind. Actually, as I matured even further, I became CONVINCED that the old fashioned way is right. I was witnessing too many sad break-up stories. Occasionally, I even get into those modes where i kinda 'lecture' my friends about what is right and what is wrong. Pre-marital relationships are not right. You should wait until the right guy comes and marries you!

They call it: the SS Syndrome (my mom's initials are SS). They find it hilarous.

Now, I am studying abroad, but my strict rules still apply. A good girl is a good girl wherever she is. right? right!

>> I can hear you saying, ok sunshine, what's your point? Why are you driving us to boredom with your old-fashioned opinions?

well, the point is. Being part of Jeddah's lively social circle, I get to go to many - you could even say an excessive number of - weddings, engagements, bridals, milka's, '3omras, ...etc, and I have noticed a pattern.

The pattern is that all of those recent marriages are a result of a pre-marital relationship. Moreover, all of them were of respectable families 'banat o awlad nas'. Actually, now it is kind of expected that the guy and the girl know each other first -somehow- then he would go and tell his family that: hey, I want this girl. Then, they get married and they have a higher probability of sustaining the marriage and being happy becaue they had a change to verify that this is the right partner for them?

Thus, the question is, have the times truly changed? Do people want to stop relying on mothers to arrange marriages? Should society start accepting that men and women may meet and start a relationship before really starting it 'officially'?

Am I wrong in expecting an old-fashioned marriage and expect happiness from it - just because, I would rather avoid the guilt, the risk and the hassle of a secret pre-marital relationship? Should I stop refusing advances for maybe - maybe - one of these guys has a higher, more noble end in mind?

I am not a scholar of sociology, nor am I a writer about cultural issues. I am a techie and a business person. I work with numbers and I need benchmarks.

Has the benchmark of what is right and what is wrong changed?

MG

2006-04-15T02:18:00.000-04:00

If I should die this very moment
I wouldn’t fear

For I’ve never known completeness
Like being here

Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you

Still in my heart this moment
Or it might burst

Could we stay right here
'til the end of time
'til the earth stops turning

Wanna love you until the seas run dry
I’ve found the one I’ve waited for

All this time I’ve loved you
And never known your face

All this time I’ve missed you
And searched this human race

Here is true peace
Here my heart knows calm

Safe in your soul
Bathed in your sighs

Wanna stay right here
'til the end of time
'til the earth stops turning

Gonna love you until the seas run dry
I’ve found the one I’ve waited for

All I’ve known
All I’ve done
All I’ve felt was leading to this

Wanna stay right here
’til the end of time
’till the earth stops turning

I’m gonna love you till the seas run dry
I’ve found the one I’ve waited for

- adapted from the beautiful lyrics of: Gorecki - Lamb

Finally: Home Sweet Home!

2006-04-14T12:39:00.000-04:00

So, I'm home in one piece!

One comment: What the hell are you thinking Jeddah? How many new malls have come up in a periood of four months? How many new cafes? It's beyond me.

Well, better start getting up to date. First stop: Coral Mall and Ti Amo Cafe =)
It's good to be back :)

10 hours to go

2006-04-13T12:41:00.000-04:00

Guess what.
The wake-up call didn't work. Min jed, this is not my day. Thank god I set the alarm in my phone. Having de-caf coffee in the room. going to eat at heathrow instead of the expensive crap they have in the hotel. I love Pret-a-Manger!

ah, when is this going to end? I can't wait...

20 hours to go

2006-04-13T04:18:00.000-04:00

How can you forget an abaya, you ask?
simple.
you FORGET IT. lol

I managed to but and UGLY black coat from the one and only...Bollywood Fashion! in Toronto before I went to the airport. I was also wearing a dark green shawl, which I am going to use as a tarha. hehehe... Please, do NOT come and see me at the arrivals!

I am right now in London, UK. It seems this is the trip from hell. for some strange reason I thought that my connecting flight is at 9am from Heathrow. It seemed very logical since I arrived from Toronto at 6am.

guess what. my flight is at 9 P M. P M. belleal ya3ni...

interesting dilemma. the 9PM boarding is for the trip to RIYADH. I had to take the heathrow subway express to terminal 3 to find that out at the Saudi Airlines ticket counter. I considered paying a bit extra and fly to riyadh, then catch a flight to Jeddah. BUT apparently, in Riyadh I would have to wait another 5 hours to connect to Jeddah.

The saudi first class lounge doesn't open until 9am and then it closes again from 12 to 4pm.

NOW IM GETTING PISSED.

What can a poor, tired saudi girl trying to get home do in London for 12 hours? oh wait, a poor, tired, saudi girl with one heavy suitcase and a handbag full of books?? I gave some friends of mine who live in London a call. Guess what, my saudi cell wasn't working..

W#E$R%^&*I(O*&^%$#$%^&*&^%$#%^&*(

OK, ok, I had to think (btw I didn't sleep on the flight from toronto, 3ala bali i want to avoid jet lag and sleep in my bed, in my home, among my family)

think, think. Hilton Heathrow!! God bless smart businessmen who will take advantage of poor, tired people like me who don't mind throwing 800 riyals for a couple of hours of a clean bed, a clean bathroom and internet connection.

I take the express subway BACK to terminal 4 (all with my bags, don't forget). walk a 4 minute walk through a tunnel that connects the hotel to the airport.

I get a trainee to check me in. that's another 10 minutes. no breakfast with my room she says.

I get to the room, i take off my shoes. but wait. the nightmare isn't over. something is wierd.

THE ROOM HAS NOT BEEN CLEANED!!!!!!!!

the bed is unmade, the towel is wet and USED, the coffee mug had some leftover coffee in it.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I call the @(*$%^&*(&^% reception. they apologize and get me another room.

and here i am ladies and gentlemen. blogging from a CLEAN room in comfy PJS. I put in a wake-up call so i dont miss the damn flight. Is this some kind of hint? (i can hear didi:" ya think?!" LOL) should i have stayed in canada?

hehehee.... i miss #$%^&* Jeddah and I miss my family and friends. I will get home sooner or later
and damn it i will.

ok. me..falling..asleep..wish me luck. hope i wake up for my flight.

but wouldnt it be ironic if i dont and i miss it? ahahaha...

btw if any of my peeps, reads this, plz call my family. i have no access to them (damn STC). tell them my story. tell them im ok. tell dad to pay the visa bill so they dont arrest me. and tell them i will probably arrive around 5am. hehe or maybe 5pm. who knows?

30 more hours

2006-04-12T15:42:00.000-04:00

3o hours until I get home.
man what a hectic week. I thought things will slow down after the accounting test and the tax project, but heh, life doesn't let you get away that easily.

Yesterday, I had a meeting with my practicum sponser. I had to take the bus all the way down to Kitchener (next town) because non of my other team mates can make it (who btw, have cars). The meeting was awesome.

After that, I had to pack to go down to Toronto. The class were celebrating a friend's birthday as well as the end of the term. That was fun. I decided to stay in TO since I'm travelling the next day.

GUESS WHAT.

Do you know that feeling that you forgot to pack something very, very, important? It keeps nagging and nagging and nagging, but you just CAN'T for the love of GOD remember what it is?

hehehe... and then...and then, when it is too late, it suddenly hits you? lol not fun.

Guess what I forgot in Waterloo, in my apartment, on my couch?

YES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

I forgot...my abaya....

Torture.Pure Torture.

2006-04-10T22:04:00.000-04:00

Tax
oh Tax...
OH TAX...

I pulled an all-nighter yesterday. One of those memorable ones -- you know? The one where the project doesn't seem like it's ever going to get done. The one where the hours seem long, boring and never-ending... The one where everyone's true face appears. The all-nighter of when the shit hits the fan...some men run and some stand.

All-nighter group project have this ability to surprise you. The team members you thought you can count on, let you down, and the poeple you thought were the 'weak link' come through and help you carry the weight. The people who thought were your friends, turn out to be REAL friends. The type that show up at 4am for coffee breaks.

I went to bed around 6am. Woke up again at 9am to submit the report and print out a hard copy. I went to bed again at 10.12.am woke up again at noon then back to sleep. Woke up AGAIN at 3pm to finalize the strategy assignment and submit it electronically at 4.30pm.

I was tempted to close my eyes again after that but I didn't want to further screw up my sleeping schedule. Plus, I had to prepare for tomorrow's practicum meeting.

aaahh, the stressful life that i lead. I can't wait to get back to Jeddah...
where the sun is always shining. the beach is always calling. and just lay back and relax =)

When we were kids in a Saudi School

2006-04-08T14:41:00.000-04:00

Remember when we were young in school, our text books had pictures of human beings and animals but with a big, think, black line crossing their necks? Remember how they told us that it is prohibited to have any depiction of any animate object on paper? Remember also how we were taught that it is very bad to hang photographs or own statues at home?

The reason was those actions were opening a window of opportunity for idolatry.

Guess what, it appears to be that it is not only in Saudi Arabia where religious scholars find that 'dolls' and statues should be prohibited.

http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060327-033624-1988r

A Grand rabbi in isreal has ordered parents to 'maim' their children's dolls. Quote: "It is important that those toys do not remain intact to remove the element of idolatry."

yup, a parent gouging out the eye of a teddy bear or the arms of a barbie doll should scare the children the hell away from deviant behavior

whoa...

2006-04-07T12:39:00.000-04:00

So I'm done with the Accounting test...It wasn't a piece of cake. Well, it depends on how you define your cake, right? I don't think I suffered as much as most of the class. But, I wasn't the first one out either, heh, like some other poeple in my class (Damn you, xxxxxx! lol)

I always believed my math skills are the key to success. Math will help solve any problem! Any challenge can be translated into an algebric equation and solved. I'm sure any mathie will agree that math will get you out of any sticky situation =)

But, you know, sometimes...sometimes, things can get carried away. AND as any mathie will tell you, if you get carried away with math i.e. find yourself in a mess or variables, you will inadvertantly find yourself in situation stickier than what you started with...

Conclusion: If you are in an accounting test, and half of the variables of a formula are not there...maybe...just maybe...there is another way? LOL
Do not, under any circumstances, make variable assumptions, equate non-related formulas and solve 3 or 4 algebric expressions in parallel. Especially, if that part of the question is worth 3 points out of 5, in an test out of 40, which is only worth 6% of the whole course !

ahem...
another piece of advice. If you are stuck in an Accounting test (especially one that is prepared by a certain prof named HOWARD) I strongly suggest that you stop creating a thesis proposal during the exam, stop calculating the effective impact rate of that particular section on your COURSE GRADE and
get
a
life...

Peace.

Accounting Test

2006-04-07T08:33:00.000-04:00

The test is in less than 30 minute.
Don't Panic.

Confession...

2006-04-06T12:13:00.000-04:00

I must confess...
Yes, I have sunk that low...
And yes, it felt so good... so good...

http://www.timhortons.com/en/about/2006-rutw.html
I have rolled-up-the-rim of a discarded cup! and WON!! I won a coffee =) hell yea, Timmy's baby! First time, too.

sing-song tune >>> Tim Hortons! ..

Oh Timmy's...how will I live without you when I leave? Oh wait, yea, they are opening a branch in AFGHANISTAN for Canadian soldiers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060308/wl_nm/retail_timhortons_afghanistan_dc_1

You know, because they can't live without thier Timmy's. I can just drop-by occasionally for my dose of timbits.

Homer Simpson Shudder >>> aaah timbiiits..mmmm....

http://www.timhortons.com/en/menu/menu_donuts.html

sour-dough timbits RULE!

Here is why I love Porter - Competitive Advantage

2006-04-05T16:41:00.000-04:00

Micheal Porter (strategy professor at Harvard) states that CA can be achieved through either: Product differentiation or Cost leadership.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. It depends on where you want to position your product. My interpretation is:

- go for product differentiation if you smaller sales volume but high contribution margin
- go for cost leadership if you want higher sales volume but low contribution margin

Sales volume can be controlled by other levers, such as marketing, price and so forth. However, how you price your product and how much you spend on marketing all affect contribution margin. Thus, CM is key.

Contribution margin is $$$ net of cost of goods sold and all other operating and selling expenses.

Basic business strategy, right? right! But here is why I love Porter...

I believe his CA model can be applied on youself in any situation in life, such as career, relationships, ...etc. If you think strategically, you have better chances of success.

Personally, I go for product differentiation. That is how i position myself - high quality, high price, high contribution margin. Cheap product may sell more, but guess who end up with more...cash. unless you got STUPID capacity, then go ahead, try to sell enough to make as much as me.

10 days to go!

2006-04-03T09:12:00.000-04:00

I got a friend in class with me. She's with Panama. She is also travelling back home on the 12th. We both can't wait. We are counting the days.

It's funny how terribly homesick I am. I am day dreaming about being back home. Being around my family again. Touching them, holding them, hugging them, feeling them...

i know i know, the novelty always wears off like..after two days! hehehe but still,
I try to replicate the environment I grew up in.My home here is warm and clean. There are always fruit in the fridge. Lots of pillows on a comfortable bed...

Of course it's not the same, no matter how much I try. But if you are perceptive, you can pick up on similarities =)

Job Update
I've applied to more companies; Shell and Aramco - Oil & Gas baby! That's the way to go
I am also trying to apply to Deliotte (Consulting) but in Jeddah. However, they don't seem like they are hiring grads. I'm going to do what my friend Diana did - cold calling. That girl rocks! She cold-called Deliotte in Vancouver because that's where she wants to work. Don't if that will work in Saudi, but anyhow ....