September 29 2004

Baby Leen

Just got a message from my dear friend Noura informing me that they have a beautiful baby girl brought into this world. They called her Leen, and they say she’s so beautiful.
Can’t wait to see her 🙂
I’m so so happy for Noura and her husband. They deserve the best, and I only wished I was there to share them these beautiful and warm moments.
Congratulations Noura, may baby Leen bring you and your nice husband more happiness and success 🙂

September 28 2004

Jordanian Specialist Foot Care Center- Scholl

Among the many places I love in Jordan, there is one place I can never miss visiting no matter how short my vacation is. I’m talking here about the Jordanian Specialist Foot Care Center, which was formerly called Scholl.
This center is one of the best when it comes to taking care of your feet from A-Z. Whether healthy or not, whether taken care of or not, the center is just the perfect place for you to have new-born healthy feet to guarantee an out of this world feeling. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to me, taking care of feet is not only a must, but also a joy. Since our feet bear our weight and take part in most of our body efforts, adding to this the fact that our feet have a big amount of nerves related to all other body parts, all of this makes a little bit of care and some pampering result in a very comforting, very refreshing and very relaxing feeling.
First I heard of Scholl products many years ago through my big bro. As for the center, I didn’t discover it, mom did. I tried it out, loved it and I keep going to it whenever I have the chance. Actually I was lucky enough to have my second work place in Jordan next to this center. I always went there after work or in my breaks. Taking care of your feet blows away exhaustion and makes you feel lighter, don’t know how, but after a nice foot massage, or an hour of foot care, it just feels like you’re so light…
In this time’s visit to Amman, I was so happy to find the center improving to the better –just like Amman itself 🙂 – the equipment, the specialists, the services, the products, and everything. The center consists of 2 levels, the first is mainly for selling medical feet products, such as shoes, crèmes, sprays, files…etc. And the second is divided into rooms that vary in size. Some are for foot massage (reflexology) which is simply AMAZING, and some are for foot care (pedicure), others are for body massage and total facial care and treatments. Plus a small section for beauty products for face, body and feet, like: masks, peeling products, brushes, washing sponges and stuff like that. And each room you get in has soft music playing, a low volume satellite channel showing on a TV opposite to you, some magazines next to you, a place to put your belongings on, and this whole bunch of equipment and products to be used. Both levels have a reception counter with extremely friendly, helpful employees with smiley faces 🙂
Other than that, the center provides consultation and treatment of most of the foot and back problems, without surgery.
I love all kinds of massage in general, let it be face, body or foot massage. And what I find pretty impressive is the massage being offered by both men and women. Women take care of women, and men take care of men, this might be discouraging for some of you 😛 but I personally love it, respect it, and encourage it.
The prices are affordable, very affordable actually. They give you brochures listing all services and their prices, which I find so practical and convenient 🙂
The specialists have a very good medical and scientific background,they’re all well trained with follow-up courses every now and then to check on their reliability, and to catch up with the new technologies and inventions in their fields.
Now I know there are many other places that offer great services, but what can I say, I’m in love with this center 🙂 And all of you in Amman, or who will be in Amman soon, don’t forget to show your feet some respect and offer them some special care, they deserve it, and you deserve experiencing the great feeling of relaxation and happiness after an hour of pampering your tired feet… Trust me 😉

September 27 2004

Meeting Friends in Jordan

Friendship is one of the greatest blessings in life. My true friends are relatively few, and I wanted to meet them all. Our vacation was flying by so fast, and we had a full program every day. To be able to meet all those I know and spend time with my friends, mom suggested I set a day to gather them all at home, and suggested the same for my husband, but it never worked with him because of the extremely different schedules of all his friends. It was a great achievement he could simply meet them for an hour or so 🙂
Anyway, I found out that most of my friends were hard to reach, some moved and I had their new numbers in my phonebook which I left in Tunisia, some were traveling on vacation and others couldn’t make it to the gathering, neither did it work out for us to meet any other time. But I enjoyed myself in the gathering, tried to catch up with all their news and well, it was great being with them again.
Among my really good friends are some people who are of my parents age, that’s true, they’re old, yet they know me since childhood, they’ve been there for me in good and bad, and I feel like they’re my families too. And when I’m with them, I see love and concern in their eyes.
On our day of arrival:
We got to meet Marwan (a close friend of my brother and sister who are in Canada now). This person is more like a brother than a friend, we all count him and his parents members of our family. He’s been out of Jordan for more than 4 years, haven’t seen him since then, but this time we met him with his wife :). Unfortunately he and his wife had to leave next morning. So we saw them only once. We recalled the memories of the past, and introduced his wife to the other part of her husband, the part which made him count as a brother 🙂 I missed my bro and sis so much, it didn’t feel right not to have them with us.
The Tea-Party 🙂
I got a great chance to know one of my husband’s friends: Saqf, whom I only knew by face. We went over to his place and had great time together. We had the honor of meeting his dad, who was so friendly and hospitable. I enjoyed talking to him, he and my dad share a lot of similarities 🙂 Now being a person who loves candles, natural atmosphere, plants, and tea, Saqf’s place was just perfect for me and helped me not to feel as a stranger with my husband and his good old friend 🙂 But then again, the place alone isn’t enough to make a person feel comfortable, the person in that place plays a very important role, and God knows the person of this place is as great as a best friend could ever be. It was great to watch my husband enjoying his time and remembering the old days with his friend. It was so fun knowing the hidden sides of my husband as well 😛 We laughed a lot that day… And although before we went, my husband told me that his friend loves tea, but I never expected what I’ve seen 🙂 Never seen such a huge collection of different kinds of tea, never seen someone who enjoys every little bit of making tea and serving it, and all those books about tea, its benefits and its making, that was so great. He prepares tea with such a passion 🙂 Oh and on that day a miracle happened in front of my eyes. My husband, who loves hot drinks extremely sweet, he actually drank a whole cup of tea with NO ADDED SUGAR! That was the first –and probably the last- cup of no-sugar tea for him 😉 I loved getting familiar with the many kinds of tea, smelling them, and trying out as much as our time enabled us to. I also enjoyed the carrot cake, as if they knew I adore carrot and that carrot cakes are of my favorites 🙂 It was a great visit, we were supposed to meet a couple of friends there too, but they couldn’t make it, hard luck for us, maybe next time 🙂
On our day of departure:
The great news is, my friend (since school days) Noura will be having a baby any minute, and despite her work, and her pregnancy condition, she came to meet me an hour before I left to the airport to say goodbye. It was great of her, and it was even greater to see her about to have a baby. I was truly happy for her, she’s such a wonderful person. I wished she’d have her baby while I was there, but it didn’t work 😛 Can’t wait to see pics of her baby 🙂
She’s like a sister to me and my family loves her too. I took pics of her and talked as much as I could with her, but time wasn’t enough for a long detailed chat.

I was planning to meet my friends who I used to work with, but it didn’t work. I wish next time our vacation will be longer so that I’ll get to see everybody and catch up with everything in their lives 🙂

September 23 2004

“Innocent Eyes”

I just happen to love this song.

Do you remember…
lalalalalala lalalalalala…
Hmmm…

Isn’t it just beautiful.
This Delta Goodrem hit is stuck to me since yesterday, I was singing it and hearing its music in my head all day long. And since downloading music is restricted here in the company, I thought bringing her CD with me to work will be just perfect. So here I am listening to it for the 10th time already. I’m not sick, I just love this song. Her whole Album is great, but this “Innocent Eyes” is my favorite, my second favorite in this album is “Lost Without You”, third is “Not Me, Not I” but it’s so touching with sad tunes, which will make things worse for me.
Anyway, let me get back to work, although I’m not in the mood AT ALL 😉 Great day to all of you…

September 21 2004

Good Morning Tunisia

So we’re back in Tunis now. Vacation flew by so fast that I really don’t feel I had enough of my days off.
It was great being back in the beautiful country Jordan, watching all the new places that existed after I left to Tunisia, and re-living all the great memories of places I used to go to when I was still living in Jordan.
Jordan has changed a lot, many people might not notice that, but I personally believe a big change is so obvious. Part of the change was really impressive, the other part, well, let me just say, it was negative.
I loved seeing the signs of civilization and progress almost everywhere. I adored the vitality of streets, the bright lights in the dark skies at midnight, the noise of pickups, the smell of fresh baked “manaqeesh”, the sight of the rich and poor people waiting side by side for a hot plate of falafel in a little store. I loved the fresh cool breeze in a hot summer day, and the extremely cold air at night. And the architecture of houses and buildings in Amman, what a pleasant sight! It’s true Amman isn’t considered one of the most organized capitals when it comes to building, but still one can see beauty in the architecture of Amman.
Jordan has become really open to other cultures, investments and international projects. And for those who love shopping, be sure that Amman has become one of the most interesting capitals that will guarantee you satisfaction for sure. Regardless of your budget, and no matter what you’re most interested in, you’ll enjoy shopping either in Amman’s great malls, shopping centers or even in those normal little stores spread all over the capital. And in case you’re just like me: a food lover 😛 then Amman will offer you a very wide range of all kinds of food from international and local kitchens 🙂 hmmm, let me not list the places I loved or I’ll get you all bored reading and reading and reading 😛
What I really love about Amman is that you don’t have to go through a lot of complications to get something you like. In fact the system encourages you to use technology, invest, and many other useful things.
Yet the change that I personally considered really negative was watching young people getting confused about modernization. Reading the newspaper articles, taking a look at the local magazines and watching people in the streets, malls, restaurants and all, one can easily notice the huge group of young people who think that becoming modern is by imitating other cultures in looks and life style and abandoning everything that has to do with their own culture. But then again, this negative change isn’t only in Jordan, but in most of the Arab countries, unfortunately. It’s even worse here in Tunisia. But we can’t blame parents alone, neither the country’s policy alone, neither schools or universities alone, they’re all to be blamed together. How great it was to see some families sticking to their beautiful tradition, religion and old virtues, while benefiting from modernization in all possible ways. Young people should be guided and shown that modernization and tradition do not contradict. And with tradition I mean the old peaceful respectful way of life, and not the destructive backward ideas that relate to evil or shallow thinking.
I hope Arab countries will try to save what’s left to save from their beautiful traditions while fitting in the modern world. It’s not that hard actually.

Anyway, all I can say about Jordan is that despite its small geographical size, and despite its economical circumstances, and despite its lack of green color –relatively speaking that is- despite all this, Jordan is a country full of life, always blooming in all fields, and always offering new places, new attractions and new services for civilians as well as visitors. Jordan is so so alive, and this is the thing I love most about it.

Now we’re back in the beautiful Tunisia, and I miss Jordan and my family since I said goodbye in the airport. I really don’t feel I saw them enough or spent enough time with them. But this is life I guess, you can’t have everything you wish for, right! I never stop trying though 😛
I didn’t see all the people I wished I’d see, but I hope I’ll make it up next time. Most of all, I really wished my older brother and sister were there. Not seeing them made me feel something was really missing…
If I let my feelings take control, then I’ll surely fail to enjoy any second away from my family. But this is neither what I want, nor what the ones I love would wish for me, therefore I always try to fit in my second country Tunisia, try to enjoy its beauty and good people. I hate to fail in having a happy life, so I focus on what I’m good at, and what I’m good at is never surrendering to sadness and depression 🙂 The piles of papers and loads of work I have to do aren’t helping that much, but will do my best not to let anything change my happy mood.

As you can see, this post shows how much I miss blogging, so be prepared for a lot of writing to come your way. I’ll write about my adventurous vacation for you to share my lovely experience 🙂

September 9 2004

From Jordan…

Well, this is a quick post just to let you know that I’m still alive 🙂 I’m on vacation, and I left Tunisia to Jordan to spend some time with my family. My vacation is short though, that’s why I’m not blogging, kind of trying to make the best out of every second here.God I miss this country, and God I miss my family. I just wished my other brother and sister and her family were all here with us. But who knows, maybe next time we’ll all gather together.I must say that I truly miss blogging, and I really miss reading some blogs I really got addicted to 🙂 Those know my addiction to their blogs by my many many comments 🙂 But I promise to be blogging back soon, and I promise to catch up with all the posts I consider really worth reading.
Till then, wish you all the best of luck, and wish that my vacation will stop passing by as fast as it is…

August 23 2004

Can’t Wait :)

The last few days were extremely busy, I had so much work to do and for a moment I felt work will never end. But thank God, today I was done with the worst and most complicated part of my work.
What really got me laughing are the wonders the word “vacation” works. I mean it’s really funny when you ask for a vacation (a right of every employee) how the employers try to squeeze out the maximum of your time and effort, overloading you with stuff to do as if you’ve asked for retirement or for resignation, not a simple right: vacation.
This may explain why for the past few days I could barely lift my head up and rest my eyes for few minutes. That’s terrible, but well, who cares, I’ll be visiting my family soon, that will make me forget the most horrible moments I go through at work 🙂 Ah, nothing’s better than VACATION 😀

August 9 2004

FINALLY… I Can Drive :)

I’ve been living in Tunisia since the end of September 2002, ever since then I never drove a car. The reason is that my husband’s car is normal gear, and although I’ve passed my driving test in normal gear, yet I never drove but cars with automatic gears. When I came to Tunisia, I was still adapting to my new life, and didn’t know the streets and the driving rules in the country. So I decided to give myself a couple of months to get more familiar with the new country. A while later my husband and I decided he’d take me driving -in relatively empty places- every now and then till I can be ready to drive in normal gear again. The disaster was when I went with him the first time and I couldn’t even manage driving 1 km long, lol, that was so embarrassing. Anyway, we decided to forget about the idea and turn to a driving school to get some lessons to remind me of driving normal gear.
The problem is, in the start of our marriage, things weren’t as easy as they’re now. New life, more responsibilities, and only my husband worked. A driving school was not our 1st priority at that level. After taking the first step into improving our life from all aspects, which is moving into a smaller apartment, everything seemed to get really better, thank God for that of course.
Anyway, one day, a short while after we moved to the new home, my husband asked me to give it one last try and somehow I managed to follow my husband’s instructions correctly and was able to drive better than the first try!! So he took me driving for short distances around our new neighborhood, whenever we had the time. But I wasn’t still ready for driving in crowded places or in highways. A driving school became a priority but I always got back really tired from work, and had enough things to do, and although I looked for driving schools online, and found close ones, but I never made an appointment.
And last Sunday, August 1st, I was fed up being afraid of driving, we were going shopping for stuff for our home, I looked at my husband, and was like: “ok, enough is enough, it’s about time I move forward and drive, so I’ll drive us to Carrefour today”, my husband was shocked, yet happy, but as soon as we reached the car downstairs I was like: “well, maybe not today” 😛 but he was like: “oh no you don’t, you’re driving us today and NOW”.
I drove there, with my hands shaking, my face as red as the Tunisian flags on the sides of the roads, feeling so damn tensed and scared to run over someone or hit another car. Anyway, it went well, except for my dear husband having the worst time of his life 😛 To make it even worse for himself, he encouraged me to drive back home as well, and I did. The next day he took me driving in “Les Berges du Lac” where I work, around 10-15 minutes from home. I drove there in the morning, then in the evening, and the day after it he actually took me driving from home to “Les Berges du Lac” further to “Le Kram”, the 2nd most crowded place after downtown Tunis, I drove then to my beloved Carthage then continued to “Sidi Bou Said”, where we stopped for some tea (he parked the car though :P) then I drove from “Sidi Bou Said” to home, passing by “La Marsa” where my in-laws live 🙂 and kept driving through the highway till we reached our home sweet home 🙂 So I can announce now, that AquaCool can officially drive in the crazy streets of Tunisia since last week, and God knows how HAPPY I AM for this achievement. And well, just in case you think I’m a loser for being afraid of driving in Tunisia, you’d better take a look at the REASONS .
Anyway, I have to first thank my great husband for tolerating my driving, having the patience to teach me how to deal with normal gear and how to drive safely, and for supporting me all the time, and thank all members of my family, who kept on encouraging me to adapt to my new life and drive as soon as possible.
Yippieeeeeeeeee… I made it 😀

August 5 2004

In AUGUST!

Temperature was around 43 degrees yesterday, today it’s raining!!! I’ve never seen such a crazy weather anywhere else but in Thailand.
I hope the rain will make the weather a bit better, although I really doubt this possibility. It’s been terribly hot in the last couple of days, specially yesterday. The best word to describe yesterday –in my opinion- is OVEN!
On my way home yesterday it was so humid with a really hot breeze, as if one was sitting in an oven. This kind of weather makes me really lazy. All I feel like doing is either sleeping, or eating, or watching movies/ TV. I do feel like swimming a lot, but most of the time I’m just too lazy to move 😀
From my office window I can see the rain drops evaporating the second they touch the boiling streets. Looks like the sun isn’t in the mood today, it’s hiding behind the clouds. Good for us, no one will be frying. But well, the fact that the sun and its rays are not visible doesn’t mean they’re not there. Heat is the same, and the sun rays are even more dangerous when the sun is hiding behind the clouds.
As for me now, I’ve been going through a very hectic period at work. I was mostly doing stuff I really hate, like reports and accounting for example. Today I was really fed up, I decided to take a break, a BIG ONE, so here I am eating some yummy chocolate biscuits that my husband brought yesterday, writing and enjoying myself. I just love this guilt-free feeling I get every once in a while 🙂 It cools me down and makes me feel really fresh.

July 29 2004

At 13:30

After a very nice and light summer last month –relatively speaking- I can say the serious Tunisian summer has just begun 😉 But still it’s a lot cooler than last year. Thank God for that. There is a nice refreshing breeze after 18:30. But my problem is in me actually. I finish work at 13:30, the sun is so damn strong, and I feel vapor coming out of me the second I step out of the air-conditioned office. It takes no longer than reaching the ground floor and getting out the main gate of the building to start sweating, yes, it’s that HOT and that HUMID! Anyway, I don’t know why I feel so excited about shopping for stuff we need for home at that particular time of the day: 13:30. I really don’t understand why I always feel so active when I walk down the street, and I find myself crossing to the opposite side, where shopping stores and markets are, instead of getting a cab and heading home. Everyday around 13:30 I’d be either picking vegetables, choosing fruits, buying meat, pasta, milk, detergents or anything I remember is missing. And although I don’t spend more than 5 TND, but I end up with many bags. So imagine the days when our fridge is totally empty and I just feel like shopping rather than waiting to go shop later with my husband! I end up with really HEAVY bags, and then I have to walk the minimum of another 10 minutes with the bags in the sun, and stand at the end of the highway till I get a cab. I reach home melting!!
I should do something about that. I must resist this strong feeling of responsibility I guess 😛