After a nice weekend, I woke up today with a very unpleasant surprise: A stiff back 🙁
Seems like the AC affected my back, I can hardly move it, and when I do, or when I even turn my head to the left or right, I feel my back will be broken :((((( On the other hand I look really funny when my boss talks to me and I have to turn from the position where I face the pc to the opposite direction to face my office’s door, I move as one unmovable piece of wood :P. Other than that, I’m wearing a jacket in this heat! Yes, I know that warming up a stiff part can help relax it and release the tension in it. Well I’m only wearing the jacket inside the office where the AC (though a weak cheap one) but could really make my condition worse. But outside, the sun is strong enough to melt me, not just to help my back feel better 😛
Ah, everytime I remember how pathetic I sounded on the way to work, I can’t but laugh. Every time the car falls into a hole or simply shakes because of some stones or anything I’d go OUCH!!! Anyway, doing my best to keep warm, let’s just hope I’ll get better.

Yesterday the brother of my in-laws’ friend passed away because of health problems. So my husband and I went with my in-laws to attend the Aza’a, which comes from the verb (yo’azzi) i.e. to express sympathy to someone who has experienced grief. Aza’a comes after the funeral has already taken place of course. This is the first time I go to Aza’a in Tunisia. So as sad as the fact of losing someone is, it was interesting for me to notice the differences in traditions between the middle-eastern culture and the Tunisian culture.
One of the differences is the clothes. It’s true that sorrow is in the heart, and colors of the clothes don’t necessarily reflect the inner feelings of a person, but in the Middle East, colors of the clothes of the grieving family or the people visiting them vary from black to really dark blue and dark shades of gray. Women are most likely to wear normal clothes that are not shiny or too revealing to respect the situation. Here, I noticed people don’t give any importance to colors, which is ok, but I just found it odd to see women wearing very bright colors like: shiny pink, bright turquoise, orange, clear white and red. Some young ladies were wearing extremely revealing clothes, which I found so inappropriate. Another thing is makeup, in the Middle East, makeup is out of question, no woman should be wearing makeup in such a sad occasion. Yesterday many girls were wearing full makeup… it’s just so different.
Another difference is the Quran and prayers. For Muslim people in the middle east, one can hear the Quran verses played loud on tape, for many reasons: to announce that this family has lost someone, so the news spreads, and secondly to wish him mercy and bless his family after his death. On the other hand when people meet they pray for his soul to rest in peace and wish him forgiveness for any sins or bad things he might have done. Yesterday, I was the only one praying for the man! Others were just gossiping and getting to know each other 😛 It happens in the Middle East too, that some ladies gather and start their little gossip, but if they’re noticed, other ladies would warn them to keep it low and pray for the dead person instead. Here it’s so normal if they take the chance of gathering to talk about any topic they want loudly, no one complains. As for Quran, a group of people were sitting in a room inside the house reading Quran, which I found great, only if their voices were louder than those of the ladies chatting. But well, as I heard, usually Quran is heard just like in the Middle East, so yesterday was an exception.
Anyway, despite the differences, each culture has its own way of expressing itself. Each culture finds other cultures a bit odd. But they all share one thing all Arabs have: supporting each other and being there for each other in happiness and sorrow, in strength and weakness. Another thing I adore about being an Arab.

Yesterday we were invited to a gathering of a family I personally love so much. I knew this family through my husband. He’s friends with the son. So one day when the son came to visit Tunisia, we went to say hi, and we were introduced to the whole family. Ever since then, we’ve been seeing each other every once in a while. It’s true we don’t meet that much, but we always keep in touch. And every time we visit them I feel I’m at my aunt’s or uncle’s. They’re so easy-going, so friendly, so loving and the whole atmosphere is warm. Add to this the multi-cultural essence of the gathering and the middle eastern cooking, yummy… Not that I don’t cook it, but when the people joining for food love this type of cooking, it feels different, more blessed and more appreciated.
The cute thing is, whenever the mom passes by me on her way to the kitchen or to any other room, she’d kiss me and ask: what do you think of the gathering?
10 minutes later she’d ask: are you happy? Do you like the cooking? Need anything? You’re at home, feel free…
There are people that you can’t but feel great with, for nothing but the true care and love they give. From day one I felt so welcomed, felt I was a member of the family already. Other than that, they helped me meet people around my age to make friends. And every time we go, the whole group is gathered. Just like the old days at my parents’. And this sure helps me go on in my life. I know nothing replaces one’s own family, specially when this family gives you all the love, care and support all the time in all circumstances. But getting to know such kind and good people helps out ease the pain of longing and decrease this feeling of being a stranger in a country you know you’ll be spending your life in.

Yesterday the weather was as normal as it could be during July in Tunisia. Sunny and so damn hot. But around 7:30 p.m. there has been a very big twist in weather. It became so windy, so cool, and then BOOM there was lightning and thunder out of no where! It rained for a while, and then it stopped, leaving the weather humid, no wind at all and full of our little enemies: Mosquitoes.
This morning it was cool, as if we’re in spring or something. Have no idea how it’s going to be like in half an hour when I finally leave the office.
I’m so sleepy, can’t focus, and can’t wait for the time to come to go home and rest.

July 10th was my younger brother’s birthday. I can’t believe how quick time passes by. Mustafa’s already 21now! 🙂 This is truly great. I still picture him as he was a little baby. He was one hell of a kid. He showed a great calm face, while he did everything naughty kids would do without getting our attention. For example, he’d be sitting so calm, smiling at us, while the carpet behind him would be burning because of the candle he spilled on purpose. He’d be smiling peacefully, to know later on that the cable of the fridge has been pulled out for a while, long enough to get the food inside it stinky! God! He was a great kid.
I also remember how my older brother Mohamed used to enjoy putting him in this little baby stroller and drive it so quick through the whole house. You can hear Mustafa’s (or Mos as we all call him) laughs echoing in the whole place 🙂
Mos is now all grown up, his kind heart and great sense of humor have grown up with him. I can feel he’s become a lot more mature than before, and I’m happy for that.
He grew fond of computers, all the credit goes to our great bro Mohamed 🙂 MAK (Mohamed) used to gather his friends and work on university projects, play games, do some surfing and stuff, and he let Mos sit with him and his friends all the time. So Mos became familiar with PC’s and loved them ever since then.
When he wanted to decide what to learn in university, he had discussions with both Mak and MMM (my husband) and he ended up learning computer science 🙂
One thing I wished would really change in Mos is this extreme lack of time-order 😛 His sleeping hours, his studying hours, his free time, his meals, everything is just so mixed up when it comes to these things. But well, maybe later when he gets a job then he’ll learn to be more organized. Anyway, whether organized or not, he is responsible and successful.
We called him on his birthday, it was fun talking to him.
This is the second time in a row that I miss his birthday, I wish somehow I’ll be there with him and never miss any occasion he or any other member of my beloved family celebrates.

Yesterday I was under the impression that it was still Wednesday, don’t ask me why, I just felt it was Wednesday. When I got back home, I knew from my husband that it was Thursday. Other than feeling extremely happy to reach the end of the week, I couldn’t help thinking of how fast a week passes by although I feel the working days are too long!
I mean if I feel the working days are so long, how come I reach the end of the week without me being aware of it! Whatever the reason is, I just love weekends. On the other hand, having the week pass by that quick, makes me feel how days are flying without me adding a single change on my life routine, at least the work side. I have nothing against my life routine outside work, but this job, I don’t know. The boss is really good to me, very respectful, the whole work environment is good, salary is relatively high, but still I don’t feel it’s the right place for me. I really hate to believe in this, but it’s the sad fact. I wasn’t born to do what I do. I feel I have more capabilities and feel attracted to other kind of work that involves no accounting, no office work…AH, I HATE MY JOB! Maybe others wish to be in my place, but I wasn’t simply made for this. I belong somewhere else. I thank God for giving me the chance to find a good job, earn money the right way, and be excellent at what I do. But at the same time, I don’t stop looking for other better choices. I never lost hope in finding a better job where I’ll feel it’s the right place for me. Until then, I guess I have to do my best to enjoy what I do for a living right now. I have to be more optimistic, that’s why I keep thinking of weekends 🙂 The weird thing about me is that in weekends I always prefer hanging out with my husband anywhere in the arms of nature. Sea, parks, if this isn’t what we feel like that day then anywhere other than other people’s houses would be great for me. I hate to stay at home, and I hate to go visiting. I feel weekends are made to break the disgusting routine of being trapped in an office or any indoor places. But most of the time, when the weekend is finally there, I can’t be but human, the efforts I pay while working in the office and at home through the week force me to surrender the temptation of a yummy meal and a cozy couch. So I end up enjoying staying at home, seeing no one and being free of any formalities, stress, exhaustion, or any type of work (usual housework doesn’t count :D)
Anyway, since this weekend will be a busy one, I guess I’ll just have to wait for the next week to do nothing but eat, sleep and watch TV 🙂 Oh this lazy, lazy me!

Just like today, July 7th, 1998, in the summer course, I was getting out of a very boring lecture. Usually I’d go home straight after I’m done with my lectures, unless my friends gathered for lunch or something like that. But that day I had to wait an hour for a another extra lecture. Not knowing how I’d pass this hour, I decided to go out to an air-conditioned place to get a milk-shake or something like that. And as I was walking to the main gate, a friend of mine saw me and shouted out my name. She was in such a bad mood. She was trying to get a better schedule for the semester, but it didn’t work. She was so so angry that I couldn’t simply let her go to the registration section in that state of anger. She calmed down as I accompanied her and we talked a bit while we walked.
It was really a hot summer, and I couldn’t get my eyes off the university cafeteria or the “milk-bar” as the students used to call it :P. It was ahead of us and I was planning to get something to drink, when suddenly I looked to my right for no specific reason and saw a guy walking close to the trees, he had a biiiiiiig attractive smile ( I knew later where it came from) and at the very same moment my friend screamed: MARWAN! This “Marwan” came towards us and our friend Hanan introduced us to each other. All I knew is that he is Tunisian, studying in our university. She told him about her registration and schedule problem and he was like: Ok, I have nothing to do, I’ll come along.
To be honest, although I didn’t know the guy, but I was somehow pleased that he’d be with us. And so it was, the three of us went to the registration section. On our way there, only Hanan was talking, “Marwan” was just wearing a peaceful cute smile looking at me as if he knew me, this smile got me really confused!
When we reached the registration section, Hanan had to argue and work on her papers, when “Marwan” and I were standing next to her, we didn’t talk. I was starting to get bored, and before I felt so, “Marwan” spoke up, ever since then he never stopped talking until we said goodbye 😀 He talked about everything, he told me about Tunisia, where he comes from, his family, his studies, his live in Jordan, what he thinks of the university of Jordan, the food, summer, his way of life, almost everything. This guy opened up to me from the minute he met me. To be honest, his talkative manner was really impressive. I mean it isn’t easy to talk about different stuff, and it isn’t easy to get me interested in a conversation either, but he did pretty well, and I loved that.
After Hanan was done with her papers and things worked out well for her, we decided to go back to our faculty, the three of us were silent, a smile on my face and a huge one on “Marwan’s” face, and a shocked expression on Hanan’s 😉
When we reached university, I found some friends, so I said bye to Hanan and “Marwan”, and went away. While sitting with my friends I have come to a very interesting discovery, which is: this “Marwan” is the same guy I saw many months ago standing with another person behind Hanan while she was talking to me. I remember that day I saw him and he was smiling at me, and I thought he was a graduate (specially that I never saw him until July 7th 98). I liked his looks, I don’t mean only his attractiveness, but also how peaceful, respectful and mature he looked. Not like other guys who looked so childish and silly. Respect, maturity and peacefulness are things that I can guess from the outside, add to them smartness and care (which I get to know after conversation) are things that do really get my attraction and attention. Anyway, I didn’t know him then, but on the 7th of July I got to talk to him. I liked him, and after that day, we got to talk more, after a while, he got to meet my family in a party we had for our big brother who was leaving to Canada. He then started chatting with my brother, after a very short while the whole family loved him. He proposed to my parents, after a while we got engaged, and around 2 years later we got married.
This day did change our lives for sure, and what a lovely change it is 🙂
Oh the secret of the smile he wore all the time?! It turns out he knew me around a year before we met, and he was waiting for the moment we’d meet. And I can tell you that smile he had made me call him Mr. Smiley Face for a veeeeery long while 🙂 Another thing I found out was the fact that he gets really pissed off if I write his name with an a: Marwan and not as they pronounce it in Tunisia (Marwen) 🙂
And now that we’re married, I can also assure you that he is anything but talkative 😛 And although I love people who talk and open up subjects and stuff, but that doesn’t mean that I feel less love for him. The weird thing is, not only me, but also my family have been always under this impression that he is a guy who can always talk. He always had things to talk about with everyone, he gave our gatherings a great taste and impressed us all, now I know it was just a temporary status 😛 But I love him no matter what, because other more important and basic things to me never changed in him, like his true love, loyalty, maturity, smartness, respect and care. Sounds enough for me to be head over heels in love, or what! 😉

There is this room in our apartment that was such a mess 😛 Ever since we moved in to this apartment (around 8 months ago) and we failed to get it properly organized. Main reason is the fact that our new home is a lot smaller than the old one. Therefore the excess stuff that had no place in the bedroom, living room and dining room, had to be thrown in this poor room, which ended up as a store. We tried more than once to put things in their places, but this “organized status” never lasted more than 3 days, because it wasn’t the right way of doing it. We always ended up with things all over the room that we couldn’t even manage walking through this room to get something from it. Yes, it was that bad.
Anyway, yesterday, my husband and I were really really fed up. We woke up, passed by this room which always gave us a depressing feeling, went to the living room, and while watching TV, we discussed our plans for the day, and then we went back to watching TV, after few minutes,we looked at each other, read each others’ minds and went to the room. Each one of us decided to make a certain part, and after half a day WE WERE FINALLY DONE.
Finally the room was well organized, things were put in their right places, and we now have a lot of space saved for us to walk through the room freely 🙂 Ah, what a wonderful feeling. Nothing is more relieving than order and tidiness 🙂 Can’t wait to go back home and enjoy every bit of it…