October 6 2004

Time: Is It Money!

The first time I heard “Time Is Money” was in a movie, I was still a kid and understood that it was mostly said by businessmen who believe that every passing minute means a chance for making more money, and wasting time, therefore, will result in wasting these “big” chances.
Nowadays “Time Is Money” is said not only by the rich, but also by the poor. The poor people who will be satisfied with any penny coming their way. Yes, to them too, time is money, every passing minute might bring them a chance to feed their hungry stomachs; every passing minute may bring them a bill to be paid. Time for them revolves around money… mostly the kind of money to be paid not earned. Time for them is either a chance to survive, or a disaster to kick them out of this one small about-to-fall room, why? Because the owner of this room ALSO believes that “Time Is Money”, why waste it on a bunch of poor people when there are ones who are ready to pay the rent -maybe double the rent- on time?!
If only there is mercy and understanding in this world. If only we can feel for each other, help each other and respect the circumstances of each other like we once used to. If only the employers judge by qualifications and personalities rather than judging by connections and looks.
If this happens, I’m sure this world will be a better place to live in. Smiles of satisfaction will be seen more often, beggars will no longer exist, and I wont be watching all these innocent children working as hard as grownups instead of being where they belong: in schools, beside their friends, learning, interacting, living their childhood and being prepared to be healthy, constructive and happy members of the grownup society.
Wishing wont do anything in this cruel world. Let us all act, let us all do whatever we can according to our personal environment and our own circumstances.
Donate money, give away old clothes, buy someone a meal, save a plate of your lunch for someone in need, volunteer in a help organization…the list goes on. There is always something each one of us could do for sure, doesn’t matter if big or small, a good deed is a good deed. Let your good intentions break free and be sure that your good deeds will not only help others, but will also help you feel the bless of being human, and the power an individual possesses in making a big change in the whole world.
It’s not too late to convince the world that time has never been only about money, time is what we make of it…

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October 4 2004

Don’t Quit

Many many years ago mom bought this great poem: “Don’t quit”, she hung it on a wall in our home where all of us can see over and over again.

This poem never fails to cheer me up. Whenever I’m really close to giving up, this poem gave me back hope. In my latest visit, I saw it again, read it again, and remembered all the hard times I’ve been through, all the difficulties I’ve faced and all the great feelings I had every time I defeated failure.

I even wanted to take a pic of it… yes, I love it that much.
Today, and while surfing I came across it, and thought it’s a guaranteed way to give you the perfect dose of strength to keep on going in case you were feeling really down.

Thank you mom…

DON’T QUIT
by Edgar A. Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must,
but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow – you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;
often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst,
you must not quit.

October 1 2004

If Only…

Every Friday around this time I get a 2 minute torture cession while watching my beloved Royal Jordanian plane flying across the Tunisian skies to be in Amman in 3 hours and a half!
Every Friday I wonder: if only airplanes were like busses, all you need to get on board is to run and jump in 😉

October 1 2004

Schreibwettbewerb für Nachwuchs-Onlinejournalisten

Ab heute starten DW-WORLD.DE – das Internet-Angebot der Deutschen Welle – und “Lehrer-Online.de” unter dem Motto “Schüler schreiben Geschichte” einen Schreibwettbewerb für Nachwuchs-Onlinejournalisten.
Schüler in ganz Deutschland sind für diesen Schreibwettbewerb ihren eigenen Online-Artikel zu einem historischen Thema ihrer Wahl zu verfassen, aufgerufen.
Teilnahmeberechtigt sind alle Schüler ab Klasse 7, die Spaß am Schreiben eigener Texte haben. Die Interessenten sind aufgerufen, für das DW-Angebot “Kalenderblatt.de” Informationen zu historisch bedeutsamen Ereignissen oder Persönlichkeiten ihrer Wahl zu recherchieren. Die Ergebnisse sollen dann journalistisch aufgearbeitet werden. Der historische und inhaltliche Rahmen ist dabei unbegrenzt.
“Wir wollen den Schülerinnen und Schülern die Gelegenheit bieten, für sie persönlich bedeutsame geschichtliche Themen journalistisch aufzuarbeiten und zugleich ihr Talent zum Schreiben auszuprobieren”, sagt Guido Baumhauer, Leiter der Online-Abteilung der Deutschen Welle. mehr…

September 30 2004

In Remembrance of Edward Said

Palestine, Palestinians; their story, their history, their journey with suffering, and their stolen rights, are all facts people learned from the great Palestinian intellectual Edward Said, who dedicated himself to his land: Palestine, and its people.
His writings showed the world the truth, which media failed to reflect. Injustice, humiliation, and cruelty of imperialism, were all subjects of his writings.
It’s been one year already since Edward Said the thinker, the teacher, the story teller and above all the proud Palestinian, has passed away.
Let’s not forget his work, let’s not ignore his words, let’s not waste his efforts.
Let’s all hope that Palestine will be generous enough to offer us such great people to spread the truth and remind the world of the “invisible people”… the people of Palestine.

Related links: Man To Remember , and Edward W. Said .

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

” Vote For Change”

This is the motto of the tour that will start today September 27th and will take place in most of the states of America. The tour will be for 10 days and its goal is to encourage people to vote for John Kerry. “Vote for change” is organized by the MoveOn website, and the revenues of the concerts to be held throughout the tour will all go to America Come Together “ACT”. 17 musicians and famous bands such as: Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. and Jackson Browne will be participating in this tour.
They all believe that it’s their duty as Americans to encourage people to make the right decision, which is voting for Kerry and not Bush.
Source: DeutscheWelle .

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

“Islam Connecting People”

Ammar Kebede, a very talented young man born in Ethiopia and grown up in Germany. Ammar used to write lyrics for rap songs, and used to rap since 1995. He was a part of a small group of talented people. They wanted to be famous and reach the world, but they wanted it in the right way. They didn’t want to sing about drugs or sex, they didn’t want video clips with women surrounding them, they wanted to show all stars that there are other ways of becoming famous, while keeping self-respect.
In the same year, Ammar got to know Islam and read in the Quran. In 1999 he converted to Islam, ever since then he started writing lyrics about things he believed were meaningful and worth discussing. He started writing about life, the truth of things, God, poverty, egoism, and anything that could give a wakeup call to people to improve their lives and help each other.
His topics are well selected, his texts are Islamic and his songs simply rock. The reactions to his new style music and Islamic rap songs were so positive. People loved Ammar and his meaningful music.
His latest CD is called “Mehr als Musik” (more than music) and could be purchased from Ammar’s website: Ammar114.de
You can also hear his songs and download a lot of remixes and singles for free. With his songs, Ammar tries to get people to thinking and reconsidering their lives. He tries to encourage people to make their lives more useful and more meaningful.
Unfortunately his website and songs are in German only.

Tomorrow September 23rd, Ammar will be having a live concert in Mainz- Germany. And on Sunday, September 26th, Ammar will be having another Live concert in Berlin-Germany, for FREE. It will be called “Islam Connecting People” and will include interviews with people from around the world, who’d like to share their experience with Islam.
For details about the concerts, the time, place and tickets you can check his site or call: 0177-3448727, or simply send an email on the following address: icp[AT]gmx.de.
You’re all invited 🙂