February 12 2004

And The Winner Is…

So Tunisia against Morocco on Saturday for the final match.
As I was feeling, Tunisia won yesterday, they say it was a great exciting and long match. Unfortunately I didn’t get to watch it. I thought I’d reach home and be able to watch the last 15 minutes of the match, but the streets were empty, all I heard was my footsteps. And when I found a spot in the end of the road stuffed with people with few taxis stopping there, I thought I’d finally get a ride home. The surprise was that the people – just like me- were waiting for any bus or taxi to drive them home, but no busses appeared from the start of the match and the taxis next to them turned out to have drivers who got so excited and nervous that they could no longer drive safely. So they parked and listened to the radio with the highest volume for all of us to hear 🙂
And every time there was this important kick, they’d get so nervous and turn off the radio to avoid getting a heart attack, which got us all crazy. Anyway, they had this extra time to play, and I thought I’d walk a bit forward where it’s warmer, on my way I tried to call anyone I know who could help but the network was loaded and the ones I could reach were apparently too excited calling their friends to talk about the game or didn’t hear the phone ringing from the start.
So I lost hope in someone picking me up, and I decided to walk a bit further to any café nearby or any place where I could rest and keep warm, but after around an hour and more of fast walking I found myself at my doorstep!!
I was lucky enough to watch the last penalties of the match, I love penalties and find them really exciting. And with the announcement of the winner all what one was able to hear was people screaming, cars beeping, songs and music all over the place, it was amazing.
Hard luck to Nigeria and Mali, which are both such strong teams and whose players showed big talent and played beautifully in all matches.
And CONGRATULATIONS Tunisia, keep up the good work and see you on Saturday.

Category: Entertainment, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT
February 11 2004

Office-Alone

So Today’s the big day for Tunisians as their national football team will be playing against Nigeria in the semi finals. Some Tunisian football experts are not that optimistic since Nigeria is a tuff team. On the other hand, other experts as well as the public and the players themselves are all filled with high hopes and can’t wait for the match to begin.
Hmm, I can hear the fans and public outside calling out loud (TUNISIE) on their way to watch the match, and I can see through the office window cars covered with the Tunisian Flag all over and faces painted with red and white. It’s true I’m not crazy about football, but when there are those big competitions and cups I watch almost all games in big enthusiasm.
Everyone I know is watching the game today, either live or on T.V. It’s only ME who’s stuck at work without watching. Even my boss left to watch the game.
Anyway, I wish Tunisia will win and I am optimistic about this.
GOOD LUCK TUNISIEEEEEEEEEEEEE 🙂

Category: Just Personal, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT
December 23 2003

M6 Concert

Well, I must say it was a great concert. The singers, the atmosphere, the organization, everything was so great. And above all the beauty of the Médina. When you get inside it you can’t but believe it’s an old town, not a place built in the shape of an old town. It’s wonderful. The colors they painted the walls with, the structure of the whole town and even the streets of it were all made in the ways older generations used to make.

Other than the fact that a group of the most successful French singers were present, there was this new little talent that was shown to the audience. A little Tunisian girl called Amal, she sings and plays the guitar. She had a great chance to sing around 4 songs before the concert actually began. She has a wonderful voice, and sang in Arabic, French, English and Spanish I guess. I loved her style, and I loved her voice, plus her playing on the guitar 🙂 .
I guess this concert gave her a very big chance to express herself, and I hope that they’d take care of her talent so that it wont be wasted or used like a lot of other voices, to be a means of collecting money.
Now to the funniest part. This concert will be shown twice on two different television channels; so imagine you’re clapping and singing along with a certain singer, and then you see him go back to behind the stage, the show introducers jumping on stage again, and introducing the same singer with the same song he’s gonna sing once again, and last but not least, imagine how the crowd would clap and scream again as if it’s the first time this singer will appear on stage, loool, that was really funny. Yet what I couldn’t stop laughing about was the new year countdown. God it was funny, see what I mean, here I am laughing my head off again. Every time I recall the picture of us and the rest of the audience looking at the stars on stage and counting: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1!!! Then shouting: HEEEEEEEEEEEY, and watch them all exchange new year’s greetings and kisses; And 2 seconds later the stars are asked to go to where they came from the first time, and we’re asked to count again and again 10 …..3-2-1 ; HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY, and then watch them greet and kiss again, in the same excitement and same happiness of the first time, till I actually believed it was 2004 already!!! God, that was funny.
Oh, and one more thing worth sharing is this false idea people have about Tunisia and some other Arab countries about being warm day and night all around the year, loool. It’s true the weather is warmer than it is in Europe and other parts of the world, but at night, in winter, and in December, it can be nothing but freezing!! But still we saw the show introducers and the stars all dressed in summer clothes, some were almost naked and I bet they’re on their dying bed right now… and funniest of all was while they were shooting and saying to the camera: “Oh Tunisia, the weather is so warm, we can’t even stand coming near each other from the heat”. And of course they were wearing veeeeery light clothes, their bodies as well as their voices were shaking from cold, at the very same time that we, the audience, were waving to the cameras and singing along with nothing appearing from us but our faces and red noses, loool. Give me a break; who would believe them when they say it’s warm, when all what people would sea is hats, thick jackets and scarves all over the place!!!
Anyway I enjoyed myself a lot; but I must admit that I woke up really late next day, thank God it was a Sunday! And up till now I feel the need of getting more sleep. We spent all the time standing up, that isn’t something very relaxing you know.

Category: Entertainment, Media, International, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 29 2003

Simply Blown Away…

Yesterday I was shocked when I heard the news of the death of Thikra Mohamed (known as Zekra as well), a great Tunisian singer with a beautiful voice. I know that the fact someone is famous doesn’t prevent that someone from death, but I was shocked for many reasons, one of them was her age as she died really young, but then again death doesnt select people according to their age, death reaches all at different ages and from different social levels.
Another things that caused my shock was her dying in the best stage of her life as a singer. Just when she has arrived to the top of her singing career death got her!
But what shocked me most was the way she was took away from life, she was KILLED, and even worse she was killed be her HUSBAND, not only this, but also the fact that he killed HER and HER MANAGER as well as HIS MANAGER and last but not least he killed HIMSELF!
Don’t I have the right to be more than shocked.
Anyway all what was said about this after investigations was that the husband was drunk; had a fight with his wife while both his and her manager were there, shot them all, then shot himself!!
I’ve always hated such stories, I mean if he commited suicide and left others in peace it would be better, although I’m 100% against suicide, but still I can’t tolerate the idea of someone choosing to end the life of someone else, whether close or far, whether they have their reasons or just being crazy, whether in war or in peace, I simply hate killing. One’s life is created by God, and he is the only one who has the right to take it back when it’s the right time, but for someone, who’s created just like me and you, to come and simply decide to put an end to one’s life, this is something I can’t get!
And not only does killing destroy one’s life but also the lives of all those related to him/ her, their families and everthing.
I hope people stop being insane and think as responsible beings with preacious brains carrying peaceful ideas to improve and help others, not to kill!
For more details about the crime check
http://www.arabtop.net/stars151.htm

Category: Arab Societies, General, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 22 2003

Eid Al Fitr Is Almost Here :)

All Muslims of the world are preparing for the Eid. Eid that will end the holy month of Ramadan to get back to our normal eating habbits.
Families are going out shopping with their kids buying new clothes, toys, sweets and anything they need and can afford. Everyone is awiting the minute they’ll wake up on the calling for Eid prayers and hear the people pray all together with their voices thanking God for what he’s giving them, showing appreciation to his blessings and expressing their love to the weak, poor and lonely.
I remember every Eid how I get to hear Dad’s voice in the mosque calling for prayers and the voices of neighbors and friends all gathering to pray and exchange Eid greetings. After that they give all the people in need what they gathered the days before: meat, food, clothes that might be new or old, money and Eid sweets. Other than that they take a portion of what they gathered and send it to countries who are poorer and living bad condition because of war, a natural catastrophy or anything at all.
Then the elder members of the family men go visit the brothers, sisters, cousins daughters and sons and grandsons. So after the prayers dad would go in the early morning to relatives and our married sister and her family carrying sweets or flowers, then come back home where the whole home smells like fresh backed delicious Eid sweets (Ma’moul) which mom spent a whole week making with her own hands, stuffing some with walnuts, ones with pistache and flower extracts, others with dates, decorating each piece with tiny little things creating most beautiful shapes. YUMMY, I miss that. She’d spend long days working as she always makes so many because she know we loves them and one of us alone could finish 30 pieces in one day, yes yes , it’s that tasty and it’s that great. No one makes ones as good as she does. I really wish I could have my share this time 😛
After coming back home we’d all gather in the sitting room exchange greetings and kisses, sit together and instead of having breakfast that is prepared to be eaten, we get a couple of bites and then attack the sweets, that are too light and way too tasty. Then the phone starts ringing from all over the world, friends, relatives and all. Even our christian friends call and visit and share us the great Eid Al Fitr.
When it’s lunch time each family gathers, some choose to keep it only parents and kids, some invite more, some choose the first in a year and then choose the second for a change the year to follow. We eat home cooked meals, the whole house is decorated with candles, flowers and Eid cards. TV is most probably on suggesting great programs to watch and enjoy.
Then we all start visiting people with our parents, and that’s how it goes: first day is for the closest, second the less close and the third for the less less close 😛
It’s great, and i miss it, as here in Tunisia it has another way to be done, which is nice as well. It’s just that I miss my family and the way we celebrate in the Middle East. Oh and I miss Ma’moul, lool, had no time to make some, and even if i had, they wont turn out as great as mom’s.
Tunisian Sweets are so Yummy too 🙂 My husband and I have our own way of celebrating, we go both of us visiting relatives and friedns. Here in Tunisia men go visiting alone normally and women wait for the men to come and visit to recieve them, but because I have no one of my family to come and visit me as they don’t live here, and because we love sharing things together, my great understanding husband chose to take me with him visiting… something I really appreciate of him. And i enjoy it this way, he does too, I guess 🙂

Happy Eid Al Fitr To All Muslims of the world, may it bring on blessed days, more love, happiness and great health….

Category: Arab Societies, Jordan, Religion, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 6 2003

A Clap For Palestine & Jordan

Both Palestine and Jordan have shown a very successful performance in “Carthage Theatrical Days Festival” in Tunisia.
“Best Play” went to Palestine who deserved winning as their play was so beautiful from script to acting to music and everything.
As for Jordan, they got the “Best Actress Performance” which is so impressive.
Both gave a great impression about theatrical talents in their region. Their participation is considered a step forward in the future of theatre in both countries, and their success makes all of us proud.
Actually a lot of plays were really good, and they all deserve admiration. And what I really loved about “Carthage Theatrical Days Festival” is the fact that all Arab countries gather to join in it. Tunisia gives a great chance for all talents to show what they’ve got and participate, not only this, but it also gives the chance for those talents to reach a worldwide audience with the help of media coverage.
Congratulations on a job well done for all participants, wishing them a non-stop improvement.

Category: Arab Societies, Art & Literature, Jordan, Palestine, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 10 2003

A Wonderland Called Tunisia :)

It’s been already one year since I left Jordan and came to Tunisia to live in it for good. I must admit that it’s a very beautiful country indeed. Once you set foot in the national airport of the capital Tunis you find posters and ads about Tunisia, most of them are in French and German. An expression I noticed in those ads and posters repeatedly was the one saying that Tunisia is the “Country of Light”, unfortunately I arrived at night so I couldn’t understand what that meant! But next day in the morning I got it! The light is so strong and shining, you can barely keep your eyes open during the day, even if you were pointing your eyes to the ground, you do need sunglasses or at least a cap! And with such a strong light you can see the beauty of colors clearer and you could enjoy its reflection on the sea waves in a magnificent way. And no matter if it was summer or winter, the light is always so strong, with one difference that the clouds in winter might not cause your eyes to drop water if you were lifting your head up high!
Other than the beautiful landscape, the sea, mountains, green fields, and the desert, there is something that is a Tunisian specialty, something that shocked me when I knew it and couldn’t understand right away, it’s their Arabic!
We all know that there are always 2 ways to communicate with people in any country using their own language, you either speak the formal or informal language, so you either speak the Official or the Slang English, you either speak the Hochdeutsch or the German Dialekt, you either speak the Fos’ha (formal Arabic) or simply the used dialect! Now before going to Tunisia I knew that they have a dialect that is so much DIFFERENT than all the spoken dialects in the whole Middle East countries. I got somehow prepared for that and I was counting on the Fos’ha if I reach a dead end with any Tunisian citizen I’d be communicating with. My first surprise was when I went to the mini market near home to ask for some stuff, I didn’t know all the words in their dialect, so I had to use the dialect of the Middle East Areas, and oops, I noticed that a lot of the words in the Middle East normally and really BAD and impolite ones when used in Tunisia so I had no other choice but to get back to the Fos’ha, and still the woman didn’t understand and she started asking me for details, she was speaking 2 words in the Tunisian dialect and 20 other in French, lol, I only know some basics in French, I didn’t understand what she was talking about, and we ended up talking in signs, I point to something and she gets it to me. As for the things I couldn’t find by myself, I had to forget about them till I either learn them in their dialect or in French…which aren’t that much different by the way. For instance, I got cold and went to the doctor one day, a Tunisian doctor, I explained to him that I’m not Tunisian and started explaining what was wrong with me, I used Fos’ha, no use, I tried my own dialect, it got even worse, I used English, no one listening, I tried to explain using some words of their dialect, and all I got was a mixed face looking at me as if I was kind of a retarded or something. Sign language was my only savior. And after pointing at my throat, nose and head, he was like: AAAAAAAh, you’re suffering from what we in TUNISIAN call BRONCHITE!!
I thought bronchite sounded a little bit FRENCH!! And it turns out to be a French word but is one of the French words that are now used in the Tunisian dialect, so it’s Tunisian as well!!
After a while when I understood 85% of their dialect and while I was having a discovery walk in the neighborhood I saw some words written on billboards, on the busses, metro stations and almost everywhere, I knew that was Arabic, but it was neither Fos’ha nor dialect, and only then I realized that Tunisians have their own Arabic Fos’ha that they use in advertising, radio, tv, and in official ceremonies!!! That was the FIRST time EVER I hear those words, loool, I mean in the Middle East and the Gulf Areas as well as Egypt they all use the same Fos’ha, but in Tunisia they use something totally different. The thing is, Arabic language is a very rich one, you could find more than 3 words for one meaning, and Tunisians chose the “least used, or the never used” words and built their own Fos’ha that is so similar to the Fos’ha of some other countries like Libya, Morocco and Algeria. But talking of the dialects, the Tunisian and Libyan dialects are easier and slower than those of Morocco and Algeria, who depend on a mixture of 97% French and 2% Arabic mixed with barbarian, I assume 😛
Anyway, after a whole year, I can say that I understand the Tunisian dialect and their own Fos’ha 99.5% and can speak them both fluently 😉
Another lovely thing I experienced here is the antique shops, the ones selling in those shops are unbelievable. I was visiting those shops and I couldn’t but be shocked of how each and every one working there is ready to speak at least 3 languages fluently!! So you find someone asking a German group: “Komm herein, bitte, wir haben neue Sachen da drinnen… (please come in we have new stuff inside)”, and then two American tourists walk by his shop, so he tunes to English: “hi, welcome, come and take a look over here…” and then he suddenly speaks Italian and French…etc.
Not only in such shops, but even in tourists’ areas and in restaurants, it’s amazing and I like it 🙂
Tunisia is a beautiful country with all languages available to communicate with tourists, and someone with 3 languages is supposed to find a job so easily… that does not apply to me though!

Category: Arab Societies, Just Personal, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT