What's happening?
Thursday, November 10, 2005
We came back from Baghdad as soon as the Eid ended, leaving mom who will come this week behind so she could spend more time with her parents.
I had fun in Baghdad, I just can't help not having fun there.. Everyone's nice, everyone's cool and everything can be handled.
I spent the way to/from Baghdad asleep/trying to sleep, but did have the chance to see the big dump at the entrance of Baghdad, and the newly formed lakes in the street because of water leakage. I expected that, as I saw it last year, and since nothing's changing to the better in Iraq, I didn't expect that to be fixed. I had a difficulty keeping my eyes opened for the rest of the road to my grandparent's house, but I however managed to take a look at this city, a city that's very dear to my heart.
As we entered the street in which my grandparent's house is, we could see grandma waiting for us. We left the car and came down, I gave her few kisses and then hurried to grandpa, who was walking by the help of my aunt.
Gradnpa had been sick for sometime now.. I was expecting the worse, but he wasn't that bad. He was too pessimistic though. I bet living in a country like this got him too tired. He said something in his recently-usual depression that stuck in my head:
We spent two days of Ramadhan in Baghdad, Eid was announced (As confirmed by the moon) to be on Thursday. Sunnis and Shiites (Followers of Al-Sadr) celebrated Eid on Friday as the rest of the Islamic world did, however, Shiites who are followers of Sistani started their Eid on Thursday for some unknown usually-followed reason! Consequently, we didn't go to school when our Eid ended, as directed on TV.
Eid passed so quickly, I saw most of our relatives in Baghdad since they all came to congratulate us for Eid. I also got to raise a good amount of money from what I got of 3edya (An amount of money given by adults to children and teenagers in Eid to spend on stuff).
We then came back to Mosul, which is way colder than Baghdad, winter has started very suddenly here. Now I wear wool in the morning, some even started wearing leather jackets.
At school, the minister of educationdecided that mobiles should be prohibited in schools, once and for all, no matter what! We can not bring our mobiles and give them to the principle now, we will have to find another illegal way to do it (The Iraqi way of dealing with problems).
Today, and at our request, the counselor of the school arranged a picnic for the sixth grade students in the school's garden. We wore colored clothes and came to school prepared to take an exam before the picnic, we took the exam and went out to the beautifully arranged garden. We brought some chairs and my friends managed to get us one of the four umbrellas over our table.
As every other day this year, it was fun.. I, and my three friends had the best times chatting, playing cards and eating. Time passed by really fast like all the good times. We took lots of photos considering that this should be our last year at school, inshallah.
We then took our chairs back to the school's hall, I and a friend arranged a big amount of chairs over each other but got really tired and left the rest for the other schoolmates. I'm usually looked at as a geek when I do a voluntary work, as I was looked at when I gathered the trash off the garden today, but Amr Khalid's affecting girls positively, and this urged a friend to come help me, then the other friends came along but I was exhausted by that time..
I am recovering from the flu I caught last day at Baghdad, the cold weather in Mosul didn't help me much though.. We went to visit my uncle the day before yesterday, and he had a bad flu too. He's having ache eveywhere in his body, dad checked him and gave him advice.
We're managing to cook for ourselves without mom these days. Yesterday, dad made a really delicious dinner from a recipe he overheard my aunt mentioning. It was the most delicious fish meal I've ever had.. Today, our neighbor sent some delicious food for lunch.
For those who are not bloggers, you might have not noticed that there's a new feature in Blogger, we can now moderate comments. I'm willing to try this this weekend. Will enable and moderate the comments and see what happens.
Any comment that I feel will make a problem in the comments' section will not be allowed to be published.
I had fun in Baghdad, I just can't help not having fun there.. Everyone's nice, everyone's cool and everything can be handled.
I spent the way to/from Baghdad asleep/trying to sleep, but did have the chance to see the big dump at the entrance of Baghdad, and the newly formed lakes in the street because of water leakage. I expected that, as I saw it last year, and since nothing's changing to the better in Iraq, I didn't expect that to be fixed. I had a difficulty keeping my eyes opened for the rest of the road to my grandparent's house, but I however managed to take a look at this city, a city that's very dear to my heart.
As we entered the street in which my grandparent's house is, we could see grandma waiting for us. We left the car and came down, I gave her few kisses and then hurried to grandpa, who was walking by the help of my aunt.
Gradnpa had been sick for sometime now.. I was expecting the worse, but he wasn't that bad. He was too pessimistic though. I bet living in a country like this got him too tired. He said something in his recently-usual depression that stuck in my head:
"I was this and that and everyone knew who I am.. Now I'm just.. I'm just a Sunni!!".Grandpa's right, everyone is just a Sunni/Shiite/Kurd now, sadly, and "Iraqi" is barely an identity.
We spent two days of Ramadhan in Baghdad, Eid was announced (As confirmed by the moon) to be on Thursday. Sunnis and Shiites (Followers of Al-Sadr) celebrated Eid on Friday as the rest of the Islamic world did, however, Shiites who are followers of Sistani started their Eid on Thursday for some unknown usually-followed reason! Consequently, we didn't go to school when our Eid ended, as directed on TV.
Eid passed so quickly, I saw most of our relatives in Baghdad since they all came to congratulate us for Eid. I also got to raise a good amount of money from what I got of 3edya (An amount of money given by adults to children and teenagers in Eid to spend on stuff).
We then came back to Mosul, which is way colder than Baghdad, winter has started very suddenly here. Now I wear wool in the morning, some even started wearing leather jackets.
At school, the minister of educationdecided that mobiles should be prohibited in schools, once and for all, no matter what! We can not bring our mobiles and give them to the principle now, we will have to find another illegal way to do it (The Iraqi way of dealing with problems).
Today, and at our request, the counselor of the school arranged a picnic for the sixth grade students in the school's garden. We wore colored clothes and came to school prepared to take an exam before the picnic, we took the exam and went out to the beautifully arranged garden. We brought some chairs and my friends managed to get us one of the four umbrellas over our table.
As every other day this year, it was fun.. I, and my three friends had the best times chatting, playing cards and eating. Time passed by really fast like all the good times. We took lots of photos considering that this should be our last year at school, inshallah.
We then took our chairs back to the school's hall, I and a friend arranged a big amount of chairs over each other but got really tired and left the rest for the other schoolmates. I'm usually looked at as a geek when I do a voluntary work, as I was looked at when I gathered the trash off the garden today, but Amr Khalid's affecting girls positively, and this urged a friend to come help me, then the other friends came along but I was exhausted by that time..
I am recovering from the flu I caught last day at Baghdad, the cold weather in Mosul didn't help me much though.. We went to visit my uncle the day before yesterday, and he had a bad flu too. He's having ache eveywhere in his body, dad checked him and gave him advice.
We're managing to cook for ourselves without mom these days. Yesterday, dad made a really delicious dinner from a recipe he overheard my aunt mentioning. It was the most delicious fish meal I've ever had.. Today, our neighbor sent some delicious food for lunch.
For those who are not bloggers, you might have not noticed that there's a new feature in Blogger, we can now moderate comments. I'm willing to try this this weekend. Will enable and moderate the comments and see what happens.
Any comment that I feel will make a problem in the comments' section will not be allowed to be published.
posted by Najma at 4:58 PM, | 
38 Comments:
to Libby... thanks for the comment... I thought some people may not get the joke I used, so I removed it from the post.. wouldn't want any more "foot in mouth" trophies to be handed out, would we?? :D
Hi,
My fiancé is in Mosul, an American Trooper.Sp, I would love to know more about the city, its people. Would like to know how safe it's for American peacemakers etc.
You could also write to me at bridges_4_ever@yahoo.com
Regards
My fiancé is in Mosul, an American Trooper.Sp, I would love to know more about the city, its people. Would like to know how safe it's for American peacemakers etc.
You could also write to me at bridges_4_ever@yahoo.com
Regards
Woah! Sis, how can you fall asleep in a car? Thats great man, coz I just recently got back from a journey and I was on the coach at night for like 7 hours, and I couldnt sleep at all.
I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in Baghdad, and happy that you got back safe, Wa lillaahil Hamd.
Sad to hear about your grandpa. May Allah grant him a speedy recovery.
Yay sis you got Eid money? Thats way cool. It reminds me of when I was a kid, I'd be soo excited about Eid money. Lol. I still get Eid money, even though I'm now in my late teens.
About the cool weather, Its mad cold here where I live too. Momma's always screaming at me to make sure I dress up in gloves and socks and a thick coat before going out.
ABout the Mobile Phone thing, Lol. You rebel kid, Joke. I remember I was like that in school too. I'd love sneaking things in which were not allowed. Lol, they bring up a new rule and we find a way. What do you say?
Lol @ Being a geek. I dont think its geekish at all. Infact its a good thing to volunteer for doing things, as long as other people dont start taking advantage.
Aww you gotta flue? Get well soon, InshaAllah.
So you're coping well without your mum? And your dad cooked a dinner? Thats way cool man. You guys are lucky. I remember when my mom was away, I dindt cook jack all. Lol, we lived off of packed and frozen foods. Lol.
Woah! That was a long comment. Anyways Ta for enabling the comments thing again.
Take care,
Fi Amaanillah
Yas
P.S, Naj its no fair, I didnt get to read the 'Fiance' joke.
I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in Baghdad, and happy that you got back safe, Wa lillaahil Hamd.
Sad to hear about your grandpa. May Allah grant him a speedy recovery.
Yay sis you got Eid money? Thats way cool. It reminds me of when I was a kid, I'd be soo excited about Eid money. Lol. I still get Eid money, even though I'm now in my late teens.
About the cool weather, Its mad cold here where I live too. Momma's always screaming at me to make sure I dress up in gloves and socks and a thick coat before going out.
ABout the Mobile Phone thing, Lol. You rebel kid, Joke. I remember I was like that in school too. I'd love sneaking things in which were not allowed. Lol, they bring up a new rule and we find a way. What do you say?
Lol @ Being a geek. I dont think its geekish at all. Infact its a good thing to volunteer for doing things, as long as other people dont start taking advantage.
Aww you gotta flue? Get well soon, InshaAllah.
So you're coping well without your mum? And your dad cooked a dinner? Thats way cool man. You guys are lucky. I remember when my mom was away, I dindt cook jack all. Lol, we lived off of packed and frozen foods. Lol.
Woah! That was a long comment. Anyways Ta for enabling the comments thing again.
Take care,
Fi Amaanillah
Yas
P.S, Naj its no fair, I didnt get to read the 'Fiance' joke.
Hmmm..
Well Libby shoud be thankful her comment was not deleted. UNLIKE ME. I guess this is the bad side of being a relative.. Heehee.. No I'm kidding don't get mad Najma. Anyway. I think you will be very bust moderating comments from now on..
Well Libby shoud be thankful her comment was not deleted. UNLIKE ME. I guess this is the bad side of being a relative.. Heehee.. No I'm kidding don't get mad Najma. Anyway. I think you will be very bust moderating comments from now on..
Hi,
for first time, I am reading your blogg, and I found it very interesting.I am in Iraq third year in row,spend a lot of time in Mosul, and would like to know how it looks like, I mean life in Mosul, from perspective of normal citizen.
stay safe
Gabriel
for first time, I am reading your blogg, and I found it very interesting.I am in Iraq third year in row,spend a lot of time in Mosul, and would like to know how it looks like, I mean life in Mosul, from perspective of normal citizen.
stay safe
Gabriel
Sounds like you and your family had a very nice visit. Sorry to hear you have the flu. I've been trying to get a flu shot with no luck.
hi, im a girl living in America age 16, but proud to say i have dual citizenship to other countries (ha, basically i dont like America or thinking of myself as American). I was wondering if you were about the same age as me. I like to hear your views on how it is to live in Iraq now compared to when Sadam was in power. Its hard to decide what's better, a government that does bad and doesnt make excuses, or a government that seems to try to do good but fails absolutely miserably? America is so deep in this, i wish they would get out, but im not sure how they would do it for the best and stability of Iraq. The puppet government there now would likely fall apart, and then who knows? if you feel my views are somewhat ridiculous then please reinform me, or ignore them, i try to get the real information about what is going on in Iraq from non-american newspapers and iraqi blogs. thank you -R-
Hi Najma, Thanks for turning comments back on. I hope you have time to filter them all.
When your mom gets home, or if your dad would do it, at some point could you guys post some of your favorite recipes for special occasions -- and also for everyday?
I collect recipes, but I also have this "thing" about cooking for other people. I think one of the most special ways to show someone you care about them is to feed them!
When your mom gets home, or if your dad would do it, at some point could you guys post some of your favorite recipes for special occasions -- and also for everyday?
I collect recipes, but I also have this "thing" about cooking for other people. I think one of the most special ways to show someone you care about them is to feed them!
Hello Najma,
Thanks for allowing comments. I am glad that you had fun in Baghdad. :) I know that this will seem to be a dumb question, but what exactly is Eid? I know that it marks the end of Ramaddan, but that is all that I know. To be honest, I do not have a very good understanding of Ramadhan, either. Sorry for my ignorance.
Your descriptions painted vivid pictures in my mind. I can imagine your happy grandma waiting to see you. :) I have only one grandparent still living. I would like to see her soon, but I must travel more than 1000 miles to visit her! I miss my other grandparents. So, I am happy for you that you have seen yours. :)
It is getting very cold where I live, too. My city is Indianapolis. Tonight the temperature will fall below freezing for the first time.
I hope that you will recover quickly from the flu!
Please say hello to Hnk for me. I emailed her that I answered her questions (the ones you gave her) in my new blog post. I hope she will visit. You are welcome to visit, too. :)
Thanks for allowing comments. I am glad that you had fun in Baghdad. :) I know that this will seem to be a dumb question, but what exactly is Eid? I know that it marks the end of Ramaddan, but that is all that I know. To be honest, I do not have a very good understanding of Ramadhan, either. Sorry for my ignorance.
Your descriptions painted vivid pictures in my mind. I can imagine your happy grandma waiting to see you. :) I have only one grandparent still living. I would like to see her soon, but I must travel more than 1000 miles to visit her! I miss my other grandparents. So, I am happy for you that you have seen yours. :)
It is getting very cold where I live, too. My city is Indianapolis. Tonight the temperature will fall below freezing for the first time.
I hope that you will recover quickly from the flu!
Please say hello to Hnk for me. I emailed her that I answered her questions (the ones you gave her) in my new blog post. I hope she will visit. You are welcome to visit, too. :)
tp Anon #1
The city, its people, life in it, and more are the structure of this blog.. Look in the archives, and hopefully, you'll find what you're looking for.
to Yas
6 Lols.. Wait, let me count again.. Yes, they are 6.. Man, you laugh too much ;) lol
Too many question marks, but no question!! Yes, I did get Eid money, but am not gonna tell you how much! ;)
A comment longer than your e-mails, but as fun to read as they were..
Too bad you missed the joke!! Not telling it again though, wouldn't want anyone to misunderstand.
to Hassan
Easy to moderate so far, only 2 deleted comments, a friend's and a relative's :D
to Gabriel
About peacemakers, they're as safe as Iraqis collaborating with Americans, I think I can say it's a 50:50 chance to get out alive, at least they have someone to protect them, unlike Iraqis!!
to Anon #3
I'm 17, going to be 18 in five months..
Both are bad, it is uneasy to choose the worst of the two bad-s!! But it was way safer when Saddam was in power.
You too look in the archive.. I've written about that multiple times. I wish the Blogger search was better, I would've looked myself.
to Ksentija
It's a trial for the weekend, I don't think I can keep up with it while I have to study. I might let Hassan filter with me though..
Recipes? Hard for someone who doesn't know how to cook :) Will try to one day.
to David
Search in Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com) and you'll surely find all you want about Eid and Ramadan.
I delivered our Hello to HNK, she read your post yesterday after I read it and told her.. I usually hunt for blogs linking to me, and yesterday I found your post.
I'm taking the Word Verification off, it'll just moderate it.
The city, its people, life in it, and more are the structure of this blog.. Look in the archives, and hopefully, you'll find what you're looking for.
to Yas
6 Lols.. Wait, let me count again.. Yes, they are 6.. Man, you laugh too much ;) lol
Too many question marks, but no question!! Yes, I did get Eid money, but am not gonna tell you how much! ;)
A comment longer than your e-mails, but as fun to read as they were..
Too bad you missed the joke!! Not telling it again though, wouldn't want anyone to misunderstand.
to Hassan
Easy to moderate so far, only 2 deleted comments, a friend's and a relative's :D
to Gabriel
About peacemakers, they're as safe as Iraqis collaborating with Americans, I think I can say it's a 50:50 chance to get out alive, at least they have someone to protect them, unlike Iraqis!!
to Anon #3
I'm 17, going to be 18 in five months..
Both are bad, it is uneasy to choose the worst of the two bad-s!! But it was way safer when Saddam was in power.
You too look in the archive.. I've written about that multiple times. I wish the Blogger search was better, I would've looked myself.
to Ksentija
It's a trial for the weekend, I don't think I can keep up with it while I have to study. I might let Hassan filter with me though..
Recipes? Hard for someone who doesn't know how to cook :) Will try to one day.
to David
Search in Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com) and you'll surely find all you want about Eid and Ramadan.
I delivered our Hello to HNK, she read your post yesterday after I read it and told her.. I usually hunt for blogs linking to me, and yesterday I found your post.
I'm taking the Word Verification off, it'll just moderate it.
Salaam Najma
Glad to be able to leave a comment on your blog again. Eid Mubarak again.
Could the reason to banning mobiles at school be security related?
Anyway, stay safe.
Glad to be able to leave a comment on your blog again. Eid Mubarak again.
Could the reason to banning mobiles at school be security related?
Anyway, stay safe.
Lol @ 6 Lols. Its just become a habit where I cant do without the word Lol, in any sentence or Pragraph. Lol, I'll try avoid using it from now on, InshaAllah.
Question marks? Dont Ya get it? Its like not a question but you're supposed to insert a question mark there.
You cheeky thing, you not telling me how much Eid money you got coz you know Ima gonna ask ya to share with me. Lol, only joking.
Take Care,
Fi Amanillah
Yas
Question marks? Dont Ya get it? Its like not a question but you're supposed to insert a question mark there.
You cheeky thing, you not telling me how much Eid money you got coz you know Ima gonna ask ya to share with me. Lol, only joking.
Take Care,
Fi Amanillah
Yas
Hi Najma
Eid mubarak and I hope you are feeling better after the flu. I also hope your new comments system works!
About searching your blog: you can get a "searchlet" from Technorati to put on your blog. (You might have to look for the code in Technorati's developers' section) It's much better than the Blogger search and will find entries from old archived posts. There is one on my blog's sidebar if you want to test it out.
I'm also sorry I missed the fiance joke after the fun about your dad's second wife. ;-) Oh well, I suppose you can't give out foot in mouth awards every day...
red
Eid mubarak and I hope you are feeling better after the flu. I also hope your new comments system works!
About searching your blog: you can get a "searchlet" from Technorati to put on your blog. (You might have to look for the code in Technorati's developers' section) It's much better than the Blogger search and will find entries from old archived posts. There is one on my blog's sidebar if you want to test it out.
I'm also sorry I missed the fiance joke after the fun about your dad's second wife. ;-) Oh well, I suppose you can't give out foot in mouth awards every day...
red
to Faisal
I don't know.. It might be because some students use it to cheat, though I haven't noticed that in our school. But it is really necessary, especially in a war-zone, where at anytime, you can get stuck somewhere, or get injured.
to Yas
It's no problem, I just HAD to count 'em.. Lol as much as you want.
to Redone
Great advice.. searched the source code of your blog, did some changes and got me a search box, a decent search box.
I don't know.. It might be because some students use it to cheat, though I haven't noticed that in our school. But it is really necessary, especially in a war-zone, where at anytime, you can get stuck somewhere, or get injured.
to Yas
It's no problem, I just HAD to count 'em.. Lol as much as you want.
to Redone
Great advice.. searched the source code of your blog, did some changes and got me a search box, a decent search box.
Naj, why dont you put it forward to the headmaster or the person in charge of the school? Coz it is really important that you carry around your mobile phone, coz of all the bombings and shootings day and night.
Najma, I read the Wikipedia articles about Eid and Ramadan. I do understand them both much better now. Thanks. I have never really tried to fast. I am often a very hungry person. I think that I might pass out if I fasted all day! However, if I did fast, I think that I would really appreciate the availability of food. When I was a kid, I was told to eat all my food and not to waste any of it because there were other people in the world who were starving. Maybe that is why I was such a generous kid. One time, when I was six years old, I gave all my money (about $5.00) to the Red Cross!
Aunt Najma,
thank you for your reply.
I will read your blog, and as I posted earlier, I am interested in how ordinary people like you, not "peacemakers and collaborators", live in Mosul.
One correction, dont use word "war zone" when describing Mosul.
My child, you dont know what the real war is, and inshAllah I hope you never will experience one.
stay safe,
Gabriel
thank you for your reply.
I will read your blog, and as I posted earlier, I am interested in how ordinary people like you, not "peacemakers and collaborators", live in Mosul.
One correction, dont use word "war zone" when describing Mosul.
My child, you dont know what the real war is, and inshAllah I hope you never will experience one.
stay safe,
Gabriel
Come one Naj, update!
We do know you arent mega busy like I am. Lol.
We do know you arent mega busy like I am. Lol.
Hola Tia,
just wanted to let you know that the Iraqi way of solving problems is not unique to Iraq, as any Venezuelan could tell you.
just wanted to let you know that the Iraqi way of solving problems is not unique to Iraq, as any Venezuelan could tell you.
to Yas
A minister has power over the headmaster! We previosly used to bring the mobiles and leave them in her room, now we can not do that..
We'll just have to find a way.. When it's really cold, it would be easy to hide it somewhere under the clothes.
And I can not update these days, I have a Chemistry and a Physics exam tomorrow, another Physics exam the day after and a schedule full of exams for the whole week.. Will try though.
to David
We do not fast all day, or else I'd pass out too! We fast from sunrise to sunset..
Glad you got to understand this.
to Gabriel
Hehe, your reply got replaced with the other anon!! I have to be more careful now..
Oh, and yes, inshallah.. Although I doubt that I haven't!
to Mauricio
So, Venezuelans are the illegal-type too :) Interesting!
Okay now, wish me luck in the exams, and good night.
A minister has power over the headmaster! We previosly used to bring the mobiles and leave them in her room, now we can not do that..
We'll just have to find a way.. When it's really cold, it would be easy to hide it somewhere under the clothes.
And I can not update these days, I have a Chemistry and a Physics exam tomorrow, another Physics exam the day after and a schedule full of exams for the whole week.. Will try though.
to David
We do not fast all day, or else I'd pass out too! We fast from sunrise to sunset..
Glad you got to understand this.
to Gabriel
Hehe, your reply got replaced with the other anon!! I have to be more careful now..
Oh, and yes, inshallah.. Although I doubt that I haven't!
to Mauricio
So, Venezuelans are the illegal-type too :) Interesting!
Okay now, wish me luck in the exams, and good night.
A minister has power over the Headmaster? Ok, so its different in Iraq. Coolio.
WOAH! You got THAT many exams?! Good luck.
Yas
WOAH! You got THAT many exams?! Good luck.
Yas
Dear Najma, I hope you are feeling better and did not have a severe flu. You are truly aging--almost 18 and I think I have been reading you almost 2 years. take care, be safe and happy.
Unfortunately, mobile phones can be used to detonate explosive devices.
Thinking of you all, Najma.
Rachel
Thinking of you all, Najma.
Rachel
It is good to see a blog like this painting a picture of people in Iraq trying to live their lives normally despite the US invasion and occupation and the awful misery and uncertainty that goes with all that.
All we see here in the US are photos of fighting and troops and dusty streets. All the real iraqis are either in the background or described as "insurgents" or "terrorists," and kind of dehumanized.
I whish more Americans could see Iraqis as people rather than just targets for our "democratization."
All we see here in the US are photos of fighting and troops and dusty streets. All the real iraqis are either in the background or described as "insurgents" or "terrorists," and kind of dehumanized.
I whish more Americans could see Iraqis as people rather than just targets for our "democratization."
Good Luck Najma! Sleep well! Same to Hnk, too!
I am a soldier not far from where you are Aunt Najma. I just wanted to tell you that I'm deeply sorry for the way Iraq is now, I wish from the deepest part of my soul that I could fix it and myself as well as thousands of other US soldiers are trying. Please don't judge us if you don't know us, we are good people trying to help you.
Yaaaaaay! I see a comments section here!!
First, late happy Eid to you dear sis. I'm sorry for your grandpa, my grandpa is sick as well.. he is losing memory!
I'm glad to hear that you had a great time here in Baghdad.
Get well soon :)
First, late happy Eid to you dear sis. I'm sorry for your grandpa, my grandpa is sick as well.. he is losing memory!
I'm glad to hear that you had a great time here in Baghdad.
Get well soon :)
>> We can not bring our mobiles and give them to the principle now, we will have to find another illegal way to do it (The Iraqi way of dealing with problems).
Many Americans would think this is a good attitude. They would say 'the market always wins.'
Many Americans would think this is a good attitude. They would say 'the market always wins.'
Hey Najma,
I really think this no-cellphone policy is completely asinine and insensitive. From a pure safety perspective, students should be able to bring cellphones so they can call their family, coordinate rides home, etc. I can see where they should not be kept on while in class, but you should be able to carry them to your school.
A policy I've seen used in some places: let the students bring cellphones, but they have to switch them off and leave them on the teacher's desk while they're in class.
I remember before, I'd described your headmistress as a "battleaxe" for her adherence to stupid policies like this one. I guess I need to think of an even worse word to describe your minister of education. What an idiot....
I really think this no-cellphone policy is completely asinine and insensitive. From a pure safety perspective, students should be able to bring cellphones so they can call their family, coordinate rides home, etc. I can see where they should not be kept on while in class, but you should be able to carry them to your school.
A policy I've seen used in some places: let the students bring cellphones, but they have to switch them off and leave them on the teacher's desk while they're in class.
I remember before, I'd described your headmistress as a "battleaxe" for her adherence to stupid policies like this one. I guess I need to think of an even worse word to describe your minister of education. What an idiot....
As-salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatu,
A very late 'Eid Mubaarak to you! Kullu 'aam wa antum bi khair :)
I'm a (female) Canadian teenager, 14 going on 15, and very angry at all the violence in the world, especially the Muslim world...Iraq, Afghanistan, Philisteen, Chechnya, and everywhere else...may Allah strengthen us all so that we may finally rise as a strong entity and fight off the yoke of oppression, ameen!
I started reading your blog only recently, from a link...I think it was through Riverbend. Masha'Allah, I really like your blog - you talk about the war, but you also don't forget to focus on your family life and all the other little things that make up our days :)
I was just wondering, how are the masaajid in Mosul? Have they been raided by the American soldiers at any time? Do people still go for salaah? Are there Halaqas being held, to increase Islamic knowledge?
Insha'Allah update soon :)
Your sister in Islam,
Zainab
A very late 'Eid Mubaarak to you! Kullu 'aam wa antum bi khair :)
I'm a (female) Canadian teenager, 14 going on 15, and very angry at all the violence in the world, especially the Muslim world...Iraq, Afghanistan, Philisteen, Chechnya, and everywhere else...may Allah strengthen us all so that we may finally rise as a strong entity and fight off the yoke of oppression, ameen!
I started reading your blog only recently, from a link...I think it was through Riverbend. Masha'Allah, I really like your blog - you talk about the war, but you also don't forget to focus on your family life and all the other little things that make up our days :)
I was just wondering, how are the masaajid in Mosul? Have they been raided by the American soldiers at any time? Do people still go for salaah? Are there Halaqas being held, to increase Islamic knowledge?
Insha'Allah update soon :)
Your sister in Islam,
Zainab
hi najma,
i just want to wish you health and happiness. i enjoy reading your blog. it should be required reading for all americans especially those in washington. good luck with your exams.
hh
i just want to wish you health and happiness. i enjoy reading your blog. it should be required reading for all americans especially those in washington. good luck with your exams.
hh
agoool.
yalla sawwi update `6awwajteeni!
i7ziri mino ani? ;)
yalla sawwi update `6awwajteeni!
i7ziri mino ani? ;)
to Yas
I have exams on Physics, Biology, and Arabic grammar tomorrow.. :((
to Pat
Gotten over the flu now, thank God..
Hope older is better? I know some think it's not!!
to Rachel
Yes, they can.. But cars can be bombed, people can be bombed, and everyone can be a terrorist. We can't stop life for that!
to David
Thanks :)
to Marius
"All generalizations are false, inclusing this one"..
to Haneen,
Heeey... Late happy Eid to you too :) My granda is losing memory and hope.. But he's still too much loved, and he feels it.
to Mad canuck
It shouldn't be hard to find a worse, loooonger word for him, should it?
But don't.. Wouldn't want to curse a minister here, God knows what good he's done.. Even the headmaster, I'm beginning to feel more sorry for her than angry. She's been ordered, what to do about that? Though other headmasters did tell their students to ignore the minister for safety reasons..
BTW: My headmaster and Sunshine's are not the same, though they have the same name.. Twe headmasters for one school? Long story!
to Zainab bint Younus
Wa alaykom al-Salam and a very late Eid Mubarak to you too..
Riverbend, thanked, did link me, and warned me for the kind of e-mails I might get from her readers.. But so far, all who come from her is so kind.
We have many masajid in Mosul.. The house of Izzat Al-Doory has been turned to a mosque too by the people of its neighborhood, it was not raided for that. I rememebr my uncle telling me that a Muslim American soldier came to it and offered to restore some of the missing stuff.
I don't recall any Masjid being raided though.. But my memory fails me all the time.
Halaqas were being held before the war, I don't know about now, since mom stopped going for security reasons.
TV Islamic programs are largely watched here though.
Will update on the weekend, inshallah.
to Last anon,
Didn't know you...
Ummmm....
Better keep it a secret, bro ;) Ma ra7 aQool :D
I have exams on Physics, Biology, and Arabic grammar tomorrow.. :((
to Pat
Gotten over the flu now, thank God..
Hope older is better? I know some think it's not!!
to Rachel
Yes, they can.. But cars can be bombed, people can be bombed, and everyone can be a terrorist. We can't stop life for that!
to David
Thanks :)
to Marius
"All generalizations are false, inclusing this one"..
to Haneen,
Heeey... Late happy Eid to you too :) My granda is losing memory and hope.. But he's still too much loved, and he feels it.
to Mad canuck
It shouldn't be hard to find a worse, loooonger word for him, should it?
But don't.. Wouldn't want to curse a minister here, God knows what good he's done.. Even the headmaster, I'm beginning to feel more sorry for her than angry. She's been ordered, what to do about that? Though other headmasters did tell their students to ignore the minister for safety reasons..
BTW: My headmaster and Sunshine's are not the same, though they have the same name.. Twe headmasters for one school? Long story!
to Zainab bint Younus
Wa alaykom al-Salam and a very late Eid Mubarak to you too..
Riverbend, thanked, did link me, and warned me for the kind of e-mails I might get from her readers.. But so far, all who come from her is so kind.
We have many masajid in Mosul.. The house of Izzat Al-Doory has been turned to a mosque too by the people of its neighborhood, it was not raided for that. I rememebr my uncle telling me that a Muslim American soldier came to it and offered to restore some of the missing stuff.
I don't recall any Masjid being raided though.. But my memory fails me all the time.
Halaqas were being held before the war, I don't know about now, since mom stopped going for security reasons.
TV Islamic programs are largely watched here though.
Will update on the weekend, inshallah.
to Last anon,
Didn't know you...
Ummmm....
Better keep it a secret, bro ;) Ma ra7 aQool :D
I like your reference to Blaise Pascal :)
Najma, glad to see a comments section again! I hope you had a happy Eid and that you give HNK (who should blog more!), your parents, and little Aya and her parents all my best wishes. I hope all of the Mosul family stays safe (as well as your relatives in Baghdad).
About the mobiles - the policies in the schools I've attended in New York (both primary and university) is that professors/teachers will allow to use the phone as long as you turn it off during class hours. We don't even have to hand it in and we (unlike you) are in no danger! The policy makes no sense - how are kids supposed to reach their parents if an emergency occurs (and vice versa) if they have no phones? Thats the kind of law I doubt most people will pay attention.
Take care of yourself.
About the mobiles - the policies in the schools I've attended in New York (both primary and university) is that professors/teachers will allow to use the phone as long as you turn it off during class hours. We don't even have to hand it in and we (unlike you) are in no danger! The policy makes no sense - how are kids supposed to reach their parents if an emergency occurs (and vice versa) if they have no phones? Thats the kind of law I doubt most people will pay attention.
Take care of yourself.
Glad to see you have comments allowed again! I hope it works out better than it did before. Thanks for the information on the new moderation feature, I will have to investigate that!
anonymous 'ow yas',
laish itnaqniq beeha...khataya il bnaya treed tidros..lol
give her time to balance her blogging and studying life!
Salam.
laish itnaqniq beeha...khataya il bnaya treed tidros..lol
give her time to balance her blogging and studying life!
Salam.
Sounds like to had a great time in Baghdad.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you to meet my fiance"
OMG!! When did this happen? How did you meet? etc. etc. lol.......just kidding.
Libby