Being the Pencil

Ever since I read this Story of the Pencil by Paulo Coelho years ago, I couldn't forget it. I was so impressed by the pencil's fifth quality: "it always leaves a mark".

I, too, want to leave a mark. Not any mark, but a great one. I want people I know v say, after I die, "She was my friend, she left a mark in my life".

Lots of people pass by our lives and we never get to notice them. This doesn't mean that these people are so ordinary or that there's nothing especial about them; it just means that, for us, there's nothing especial about them. And that's what makes us remember colleagues and teachers from our primary schools while we forget about colleagues and professors from college. While the first affected our lives by a way or another, the second meant absolutely nothing to us. They may have changed the lives of other people or to the whole world the were great people, but simply to us they didn't mean anything.

Also I don't want to be any pencil, I want to be a coloring one. Not just because I hate these gray lead pencils ever since I was in kindergarten, but also because they are so ordinary and gloomy. Instead, I would rather be one of these cool coloring pencils. I won't choose a certain color, I just want it to be a bright, warm and cheerful one.

I want to make people round my happy, successful, and secure. Not only my family and friends, but also those people I see everyday, people I know very well and people I hardly know. Many people say that they want to change the world, but I only want to change my world and people in it.

I do believe that to leave a great memorable mark, I don't have to go preach or give long speeches about change and success. The mark is created by those very ordinary everyday acts: a simple smile, a warm hug,  a friendly advice, etc. And years ago, Manhattan Gandhi said it best, "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Panic Attack: How to Deal with Exams

Definition of ‘Exams’ Period’:

• No TV
• No  talking in the phone for hours
• No play station, wee or xbox
• No time for daydreams
• No time for friends
• No time for family
• No time for sleeping
• And finally…No time for STUDYING!!!!

Welcome to the Panic Attack!

Panicking before exams is usually due to the fear of failing to adequately prepare for the exam or the fear of failure in general. Also having negative thoughts, like “I can’t do it” or “I’m useless”, leads to the inability to do the required work.
Here are some tips that will help avoiding exams anxiety:

• Try to plan your work in order to have extra time to finish studying and revise before exams. Establish a pattern of revision that gives you time to relax, especially last thing at night.
• Prioritize your work ( The most important first, then the less important).
• Avoid procrastination. Do what you have to do the same day you have to do it.
• Put yourself into a positive frame of mind by imagining how you would like things to go. Imagine yourself turning up for the exam feeling confident and relaxed. This can replace negative thoughts with more positive ones.
• Do not work till the last minute; last minute revision may leave you with an anxious feeling.
• Do not allow negative thoughts to stop you. Have high self-confidence and believe that you can do whatever you wanna do no matter what the circumstances are.
• In the exam, decide on the order in which you'll answer the questions. It is usually best to begin with the one you feel most confident about. Think about how you will plan your time, and stick to your plan.

A Message to the Universe (1): Uncertainty

Dear Universe,

I’m in an endless journey towards maturity. I do lots of foolish things. I see things from my own perspective, which is very limited, and act according to it. I make mistakes no one makes but me. Sometimes I act like a three-year-old girl, thinking that I’m the wisest ever.

Dear Universe, I hate my stupidity. I hate my limited perspective and my childish mind. I’m not even sure that, when I grow older, I’ll grow any wiser.

Dear Universe, I’m not talented. I have no special abilities; I cannot draw, write, sing, compose, dance, create, understand others’ feelings or even express myself. I also don’t have any super natural powers; I can’t fly, read people’s mind, move things without touching them, or control minds. I’m just like any other human with nothing distinguishable.

Dear Universe, I just wish that someday, with my limited mind and abilities, I would do something of significance.

Yours Sincerely,

Alaa Essam El-Feqi

Being Bilingual in an Arab Nation

Being in the third year (the year before last) in college, I started worrying about my career after I finish and all these stuff. So, I started asking some of my graduate friends about the most required skills I should have and write in my CV. To my surprise, they all agreed upon two things: second language and computer skills.

As for the computer, I sure agree about that, we are in the age of technology after all, everyday appears a new gadget! But what surprised me is the second language thing.

I live in Egypt, which is -supposedly- an Arab country. My mother tongue is Arabic, my culture is that of an Arab nation, why then should I have a second language in order to find a proper job?!

When I thought about it, I found that it's not only about finding a proper job; it's become a style of life! I have lots of friends who speak English most of the time, thinking that by doing this, they will appear more educated or something. I also know some people who can't express themselves in Arabic, even though they were born in Egypt and raised here. And the strange thing is that they don't feel ashamed of themselves or even think that there is anything wrong with them.

Could globalization be an answer for this strange phenomenon? Then why don't people in America and England speak Arabic? Or does this globalization process works only one way?! Or maybe it's the effect of the English colonization, but I think that people use a second language nowadays more than they used to do during the colonization times.

Well, I think it's just a natural result for the European and American ideological invasion which the Arabs follow blindly.

I know some people may think that it's highly ironic to write about such a topic using another language other than the language I'm trying to restore in our Arab society; but the truth is, I, myself, am a victim of the education system in my country. I was in a language school and when I finished it I joined a department in college in which everything I study is in English. Yet, that doesn't mean that I use words like "Hey dude!" and "cool" in my everyday life conversations; and I also don't my ignore my own language favoring the English one; on the contrary, I do enjoy reading Arabic books and articles and try to develop my written Arabic.

إعتذار

دايماً بعتبر نفسي شخصية غريبة، ساعات بتعلم حاجات من ناس حواليا ومش شرط يكونو قريبين منّي، بالعكس ممكن يكون حد متكلمتش معاه غير مرتين بس أتعلمت منه حاجه متعلمتهاش من ناس أعرفهم بقالي سنين، وده مبيدلش بإي حال من الأحوال إن مش الحد ده أحسن من الناس دي. ممكن حد يقول كلمة قدامي أو يعمل تصرف معين يغير في شخصيتي من غير حتي ميكون واخد باله..

من كام يوم كنت بتكلم مع بنت قلتلي كلمة علقت معايا أوي، "لو متعرفينيش يبقي متحكميش عليّه" ( أو حاجه زي كده D: )، ورغم إني ممكن أكون سمعت الكلمة دي أو كلام زيها قبل كده كتير، بس ربنا أراض إن المره دي بالذات هي اللي الكلام يعلق فيها معايا.

لما روحت فضلت أفكر في الناس اللي حكمت عليهم من غير معرفهم بجد، أو الناس اللي علاقتي بيهم علاقة "سطحية" وحكمت عليهم من أول إنطباع أخدته عنهم أو حتي من كلام الناس عنهم.  يااااه!!!!! أنا في كذا حد عملت معاه كده! أنا إزاي بعمل كده؟! طيب هو معني كده إني ظلمت الناس دي؟! أكيد ظلمتهم.. طيب هم ممكن يسمحوني؟ لو أنا كنت مكنهم كنت حسامحهم؟ مش عارفه...

أعتقد إن الحل إني أبدأ بنفسي وأبطل أحكم علي أي حد مهما كان، أولاً لأني مش في مكانة تسمحلي إني أحكم علي أي حد، ثانياً أنا بني أدمة زيّ زيهم وزي مهما ممكن يكونو بيغلطو أنا كمان بغلط، علي الأقل أنا مش متأكدة من غلطاتهم بس متأكدة من اللي أنا بعمله، مما يعني إنهم أحسن منّي.

أنا ححاول أشوف الحاجة الحلوه في الناس ومديش لنفسي الحق إني أحكم علي أي حد، وأكيد لو عملت كده حبقى مبسوطة أكتر وأنا بتعامل مع الناس كلها

أنا حبدأ بنفسي... =)

(ملحوظة: الكلام ده أنا كنت كتباه لنفسي، فأنا بأعتذر لو في أخطاء في اللغة أو لو الأسلوب ركيك :))

The "It was nice to meet you" Attitude

One of the most things I dislike in people is the "it was nice to meet you" attitude. You know when you meet someone you hardly know and after you say hey, how are you then you find him saying "it was nice meeting you" and you know that he does not really mean it. In situations like this, I find myself unable to reply so I give them a fake smile.

Also people who keeps saying "I love you" over and over again with no occasion at all are really weird! Well, it's ok to show others how you feel towards them every now and then, but it's sure not ok to keep buzzing around like the most annoying bee in the world, it's really makes the one you addressing your feelings to very uncomfortable! It's really awkward!

For me, I would rather be rude than be fake. I know that sometimes truth does hurt but it's better than just pretending that everything is perfect! I have tried so many times to be just like everyone else, to be fake, but I always failed. So, I've finally decided that I won't change my attitude to please people, let them call me rude, call me stupid, call me whatever, I'm just who I am and I am not going to change for anyone's sake.

Well, I'm not that rude after all, don't get me wrong. I don't go around telling people how ugly they look like or stuff like that; I just hate to say what is not true. So, if I told you that I miss you, then I would really mean it. And if you ask me what's my opinion about something I dislike, I'll probably tell you how to make it better.

So, for heavens sake, be yourself and stop being so fake. This will make all the difference.

Help Your Dream Grow

“Nothing happens, but first a dream” Carl Sandburg.

Many people are daydreamers; they spend many hours by themselves doing nothing but dreaming about what is going to happen to them next. Most of the time, these dreams are impossible; however, these dreams are what keep them going.

These people need to learn how to make their dreams come true. They need to learn that the world of dreams is not just a place to escape to when they are fed up with the real world. They need to learn how to help their dream grow to become like a big tree.

Looking at some of the great figures in different fields, you will find that they all started as dreamers and ended up as leaders. For instance, Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he lacked imagination and had no original ideas, but he did not give up because he had a dream and he had to protect it.

Help Your Dream Grow

When you plant a dream you need to help it to grow; you need to help it to turn into reality.

• Set GOALS

Turning your dream from just a dream into a planed goal will make you insist on achieving it. Write it on a piece of paper and keep it in front of you to constantly remind yourself of it and to keep yourself motivated. By doing this, you will always know where you are going and what you plan to achieve.

• Have a Clear VISION

Your personal vision statement guides your life and provides the direction necessary to guide the course of your days and the choices you make. It is the light shining in the darkness towards which you turn to find your way; your personal vision statement illuminates your way.

• Check Your PROGRESS

You need to check your progress every now and then and find out if you have taken any positive steps towards achieving your dream. If you find no progress, try to figure out the factors that are keeping you from accomplishing your dream and develop a plan to overcome them.

• MOTIVATE Yourself

You may need a few motivation tips along the way, but a dream you desire more than anything in the world should provide a natural motivation that keeps you going. A deep desire leads to commitment, which leads to motivation, leading you to the action needed to achieve your dreams.

• VISUALIZE Your Dream

It is extremely powerful when you can imagine and visualize in your mind the final accomplishment of your dream. You are creating that magical moment in which your dream will become reality. If you can think it, you have already made it happen. It is just a matter of doing what will lead you to that moment you are seeing in your mind today.

• FOCUS

Do not let daily distractions bring you down. Play when it is time to play and work to achieve your dreams when it is time for that. Do not be a workaholic and burn yourself out. But stay focused on that dream you are visualizing daily.

• Let go of your FEARS

Do not let fear stop you from achieving your dreams. Try to step out of your comfort zone. It will be a little uncomfortable, but in the end you will achieve what you want. Again, try to feel how great the accomplishments of your goals and dreams are, as if you are already there, and let that feeling guides you through times of fear.

• NEVER give up

If you fail to achieve your dream, remember that “When you fail you're NOT dead, you're still YOU and still alive and STRONGER, because you know what you've done wrong and now you can make the next thing right; failing is not a reason to stop dreaming, because simply if you stop dreaming, it will be like you stop having a reason for living”

!كلمني عربي

"!?Hey! eah al 25bar"

جملة عادية جداً بنشوفها كتير سواء كان في message أو لما بنكلم حد online

بس عمرك شوفت حد كاتب " هاللو، هاو آر يوو؟"!!

حتي لو شفت حد كاتب كده أكيد حتستغرب

ليه بقي العادي اننا نكتب عربي بحروف انجليزي بس مش عادي نعمل العكس؟؟

في حد ممكن يقول عشان دي اسمها فرانكو آرب لكن مفيش حاجة اسمها فرانكو إنجليش!

تاريخ الفرنكو آرب

أيه هو أصل الفرنكو؟

تاريخ الفرانكو يبدأ من أيام سقوط الأندلس (أسبانيا حاليا) في أيدي الفرنجة وأيام محاكم التفتيش الأوروبية، في الوقت ده كانت الأندلس بلد إسلامي وبعد ما احتلها الأسبان أول شيء عملوه أخذوا المصاحف وقفلوا المساجد ومنعوا الصلاة، وبعدين عملوا ما هو أخطر من كده، سابوا الناس تتكلم عربي عادي بس أجبروهم يكتبوا اللغة العربية بحروف لاتيني وده إللى احنا بنسميه "بالفرانكو اراب" دلوقتي، وللأسف فضلوا يضيقوا عليهم لحد ما طلع منهم جيل ما يعرفش هم مسلمين ولا لأ.

وظهر في القرن العشرين بعض المثقفين اللي قالوا إن الحرف اللاتيني اصلح من الحرف العربي شكلا وموضوعا وقالوا انه من الأفضل إننا نبدل الحرف اللاتيني بدلا من الحرف العربي في كتابتنا.

ومن أبرزهم الشاعر اللبناني سعيد عقل، هذا الشاعر كتب ديوان اسمه "يارا" بالفرانكو في بيروت وكتب في مقدمه الكتاب الحروف التي سيستخدمها وضاف من عنده بعض الحروف عشان يغطي قصور الحرف اللاتيني، والنتيجة ان أبجديته صار فيها أكثر من ثلاثين حرف، وبالطبع فشل الديوان ولم يلاق نجاح.

فين المشكلة؟

حتي قدوم مصطفي كمال اتاتورك سنة 1920م كانت اللغة التركية بتتكتب بالحروف العربي وبدلها اتاتورك بالحروف اللاتينية ليعلن انفصاله رسميا عن الشرق و العالم العربي واتجاهه للغرب، يعني اللغة التركية دلوقتي اصبحت "فرانكو تركي"!

زمان تركيا كانت بتتكلم و تكتب عربي

و بعدين بقت تكتب انجليزي و تتكلم عربي

و دلوقتي لا بيتكلموا عربي و لا بيكتبوا عربي...

تصوروا لو ده حصل في كل الدول العربية بعد مرور السنين ستختفي الحروف العربية ويحل محلها حروف لاتينية.

كل واحد منا عليه دور في المحافظة على لغته عشان ميبقاش في تركيا ولا أسبانيا جديدة.

The "Check Your Inbox" Phenomenon

One of the most annoying phenomenon that happens a lot these days on facebook is the "Check Your Inbox" phenomenon. Every time I go through profiles of some friends, I find the whole wall full of "Check your inbox" posts.

In my opinion, this can only have one of two reasons: either these people are discussing secret affairs but at the same time they want everyone on facebook to know that they are doing that and at the same time also they are teasing them because they don't know what these secret affairs are; or that facebook became suddenly stupid and started hiding notifications from people or erasing messages before people get to see them.

And if you asked any of these people why don't they write what they have on their friends wall instead of all this ambiguity, they will simply say "We are professional dude! We don't write about our work on facebook walls!!" As if it's professional to discuss work issues in a facebok message!! If you want to be that professional, then why don't you simply send an e-mail instead of using facebook!! And if it's really that urgent, use your mobile phone to tell them to check their e-mail.

Well, some people have their excuses of course, I'm not generalizing. But others really write to each other on the wall as soon as they send any message, and I won't be exaggerating to say that I once opened a friend's profile to find every single post on her wall consits of these three words "Check-Your-Inbox".

So please, if you want to be professional, act like one, cause I'm really sick of all these "Check your inbox" posts...

Give Them a Hand!

I was on my way to college just like any other day, when I saw this old woman setting on the pavement and asking everyone who passed by her for something but they all ignored her; so I thought she must be a beggar or something and I decided not to look at her when I pass by.

Just when I was in front of her I found her saying "Help me stand up please, may God bless you"!!!!!! I was in a state of shock! WHY DIDN'T ANYONE WANT TO HELP HER?! WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THENKING WHEN THEY JUST PASSED BY WITHOUT GIVING HER A HAND???!!!

This state of shock made me unable to say a word; I couldn't even smile while helping the old weak woman. And while I was helping her to stand up, she kept praying for me.

I wanted to hug her! I didn't know what to do so I gave her a weak smile and left. But while I was waiting for the CTA, I couldn't stop thinking why did no one help her? What has happened to us? Since when did the Egyptians become so unhelpful?? We Egyptians are known as one of the most friendly people; how come they didn't help the old woman!

OK, forget about being friendly and helpful and all these things, but what about being Muslims! Haven't they heard what our prophet (peace be upon him) said "كان الله في عون العبد مادام العبد في عون اخيه"??

Maybe they didn't remember that at the time, but what about being a human!! whatever your nationality is or your religion, just having a heart that beats is still enough to make anyone pass by an old woman help her.

Or do you think there is unknown hidden reason I dunno for not helping her???