The Alchemist

I finished reading "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho after I heard a lot about it.
The book has a lot of messages within its lines. Everyone has a dream; we have to believe in it, we have to have a faith that we will achieve what we want. We meet though our way a lot of obstacles, and we usually get frustrated, disappointed, a case of boredom prevails.
The writer here points out that every obstacle that pops up in our way is a bless in fact, yet we feel bad when it happens, but when time passes, we realize its meaning and benefit in our way.
I felt relieved for using "Allah" instead of "God" in the book, and for showing some of the Islamic rules, customs and good personalities (discard the hookah).
The only part I didn’t like was at the end of the book, where Santiago -the main character of the story- had to turn himself to the wind, and had to talk with the desert and mountain… This part was boring someway and contained unneeded details.

Here are the quotes I liked in the book:

- I don't want to change anything, because I don't know how to deal with change. I'm used to the way I am.
- Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.
- Everything in life is an omen.
- The desert is a capricious lady, and sometimes she drives men crazy.
- If good things are coming, they will be a pleasant surprise. If bad things are, and you know in advance, you will suffer greatly before they even occur.
- She is a treasure greater than anything else I have won.
- I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.
- There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.
- Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are.

I plan to read “Veronica decides to die” for him afterwards, I heard it is stronger than the alchemist.

Paulo Coelho @ El Saqeya

I attended the event of Paulo Coelho @ El Saqeya yesterday, following are my comments:

- I may be harsh in this, but I can't understand why the youth were screaming and yelling loudly for the man?
They may clap strongly yes, great and needed, but screaming as if he is a pop singer or a famous movie star, why? Or just we are "sha3b ye7eb el heesa"?

- The man's talk was reasonable; his talk was centered around the idea of "Achieving dreams", and how to go on your life trying to succeed with faith. Also he was asked about his belief about if marriage kills love, his conclusion was that "It is like your land, it may contain difficulties and problems, but you have to fight for it always", meaning that marriages yet have problems, but everything is solvable at the end.

- The organization in El Saqeya was ok, I thought it'd be more unorganized, but they did their best actually, the only thing was missing is putting additional speakers in the end of the hall, as the sound was low.

- The event took around 1:15 hour, I thought it'll be more than this, but it was cool.

- I was really proud of the lady who was interviewing Paulo, asking him the questions and translating his answers, I love it when there is a Muslim respectful lady, wearing a long veil, proves that she has a very confident, cultured, presentable personality. I see in her the symbol I wish to see in every veiled lady, breaking the known stereotyping view of the veil that is a “veil” for mind as well as hair. I was just proud of her.

- The contradiction you can see; some guys and gals were there just for fun, or being attending the event, and they were talking a lot throughout the event. On the other hand, some were writing down all the man was saying in Arabic and English, they were so enthusiastic actually.

- Bahaa Taher (An Egyptian novelist that I respect too much) attended for some minutes; his presence was a nice touch.

- Diwan book store took the advantage of the event, and made a booth near the hall to sell all Paulo's books, it was smart of them -business-, and they sold a huge amount of books.

- I chose to sit infront of the Nile and not on a chair in the hall, and it was very lovely indeed, the cool breeze on your face with the accompany makes events more special.

- I didn't read for Paulo except "The Alchemist", which I couldn't finish before attending this event unfortunately, but when I went back home, I finished it, I will send my comments about it in another blog.

Don't open a shop unless you like to smile

I did some shopping in the weekend, and I am really impressed by how the sellers everywhere (in every shop I entered) were unhelpful and silly.
No one wants to listen to you, and always ready with the word "Mafeesh".
Even when I kept my smile and talked with them friendly, the same solid face and tough replies were all I got. Their attitude was really provoking.
What I noticed that this attitude didn't differ with the difference of the seller's place or condition, that is an example:

Scene 1:
Place: Shoes shop
- A simple man, wearing very simple clothes
- Standing all the time, coming and going all the time
- Carrying things and answering all the people
- Noise, orders and calls are all what he hear
(I wanted a shoes, but it is always "Mafeesh")

Scene 2:
Place: Cars place
- A chic guy, wearing an expensive suit
- Sitting on a leather chair and a comforty desk
- A/C is working and air is cool
- Slow music is playing in the place
(I wanted to ask about some cars' prices, but "Mafeesh" was there, and the other replies were so simple w b "eqtedab")

I can understand why the seller in scene 1 has this attitude, but why does the seller of scene 2?!
Those were just examples of the shops I entered, isn't it weird that all the other sellers I dealt with had the same attitude?

w 3ala ra2ey el Chinese Proverb: Don't open a shop unless you like to smile.

تُحبطينى عندما

تُحبطينى
عندما أدعوكِ للعشاء خارج المنزل .. فتصدينى قائلة "لا داعى للمصاريف"

تُحبطينى
عندما أسألكِ عن مكان ربطة عنقى .. فتتذمرين بأنى غير منظم دائما

تُحبطينى
عندما ألفت نظركِ أنكِ لم تعدِى تهتمى بى .. فتستنكرين بأنى أستطيع الإعتناء بنفسى

تُحبطينى
عندما أكون مجهد و أطلب منكِ تحضير طعام .. فتردين أن بإمكانى أخذ ما فى الثلاجة

تُحبطينى
عندما أحقق إنجاز ما فى عملى .. فلا أجد منكِ أى تشجيع أو إهتمام

تُحبطينى
عندما أفعل أى شئ بسيط لأسعدكِ .. فتستهونين به و تُشعرينى بأنه شئ عادى

تُحبطينى
عندما أطمئنكِ بأنى سأشترى لكِ ما تبحثين عنه .. فترفضين معللة أنكِ لا تثقين فى ذوقى

تُحبطينى
عندما أجد أخيرا فرصة للعب مع ابنتنا .. فتستوقفينا بأنه حان موعد نومها

تُحبطينى
عندما أحاول أن أساعدكِ فى شئون المنزل .. فتذكرينى بالأشياء التى تسببت فى كسرها من قبل

تُحبطينى
عندما أعتذر عن تجمع عائلى لظروف عمل طارئة .. فتتهمينى أنى أُبدى عملى عليكِ و على أسرتى

تُحبطينى
عندما أخبركِ بأن هناك ما يشغلنى و أريد الحديث معكِ .. فتعتذرين بأنكِ على موعد مع أصدقائك و لا تستطيعين إلغاءه

و تُحبطينى عندما لا تستطيعين التفريق بين متى أحتاجك أن تعاملينى كطفل .. و متى أحتاجك أن تعاملينى كرجل ..

20-2-2005

تحبطنى عندما

, Following the series of تسعدنى .. عندما and تُسعِدينى عندما , here is the opposite views:

تحبطنى
عندما أحكى لك عن أحداث يومى .. فتستكمل متابعة مشاهدة المباراة فى التلفاز

تحبطنى
عندما أجهز لك نوع جديد من الطعام .. فلا تلحظ وعندما تعلم، تومئ برأسك بأنه لا يروقك

تحبطنى
عندما تطلب منك ابنتنا أن تخرج معها للتنزه .. فتعتذر لها مبررا بأنك مشغول

تحبطنى
عندما أقول لك "كل سنة و أنت طيب" فى يوم عيد زواجنا .. فتسألنى "لماذا؟"

تحبطنى
عندما أبكى و أتمنى أن تربت عليَ .. فتقول لي أنى أحتاج لأن أكون أكثر صلابة

تحبطنى
عندما أقترح عليك فكرة أو حل لمشكلة ما .. فتهزأ بأن أفكارى سطحية و غير مجدية

تحبطنى
عندما أحاول أن أخفف عنك و أنت مهموم .. فتصدنى قائلا "اتركينى وحدى الآن"

تحبطنى
عندما تجدنى متعبة و مجهدة .. فلا تكترث أن تسأل ماذا بى أو تعيرنى أى إهتمام

تُحبطنى
عندما نتقابل بعد رجوعك من إحدى أسفارك .. فلا تقول لى "إفتقدتك"

تحبطنى
عندما تجدنى مهتمة بالزهور و الطيور .. فتعلق بأنى عاطفية زيادة عن الحد

و تحبطنى عندما أحتاجك .. و أنت جانبى .. و لكنى لا أجدك .. لا أجدك ...

13/2/2005

تُسعِدينى عندما

Here is my new writing, in reply to the wife's words, here is the husband's words:

تُسعِدينى
عندما تشترين الملابس و العطور .. لتهتمى بمظهرك من أجلى و ليس من أجل من حولك

تُسعِدينى
عندما أهديكِ عُقد ياسمين بسيط .. فتطيرين به فرحاً و تُشعرينى أنه عُقد من الألماس

تُسعِدينى
عندما نمُر بضائقة مالية .. فتقتصدين فى المصاريف بدون أن أٌلمح لكِ بذلك

تُسعِدينى
عندما تنظرين فى عيناى .. فتشعرين بما يدور بخاطرى و ما أحتاج

تُسعِدينى
عندما اتأخر عن موعد الغذاء .. فتنتظرينى رغم جوعك لنأكل سويا

تُسعِدينى
عندما تسرد صديقاتك عيوب أزواجهن .. فتمتدحين صفاتى و طباعى و تُعلنين أنك فخورة بى

تُسعِدينى
عندما أتغافل عن بعض حقوقك .. فتغفرين لى أنانيَتى و نسيانى أنك كائن يحتاج لحنان دائم

تُسعِدينى
عندما أحتاج لمساحة من الحرية .. فتحترمين ذلك و لا تحاصرينى بالإستفسارات والشكوك

تُسعِدينى
عندما تتراكم علىَ الكثير من المسؤليات .. فتعيننى و توفرين لى كل ما يساعدنى على إنجازها

تُسعِدينى
عندما تدُب بيننا بعض المشاكل العادية .. فتحاولين حلَها معى و لا تلجأى لأهلك أو صديقاتك

تُسعِدينى
عندما نتناقش فى أمور حياتنا .. فتلغين كلمتا "أنا" و "أنتَ" و تستبدليهما ب "نحنُ

تُسعِدينى
عندما تطلب ابنتنا منكِ شيئاً .. فتقولين لها أنها يجب أن تستأذنى أولاً

تُسعِدينى
عندما أسألك هل أنتِ سعيدة معى .. فتبتسمين إبتسامة تُشعرنى أنا بما هو أكثر من السعادة

و تُسعِدينى عندما تدلَلينى كأم و تعشقينى كحبيبة و تحنو على كصديقة و تعتمدين على كزوجة


17/5/2005

Heliopolis Carnival - A day to remember

I attended the carnival held on Friday in el Korba, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Heliopolis. I admit that I am impressed!
Unfortunately, I joined my friends there at 8:30 pm, where I missed most of the day events, they told me it was marvelous and I made sure of this when I saw the photos later.
It was a happy night, listening to omar khairat music, with being with friends made it a special night, plus the fireworks that amaze me awi :)

General notes:
- There were some balconies that were going to explode from the teenagers filling it, they were grabbing attention by their noise actually.
- I didn't know that the music of Omar Khayrat is that kind of dancing music unless I saw what the Shabab did ... hehe, com'on people, listen peacefully, we are not in Marina!
- I wish I'd get "Ghazal Banat", but the crowd took me away, didn't get one from some time ago, I love it.
- When I saw the photos later, I thought about the amount of money spent, felt I am confused, walahi 7aram spending that much, where in other regions so near from Heliopolis, they are living in the air, in the nothing, then .. mmm.. Tab the people needs some time to feel happy, and this day made people really happy w for free! mesh 3aref...
- It was funny finding all the people around you in the same scene:
With a mobile on the ear with a hand, and with the other hand up with a flyer, and saying the same words: "I am raising up my hand with the flyer, do you see me?", it was the only way for the people to find each other, but it was effective actually :)
- It was an event to take photos, but the crowd and the night were not of a great help, If I was there at morning, I'd took a lot, yalla in the 200th Anniversary ba2ah :)
- It is a very comfortable feeling when you are walking in the middle of the street, sure that no car will pass by, all the street is yours, freedom, yahooooooooooooo
- Although the whole place was in crowd, but I didn't feel annoyed el hamdolilah.

It was just a special night and a day to remember.

3 hands under 1 handkerchief

I attended a unique Katb Ketab last week, El Ma2zon fe el nos and 3 hands under one handkerchief: a father's hand, a guy's hand and another guy's hand. fazora deh?

Two sisters (Twins), their katb ketab was held at the same minute, so their father and their bridegrooms were sitting on the same table, but of course when they were going to say the words, only two hands were available :)
It was very lovely and unique katb ketab actually, especially that it was my first time to go to "Dar Monasabat El Shorta", in Salah Salem, after I heard a lot about it. It's indeed the best place -as a hall- for katb ketab I've ever visited.
I had a weekend full of katb ketabs and engagements including one of my best friends, this is lovely awi.
yalla, 3o2bal kol el nas ba2ah :)

تسعدنى عندما

This is my new writing .. no husband on this earth does all this, but it is a trial of dreaming .. why not ..


تسعدنى
عندما تشعر أننى لست على ما يرام .. فتفاجئنى بباقة من الزهور الزرقاء التى تُبهجنى

تسعدنى
عندما يؤثر فىَ موقف ما و تنساب دموعى .. فتمسحها برقة و ترجونى أن أكف لأن بكائى يؤلمك

تسعدنى
عندما أكون مجهدة و لا أستطيع تحضير الغذاء .. فتقرر أنك المسؤل عن ذلك و علىَ أن أرتاح

تسعدنى
عندما أبدو بشعة و مرعبة و وزنى زائد .. فتهمس بأننى جميلة فى عينيك فى كل الأوقات و الأحوال

تسعدنى
عندما تسودنا حالة خصام و صمت .. فتبادر أنت بالصلح و الإعتذار بالرغم أننى المُخطئة

تسعدنى
عندما يفشل موضوع أو فكرة تخصك .. فتعمل عليها بإصرار و عزم حتى تنجح

تسعدنى
عندما تظل إبنتنا تصرخ بعصبية .. فتضمها بحنان بين ذراعيك حتى تهدأ و تنام

تسعدنى
عندما تنتابنى حالة عناد أو جنون .. فتتحملنى بهدوء و بابتسامتك التى تُخجلنى

تسعدنى
عندما تفاجئك مكالمة لموعد عمل فى يوم العطلة .. فتعتذر عنه لتقضى اليوم معنا

تسعدنى
عندما يمرض إحدى والداك .. فأرى فى عينيك اهتمام وقلق شديدين أقدرهما كثيراً

تسعدنى
عندما أسألك عن أحوال يومك .. فتحكى لى كل شئ بسيط لأنك تعرف أننى أهتم بالتفاصيل

تسعدنى
عندما تعلم ما أحُب و ما أكره .. فتفعل كل ما أحُب لتسعدنى و تتنازل عمَا أكره لتريحنى

تسعدنى
عندما أشعر أننى ضعيفة و هشة .. فتحتوينى بكل ما أحتاجه فأشعر أننى أقوى ما يكون

و تسعدنى عندما نكون دائماً معاً، حياتنا رائعة أحياناً و رتيبة أحياناً .. ولكننا نضحك معاً، نبكى معاً و نصمت معاً

3-5-2005

Cinema x Cinema

I've been thinking a lot of the effect of the English films on our lives, it's a great impact, powerful destructive one. Yes, it's positive sides, but the negative is much more indeed.

1- We are touched deeply by the romance presented in the films, every man is impressed by the beauty of the actress, impressed by her white skin, lovely eyes, slim body and silk hair, impressed by her being smart and easy-going, by her personality and independence, bla bla ..
Every woman is impressed by the actor, handsome, tall, loves her madly, makes anything anytime to grab her attention and her love .. always surprise her by sweet things etc ..

and here are the results:

* Man not married -> searching for this cute girl, a one who resembles the one he likes on the screen -> a girl who he'd live with a great love story -> can't find -> down -> frustration
* Man married -> comparing the "Creature" living with him, with that gorgeous lady he wishes he had -> internal self problems -> external problems.
* Woman not married -> waiting for that guy who'd die for her, who'd beg her to think about him, who'd wait under her window, who'd fill her life with love, compassion and a LOOT of pinky dreams -> no one -> waiting -> no marriage
* Woman married -> comparing bardo that "creature" living with her with that man in her dreams -> frustration -> depression -> silence.

2- The bad words that you can hear all around the films, listen now to any guy? You'll find all his talk is full of bad "english" words, even in his normal life, he uses them normally as if 3adi gedan!!
As if khalas, we finished the bad egyptian words, and we turn to the bad english words. that sucks! really sucks. I wish I can meet a guy who doesn't say a single bad word... but in my dreams bardo, because whenever they sit with each other, it is like an infectious habit..... w 3lieh el 3awad w meno el 3awad ...

My words may seem pessimistic, but they are realistic, from what I feel, hear and live in the real life. That's what we gain from the cinema, I can't say it shall stop, no of course, but what is the solution? I wish I can know.

Anti-Marriage Quotes

A friend sent me this after only one day from her Katb ketab!!

Is it so bad?
laaa ba2ah, keda lazem el wa7ed yegarrab bnafso 3ashan yet2ked men el kalam dah, mesh yemken esha3at? :)

These are my favourites:

I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. ~Rita Rudner

Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can't sleep with the window open. ~George Bernard Shaw

Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight. ~Phyllis Diller, Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, 1966

My wife says I never listen to her. At least I think that's what she said. ~Author Unknown

Do you know what it means to come home at night to a woman who'll give you a little love, a little affection, a little tenderness? It means you're in the wrong house, that's what it means. ~Henny Youngman

Women hope men will change after marriage but they don't; men hope women won't change but they do. ~Bettina Arndt, Private Lives, 1986

Before marriage, a man declares that he would lay down his life to serve you; after marriage, he won't even lay down his newspaper to talk to you. ~Helen Rowland

Marriage is a mistake every man should make. ~George Jessel

Marriage: A word which should be pronounced "mirage." ~Herbert Spencer

The best way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once. ~H.V. Prochnow

Any married man should forget his mistakes - no use two people remembering the same thing. ~Duane Dewel

Why does a woman work ten years to change a man's habits and then complain that he's not the man she married? ~Barbra Streisand