Thank you, I'm proud!

Just some randoms.

~ I had one pressurized week at work and imagine, there were no students yet. School officially starts on the 18th and yet I got swamped with loads of work. I was craving for a holiday immediately and I'm so glad we got a week off for Eid...it's more like a charging week before the battle. The week mainly consisted of preparations (so much of it for me) and creating posters for each class we're going to teach this year (eyes pop-out , I have 27 different classes this year, 30 hours of teaching per week). The higher ups wanted to get all this work done before we officially start and they don't want us to slack off apparently. Meh! I'm going to be teaching grades 3 through 11 this year...possibly grade 12, though I'm dreading grade 12 since they study Java...who likes Java?!!! Sadly, no more grade 2 for me. I LOVED grade 2's. They are so cute and said the sweetest things.

No but seriously, I can't wait to see my students. I do miss them! I saw 3 or 4 of them during the week and they sure made me smile.

Highlight of the week: I was saying hello to my to-be grade 9 student who was standing with her mother.

The Mother: "Who's this? Zameeltich*?"
Student: "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam! She's my computing teacher!"
The Mother: "La wallah?! But look at her she has a baby-face!"

All I was doing was giggling like an idiot and thanking her hahaha

* Zameeltich = You're classmate


~ I was daydreaming about New Zealand 2 days ago. How much I miss it. How my University life was so interesting, weird and fun. How much I miss *real* sushi...Bongo cafe! The kind and peaceful people....and here's where I remembered one disappointing incident that happened to Mama.

This is how mama told it:

Mama was at a vegetable shop buying, well you guessed it, vegetables, when she noticed one Maori man giving her an unfriendly look. She had a feeling that he was going to 'drop a bomb', either swear at her in which she'd reply "You're mama" (hahaha) or call her terrorist. It was the latter. As she approached the tomato section (Mama can't live without tomatoes...she's a tomato herself haha), where the man was standing...she prepared herself for what's to come.

Man: "Terrorist!"
Mama looks at him in a disgusted yet I'm going to reply to that way and says,
Mama: "Thank you. I'm proud!"

The section had started to get crowded and he was too shocked to say anything back. Mama got her tomatoes and left happily.

She came to tell us this story that night, we laughed our heads off but we were so sad to know about this situation which has never happened to any of us before, ever. She said she didn't know what to reply with except for that...it worked didn't it?

But seriously, no one can generalize a whole people according to the actions of one person. We still love and miss New Zealand even after remembering that.

~ Oh! And here's what I did this shot for a Photography competition on English Sabla...the theme was Ramadan.

Before

After

There might not be a great difference, but it did make it look better. I used Diablo's tutorial so thanks Diablo! That's one awesome tut.

I won the competition...woooot!


Happy Eid ya'all!

Twenty-ten: Happy New Year!

Good morning!

It's the first of the first of twenty-ten (01/01/10) ! Happy New Year to you all and may the year ahead be a blissful and eventful year full of wonderful things!

Looking back and remembering the fast days of 2009 I can only conclude that it was a good, nice year but with a few downs here and there (surely). Memories are rushing through my head right now and I don't know what and what to start of with.

+ I caught on to the perfect job for me. Most importantly it revolved around my field and what I wanted to do. Gchan became a Web designer/developer. February 2009

+ Semester A of my fourth and final year at Waikato University began. Favorite semester of my university life! March 2009

- I met R; the girl who turned my friends and I into heartless monsters. March 2009
Refer to posts [What's this?] Patience Test and From "Plan A" to "Plan B"

+ My first website became live! April 2009

- I lost a friend who turned out to be one of those friends where you're not sure if you did the right thing or not. When things end in a bad way you can get in situation where you don't know what to do or if there's actually anything that could be done. Even though, I learned that always, things happen for a reason! Around the same time another friend was acting differently around me. It was such a tiring time. May 2009

+ Semester A ended, and so did the struggle with R. It was time for a holiday and to enjoy the break. June 2009

+ Traveled with my family to Jordan to see our relatives who we haven't seen since 2003. It was the best holiday ever! June 2009

- I started in the second week of Semester B where I discovered that there are crazy things in store for me; personally and study wise. July 2009

+ My second website became live! July 2009

+ Faced the friend that was acting differently around me and got the reason to why that was happening. I got a shock but was understanding yet despite the reason things went back to normal and we even became better friends. We drifted apart but it made us realize many things. This is exactly why true friends, are definitely true and hard to find. July 2009

- Had to put my work on hold due to the hectic schedule of studies. Client was super understanding and thankfully didn't replace me. August 2009

- I became an angry person due to everything that was happening around me. Studies and people (some can be really, really stupid =_=) made me angry. Behavior and personality partially changed. October 2009

-+ University was coming to an end and at the same time a super, dear friend was drifting away due to studies and other stuff. I had doubted my self of not being a good friend and I tried a lot to protect the friendship. But a friendship takes two people to work. Despite that, my super, dear friend and I talked and got through it! We became closer than before. The outcomes, seriously, is what matters. October 2009

+ Uni ended and I had done well in all my subjects! I officially completed my degree! SCHOOL'S OUT!! HERE COMES SUMMER! November 2009

+ Began work on my third and final website. I missed designing websites, a lot! November 2009

+ Packing to move to Oman began. November 2009

+ I got my full drivers license!!! November 2009

+ My third and final website became Live! I gained another wonderful friend (my client). December 2009

+ Left New Zealand for good to a new step and life in Oman. December 2009

Okay, reading this seems like it wasn't a good year with friends for me lol. But el 7amdulellah for everything!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Is it Eid yet?

So here's what happened. I started receiving txts after ftoor saying that "The moon has been sighted, so tomorrow is Eid. Eid Mubarak everyone!", so on and so on. I was so out of this world with this news because I didn't want Eid to be on Monday, since I've got 3 hours of lectures plus a 30% assignment due on that day. So I can imagine that the day would be finished by the time I can do anything for Eid.

After the "Wohoo's" and "In your face, tomorrow's Eid" and "Eid Mubarak", I receive a txt from friends saying to go over to their house to put henna. I love henna and the two Eid's is about the only time where I get to put it. As I was getting henna-ed I was FWD-ing and receiving txt messages from friends, when I read the mother of all let downs; "Eid is not tomorrow it's on Monday". "The moon is actually not sighted, so tomorrow is the 30th of Ramadan, Sorry for the false news". And some crazy person actually sent "April fools tz nt eid 2mrw! Tz on Monday. Sory!", who got an angry reply from yours truly of "You Suck!". Pretty sad isn't it, what they did to us I mean. Like the excitement when you get the news that it's Eid has gone to waste. Now if someone told me, "EID IS TOMORROW", the reply will be "Yeah old news. Already know that since Saturday". The feeling is just gone.

Ah well. It was by accident I guess. Another day of the holy month to go so we should totally use this day wisely. I just feel sorry for the friends that I txt'd with the news, who txt'd their friends who txt'd their friend's friends and so on. Small country, so word get's around pretty quickly.

Anywho, since I'm flooded with uni (4 weeks till the semester finishes *eyes pop out*) work at the moment plus Eid is just around the corner, I feel that I won't be able to blog much until I get some of the things out of the way. So I'd like to wish you all, in advance, my wonderful readers, if you guys are still reading me -- I'm sorry for not updating much, EID MUBARAK! Kel 3am Wa Ento Be Alf 5air! May God accept our fasting and bless us and our families, Ameen. I also wish you all a wonderful Eid with many sweets and money-eh! =D

P.S. I've got a couple of things that'd I'd like to blog about, and I think I will write them down somewhere just so I don't forget them. Stay tuned.

G'Night

I'm not much of a flying person

So am back in NZ *sad* (I want to be back in Jordan with my cousins) I've had enough of airports...seriously. I'm so jet lagged at the moment since I'm sitting on a chair, which reminds me of sitting in an airplane lol *nightmare*. It was a really really rough flight from Oman to NZ to the point that I became so pale that I got called a ghost *cries remembering the flight*. It's not that it was scary and like "oh we're gonna die" kind of flight, but it was just really tiring, uncomfortable, unbelievable turbulence, bad "driving" (talking about the pilots here), bleh I don't know...it was just all messed up really. OH!! I'm never touching airplane food again...EVER!!

Despite all of this...this trip is by far the most amazing trip EVER!! El 7amdulellah it was wonderful and we were surprised by how wrong we were about Jordan lol.

*Stay tuned for posts from my diary of this trip + the pictures =D *

Dubai Airport
waiting in front of our gate .

This bag has become my traveling bag and
this is my new favorite key chain.

Our stupid plane (Emirates) at Aussie (Melbourne Airport)
Loved the sky.

Anyways I'm glad that I'm home on the ground...safe xD I'm not much of a flying person (it seems) lol. What I'm loving about NZ at the moment is the cold weather! I think we came back when the coldness hits harder. Also, the thought of seeing Sarz and having sushi for lunch at uni.

I've missed a week of uni...will be getting back to it tomorrow. Aaargh! The thought of that seems tiring lol. Taking 4 papers this semester SMST319 (Game Studies), COMP436 (Advanced Graphics and Computer Games), COMP437 (User Interfaces for Information Retrieval), COMP477 (Report of an Investigation). I'm quite excited actually cos they seem like fun papers. I read what the first project for the "Game Studies" paper and what we have to do is play a horror game (=D), analyze it, talk about it and compare horror games with horror films. It's a 2000-2500 words essay so gotta do some major research also. I have no idea which game to play but I'm thinking of Resident Evil 4. I've played it before and gave up on it cos it freaked me out =\ lol. The "Report of an Investigation" is a full semester project *freaky* where I'll be supervised by one professor (cos it's his topic). I chose "Hierarchical Menus" and it's going to be web based (perfect!) where I have to come up with ways of making menus better and user friendly. That's as much as I know anyways...so hope it's going to be good!

Anywho, this is what I've got to say so far...will start writing about my trip (I kept a diary like I promised =P) and posting more pics inshallah.

Warning: Long Post =)

It's Oh So Romantic <3

So went to Tauranga (taow-rang-ah) today...it was good fun! Though the drive back was quite hectic xD

The ride to Tauranga was nice. The country and greenery were just lovely. So nice on the eyes.

You won't believe what we passed by..."The Shire". The movie scene area where The Lord of the Rings was filmed O.O We so wanted to stop there and take a look around, plus take some photos...but we were already running late (we were to meet up with my uncle). We stopped at a place where you can see the whole of the Waikato region, taking some photos and walking around to un-numb (?) our legs.

N.B. The camera is still messed up for an unknown reason *angry/sad* But I shall find a way to get loads of the pictures I took and share them on here. So this post is just going to be a long wordy kinda post =P

Anywho, got to Tauranga, found my uncle (we were 5 people in total. Baba, Mama, Uncle, one of my bro's, and myself), sat at a place, saying our hello's and chatted for a bit. Then we decided to get a move on and head to the beach!!! <3 style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">What you can do in Tauranga:

Climb the famous Mauao, soak in the hot pools, stop for a coffee at one of the regions many cafes. Taste the best fish'n chips, go dolphin watching, take a helicopter flight - the options are endless.

But it's mainly mainly known for it's great beach. The sand is almost white-ish, the water is blue-ish/green, pure, clear and clean, and in my opinion; Tauranga is probably one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the North Island. I don't know what it is about it that I find so romantic...but I truly truly think that it's a great place for a honeymoon. You get to rent villas/houses/apartments/etc, that are just across the beach. The shops are near by, it's beauty is breath taking...you basically have everything you need....except maybe for a special someone just to be the "cherry on top" =P

It's my number 1 favorite city in NZ. If I do get to visit NZ in the future (after I return back to the ME inshallah)...Tauranga will the first place I visit!!

Back to the Trip

We found a good spot between 2 trees (shade), on a grassy area that looks over the beach/sea perfectly. We were all starving so we dug into our lunch. Now this is one of my favorite parts of this trip. Lunch!! Mama had cooked up Biryani (with smoked flavoured marinated chicken, little baked potatoes cut in cubes, salad made by yours truly, and yohgurt) this morning and Ya Ellahy (OMG!!) Was it GOOD...or....WAS IT GOOD!!! I ate so much that I was about to explode and had reached the level where I start giggling xD 7ala xD I truly truly wish that I had taken a picture of it...but due to the the hunger and just the whole thing looking so DAMN good...resisting was an obvious problem =P

After eating, I swear you just wanted to lie down from how full you've become. The breeze and weather is just too perfect for a nap. But we all ended up talking to each other. My bro went for a swim. My uncle (who's like one of my best-friends) and I played soccer. Just passing the ball to each other and some times attacking each trying to steal the soccer ball. He was such a Meany to me. Just because he "know's" how to play he was tricking and mocking me. He also kept on pushing me around xD But it was good fun and a good laugh. Then Baba joined after a while and some how I became the "Piggy in the middle" -_____- that was NO fun at all...I was starting to get tired from all the running around they made me do xD Then my bro joined us; He and I teamed up against Baba and his bro =D It was fun.

We eventually got so tired and hot, that we sat down and started drinking some soft drinks. After 15 minutes, my Uncle, bro and I went down to the beach so the 2 guys can have a swim, and I wanted to run on the muddy sand and stand in the water staring at it's beauty. The waves were so high...they looked like so much fun. I watched my uncle and bro as they tried catching some waves as I dug my feet into the sand. Wow...did I get dizzy when the tide goes back out. LOL! I spotted an Ugly Jelly-fish near by =P I so wanted to touch it but was too scared that I might get stung or something. So I just watched it as it tried to fight against the incoming waves and head out to sea. Poor thing it was truly struggling.

Eventaully I got hot, bored and sick of just standing there and thinking about the many things that are in my mind (since I was alone) so I headed back to our spot to dry up, listen to some music and take a mini nap. As I was heading back I spotted this old skinny lady (I give her late 70's in age) wearing a swim suit O.O I absolutely think that woman at that age shouldn't wear togs at all xD It was absolutely disturbing seeing her flesh...due to her being super skinny her flesh was all...Jelly like and with every step she took made the flesh on her legs move around in a freaky way =S I reached our spot, put out my feet where the sun was (the warmth of the sun on my skin is such a soothing feeling), because the bottom of my jeans were drenched. Put on my head phones and put my hat on my eyes (cowboy style =P) to cover them from the blazing sun. After an hour maybe, the guys were back, we were packing and on our way back to Hami.

The Hectic Drive Home

We took a wrong turn...but that allowed us to do a bit of exploring about in Tauranga which made me fall in love with it more! But eventually we found the road we needed and decided to head to the McLaren Falls, just outside Tauranga. Now those falls were something and I wish I could post some of the pics I took to show what I mean, but...=(
Bottom line is, it was absolutely beautiful!

We left after a few minutes of exploring, to realise that the light for the petrol is blinking...deh deh deh!! Our tank was empty. We realised this after we've already left for Hami xD So it was a bit too late for us to go back to Tauranga city. Now that I think about it...I don't remember seeing any petrol station there =S or maybe it was just me =P Mama started panicing, Baba was trying to calm her down saying that it will be fine till we get to the next city (I don't think so Baba =P), while I was just nibbling on some Salt n' Vinger chips xD talk about being calm eh! Oh oh...this HUGE as bee came into the car and was just flying around my bag...I caught one of it's wings softly (didn't want to hurt it) and let it go out side the window \m/

So FINALLY we found a tiny Petrol station just at the intersection between Tirau, Rotorua, Hamilton and AUX, so we slightly celebrated the find =P We parked our car next to one of the gas pumps (?) and to our shock and amazement, the friggin' station was closed. Wth?! So we stayed sitting in the car. Doing nothing. Just staring into space with shock and amazement, by our failure of finding an OPENED station xD. So we moved on and hoped that the gas left will last us to the next gast station found. Next gas station was a Mobile station. I tell you the celebration for this gas station was quite big! xD But guess what?!?! Surprise surprise...it was closed as well. I mean come on!!! We couldn't believe our luck!! Btw at the same time we were furthering our distance from Hamilton because we wanted to take the route to the closest town.

It's Finally Come to an End!

Third time lucky eh! We were near a town called Matamata that my uncle is very familiar with...so he lead the way to the nearest gas station. And there it was (laaaah *holy music*) a 24/7 gas station opened. Everyone got out of the car except for myself...I was too lazy, too tired to move from my comfy seat. So I just sat there while some went to the restroom, other's bought something, etc, etc. Everyone was reliefed and so happy that we didn't care about what would happen afterwards...the cars tank is FULL. That's all that mattered.

We were on the way back to Hami...and at last I can relax, shut my eyes and listen to my music while enjoying the soft yet fast acceleration of our car. I felt so sad when we arrived at our house. For some reason I found the ride back shorter than the ride to Tauranga =( I just wanted the ride back to continue for like another hour or 2. It was so nice and comforting. But meh...we were back home from a great/fun yet crazy trip =)...

I've reached the limit. I need a break from the road/traveling xD Even though I enjoy it so much...but enough is enough!
For the next 2 days, I just want to sleep, wake up late, watch some anime, catch up with some friends, play my guitar, and just be a lazy person!! xD

------------------

It took me a while writing this post, not because it is long (sorry about that btw =P). I was juggling it with my noodles, e-mailing my boss, ES and washing the dishes. But wa-lah....this is the end of it =P

I'm off to bed.

G'Night

=D

Randomness

-- I haven't had good sleep the past 2 days. I feel heavy, dizzy (very dizzy), SUPER tired and out of focus.

-- Yay for today!!! Mama and I will be picking up Baba (who we haven't seen for like 6 months) from the Airport in like 3 and a half hours. We have to travel to AUX (Auckland)...I don't know how I will drive with this massive dizziness. I hope it goes away by the time we go out. We leave to AUX in 1 hour and a bit!! Can't wait to see Baba *cries*
Any body want anything from NZ =P

-- Drove to town an hour ago to get lunch for Mama and myself before we go to AUX. The road was spinning and everything was going slow for some reason. I just kept on opening my eyes wide so I wouldn't faint or fall asleep like 0.0 lol...7ala. So got us some SUSHI BABY YEAH!!!! *heart* lol. As I was walking back to the car I started smiling and almost started laughing but held myself. Damnation I'm crazy xD. Do you know what popped in my head! "Meet the Spartans", the scene where the Spartans leave their land skipping and singing 'I will Survive'. If you saw the movie you'll know what I'm talking about. It was like the only funny part in that whole movie. Damn what a stupid movie! xD I repeated the word 'movie' so many times O.o

-- Just finished making salad for the feast tonight xD

-- Blogging

-- Literally worried about putting my contact lenses on. The lack of sleep will make my eyes burn when I put the contacts on -_____- *cries* Let's hope that doesn't happen.

-- I can totally play "Conflict at the Entrance" on my Guitar *Yaaay*.

-- My Employer e-mailed me asking if I can create a Logo for her company O.o That will be a challenge. Though I only accepted to see how I can do in this sort of work. I have ideas and I need to sketch before I take it out on the Computer. She also mentioned that she likes my attitude xD

Argh that's about it...can't think probably of what else to add.

Gonna go eat SUSHI! Ooh while buying the sushi...they ask you if you like ginger and/or wasabi.

G: "Just a lot of ginger please"
Sushi Girl: "Alright =)"

She was holding the chopstick wrong OK! and only managed to put a liiiiiiiittle bit of Ginger. I swear I got angry. I was tired and I wanted my ginger xD

G: "Can you put more please -_____-" + a fake smile.
Sushi girl: "More...Ok!"

She puts but still not good enough. I was like 6aaaaaaaaaaaaf!!
Started reminescing about Good Ol' Uni sushi *cries*
They leave a CONTAINER FULL of ginger and you can put freely how much you want *cries*

Ya Ellahy (omg!) Did I just complain about pickled ginger xD

Yup, here's G-chan for you complaining about pickled ginger.

*sigh*

*goes and eats sushi and prapares to leave to AUX*

High speed car chase!

Yea...finally something exciting happened in Hamilton! XD

It was around 11:40pm or 11:50pm...we were all about to go to sleep, road was dead empty. I was in my mom's room chatting to her when suddenly we hear an engine roar hard out past our house...my bro went running out of his room...opened the side door of the house...and started shouting:

Bro: "HOLY SH!T....HOLY SH!T...IT'S A CHASE!!"

I went running to the living room to see through the windows what's going on and truly saw a chase. A really dark colored car ahead and 2 police cars chasing it. They were so FAST!

The "escapee" suddenly took a sharp left into a really dark neighborhood. Then we saw like 5 more police cars from the opposite direction (hello...no wonder they went left) coming towards the turn that the "escapee" took. Then my bro's shouts of "Holy SH!T" started again XD The "escapee" took a few more turns and they all disappeared...couldn't be seen because they went deeper into the neighborhoods. Me and my bro looked at each other...this was pretty awesome and crazy! XD

On a serious note...crime in NZ is dramatically increasing, which is very bad. So who knows what's gonna happen next =S

Lesson learned:
- Always check your doors before you leave the house and before you sleep.
- Car chases may look cool but everyone knows they only lead to bad endings.

=)