From ice skating to rain and back again!

Thought of popping out to let you know what I’ve been up to this winter break and to wish you a Happy New Year. You will also have to expect a weather update on Toronto, since it usually ranks on my headlines for the day

Plenty of ice skating has been done this winter break thanks to a lovely City of Toronto for maintaining and operating a number of ice rinks (indoors and outdoors). If you a own pair of ice skates you earned yourself entry to 50 outdoor rinks where you can skate all you want for FREE!

With a lot planned for the holiday…in lines of being productive and having fun, ice skating was first on the list and specifically at Nathan Philips Square.

Ice skating outdoors is much more liberating than indoor skating. Skating at Nathan Philip Square is a must do, I think, if you’re in Toronto. It is in the heart of the city, located between old and new city halls and it is nicely decorated for the season. Also, can you see how busy it is? I am used to skating indoors with MUCH less of a crowd, one can’t skate with lightening speed in Nathan Philip square, unless one’s got the skill and even if not, I feel it is a social responsibility not to, given the number of children there.

Old City Hall/ New City Hall

Here is skating at Ledbury, a much quieter and personal ice rink in a friendly neighborhood. It was a perfect sunny day for skating!

A visit to the ROM was another exciting one on the list as it is free on Tuesdays for post-secondary students, not making it very possible to take advantage of during the semester. I was anxious to see the rest of the World Cultures exhibit which I didn’t have the time to do the last time I was there in April.

I took a picture by the globe as there is a quote written around it that I like and believe is true, it reads

“Beauty in things exists in the mind that contemplates”

As for the weather, well I don’t about you, but certainly no snow is to be seen by tomorrow as rain is expected with temperatures of 3-9C and we’re having a warm new years eve. So, no snowman or sledding for me at the time being, but seeing this little chap with his beautiful smile and snowman will do it for me. However, the weather did earn me a very exciting ride on my bike yesterday as it warmed up to 4C

Bibo with his lovely snowman…I miss you lots and love you even more!

I hope you’re keeping warm and here’s to wishing you a very Happy New Year, full of of happiness, good health and much success.

Closer than Skype could ever get :)

Mum, dad and Bibo came for a quick visit last Sunday and it was great. I've been wanting to show them my place and campus, forever and as sudden as their visit was, it worked out perfectly. I actually got to hang out with them for a couple of hours, they would have stayed longer, but Bibo had school the next day and so did I :p

and no matter how old you get, it is still so sweet when your mum loves caring for you. I was overwhelmed with how many things I got :D Of course I was supplied with winter clothing, which I will show you later AND food. The middle-eastern food that I have been craving. I am stocked up, it is such a nice feeling.

They liked my apartment and like old times, when we were all living together, the first thing my mum and dad suggested was to sit outside, talk and have some coffee. The neighbors across the street do that everyday, and looking at them just makes me nostalgic yet puts a smile on my face. I do miss living with my mum, sister and brother. Even if we're all busy, there is still someone close to talk/hang out with and be there for.

Hopefully my mum will be coming next time to visit me :)

Drumming with Dubai Drums!

So last month, the cultural events committee at university got the “Dubai Drums”, which consists of a team of drummers from all around the world drumming together on rhythm, each with their own traditional drum. What is amazing about this group is that they improvise on stage along with a conductor. The group also had two guitarists for the show :)

So I went with a bunch of friends, Razan and Bibo , as you can see from the picture the band was nice enough to get with them 101 drums for the audience!!! Excitement!! :D so during intermission Razan and I ran and grabbed ones!! It was amazing how they worked the whole crowd into the drumming…later on they told some people to come on stage and I was the first one up!!! It really is an amazing feeling when you play in an ensemble, it’s great music or rhythm through combined effort, and is always great fun. It is in these moments that music works its wonders by being a universal language. In that hall and on that stage, there were people from everywhere, yet that didn’t matter, the rhythm and beats of the drums stimulated a common enthusiasm.

Next, they had the kids come on stage with smaller percussion instruments, and there you had Razan and I urging Bibo to go on stage, until he finally did. That incident reminded me of my mother, often times she would push us to do what we enjoyed to overcome our shyness, and I’m grateful to her for that. It is these moments in life that you start noticing small things in yourself that contribute in many aspects to whom you are today, and thus makes you appreciate your parents! :)