FIFA World Cup 2010

June 11, 2010 marked the arrival of an international sport event ‘the FIFA World Cup 2010,’ taking place in South Africa and it last took place 4 years ago i.e.2006 which was an awesome and fun summer, so it got me reminiscing back to so many times and people. I would not have known then that in 4 years I will be in Toronto and have gone through all the experiences that I had which makes me all that much grateful.

During the FIFA 2006, Dubai opened its first time FIFA World cup Fan Park in the trade centre and that is where I, along with my sisters and friends, have worked for the whole month. It was my first summer as a university student and it was a summer where relationships were built and good times were made. The FIFA is a big event back home; when we were young my parents would host nights at our place to watch the game.

Along with looking through the photos, here are some thoughts I was reminiscing with:

-Getting ready to go to work with Razan and Satanay and playing the FIFA world cup song in the car while driving to work

-People : Razan :( I miss her so much. Satanay, Ghaith, Mazen, Riad, Arsineh, Bibo and Natasha.


-The Brazilian community in Dubai and their devotion to the team.

-Mum and dad getting us and all of our friends takeout food :D and then staying to watch the game with Bibo

Isn't she adorable!!

So in the beginning I felt disconnected from the game as no one around me was following the game, but I soon started seeing the jerseys on people, the flags on the cars/ houses and the “watch the FIFA game here” sings in many restaurants/pubs and I thought to myself of course…this is Toronto and this is one of the reasons I love this place, its multiculturalism reminds me of back home, there are people from everywhere, people who care about the outside world! So I got excited and decided that it was time that I let out that enthusiasm that has been suppressed and get out to participate.

Here is the first game I watched. It was the Italy / New Zealand one and luckily it was showing on a Sunday AND it was the Taste of Little Italy Festival (There is a district in Toronto that is called Little Italy, filled with Italian restaurants/business) so it was great going then…. I felt very happy for being around a cheering crowd just like the old days. However, There is an advantage back home as with the time difference the games start in the evening, whereas they start at 10 am here :p

So I was with Italy until they came out. Their game with Slovakia was BAD....Then I was with Germany, until today :( , they lost to Spain 0/1 at the semifinals, however they played some good games. They won 4/1 to England and 4/0 to Australia; they are the first team to score more than 3 goals in the semifinals since 1978 and the first team to score 3+ goals in both the round of 16 and quarter-finals.

I am really excited for Sunday’s final game; I haven’t decided who I am going to be with yet

And, if you want to be in the FIFA world cup mood, then you gotta know the official FIFA song and the official Coca-Cola FIFA song. Shakira has gotten famous for singing them now as she sang the 2006 one as well, but I like this year’s much better, makes me want to get up and dance!! I also like the Coca-Cola song; it is by K’naan, a Somalian born/ Canadian based singer. Do listen to them!! And Enjoy :)

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The Pumpkin Experience

Halloween 09 was quite the experience for me. Even though I did not go trick or treating or to a party, which is usually the case, I did other things that certainly weighted it out.

Living in residence, at least the one I’m in makes it feel sort of like kindergarten, but honestly I like it. With the floors divided into houses, i.e. A, B, C, D and E, with a don for each one, we have activities every month. Some are joint activities, as in with all the other houses, some aren’t. So with October being the Halloween month, one activity was pumpkin carving along with pumpkin pies and hot chocolate. Yes, you’re right, I was very excited. A first timer with the pumpkin and its variations!

Everyone got a pumpkin and we dispersed into the common rooms. We sorted things out and got to work. It was a very pleasant afternoon; talking, laughing, eating etc. basically everyone was cheery and I had a good time :)

This is my pumpkin

Apparently pumpkins aren't sweet like fruits, which was my conception. Also, some people kept the seeds to eat. Apparently you fry them I think?!

This is my hot chocolate :)

They were very prepared, there was whipped cream and marshmallows

Good job! Being my first time, I decided to go

with a classical pumpkin face...I tell

you I was so proud of myself.

Voila!!

Sara, the girl next to me, carved THIS. Some students are very creative.

Pumpkin carving exhibt.

It looks perfect!

What d'ya think

Did I mention, another great thing about being in rez, you get presies in your mailbox :D

Going downtown on Halloween night was another experience...some people put a lot of effort into their costumes, quite a show and it was packed. This Halloween walk happens on the "gay street" as this Canadian flag indicates. I saw Elmo and took a picture with him.

Late post but a special one...

Looking back at my last two months, before I got to Canada, I would say that it was the second time I've felt that busy, mentally, since the last 3 months of last year when my mum was leaving to the U.S.. Now that I'm posting these pictures, and even though so very late, they still feel like yesterday to me.

I have one thing to say, though; if you are friends with my friends, then you are one lucky person. There is nothing I feel more privileged and fortune for having, than those people in my life. Keeping aside that they make me feel special :p they give me an additional purpose to be and continue to have faith in mankind.

Namely those people you are about to see, which you most probably have seen before, yet they still need particular mentioning are, first and foremost, Zol and Malik (making biggest difference) and Ghaith, Maha and Gawish. And although my sister, but to me also a friend, having Razan always made a difference. I miss her so much and as not so fascinating the idea was at first, but since I was leaving, I'm glad we had to share a room for my last month there; I was able to see her that much more.

Though I am thousand miles away, they are people I think about almost daily, always hoping that they doing and feeling well.

Before I get too emotional, here are but a few of a whole lot of good times, that to your fortune , got captured on camera :)

Malik's 22nd Birthday

Only if you are as special as this person, will you get two birthday parties :)

Since Samantha was leaving to New York early August, not being able to make it for his birthday, she threw him an early surprise birthday party, and mighty was he surprised to see us all there. You'll be happy to know that we did more than just eating, we played Taboo :D

Unfortunately, Maha was still away on holiday, but we each got a turn to speak with her on the phone :)

More Photos Here

Malik's Actual Birthday!!

The second time round was special. This time I've just gotten back from my last trip to Aleppo, was leaving to Canada in a week, had my braces out, and it was Malik's actual birthday: August 26 :D so to Malik's I headed as soon as I got home, and yes he was surprised this time as well. Oh and you get to see Malik's famous kitchen here, this is where we ALWAYS hang out. It is quite spacious and feels like home.

Maha is in town!

Maha was coming back after being away for 2 months, and for that we were going to "Chill out". Being Maha's big day, Gawish decided to surprise her, so we went to Chill out cafe. She has been wanting to go there for the past year, but we never got round.

Not very fancy really, not when you live in Dubai, but we made the most of it, and we got served *hot chocolate*.

More Photos Here

An Arabian Night!

As always, a night with the couple "Razan & Fares" and Ammar, never leaves you disappointed. We were invited for Iftar at Ammar's that evening, thank you again. Thinking back to that evening and meal, it couldn't have been more hospitable, delicious and complete, and he has such lovely parents. With full tummies, we decided to head to Arabian Nights, a cafe, for the evening.

Nothing gets me so excited as our cultural music and dance. A point to mention about Ramadan, which I haven't previously, is that it has a culture of its own, and this is just one. After Iftar, it is very traditional for people to meet outside at coffee shops, restaurants etc. Sometimes the restaurants would have a singer, singing traditional Arabic songs of the classical genre. This one here was singing Syrian songs amongst others. And you'll have the typical shisha/hubbly bubbly/ hookah, whichever you want to call it, down people's throats all night. Also, the past 3 years, a Syrian TV series called Bab Al Hara became legendary, that literally whomever you spoke to was watching it during Ramadan. I was surprised to find out that even coffee shops/restaurants started playing the show on their TVs when it came on, to keep their customers instead of sending them back to their home TV sets, when the show was on. It felt so good to be part of the social happenings :)

Bab Al Hara is showing

And here is the exciting part my friends; traditional music and show. The costumes they are wearing aren't a traditional Syrian one, but definitely from one of the countries in the Levant. Enjoy.

Iftar at Ours!

Iftar was to be hosted at our place this time and specifically by Razan. She is one person that definitely impresses me with her cooking, given that we grew up without getting much into that. It was always a delight when she cooked.

So Fares and Ammar were coming over for Iftar and Razan decided to cook Mehshi, an Aleppine dish. If you have tried it, you would not have guessed that it was her first time for cooking that dish, it was THAT delicious. Along with that we had lasagna, salad and mashed potatoes with gravy.

Mehshi

Last Hang Out

Writing this part here makes me feel pretentious, but this evening, quoting Maha's picture folder was "Rama's leaving party". This evening is a memorable one, requesting that they don't throw a 'party' per se, but that rather all I wanted was a hang out evening at Malik's, a game night with everyone there, and it was exactly what I got :D oh yes and I asked for some cake :)

We had a huge Iftar since it was a potluck, and a thank you to Malik's dad is due, for he cooked some food, AND baked the richest homemade chocolate cake I've ever tasted; so delicious! He also made Atayef, a Middle Eastern desert, traditionally made in Ramadan.

(Zol got me an AUS sweater, which I've been wanting for a while!)

Also, since I was going to be away for my birthday, they had an early birthday surprise for me. It came out very well as I went to get something from the car and once I got back, the lights were off and they brought 2 cakes with candles :D I definitely blushed and was all smiles.

<--Atayef

More Photos Here

Atlantis

Maha's brilliant idea was to take me to Atlantis before leaving. I have been wanting to see the aquarium there, but kept postponing it that before I knew it, I was leaving the country and had not seen it yet. But Maha made it happen :) thank you again, babez.

This outing is another memorable one, I'd put both the party and this outing. For in this one, it was me, Zol, Maha and Gawish and there had been many outings when it was just the 4 us and we'd have a great time. So I'm glad I got to do that before leaving.

Definitely a long drive to get there, but it was spectacular.It is on the Jumiereh Palm Island. We got to ride on the Dubai metro, a first time for all of us and very excited we were. Then we headed to the aquarium, or "The Lost Chambers" as it is called.

More Photos Here