S.O.S!

Egypt and Algeria played against each other on the 14th on Egyptian ground.

Algerian bus allegedly attacked by bricks thrown by Egyptians, injuring two Algerian players' heads and one's hand.

A setup by Algerians?

Egypt won 2-0.

......

Egypt and Algeria played today on Sudanese ground.

Algeria won 1-0 and got qualified for the World Cup.

AND THEY KILL THE EGYPTIANS AFTERWARDS!!

Fans literally beaten to death!

They cut the roads leading to the airports (that were originally closed!), and buses taking Egyptians there were attacked, badly injuring men, women and children (who takes a kid to something like that anyway!!).

They chase Egyptians down the roads with knives!

Sudanese people help shelter Egyptians till things calm down and *proper* enforcements arrive.

Haven't they won already?! Why the bloodshed?!

"People, please write to FIFA reporting the attack on Egyptians in Sudan and request banning Algeria from participating in the World Cup for their barbaric actions HERE!
Losing is one thing we can tolerate, but NOT TERRORISM."

Oh sweet, sweet graduation!

5 years of hard work, staying up way too many nights and slaving away in the GUC mill of torment.
5 years of friendships made, lost, kept and lessons well learned.
5 years of dreaming, aspiring, believing and striving.

5 whole years, it's been. Yoda, I've become.

It's been one hell of a ride! And today was the grand finale. The crowning victory over everything we've been through these past years.

And words quite elude me, describing how I really feel right now. You can't sum up this whole period of time with everything it held in a paragraph or blog post. Or maybe it's just because I'm not eloquent enough. But I could say this:

THANK GOD WE GOT OUT WITH OUR SANITY INTACT! .. Or maybe not.

No, but seriously...

Mom, dad, I would've never been where I am right now without you.
Dad, you've let me go my own way even though you wanted me to become a dentist like the future of mankind depended on it. You stood by my decisions, even the ones you weren't necessarily fond of, and have always been ever so generous.

Mom, your very first words when I had trouble choosing where to go, "spread your wings and FLY!", have made me go after just that.. you've always supported me no matter what, let me make my own mistakes and been the warmest, most caring safe place I could have ever wished for.

I genuinely appreciate all the sacrifices both of you have made for me, that you always wanted the best for me, all the patience it took on your part, and your mere presence in my life.

I love you with all my heart.


My dearest friends, my trusty shoulders of comfort, my shining beams of light in a sometimes dark, cold world (a tad overkill?), I consider myself EXTREMELY fortunate to have met and have had the chance to get to know incredibly wonderful people as you.

It's because of you that I looked forward to going to the university everyday despite the long, grueling hours we had to spend there. How could I not? You made life so exciting!

We've created activities that will continue growing and evolving long after our class graduation. Who of us could forget how GCBT started? How a bunch of 'kids' managed to bring it all together and accomplish what many thought wasn't possible? I'm more proud of what we've begun each passing year!

We stood together for and against a shipload of things during these years. We laughed, we cried... Sometimes both at the same time. Including curse words. And object throwing. And minor injuries.

We've argued, and OH MAN have we argued! We've argued our tushies off over the years!! But never cared less for each other. Not one tiny bit.

Your friendships have coloured my life. And to some extent, I believe that I am who I am now because of you. Each and every one of you who has left even the smallest of impressions on me. I will forever carry you in my heart.

And while we're on the subject, Moblerone and Pesty, I wish you were here today. It's not quite the same without you...

Aagh, I have a flood of memories I can't contain. My train of thought is all over the place. And it seems like it has cloned itself to cover even more terrain. The presence of almost EVERYONE at the same place (not any place too, but at our GUC) all at once was, and still is, pretty overwhelming!

It rained a little. But I guess that was just the Hagenberg curse that came along.

Happy, excited and proud faces all over the place. Even noodle the cat's. He's not quite the "noodle" he used to be though.

Loads of camera flashes.

An entrance march soundtrack that sounded like a Spanish guy was going to jump out somewhere with a rose in his mouth and do the Flamenco.

My heels sinking in the soft grass bed with almost every step.

Nesma getting us jumping all around, playing on her xylophone.

Dad squishing me. Tears in mom's eyes. Taher being exceedingly sweet.

Mo7sen being there even though his brother's engagement was on the same day.

Prof. Slim's speech! What's better than working hard? - Working smart. What's better than dreaming? - Imagineering! What's better than having a vision? - Having a cause. And what's better than a long speech? - A SHORT ONE! Hehe..

Hearing your name called, your friends roaring with cheers and receiving THE certificate, thankfully without tripping infront of tens of thousands of people.

On stage with my best friends by my side, feeling like I could take over the world.

Bärenhunger!

Graduation gifts! ^_^

An abundant amount of pictures. Here's a few from the rehearsal and ceremony:

Belia, childhood bff, and I

THE TRIPLET!

CHOCOS!

MO7SEN! Bff since school =)

Receiving the certificate, pictured with Ashraf Mansour, GUC president.

Right after the pledge... YAAAAYY!

More YAAAYY! with school friends.

Prof. Slim Abdennadher

2 am *lunch* at Burger King.

........ and nostalgia.


*sigh*

This place has given and has taught me so much on so many levels. We're all very well prepared to take on whatever life might bring. And I intend to leave no stone unturned.

You know the saying that goes "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."?

Remembering this, is the most important tool we'll ever come across to help us make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - crumble in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

Find your calling and follow your heart. However cliché that might sound.
And when you do, tell me how. =p

I'll end this with one of my old favorite tracks. It's never been so suitable as it is now...

My friends, wear sunscreen... =)



Hugs and "batates vienna"s,
4-1099 ♥

World Wide Moment in 3 minutes!

Ah, I'm so excited!

Will update when I take the pic ;D

------------------ (10 minute interval)

So the World Wide Moment is about a set moment in time where people from all over the world will take an instant picture of anything surrounding them and upload it to the WWM website and it'll be added to a gallery, celebrating unity, collaboration and peace!

I find it awesome.

One moment in time .. where EVERYONE.. or well, everyone who's taking part in this, posts a picture they took THAT moment!

Is it just me (I know it's not just me), or do you see the power of something like this too? I think it could be really inspiring!

Oh well, here's my WWM entry!

This is Soubie (from 'Sobia', a milk and coconut drink), my new kitten! Dr Evil (apparently not as evil as he claims) got him for me two days ago. He's the cutest tiny thing ever! And he loves to sit up there on his little soft pillow tower over my bed and keep an eye on things.. Occassionally come down give me a head massage too. And type gibberish to my friends on MSN.

I'm having a GREAT birthday, uhm, little-over-a-week! Hehe.

So this is what I've been up to..

One thing in particular that's been taking up loads of time from my summer is applying for a study visa to hopefully do my master thesis abroad.

A few of us 'METians' (Media Engineering and Technology students) have been fortunate enough to be awarded scholarships to do our masters at the Johannes-Kepler University in Linz, Austria. A great opportunity for us, but what a gruesome process it is to actually apply for the visa! You have to get a paper from I don't know where and get it stamped from a further I don't know where, then get back and get another paper and chase the 'basha' around Cairo's police stations because he's the only one authorized to stamp that paper, certify papers, translate papers.. And the embassy. Oh sweet embassy. You go through so much trouble just to get inside and then find out they want another type of bank statement than the one you've submitted.

Ugh! Add the summer heat and waking up extra early to be able to go on all these trips before all the government facilities close up by about 2 pm, and you've got a real recipe for frustration. But I was really lucky to have had my best friend/navigator/entertainer/DJ wannabe =p chocos come along on these errands and help out a whole lot. It made them enjoyable rather than horrifying. And it breaks my heart that he won't be able travel with the rest of us because of his military service.

If everything goes well and the visa wasn't delayed for any reason, I should be traveling on the 13th inshaallah! And I've yet to prepare anything at all..

(src)

On a slightly (not really) different note, my lovely friends threw me and my gorgeous Roumie, our 22nd birthday party on a yacht last Monday!

They reserved it all for us, filled it with balloons and hung a cute banner (all in purple!), got delicious catering for iftar, and we cruised the Nile for the night. Was absolutely beautiful! And I was so happy to see all those people! Friends that go way back to the school days, ones from uni and others made along the way..
It was missing the mighty choco bear, though.. but he had to attend his brother's PhD defense that was taking place at the same time. Congratulations choco bear's brother!

But the night was extremely special.. and I absolutely loved it. Thank you dearest friends for giving me a fabulous night and a great start to my 22nd year!

(Roumie and I with our birthday planners)

(a big bunch of university friends)

(some school friends)

(the 3 S babes picture)
Visit S babe 1 ;)

(BFFs ♥ )

That poster we're holding is my birthday gift to Roumie! That was so much fun to work on and I'm ECSTATIC that she liked it! I was getting so rusty that I was really worried I'd screw it all up, but thank god they turned out looking.. kinda.. similar to us. Hehe.

Here it is for a closer look:


Speaking of birthday gifts, you know what's absolutely, without a doubt, totally "STELLAAA"? (Like, literally?)

Having a STAR named after you!

Choco bear passed by today and gave me this package from "The International Star Registry" that has these in it:

(The official certificate)


(My star's position and the Monoceros constellation)

There's also a star shaped pendant with my star's initials and date of naming (my birthday this year!) and wooden frames stuck at customs. Hehe.

So now there's a star up there called "Lujee The Buttercup". HOW CUTE IS THAT!

Thank you SO much Teef, for the 'interstellarly ' awesome gift!

15 reasons why you should wish my mom a happy birthday RIGHT NOW.

1. It’s her birthday, so it seems like a good time.

2. She acts a decade younger than she is, so if you suck up, she might give you some advice on how to stay similarly youthful (not useful, youthful.)

3. She tends not to focus on herself, which means the rest of us have to make up for it.

4. She will cook you a lovely dinner that will make your eyes roll back in your head.

5. She’s the most generous person you'll meet.

6. She’s the Do It Yourslef queen, from her hair to house projects to making her own clothes to creating art for her home. You could learn a thing or two from the lady.

7. She laughs at her own stories when she tells them, sometimes enough that you totally miss the punchline.

8. Since she's given birth to me on this same day 22 years ago, she's become quite overshadowed.

9. She will get distracted from bugging me about tidying my room, eating more, getting more sleep, etc.

10. She is the best, most beautiful, most intelligent, most lovely mother my brother and I could have ever wished for.

11. She adores everyone who loves me. You want in on this deal.

12. She is the best listening ear you ever knew, even if she does raise an eyebrow now and then (but probably just at me.)

13. She has the kind of heart that you wish people had… the world would be a better place to live in.

14. She is turning 49. NOT 50. Because heads almost rolled.

15. I love her. And you should, too. =D

To my beautiful mama, who is brilliant, beautiful, funny, silly, gifted, creative, wise and unbelievably long suffering, a HUGE “Happy Birthday!!”

You're the ultimate best and I love you!

Ramadan Kareem!

Finally! We've been waiting in anticipation for some time now!

For Muslims all around the world, this is our favorite time of the year.

There will be fasting till sunset, more praying and more Quraan reading.
There will be feeding the poor and a heightened sense of charity.
There will be delicious Katayef, Khoshaf and Dates! (and a lot more sweets, but these are my favorites)
There will be visiting all the relatives and family friends you never get the time or chance to see otherwise.
There will be 'fawanees' (pl. 'fanoos', a sort of lantern), street decorations and Iftar tents.
There will be families having the first meal of the day TOGETHER. (This means a lot to me since normally, we never have any meals together because our schedules are so different)
There will be madfa3 el iftar (the cannon that blows on sundown), eza3et el sharq el awsat (a famous radio station, generations old) and fawazeer Ramadan (riddles prepared to be aired on this month).

There will be loads of love and warmth all around.

There will be no evil this month.

(Mine, on Facebook Graffiti)

A very summery one this year, though. But surprisingly, the weather's not as hot as I had expected it to be. There's this cool breeze you'd have never felt in mid August in Cairo!

May it be a wonderful and blessed month for all of you! =)

Summer time!

It's been a crazy summer this year!

Hung out a lot with friends, tried new things, attended marriage related events, got a haircut (actually two), traveled to the north coast, Elgouna and Marsa Alam (both on the Red Sea), went around preparing papers for applying for a study visa at the Austrian embassy (will tell you later)...
And a best friend was told he had swine flu and got trapped at one of the crappiest hospitals in Cairo for 24 hours only to be told the next day that he didn't have swine flu, then had to go to the hospital for viral pneumonia and German measles and couldn't see him for about three weeks!

Crazy.

But very interesting overall.