Ramadan Kareem...

Ramadan will start next week , I love Ramadan.
We don’t eat from the dawn until dark fall , I feel hungry since now !
we fast for 30 days , after that there is eed (fiesta)
In the usual days I sometimes don’t eat with my family ,I eat before them or in an other room , but in Ramadan we all eat to gather.
Of course kebab & raisin juice is one of the basic meal among the food menu. After that we have some of the delicious Arabic dessert.
In Ramadan the people don’t eat for about 12 hour to feel the same as the paupers feel ( hunger), also the Muslims in Ramadan give (2.5%) of their money to the poor families (Alms) ….That what I do although I don’t have much money & I am not adult & I don’t gain money by my own but it makes me happy to please the poor people .
In Ramadan the programs in TV are wonderful ,as comedy serials.. but this Ramadan I won't have time to watch TV , at the first day of Ramadan I will have history exam ! ..
I love the day before Ramadan , the Muezzins in the mosques will make ( Takberat) it's to tell& announce that Ramadan is in the next day.
All the Muslims should fast if they are adult & in good health .
I started fasting since I was in the third class in primary school. ( that was my choice to follow the grown-up ).
The other thing I like in Ramadan is I become thinner ,so I look thin in my new cloths in eed .
In Ramadan the people should become more patient & forgivable , that is the goal of this blessed month is to depurate our selves from bad behavior, ..
We have a tradition in Ramadan, that all my family collect money , to buy clothes , pajamas , toys , shoes , healthy food ,etc to the orphans shelter .
Ramadan Kareem everyone…
Sunshine…

My primary school...

My primary school was one of the best schools in my town , I spent a great time there . My teacher in the first class was very nice her name was "Amirah" in Arabic it means princess .
She was an old woman & she was teaching in this school for 35 years ,her salary was only 1 & half dollar a month! I used to spend my break time with her in the class ,she had never left the class during the break time , & she used to paint roses , & write some nice encouraging sentences in our homework copybooks to make us happy.
In every time we had learned a new alphabetical letter we had party to celebrate & we serve candies , cookies . Every single day was like a party for me , Even in my sickness I used to insist to go to school .
When I was in the fifth class I knew that she will retired , all the girls went to her &asked her to stay ,but she didn’t .
The adieux was very much emotional , but she kept visiting us in the school .
No one of her pupils called her "Mrs." , we called her "mama Amirah ".
I still have some of her presents she gave me in my birthdays & other celebrations …
My sister Mariam is in the second class now , I visited her school for few times & I was shocked , from the way the teachers treat the pupils ( so rough & loveless) …
Few days ago we went to a friend's house , my mother was talking with her friend about schools , her friend told my mom that her child said a bad word , & how she was stunned because they don’t use these words at all & she told her son that" you must heard this word from an
impolite boy , right ?"
He said" No , from my teacher ! she always use this word .!"
Two weeks ago my mom & I saw a program about the education in Iraq & there was an interview with the minister of education , he said that 90% of the teachers are not qualified to teach !
How can they make a polite , educated, & successful generations ?
Sometimes the intelligent pupils correct the mistakes made by the teacher, specially in English & mathematics…
Now who take low marks and can't go on in their schools can become a teacher after a 6 month practicing !
I wish that all the primary schools will be like mine…..
Sunshine ….

More & more mistakes...

MISTAKES AGAIN, in my last post I made 2 mistakes I wrote celebrate & special wrongly , I most be more careful next time .. I promise … but remember who makes no mistakes makes nothing …
Thank you Madcanuck for reminding me… one day English will be like my first language , then I will not make mistakes again .. & probably I will show others their mistakes ( who knows ! )… Sunshine...

Happy Birthday Olive ...

Wow . today is olive's birthday . I like the birthday parties, I used to calibrate with my friends, but I didn’t calibrate my birthday for three years ! because of the bad situation here , I miss birthday parties .
To my dear friend olive .
Hoping that this birthday is your happiest yet. The kind that's filled with pleasures , too delightful to forget ,& hopping that you shall see your dreams come true , through a year that is just as wonderful in every way as you ..
This brings a warm wish , that every hour of your spatial day , is filled with moment that will bring lots of joy & happiness.
For your birthday's just the beginning , of a year the fresh & new , & each day should be wonderful , for someone as nice as you.
May your day be memorable..
Happy birthday dear …
Sunshine…

Thank you Olive...

Hi , you remember my post a bout my asthma & pollution , my reader friend Olive Branch sent me comments & letters saying that he want to help me to find the inhalers , I agreed & gave him my aunt Rose address in Dubai , well my aunt received the inhalers few days ago , & she will send them to me..
My dear friend olive , I can't thank you enough for your attention & affection , I am very lucky to have you as a friend . you are always in my thoughts … thank you again …
Sunshine ….

List that in our constitution !…

Hello friends
it was a long time since I went out ..but yesterday I was invited to two small wedding parties in one day !!!! the first one for my next door neighbor , the other for my front door neighbor !!!
Believe or not I went to both ! .
In the first wedding , I was surprised from the bridegroom behavior, he was making calls by his mobile phone most of the time.
I didn’t see him talking with his bride or touching her hand ! ( how rude) they didn’t dance , they didn’t enjoy their wedding party at all.
The bride was lonely in her wedding ! She kept looking at the guests & smiling, he ignored her in the first day of their life, what will happen next year?
He didn’t hold his bride ,but he did hold his dear mobile all the time……..
In the second wedding, the bridegroom was taking photos with his mobile & the bride was ignored too ..
Is there any law ban the bridegroom from using the mobile phone in his wedding ? I wish that will be listed in our new constitution!!!!!
Don’t ever use the mobile phone in your weddings …
Sunshine…

Two mistakes in one post ( 2 in 1 )

Hello friends , In my previous post I wrote the word curtseys, but I received a lot of comments & letters asking me to change this word , because it is not suitable, I think the suitable one is prosaic…
My other mistake was knot , my friend Madcanuck told me to change it to a bow-tie …
Please add these 2 mistakes to my mistakes list …
Accept my apology ..
Learning Sunshine….

First day at school...

Hi friends
Nice to write to you again, last Sunday was my first day at school. we had a party, & some officials attend it , it was very Boring , I don’t like the ceremonial parties & speeches , I was very tired from standing for along time in such hot weather …
Anyway I moved to A class , I am very glad in my new class , the girls are more polite & clever, I got a new friend , we have the same interests & hobbies.
This week I was sooo busy , I had a lot of homework, I didn’t have time to write a post or work on computer( and my mom exploited that)….
In Arabic subject , we have 4 books , grammar , perusing , dictation , curtseys & texts .. I found curtseys & texts hard , it is about the Arab curtseys & very old poems ,although it is in Arabic I didn’t understand any word !! I searched in the Arabic dictionary & I didn’t find the meanings , these poems are about 200 hundred years before Islam ..they use very hard & uncustomary words …
Today the headmistress said that we should wear neck knots ! , each level wear a different color, the first class wear a read knot , the second class wear indigo knots , & the third class black knots . But that is unfair the fourth , fifth , & sixth class won't wear any knots ..
The girls in my class said that they will not obey , because it is a silly idea , but I think that I will wear it!!!! …
Busy Sunshine with black neck knot ………

Wise man said ....

I was reading my friend's blog (olivebranch)& I saw this nice & wise post , he also found it while he was reading AnaRki13 blog .
if you are interested with wisdom & wise people please share it with us .

(" Well, I am almost 70 years of age, I am a Texan, an American and I am against violence also.
I have first hand experience with violence.
As a child, I was picked on and put upon almost every day because I was small for my age. Growing up I was in many fights, just to try and protect myself, not by choice.
When I was 17 my Dad was killed by a man who was drunk (later was ruled insane)and it killed my mother with grief a year and half later.
I joined the US Army at that time, for valid reasons I thought at that time. I had a few good years of serving in a peace time army. Then came along the famous Viet Nam "Conflict". It was not even a "War". By that time I had a lot of training and had made it to a "Non-Com" rank and was in charge of a squad of soldiers.
We killed in order not to be killed. We didn't kill any women or children or old people, but we saw many killed by our Air Force. Bombing is an equal opportunity killer. It took me many years to get my head straight from that little "conflict". It taught me that violence only brings more violence.
But as long as the world is how it is, violence will be a large part of it, no matter how many hate it.
I won't bore you with my war stories and of my problems or accomplishments. But I do want to give you some truths that I have learned over my long life.
Take them or leave them, your choice.
You have to stand for something or you will amount to nothing.
Being opposed to violence is good, but you must protect yourself and yours from violence however and whenever you must.
You can not protect yourself and yours if you depend just on the "authorities". You must be prepared to do it yourself.
If you want the good things in life, you must be ready and able to pay for them. This does not mean with just money.
If you are faced with problems in your life, depending on others to solve or take care of them will result in you not only still having the problems but thinking less of yourself.
Here is a few other things I've learned:
I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 30 minutes. After that, you'd better know something.
I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do.
I've learned that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do and how they react to it.
I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartaches for life.
I've learned that no matter how you feel about it, there are always two sides to everything.
I've learned that it's taking me a much longer time to become the person I should be, and I'm running out of time.
I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think, but not a smart thing to do, unless your talking about driving.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words, It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep on going and doing long after you think you can't.
I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter what the circumstances.
I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you and if you let it control you, you are going to have big problems.
I've learned that life can be as hard on you as you make it, poor decisions, no planning and a bad attitude will make it that way.
I've learned that heroes are people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I've learned that learning to forgive takes a lot of practice.
I've learned that there are people who love you, but just don't know how to show it.
I've learned that some people will be your friend only as long it is to their benefit.
I've learned that money and material things is a false way of determining self worth.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry, I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that true friendship is very hard to come by and the same goes double for true love.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you.
I've learned that no matter how much I want something, it won't matter to others.
I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've had.
I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely, few things are more cruel, and how awful it would be if they really believed you.
I've learned that no matter how good a friend you think someone is, the only real way to find out is when you need them.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief or even care.
I've learned that our background and experiences may influence who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
I've learned that sometimes you have to put the person ahead of their actions.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only a little while to destroy it.
I've learned that the more we try to teach our children, the less they seem to learn.
I've learned that you shouldn't always be so eager to find out the truth. It could hurt.
I've learned that the clothes I like best are the ones with the most holes in them.
I've learned that words said in haste and anger hurt everybody and help no one.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that really counts.
I've learned that two people can look at the exact same situation and see something totally different.
I've learned that people with a little religion are almost more narrow minded than those with a lot.
I've learned that people who don't read and learn will stay ignorant and narrow minded.
I've learned that even if you don't agree with someone, you should listen to their viewpoint.
I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is love them.
I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will get hurt and you will hurt also.
I've learned that your life can be changed forever in a matter of minutes by people who don't even know you.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, if your child needs you, you will find a way and means to help. But sometimes helping too much is really a hindrance.
I've learned that prior planning prevents piss poor performance.
I've learned that even with prior planning, unexpected things will always happen.
I've learned that if your going to do something, give it all your effort, do the very best that you can.
I've learned that even if something awful happens to you, you can always learn something from it.
I've learned that sometimes happiness is right in front of you but you can't see it.
I've learned that credentials on the wall doesn't mean they know what the hell they're talking about.
I've learned that the people you care most about in life are always taken away from you too soon.
I've learned that I should have taken better care of myself, but I wasn't smart enough at the time.
I've learned that someone can love you, but not be in love with you.
I've learned that it's hard to to decide between not hurting people and standing up for what you believe is right.
I've learned that the more you love someone, the more you can hurt them.
I've learned that the more you love someone, the more they can hurt you.
I've learned that the more I learn, the more I seem not to know.
Anyway, at your age (I know because, believe it or not, I was your age once), you know everything and ol' folks don't know shit, but I just wanted to pass on some things that I learned the hard way.
Live long and prosper !
This is my post
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA")...
I learned a lot from that post …
Sunshine ….

Return to school ....

Hello friends
The new scholastic year will begin next Sunday & I am upset . Sometimes friends in my age from different countries, complain about their schools I can't even understand why? they have beautiful buildings, clean books , good teachers , computers , labs , the best educating program, even stadiums .
And the way to their school are safe they don’t have to worry about that….
Our books are dirty , because they had been used by many many pupils for many years, sometimes I should to write the missing chapters of the books.
The teachers are nervous all the time , the teaching manner is old & bad. I always depend on my self or my parents, to understand the new subjects
We don’t have good computers for the computer class , (we still study basic language ) ,there is lack in every thing ,the blackboards are very old wooden blackboards. We still use gypsum chalk, & it is always very little in amount.
The school, the classes , even the bathrooms are very dirty. & not healthy.
The way to my school is very dangerous , sometimes I can't reach home or school & stay in the street for long time, two, or three hours. In the previous midyear French exam I couldn’t reach school I had to adjourn it. I called the headmistress & told her that I was stuck in the middle of the traffic jam , do you know what she told me ? she wanted me to go to the school walking !!!! , there was a fight & she wanted me to reach school in any possible way , but of course I didn’t .
The driver became angry , & the girls were crying & I didn’t know what would happen , it was very scary situation , but I could control my self , & sat in the car quietly , because I knew if I had panicked or cried that would not help at all . one of the girls saw her father in a nearby car , & I went with her , because her home is near mine.
My mom want to defer this year or change my school to another that is more close to our house, but I refused that , she told me that I will not lose anything , because I don’t have close friends in my school , but my school system don’t allow anyone to come back , after go to another school , & I am confused .
I feel that this bad situation, passively affect my study level, Sometimes I can't concentrate, that happened to me once when I was in my way home & I saw a burned leg in the street , I couldn't study well , & I kept repeating the view with my mind .
A friend of mine (in another school ), says that they usually have one exam per day , while we have two, three, & some times four , every day & a lot of homework .
I start to study as soon as I reach home till bed time continuously , with only two breaks for 15 minutes to have my meals.
I should study so hard to get high marks to stay in this school & if I get 80 percent I should go to other schools , because this school is for smart pupils.
But you see I don’t have time to go out with the family, watch TV, or enough time for the computer.
I promise to write for you when I finish my homework specially in the weekends.
We study Quran , Arabic , English , French , Mathematics, chemistry , physics , science , history , geography , computer , & we have two other subjects but the teachers don't take them seriously , sports & arts . & that is bad . we used to study house economics! , but now it is canceled …
My favorite subjects are science, history & of course English …
I hope that our teachers will treat us with some respect .
And I hope that the girls will obey the school legislations , like wearing ceremonial clothes , or put the trashes in the containers …& stop revenge from the school by throwing the trashes in the class rooms … etc.
I know that we have some boring legislations, but we should obey them , reciprocal respect that what we need in the school…
I hope that this year will pass safely & will be more fun, interesting & informative.
Sunshine …

Galy Ali Beg waterfall....

It was fun to have lunch here....

Folklore dress...

Gorgeous waterfall...

I told you I had great time ....

The falcon ....

Sharp eyes ....

The Market...

This market is in Bekhal , you can find all the brilliant colors ...

Beyond description...

Hello friends ,
I wrote my diary when I was in my trip , & off course I will share it with you my dear friends .
-Tuesday , 12/8/2005
Changes in the plans
Yesterday , my grandpa was talking with the driver about our plans & which places we want to visit first, etc .
First we decided to go to Duhok part , & the summer resorts near it , but the driver said: you went to Duhok last year , why don’t you try Arbeil & the resorts their.
We were hesitant because it is about 3 hours in the car, then we agreed ,
Wednesday , 13/8/2005
7:00 the driver is here , my adventure will begin now Waw .-
-12:00 noon I arrived shaklawa just now , it's gorgeous.
we found a motel just now , we will go to the restaurant at 2:00 after that we will have a nap .
we stopped on some resorts in the way .The view was beyond description as well as my excitement .
-10:00 pm I will tell you now about my little adventure , after we had our lunch , while I was in my way to the car , my father came & said that he saw a falcon in the other casino , I went there with my mom , a guy saw me trying to take photo to the falcon , he helped me to do that & encouraged me , that falcon was his , the guy didn’t know Arabic & I didn’t know Kurdish , so it was a little bit hard to communicate with each other , we used signs language .
After that we went back to the motel & had a nap , then we went to the market , the goods are the same goods as in Mosul , but the difference is their streets are clean & safe , unlike ours . I had fun there , I felt safe to walk in the streets , no one discommoded me. The people there are very polite .
when I came back to the motel I heard music in a garden in front of the motel , & guess what it was a Kurdish wedding , I kept looking at the wedding I was amazed it was my wish to see Kurdish wedding , am I lucky or what ?
In their wedding they were wearing there folklore dresses ,it is characterized by it's refulgent colors , & the Kurds have special kind of dance called ( Dabkah ) , it's their enchorial Dance . It is characterized by the fast rhythmic & regular movements, I like that kind of dances. All The girls & boys were Dancing with their hands bound together , that was amazing .
That evening was gorgeous , the sky was cloudless, the stars were twinkling , & the weather was a little bit cold with very nice waft.

-Thursday,1/9/2005
Today at 7:00 o'clock in the morning I waked up before anyone else.
We had our breakfast in the garden , at 9:00 am we left shaklawa , after one & half hour we arrived Bekhal ,I had never saw view like that , we went to a very small market there & I bought a very nice scarf ,I put it on my hair just like the Kurds. we stayed in Bekhal for two hours , I saw a small waterfall inside the cave , & I wanted to take some photos there after I took the picture I was completely wet , & freezing . The water was sooo cold after that we went to an area called ( Al Een Al Sehreah ) it means the magic eye , it's a cave filled with water , I had a funny story there , I was afraid from that deep cave & the heights, when I went there I was inside the cave standing on the rim, & there was 2 guys standing behind me , one of them challenged the other to jump into the water , one of them agreed, with out thinking I shouted NO don’t do that it is too deep down there , I didn’t know these guys! , my face flushed , then we all laughed .
Our last station was in (Galy Ali Beg ) a very high & gorgeous waterfall , we had our lunch there , at three o'clock , we left (Galy Ali Beg) , & went back to Mosul .
we arrived Mosul at 6:00 pm .
I will never forget this journey. I had fun , that what I needed…
I hope that in the future Kurdistan will become one of the most famous tourist place , & the services become much better ….the nature there is fabulous .
In the motel I made friendships with two girls , they are from Baghdad…I liked them very much we matched together …
You have to visit Kurdistan ( the north of Iraq ), but with hundreds bodyguards Hehehe ….
Sunshine…