Topic #6 - Biggest Lesson this Semester

    During the week, I was listing the lessons I learned this semester in order to decide which one to write about.  However, yesterday I was listening to a radio podcast about the speed principle.  In that podcast they mention an experiment performed by Australian professor in Queensland University.  The main goal of the experiment which started in 1927 was to show how some daily materials can have unexpected property using a matter called Pitch.  However, Professor Thomas Parnell experiment took another way.  From the first day of the experiment until now the pitch has dropped eight times only, and none of them were cached by human for different reasons.  Therefore, they are trying to catch the coming drop, the ninth drop, that is expected to fall soon. They have prepared three webcams* which broadcast through the Internet to catch this rare moment.

    What makes me consider this experiment a great lesson is that the professor did not give up until now. He started his experiment in 1927, and it still running until this day which made it one of the longest running experiments in human history.  Even though he missed some of the drops while he was so close to catch them like the one when left for 15 minutes to make a cup of tea, he continues.  

 * Experiment website and webcam broadcast

Topic #5 My Favorite Place

      I do not have a specific place as my favorite because I like to change places usually.  However, I always prefer to sit in an open and active area.  I do not like close places; therefore, I may say my favorite place is the living room in any house I live in.  When I stay there, I feel not isolated at all because I am close to everyone in the house.  It is like being in the center of action; thus, my time get less boring when I sit in the living room.

Topic #3: Obstacles

       During my last year in university, I had to complete a senior project which was decided between to semesters.  That was the hardest thing I have ever done through my study years.  Hence, the challenge was not the project itself but the supervisor!  My partner and I ,who are both no writers, were so lucky to had a supervisor who payed more attention to the documentation than the work! He allowed no errors in the documentation which was hard because it consumed our time and left less than enough for the actual work.  Therefore, we decided to drop one course and use its time to work in the project.  It was a hard decision because we were not sure if that course will be available next semester which was our last, but it was the best solution we had.  Consequently, we finished the part of the project which was required for that semester, and we got the course we wanted the next semester.  Now, all the hard time we had is just a memory, and the only thing left is the success we have.

Topic #2: Spring Break Adventure

     Usually when it comes to vacations, I am a very organized person.  I make my plan up to one year in advance. I do not leave any thing to chance. So for this spring break, I made plan A and plan B also, but plan C took place at the very last minute.  Actually, there was no plan C, but it created it self!

    As I mentioned before, I was planning to go to my brother in Santa Barbara to spend the whole week there.  Instead, he called me Saturday night telling me he was going to come for a change.  Thus, I spent few days with him and his family before they left on Wednesday. After that I found I still had few days before the break finishes, so I rent a hotel room on Oxnard beach for the rest of the break.  My time on the beach were very relaxing, and I enjoyed it very much.

   All in all, I did not have a big adventure during the break, but for me spending a good vacation without planning was something I can not imagine.  Hence, after this break, I think it becomes possible. 

Topic #1: Spring Break

I always imagine a vacation as a break.  It gives me a space to skip from my routine. For that, during vacations I enjoy doing things I can't do during the rest of the year. For this spring break, I am going to Santa Barbara to enjoy the beautiful and quite beach there.  Also, I plan to read a book.  I have not read a complete for a long time. 

Topic #5: Nothing Special

     I am not that type of people how have feeling to their items.  Basically, I don't make connection with my things because I only see them as tools to serve specific functions.  consequently, replacing an item is very easy for me as long as I find a similar or better alternative.  For that reason, I could not find an item I can't live without, but I chose to write about the oldest item I still use until now.

     I have it since I was in high school, that's why my pencil looks a little bit old. I didn't buy it, and I don't know how it ended up with me.  All I remember is that one day I found it with my pens. I think it was my sister's, and since then, I have been using it when I study. The interesting part is that even though I lost it many times, it always finds its way back to me.  May be we are connected after all. 

Topic #4: Parliamo Italiano

     Fluency in every language is my impossible dream. If I can, I want to learn all of the spoken languages around the world.  However, I knew I can't, so I made a long list for my favorite languages because I hope I will be able to learn at least few words from each one.  At the top of my list is the most preferred language for me, Italian.

      I can't remember when I started to love this language, but I am sure it was a long time ago.  The basic reason behind my interesting in Italian is that my love to Italy because of the amazing things there. A very old history and delicious food.  In addition, I always attracted by Italians body language.  When they talk, their hands move as if they also talk and this makes me very insist to know what they are saying.  A third reason to learn Italian is the relaxed rhythm of their speech. For a person speaks very fast like me, this is a challenge.  All in all, I don't see Italian as as a language only but also an entrance to an attractive culture.  

My Favorite Holiday

     During the year, people celebrate many holidays. Some of them are international holidays while others exclusive for a specific culture.  For every person there is a special holiday which she or he prefers for some reasons. For me, my favorite holiday is the Eid Alfeter holiday.

           The Eid Alfeter holiday is an Islamic holiday which celebrated in the first day after the fast month Ramadan. It is my best holiday for several reasons.  The most important reason is that it represents the importance of the connection among my family.  In fact, this holiday is the annual gathering for my big extended family which lasts several days. Moreover, I get the chance to meet with people who I don't meet at any other days of the year. The second reason for preferring this holiday is because almost during the whole holiday, everyone will try to talk with the others rather than using their cell phones. Another reason is the huge amount of chocolate and food in this holiday, and nobody cares about her or his weight.  In short, this holiday is a big party that stays for several days, and everyone enjoys it.

Topic #3: Money, Power, or Fame?

    Most people live there lives seeking something important for them. Some trying to gain more money or power while others want to be famous. In fact, we chase the thing that we think will get us to our dreams.

    Comparing with power and money, fame is the least important to me for many reasons. First, it does not serve my dreams.  Actually, it will not bring something spacial to me. Also, I once read that some people want to be famous because they are trying to get attention from people around them which I already have. The third and most important reason to not seeking fame is because I don't want my life to be fully exposed to strangers. I appreciate my privacy; it gives me comfort and safety.  In short, fame unlike money and power is not important because it does not have any thing to offer to me.

Topic #2: Almost Chips!

     When anyone mentions strange food, traveling is the first thing to cross my mind.  That is because it gives me a chance to explore local food around the world.  Usually I describe food as a strange or unusual because I am not familiar with it, so when I travel I always try not to miss any chance to try the local dishes. Who knows I may find something I like. 

   

     However, the strangest thing I've ever eaten was a thing that I ate at my city.  It was a Locust!  A locust that is toasted, salted, and ready to be eaten.  I did that a long time ago when I was a kid but I think I still remember how it taste.  It was crunchy almost as chips.  Unfortunately, I don't think I'll try it again because eating an insect is a one time thing for me.

Topic #1: A Little about Me

Hello professor and friends! Welcome to my first post. Here are few things about me.

I am an active person I like to play many sports especially soccer and also to watch matches but sadly I have not been able to watch many lately because of the time differences. Also I love traveling and exploring  new places and cultures to the limit I don't mind if I spend my whole life moving.  I love traveling because it gives me the chance to experience different life styles, trying traditional dishes, and walking through old cities.

In my free time, I usually go to the supermarket. I find it very enjoyable and sometimes I spend more than two hours there even if I don't need any thing important. I like to look deeply into the products and many times I find new, very good things by doing that.

Finally, here is a strange thing about me.  Unlike many people, I only like to eat Ice cream in winter while during summer I prefer to drink hot tea!