Teaching is Beyond the Classroom

Lesley Carter shares her teaching experience:

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A dream come true?

About the writer of this post:

Born in beautiful Norway, I have a background in Graphic Design, the travel business and a Bachelor in Interior Architecture. My home is now in Portugal, where I moved 3 years ago to find the love of my life. Now we live in Algarve where the sun shines most of the time with our two cats Fluffy and Chilli.

My company  Enjoy My Design is the beginning of a dream to start an independent life, where I can work wherever I want. My body likes the sun and gets very cranky in the cold. I studied Interior Architecture in London 5 years ago, that’s about the time I realized I need to slow down. I don’t do very well with stress. But changing something that’s incorporated in your system can take time.

Working and designing in my own time and space works for me, I’m much happier and I feel more energetic.

So, what do I do?

I make art for kids, other passionate paintings , create textiles and much more.  I’m even writing a bookfor kids right now. I also take freelance jobs. Right now I’m testing out factories, print shops etc to deliver my designs to the best price and quality!

Have a magical day, and may all your dreams come true!

Anne Onsøien

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Websites for students

I want to share a couple of websites that students across the globe may find useful:

http://www.freevideolectures.com  My sir told me about this site in class. He said it’s for people who like to learn. The lectures are of really good standard and quality. I usually watch the workshop or presentations related to Entrepreneurship from Stanford University, but there are many other subjects too.

http://www.opentuition.com (specially for accounting students).

http://www.theexpgroup.com

Najma Aijaz 25/02/2012

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Introducing Students’ column

I am introducing a new column to my blog and that’s called Student Life. I will be writing posts about my own personal experiences as a student and will be interviewing students from other professions as well. Plus I want to write about any events that happen for students (especially in Pakistan and U.A.E.). If anyone interested would like to post about this topic, feel free to e-mail me at najma.aijaz@hotmail.com

Samuel Johnson
Your aspirations are your possibilities.

Najma Aijaz, 23/02/2012 

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Pakistani Bloggers: Pakistan Blogs

Pakistani Bloggers: Pakistan Blogs. I found this blog just now through google and I am having so much fun reading what other Pakistani bloggers have to say. It’s something I can relate to. The topics they discuss, be it political or relationships.  I am glad I found it.

Najma 23/02/2012

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Perfumes of Arabia

Perfumes are very popular in the Arab world. Back in 2009 my roomie, Sahar,  was from Sudan.  She was very fond of scents.  She used to lit Oud in the evenings and I began liking it. It used to make me feel lighter.

Oud 

Fortunately I have brought Oud with me here in Pakistan. I haven’t used it as yet. I am waiting for a special moment. It’s only now that I am here I realize there are so many little things and details that I know of the Arabic culture. I mean obviously I am born there but it’s only now that these things seem different to me, because they aren’t here. People rarely know stuff called Oud.  Plus here, like my neighbours, use Agarbatti on special occasions. But it’s not the same. I don’t like Agarbattis! 

Agarbatti

Anyway, this isn’t what this post’s about. I used to travel everyday to school and then to college passing by The Perfume Roundabout in Fujairah. I used to think it’s called The Perfume Roundabout because there are perfume shops near by but recently I saw it’s pictures on facebook and realized this is not the reason! And I thought I was observant about things. 🙂 I remember I used to wonder why it’s made this way:

It’s only a few days back I ‘noticed’ that the hand is sprinkling perfume! This is what Arab people often did at their place. They used to use the above object and sprinkle it on people and their homes. Beautiful isn’t it?

The Perfume Roundabout as it looked at night during the UAE 40th National Day celebrations:

Najma Aijaz, 21-2-2012

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Down

The first image that came to my mind was when I was ‘about’ to diveeeeee. I looked down and felt so excited.

The second image that I thought of was how when parents look ‘down’ at their kids either lovingly or when scolding them. I found this funny image on google :):

Najma Aijaz

 

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Shaikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi , U.A.E.

Last year during Eid Al Adha holidays I went with my family to visit The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, popularly called the Grand Mosque by local residents. It’s said to be one the most beautiful in the world-  initiated no less by the late president HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is fondly thought of as the father of the UAE.

Natural materials were chosen for its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics.

An equally impressive interior design complements the Mosque’s awesome exterior. Italian white marble and inlaid floral designs adorn the prayer halls and the Mosque’s interior walls have decorative gold-glass mosaic features, particularly delicate on the western wall. The main glass door of the Mosque is 12.2 metres high, 7 metres wide and weighs approximately 2.2 tonnes.

The 99 names (qualities) of Allah featured on the Qibla wall exemplify traditional Kufi calligraphy, designed by the prominent UAE calligrapher – Mohammed Mandi. The Qibla wall also features subtle fibre-optic lighting, which is integrated as part of the organic design.

I remember praying here (pic below). Since it was quite hot outside so coming in this room for prayer was pure bliss. We prayed here our Asr prayer:

The best thing I found about the mosque were it’s chandeliers. In fact, one lady (a visitor too) at the mosque told me they were the largest chandeliers in the world. Now, I am not sure whether it’s true but anyway I don’t mind believing that I saw the world’s largest chandelier 🙂 . The Mosque features seven 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers which were imported from Germany, all designed with thousands of Swarovski crystals. The largest of these chandeliers, which hangs from the main dome of the Mosque, is considered the biggest in the world; it measures 10 metres in diameter, 15 metres in height, and eight-to-nine tonnes in weight.

Since it was the holiday season there were many tourists at the mosque. We didn’t really got much information about the mosque and just headed there randomly due to which we had to go through the same places of the mosque 5 times! The mosque’s quite big – The Mosque can accommodate up to 40,960 worshippers from its prayer halls and courtyard.

Najma Aijaz, 20-2-2012

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The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed

I recently read The Perfect Mentor (Pir e kamil in urdu version). I read it in urdu version. The book here is Pakistan has gained so much popularity that it has been translated in English.
What is next to ecstasy?’ ‘Pain.’ ‘And what is next to pain?’ ‘Nothingness.’ ‘What is next to nothingness?’ ‘Hell! The place which has nothing ahead…… everything is left behind…… There’ll come a time when all this will make sense to you…… and you’ll never ask anyone what is next to ecstasy.’ Pir-e-Kamil has a message for everyone…. there comes a moment in life when one has to decide between light and darkness.. Even in light one needs to tread carefully because once in the darkness it makes no difference whether one can or cannot see. But sometimes there is a second chance, one may repent and trace back his steps to light. At this point the only solace is the voice that guides and leads to light, the voice of The Perfect Mentor.

The writer of this book is Umera Ahmed. Umera Ahmed is a novelist, short story writer and scriptwriter based in Sialkot. She did her Masters in English Literature from Murray College, Sialkot. She served in the Cambridge wing of Army Public College, Sialkot, as a teacher, before writing for the electronic media. She has authored 21 books so far, comprising novels, compilations of short stories and plays. Seven of her TV drama serials have received awards.

Here’s another excerpt from the book:

Salaar never before had felt as remorseful,as regretful,as he was feeling now about the dark chapter of his life.’Why?Why…..?Why did I come here?Why did I buy these women…….?Why didn’t I awaken to the awareness of sin?’he lamented,sitting by the roadside holding his head.And now……..now,when I’ve left this,so why…….why now…….this pain,why am I feeling it now?I know that I have to answer for all my deeds……..But Oh!God,please don’t hold me accountable here………….not in this manner.Don’t render to this bazaar the woman I love.’
He stopped crying—-the revelation dawned on him and that too,where,and how!
‘Love?’ he mumbled,unbelieving,gazing at the passers by.’Do I……….do I love her?’He had trembled.’Am I feeling this pain only because…………Is it remorse or something else…..?’he had debated.He felt as though he would never be able to get up from there.’So it isn’t remorse,it is love,which I’m chasing.’He felt almost lifeless.
‘Was Imama a thorn in my heart or an obsession?’The tears were still flowing down his cheeks.’And looking for this woman in this bazaar my feet had trembled because in the recesses of my heart I had placed her on a very high pedestal-a place,so high,that I couldn’t find her myself.

Najma Aijaz, 19-02-2012

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