Oops, am I losing patience?

This is a post I started writing today between two class sessions. When I was almost done, I realized that its whole logic is flawed because I am assuming that the return of Prison Break is today but it's in fact on the 17th. I decided to publish it though, because although it is illogical, it does confirm my point: I can’t wait for the return of that TV series :D

Here’s the post:

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April 7^th is the day I have been dreading for weeks because that’s the date on which I had to submit a painful 20-page research paper. But April 7^th is also a day I have been waiting for for months now. The reason this time has nothing to do with school, but with entertainment. Being a proud Prison Break fan, I was glad that my arrival at the US almost coincided with the start of Season 4. This meant that I would be able to watch the new episodes on the day they are aired on TV, without having to wait for the French version to be made and then purchased by Moroccan TV channel 2M.

But my happiness about Season 4 was cut short when the episodes suddenly stopped last December. Since then, Fox network has been saying on the Prison Break web site that it returns on April 7 (oops 17;)) with all-new episodes.

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Anyway, I’m losing patience for sure, but 9 days don’t seem that bad after all. Especially that I will be busy enough with my exams and presentations not to notice how time flies :)

Bleeding green and white!

Ph.: Nick Dentamaro, The State News

One of the things that I really love about being here is that sense of belonging being an MSU student gives you. Being a Spartan. I myself have paranoid ideas about this sometimes, thinking that it’s just a silly thing that they make you believe in order to make you choose this university instead of another, and then to buy the MSU items once here. It is definitely a successful marketing tactic. But at the same time, I think that it does have a psychological benefit. Probably at least for international students who would need a sense of belonging once they move to a (totally) different culture.

So being a Spartan is of course not present in my mind all the time now. Life goes on normally once you get past the “honeymoon” period that lasts a few weeks after you first arrive here. During those weeks, I was willing to learn the fight song, and was excited at the idea of meeting our cute mascot Sparty. I even put my love for my favorite color (blue) on hold and became a fan of “Spartan Green”. But having spent exactly seven months now, it would take something stronger than just being an MSU student for me to remember that I am a Spartan… and be proud of it.

Yesterday was one of those days when I felt “the spirit”. The MSU men’s basketball team had got to the Final Four in the national championship and won yesterday 82-73 against the Connecticut men’s basketball team, qualifying to the final game! I am not particularly fond of basketball, but being able at least to understand what’s going on during the game (unlike when I watch American football ) I was glad to see our team qualify to the finals.

I also have great respect for the players who are very young MSU students that manage to succeed their course work while devoting so much time and effort for the game.

Anyway, tomorrow is the big day Spartans! We want a Spartan green final! Good luck to you and...

GO GREEN! GO WHITE! GO SPARTANS!

Decisions made

Nothing is worth missing those collective laughter moments among family. Nothing is worth missing the feeling of your parents’ hands on your shoulders. Your ears need to hear your loved ones' voices calling on you. Their real voice, not a ringtone. And nothing’s worth missing that.

I’m more of a real life person. I am not created to see my dear ones from behind a screen. I’m a proud old-fashioned person that prefers touching a hand-written letter to reading untouchable words behind glass. Even videos, audios, emoticons and the most eloquent descriptions mean nothing compared to the real thing.

"Are you planning to go back to Morocco when you graduate?" Yes I am. Fortunately!

Got some space in your fridge? Oh it's for my nerves!!

Now excuse me. How on earth can I keep my temper while almost every time I have to take a plane I have to go through additional screening!!! Why is it that most people go straight through ordinary security check and I am one of those very few who have to be double checked? Oh, the piece of cloth I’m wearing on my head?? When are these security people going to understand that terrorists are a bit more intelligent than showing up in an airport with one, a passport that shows that they are Arabs or Muslims, and two wearing Hijab or a beard!!! Hijab or a beard should be enough evidence that we’re hiding nothing, because it’s become a habit now that any Muslim woman with hijab or any Muslim man with a beard would be suspected.

Yeah “this is done for all the passengers’ security, including me”!. Yeah, whatever! Don’t worry about MY security, thank you. And if it were threatened, be sure that the threat is not coming from ME!

I’m mad at this system, but more at terrorists or whatever we can call them! Why do I have to pay for the mistakes of others?! And since when destruction was a way to change things, except if they will change for the worse.

Anyway if anything can be confirmed now, it must be the fact that writing can help you feel better sometimes. I’m still in that airport and am not looking forward to another double check during the remaining flights I have over the coming few days. But still. It took me a colossal effort to hide my anger. Tip number one: avoid eye contact as much as you can after being double checked, because you’ll have to show that you are calm and YOU ARE NOT! Tip number two, don’t talk about it with another suspect after the screening; it will only magnify the feeling of injustice you have. Tip number three: WRITE about it if you can.

OK, boarding will start in a few seconds, so I have to go. Oh and just for the record: I’m NOT a terrorist!

Badhai Ho!

A father drying his tears of joy; a mother’s gaze overflowing with tenderness and pride; The bitter-sweet separation that one day has to come. Then smiles illuminating the place. A young lady with a graceful lowered gaze, a serenely happy young man… and an oath to love and cherish each other for the rest of their lives.

A joy which, at moments turns into tears, and others turns into laughter… or simply translates into eloquent sparkles in the eyes. Blessings and tight hugs of congratulations; ornamented landscapes, glittering colors, flowers and golden threads promising a bright future for the bride and groom.

Jenney and Amit, you made me realize that Bollywood movies are not just movies :)

You were real stars on your wedding days…

All my wishes of a long, happy life!!!

Badhai Ho! बधाई हो !

Mabrook! مبروك

Congratulations Félicitations

One of those days...

All I remember from that August day are those green stress balls all students had received with many other give aways during a student orientation. I remember myself sitting with a group of new acquaintances , and the hands of someone tearing off that stress ball into small pieces. We joked together that day about how already stressed out that person was…

Then August went by, then the whole semester, then the first half of the second semester, and my stress ball was still there, with its green color and its dollar shape as intact as they were the first day. Not that I never stressed out since I came here (how could I not!), but because out of all the possible usages it could have, I was keeping it (with many other items like pens, pen holders etc) as a sample promotional item used for communication campaigns. Yeah, just what a studious Advertising student would do, you would think.

But today was the turn of my dollar-shaped stress ball to do the job it was made for. - or a little bit more. The reason is that today was the last day of a week during which I had one presentation, one mid-term exam (plus one last week), and a quiz (and endless readings, in-class discussions, group meetings, friendship disappointments, AND a dozen summer internship applications with no response). My green stress ball was also called for duty because today I got the scores of one of those mid-terms, and they had nothing to do with what I was aspiring for. Too much for the calm, serene Kaoutar people are used to see.

So being alone at home (fortunately) I just decided to admit that I need an insanity phase, and let myself go… Banging the table, letting out angry shouts, trying to calm myself down, failing, trying to get some relief by crying, but to no avail. All I could get out as usual were 2 drops of tears, and that was it.

Then came the turn of the stress ball. Because squeezing it gave no effect except intensifying the pain I already had in my wrist, I found myself doing exactly what that student was doing back in August. Tearing it up into small green spongy pieces.

Do I feel better? I think I do!