This how I see it ...

I took this image from today's issue of ALWATAN newspaper.. It expresses the reality.






by: Amira Al Maawali  

when will we learn ?? :(

What I read in today's local newspaper really shocked me. Only one week passes and 19 of us die because of car accidents.
According to "ALwatan" newspaper the number of accidents that occured between 10th and 19th of sep is 141 accidents. 192 people got injured and 19 others got killed.
It is difficult in Oman to find a family that hasn't lost a member or a relative in a car accident !!
I wonder what does it take  for us to learn to respect the rules, and be careful in our driving. Unfortunately our roads are filled by crazy drivers who do not respect the responsibility that they take once they sit in front of the wheel.  




A person's recklessness leads many other innocent people to death.

By: Amira Al Maawali

A Place from my Country

While I was enjoying my time in Pullman, my sister was having a great time in our green Salalah. Although I have been to Salalah twice, I will never mind to go again.
Salalah is a city that locates in the South of Oman. In July and August, deep green covers the place, and  while the rest of the population of the Sultanate complain of extreme heat, the temperature in Salalah drops to less than 7 degrees Celsius in the evening.


Here are some pictures of the green Salalah.

 By: Amira Al Maawali

A page from my diary (2)

“Ms. Al Maawali,

On behalf of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication …”

 This was the beginning of the first e-mail I got from WSU. I was sitting on the floor of my room in Muscat. My back was leaning on the pink wall of my room. I will never forget that moment as it brought many feelings to my heart. It made me feel that I am about to start
something serious and big. That e-mail made my fingers shake and my hair stand on an end. I started drawing pictures in my mind of how this experience will enrich my knowledge, about how Pullman is look like, about the new friends that I am going to make, the different cultures I am going to meet, and the lessons I am going to learn.

 Then I noticed “Peterson, Jeff to me “ at the top of the e-mail. I wondered a lot about him. How is he look like? How will be our first meeting? What kind of stereotype does he have about the Middle East? And many other question marks started flying above my head.  

 On 17^th of June, we got our first chance to meet Dr. Jeffery. He was there for us, as he always remained, waiting with Dr. David at the airport. We were exhausted, sleepy, excited, sad and happy, but as soon as we met them we got the comfy we needed. As time went by, I saw in Dr. Jeff something I didn’t find in any other teacher in my country. He allowed us to see his casual side. We got the chance to meet his wife and children. He danced in the 4^th of July with us. He was kind enough to devote over a week of his life time just for us and away from his family.

What Dr. Jeffery did for us is unforgettable and will be always thankful for his kindness and effort
with us.  

By: Amira Al Maawali
25 th, July 2011

A page from my diary

Yes, I am Conservative. I don’t sing on streets. I don’t dance in public. I draw lines when dealing with guys. I like to speak, walk, and act gracefully. That is who I am, and that can't be changed by a setting. The thing is that I didn’t know how conservative I am until I reach the USA. The cultural shock I got was not only from Americans, but also from the Arabs with whom I lived and studied. Although I am open-minded, I looked closed among them. I felt wired. I wanted to fit in, and be myself at the same time. Somehow that wasn't easy!
But as time passed by, I could find my way to them thanks to  a person who inspired me and taught me a lot about dealing with others from different backgrounds and cultures. That person was Dr. David. He was neither Muslim nor Arab, but I felt that he understood me before the Arab students who were at my age. Thanks to him I could express myself and be open to others. I learned from him to be a part of the group without underestimating my values and principles. He made each of us feel worthy and interesting.  As we had to say good-bye to him we felt that we were about to get separated from our kind father, big brother, and dear friend.
As I got to know each member of the group I saw in each of them something unique and worthy. I found that they are not that different from me and that many of them share me the same interests. 
This experience gave me 17 more brothers and sisters, and handed me precious opportunities to meet people whose touchy personalities left golden fingerprints in my life forever. Dr. David, Dr. Jeffery, Mr.Ryan, Dr.Benjamin, Dr, Mirat, Kelsy, and my host family thank you for everything.






By: Amira Al Maawali
22th, July, 2011

Don’t waste it without smiles

If you have made a mistake,
don’t panic nor shake,
just take the lessons,
and smile for the next missions


If you were stabbed in the back,
don’t waste a tear for someone's lack
in boldness and courage to face you,
so smile and accept the issue


If you are living a failures chapter,
don’t let yourself down,
and remember that progress goes bit by bit
and smile. Giving up does not fit!


If your heart aches for a dear's death,
gather yourself with a deep breath,
learn to move forward,
and smile again to the world


Never abandon yourself to grief,
and always have a strong belief,
that God is in your side
so from smiles do not hide


Smile now. Now smile.
Never delay a smile,
cause you exist here once.
Don’t waste it without smiles


By:Amira Al Maawali