I have faith in destiny .. I don't worry.. I work hard and then believe that eventually I will get what I deserve..  I don't let expectations hurt me.. Even if what I get is less than what I expect, I have faith that destiny loves me .. and that what I get is always the best for me!

Ask yourself "what would I like people to say about me after my death" and always always remember that you are unique and special, so go ahead in your life with fixed steps and never be afraid of making mistakes as long as you abstract the lessons from them.

Through My Lens

I took them last summer in the USA

Worth Waiting

I was in my fourth grade, when she came asking about her daughter's performance in the English class. The teacher said loudly that she wish if all students were just like Intisar. Inisar, who is still a good friend to me, was full of delight and pride. I was only 9 year-old girl, but I couldn't forget that moment. I thought that Ms, Salma said what every student would ever dream to hear. I closed my eyes and put myself in Intsar's shoes and enjoyed the moment.
Fourteen years later, I was in Dr. Mohammed office asking for a recomendation letter. Dr. Mohammed was definitely one of the beat instructors at the university. He does not only teach very well, but he also affects very well. I took with him four courses and I would take more courses if I could. I was done with the requirements for tha Bachelor degree. He with two other instructors made me so eager to spread my wings and proceed studying. I was so grateful when he said that he would be happy to write me a recommendation letter. However, I wanted the moment to freez when he said "I wish if all students were like you Amira". I don't really remeber if I thanked him for such a complement, but i would never forget the feelings of pride and appreciation that filled me. Hearing that complement definitely is worth the fourteen years waiting.




By: Amira

In Nizwa

Let me tell you why Monday was an extraordinary day. I was facing the same computer screen I am facing now when I recieved a call telling me to welcome a goup visiting the university from the USA. Meeting such great people was a real honor, but what made that day even better is the fact the I accompanied them the rest of the day. We went togather to Nizwa Fort. Then we headed to the traditional suq in Nizwa. The weather was hot, and my feet were burning because of the long walk but it was a great day as it gave me a break from the usual routine.

 

Now I Know

     I felt lost. I found myself on crossways and I didn’t know how each way ends. I felt a stone on my neck. I was about to make a huge decision. One that would affect the rest of my life, and no one would be responsible for but I am. I had the chance to start my high education in governmental colleges, but I turned them down, and I said "YES" to the University of Nizwa. I can purely remember myself packing my bags to leave the only house I lived in for the very first time. I was worried, tense, and I wasn’t sure whether I had made the right decision or not, but I was excited to start a new adventure in my life.

     Five and a half years from my first packing passed as quick as a blink of eye. My experience at the University of Nizwa had moments of disappointments, exhaustion and tears. However, I am so grateful that I have been through such an experience. I was honored to meet great people whose effort and help I'll appreciate as long as I breathe. I engaged in enjoyable and beneficial activities that opened my mind to so many things and taught me new things about myself. Yes I studied in a town in Nizwa, but I got exposed to the whole world. The University gave my role extents not only by enabling me to reach other colleges and Universities in Oman, but also by erasing the shackles of the country borders. Because I decided to become part of this University, I was honored by being given two terrific opportunities. The University's liberality took me once to Dubai to attend a conference, and helped me to travel and stay in the USA for over 5 weeks.

   I don’t know what would I say if my decision about my high education differed, but what I  know is that I made a decision that I am deeply grateful about.

By: Amira Al Maawali

1-2-2012

Let Go

Why can't I say "Good-bye"?

Why can't I move in the road?

Why can't I say "Hi"?

Why can't I step forward?

Please help me,

So I can let go.

Please release me,

And wing me with the blow.

Freezing the moment and staring at the past

will never hold the future back.

So, why can't I say "Good-bye"?

And, why can't I move forward?

By : Amira Al Maawali

4/2/2012

Designed by me !



To Dubai

     Yes I spend most of time during the last five years away from my family. I lived in a hostel with girls in my age in Nizwa. Although it was my first time to be apart from my home, I am grateful that I had such experience, because it taught me things about being independent, mature, and responsible. However, I learned all of that even more in 2010; as I was send with seven other peers to Dubai. We stayed for a few days during which we attended the TESOL Arabia Conference.

     I will always remember that experience, as it brightened my mind for so many things.

 By Amira Al Maawali

Rock or Water

    

     What if you were about to travel where there was no father to watch you, no strict society to judge you, no gossipy mouth to annoy you, no snoopy eyes to chain you? What if you found yourself by your own? The only lines around you were only the ones you create. Would you be a rock or water?

     You are proud of your own ideas, and you are satisfied by what you already have in your culture. You carry the same principles wherever you go, and keep your perspectives untouched. You do your best to maintain your attitudes toward everything. You build high walls around yourself, so you keep yourself safe from being effected by your new surroundings. You say “NO!” to everything that seems alien to your principles. If you would do so, then you are a rock.

     On the other hand, you might think that you can be much more flexible by getting rid of every thread that links you to your home culture. You can be water, formed by the place your feet are on, and colored by the spot you breathe in. Your primary focus is to experience life as it is experienced where you are, rubbing out your own identity for a while just to fit in your new environment and to look cool in the eyes of others.

     Through my humble experience in the USA I noticed that fortunately most of us, as Arabs, are far away from being rocks. I see it as a good thing, because rock people are too conceited to learn new things. No one is perfect, and there are things to learn everywhere. People avoid rocks, as they are too dry to enjoy a smooth communication with. Because rocks show no tendency in learning from others, no one in return has the willingness to learn from them. Rocks don’t believe in the splendor of the differences among us. Seeing things from a narrow angle makes their perspectives incredible.   

     However, we shouldn’t go too far. Accepting others as they are does not mean to turn like them. Unfortunately, I’ve met in the USA a number, that can’t be neglected, of Arabs who were obviously doing their best to deface their cultural countenance. They showed how “water” they were in the way they looked, acted, and spoke. I view what they were doing as a very poor try to look cool, and it showed how shallow they were.

     A combination of both, water and rock, works well. As it is important from time to another to refresh perspectives and see things from different angles, it is important to maintain the essentials of our own religion and upbringing. We have to be open minded if we seek to improve ourselves as nations and individuals, but at the same time we must behave in a way that goes in tune with our basic beliefs to give the true image of our countries and religions. Accepting our differences shows us how similar we are. It enables tolerance, cordiality, and love to spread.

     There are many programs that offer the chance for my colleagues to go abroad. I hope all the best for everyone, as I want to emphasize that they are the outstanding ambassadors not only for Oman, but for the Muslim Arab world.   

By: Amira  Al Maawali