The Usual

I'm fine.. Stressed because of studying and can't believe the state of the process of teaching and learning this year.

I don't want to bore you.. and I'm tired of repeating the same old, same old.. and I'm short of words to explain just how tired and disappointed I am this year. So, I'll spare us all some time and cut it short this time.

Wish me luck, much patience, and the power to survive this without seriously hurting anyone.

What's happening?

This week went much better than expected.. Only two professors showed discontent about the days we skipped before Eid, but only one of them considered the lectures he had planned to give as given and done..

We had a microwave exam few days ago, I didn't do well but I can't care less! I'm done with damage control of the material we have taken but I still can't memorize few really long and complicated equations that are actually scary to look at.. Mom was surprised to see that we were required to memorize them and told me not to, and I'm more than willing to follow her advice for the moment!

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Yesterday was the introduction party of the new first year students but there were no prizes unlike last year. One of my classmates and a dear friend brought me a bubble from the party after my whining about wanting and expecting a present :D Which was very cute but I didn't know what to do with it and ended up giving it back to him.

Also yesterday, mom invited us for lunch in the Science and Literature Forum: one of Saddam's palaces near the university, now includes a restaurant, a conference room, and few rooms for CISCO lessons.. I'm not sure since I've only been to the restaurant.

So, dad came and picked me up from college to the restaurant where mom and HNK were waiting.. Upon arriving I realized that a BIG number of my professors, and the dean, were gathered in the restaurant for lunch too.. Quite a coincidence :)
I wasn't comfortable eating but was absolutely the happiest person in Mosul (let's not exaggerate and say the world, though it's also possible)..
Now mom and dad just WISH they didn't bring me to the restaurant for I've grown so big-headed the house can barely fit me :D
If I recite the details one more time the keyboard will go on a strike :D So I'll surprise the keyboard, and mom, and keep them to myself this time!

******

And also yesterday, my sister and the kids came for a visit. Aya has started learning Kurdish at the preschool in the suburb. Ayman is extra cute, he speaks very nice and so gently! Anas hasn't learned to walk and has very few activities, smiles the whole time, rarely ever cries, and is very squeezable :) That's a photo of him at the top of the post.

Ramadan

We're in Ramadan now, the fasting season. College will officially start after Eid Al-Fitr and thus I'm trying to exploit the free time I have left.
Going to college and studying in Ramadan had always been very hard, I'd be too tired, and there would barely be any time left to study because of all the activities. But from now and till after my graduation and probably higher studies, Ramadan would be during the vacation, making it much easier.

Beside the usual activities of prayer and reading Quran, I am watching an Islamic show on the stories in the Quran, and some snippets from a series about Antarah ibn Shaddad. I use the rest of the time surfing the net, doing some house work and reading about Java.

The curfew hours have changed to 12AM - 4AM as opposed to 10PM - 6AM, and this time the people are actually exploiting the change and going out instead of locking themselves in as soon as it's dark. Hopefully this will lead to canceling the curfew.
It's a positive step and we really need it to lead to more!

رمضان كريـــــــــم لجميع المسلمين.. أعاده الله علينا و عليكم بالخير و السلام و الصحة و العافية ان شاء الله.