I am sick!

Yes, it's true. I have been sick for the past 3 days and fortunately, my condition seems to be getting better now. I was admitted to the hospital through the emergency ward, and I remember the pain and fever were intense. After the doctor examined me, he said that I had Tonsillitis. I was bewildered because I had Tonsillectomy when I was a kid- who thought that you'd still get that with no Tonsils?

Anyway, I got two Penicillin shots right on the butt (Why the heck do they have to give the injection on that part of the anatomy?) and I was bedridden and couldn't walk for the next couple of days. I did much research on the subject, and I found that Tonsillitis can be caused either by bacteria, viruses, or both.

If symptoms include fever and a flushed face with no nasal drainage, then it's most probably caused by bacteria. That must have been my condition at the beginning and that explains why the doctor gave me Penicillin shots. However, if symptoms are more cold-like, including a runny nose, then a virus is more likely to be the culprit. In any case, today I woke up in the morning with a horrible sore throat and a runny nose. To make it worse, I also have Sinus, but thankfully it does not act up unless I catch a nasty flu and that's when I have nasal congestion.

Anyway, these symptoms have lessened now. I don’t know if I should go back to the hospital and get more medicine though… should I wait a couple of more days?

Perhaps I should get some over-the-counter medicine such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Strepsills to help relieve discomfort. I don't know how long it's going to take me to fully recover, but inshallah I would recover before my training starts, which is going to be next week.

XOXO!
Wait a minute… no XOs for you my friends… I don’t want you to be sick!

My Aunt is Here

I am very happy that my aunt came to visit us from Syria! She has arrived today early in the morning, and it has been an unexpected visit, but wonderfully timely! She is a religious, respectful person and we are all proud of our kinship with her. My mom and aunt hail from a village in Syria, and I can honestly say that inhabitants of rural areas have a special way of life. Their ways may be defined by rustic simplicity, but you will be enamored with their sophisticated sense of courtesy, hospitality, and honesty. You will mostly see villagers to be helpful, kind, people who are honest and will always lend you a helping hand.

I advise all of you- and myself first- to review your relationships with your cousins and relatives and to visit them more often. More importantly, never sever the ties of kinship as you will be asked before Allah the Almighty about them on judgment day. To be completely candid, it is true that sometimes your cousins could be annoying and you'd want to ditch them at times, but even if you do so, always treat them with kindness.

Anyway, now we are going to take her out to many places here in Dubai. So, expect further updates on my bog on sightseeing tours around Dubai!

Training

“Learning the ropes” is easier said than done.

I am now on the verge of starting my internship program, and I am excited as well as nervous! I have heard many things about it from other students :

That you are not given attention (unless you ask about something) because all other engineers are busy with finishing their tasks, that to many of them it was generally beneficial, and that to a few others it was a waste of time.

The training course is said to practically teach the students more about how things get done out there in the real world. It is a transition phase where students advance from understanding theories to applying them in the field.

I am going to train in a construction company in Dubai, and I truly hope that I would benefit from this experience. Although I used to fret about understanding the concepts as I wasn’t erudite back in college, my hopes are still high that I would eventually succeed. I hope that I would somehow build a solid foundation for my career.

Right now I am trying to brush up on the basic Civil Engineering concepts just before I start my training because I want to give my employer a good impression. Remember that first looks always count. The only problem is that sometimes I succumb to the allure of procrastination! I am currently on a vacation so I have too much free time on my hands, and I have the feeling that I am not doing anything constructive. Oh well, unless you consider having fun and hanging out with friends as doing something useful- which is by the way!

In any case, I would like you all to answer this question:

If you had your training before in your respective fields, how would you sum up your experiences?

Don’t Get Lost in the Crowd

There are over 6 billion people living on this planet, and they come from all walks of life with all sorts of backgrounds and qualifications. It is hard to be someone extremely special as to stand out with exceptional talent or to present a genuine idea that had not been thought of before. With a myriad of doctors, politicians, lawyers, engineers, teachers, and any other profession you can possibly think of- bear in mind that there are many others out there to compete with you! Of course this does not suggest that creativity has come to a standstill as we constantly see companies with new technologies and innovations.

However, we are living in a harsh world where fierce competition prevails in all kinds of businesses and jobs. Regardless of your chosen field, it is not easy to start your own business as you would inevitably face the challenge of finding yourself a spot in the market.

Apart from academic degrees and qualifications, job applicants literally “sell” themselves with any kind of credentials they might possess, be it technical expertise, language proficiency, or even personal hobbies. Everyone has to market themselves and offer their best in order to land themselves the jobs they’ve always wanted.

Unfortunately, survival is for the fittest only. The world has become a wild jungle and you would either have to eat, or get eaten.

Many people have financial problems and everyone is struggling to make ends meet. As always, money (and the means of getting it) appears to be on everyone’s mind.

On a separate note, the world has become a dark place for those without a notable talent. It seems that the few naturally-talented individuals who are cut out for their suitable positions would suffer less because they do not have to worry about their respective job qualifications. But with the threat of a fragile economy, even those naturally-gifted individuals are worrying to get the jobs they are looking for.

Yet within all these numbers of people, every individual is unique.

In order to be successful in life, you need to find yourself something that you are good at, no matter what. Some people might complain that they are not good at anything, but I do not believe that is true. Everyone must be good at something; it is just that you have to find your talent, and then nurture it. Find something that you and only you are good at knowing that nobody else can beat you at it.

Eventually, I guess we all have to find our way and wiggle through the crowd.

Indeed. Do not get lost in the crowd!

Why is the Western Media Still Slamming Dubai?

First of all, let me clarify that this blog holds no political views nor is its author interested in journalism, politics, or political affiliations, but based on what I have seen and read, the western media is still persistent with its unfair and biased coverage of Dubai based stories and news. This is my take on the situation:

Last night, I was reading a couple of western articles about the inauguration of the spectacular Burj Dubai (Now re-named to Burj Khalifa), and I was shocked at the negative criticism (subtly or even obviously) embedded in their articles and stories. Not only did they attack Dubai before with their exaggerated stories about Dubai’s financial woes, they still carry on their inaccurate, biased, and unfair reportages of any story that is Dubai based. Did these journalists and the media companies behind them completely forget media ethics and standards of journalism, i.e. objectivity, accuracy, and fairness? It seems to me that they do not (or do not want to) care about their “professional code of ethics” and fair journalism practices.

I believe that objectivity and neutrality should be the base of any good report or news article. While there is no perfect economy or perfect city for that matter, these media companies should bear in mind that constructive criticism is to be used when expressing thoughts and opinions, not bitter diatribe or biased opinions.

Apparently, I was wrong when I read their news reports on the opening of Burj Khalifa and about Dubai in general.

While I still cannot fully understand the reason behind their criticism, one can say that it is out of downright jealousy.


That is the only logical explanation!

A Year of Change!

We probably heard this many times before:

People who had been determined to make past New Year’s resolutions come true at the time, but much to their disappointment afterwards, somehow failed to achieve their goals during the process.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain muscle, stop procrastination, study harder, become wealthier, or socialize more often, everyone has had goals and objectives. So let's all wish for a "different" new year this time- seriously!

As once said by Vince Lombardi:

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

May 2010 be a special year that is full of prosperity and peace. Looking back, 2009 wasn’t exactly the best year as it was fraught with failed resolutions, conflicts, financial turmoil, and natural disasters. On a global scale, companies were on the brink of bankruptcy and the so called global warming summits failed to reach accords.

Nevertheless, we must not look back- ever! Lighten up and move on with your life by trying to be optimistic about the future. Focus on strengthening your weak points rather than reflecting on your fortes. Develop positive habits, explore new options, venture outside of your comfort zone and make a foray into a world of something new and exciting! Add zest to your life with positivity and encouragement, and most importantly, never stop dreaming!

So what is your New Year’s resolution THIS TIME? :D

Meet Sonic The Hedgehog!

It's time to tap into your inner childhood again! I believe that everyone has had a favorite cartoon or video game character ever since childhood! It is true that we have matured now and no longer watch cartoons and perhaps some of us may have completely stopped playing video games, but I still like my speedy blue fellow- Sonic the Hedgehog! As a matter of fact, I doodle him on my books and notebooks! Check out this video that shows me drawing Sonic!

These pictures speak for themselves (Click on the picture to enlarge):

Today I got this cool little Sonic soft toy as a gift! Thanks Retro!

Sonic drawn at the top of my calculator makes me feel energetic and "smart" again!


At least looking at Sonic in this page is better than reading all the nonsense about the energy equation in this Hydraulics book!


Sonic giving directions to Al Ain Mall!

Homemade Sonic cake!