Cleaning a street
Last few days, random people from different phases of my life have been calling me to go and clean their streets! So far, my first reaction was that of surprise and the second one is of delight…I will get back to the delight part, in a bit…
Nope, I still have not switched my career to become a street cleaner… but of course there is a background story behind those weird requests… I won’t be able to tell the story as nicely as Nasseem does… So I am leaving it to him to tell the story in his words…
Meanwhile… enjoy J
Now back to the delight bit… this project took facebook’s place in the last few days… a couple of friends who wandered away in life’s funny turns, found their way back… and there is nothing more delightful than hearing from an old friend…
On a different note… I am trying to learn how to edit fims… i am working on editing the film that I took of this event… once it is done, i will publish it…
Note 2: isn’t technology amazing?!!! I am so grateful that I exist at this time and place (only place is no longer an issue in our lives)… When I was younger, I wished I existed in the medieval ages! (what was I thinking?!)
its nice work
Technology is just great
Madas Reply:
August 19th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Agreed… technology is great
It’s nice to see the kids doing such productive activities, I was waiting for the part in video where the cops patrol parks fast and the kids spread everywhere!
You know in a few months time,when the walls get dirtied up you could get them to paint it all white,and learning how to paint a wall properly,a hidden important skill for their future homes that many people disregard.
Ya Mr. Anonymous ….Why all this cynicism? Why would the police do this?
they were perfectly harmless.. actually people loved the activity, entire families came to take part… we had mothers, fathers and grandfather taking part…
On a different note. Actually you have given me a good idea. I mean I think repainting the wall after a while will teach them more how to be team players, how to take care of their streets and walls, how to be creative… and I am hoping it will instill some sense of belonging in their creative brains…
I was wondering where would I take this project next, and now I think that I should focus on one neighborhood at a time… maybe other people from other neighborhoods can replicate the experience…
Anyway… I am just blabbering
of course they’re harmless,I’m joking about police thing..I learned a new word today “Cynicism”,bas ma fhimt exactly what it means..gotta look it up again.
these projects are great,if you’re ever in my neighborhood..expect a lending anonymous hand.
Madas Reply:
August 21st, 2008 at 1:34 pm
ok… when i go to anonymous land will expect an anonymous helping hand … lovely
I read Nasseem’s story about the kids painting the walls.
So Mariam, was this your idea to give the kids something fun to do?
Good luck learning to edit films! If I ever get DSL, I might actually be able to watch your film.
When I was a kid, I used to think that technology was great. Now I look at tech as a two edged sword, some good, some bad. As I have gotten older, I have taken greater joy in learning about history, reading historical fiction, or watching historical movies and TV shows. For example, I really enjoy the Cadfael Mysteries where Derek Jacoby plays a medieval monk with knowledge of healing herbs and a knack for solving murder mysteries.
Madas Reply:
August 24th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Yes David, sort of… I mean i dod not expect it to be this fun. I talked to the Municipality and they were very supportive.
Thanks about the movies… i am sure it is not that easy…. I am hoping it is easier than writing… these days i have serious issues when it comes to writing… i have simply lost my faith that i can write!
yadi osset il anonymous that keeps getting hinted..
you see,its like asking Batman to take off his mask..not an easy thing, plus you gotta show em that you’re interested to know who’s behind the mask.
with that said I’m off into the darkness “to infinity and beyo..” wait..thats buzz lightyear
Madas Reply:
August 24th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Well i thought I was being subtle
kidding… you can be as anonymous as you wish… it is a free world 
..and I thought I’ll have an inbox full of Madas emails..I hate it when things don’t go as I want..
I guess I’ve lost my touch..”yeah right! ;)”
What would you like to write about Mariam? Why do you feel you are having difficulty?
My friend Attawie recently returned to UAE after a visit to Amman. She said that she learned to play pool and that she went to see a 4D movie. I had never heard of a 4D movie. Apparently, when it rains in the movie, it also rains on the audience! When the airplane in the movie crashes, the audience gets jarred by the moving seats. It sounds really intense!
Madas Reply:
August 30th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Well… it is the first time i hear about that 4D thing… sounds interesting!
I realized that i have never studied english properly… I lack simple grammatical basics… i have problems with structuring sentences and so on… I have been thinking about this quite a lot lately… i am looking for a course where i can learn how to write properly. does it make any sense?
Well Mariam, for someone who has never properly studied English, your facility with the language is really very good. I am serious!
Do you want to write a book in English and try to have it published? If so, then don’t worry too much about your grammar. It is the job of an editor to fix small problems with grammar.
If it would make you more comfortable to improve your grammatical skills then take a course. Or, maybe there is a web site that can help you. I will look into that.
I know that you love to read. Why don’t you take one of your favorite novels and instead of re-reading it, go through it slowly and study how the author has structured her/his sentences. When I am reading, I often pause to look at grammatical style. I sometimes learn new things this way, but I also sometimes find errors that the book editors missed!
Madas Reply:
August 30th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Thank you for being very supportive
i have a few books… i will start with them…
Actually i like your ideas very much… maybe i should do this… i am reading an interesting book right now… i will start paying attention to style… good idea:)
You’re welcome.
Since you are interested in the 4D theater, I asked Attawie where it is located in Amman. Here is her reply:
“About 4D theater, It’s in Mecca Mall, next to Prime Megastore. I think that would be the third floor. It’s on the corner.
They had a movie about space coming soon, and other 6 movies. the movie lasts for about 25 or 35 minutes because some people can’t handle more than that time.”
I was thinking that you might take a group of kids there, perhaps after they complete their next special project. I think they would have a lot of fun.
lol! i know exactly where that is… I like the idea David… i mean to take the kids… It is kind of hillarius for you to tell me about Amman. By the way when are you going to Amman? I would take you around
Glad you like the idea Mariam.
You know, I enjoy opportunities to act as a bridge between people, to transmit knowledge from one to another, or to encourage new friendships.
A few years ago, I taught my Iranian friend Jamak the meaning of her name. She was very amused that an American would be the first to teach her something so personal. Well, I had discovered a web site created by an Iranian-American professor that was dedicated to Persian names. The professor wanted to help Iranian-Americans to retain some of their cultural identity. I suppose that I have a talent for discovering hidden treasures, of a sort.
When am I going to Amman? Perhaps after I win the lottery?
Seriously, I would like to visit a lot of places, but traveling is expensive. So, I have been focusing on discovering new things near where I live. Of course, the internet allows me to travel virtually all over the world. 