Archive for category UK
My Night Out
Posted by Bloggylife in personal, UK on March 18, 2010
In celebration of a major milestone, the end of the 2nd term, all of my class went out to dinner.
Last time we went out, was on Chinese New Year, we went to a Chinese restaurant and anyone who was not Chinese was not allowed to pay. So this time the rest of us invited the others for a night out.
I had so much fun, I was relaxed, laughed, ate good food, enjoyed conversation, the diversity is so amazing and enjoyable.
I’ve met a lot of people from around the world.
The Chinese are so amazing, they are very polite and tentative. In any meal gathering, they have to give a speech in the beginning stating the purpose and welcoming others and at the end thanking everyone. It is so nice 
We laughed, we teased, we took loads of pictures! In the most relaxing atmosphere ever, you can clap, give a speech, flash camera lights and no other table will look at your way.
As we were heading back, it started to drizzle … PERFECT
Tonight was a good night 
Most Probably
Posted by Bloggylife in Kuwait, UK on March 18, 2010
In Kuwait:
2:30 AM, someone screaming wakes you up, quick get out of bed, maybe carry a heavy object and investigate … someone is in trouble and may need some help.
In UK:
2:30 AM, someone screaming wakes you up, lift your head, listen carefully, mutter to yourself “DAMN, those drunks!” and try to go back to sleep! … Someone is just having a little too much fun under your room window … most probably…
UK Terms
Posted by Bloggylife in UK on February 18, 2010
Freezer == فريزر
Chiller == ثلاجة
Parcel == mailed boxes
Fags == Cigarettes 
Cheers == Thank You, Regards
Ta: I’ve heard this word from a bus conductor when handing me back my money, so I’m guessing it means Thank you!
Top Up: تعبئة
Pop: This is a widely used verb which means put, get, go … it can be used anywhere.
“I’ll just pop that recipt in the bag for you”
“I’ll just pop out for a minute”
“Can you pop in your card in the machine, please”
Love: A term used by everyone. As we were advised, it doesn’t mean that the person loves you
“What can I get you Love?”
“Here are your things Love”
Quid = pounds (money) – thanks 3baid for bringing that up 
Sports Day
Posted by Bloggylife in Kuwait, thoughts, UK on February 14, 2010
On Wednesday lectures end early. In the morning you’d see most students in sports uniforms and equipment heading to the university. After lectures end, all the grass fields are filled up with students practising some kind of sport. Even schools as I walk by, children are out in the playground in groups, each playing a sport.
This is a day in UK, Wednesday is sports day.
Why don’t we have this in Kuwait ?
I’m not sure how was it for you, but for me back in the days, P.E. had the lowest priority. Most of the times we never actually got around to having that class, I’m not sure how we were graded! The slot was always taken by other subjects and when we managed to get around to having P.E., we just changed into our sports clothes and sit idly for 45 minutes, chatting and walking around. Most of the P.E. teachers were overweight with not physical fitness at all!!! School did not encourage sports at all.
Why don’t we have day like that? GOD knows we desperately need physical activities with all the obesity rate in our country. And it is important both to boys and girls.
We’ll have it on a Tuesday, middle of the week. Schools have their own covered gym. Some sports can be taken to other places, like sports club arena. In winter sports can be taken outside. If they don’t have enough P.E. teachers to cover a school or a district, outsource and not to single contract. I think it is better to contract on individual basis, that way assessing the individual’s qualification is more accurate and less troublesome with all the hassle of dealing with strikes because the contracted empolyer didn’t pay the employees.
School sports doesn’t have to be only about competitions and only the competed sports and students get all the attention, it should be about ensuring that individuals have a sport that they enjoy and will continue to practice throughout their lives and who knows maybe make a career out of it. “يمكن اتعدل الأوضاع الرياضية عندنا”
British Thoughts
Posted by Bloggylife in thoughts, UK on January 31, 2010
You’re not quite sure if they were mocking you or joking with you!
You’re not quite sure if they were being serious or funny!
Thoughts on Islam
Posted by Bloggylife in Islam, UK on January 29, 2010
Every Sunday in Hyde Park, people can take up a corner and speak their minds in Speaker’s Corner. I didn’t stay much because I had to checkout of the hotel, so I stood for few minutes.
I’m open minded about my religion, that is I need to make sense of what I’m receiving, I need to believe in it and I guess that is a problem because I do get lost about things I don’t understand, about things I need to take as is, I don’t mind discussing aspects of my religion as long as it is not insulting or mocking.
I hate the way Islam is represented nowadays as a religion of terror and violence. So many examples of our Prophet Mohammed “عليه الصلاة و السلام” forgiveness and kindness, in the early days of his calling and after Islam prospered across nations and yet people seem to neglect this fact.
Why am I saying this?
There were two men standing representing Islam, one of them looked like “راعي غنم” holding a crocked stick and walking around WTH is that all about, it’d be perfectly fine if you were actually one and had a herd following you! Our prophet called for “حسن المنظر”, it’s not about wearing baggy clothes and letting your beard go wild, tidy it up a bit. The other one related all the world’s problems to alchocol. I might have not stayed longer but all he kept asking people was “what is your religion?” and whatever the answer, if it was not Islam he’d reply “Oh, so your religion is Alcohol”!!!
Is this what Islam is about, No Alcohol. What about let’s say, start at the beginning, the five pillars of Islam!!! And we’ll go from there.
I think to myself then, “Maybe you should’ve said something”. Yeah right, first I have to gather courage to speak in public and not be passionate and emotional and get worked up Maybe next time.
I’m observing the way of life here and how people interact, it is not perfect but it is certainly better than how we do it. I can’t help thinking this is what our religion calls for, I like that in Islam we have “الدين المعاملة” and when our prophet said “انما بعثت لأتمم مكارم الأخلاق”, but we don’t practice it, we call for it, but don’t actually make the effort to carry it out.
There was a time when people embraced Islam because they lived amongst Muslims and they saw their way of life. Now … no comment …
Don’t you think if Allah wanted all of us to be Muslims and perfect, then he’d simply say “كن فيكون”.
Publish Bug Update:
So it seems the problem is back!!!
Gone but Not Forgotten
Posted by Bloggylife in UK on January 26, 2010
Wonderful experience that I will surely miss. Snow, a must experience
London: Day 3
Posted by Bloggylife in entertainment, UK on December 22, 2009
Today “انا حاكرة” The day started with lining up at the tube station to get a ticket. From the machine, I chose 1-day to Zone 1 and 2. I went straight to the Lyceum Theatre in hopes to find tickets for “The Lion King”.
As soon as I got out of Covent Garden station I asked someone for directions To get to the theatre, out of the station turn to your right and then take the first left and then the first right and straight ahead. I booked a ticket YAY! I had 2 hours to kill, so I grabbed breakfast/lunch and then headed to the transport museum, which was sooo cool, there was a jubilee market, it reminded me of “souq al-mubarakeya” that we have, took a 5 minute spin in it, the museum was so interesting, my ticket cost 5 pounds because I showed my student card It takes you back to the 1800 where all the transport system started, it is so informative.
The musical was amazing beyond words, the engineering behind it is awesome, the stage how it rotates and the colours, the actors, the singing, the music, the costumes, I LOVED absolutely every moment of it I do recommended seeing it. There was an American mother and her son next to me and in the break we started talking and she told me that in Leicester Square you’ll find tickets half price but you have to by them on the same day. But since this show is so popular they don’t need to sell tickets half price but other shows which don’t have that much demand can be found at half price.
Since I had my full one day ticket, I decided to go see a movie I went and booked “Law Abiding Citizen”. It is a nice movie, been a long time since I closed my eyes in anticipation of not knowing what’s going to happen, My GOD am I going soft Yimkin the “Lion King” musical affect
After the movie ended passed by Sainsburys for some chips and chocolate and headed back to my hotel
Decode: Digital Design Sensations
Posted by Bloggylife in entertainment, UK on December 21, 2009
This caught my attention as I entered Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum. This exhibition is in Porter Gallery from 08/12/2009 to 11/04/2010. It is not free, 5 pounds for adults and 4 pounds for students My lucky day.
The gallery displays different design/art work that is derived from technology. The artists used different tools to make their pieces interact, whether be it sensors, evolving programs, cameras, Internet and social networks, web applications, etc.
As you enter, these fiber optic are filled on both sides of the entrance and light up and make sound when touched. I made up this name for them, because they remind me of fiber optic cables, but maybe they have motion sensors they light up when moved and depending on speed and direction of movement, sound is formed.
Below are graphics representations which are sensitive to sound, I tried whistling
With this piece you can move around dimensional graphics which ever way you want.
These screen display time from pictures uploaded by Internet users that represent numbers.
This one uses twitter data to form conversations based on a word you type in its search box using a wii console.
I took the shot before realizing what those pictures were, the piece is called Make-out. They are making out scenes from the Internet and they start making out when you move in front of them!
The one below, enables you to paint using your hands, just moving them around.
This piece interacts to your presence, just like a mirror, notice how the pieces change colour to form my head
In this piece, an object moves around, until it bumps into you, your casting shadow and sprinkles rain
Pick up the blow dryer, point and blow away
With the touch screen, choose a location and it’ll start recording and displaying the video.
These are organisms that hide under the sand, once you brush off the sand and expose them, they move to another location and hide under the sand.
There was this one piece, where in an area they’ve installed sound sensors and mapped the data and you can see the live interaction. Also, some kind of crystal cylinder that forms words from what the sensors pick up off one of the streets.
It is really amazing and because it is dark, I couldn’t take that many pictures and I’m not sure if I understood all the pieces but they were magnificent, I really love this. There are so many others that I didn’t mention, if you have the chance to go have a look, don’t miss it.
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