Visiting Iraq-Post COVID lockdown reflection

I have visited Iraq during lockdown, and it has been one of my best trips so far. The weather so far, especially the heatwave compared to London is more bearable, even though the temperature is more high than London. But indoors, in most places, they have splits, air conditioners and fans. As I mentioned before, my uncle's house in Baghdad was very cosy. It is located near the Hadra in Kadhmiya. Even though it can be very noisy and crowded,  visiting the Hadra improves both my spiritual and mental health. We went during Muharram, and I saw Mawakib of people using drums for Imam Hussein latmiyas. I also visited Najaf, Karbala and Samura. It was a wonderful experience. Even though it was very hot, and crowded, and I was not able to go inside Abas's tharih, I was able to do ziyara from outside and pray for myself and my loved ones. But thankfully, we were able to visit Imam Hussein's tharih.  Overall, it was very emotional for me to do ziyara in the tharih for all the Imams. Especially Imam Hussein, whenever I think of him, I think of his struggles and his thirst, and his patience during difficult times. Same with Imam Ali, Imam Al Jawad and Imam Al Kadhim. I think of their kindness, generosity and patience. Visting Kadhmiya's hadrad has become part of my routine in Iraq. Before I go to sleep, I walk to the hadra with my mother and visit the Imams, and ask for hajat, and for other's hajat. I also learned a lot of useful aspects during majlis from my uncle sheikh about hijab. How hijab is not just wearing the head scarf, it is also about having good akhaq, wearing appropriate clothing, and being humble. Compared to London's majilis's in some places, it is more organised, and the ladies actually have more respect and listen, unlike London, where they talk and we sometimes hardly understand anything. Especially with screaming kids in the background, with biscuits on the floor  and other messes, which is a mother's nightmare and some women who are soon going to become mothers. That would be my nightmare in becoming a mother. I hope my future kids will be well behaved and do not become one of those who throw a tantrum by throwing themselves on the floor and throwing biscuits or other food on the floor.  Even some kids cry and scream, it did not affect the majlis, we were able to understand the lecture. Overall, I enjoyed the trip and I wish to go visit Iraq again next year. 

Janat Hali Series Review

 To  introduce this series, it is a Kuwait family series comedy. About a woman called Adiba, with her husband, grandchildren, daughters and sons each with their own struggles.In this post, I am going to discuss what I liked about this series, what I did not like and how it could have been improved.

What I liked about this series is the acting, especially from Adiba, she played a good role in playing the strict mother and grandmother and teaching good morales to her kids. What I liked about her is she is not the type of grandma that spoils her grandkids, she is more like their mum, especially with Sala, when hardly her father knows  about her, but at the same time you did not make her too perfect, she did some mistakes, like giving Khalifa money behind Samira's back when she was told not to. Khalifa also played a good role of selfish and greedy brother and son, that we viewers would love to hate him.Sala also played a good role of a sort of gullible girl, who learned from her mistakes of not trusting anyone too easily. Also, I liked the relationship between Samira and Adiba. Like for Samira, she is not the type of mum that defends her son and excuses his actions. She said to Adiba, 'If he was not your son, you can do what you want with him.' That shows true friendship and trust. 

What I did not like, was the main plot, it was too confusing.  One thing I did not like was Nohad going back to her abusive husband, taking off her hijab behind his back, and wearing it in front of him. Like seriously, what if there are hidden cameras, and someone saw her and reported it back to her husband. It is also not clear why the bad guys are behaving like that. For example Khalifa, what made him selfish and cruel, is it his friends or is he mentally ill? Why does he have to tag along with Anoud and take her, when she has her own car? Also what is the point of making the Umran drunk, and give his son lectures on seeking treatment. He needs to set a good example, by stopping his drinking habits. 

This could have been improved by having the dad stop his drinking habits, then advising his son. Anoud needs to be assertive and stop letting her brother control her life, and even stop giving him money.  As for Khalifa, he did not learn properly. Like maybe have his friends get him in trouble in the police or backstab him, after all his mother told him that these are not your real friends they are your enemies. 

In conclusion, it was a good series that I could rewatch some episodes again, but there is some room for improvement. 

Ramadan During Lockdown

This year, since everyone is at home during the pandemic, as before this lockdown happened, we muslims were keeping ourselves busy by attending gatherings, arranging gatherings, attending lectures, etc. However, the questions we ask ourselves is how have we spent our time? Did we learn anything useful? These questions will be answered in this post, as I am going to discuss how I spent my time, things that I have missed during Ramadan, things I did not miss, and things I have discovered about myself.

I spend my Ramadan, reflecting on myself, doing religious acts, such as reading Quran and praying salatul Layl, and doing a3mal in Layalatul Qadir. I have listened to   lectures online, on Usama Attar's tafsir on Suratul Mulk, about how to control ourselves, how we are created by Allah, freewill, etc. What I have learned so far, is that our actions have consequences. We have a choice on whether to obey Allah or disobey Allah. If we make good choices, we will go to Janah inshallah, if we make bad choices, such as hanging out with people who tempt you to do haram actions, such as smoking, drugs, alcohol, stealing, bullying,  disrespecting your parents, not wearing your hijab in the right way, behaving inappropriately with non-mahrams, etc, will result in going to jahanam, adubillah. Therefore, we need to think carefully of our actions and make good choices, by choosing your friends wisely, praying daily, respecting your parents, wearing your hijab in the right way, and behaving appropriately with non-mahrams.
I also spent my time with my family by watching a Kuwaiti series called 'Janat Hali', which I will talk in more detail in my next blog post inshallah. I also spent by reading Dua Iftitah.

The things that I missed during Ramadan is seeing my sister Khamael, and her daughter Zahra over Iftar, and attending lectures in centres. I do not miss gatherings,  as I mentioned in my previous post, large gatherings can be stressful. I prefer staying at home during Ramadan, and performing religious acts, and spending time with my family.

The things that I have discovered about myself, is that when I was listening to Usama Attar's lectures, during salah, sometimes my mind tends to wander, so I discovered that before salah, we can do istighfar, to keep ourselves focused.

Next blog post: Janat Hali Series Review

Surviving Lockdown

In this current year 2020, a new virus has emerged globally, called COV 19. Now, people are staying indoors and reducing contact with other people, and only going out for walks, and shopping for essentials. In this blog post, I am going to talk about what I have learned during this pandemic, what I have discovered, skills I have learned and developed, things I have missed and things I do not miss, and what my  future goals are after lockdown ends.

What I have learned so far,  is how to manage my time effectively, save money, as so far, before lockdown I used to spend so much money on unnecessary materials  such as coffee, lunches, etc, and only use it for essential purposes, such as grocery, and charity. I have also learned how to be patient during difficult times, especially if some items are out of stock, such as toilet paper, wipes, and how to deal with network issues, since during this current situation, there is more demand for internet, and technical issues can arise, so we need to learn how to cope with it. I have also learned how to resolve conflicts with my household members, especially when I  share a room with one of them, as privacy can be a concern when it comes to working spaces, so my sister and I have decided to do our work separately, and not disturb each other unless necessary. I have learned how to deal with stress, by being assertive, and expressing my needs but at the same time understanding other people's perspectives.
What I have discovered so far, is other social media networks that I never knew existed before lockdown, such as Zoom, where I can communicate with my family members, and friends. My sister so far, have discovered baking, and has made cakes, such as orange cupcakes, and muffins with cooked fruits. I have also started to become fit, by doing exercises online, with my sisters, which I never did before.  During the first weeks of lockdown, I found it difficult to adjust, and was worried about how I was going to manage with my college assignments, but so far, I have completed my HND degree in Business, as most of the time my classmates and I were studying independently. I used my time, to listen to Islamic lectures about Akhlaq and other Islamic ethics that could be beneficial in life, and reflect on myself, by identifying my strengths and weaknesses. I am also studying Persian, by revising key terms and phrases, which can be useful, as my main goal is to communicate effectively in Persian in Iran, if we go and with my friends.

The things that I have missed, is going out to restaurants, and working in coffee shops and libraries, and commuting by train by reading  a good book, and visiting my relatives, especially my 2 year old niece. During the first two months, we did not see each other in person, only through Skype and Whatsapp, but after Ramadan, we took a walk to her house, and my sister, and niece come over but not as often as before. What I do not miss, is waking up extra early to get ready for college, and large gatherings. When waking up extra early, I have to resist the temptation to hit the snooze button, and wait for the train to come, especially if there is a delay. With large gatherings, as much as I like interacting with my cousins, too much stimulation can be stressful.

My goals after lockdown, is be more fit, by going for a walk during my breaks in University, doing morning exercises, such as stretches at home, and attending fitness classes. I want to be more independent both emotionally and finally, by making a budget plan, and sticking to it, by eating out once a week or once a month, and for coffee once every other week, or once or twice a month. I might consider volunteering or applying for a part-time job in a library for work experience during the days I am not going to university, to develop my skills for my career in the library industry.

Next Post: Ramadan During Lockdown

Living In London

London is one of the most popular city in the world. People from different nationalities live there and go for a visit. There are some benefits to living in the UK and some disadvantages too.

Advantages of living in London

1) Public transport easily accessible almost everywhere.  

2) Walking is good exercise. Pedestrian-friendly

3) More courses available

4) Public libraries and coffee shops available almost everywhere, useful for studying without being disturbed

5) Safer than other cities, that doesn't mean you should  let your guard down completely

6) Multi-national

7) Halal food options

Disadvantages

1)   Some areas have high crime rates, especially in isolated areas and areas where tourists visit like the London eye, pickpoketing can happen. 

2) Tahara and najasa problems, especially in public bathrooms.

3) Weather, it can sometimes get too cold, especially in the winter.

London is a good place to live. However, safety and security, and climate changes can be a problem. My advice is to take care of your belongings especially in large crowds, don't  take the shortcut to your house at night by yourself, it may seem like a good idea in order to save time but your safety is the most top priority. Instead walk through well-lit areas at night. Trust your instincts. If someone ever makes you feel uncomfortable, then walk away and report them. It is better to be safe than sorry. Keep your doors locked whenever you leave the house, even when you are in it. 

That doesn't mean you should spend the rest of your life paranoid. Have fun, but be cautious.  For the weather conditions, try to be prepared. Read the weather forecast and wear a coat. 

The Missing Earring: Part 4

The next day, I told Andy about my dream and she gave me a I-told-you-so look. As we were eating breakfast, we spot someone familiar. I whisper to Andy, ‘’Andy, look, it’s that guy from my dream, the same guy we had questioned yesterday.’’

‘’Well come on then, let’s go tail him,’’ said Andy.

So Andy and I observe that guy and follow him as he gets up from his seat, all the way from the lift to his room. I found out that his room is next to ours on the same floor we’re in.

‘’Oh, brother,’’ I sighed.

Andy and I ended up trapped in this guy’s room.

‘’Oh no, we’re doomed!’’ Andy exclaimed.

The guy looks at us and smirks,’’ Well, well, well. We meet again.’’

‘’I’m Henry by the way,’’ he said grinning maliciously.

‘’I bet you’re wondering where your earrings and you think I stole them, did you?’’

‘’Well you know what,’’ Henry continues saying,’’You’re right, I did steal them.’’

‘’Why?’’ I asked.

‘’To make money,’’ he replied smugly.

‘’But sir, there are other ways to make money besides stealing other people’s possessions,’’ I said.

‘’Hey, don’t tell me how to do my job, lady!’’ he snarled,’’I do rob people for a living you know.’’

‘’You’re sick!’’ I shouted angrily.

Henry laughed evily, takes out a gun from his pocket and points it at Andy. Andy and I gasp.

‘’No, please don’t hurt her,’’ I  sobbed.

‘’Don’t worry, I won’t hurt your friend unless you cooperate and do as I tell you.’’

Hah, I’m not going to let this scumbag boss me around.

I kick him in the groin then try to take the gun from the guy’s hands, Henry tries to take it out of my reach but I’m stronger than him, so I succeed in taking the gun out of Henry’s hands and shoot him. Henry falls to the ground unconscious.

I just hope I didn’t kill him. I’ll call the police and tell them it was self-defense, which isn’t a complete lie. I did do it for self-defense but I also did it to protect Andy. I dialed 911 and told the dispatcher about what happened, the address of our hotel, and what Henry looked like.

Five minutes later, the police and ambulance came, since Henry has to be treated for his bullet wounds before he goes to jail. Thankfully, the police understood why I shot him and I wasn’t arrested.

Andy thanked me for saving her life. We hugged each other.

‘’I don’t know what I would do without you,’’ she said tearfully as she hugged me.

Andy and I went to this ice cream shop which was 10 minutes away from the hotel. I ordered chocolate ice cream and Andy ordered strawberry ice cream.

She smiled at me then said, ‘’ I have something for you. To show my appreciation for  your heroism, I want you to have this.’’  She takes out a red box then gives it to me. I open it to see my pearl earrings. I was astonished.

‘’What, Andy, how?’’

‘’As soon as you called the police, I decided to take a peak at this guy’s bag and I found your stolen earrings in there,’’ she said grinning at me.

‘’I guess you were right about him,’’ I said, ‘’we knew it was him as soon as we saw him I had a negative vibe about him, it turns out my instincts were right after all.’’

I was thrilled to have my earrings back. Andy and I embraced each other. I wouldn’t ask for a better friend than Andy. It was all thanks to her that I recovered my lost earrings. 

The End

The Missing Earring: Part 3

Andy and I started putting up signs of a lost earring, by putting our name, phone number and offering a reward to anybody who finds it.

Andy smirks and says, ‘’This is a good way to bribe someone who could have your earrings, Holly.’’

‘’I don’t think they’ll weasel their way out of it.’’ I laughed.

Andy and I order ice cream from the ice cream truck. I had chocolate and Andy had strawberry and vanilla. We observed other people. People-watching is Andy and I’s favourite hobby, we observe people through our binoculars without them noticing. We saw a woman pushing her baby in a stroller and a man with sunglasses who had a black bag. I know you shouldn’t judge people by their looks, but this guy looked suspicious, and Andy and I started getting negative vibes from him. I rummaged through my purse, took out my notebook and noted down our no.3 suspect. Andy and I confronted him.

‘’Good afternoon, sir,’’ I greeted him.

‘’Good afternoon to you, ma’am, what can I do for you?’’ the man asked.

‘’We just wanted to ask you some questions. Have you seen our lost earring, somewhere?’’

‘’What? No, I haven’t,’’ he replied warily.

‘’Really? Have you read the signs, sir?’’ I asked.

‘’What are you implying? You think I’m a thief, don’t you,’’ he said with gritted teeth.

‘’No, of course not,’’ I said backing away from the man.

‘’Well yeah, you’re acting like I stole it,’’ he said sarcastically.

We started to get suspicious because of the way he reacted when we asked him about my stolen earring.

Oh no, I wonder, the man knows we’re on to him, what do we do?

‘’Shouldn’t we call the police?’’ Andy asked.

‘’No, not yet,   we are still not one hundred percent sure that he’s guilty,’’ I replied.

‘’But, what if he is? He could be lying, you never know. That is how most suspects behave when they’re being interrogated.’’

‘’I guess you’re right,’’ I sighed then said,’’ but it is better if we don’t get the police involved, like I said, we don’t know for sure if it is really him. He’s innocent until proven guilty.’’

I had a nightmare about our no.3 suspect, which was the man we had confronted earlier, that he kidnapped Andy, then tortured her, while I watched helplessly. The guy takes out a jewelry box and a bag loaded with money, then laughs maliciously. I recognize the pearl earring which he takes out from the jewelry box as mine.

I wake up with a start, sigh with relief when I see Andy still sleeping peacefully next to me, safe and sound.

Andy was right, I thought, that guy could be a thief. Or maybe it was just a dream and my mind was playing tricks on me.

To be continued....

The Missing Earring: Part 2

The next day, Andy and I went to the maid’s office to interrogate her.

‘’Good morning, ma’am,’’ I greeted her.

‘’Good morning to you ladies, to what do I owe this pleasure,’’ she said.

‘’We just wanted to ask you something,’’ I answered.

‘’Well go ahead, dear,’’ she smiled.

‘’Umm, well, you see, a piece of jewelry, which is an earring has been missing from us, since yesterday.’’

‘’Do you have any idea of what happened to our earring,’’ I asked.

The maid hesitates then shakes her head. Andy and I walk away sadly. I take out my notebook, and made a note about the maid being our no.1 suspect.

Andy and I go to the front desk to report the theft to a receptionist, who I’ve learned that her name was Sally, I knew just by looking at her nametag. Sally smiled kindly and told us not to worry and that she’ll find out who the culprit and do anything to help us recover our lost property. However, Andy believes that Sally could be our no.2 suspect.

‘’Oh come on, Andy, this is ridiculous. How could it be her? She sounded genuine with us,’’ I said.

‘’Well you never know, she could be a good actress,’’ Andy implied.

‘’Hmm,’’ I said, then thought for a moment.

Andy might be right. What if the maid didn’t steal it, but Sally did. Or worst of all, what if Sally was the maid’s accomplice? As in, what if she was a lookout for the maid, so she can know when we are leaving, and when we are coming back to our hotel room.

To be continued.... 

The Missing Earring: Part 1

Hi, I’m Holly Brooks. I’m 18 years old. I live with my mum in London, in Harrow. I wear black round glasses , the same shape of glasses that Arthur the main character in my favourite show Arthur wears. Whenever, I lie  or get nervous I tend to play with my glasses just like he does. I have straight brown hair. I wear a long red top with a blue blouse with skinny jeans. Those are what I call my regular clothes. I tend to be shy in new situations  especially when meeting new people. I have one best friend who I can rely on, her name is Andy. We are complete opposites even though we’re best friends, but we have some things in common, we share the same fear, which is the fear of losing each other and we both like desserts which are chocolate tart and chocolate cake. I’m smart, but my grades are like average, I mostly get  C's. I’m quite good at solving mysteries as I’m very stealthy. My dream job is to become a detective like Nancy Drew, who is my role model. My best friend Andy is friendly and outgoing, she likes shopping for clothes and has a love for food like desserts. She makes good jokes which will make me laugh hysterically. She seems a well-rounded person because she is good at like almost everything, in both sports and academics. I  tend to be jealous of her sometimes because she is better than me in sports, which I don’t excel at.

Our story begins on how I solved my first mystery. Andy and were vacationing  in New York. We were staying at a hotel called Central Park Inn, which is very close to Central park, because when you look outside the window, you can see the scenery and view of Central park, with the sounds of the birds chirping. It was a bright sunny morning, Andy and I had just woken up and we were having breakfast downstairs. I had  chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate. Andy had chocolate tart with milk tea. Andy was telling me a joke about how  a boy who had a hearing problem went to the doctor, then it turns out he had potatoes in his ear, that joke made me laugh so hard that I choked on my hot chocolate and started coughing violently. Then we discussed on what we were going to do and what sightseeing we were going to see. We then went back upstairs to our hotel room, which was room 304, on the third floor. As I brushed my teeth, I had an eerie feeling that something was missing. I wonder what it is, I thought. I looked in the bathroom mirror and I noticed that my pearl earrings were not on my ears. I looked through my handbag, luggage, under the pillow, and everywhere I can think of, but there were no earrings to be seen. I sighed.

‘’Andy, have you seen my earrings?’’ I asked.

‘’No, Holly, I haven’t,’’ Andy replied.

‘’I looked everywhere in this room, and I can’t find it.’’

‘’When was the last time you had it?’’

I recalled that I had taken off my earrings last night as I went to take a bath before going to sleep and forgot to put them back on. I told Andy about that. I also remember that as we went downstairs for breakfast, we put on a housekeeping sign, then all of a sudden I notice that our room was super clean. I think for a moment, maybe the maid could have stolen it.

To be continued...

Jealousy

Everyone gets jealous from time to time, even the most nice people and quiet people like me gets jealous sometimes. It is not Haram to be jealous, in fact it is normal, but there ways which you can control it and overcome it.

There are many reasons why we get jealous. Sometimes people feel insecure and feel like they are inferior when someone else has something which they don't have but want to such as a fancy car, a mansion, money, etc. We even feel jealous when someone else has accomplished something which we wish we had such as winning a contest, good grades. Even in relationships we feel jealous sometimes when someone who we're close  to spends time with someone else, for instance, you see your best friend spending time with another friend, you feel insecure because you feel like your best friend likes this friend better than you. Social media such as facebook, instagram and snapchat can lead to jealousy because we assume that people's lives are perfect just by looking at their photos, videos and statuses, but the truth is we don't know what they're going through.

Sometimes, extreme jealousy can  cause us to do things which are Haram such as suicide, bullying, stealing, gossiping and spreading rumors, ignoring someone and leaving them out of  a group on purpose.  Allah does not want us to act like this, because if  we resort to any of these negative behaviors there will be consequences such as; being grounded, getting your privileges taken away like mobile phones, being banned from going on field trips,  getting arrested, etc. Please think twice before resorting to any of these bullying behaviors which are listed above.

Here are some examples of cases of jealousy which has occured based on my own personal experience and in general. From my personal experience, I have a cousin who is my age had just got her own driving license. I felt a lump in my throat. I felt like I was going to cry. So I talked to my sister about it, who went through a similar experience and I felt better. I  no longer feel jealous of her right now,in fact I'm happy for here for what she has accomplished. Another example in general which did not actually happen, let's say I get a B minus and another girl gets an A star, my thoughts would be like, 'This is so unfair, I've studied so hard for this test, how come she gets an A star and I get a B minus!' Then some other girl gets a C, I feel relieved, 'Hmm, maybe I didn't do so bad after all, this girl who got the C, is probably feeling jealous of me and this  A star girl too.'  Another example which also didn't happen; my best friend shows me her new house which is huge, it looks like a mansion, she has like everything, a limo, more than six bedrooms and even her own burger king restaurant, here are my thoughts,'Oh she and her family are so rich, they have like everything, she is so spoiled, how come she gets  to live in this mansion while I get to live in a three-bedroom flat.' See what I mean? This is  how we feel like when we are jealous.


When you are feeling jealous, let out your emotions in a constructive way. Please don't bottle them up, it's not good. Do not resort to abusive behaviors which I have mentioned before. Don't ignore someone who you  are jealous of or give them the silent treatment, you don't want them to feel like,
'Why is she treating me like this? What did I do wrong?' In other words, you don't want them to think that they've done something wrong.  If you have ever hurt someone whether physically or emotionally, please apologize, they may or may not forgive you and sadly, your relationship might  not be the same as it was before. Whenever you're spending time with your close friend or family member  and you feel jealous, talk to them about it and try  to work it out and make sure that your jealousy doesn't get in the way, you don't it to ruin your relationship with others. right? Please don't compare yourself to other people. Their life might not be as perfect as it seems. Instead focus on your strengths rather than theirs. If you are facing extreme jealousy, and it is taking over your life please seek help from a therapist. Please talk to someone about your feelings whenever you feel envy towards someone. they can give you good advice and you never know, they might go through a similar experience as you. Trust me, you'll feel better after talking to someone.

Now that we've feel talked about what to do when you are jealous, but what about when someone is jealous of you? Here is what you can do. Firstly, try to talk to this person, remind them of all the things which they are good at, and talk to them about the tough experiences which you've been through, it might make them feel better. If a jealous person ever tries to physically harm you or emotionally harm you, please seek help. They'll learn their lesson soon enough.

Jealousy is a normal feeling to have which everyone including us, people from all different backgrounds and religions experience. However, it can lead to aggressive behavior like bullying.
There are ways to overcome jealousy by talking to someone you trust about how you feel.

Iraq

Iraq is one of the best countries in the world. It is where I come from. The best things about Iraq is the culture, religion. Cities I've visited are Najaf, Karbala and Baghdad. Here are a list of things that I liked about Iraq and the things that I didn't like.
Pros:
1) My family/relatives live there
2) People are friendly and welcoming
3) Feels like home
4) Grandparents buried there
5) My country, understand local language
6) Visting  Imams, Ali, Al-Khadim and Imam Jawad
7) Weather, when it is not too hot or too cold
8) Scenery

Cons:
1) Reckless driving
2) Electricity going off
3) Muddy area, sand
4) Weather, when it is too hot or too cold
5) Traffic, congestion
6) Screaming kids
It seems like I have more likes than dislikes. Visiting the hadraths was one of the best experience ever. My sister's aqad took place there being arranged by beloved uncle sheikh, my favourite uncle. The hotels we stayed in were very nice and cozy, but not as cozy as staying in my uncle sheikh's  house. My plan for the future is to live in Iraq for like 2 to 3 years. 2 years in Najaf and one year in Baghdad. If all goes well, I'll live in Iraq for the rest of my life, residing in Najaf, and might work in Baghdad, that doesn't mean I won't look for a job in Najaf, depends on the circumstances. So far so good, I'm proud to be Iraqi.

Shoplifting

Shoplifting is stealing goods from the store without paying. Shoplifting and stealing in general is a really serious offense and is punishable by law, it is also really Haram. When we shoplift, we lose control of our nafs. When you shoplift what comes to your mind? How do you feel? Some people feel relieved after stealing an item and the thought about getting away with it, but the truth is if you steal you won't be happy, you'll feel guilty because you know that what you did was wrong. Imagine what would happen if you get caught shoplifting. You'll get kicked out of the store, you'll have to pay a fine if it is a first time offense and have to do community service to make up of what you've done. If you shoplifted more than once or committed other crimes, then you've committed a felony and have to serve your time in jail. Your family, friends and other people who care about you would be very disappointed in you. And the customers would have to pay extra and the shoplifter will be held accountable for his/her actions. It might also end up on the thief's criminal record, this might make it harder to get a job. Now the question is, why do some people shoplift? Some people suffer from a mental disorder called Kleptomania, in order to stop stealing, they'll need therapy or a mental health professionist. Others feel the need to steal because of peer pressure or because someone dared them to do it. Some people steal because they feel that something is missing in their lives, but stealing won't fix what is missing. Also, when people see an item they can't afford, they are so desperate to get it that they steal it, but in fact the best thing that you can do is to either buy something else that is cheaper or buy the same item that is cheaper in other stores. Finally the reason why people choose to shoplift is out of revenge, to get back at a store. Others do it because they're bored and don't have something useful to do. 

 

There are ways to stop shoplifting. Firstly, if you suffer from kleptomania, see a therapist, they'll tell you some good tips to stop your ways. Whenever you find yourself thinking about taking an item without paying, tell yourself to stop, distract yourself or get someone to distract you whenever you find yourself about to steal. It is a good idea to tell your family or friends about your addiction to stealing if you're addicted to stealing, they'll help you overcome it. If you ever find yourself thinking about shoplifting, like, 'This looks really nice, but I can't afford it, I'll just take it without paying, hope I don't get caught.' Or, 'I'm bored, I'm going to go rob a store.' Replace those negative thoughts into positive ones like,' I want this item, but it's wrong to steal it.' or ' I'm bored so I'm going to study in a coffee shop, besides I don't want to ruin my future by robbing a store.' As I just mentioned here stealing does ruin your future because if you shoplift you'll end up with a criminal record which will make it difficult to get job opportunities because they'll have to do a criminal background check before they hire you. You don't want end up in a life of crime, trust me. Spend your time doing other things besides shoplifting like reading, volunteering, if you want to be a librarian like me do some volunteering in a local library. If you want to steal to get revenge on the store, then think about the consequences, prices will increase, you'll get in serious trouble, besides they're not worth it, you're better than those mean store clerks. 

Authors note: Sorry I hadn't updated in a year, I was so busy studying for my IGCSE's, I'm waiting for my results now and there was so much going on in my life. 

Home Alone: my story

Most of you have seen a Home Alone movie where a boy named Kevin Mcallister gets accidentally left behind at home when his family goes to Paris. He defends his home from two burglars who attempt to break into his home. Now I'm going to tell you my story if I was in this boy's position. The  story would take place in London, instead of Chicago. 

Summary: I get left home alone because my dad is away on business, my mum and my sisters are out of town to see my uncle and his family. I'm left at home alone because I have homework to do and have to deal with two burglars who attempt to break into my house. 

 

Now my story begins. I'm sitting in my room which  I share with my eldest sister Khamael. She enters. 

"What are you doing?''she asked.

Nothing,''I replied, closing my laptop.

''Don't you have homework to catch up on?''

''Well yeah, I do but it is not due till Monday, so I'm taking a break now.''

''Oh okay. By the way, Mama,Ghadeer and I are going to Surrey to visit Uncle Hasan and his family, want to come?''

''Sorry can't, I've got lots of homework to do.''

''It's okay, I understand. I'm glad that you are using your time efficiently, Huda. But are you sure you will be fine by yourself?''

"Don't worry, I'll be fine, I know what to do.'' 

Khamael smiled and hugged me and went to tell Mama what I told her. 

''I'm worried about Huda. It's not that I don't trust her,'' I heared Mama say, ''it's just that we might live in a not so safe neighbourhood in Notting Hills. I'm worried something bad might happen to Huda.''

Don't worry Mama,'' Ghadeer said,''Huda will be fine, she's very brave.'' 

I smiled at what Ghadeer said. Mama, Khamael and Ghadeer got ready to leave. Mama gave me safety rules such as not answering the phone and door to strangers and calling them if I needed anything or if anything happens. 

I waved them goodbye and went to my room and did my homework.

The next hour after I finished my Maths homework I decided to go make myself some chocolate milkshake when suddenly I heard a noise. 

What was that?I wondered. I decided that it wouldn't hurt to go investigate a bit so I decided to peak through the curtains. I gasped. I saw two men with crowbars. One was short and bald and the other was tall and blond. They were going to break into our house. 

''Which way do we go?''asked the blond guy.

''Through the back door.''

I ran quietly to my room, hid in my closet and put a Hijab on my head in case those guys make it into to my room. 

''I've heard that this family is Muslim. Most muslims are loaded.'' the short guy said. 

''Really, Harry, they're muslim. I've never met a muslim in my life.''

''Look, Mark, who cares let's just rob this house and get out of here.''

Oh no, they know about our religion. I thought about what I heard of them say. I recognise one of them, the short guy named Harry. He was the the police officer who checked into our house last night, he was talking to Mama about our security system. I shouldn've known this was going to happen. I took out my cell phone and and called 999. I told the operator everything about what happened. How the burglars looked like, where I am now, our address and the burglar's names. I kept on line, so if Harry and Mark make it into my room, find me and threaten me, the police will hear what is going on. 

''There is a muslim girl named Huda in this room. They've left her home alone because she has homework to do.'' Harry said.Oh no, they know that I am home alone. I'm screwed now. 

An idea struck me. I took out a pocket knife from the closet. 

The door burst open.

''Aha, there she is, she is wearing a head scarf.''

I stabbed them with the knife . Then the police arrived and arrested the criminals. 

Mama called, Khamael, Ghadeer, and even Uncle Hasan and his family called. They've heard about what I have done. The police told them everything. They told me how brave I was and that they were proud of me. Enough said. 

I

If Reva Dalby, the Silent Night character was real

Imagine if Reva Dalby in the book called Silent Night by R.l Stine was real. She is the richest girl in Shadyside. Her dad owns a hundred department stores and her mother died in a plane or car accident, whatever it was I forgot. Would she be your friend or enemy? She would be my enemy because I hate her, she would be jealous of me because I would beat her in every class and also I would refuse her offer of friendship just like Harry did to Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter.

We would meet in a shop called Debenhams. This is how our meeting would turn out:
Reva: Hi
Me: Hi
Reva: What's your name?
Me: Huda
Reva: I'm Reva, by the way where does your father work?
Me: Sorry?
Reva: Where does your father work?
Me: He works as an engineer.
Reva: Yes, I meant where? Does he own a department store just like my father does?
Me: That is really not your concern.
Reva: I was just asking. What is wrong with that?
Me: I really appreciate it if you don't ask personal questions.
Reva: ok
Reva: Where are your parents?
Me: They are here in the men's section. What about yours?
Reva:None of your business
Me: Sorry
Reva:  My mother died in a plane crash, my father is working in a department store called Dalby's. They made a branch here in Dubai. I get to work in a perfume counter. It's so boring. Annoying customers come up to me asking for help. Why don't they ask someone else, can't they see I'm busy? My supervisor is also annoying, she keeps on lecturing me on how to behave. She's my supervisor not my boss or my mum. I also put a black dot on my nail just to annoy her. Want to see? ( shows me her nails)
Me: (makes a disgusted look)
Reva: Why are you wearing that scarf, are you cold?
Me: No
Reva: Who are you dating or are you single?
Me: WHAT?
Reva: I asked who are you dating? What's wrong with asking questions, huh?
Me: I really appreciate it if you didn't ask such questions. Goodbye(leaves)
Mama: What's wrong?
Me: I just had a bad encounter with a girl  named Reva. She was asking rude questions.
Mama: Don't let her get to you sweetie
Me: I just hope she doesn't go to the same school that I go to. I just had enough.

The next day much to my irritation, she would go to the same school that I would go to. We would become enemies. She would spread rumors about me but most people wouldn't believe it anyway. I would ignore her insults pretending they didn't bother me but they would. I would go home crying to my parents about it. They would come to the school and talk to the teachers. They would hate her just as much as I do. I mean she would always come to class late and talk back to the teachers. They would try talking to her dad who tells her that he hopes that her attitude would change. He wouldn't even scold her. I mean he always spoils her and does whatever she wants. And thats how it would be like if Reva Dalby was real.

The Turtle Secret

I went to my session called 'The Turtle Secret' by Julia Johnson.She was there. She told us about how she experienced turtles, facts about turtles, her story about Turtle Secret and ways to protect the turtles.
The story is about an Emarati girl. She and her uncle are Biologists. They like to find out more about turtles.
In the questions and answers part, I asked a question on a microphone for the first time in my life. The first one in my family! None of my family had the courage to do it. I was nervous while doing this because everyone turned to look at me. I'm not usually an attention seeker. I felt proud of myself after doing that. Everyone was proud of me. Julia also told us some tips about writing. Search for the topic that you are going to write about on the internet, keep a diary and expand your vocabulary.

Being Home alone

Whatever the reason might be, sometimes you find yourself home alone with nobody to keep you company and nothing to keep you occupied. You're probably home alone if you are reading this right now. The advantages of staying home alone is that you have the house to yourself, you can do anything you want without your family breathing down your neck. When you are home alone, it is a good time to do your homework because there is no distractions. It is a good time to daydream because nobody can interrupt you. The disadvantages are is that you might be  bored, lonely and scared because there is nobody with you. For example, your parents have to go to a business meeting, they have no choice but to leave you home alone. So what do you do? Show them that you are mature and responsible by doing your homework, doing chores, not answering the phone to anyone except them, not answering the door to strangers and not throwing a party. If you follow the house rules, then your parents will let you stay home alone more often. Use good time managment skills when you are home alone. In other words, always keep yourself busy and never waste that free time. If you want to daydream or wander around the house then only do it for 5-10 minutes. If you see someone suspicious outside your house or hear suspicious noises, call your parents. Don't investigate suspicious noises on your own. Stay inside your building, never leave your house without your parents' permission. Don't let anyone know that you are home alone except your friends and family, especially on your facebook status. In an emergency, always call your parents, if it is something very serious, call 999 or 911. The good things about being home alone is that the house is going to be quiet and you can do anything without anyone interrupting you. The problems are is that you might feel lonely, bored or scared. You have to also stay safe.

The Imaginary Twin

I have an imaginary twin sister called Nada. Imagine if I really had a twin. I'd be the older twin while Nada will be the younger twin. We would be much alike by our looks but different in our personalities. The things that we would have in common would be: we would both like spicy food, love Harry Potter, love Dolma and hate shopping. The only thing  different we have is that I'm a shy, quiet, clever, organised, studious, loves writing,loves reading, is hardworking and well behaved. Nada is quite the opposite. She's outgoing, stubborn, sporty, lazy, disorganised and a troublemaker. I'm the kind of bossy twin  while she is the stubborn and immature one. I love my twin sister but the one thing I don't like about her is that when I nag her and tell her to do her homework she refuses to listen to me and tells me that I act like my mum, which is true. In school, I'm the nerd and she is the prankster. The one thing that we fight about most is  homework and  about Nada playing pranks and acting immature. When I threaten to tell on her, she calls me a tattletale. We both share a room and that is the one thing that I dislike the most. We have most of our fights there because she bothers me while I am trying to do my homework or when I am trying to sleep. Her snores are so annoying that I have to put on earplugs. We once had a fight when we were both getting changed. She put her clothes on my bed! But the things that I like about her is that she is a fun person to be  around with, she's friendly and generous. We chat about different kinds of things before we go to sleep or when we are left home alone with nothing else to do. We sometimes stay up at night and have our own sleepovers by watching a movie together, eating popcorns, playing games or chatting about random stuff.
I really love my twin sister and she is funny and cute according to my friends but she is annoying, lazy, stubborn, and always gets in trouble.

How to prevent being an easy target for Kidnapping

Kidnappings happen in some parts of the world. Here are ways to keep yourself safe and avoid being an easy target:
* Avoid going out at night. If you must go out at night, always stick to well lit and populated areas. Avoid going to dark alleys  or any isolated place where kidnapping occurs the most.
* Be confident and look confident. If you look nervous you're more likely are going to be an easy target.
* Avoid wearing any flashy clothing that draws attention to yourself.
* Avoid carrying any valuables; like purse, backpack or jewellery.
* There is safety in numbers. In other words you'll feel more safer if you go with someone you know and trust.
* Always know where you are going. If you are lost pretend that you do because if you look lost you'll make yourself an easy target.
* Don't shut yourself off from the rest of the world. Always be aware of your surroundings. Don't daydream, look at your iphone, talk on the phone or do anything that makes you unaware of your surroundings. Kidnappers will think that you will be easy to sneak on.

If you read and follow all these points then you'll be safe.

How life would have been

Imagine if life was different. What if I wasn't born in this world? Khamael, Ghadeer and my parents wouldn't always be a happy family. Or maybe they would have a different brother or sister. What if I was a boy. Then I would have spent more time with my father and I wouldn't have gone to a ladies gathering. Or what if my family didn't know me and I wasn't part of their family? They would have treated me differently but they would still read this blog. I mean imagine I didn't know them and I am standing in line ordering food. I would still smile and say hi but I wouldn't talk to them very much unless absolutely necessary. What if I was born in a different family who were cruel to others? I would be a different person. I wouldn't be kind, bookish, studious and shy person that I am now. I would be raised to be a cruel and coldhearted person. Instead of being a shy and nerdy girl, I would be a mean girl who bullies others. Everyone would hate and fear me including my sisters and parents. What if I had been an only child? Khamael and Ghadeer wouldn't exist and I would be so lonely. I'm glad that I live with a good family and that I am a good person.

Hogwarts houses

For those of you who have read Harry Potter or heard of Harry Potter there is a school where most witches and wizards go called Hogwarts. There is a sorting hat that sorts you in  different houses. There are four houses each. They are; Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Huffllepuff and Slytherin. Ravenclaw is for the intelligent and witty people. Gryffindor is for the brave and loyal people. Hufflepuff is for the loyal, honest and hardworking. Slytherin is for the cunning and ambitious. The sorting hat chooses the house that fits you most. The sorting hat also takes your choice on what house you want to be in. According to Dumbledore, it's not our abilities what we truly are it's our choices. It's just like with Harry. Harry is a parselmouth, which means that he can talk to snakes. The sorting hat wanted to put Harry in Slytherin but Harry fought it and prevented it and it put him in Gryffindor. I think Ravenclaw is the house I want to be in because I feel like I belong there and it is a house for educated people. I am educated and I think I will be sorted in this house. Gryffindor doesn't sound terrible but it is also another choice for me if I'm not sorted in Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff isn't the house for me. I may be hardworking and I have some Hufflepuff traits but I don't feel like it is the house for me. I mean some people say that Hufflepuffs are dufflers and I don't want to look like a duffler.
Slytherin, definitely not! I mean that is the house that Lord Voldemort was sorted in and most people who are dark are sorted in this house and very few good people are sorted there. I'd rather die than get sorted in that house. And I will have a very few friends there and I will be an outcast and disliked by most people.

What about you? What house do you want to be sorted in to and not want to be sorted in to? Please leave a comment.