This is late in the year...I filled it out in Jan but didn't think I should post it, but it's just lying there so I will...
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? lemme see...did a lot of new things. most significantly, i rode a "fun bus" (so named by nicole, because they look like "fun"! you've probably seen them in websites about pk - they're all coloured and stuff) in karachi. most significantly because i'd never considered riding one till she suggested it.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? never make any :) - i just take one day at a time
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? one of my cousins, a boy :)
4. Did anyone close to you die? no...
5. What countries did you visit? romania, india, uae
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? nothing, can't think of anything i'd want that i don't already have...
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? september 27, 2005! opening ceremony for IC 2005 is something i'll never be able to forget...the sheer magnitude of the conference, and the emotions it brought out in the Pakistani delegation - woohoo!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? have never been caught smuggling in visiting aiesecers (always female!) who stay overnight in my room, about 12 or so to date, and if i'm caught 1500 rs fine per person/per night...and a visit with the disciplinary committee (something i JUST found out!).
9. What was your biggest failure? i let a friendship die out because i was too busy with everything else...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? the usual colds, sore throats, a minor ear infection, a foot problem i have right now...nothing serious.
11. What was the best thing you bought? my nomad - which i have already broken!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? tori and delia - the hottest MC in the world! they've been through everything these last 6-8 months, and i've actually come to think of them as pakistanis!
13.Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? a friends...no names :)
14.Where did most of your money go? travelling
15.What did you get really, really, really excited about? winning LCP elections, both times!
16.What song will always remind you of 2005? the bunty n bubli soundtrack...sounds dumb - but it's so darn catchy!
17.Compared to this time last year,
I. are you happier or sadder? same same
II. thinner or fatter? fatter :)
III. richer or poorer? no change
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? hanging out with friends
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? getting scolded by parents...!
20. Did you fall in love in 2005? nope...
21. How many one-night stands? none...good girl!
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? nopes...
23. What was the best book you read? hmm...all four of dan browns book - can't remember which one i read when though
24. What was your greatest musical discovery? james blunt!
25. What did you want and get? funky new wallet and the nomad
26. What did you want and not get? laptop! boohoo!
27. What was your favorite film of this year? bunty n bubli! i know - kill me!! it's funny!!
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? turned 22, got a cool bag...
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? a laptop!
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? same old, same old...jeans and t-shirts...
31. What kept you sane? who said i was sane?
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? that guy in lost - the doctor..something fox
33. What political issue stirred you the most? the mis-management of resources after the earthquake took place. people were actually burning the clothes we sent because there were too many for them to use - had this been better managed, we might've been able to help more before it snowed!
34. Who did you miss? weirdly enough - fahd majeed, a friend who moved to the states!
35. Who was the best new person you met? met a lot of amazing people, but nicole was undoubtedly the best! superstar!!
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005: never assume how people will react.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
wacky...
i am so bored right now, it's not even funny. and i know most people will be thinking, why isn't she asleep yet (it's 3 am here), but i can't! i have to be up at 8:30 and get ready for the training session for our new members, and if i sleep now i won't wake up on time...and that can't happen. so i'll stay awake. tomorrow's pretty free anyway, so i can..
coming back to the point, i'm really bored. i've been playing "fish tycoon" for a couple of hours now, but it's not something you can do on it's own, so i also played AoE, checked my emails, prepared the sessions for tomorrow, updated the @lhr blog, and sorted out through 500mb of unsorted documents...but now i have nothing to do. so i went on google, and searched for "bored"...and very interestingly, i came up with this wacky website. i'm really tempted to try some of this stuff out now...
coming back to the point, i'm really bored. i've been playing "fish tycoon" for a couple of hours now, but it's not something you can do on it's own, so i also played AoE, checked my emails, prepared the sessions for tomorrow, updated the @lhr blog, and sorted out through 500mb of unsorted documents...but now i have nothing to do. so i went on google, and searched for "bored"...and very interestingly, i came up with this wacky website. i'm really tempted to try some of this stuff out now...
Friday, March 17, 2006
Sunday, March 12, 2006
if you're looking for a laugh...
all i had to do was tell naureen i liked guinea pigs...now i'll never be able to look at guinea pig's the same way ever again. check out "the guinea pig way" to see what i'm talking about...
Saturday, March 04, 2006
old pics...
while sorting out the many files that i have to upload/change/delete, i came across some pics from last summer...
first...rusty - found behind the tire of a car, brought to me while i was in a coffee shop by some friends and then stayed in my room in the dorms for two weeks, and then moved to islamabad for another couple of weeks before some moron drove to fast in a residential lane and probably didn't even realize he ran over a three month old kitten...anyway - found the two pics i took of him...
rusty
rusty and uzair (my nephew)
the other pictures are from the annual family migration to "dunga gali", a small city in the northern areas where my uncle has a house which gets filled to capacity during certain weeks in the summer...we only went for a few days 
this time - and as usual, nothing even remotely interesting happened - except for the leopards that attacked some village women and managed to kill a few goats, which resulted in my mom refusing to let any of us even venture outside the front door - thus making the already boring trip a maha-boring one! atleast we had our dvd player, books, cell phones on us. anyway - took these pics on the way back...the weather was really nice and the scenery was jst awesome...
first...rusty - found behind the tire of a car, brought to me while i was in a coffee shop by some friends and then stayed in my room in the dorms for two weeks, and then moved to islamabad for another couple of weeks before some moron drove to fast in a residential lane and probably didn't even realize he ran over a three month old kitten...anyway - found the two pics i took of him...
rusty
rusty and uzair (my nephew) 
the other pictures are from the annual family migration to "dunga gali", a small city in the northern areas where my uncle has a house which gets filled to capacity during certain weeks in the summer...we only went for a few days 
this time - and as usual, nothing even remotely interesting happened - except for the leopards that attacked some village women and managed to kill a few goats, which resulted in my mom refusing to let any of us even venture outside the front door - thus making the already boring trip a maha-boring one! atleast we had our dvd player, books, cell phones on us. anyway - took these pics on the way back...the weather was really nice and the scenery was jst awesome...
Saturday, February 25, 2006
johari window...
the johari window was invented by joseph luft and harrington ingham in the 1950s as a model for mapping personality awareness. by describing yourself from a fixed list of adjectives, then asking your friends and colleagues to describe you from the same list, a grid of overlap and difference can be built up.
saw kurt's...and thought it was an interesting thing to do... so here's the link to mine :)
in other news - i have three exams in the next 72 hours...
saw kurt's...and thought it was an interesting thing to do... so here's the link to mine :)
in other news - i have three exams in the next 72 hours...
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
...
i was recently emailed this statement a groups of islamic scholars released regarding the cartoons published in the danish newspapers. thanks ahmad :)
i still don't have an official stance on the whole issue, but this statement makes me feel slightly more positive about the muslim world and it's response...there are quite a few things in the statement i agree with, but some i don't...an interesting read...
i still don't have an official stance on the whole issue, but this statement makes me feel slightly more positive about the muslim world and it's response...there are quite a few things in the statement i agree with, but some i don't...an interesting read...
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Two die in Pakistan cartoon clash
"Pakistani security guards have shot dead two protesters in Lahore during unrest over cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad, officials say." Read more here
Most AIESEC Lahore members have been contacted and are safe, we're still trying to contact others.
Those who have families based in Islamabad are being contacted.
Most AIESEC Lahore members have been contacted and are safe, we're still trying to contact others.
Those who have families based in Islamabad are being contacted.
Monday, February 13, 2006
There's been some interesting debate amongst the LUMS instructors over the caricatures of the Prophet (sws). Here's some emails...
"I agree that freedom of expression is indeed a fundamental right of any
human being or society. However, limitations have quite often been used in
many laws and constitutions of democratic societies to uphold restrictions
on hate speech and obscenity. In French law, public speech or writings
that incite racial or religious hatred, for example neo-nazi ideas, are
prohibited on the same basis. Similarly, Article 5 of the German
Grundgestez ("basic Law") includes some restrictions on free speech, for
example personal insults or hate speech (Volksverhetzung). The Irish
Constitution categorizes "blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter" as
that which cannot be granted the right of free expression. In fact, on
July 18, 2003 Dorota Nieznalska was sentenced to six months in Poland for
publishing an art work that showed a penis on a cross, which was
considered to be an insult to religious sentiments. Similarly, On January
5, 2005 another man was sentenced to a fine of about 5000 euros for
insulting Pope John Paul II. The European Convention on Human Rights
(November 4, 1950) sums up many of these restrictions on freedom of
expression:
The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and
responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions,
restrictions or penalties as areprescribed by law and are necessary in a
democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial
integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for
the protection of health or moralsfor the protection of the reputation or
the rights of others,for preventing the disclosure of information received
in confidence, or for maintaining the authorityand impartiality of the
judiciary. [Emphasis mine]
How exactly should the Muslims and their governments protest against the
publication of these cartoons is a separate question. The fact that some
Muslims resorted to arson is indeed wrong. But, it would be unfortunate if
that made the world forget the most important thing about free society:
that all humans have certain inalienable rights; but, they also have some
basic responsibilities. It is on the basis of this principle that we
regard calling a black man a nigger or a Jew a kike as indecency rather
than free speech as such, for all human experience has shown that, whether
we wish to criticize an idea or justify it, the all-important battle of
ideas can never truly be won without superior morality. The question,
therefore, is Couldn't the same ideas be expressed as effectively in a
decent way? Academic critiques on Islam and vociferous criticisms against
the Muslims by many renowned scholars (as Bernard Lewis for example, who
is still widely read in Pakistan) have shown us that they can be. However,
without responsibility, freedom can quite easily become what it was never
meant to be: indecency and oppression.
It must also be emphasised time and again that quite often it is we who
choose the shackles of slavery ourselves by the choices we make. It is
here that “Freedom is Slavery” (in Orwell’s words). Who is stopping the
Muslim world from making a strong statement economically? What is it that
we truly and really need from the West? Technology? Maybe. Maybe not. But,
at least, let's stop buying European products that are not our dire needs.
It became quite obvious after the Bajour bombing how much spine we have as
a people. Economic sense. Maybe. At least, that's some kind of twisted
justification. But, do we or do we not have any dignity? Can't we even
abandon the purchase of a few European luxuries to defend our Prophet's
sacred honour (sws)? Maybe I am just overreacting, but I don't think I saw
even half the emotion on this one that LUMS demonstrated in the wake of
the earthquake.
Asif Iftikhar
Lecturer, Islamic Studies"
Miguel replied to this (he's an instructor with the social sciences department and originally from portugal, though he's settled in Pk now).
"Thank you for your comments, Miguel. Since I completely agree that it is
not fair to make sweeping generalizations about any people, I apologize
for any statement that you might have seen as critical of all Europeans.
That was certainly not my intent. While suggesting a boycott of some
“European luxuries” I used the word “European” synecdochically and assumed
that it would be taken as such in the given context. Nevertheless, I
apologize if this point was not clear in my message. Furthermore, it would
be great if Muslims could make an impact on the concerned companies
directly. But, if that is not possible, I don’t see why it would be
against any democratic or civil norms to make our displeasure known to the
governments that “harbour” such miscreants as misuse the idea of freedom
to insult our Prophet (sws). The statement we’d be making through an
economic boycott would still be much more civil than “Either you are with
us or against us” rubric to illegally invade an independent country or
bombing on remote parts of an allied country to hunt down an elusive
phantom terrorist."
Best,
Asif
"I agree that freedom of expression is indeed a fundamental right of any
human being or society. However, limitations have quite often been used in
many laws and constitutions of democratic societies to uphold restrictions
on hate speech and obscenity. In French law, public speech or writings
that incite racial or religious hatred, for example neo-nazi ideas, are
prohibited on the same basis. Similarly, Article 5 of the German
Grundgestez ("basic Law") includes some restrictions on free speech, for
example personal insults or hate speech (Volksverhetzung). The Irish
Constitution categorizes "blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter" as
that which cannot be granted the right of free expression. In fact, on
July 18, 2003 Dorota Nieznalska was sentenced to six months in Poland for
publishing an art work that showed a penis on a cross, which was
considered to be an insult to religious sentiments. Similarly, On January
5, 2005 another man was sentenced to a fine of about 5000 euros for
insulting Pope John Paul II. The European Convention on Human Rights
(November 4, 1950) sums up many of these restrictions on freedom of
expression:
The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and
responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions,
restrictions or penalties as areprescribed by law and are necessary in a
democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial
integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for
the protection of health or moralsfor the protection of the reputation or
the rights of others,for preventing the disclosure of information received
in confidence, or for maintaining the authorityand impartiality of the
judiciary. [Emphasis mine]
How exactly should the Muslims and their governments protest against the
publication of these cartoons is a separate question. The fact that some
Muslims resorted to arson is indeed wrong. But, it would be unfortunate if
that made the world forget the most important thing about free society:
that all humans have certain inalienable rights; but, they also have some
basic responsibilities. It is on the basis of this principle that we
regard calling a black man a nigger or a Jew a kike as indecency rather
than free speech as such, for all human experience has shown that, whether
we wish to criticize an idea or justify it, the all-important battle of
ideas can never truly be won without superior morality. The question,
therefore, is Couldn't the same ideas be expressed as effectively in a
decent way? Academic critiques on Islam and vociferous criticisms against
the Muslims by many renowned scholars (as Bernard Lewis for example, who
is still widely read in Pakistan) have shown us that they can be. However,
without responsibility, freedom can quite easily become what it was never
meant to be: indecency and oppression.
It must also be emphasised time and again that quite often it is we who
choose the shackles of slavery ourselves by the choices we make. It is
here that “Freedom is Slavery” (in Orwell’s words). Who is stopping the
Muslim world from making a strong statement economically? What is it that
we truly and really need from the West? Technology? Maybe. Maybe not. But,
at least, let's stop buying European products that are not our dire needs.
It became quite obvious after the Bajour bombing how much spine we have as
a people. Economic sense. Maybe. At least, that's some kind of twisted
justification. But, do we or do we not have any dignity? Can't we even
abandon the purchase of a few European luxuries to defend our Prophet's
sacred honour (sws)? Maybe I am just overreacting, but I don't think I saw
even half the emotion on this one that LUMS demonstrated in the wake of
the earthquake.
Asif Iftikhar
Lecturer, Islamic Studies"
Miguel replied to this (he's an instructor with the social sciences department and originally from portugal, though he's settled in Pk now).
"As a "European" and a Muslim let me elucidate some points:
First of all, as we are supposedly all inteligent and well-read people (we do attend a university) I'm pleased to see that very few people at LUMS buy the "Clash of Civilisations" theory (where do the Mediterraneans like me fit?). But it is as erroneous as to generalise about Arabs and Muslims as it is talking about a unified "West" or even a generalised "Europeans". There is a stark difference between Southern, Northern and Eastern Europe. Just because some countries have strong economic (and in the near future legislative) ties, does not mean we are "one".
Secondly, the vast majority of "Europeans" are against these cartoons, for the simple fact that they would not like their own beliefs to be ridiculed. Also, they know when newspapers are reprinting stories for the sake of "freedom of expression", or for the sake of making a quick buck.
Thirdly, all the newspapers that printed the cartoons are private companies that have very little to do with the governments ruling these countries. And although stopping consuming their commodities is a very good way to get the message through (hit them where it hurts), it will not directly affect these newspapers.
What is interesting is that during the Iraq invasion discontent Muslims all over the world had the possibility of having a bigger impact by boycoting American companies (many which contributed monetarily for the present administration's re-election campaign) and did nothing.
You see, it's always easier to burn a few flags than to stop drinking Coca-Cola ($1 million contributions) or Pepsi ($2 million), eating McDonald's ($0.8 million), using Windows ($0.7 million), Dell computers ($0.4 million), putting Chevron/Texaco ($2.4 million), or Exxon/Mobil/Esso ($2.8 million) in your car, or smoking Phillip Morris ($6.9 million).
By the way Asif, you're not overreacting, but asking the "burger-batchas" not to consume..."
and finally:"Thank you for your comments, Miguel. Since I completely agree that it is
not fair to make sweeping generalizations about any people, I apologize
for any statement that you might have seen as critical of all Europeans.
That was certainly not my intent. While suggesting a boycott of some
“European luxuries” I used the word “European” synecdochically and assumed
that it would be taken as such in the given context. Nevertheless, I
apologize if this point was not clear in my message. Furthermore, it would
be great if Muslims could make an impact on the concerned companies
directly. But, if that is not possible, I don’t see why it would be
against any democratic or civil norms to make our displeasure known to the
governments that “harbour” such miscreants as misuse the idea of freedom
to insult our Prophet (sws). The statement we’d be making through an
economic boycott would still be much more civil than “Either you are with
us or against us” rubric to illegally invade an independent country or
bombing on remote parts of an allied country to hunt down an elusive
phantom terrorist."
Best,
Asif
Saturday, February 04, 2006
for the past few hours i've been listening to the song "in rahon main" by a new band called burzakh - it's really good, one of those songs you put on repeat and then just keep listening to...
the past few weeks have been weird...nlc, transition, recruitment and some weird music society stuff has made me want to just get away from it all.
now that nlc is just 5 days away (feb 8-12), and most of the big problems have been resolved, i've managed to catch up with most of my emails, meet friends again and get back to blogging.
i still need to clean the room - i've cleaned parts, but the ones i still haven't touched are now getting anxious looks from my roommate who has to be the neatest person on planet!! i'll get down to it soon...before nlc...i hope :)
i really want to be there at IPM this year - so many people i know are applying for AI...good luck guys!
also, cricket fever is running high - y'know, the sort that draws every male in lums to the rec room and superstore so they can watch "just one more over", the one that makes people have one hour long conversations about bowlers, batsmen and wicket keepers like they're people they grew up with!
random thoughs running through my head - the most important must stay there...weird...
the past few weeks have been weird...nlc, transition, recruitment and some weird music society stuff has made me want to just get away from it all.
now that nlc is just 5 days away (feb 8-12), and most of the big problems have been resolved, i've managed to catch up with most of my emails, meet friends again and get back to blogging.
i still need to clean the room - i've cleaned parts, but the ones i still haven't touched are now getting anxious looks from my roommate who has to be the neatest person on planet!! i'll get down to it soon...before nlc...i hope :)
i really want to be there at IPM this year - so many people i know are applying for AI...good luck guys!
also, cricket fever is running high - y'know, the sort that draws every male in lums to the rec room and superstore so they can watch "just one more over", the one that makes people have one hour long conversations about bowlers, batsmen and wicket keepers like they're people they grew up with!
random thoughs running through my head - the most important must stay there...weird...
Saturday, January 21, 2006
...
...it's tough to believe it's been more than a year since i joined @. in another month the current team i work with will leave office and i'll start my next term, with a completely different set of people. it's a very weird feeling...
Thursday, January 05, 2006
wedding bells...
it's weird, in the last one month two people i'm really close to got one step closer to tying the knot.
lukhan baloch, the youngest of the baloch sisters and one of my best friends since 4rth grade got married. she got married to a guy that she loves. she's actually old enough to love a guy! i'm never going to think of lukhan as anything other than the person who i mercilessly beat (yes, yes...punches n all!), who showed up at my 11th b'day in the weirdest clothes imaginable, who used to loan me her "smash hits" magazines...someone i could have hour long conversations with on the phone..someone who lives in a different country now, someone who's moving even further away soon. i also feel it is my duty to point out that the picture in NO WAY shows lukhan in her true light, the picture i have from my birthday, however, does...if i didn't fear for my life i would upload it. i do, so i really can't. she's a hellfire, and she's going to come all the way back from the uk to kill me if she finds out i put it up...however, i shall be presenting her husband with that as a wedding gift...a little something he can use as blackmail the rest of his life...
the other person, my brother, didn't get married - but will be getting married at the end of this year. again, he's getting married to someone he loves...another odd thing - since all i can remember is him beating me up (mercilessly i might add) day in and day out since the first day i can remember. asides from the beating we havea great relationship - he tells me what to do, i don't do it, he gets pissed, i get scolded, sanctions are imposed, i sulk, i whine, i get my way (or not), we hang out, proceed to forget about the whole affair... :)
he made my first 2 years at college a living nightmare...he not only knew everyone, but had also moved to lahore for a few months in the middle. which meant that i had to deal with him telling me what to do IN PERSON! which is bad...i mean adeels temper is something best dealt with from a different postal code. still...he was in lahore - which wouldn't have been bad if he hadn't known the ENTIRE university. so imagine something like 10 friends of his calling him to tell him what i had been up to everyday...he always knew what i was up to...which meant i had to tell him everything myself. again not something i particularly look forward to...i've realised it's better to just let him find stuff out himself...he can deal with it whatever way he wants to...and since he now lives in karachi there are fewer chances i'll get killed while he's adjusting to the fact :)
it's weird - i'm now old enough that my best friends married, my brother close to it, and my sister has a daughter who's 3 years old...its time like these when i actually start wondering about where the heck i'm headed... :) more on that later maybe...
Friday, December 23, 2005
the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. vacations, SDC, new office, the jig, influx of international guests, christmas and ofcourse, the upcoming LCP elections.
the one week i got at home was fun - got to meet up with some old friends, made some new ones. it's always weird when someone who's been a rock for you has his life turned upside down, and its even more difficult when they don't realize that they don't always have to be the rock.
came back, had one day in LUMS and then off to karachi. SDC was another rollercoaster of emotions - right from watching the potential eb 2006-2007 change in a span of 4 days to aqeels "thingys". sohaib's never ending discussions about tony, to hassan trying really hard not to fall into the abyss. my relationship with every one of these guys has changed for life - they'll never just be members, or even vps to me - they'll always be the guys i spent 32 hours in the train with - talking about random crap, and trying to explain to hassan how AI functions. more important then us, though, were the karachites (who just wouldn't tell us who the chair was!!) . i'll never forget saba's "i won't get sick if i don't sleep" and dodi's "i'll be with you in 5 minutes". sharmeen and i had a crazy time trying to figure out exactly WHAT was going on and of course the new members are gems - the impromptu lunch at amirs house, the crazy driving, the harassed OC, and of course...the unmentionable incident! everytime lahore and karachi meet - we form a complete whole...corny...i know. but so true. can't wait for NLC now :)
but the people who won't be there at NLC will be the faci's...what a bunch of people. from amaan's being voted "sexiest faci" to nicole's "superstar", nic's "basically's" to eva's confessions. and finally, dandi and his "arre great yaar"...i don't think anyone in @ pakistan is EVER going to forget that expression - including the people who don't even understand what it means.
i don't think i'll ever forget SDC - it was an amazing conference, one of the best i've been to - and the food kicked ass!!
came back from SDC, had barely enough time to breathe and got thrown into the music society's first concert of the year "the jig". a full 2 days of running around, pissing people off (my team was managing the tickets), missing the ENTIRE concert, and ending up at KFC yet again! an awesome two days i must say. i always do a full round up of the concerts i attend..but since i didnt get to attend this one, i can't do that. i do think, however, that this was one concert for which every contingency had been planned out, except for bad singers (you can never really do anything about that can you?)...so - a few songs aside...everything i was able to hear was great - some people were exceptional...but they always are. notable mentions to ehsan's "stayin' alive", zahra's "star" and the 2 songs the lower staff sang. thanks again to the entire roadies team - you guys rocked!!
and finally - on to the current happenings...the following people are in town: nicole, nic, delia, tori. to be joined tomorrow by ellen, and two other german trainees from DI. then on saturday, delia and tori leave and on sunday the germans leave. and in the middle of all this we have LCP elections...which is a completely different type of story itself...
so - next time...updates on how christmas went (so far, we have ALL the decorations and food, no alcohol, and no time to decorate the tree in) and also pictures from the touristy things the visitors did. and maybe updates on the LCP elections...
the one week i got at home was fun - got to meet up with some old friends, made some new ones. it's always weird when someone who's been a rock for you has his life turned upside down, and its even more difficult when they don't realize that they don't always have to be the rock.
came back, had one day in LUMS and then off to karachi. SDC was another rollercoaster of emotions - right from watching the potential eb 2006-2007 change in a span of 4 days to aqeels "thingys". sohaib's never ending discussions about tony, to hassan trying really hard not to fall into the abyss. my relationship with every one of these guys has changed for life - they'll never just be members, or even vps to me - they'll always be the guys i spent 32 hours in the train with - talking about random crap, and trying to explain to hassan how AI functions. more important then us, though, were the karachites (who just wouldn't tell us who the chair was!!) . i'll never forget saba's "i won't get sick if i don't sleep" and dodi's "i'll be with you in 5 minutes". sharmeen and i had a crazy time trying to figure out exactly WHAT was going on and of course the new members are gems - the impromptu lunch at amirs house, the crazy driving, the harassed OC, and of course...the unmentionable incident! everytime lahore and karachi meet - we form a complete whole...corny...i know. but so true. can't wait for NLC now :)
but the people who won't be there at NLC will be the faci's...what a bunch of people. from amaan's being voted "sexiest faci" to nicole's "superstar", nic's "basically's" to eva's confessions. and finally, dandi and his "arre great yaar"...i don't think anyone in @ pakistan is EVER going to forget that expression - including the people who don't even understand what it means.
i don't think i'll ever forget SDC - it was an amazing conference, one of the best i've been to - and the food kicked ass!!
came back from SDC, had barely enough time to breathe and got thrown into the music society's first concert of the year "the jig". a full 2 days of running around, pissing people off (my team was managing the tickets), missing the ENTIRE concert, and ending up at KFC yet again! an awesome two days i must say. i always do a full round up of the concerts i attend..but since i didnt get to attend this one, i can't do that. i do think, however, that this was one concert for which every contingency had been planned out, except for bad singers (you can never really do anything about that can you?)...so - a few songs aside...everything i was able to hear was great - some people were exceptional...but they always are. notable mentions to ehsan's "stayin' alive", zahra's "star" and the 2 songs the lower staff sang. thanks again to the entire roadies team - you guys rocked!!
and finally - on to the current happenings...the following people are in town: nicole, nic, delia, tori. to be joined tomorrow by ellen, and two other german trainees from DI. then on saturday, delia and tori leave and on sunday the germans leave. and in the middle of all this we have LCP elections...which is a completely different type of story itself...
so - next time...updates on how christmas went (so far, we have ALL the decorations and food, no alcohol, and no time to decorate the tree in) and also pictures from the touristy things the visitors did. and maybe updates on the LCP elections...
i'm back
i moved back - yes, yes...i know i'm stupid and only lasted 36 hours on myaiesec.net - laugh all you want. :P
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
address change
i've taken the plunge and moved my blog to aiesec.net - the new url is nida.myaiesec.net :)
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The Jig
Saturday - 17th December 2005!
Be there - or be very very square!
also, the entire music society support staff, including yours truly, are getting ID badges for free entry into concerts - WOoHoO!!
Be there - or be very very square!
also, the entire music society support staff, including yours truly, are getting ID badges for free entry into concerts - WOoHoO!!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
tagged..
tagged by pierre.
Ten years ago
- i was 12, and i thought i was in love with one of my brothers friends
- i thought my family was "dysfunctional"
- i thought boy bands were cool, life could not go on without "channel V"
- i didn't know what my goals in life were
- i realized i wanted to visit india
- i lived in faisalabad, and was the only girl in the city who wore jeans everywhere
5 years ago
- i had moved to islamabad and still wore jeans everywhere, as did 70% of the female student population at my school
- i was still thinking about my brothers friend
- my family was still "dysfunctional"
- boy bands were just lame, MTV was in and replaced Channel V as " the channel"
- i still wanted to go to india
- i was thinking about my future
- i lost one of my best friends because of one stupid arguement.
- that 70s show
- house
- lost
- friends
- the apprentice
Ten years ago
- i was 12, and i thought i was in love with one of my brothers friends
- i thought my family was "dysfunctional"
- i thought boy bands were cool, life could not go on without "channel V"
- i didn't know what my goals in life were
- i realized i wanted to visit india
- i lived in faisalabad, and was the only girl in the city who wore jeans everywhere
5 years ago
- i had moved to islamabad and still wore jeans everywhere, as did 70% of the female student population at my school
- i was still thinking about my brothers friend
- my family was still "dysfunctional"
- boy bands were just lame, MTV was in and replaced Channel V as " the channel"
- i still wanted to go to india
- i was thinking about my future
- i lost one of my best friends because of one stupid arguement.
Last one year
- i know where i want to be 20 years from now, and no - i don't want to be "rich"!
- my brothers friend is a thing of the past, he's also just not as cool anymore!
- i realized that i have an amazingly cool family
- i joined AIESEC
- i've been to india thrice
- the best friend i'd had a fight with finally talked to me.
- i now live in lahore, still wear jeans everywhere.
Yesterday (Monday)
- i was in karachi, and wearing jeans :)
- lunched at an @ers house with 15 other people
- i said goodbye to the most amazing people i've ever known
- me and sharmeen "discovered" something!
- i realized we took a few hundred pictures while at SDC.
Five Yummy things
- chocolate (toblerone, maltesers, bounty and mars)
- anything at subway!
- chicken karachi, handi, and other pakistani food thats spicy :)
- new york cheese cake
- my moms cooking!
Five songs I know by heart
- you're beautiful, james blunt
- she will be loved, maroon 5
- it's a wild, wild world, mr. big
- hallelujah, rufus wainwright
- saahil ki talaash, saaya
Five things I'd do if I had money
- visit new zealand
- go to disney world - yes yes, i'm a kid!!
- pay back my student loan
- buy a laptop, don't care which one as long as it has massive amounts of disk space and lets me play AoE
- get a 4 gb nomad
Five places I escape to
- my room, both at home and in LUMS
- naureen's room
- the park next to LUMS
- the tv lounge
- the supermarket
- that 70s show
- house
- lost
- friends
- the apprentice
Five things I enjoy doing
- playing AoE
- travelling
- talking
- reading
- playing with animals
Favorite toys
- my nomad, though its not working too well now
- my movie camera, though its not working too well nowadays (maybe i should use some of that money to buy new stuff!!)
- duke, a stuffed dog so big he rivals the travel smurf in size!
- emad's camera
- madiha's PC
Monday, November 28, 2005
you know you're living in 2005 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
and now you're laughing at yourself...
Saturday, November 26, 2005
randomness
it's weird, i haven't "blogged" in ages..but as soon as i see a major exam heading my way (philosophy paper in another 2.5 hours) all i can think about it the hundred things i wanna post about...
had the weirdest conversation with one of the LUMS drivers today. i'll start from the top - went to then bank to deposit a check - sara offered to drive me off but had to go on home so couldn't drop me back to LUMS, but just as i got out of the car i met one of the LUMS drivers paying some bills. LUMS gaurds/drivers are something of an institution - you can always converse with them about anything from cricket to bad weather to cats to banks. anyway - sweet man that he is, he said he'd wait till i was done and then drive me back to LUMS.
so on the way back we talked about the earthquake, the effect it had had on his family (they're living in 2 tents), about the LUMS students who went with all the relief goods and stayed at his place, about the convocation and how zainab k won't be around to arrange it this year and finally about LUMS - more importantly - about how it isolates the "LUMS society" (which includes everyone who lives on campus, including the gaurds, drivers and even faculty) and how we're so caught up in our own lives that living in LUMS is like living in a bubble. weird.
anyway, come monday and i'm outta this place till the 4rth! will be back for one WHOLE day before i leave for SDC in karachi on the 6th and return on the 13th! I BELIEVE! or so the conference theme states! should be loads of fun (and serious work!) - so many ppl to catch up with!
had the weirdest conversation with one of the LUMS drivers today. i'll start from the top - went to then bank to deposit a check - sara offered to drive me off but had to go on home so couldn't drop me back to LUMS, but just as i got out of the car i met one of the LUMS drivers paying some bills. LUMS gaurds/drivers are something of an institution - you can always converse with them about anything from cricket to bad weather to cats to banks. anyway - sweet man that he is, he said he'd wait till i was done and then drive me back to LUMS.
so on the way back we talked about the earthquake, the effect it had had on his family (they're living in 2 tents), about the LUMS students who went with all the relief goods and stayed at his place, about the convocation and how zainab k won't be around to arrange it this year and finally about LUMS - more importantly - about how it isolates the "LUMS society" (which includes everyone who lives on campus, including the gaurds, drivers and even faculty) and how we're so caught up in our own lives that living in LUMS is like living in a bubble. weird.
anyway, come monday and i'm outta this place till the 4rth! will be back for one WHOLE day before i leave for SDC in karachi on the 6th and return on the 13th! I BELIEVE! or so the conference theme states! should be loads of fun (and serious work!) - so many ppl to catch up with!
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