Finally (the Winter Break is Here!!)

I love how magnificently the seven colors manifest themselves in a ‘Rainbow’ as one– can we be as noble as these colors who come together to give this world an utter sight of beauty?

 

So finally – my home is calling me. I am visiting my family after a very long nine months which I thought would never end. Earlier this year, I couldn’t go back in the summer break cause I was busy with an internship. Hence, I was looking forward to the winter break for a long time. However, my family is much more excited than me, my mother is a given but except of her, my sister is going insane with the count down.

I am happy and nervous at the same time. Returning home after so long does bring back all the emotions not just associated with my family but it also stirs the feeling of patriotism and love for my motherland. I am happy (not really excited but delighted) to go back home because I have missed my mother a lot. Also, this is the longest I have stayed away from home to the date. Anyhow, the flip side of the coin is that I am nervous. One thing that I am afraid of is that I am a changed person now. I cherish my personal freedom and value the peace in isolation. Going back home means all the hustle bustle, relatives and family gatherings. I have never been the social type anyway ( I am not shy but reserved – there is a difference!). Hence, now that I have been living on my own for almost three years – going back poses a threat on my personal freedom. I will have to be a part of family now while here in England, I can do whatever I want (as in I can wake, sleep and study whenever I want to; eat whatever I want – I can live like a night owl). At home, I have to go by a certain time table; not as in somebody dictating my life but more like a civilized approach to routine life which I don’t really care about in England. The second issue that concerns me is my temperament. I was never the calm person anyway and have always blamed my gene for this short temperament. However, now I ‘think’ it is worse. Anything can possibly trigger me off and I can lose it ( please don’t advise anger management – pretty please) but I think it’s one of the disadvantage of living on your own. The feeling of being independent and isolation leaves you a little confined and if somebody even tries to hop into your space, then you have ‘Watch Out’ written straight across your forehead. Although, it could be just me but I have heard people ranting about this more than often. So I can only hope that I don’t lose my temper and keep myself under good check and control. After all, it’s a party time for me — finally a break!!

Well, I have my flight in few hours and I hope Emirates is on time which is highly unlikely! Also, I apologize in advance for missing out on all the good stuff I get to read written by all you lovely people. See you guys soon in a different land with different experiences! Happy Holidays!!!!

Live, Love, Inspire & (don’t forget to)Smile. Believe in yourself and you can conquer all your fears.

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Do Yourself a Favor (Have a good day!)

This morning was incredibly beautiful and I couldn’t resist sharing what I captured. The sky never fails to amaze me whether it be a starry night or early morning sun rays blending in with nightly darkness. Mornings are not always the same for me. Sometimes I wake up with an aching pain and the other times, I wake up so happy that it has become a mystery for me now. What is it that drives my mood swings in the morning? I like to give my dreams the benefit of the doubt.

This was just a quick update. I wish everybody a very good day/ good night ( my clock is up with you all!). Make the most of what you have now for it may never come back to you again.

I am a bird and every day is a new flight,
Love is my drive and I will share with you this insight,
Ignoring pain and misery, I look beyond my fright,
Today is a good day, its my time to shine bright.

Live, Love, Inspire & (don’t forget to)Smile. Believe in yourself and you can conquer all your fears.

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Happy New Year!

So wait… Even before I forget what I am here for, let me say it loud! Happy New Year to my WordPress family. With law school, I feel like my life is in the fifth gear, where everything happens so fast and furious (Rest in Peace, Paul Walker). I can’t believe 2013 is already done and almost half of the month for 2014 gone as well. I wanted to do this post to shed light on what important happened in my life during 2013 despite of the fact that I have my exam tomorrow – I guess I needed a break from those thick books.

2013! I celebrated my last new year’s eve with my family back in my country unlike this year. After few days, I left for England and experienced the worst winters and snow of my life. Thanks to my immune system that I didn’t fall sick. 

I made a precious life-time friend, Syrics (Sisi) but I call her Gugu. She is one in a million. I can not go back and imagine my freshman year without her. She made sense out of my life and together we experienced and learnt a lot of stuff on our way. 

I and my family shifted to a new place back in my home country. My dad was working on that site for around 3 years and now that we have moved in there, I look forward to make as much memories as I can, when I go back during holidays.

I and Syrics no longer study together in the law school, she changed her course to Media Communication and I miss her plenty much during the lectures.

Moving out of student accommodation and living in a private accommodation is an ultimate joy. I feel like I own my place.It comes with more responsibilities but I find myself more independent and confident now. There is a tree outside my house, probably 100 to 150 years old and I call it Jade. We are best friends.

Plants vs Zombies (1 & 2) became my ultimate obsession and I can’t get over it. I am totally in love with my Zen Garden and for PvZ2, I want to hit million dollars and buy all the plants that are unlocked.

I wrote my very first legal assessed essay for Civil Justice System and in the very first shot, I secured Grade 1 that is 72%. Happiness on its peaks.

Tough luck embraced me closer to the end of the year and I had to make some tough decisions. Thank goodness everything ended well. I matured a lot during that period of time, I learn’t how crucial role the word ‘choice’ can play in one’s life.

Highlights of 2013:

Word of the year: Choice.
Strength of the year: Failure.
Color of the year: Purple/White.
Person of the year: Mom.
Love of the year: Dumbo.
Phrase of the year: For you, a thousand times over. – Khaled Hosseini.
Paragraph of the year (from a book): “She said, ‘I’m so afraid.’ And I said, ‘why?,’ and she said, ‘Because I’m so profoundly happy, Dr. Rasul. Happiness like this is frightening.’ I asked her why and she said, ‘They only let you be this happy if they’re preparing to take something from you.” – The Kite Runner.
Book of the year: The Lone Wolf.
Song of the year: Shiny Happy People by REM.
Show of the year: Prison break.
Best day of the year: May 1, 2013.
Worse day of the year: October 10 & 11, 2013.
Lesson of the year: Motherhood & Forgiveness.
Blessing of the year: Dumbo.
Support of the year: My siblings!
Traits of the year: Love & Patience.
2013 in one word: Challenging.

Looking Forward…..

For year 2014, I have come up with few resolutions that I have to keep no matter what, at least try..

1) Reduce the consumption of coke.
2) Give a break to PvZ2!
3) Take time out to travel.
4) Whenever going back home, say ‘NO’ to Emirates and try different airlines.
5) Spare my hair some space and grow my bangs.
6) Brush my teeth in night (No excuses – I don’t want all my teeth to fall out at 40).
7) Avoid ignoring messages from people and try attending calls (have to stop running away).
8) Learn to play chess.
9) Forgive & Forget (Forgive part is easy, try to apply the forget part in real life as well).
10) Get closer to Almighty and continue the journey to discover my soul.
11) Eliminate working-at-the-eleventh-hour-rule from my life.

Crazy Midnight Post!

It tasted better than KFC’s Twister (I swear – don’t forget healthier as well)

I had a very yummy Midnight-Snack (I think it was the world’s best wrap) and I am craving Ben & Jerry’s half-baked Alaska (Cookie Dough & Chocolate Fudge Brownie) so much! Not that I don’t have it in the freezer but I am trying to keep my hands off eating too much at this point and time of the night! 

Something I got hold of when it snowed in the mid of March – a shock for many who are new to England’s unpredictability!(Yet I love England for now at least)

The night was starry earlier, I had two cans of Red bull around 8 in the evening when I went for a walk. The sunsets in Spring are stunningly beautiful though I am not sure if it’s spring in England or not as it hasn’t quite warmed up in here. The wind blows like a tornado is on its way, at times it is enough scary – thankfully I am not skinny.  

“He’s Watching Her” – I didn’t even have to read the synopsis before buying this one (Ignore the background)

Currently, I am reading this book “Killing Cupid” by Louise Voss & Mark Edwards. I must say, a pretty good book – I’d even recommend reading it to those who’d like raw romance/love (I really mean “Raw” – you’d get to know once you get hold of the book to read the synopsis) along with suspense and a major thriller! The main character “Alex” creeped me out more than once in the beginning but I always end up falling for the main(male) character in the book and so it happened for him too – at times I wonder, why men in books are portrayed to be perfect? 

Well, I probably would get back to reading as I am done with this exciting midnight post! I am not stoned but still I am high – the freaking part is “I don’t know why”! 
 
So…….. May the odds be in your favor – Goodbye! (Good Night/Good Morning/Good Evening according to your time zones – Happy Friday) 

I’m BACK!

Welcome to England!

Hello Folks! I know time has been a hard core weapon since ever but the past two months have been crucial. For all those who have been following me since long and know me, they were well aware of the fact that I would be moving to England for my undergraduate studies. For all those who have recently started following me and kept me updated with their comments and likes, I can’t be more grateful for all the support and love given to me despite of the fact that I was away. I would put up no dialogues but I really missed being on here terribly; the blogging fraternity is another family to me and not interacting with my family was extremely difficult as I had to pace myself with time and kept on moving no matter what. This is one of the very major lessons I learnt back in England – Time never stops for you and you have to keep moving on with the hands of the clock. At times, we over estimate ourselves by complementing the arms of clock pacing with us but it is always the other way round. It is the humans who put up all the struggle with time. I can’t express how deeply I prayed for the 2 months in England to end so I can see my family again in the Christmas vacations but once the December was up, I was too settled that I didn’t want to go and creep on the torture of seeing my family and leaving them back again after New Year. It doesn’t in any case means I was not excited to see them but 10th January 2013 has been haunting me since I have had the ticket in my hand. Anyway, if I move on with the arms of time then I shouldn’t be complaining about 10th January which awaits 20 days in between but I should be appreciating the fact that I am enjoying the time with my siblings and parents.

I treated myself even before I knew my result back in Leicester! Cheers!

There have been many posts in pending about my life in England, lessons learnt on my way and much blah blah to come so stay tuned. Well, I am laughing! Shucks! This is exactly how we would advertise our product in terms of business studies with much more creativity. I will talk about my subjects later but right now I am excited to announce the score of the end term! 80% which is  terrific(at least for me)! I scored around 76% in midterms and I put all my heart and soul in studying a subject I have never studied before; BUSINESS – surprisingly I scored highest in that subject. English had been a pain in my over all body; not because I don’t like it but writing essays, in-text citations, references and what not literally sucks me. They require bulks of concentration so English becomes the toughest at times even for the nationals who refers to English as their first language. 

There have been many funny and embarrassing moments with me; the very recent one was something like this…

A stranger approaches me while I am waiting on the coach to Birmingham on the coach stand..

Stranger: Heya! You alright?
Me: Absolutely, thank you. (Yet confused why he approached me)
Stranger: Do you have a fag?
Me: Pardon Please.. (Much more confused)
Stranger: Erm.. A fag! Do you have one?
Me: Pardon.. What’s a fag? (Already embarrassed)
Stranger: I mean a cigarette. (A shy smile which indicated he wanted to laugh)
Me: Oh I see, I am sorry. I don’t smoke.|
Stranger: Seems so.. Thank you.

Anyway, he left me almost flushed with embarrassment and I was like “Crappy Crap” mumbling that to myself cause Brits would rather come up with “Bloody Bullshit” – Okay, I am not teaching any swear words over here and I believe that most of my readers are above 18 and if not so a very humble apology! Skip it! Anyway, in these two months, I have known the reason why my accent, pronunciation and so called vocabulary is “AMERICAN” not because of my education in an american school (We were always taught to spell “COLOUR” as “COLOUR” not “COLOR”) but my well pronounced “R’s” the sound of “T” making somewhat a “D” and then my vowels sounding a bit different and of course I wont use British slang or swear words cause I have always been into American Media! I somehow managed to travel to America in my lifetime and this was my first time ever in Britain (what makes me laugh is they call it GB – Great Britain, no offence meant but it is just funny.) They used to laugh on my pronunciation and I used to laugh on theirs and time went by. Like they would pronounce YOU-TUBE in a completely different way than me and this time its the vowel “U” which is contradicting.

On my way to Birmingham Coach Station

Sun rays felt beautiful that day!

I took a coach from Leicester to Birmingham Coach Station and then a coach from Birmingham Coach Station to Birmingham Airport. I was already tired! 3 hours before boarding and then a very good news how my flight has been 2 hour delayed! Waiting for an eternity on the Birmingham Airport which is not really bigger than Birmingham Coach Station but I made it into the plane after those 4 and a half never ending hours. I planned on sleeping and I was happy how 7 to 8 hours of sleep awaited me somehow but the Emirates crew couldn’t see me resting like a poor baby, they woke me up around 4 times just asking me or rather begging (pleading if begging is a harsh word) me to try their award winning dinner meal. I denied thrice faking a smile but fourth time, I was blown up. I asked her to bring it up and she was more than happy that she woke a passenger to try their award winning meal and I told her how about that I have seen the award winning meal and smelt it, if she is feeling any better? She was too embarrassed and I felt guilty for being harsh but it was not at all intentional; the frustration came by itself.

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The most beautiful feeling was watching the sunrise over the horizon – it was a memorable moment for me. I have no idea if I have talked about the sky in England or not but I have observed those beautiful pinkish purplish skies turning slightly into golden orange and then sun settling down to hide itself for nearly 12 hours or more. The stars and sky has practically helped me with my loneliness – I mumbled to them, took long walks wandering off around the city just to get hold of the bunch of those sparkling stars so I can stay there and watch it for an eternity. There was this place, a garage kinda place where there were too many slopes. It was around a 5 minutes walk from where I was living, I enjoyed every bit of going higher and higher on the slope and then observing the skyline of the city – tremendously beautiful. The nature has been fascinating me more than I could have ever thought. It became my partner in those miserable days when I used to smile only looking at the trees with no leaves hoping I would see them dressed up soon enough in the summer next year!

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Nature invaded my soul and I felt better with every passing day. I got hold of this lovely girl, Syrics, a Chinese girl from Shanghai. She was in my class but we started getting along when we got to know we lived in the same building; she lives on the ground floor and I lived on the 5th floor. Eating together, hanging out together, watching horror movies together, shopping together, complaining about the cold weather, girly talks and what not! She was a Chinese, terrible at English but marvelous at gestures – I am just laughing remembering how when we geared our friendship, she used to search words for me to describe me and situations. For instance  if that failed miserably which used to happen at times (usage of sentences; one word has to be used in a specific manner – English is a language with million synonyms to the same word) she used to start gesturing and trying to explain me through actions as if she is dumb and I used to laugh like a creep and she used to chase me screaming “You Are Killed!” We saw the Christmas Lights going up together in the City Center on December 1st and she was so excited. I can’t ever forget the excitement on her face when I handed her Christmas present to her and she was removing the tape cautiously so she didn’t tear it off and I screamed how she should just tear off and then again our never ending laughs. I have always had my girlies being possessive about me and she tops the list! Briefly, I adore and love her incredibly!

Switching back to my flight, there was just an hour’s stay at Dubai International Airport and I was off for another 2 hours to see my family. The sky was clear and occupying the window seat again thrilled me and I was on cloud nine. And finally the magic moment was there; I saw my DAD and I ran off like I haven’t seen him for years and the tears rolled down my cheeks without even any prior notice. This was the very first time when I realized what does it mean by crying in happiness. I was smiling like a jerk and yet the tears welled up! Simply, I missed my family. My mum couldn’t make it to the airport cause it was a working day when I arrived  (December 12th) around noon time and she had to look after my siblings cause schools get off around the same time but when I saw her, I hugged her. I missed her the most – the entire time I missed my mum the most and I think its natural. She says I have grown up but I feel I have grown up within the time span of these two months. I don’t know what’s coming up next in the upcoming 20 days with my family but all I know is 10th January is going to be much more crucial than the rest!

PS–  Will be responding back to all the comments real soon! Apologies for the delay! I can’t thank more for the consistent support! Love you all!

Settling into UK!

Hey ya fellas! I apologize sincerely for vanishing for a week or so but I had to or rather I put it like this that I was too much messed up in the emotional trauma that I was going through that it made it difficult for me to inform my lovely family here! I have read too many posts on Renard’s blog expressing his miserable feelings for the bloggers who vanish without explaining the cause and though I have had a sincere readership around yet I failed to inform you all and that is why I feel awful so apologies, apologies and apologies! And I hope its granted now!

My books – Business, Mathematics, English (Three subjects for this term which ends on December 7th 2012)

Now the question is where have I been? Interesting question! I am no more in my country but in England for my studies i.e my undergraduate program! The previous week was crucial! I covered 6 chapters of Business Studies and 5 chapters of Mathematics and submitted the project of Business on Friday and wrote the maths test on Thursday (which was nearly perfect!) Apart from studies which are smooth enough now after a rushing week because I arrived two weeks later than the starting date (Another story why I was late – briefly, I turned 18 in August and it took longer for my identity card to get to me and as soon as I got through it, I filed my visa and fortunately I received my visa in 5 working days!)

Clouds forming before it starts to rain or rather drizzle! I love the smoky skies in here – this place is romantic! (lol)

Settling into UK – not a problem at all! Lovely people out there in almost freezing weather and yeah romance pouring my heart with the rain tickling my face! According to me, it never rains in here instead it drizzles! I like the feeling of walking on the lonely and empty streets aimlessly trying to figure out where I have to go. I love getting lost and then finding my way back again and the sweetheart babies you see all around you; almost perfect but I miss my family terribly! The most difficult part is when you sit all alone by yourself trying to eat but you can’t cause you miss your family’s dinning table, your parent’s arguments and siblings chit chat and funny pranks! I have to cry to myself because if I will be weak, my mum will certainly be not better! My room is okay – thankfully it is my room only so I do not have to share it with anybody even being on university’s accommodation!

I carried it all the way from Morrisons to my room – those 15 minutes were hell!

Plenty of stories in my head and I want to let all of them out! My flight was 7 hours delayed and I got to know it on Dubai International Airport when some Italian guy (whose English accent was a terrible pain for my ears) told me how they do not have enough passengers to fly to Birmingham! I simply never knew how Emirates could ditch me like this but those 7 hours were an incredible experience. The sense of responsibility that ensured me how I had grown up and can do everything independently now. Those 7 hours when I had to look after my money, my luggage, keep contact with my parents, resisting the sleep when I was up for more than 24 hours and what not. Dubai Internstional Airport was my first examination and with His cooperation, I succeeded it like a victorious warrior! I reached my accommodation at 11:00 pm on October 12th and the very next day I realized I had to do my grocery all on my own (which I had never done before) and I had to walk like crazies! Yeah, I missed my driver and at times my car as well but with time walking was a pleasure instead I discovered how I can observe many things minutely when I walk and see the world without technology!  I have been to city center twice and I kinda bought many things though I am not a shopaholic at all but I guess that was the need cause UK is kinda freezing and will continue to freeze more and more with every passing day! Primark, H&M, Topshop, Zara’s, Integration,  Evans – you name it and I am sure I have been there! I am still discovering good restaurants though right now Subway and my own cooking skills had help me enough!

World Of Coins!

The very big change for me was MONEY! Amazing! It took me almost a week to learn about currency, coins, pence and I am still on my way to learn more about them! We had maids back in home to do everything, from ironing clothes to polishing shoes and almost everything. Now, I wake up 2 hours before I have to leave so I can iron my clothes and look about my shoes and then leave almost 40 minutes before because it is a 20 to 25 minutes walk to my school from my accommodation and I leave the margin of 20 minutes in case of any accident (God Forbid) I never imagined how time would play with me and change me within a week! I thought I was careless (clutz) and may be I still am but I don’t see it. The very big problem for me is to look about my keys and wallet; back in my home country I never had a wallet! All I ever did was slip few bucks in my jeans but wallet – NO!

Talking about Leicester, it is not a busy city like London but it is still busy enough. Traffic can prove you and when you see Audi and Mercedes cars out there, you are like Woahh!! (Just Kidding) It is like a Mini China in here cause you will find so many Chinese people! Okay, they are Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Nepalese but all of them look almost same so you can never ever tell who they are! Now what I am fed up of is every other person asking me if I am from AMERICA! I am not boasting about myself but hundreds of men and women have asked me if I am from America because they say my accent is American and when I tell them from Pakistan, I see their eyes bulging out as if I have said that I am the president of US. Excuse me, get a life – my school’s principal will kill me if she gets to know how I am receiving such a comment because we are taught British English then HOW THE EFFING HELL I POSSIBLY CAN SOUND LIKE AN AMERICAN? Does that even make sense? The very first person to tell me was a guy on the plane, then the immigration lady(until she saw my passport), then this surgeon I met in the grocery store, then almost every receptionist on the university information desk, the receptionist guy on the accommodation information desk, cashiers in the shopping malls and I am tired of giving them that look to not repeat it! You know how is it like? Let me demonstrate, consider I am talking to a lady who is the saleswoman of H&M;

Naima: Excuse me, Can I see this?

Saleswoman: Yeah sure!

Naima: Thank you (Smiling) – But I don’t want heels you see.

Saleswoman: Oh! Are you from America? You have an American Accent!

Naima: (A crucial look and then a smile and says with grinding teeth) Everybody says so though I don’t know why!

Pasta – Cooked on Friday, 19th October 2012!

Chicken and Capsicums – Cooked on Saturday, 20th October 2012!

Chicken and Vegetable fried Rice – Cooked on Sunday, 21st October 2012!

I know at times it is a LOLing situation for me but I have to bear with it. I don’t mind being the way I am so back out! Another worse thing in here is that it is autumn and I hate to walk on the fallen leaves! I mean, why did they ever taught us that leaves are living beings because now I feel miserable when I see plenty of them lying on the floor and I have to walk over them! I feel guilty at times and curse my science teachers for being so mean back then when I was 9 or 10. I started cooking like 3 days back that means from this weekend cause I had to buy my cooking pans and everything and I think I am doing pretty well if I eliminate comparing it with my mommy’s food! Of course, she is a professional! I see old couples being too romantic – holding hands and linking arms and I go back in my memory to recall when did my parents or even grand parents did it last time in front of me! I adore the people here, their innocence and the love they share through their smiles! (Believe me or not, I am almost smiling to everybody on my way; exclude the young guys please cause they will take a different meaning out of it)

Cooking and eating – a good time pass; need no friends! (lol)

Briefly, I enjoy in here. It is an adventure ride. Lazy mornings in my bright room with a chilly wind that knocks me down and I stretch my arms thinking if I can see some other faces than Chinese (Just kidding – no hard feelings please but the fact is there are too many Chinese out here and I appreciate their love for education) As expected, no friends yet but I think with time, I will be okay. I talk to a Singaporean girl in my class *Ann* who has a boy friend so she is too busy with him all the time but she is a great girl to talk to and I have been lately talking to this Canadian guy *Marcus* who has explained me the maths and business problems that I have not understood after reading on my own! He had been a great helping hand but again it is just a hello-hey with them; they are not yet friends! I am too bad at it, I know but I hope to do good!

PS– I know I have missed out whole a lot on reading the blogs I follow but I will try to manage it out whenever possible! Thank you for the support and cooperation as always! It is greatly appreciated! Stay blessed!