Evington was my home in 2013/2014!

While researching for this article Evington Road is the Most Dangerous Road to Live on, I was shocked. Evington was my home for the academic year of 2013/2014. I can’t believe that I risked too much for getting out of those unbearable student halls. Thankfully, I had no trouble living there.

However, if any of you are planning to come to Leicester, you know which road to avoid.

I also wrote a news article last week on the earnings of the Vice Chancellor of University of Leicester. If anybody is interested in reading, We Asked People What They Think of The VC’s High Earnings.

Thank you for always reading and supporting. For me, getting published is a very big deal. It feels like I am living the dream. I don’t think I have words to describe how I feel when I see my name ‘Naima’ under the title of the article. May be these articles don’t concern you at all (if you’re not living in England) and you are very welcome to ignore them but I always like to share my happiness with my WordPress Family. Blessings.

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Day 29: Where have you travelled?

I haven’t travelled to a lot of places internationally but the few on my list are:

1) Dubai
2) England

I have travelled a lot across my country if only that counts. Also, I hope to have a better and bigger list by 30.

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

Day 8: What’s in your handbag?

Firstly, it requires me to be too lady-like to have a handbag. Secondly, I can’t stand handbags so my question would be what is that I have got in my bag-pack..

So let’s start with lots of highlighters, pens, pencils and etc. Basically, stationary! (I am a student, what do you expect?)

A water bottle (It’s always there in my bag).

Notes (hand-outs) for the few lectures I’ve had before Christmas.

A Body Shop berry lip-balm! (I love it, I’d recommend it to anybody in an instant!)

A tissue pack.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult  (I have been reading this book at the moment so it’s always there in my bag waiting on the free-time).

My shades if I ever get that lucky with sun in England.

An 8GB USB.

My wallet — how can I forget that?

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

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Day 3: Your Favorite Quote

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

— Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

PS– I might be late with my fourth post because I have my flight. It’s England Time (already)!

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

Happy Mothers Day (UK Version)

My super-mum when she was super-young!

I have grown up celebrating “Mothers Day” on the second Sunday of May since ever but this time there is a twist in the story. I realized that England celebrates its mother’s day on the second Sunday of March and so I decided there is no harm in celebrating mother’s day twice a year instead it is a TREAT (for my mother specifically). But there is a villain to this story too and that is “Time”. My mother isn’t with me today (in England) and so she wont be on the Mother’s day in May though I know that regardless she wont be physically with me, her love and prayers are always with me.

The hustle and bustle in the stores, grocery markets (Especially Card Factory) on this very weekend is worth mentioning. People choosing cards for their mommy, granny etc and I felt miserable and happy at the same time. Happy for many would have their mothers right with them to cherish this special  day and miserable cause I was jealous or rather envious – I was envious of their happiness.

Mothers are the embodiment of God on this planet(at least that’s what I’ve believed for ever). There are no adjectives that can describe how great a mother is but we can always try – try to tribute her and make her feel special; not on just one special day but every day in our very own way. She should know that she is always cherished, her presence is a significant trademark in our lives, love for her is eternal and even if it is that we have to present our lives at stake to honor her, we will!

This woman who we call our “Mother” starts to feel us way too before we become tangible for her. She knows us well enough even before giving birth to us. Those nine months are her celebration, she counts down to the big day when she could finally touch her baby. The baby she had been awaiting since long when every day was a pain blended with happiness. She protects her baby for life exactly like her womb has protected the baby for nine months. Our mums are all the very same in a very different way. Some are strict, some are lenient, some are emotional, some are harsh and the list goes on but what unites them is they all love us – just enough that even if the whole world hates us, her love would be sufficient for the warmth and care needed.

These two ladies are the most beautiful beings on earth!
My mommy and sissy ❤

My mom is a super-mom! Incredibly loving, caring, cheerful, emotional, compassionate, fierce, patient, kind, generous, warm-hearted, strong, beautiful, wise, my mentor, my bestie and the list goes on and on until I conclude it – she is a role model for me and I would always want to be a mother like her. I am very fortunate to have her in my life. The distance over the time has taught me many lessons. I wake up to my ringing alarm clock in the morning and miss looking at her angelic face for the very first thing in morning. I eat yogurt every morning and would buy her favorite cereal “Weetabix” cause I miss arguing over the breakfast with her that I don’t like eating yogurt or Weetabix for breakfast no matter how nutritious it is. I miss our “girlie” conversations and gossips. I miss when nobody is there to see me off when I leave for school. I miss her teasing me over my so-called big nose. I miss her calling me those nick names when I’d get real annoyed to attack her and she’d tickle me despite of the fact she knows that I am not ticklish. I miss cooking and baking with her when I’d be giving her tips on fashion and fitness and she’d be telling me to focus on cooking before she could smell something burning. I miss those long nights when she would toss and turn in bed cause something is bothering her and all she would need is a good massage, a considerate ear and a hot cup of milk and when I’d do it for her, she’d kiss my forehead and would tell me that I am her princess. I miss when she’d pinch me when I am on the verge to spit out her secret(unintentionally) in front of my dad. I miss her confused expressions while I’d teach her to use laptops, smart phones or even an I pod. I miss “HER”. I have realized her importance in my life even more in these few months while I have been away from her. She is my lovely mommy and I miss her every day and every night and I know she misses me way more than I can ever miss her but we love each other the most.

Find some time to spend  with her and let her know that you love her cause the arms of the clock would never turn back and the last thing you’d ever want to do on this planet would be “Regret”. Love her, respect her, honor her and make her feel special before it’s too late. Tell her she is your super-mom and your life may be super-busy and super-occupied but you always have some super-time every day for your super-mom! Cheers!

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!