Great Story.. get ready to cry.. :)

Bismillah Arrahman AlRaheem: In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficient The Most Merciful
____________________________________________________________

Salam Valued Readers,

I know it isn't my nature, and I don't do it much because I try to appeal to the largest audience possible, but I will make this post in Arabic. I apologize to all my non-arabic readers and I will translate the story soon so everyone can enjoy it.. but for now to those who read Arabic.. ENJOY! I received this by email and I had to share it.

________________________________

€ قصة € رجل € المليونير € الذي € تحول € إلى € عامل € نظافة € في € المسجد € الحرام
€ براتب600€ ريال

€ قصة € انقلها € لكم € للعبرة € وفيها € الكثير € من € الدروس € والعبر € وهي € بلسان € راويها
€ الذي € يقول :

€ يسعدني € أن € أقدم € لكم € هذهِ € القصة € الحقيقية € والتي € سمعها € من € فم € راويها € ،
€ الذي € عاشها € لحظة € بلحظة € وهو € رجل € ثقة € ذو € خلق € ومن € الثقاة € عندنا .

€ سافر € هذا € الصديق € ، € والذي € يدعى ( € فهد ) € مع € صديقٍ € له € يدعى ( € خالد ) € إلى
€ دولة € البحرين € في € عام 2001 € م € ’¶21/1422€ هـ € ، € وذلك € لأن € خالد € كان € يشتكي
€ آلاماً € في € ظهره € ، € فوصف € له € بعض € الأصدقاء € طبيباً € مختص € بارع € وحذق € في € آلام
€ العظام € بشكل € عام .

€ وبعد € وصولهما € للبحرين € ، € أقاما € في € أحد € الفنادق € هناك € ، € وبينما € كان € خالد
€ أستسلم € للنوم € من € أثر € التعب € والإجهاد € ، € خرج € فهد € وحده € للسوق € مشياً € على
€ الأقدام € ، € باحثاً € عن € مطعمٍ € ينحر € بهِ € جوعه !!

€ يقول € فهد : € وبينما € أنا € أسير € في € منتصف € السوق € تقريباً ... € إذ € لفت € انتباهي
€ مطعم € فخم € صغير € ومزدحم € كثيراً € ، € فقلت € في € نفسي € ، € لو € لم € يكن € هذا € المطعم
€ متميز € لما € كان € عليهِ € هذا € الإقبال € الشديد € والازدحام ... € رغم € ضيق € مساحته
. € فاتجهت € إلى € المطعم € ودفعت € بابه € لكي € أدخل € ، € فأخذت € أنظر € يميناً € وشمالاً
€ في € صالة € المطعم € لعلي € أجد € مكاناً € خالياً € أجلس € بهِ € ، € ولكن € للأسف € لم € أجد !

€ وفجأة € وإلا € بمدير € المطعم € يبتسم € بوجهي € ويرحب € بي € ، € ويقول :
€ هل € أجعل € لك € طاولة € خاصة € أمام € واجهة € المطعم € ؟
€ فقلت € وبلا € تردد : € نعم .. € لو € سمحت .
€ فجلست € وحيداً € أنتظر € العشاء ..
€ وفي € هذهِ € اللحظات € إذ € توقفت € أمام € المطعم € سيارة € فارهة € جداً € ، € ترجل € منها
€ صاحبها € الذي € بانت € عليه € علامات € الثراء € ، € فهرع € له € عدد € من € موظفين € المطعم
€ ليستقبلوه € ويرحبون € به € ، € فلما € وقعت € عيناه € على € عيني € ، € أخذ € لي € لحظات

€ يرمقني € من € بعيد € ، € إلى € أن € أقبل € على .. € ثم € أتستأذنني € بالجلوس € ، € فأذنت € له
€ وعندما € جلس € أمامي € على € طاولة € واحدة € ، € أخذت € تفوح € من € فمهِ € رائحة € كريهة
€ ونتنه € جداً !!
€ حتى € أنني € رجعت € بالكرسي € للخلف .. € محاولاً € الابتعاد € عنه € ، € ولكن € لا € فائدة
..

€ وبعد € صمت € دام € لمدة € ما € ، € بدد € الرجل € غيوم € الصمت ..
€ فقال : € يا € شيخ € ، € أشعر € بأنك € متضايق € من
€ رائحة € فمي € المزعجة ..
€ هل € هذا € صحيح € ؟
€ فقلت € له € بكل € لطف : € نعم € صدقت
€ فقال : € يا € شيخ .. € أنا € مبتلى € بشرب € الخمر € منذ € أثنى € عشر € عاماً !! € ولا
€ أستطيع € مفارقته € ، € وكيف € أستطيع € التخلي € عنه € وهو € الآن € يسرى € في € شراييني € ؟!!
€ فقلت € له : € لا € حول € ولا € قوة € إلا € بالله ... € والله € إنه € أمر € عظيم € جداً !!

€ فسكتنا € نحن € الاثنين .. € وبعد € لحظات € أخذ € الرجل € يتأفف € ويتنهد € بنفس € طويل
€ فقلت € له : € استغفر € الله € يا € أخي ... € ولا € تتأفف € وتنفُخ € ، € بل € أذكر € الله
€ وادعوه € أن € يُفرج € همك € ويشرح € صدرك € ويعينك € على € بلواك

€ فقال : € يا € شيخ € أنا € عندي € ملايين € كثيرة € ، € ومتزوج € ولدي € خمسة € أولاد ... € لا
€ يزروني € ولا € يسألون € عني € مطلقاً € ولو € عن € طريق € الهاتف !!
€ وأخذ € يشتكي € لي € ويفضفض ...

€ إلى € أن € قال : € لعن € الله € المخدرات € ، € لعن € الله € المخدرات
€ فقاطعته € وقلت : € وما € دخل € المخدرات € في € الأمر € ؟!!
€ فقال € الرجل : € أنا € من € تجار € المخدرات € يا € شيخ !!
€ فسقط € ما € في € يدي .. € واندهشت € من € أمره € كثيراً
€ فقال € لي : € يا € شيخ .. € إن € أردتني € أن € أذهب € وأتركك .. € سأذهب € بسرعة € ولن € أغضب
€ منك
0
€ فقلت € بعد € لحظات € من € الصمت € الممزوج € بالحيرة
€ قلت : € لا ... € اجلس € ولا € تذهب € حتى € نتعشى .. € وما € هي € إلا € لحظات € حتى € جاء
€ العشاء € ، € وأكلنا € حتى € شبعنا € ، € فأتى ( € الجرسون ) € بمحفظة € وضع € بها € الفاتورة
>
€ ، € فوضع € المحفظة € بيننا € ثم € انصرف € ، € فأدخل € الرجل € المليونير € يديه € في € جيوبه
€ ، € فأخرج € منها € رُزم € من € الأوراق € المالية € ، € فوضعها € أمامي € على € الطاولة ...
€ وقال : € أنظر € يا € شيخ € إنها 32 € ألف € دولار € ، € كلها € من € الحرام € ، € فبالله € عليك
€ أن € تدفع € أنت € حساب € الفاتورة € ، € حتى € ينفعني € الله € بما € أكلت € من € مالك € الطيب
€ الحلال € فسددت € الفاتورة € وخرجنا

€ فقال € لي € الرجل € المليونير : € يا € شيخ € أنا € محتاج € لك € جداً € جدا € ، € أرجوك € ثم
€ أرجوك € ألا € تتركني € للحيرة € والعذاب ..
€ فقلت € له : € أنا € حاضر € بالذي € أقدر € عليه € بإذن € الله € ، € ولا € يكلف € الله € نفساً
€ إلا € وسعها
€ قال : € يا € شيخ .. € أنا € ارتحت € لك € كثيراً € ، € وقد € انشرح € صدري € لجلوسي € معك ...
€ هيا € لنجلس € معاً € في € أي € مكان € أنت € تختاره
€ فقلت € له : € أما € الآن € فلا € أستطيع € ، € ولكن € أعدك € بإذن € الله € بأن € سألتقي € بك
€ غداً € صباحاً € حيث € أنني € متعب € من € السفر € ، € ثم € إن € صاحبي
( € خالد ) € تركته € وحيداً € في € الفندق € نائماً .. € وربما € قد € يكون € الآن € مشغول
€ الذهن € علي € فتمعر € وجهه € واعتراه € الأسى .. € فقال : € حسناً € حسنا € ، € إليك (
€ كرتي ) € فيهِ € أرقام € هواتفي

€ فأخذت € منه ( € الكرت ) € واتجهت € للفندق € وما € هي € إلا € لحظات € حتى € مرني € الرجل
€ نفسه € ، € يقود € سيارته € الفخمة € ، € فوقف € بجانبي € وأنزل € زجاج € السيارة
€ وقال : € يا € شيخ
€ أعذرني .. € أقسم € بالله € العظيم € أنني € أتشرف € بركوبك € بجانبي € ، € ولكن € هذهِ
€ السيارة € جلبتها € بالمال € الحرام € ، € وكلها € حرام € في € حرام € ، € ولا € أريد € أن
€ أجلسك € على € مقعد € حرام ..
€ فتركني € وذهب € لحال € سبيله ..

€ وعند € وصولي € للفندق € وجدت € صديقي € خالد € ، € قد € أستيقظ € فأخبرته € بالذي € جرى € بيني
€ وبين € ذلك € الرجل € المليونير € فتعجب € خالد € جداً € من € أمر € ذلك € الرجل € ، € وعزمنا
€ أن € ندعوه € على € الفطور € وأن € نحاول € أن € نسحب € رجليه € إلى € عالم € الخير € والهداية
€ والصلاح .

€ وفي € الساعة € التاسعة € صباحاً .. € اتصلت € بالرجل € المليونير € ودعوته € على

€ الفطور € في € الفندق € الذي € نحن € مقيمين € فيهِ € ، € فحظر € وجلسنا € معه € ، € وأخذ € صديقي
€ خالد € يعضه € وينصحه € بكلام € جميل € وطيب € ، € يؤثر € في € الصخر
... € حتى € تأثر € ذلك € الرجل € تأثراً € بالغاً € قد € بان € عليه € ، € وقد € رأيت € دموعاً
€ صادقة € تلألأت € في € عيناه € ، € ثم € انحدرت € على € خديه € ، € فرفع € الرجل € المليونير
€ كفيه € للسماء € وأخذ € يقول :
€ اللهم € إني € أستغفرك .. € اللهم € اغفرلي .. € اللهم € اغفرلي

€ فعرضت € عليه € أن € نزور € بيت € الله € الحرام € للعمرة € ، € وأخذت € أحدثه € عن € فضل
€ العُمرة € وما € لها € من € أثر € نفسي € وراحة € للمعتمر € فقال € الرجل : € أعطوني € فرصة
€ للتفكير € ، € وسوف € أقوم € بالاتصال € بكم € قبل € الساعة € الواحدة € ظهراً € ثم € أنفض
€ مجلسنا .

€ وفي € تمام € الساعة € الثانية € عشر € أخذ € هاتف € الغرفة € يرن € ، € فرفعه € خالد .. € وكنت
€ حيينها € أقف € أمامه € ، € فأشر € لي € أن € هذا € المتصل € يكون € هو € صاحبنا € الذي € ننتظر
€ رده € فأخذ € يتكلم € معه € حول € العُمرة € ، € وسمعت € خالد € يشترط € على € الرجل € أن € لا
€ يأخذ € معه € للعُمرة € ولا € درهماً € واحداً .

€ وفي € الساعة € التاسعة € والنصف € مساءً € ، € وبعد € أن € أنهينا € جميع € أعمالنا € في
€ البحرين € ، € انطلقنا € نحن € الثلاثة € أنا € وخالد € والرجل € نحو € مكة € المكرمة € ،

€ وهناك € عند € الميقات € تجرد € الرجل € من € ثيابه € ولبس € إحراماً € اشتريناه € له € ،
€ فأخذ € كل € ملابسة € التي
€ كان € يرتديها .. € ورمى € بها € في € حاوية € النفايات € ، € وقال :
€ لا € بد € أن € تفارق € هذهِ € الملابس € الحرام € جسدي

€ وبعد € أن € انتهينا € من € تأدية € مناسك € العُمرة .. € قررنا € أن € نخرج € من € الحرم € لكي
€ نتحلل € من € الإحرام € ونبحث € عن € سكن € لنا
€ فقال € الرجل € المليونير € بصوت € حزين : € اتركوني € أجلس € هنا .. € أرجوكم € ، € واذهبا
€ أنتما
€ فقلنا € له € حسناً .. € ووصيناه € أن € لا € يغادر € مكانه

€ فلما € عدنا € لصاحبنا € بعد € أكثر € من € ساعة ... € وجدناه € في € مكانه € نائماً € وقد
€ نزل € منه € العرق € بغزارة € فأيقظناه € من € النوم € و € ذهبنا € بهِ € لبئر € زمزم € ، € فلما
€ شرب € منه € طلب € منا € أن € نفيض € عليه € من € ماء € زمزم € ، € فأخذنا € نصب € عليه € الماء € حتى
€ بللنا € جسده € بالكامل !!

€ فلما € ذهبنا € للسكن € لكي € نرتاح € وبعد € لحظات ... € طلب € منا € أن € نسمح € له € بالرجوع
€ للحرم € المكي € فسمحنا € له € ، € فحرج € للحرم € بعدما € ارتدى € ثوب € بسيط € بعشرة € ريالات
€ ، € وانتعل € حذاء € بخمس € ريالات ...
€ بعدما € كان € يرتدى € ما € يزيد € سعره € عن 500 € ريال € دفعة € واحدة

€ وبعد € صلاة € الفجر .. € التقينا € بهِ € بالحرم € ، € فسلمنا € عليه € وإذ € بالنور € يشع
€ من € وجههِ € والابتسامة € السمحاء
€ طغت € على € ثغرهِ € فطلب € منا € أن € نوصله € بأحد € أئمة € الحرم € المكي € لأمر € ضروري € خاص
€ بهِ ... € وبعد € جهد € جهيد € استطعنا € تحديد € موعد € مع € أحد € أئمة € الحرم € القدماء € ،
€ بعد € صلاة € العشاء € في € مكتبة € الخاص € الكائن € بالحرم ..

€ فلما € أتى € الموعد € ودخلنا € سوياً € على € إمام € الحرم € الذي € كان € ينتظرنا ..
€ فسلمنا € عليه € ، € فأقترب € منه € صاحبنا € وقال € له : € يا € شيخنا € الكريم € ، € إني € أملك
€ ثلاثون € مليون € دولار € كلها € من € مكسب € حرام € ، € واليوم € أنا € تبت € لله € توبة € صادقة
€ ، € وأنبت € إليه € ، € فما € أفعل € بها € ؟
€ قال € الشيخ € الإمام € بكل € هدوء € ووقار : € تبرع € بها € على € الفقراء € والمحتاجين
€ فقال € الرجل € المليونير : € يا € شيخ € إن € المبلغ € كبير € ، € وأنا € لا € أعرف € كيف
€ أصرفها... € فهل € ساعدتني € على € ذلك € ؟
€ فقال € الشيخ € الإمام : € سوف € أدلك € على € بعض € أهل € الخير € ليساعدوك € على € توزيع
€ المال

€ فعندنا € في € نفس € اليوم € إلى € البحرين ... € وقمنا € بإجراءات € تحويل € المبلغ € إلى
€ أحد € البنوك € في € السعودية € ، € وبعد € يومين € رجعنا € إلى € مكة € ، € ومكثنا € فيها € ثلاث
€ أيام € ، € ثم € ودعنا € صاحبنا € وأخبرناه € بأن € علينا € العودة € للكويت € ، € ووعدناه € أن
€ نرجع € له € بعد € بضعة
€ أيام € ، € وعند € وصولنا € للكويت € قضينا € فيها € أربعة € أيام € ، € ثم € رجعنا € إلى € مكة
€ المكرمة € ، € وهناك € في € الحرم € وبعد € البحث € الطويل ...
€ وجدنا € صاحبنا € الذي € كان € مليونيراً € واقف € عند € أحد € ممرات € الحرم € ، € مرتدي
€ لباس € عمال € النظافة € الخاصين € بالحرم € ، € ممسكاً € بيده € مكنسة ... € يكنس € الممر
€ بها € فلما € اقتربنا € منه € وسلمنا € عليه ... € اعتنقنا € عناقاً € حاراً € ، € وهو € يرحب
€ بنا € ويقول : € باركا € لي .. € باركا € لي
€ فلما € سألناه € عن € ماذا € نبارك € لك € ؟
€ قال : € لقد € توظفه € هنا € بالحرم ( € عامل € نظافة ) € وأجري € الشهر 600 € ريال € ، € كما
€ أن € السكن € عليهم € وهي € عبارة € عن € غرفة € صغيرة € يشاركني € بها € اثنين € من € الأخوة
€ الأفارقة + € المواصلات € فباركنا € له € وهنأناه € على € هذهِ € الوظيفة € الشريفة
€ التي € تجر € المكسب € الطيب € الحلال .

€ واليوم € وبعد € ثلاثة € اعوام ... € لا € يزال € هذا € الرجل € عامل € نظافة € في € الحرم
€ المكي € الشريف € وهو € الآن € يحفظ € كتاب € الله € العزيز € ، € وصحيح € البخاري € ومسلم
€ وجميع € أئمة € الحرم € يعرفونه € ويجالسونه .. € بل € أنه € أكل € معهم € في € صحنٍ € واحد
€ بعد € أن € كان € ملبسه € ومأكله € ومركبه € في € اليوم € والليلة € أضعاف € ذلك € الأجر
€ الشهري € البسيط ( 600) € ريال € بمئات € المرات 0
€ ولكن € من € ترك € شيئاً € لله € عوضه € الله € خيراً € منه
€ نسأل € الله € أن € يقبل € توبته € ويعلوا € درجته € في € جنات € النعيم
€ انه € ولي € ذلك € والقادر € عليه
€ آمين € يا € رب € العالمين
__________________________

-YSH ;)

Saudi Women Make Progress.. :)

Bismillah Arrahman AlRaheem: In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficient The Most Merciful
____________________________________________________________

Alhamdulillah, more proof that we are improving every day.. :)

PROUD 2 B SAUDI!

http://arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=84524&d=29&m=6&y=2006
_______________________

More Women ‘Consultants’ Join Shoura
Maha Akeel, Arab News

JEDDAH, 29 June 2006 — Six more women joined the Shoura Council as part-time consultants, according to a member of the council. The women are consulted on various issues and they represent Saudi Arabia in international parliamentary meetings and forums where women are expected to attend. No discussions have been made on including women as full members in the council yet. The women are: Dr. Wafa Taiba, Dr. Omaimah Al-Jalahma, Dr. Bahija Ezze, Dr. Nora Al-Yousif, Dr. Nora Al-Edwan and Dr. Nihad Al-Jishi.

The council had previously consulted three other women in the past few years. They are all academicians and of experience in various fields and come from different backgrounds and regions of the Kingdom.

The six women were nominated to the council and selected by the president to act as part-time consultants as needed. “I think the women were mainly chosen to represent the Kingdom in conferences about women and family where their participation would give voice to the Saudi woman and her issues inside and outside the Kingdom,” said Shoura member Dr. Mohammed Al-Zulfa. The latest such participation for the women is the council president’s nomination of Dr. Nora Al-Edwan and Dr. Wafa Taiba to participate in the women and parliamentarians meeting to be held in Bahrain next week.

Al-Zulfa said that these women, whether the previous three or the additional six, are registered with the council as consultants and are called on by the various committees in the council to hear their opinions on different matters based on their experience. The committees have also called other women for their opinions when more views were needed such as the issue of women’s retirement where around 20 women from different regions and backgrounds were called and also the issue of high dowries, according to Al-Zulfa.

As for including women as full members, Al-Zulfa said that is a topic for the president of the council and the domain of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to decide on. Princess Adelah bint Abdullah had said in an interview in October that women’s membership in the Shoura “is a matter of time” and that women would be allowed to drive cars “in the right time”.

In early January of this year, local newspapers had reported that the Shoura Council would soon name members of a national women’s committee which would not be independent but function primarily as a consultative body. The committee will have the right to make suggestions if asked by the chairman.

Hatoon Al-Fassi, an associate professor at King Saud University and one of the women nominated for the committee, was surprised at being included and disappointed by the limited scope of the committee’s role. Al-Fassi explained: “I hope the committee will not be as has been suggested; if so, there is no need for it and I object to being included. This is not a first step; it is very much the same as what we have now. Women are asked as consultants with no right to make decisions, no authority and their opinions are not taken. This is not the committee we have been asking for. What we want is an independent women’s committee, supervising all women’s issues and reporting directly to the king. We want to be a link between the leadership and the executive branches.”


-YSH ;)

Acknowledgin A Homegirl

Bismillah Arrahman AlRaheem: In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficient The Most Merciful
____________________________________________________________

Greetings People,

In Arizona now, Mesa to be precise.. The weather is great and the area I'm in is beautiful.

I just wanted to share this with all of you, something that I enjoyed reading which is really how all Saudis should be thinking.

http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2006/ioi/060615-manal-ucla.html


June 15, 2006


Saudi Arabian Super-Achiever to Deliver UCLA Student Commencement Address


A hard-charging political science major from Saudi Arabia has been selected to deliver the student address at the June 16 commencement exercises for UCLA's College of Letters and Science.


Manal Quota, an honor student with a distinguished record of political involvement and community service, will share the dais with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is scheduled to keynote the ceremony.


"Manal brought to UCLA an enormous spirit, and her accomplishments are extraordinary," said Marc Mayerson, assistant dean of social sciences and head of the speaker selection committee. "She is truly an international citizen and scholar. In her we see the best of our common cause and humanity."


Quota, 20, expressed surprise at her selection.


"I came out of the audition and called my friend saying, 'There was no way I got it,'" she said. "It was such a shock to be selected, and I'm just so honored."


The undergraduate, who grew up in Jeddah but has lived in Egypt, Bahrain and elsewhere in the United States and has traveled widely, said she plans to urge fellow students to embrace their role as citizens of the world.


"Americans tend to be much more interested in domestic affairs and not so aware of the issues going on in the rest of world," she said. "In the places I have been to, I have found that people are interested in the world around them, while also paying a close eye to domestic affairs."


The youngest child of an accounting professor and housewife who still live in Saudi Arabia, Quota transferred to UCLA as a junior from Santa Monica College, a community college where she studied political science and was active in extracurricular activities.


But it was at UCLA where Quota, who has been living with two older siblings in the Palms neighborhood of West Los Angeles, really hit her stride. She tutored a second-grader in Watts and worked with underprivileged children in Burbank. She joined another student activist in putting together a two-day exploration of human trafficking for 50 undergraduate-level students from universities across California. She interned with Amnesty International and volunteered with UNICEF. She also participated in Bruin Leaders Project, a student-run leadership training group on campus.


"UCLA is a great campus where so many students are willing to get involved and really give their time to great causes," she said. "Students at UCLA are really looking for a way to help and make a difference, and I have found that more here than anywhere else I have been."


Last month, Quota's efforts netted her a Chancellor's Service Award, a distinction given for exemplary community service. Recipients wear special regalia during graduation. She also received a certificate of special recognition from Rep. Brad Sherman, D-San Fernando Valley, a UCLA alumnus.


Quota, who hopes to attend graduate school after taking a year off to work, didn't let her service activities get in the way of making strides as a scholar and researcher. The political science major with a passion for African studies served for two quarters as a research assistant. One of the professors she helped even acknowledged her services in his recently published book. She served as a member of the editorial staff of Aleph, the campus journal for undergraduate research and wrote a scholarly article that appeared in an online undergraduate journal in the field of international relations. Last month, these efforts netted her the Vice Provost's Recognition Award for Undergraduate Research Participation.


During the summer and last fall, Quota served as a correspondent for Arab News, the Middle East's leading English-language daily. Quota was even part of the initial class of student-teachers who launched UCLA's Undergraduate Student Initiated Education Program. As part of the program, which prepares undergraduates to teach a one-unit course on a subject of their own selection, Quota taught eight UCLA undergraduates -- several of them fellow seniors -- a quarter-long course on the Rwanda genocide.


All the while, Quota never lost sight of her studies. Having participated in UCLA's Honors Collegium program, a more demanding educational track designed for especially ambitious undergraduates, she is graduating with honors.


Ultimately, the graduating senior whose name translates in Arabic as "striving for something and then getting it," hopes to study international development or international affairs at the graduate level with the ultimate goal of landing a position in a nongovernmental organization.


She traces her passion in world affairs and global economic justice back to a stint at an elite British high school in Egypt.


"In Saudi Arabia, I have a privileged life with a maid and chauffer -- there, that's normal," she said. "But in Cairo there was such a distinction between the wealthy and poor. You'd see mud shacks without glass in the windows and small rooms that would house a family of four or more. It really struck me as unfair and made me reexamine the life I was leading. That ultimately helped me figure out what I want to do with my life."


Graduation begins at 5 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. It is the largest commencement ceremony on campus; approximately 2,900 students are expected to have degrees conferred at the ceremony, and an additional 12,000 guests are expected to attend.


Source: UCLA Office of Media Relations


California's largest university, UCLA enrolls approximately 38,000 students per year and offers degrees from the UCLA College of Letters and Science and 11 professional schools in dozens of varied disciplines. UCLA consistently ranks among the top five universities and colleges nationwide in total research-and-development spending, receiving more than $820 million a year in competitively awarded federal and state grants and contracts. For every $1 state taxpayers invest in UCLA, the university generates almost $9 in economic activity, resulting in an annual $6 billion economic impact on the Greater Los Angeles region. The university's health care network treats 450,000 patients per year. UCLA employs more than 27,000 faculty and staff, has more than 350,000 living alumni, and has been home to five Nobel Prize recipients.


Saudi-US Relations Information Service
eMail: info@SUSRIS.org
Web: http://www.Saudi-US-Relations.org
© 2006
Users of the The Saudi-US Relations Information Service are assumed to have read and agreed to our terms and conditions and legal disclaimer contained on the SUSRIS.org Web site.


-YSH ;)

Long Live The King

Bismillah Arrahman AlRaheem: In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficient The Most Merciful
____________________________________________________________


Alhamdulillah..

I had to share this article with you, may Allah bless every endeavor King Abdullah attempts.



http://arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=83789&d=15&m=6&y=2006



Abdullah Launches First University in Hail
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is briefed on the new economic city in Hail by SAGIA Governor Amr Al-Dabbagh during its launching. (SPA)

JEDDAH, 15 June 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah launched the first university in the northern Hail region yesterday.

The university will have five colleges with advanced academic and research facilities and the first phase of its campus project will cost SR645 million.

During the ceremony, Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari announced that 15,000 Saudi students would be sent abroad for higher studies under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program.

Late Tuesday night, Abdullah unveiled a SR30 billion economic city in the region, which will host agricultural and mineral industries, an education zone and a residential area with 30,000 housing units, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Musaed Economic City, named after the first governor of Hail, an agricultural region rich in mineral resources that has some 600,000 inhabitants, will have its own airport, a railway service and a dry dock. The king handed over the license to build the city to a group of investors before laying its foundation stone. He also watched a documentary on the city.

Speaking about the university project, Al-Anqari said Hail University was designed to become one of the most distinguished institutions of higher learning in the Kingdom with state-of-the-art academic and research facilities. “It will have a unique academic environment that brings together education, research, application and production,” he explained.

“The first phase of the university project will cost SR645 million,” the minister said. Extending over an area of nine million square meters, the university will include five colleges: College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Computer Science, College of Sciences and Community College.

Abdullah arrived in Hail on Tuesday from Ahsa on the fifth leg of his current tour of the Kingdom’s regions during which he is meeting people and inaugurating new projects. The king has already visited Jubail, Alkhobar, Qateef and Ahsa.

The new economic city in northern Saudi Arabia is the second of five such cities planned by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) in different parts of the Kingdom. Last December, the first city, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, some 200 km north of Jeddah, was launched. The King Abdullah City is expected to attract SR100 billion ($26.6 billion) in investment.

The Hail economic city will cost SR30 billion, according to a source in Rakiza Holding, the company which will oversee the project along with SAGIA and the Hail Development Authority. The city will have 12 strategic facilities for trade and services. Some 80,000 people are expected to live in the new city, which will have business and leisure centers. Extending over 156 million square meters, it will also house 3,000 office units and a logistical supply and services center.

The venture, whose cost was confirmed by other officials at the launch, is part of efforts to boost less developed regions of the Kingdom. “The government is making sure to allocate a large part of the budget surplus to development projects in the regions which did not get their full share,” the king told Hail residents at a reception.

The planned economic city will be a big boost to development in the region, the king said, adding that it would create 30,000 jobs over the next 10 years.

King Abdullah also dedicated a number of educational, manpower training, housing and infrastructure projects in Hail. Crown Prince Sultan, and top officials including Prince Sultan ibn Salman, secretary-general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, attended the launch. Abdullah’s next destination is the central region of Qasim, where he will dedicate 13 educational, welfare and development projects worth SR5 billion. The projects include Qasim University, which is estimated to cost SR1.2 billion.

Also yesterday, King Abdullah allocated 80 million square meters of land in Hail, belonged to the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, to build houses for Saudis. A new residential area will be established in the plot to accommodate some 15,000 families. According to the plan, there will be 350 investment projects, 80 schools, 100 mosques and a number of commercial centers in the area.

The king also launched the King Abdul Aziz Cultural Center project, comprising modern shopping centers, hotels, administrative and office buildings and service centers. The state will have a 73 percent stake in the project that will be completed in seven years, SPA said.

Abdullah later inaugurated a charitable project of Suleiman ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi, a businessman. The SR600 million project includes 400 housing units, two vocational training schools, a large mosque, a polyclinic and a public library. Al-Rajhi plans to carry out similar projects in other parts of the Kingdom.

The king commissioned a SR1.8 billion water distribution project to supply water to hundreds of villages in the region. He also launched the Hail-Jouf Expressway and Hail-Madinah Expressway.

Ali Al-Ghafees, governor of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT), said his organization would establish 162 vocational training institutes, 45 technical colleges and 41 higher technical institutes for girls. He said GOTEVOT was carrying out projects worth SR350 million in Hail.

-YSH ;)

Los Angeles Update

Bismillah Arrahman AlRaheem: In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficient The Most Merciful
____________________________________________________________

Hello People,


The weather is beautiful, a nice 27 degrees Celsius.

I watched Saudi tie Tunisia today (although Saudi deserved to win), but I still have hope we can beat UKRAINE, SO WHEREVER YOU ARE PRAY FOR SAUDI, AND LET'S CHEER OUR GREEN FALCONS!


I made this Arabic guide and I thought I would share it since there are lots of useful words that would benefit anyone starting to learn Arabic.


Formal Arabic (FA) and Saudi (S) Dialects


Hello (Islamic greeting) (FA) Assalamoo Alaykum wa RaHmatoo Allaahi wa Barakatuhu

Hello (Islamic / short version) (FA) Assalamu Alaikum

Hello (in any Arabic speaking country) MarHaba

Hello (formal) Ahlan Wa Sahlan

How are you? (FA) Kayf al Hal

How are you? (Masculine) (S) Kayf Halak

How are you? (Feminine) (S) Kayf Halik

How are you doing? (Masc.) Aish aKHbarak

How are you doing? (Fem.) Aish aKHbarik

How are you doing? (Masc.) (S) Wish Oloomak

How are you doing? (Fem.) (S) Wish Oloomik

I’m fine (FA) Ana BiKHair

I’m fine (FA) (S) (Islamic) AlhamduLillah

Pleased to meet you Tasharrafna

Good morning (FA) (S) Sabah Al KHayr

Response to good morning (FA) (S) Sabah Al Noor

Good Night (FA) (S) Masa’a Al KHayr

Response to good night (FA) (S) Masa’a Al Noor

How old are you? (M) Kam Umrak

How old are you? (F) Kam Umrik

My name is (Name) (FA) Ismee (Name)

I am (Name) (FA) Ana (Name)

What is your name? (FA) (M) Ma Huwa Ismuk

What is your name? (FA) (F) Ma Huwa Ismuki

What is your name? (S) (M) Eish Ismak

What is your name? (S) (F) Eish Ismik

Yes (FA) Na’am

Yes (S) Eewa

No (FA)(S) La

Please (M) (FA) Low SamaHt

Please (F) (FA) Low SamaHtee

Please (S) Mumkin

Thank you (FA) Shukran

Thank you (S) (M) Mashkoor

Thank you (S) (F) Mashkoora

Your welcome (FA) Afwan

Come here (M) (S) Ta’al Hina

Come here (F) (S) Ta’alee Hina

I’m hungry (M) (FA) Ana Jaa’ie

I’m hungry (F) (FA) Ana Jaa’ia

I’m not hungry (M) (FA) Ana Lastu Jaa’ian

I’m not hungry (F) (FA) Ana Lastu Jaa’iatan

I’m hungry (M) (S) Ana Jooa’an

I’m hungry (F) (S) Ana Jooa’aanah

I’m not hungry (M) (S) Ana Moob Jooa’an

I’m not hungry (F) (S) Ana Moob Jooa’anah

Where is the restroom? Wein AlHammam?

How can I get to the restroom? Kayf arooh lil Hammam?

Bye Ma’a Assalaamah

Come on Yallah

OK OK

Good (FA) Jayyid

Bad (FA) Sayyi’a

Good (S) Kwayyis

Bad (S) KHayis

ENjoy...

West Coast Update! :)

Bismillah Arrahman AlRaheem: In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficient The Most Merciful
___________________________________________________________________

Salam All My PPL!

I hope you guys are enjoying this summer as much as I am..

I'm currently in Mesa Arizona, watching the Mexico vs. Iran world cup match (Mexico just scored and Iran tied!). Arizona is so much like Riyadh it's crazy.

Wide roads that extend to infinity, DECENT drivers (compared to Boston), and incredible heat (41 degrees Celsius today = 106 degrees fahrenheit).

I had my first physical day of work on Friday and I LOVED IT, it was so much fun and I barely have to exert any effort. The people here are great and they all come from lots of different places all with different experience (X-Men, SpiderMan, Edward Scissorhands, Men in Black etc.)

Arizona is a lot of fun, I met one of my former Aramco classmates that I haven't seen for 3 years and he's been showing me around.

West coast people are very much laid back, and you can actually see some Native Americans here, not like Bostonia.

There are also lots of places that open till late at night (2 am) (hookah bars etc.) compared to only night clubs in Boston.

I met one of my Qatari friends yesterday at this place called "Urban Cafe", the owner is a Palestinain who grew up in Qatar and I enjoyed my time there.

I went to this other place in the afternoon I think it was called Rural Cafe, and it's situated on a lake with a great view. The clerk working there was from WORCESTER (east coast boys). And his accent slowly came out when he realized I was from Boston.. His name was Nathan, but people call him Musa = Moses (a name given to him by his boss because he is strong and honest!). He also spoke some random Arabic so it was good fun.


I am planning to see a therapist soon to deal with my "IN N OUT" addiction :P


Phoenix also reminds me a lot of Shargiyya, and I got several flashbacks from the fun Aramco Nites where we'd drive forever then meet up with the guys to just chill it and play some serious BALOOOOOT.

Anyways, I fly to LA tomorrow, and will be back in Arizona in a few days.



From the West Coast,

This is Raven ;)

Over and out.

-YSH ;)

Lazy Friday + Another piece of my writing

Bismillah Arrahman AlRaheem: In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficient The Most Merciful
___________________________________________________________________

Salam Dear Readers,

It's Friday, 10 am (I know why are you up so early), well I had some more paperwork to finish for my summer internship
I will send more updates as they occur.

For now, I have another piece of writing to share with you which I wrote for the same creative writing class as my first piece..

COMMENTS APPRECIATED! :)
_____________________________________________

It has been ten years since Tiberius rose to power. The people of Abahania resented every breath he took and the number of those who wished him dead had grown exponentially over the last decade. Tyrannical, cheeky and very egoistic, he ridiculed almost every Abahanian that would cross his path during his weekly excursions in his kingdom. His court teeming with sycophants striving for the scraps he’d offer when he was in a good mood. It seemed as if the only person who could stand him was his Chief Minister, Marios. Marios and Tiberius went way back, to the days when they were both footmen in Richabald’s (the previous king’s) army. Richabald was a favorite among the commoners, ruling Abahania with an iron fist, favoring diplomacy to war to settle any dispute.


Tiberius grew bored of serving a timid and passive king, and eventually assassinated Richabald. Tiberius seized the throne and immediately appointed Marios as his chief minister. The troops in the army succumbed to Tiberius’s commands because they knew his venomous brutality to anyone who went against his will. With the army under his control, the people of Abahania had no choice but to accept Tiberius as their new ruler. The number of troops in the army had diminished considerably due to Tiberius’s nature of raiding the neighboring towns and villages to expand his kingdom. Tiberius was not concerned about how many men he had lost because he did not value life anyway. Instead, he would enlist scores of peasants into his army regularly to cover his deficits.


Arthus and Darwish were brothers, both stonemasons. They had inherited their father’s mill when he died. Their mother only lived a year after their father’s death, dying of grief over the loss of her husband.


The brothers had a natural talent for masonry, having gained the expertise at a young age. The inhabitants of their town, Tafir grew to love them for their good nature and their rush to assist anyone in need. Arthus was two years older than Darwish, he was tall with broad shoulders, and dark blonde hair. An avid horse rider, he had a tattoo of a mare on his left arm. Darwish was shorter than Arthus with locks of brown hair and very memorable hazel eyes. His smile was contagious, and nobody could resist not smiling back at him whenever he trekked in Tafir. Of course, that was before Tiberius attacked Tafir.


Whoever managed to survive after the attack fled to neighboring towns or into the forest. Arthus and Darwish had been away from Tafir that day, delivering some goods to Tiberius’s castle. Riding back to Tafir, they met Father Amadeus, Tafir’s priest and he told them Tafir had been ravaged. They arrived to Tafir, and couldn’t believe their eyes. Tafir, a once vibrant community had become a ghost town. The marketplace had never been emptier, the pond that was usually crowded with children was perfectly still, it seemed like even the frogs and fish had left. The brothers could not take this cruelty anymore.


“Arthus, but how are we supposed to defeat him, what can two peasants do compared to his army?” Darwish said.

“We shall train, and rally all those who wish to overthrow that bastard, many have come to hate his destruction and bloodshed.” Arthus replied.


The brothers spent the next four months gathering men who supported their cause, and started training the peasants in the confines of the forest. These commoners gained experience relatively quickly due to the flames of revenge that seared inside their bodies. Within six months they believed they had enough fighters to defeat Tiberius once and for all. Though Arthus and Darwish both desired to defeat Tiberius, their motives differed considerably and they spent numerous nights arguing.


“Arthus, I can’t believe you’d think that way, it seems like Tiberius’s filthy egoism has spread to you too, how can you be so self-centered?”


“My dear younger brother, our father was a stonemason and we are both stonemasons, have you not become bored with the primitive life we live, if we defeat Tiberius, then people will recognize us as heroes, and we shall live in glory. Think of the women, Darwish, you always mentioned how beautiful you thought the Abahanian ladies were.”


“That isn’t the point, to start I can’t believe you look down upon masonry. It’s been your niche for as long as I can remember, how dare you belittle the craft that our father spent his life teaching us and that has never failed to provide us with our bread and water. We need to fight for justice not, personal glorification. Our goal is to overthrow a dreadful tyrant and give the people the freedom they yearn for so dearly, the aftermath isn’t as important!”


“Darwish, if we succeed, the people might even elect us as rulers of the land, do you know how rich we could be, I’ve had enough of Tafir, it’s true I will not rest till I stand on Tiberius’s corpse but since the attack, I’ve realized that Tafir didn’t mean as much to me as it did to you. I shall defeat that tyrant as revenge for the destruction of our father’s mill and for people to realize my abilities as a true commander.”


“That’s surprising, you still have some humanity in you after all. Arthus, what about Father Amadeus, and Merriam and the others that were killed. They looked up to us for help and support whenever any misfortune had befallen them. Surely you wish to avenge them!”


“Brother, you have sickened me with all this affection, weaklings always look up to strong men for guidance and protection. And when we defeat Tiberius I shall grant the people their freedom. Now leave me be, I wish to rally our forces at dawn.”


As the brothers settled into their tents, Darwish was greatly alarmed and couldn’t accept the change in Arthus’s personality. He went to sleep that night and had a nightmare of infiltrating the castle and reaching Tiberius’s chamber to find Arthus there with a crown on his head, not Tiberius as he proceeded to slay him. He woke up in a cold sweat and had trouble getting back to sleep for the rest of the night.


When daybreak came, Arthus started organizing the troops and delineating the plan they were to carry out that day. Darwish interrupted Arthus and suggested they split the army in two, thus adding an element of surprise to the attack. The soldiers were thrilled with this idea, but Arthus stared at his brother in disbelief. Even YOU a weakling, Darwish, he thought. He figured he might as well grant his brother his desire, not wishing for anything to disrupt his quest for recognition.


Arthus advanced towards the Eastern gate of Abahania.


“Soldiers, we have risen and advanced from the ranks of the primitive to the level of knights. We shall no longer be looked down upon by anyone, we shall defeat the swine Tiberius and fulfill our destiny as the heroes that gave the people their freedom once more. Are you with me?”


“Yes!” the soldiers erupted like a dynamic volcano.


Darwish approached the Western Gate of Abahania and managed to enter the city with little effort. The kingdom guards recognized him and understood what he was doing and soon joined his ranks as they advanced to Tiberius’s castle.


“Ah, brethren, my knights of justice, we have gathered from towns and villages, most of which were pillaged by Tiberius’s ruthless army. We are here to avenge our dead, our towns and to lift this shroud of darkness from Abahania once and for all.”


The troops cheered and engaged in war chants as they approached the castle, thrilled for having made a difference and pleased to have had a leader who cared so much about defeating evil. Tyranny and oppression were never matters to be proud of, or so they believed.
___________

Behind the names:

Abahania
was derived from the Saudi city of Abha.

Tafir
was derived from the Saudi city of Taif.

Arthus
is the name of the lead character in Warcraft III

Marios
is the greek nickname of my good friend Omar

Darwish
just sounded right from the Arabic name Darweesh

Stonemason
is the English transliteration of my last name

Tiberius
sounded like a tyrant, from Tiberian Sun (Red Alert)

Richabald,
from Richalou (from some novel I can't remember) and Archibald (random).


-YSH ;)