HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Wishing all my American readers a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday...sadly, I'm not really celebrating it this year since my grandmother passed away a few days ago (God rest her soul), and my dad is out of town:(
but, I'm always so excited when Thanksgiving is here, because it makes me feel like Christmas (my all-time favorite holiday) is just around the corner...cannot wait 'till Christmas, but I will leave you first to enjoy Thanksgiving and all the good food...

here is something funny I found while browsing the internet:
Top 10 reasons to have a Happy Thanksgiving:


I especially like #4: which is why I celebrate Thanksgiving with my family even though we're not Americans, and it is technically an American holiday.

ENJOY YOUR TURKEY EVERYONE:)

Something to be cheerful about

I found some pictures of my beautiful Baghdad during Eid Al-Fiter (the 4 day Muslim holiday that follows their fasting during the month of Ramadan)...I can't describe my feelings when I see such pictures of Iraqis, specifically the children, being happy and just enjoying their day...I was filled with excitment to see that the Iraqis are defying the odds and are enjoying their holidays, and trying to make their children have a normal life. These pictures filled my heart with joy along with getting a little homesick...they were posted by Sooni whom I found through Iraq the Model...and I am assuming that they don't mind me using the photos here in my blog...I just needed to post pictures of beautiful smiling children for a change instead of explosions and dead/injured people. I'm just posting a couple, but go to Sooni's blog for many more!

Look at their beautiful happy faces!



How adorable is she!!!

Looking at these pictures you would not think that this is Iraq...it is so normal, quite, peacful, and happy...it makes my heart flutter seeing people happy and just trying to bring normalcy back to their lives despite how hard it may be.

oh my Baghdad, when will it be that we meet again...

What's Going On in France?

I was just browsing the internet quickly for news and saw this story about riots taking place in France...read the CNN story here.

First, I am surprised I have not heard about this on T.V. since I normally turn on the news every morning when I am getting ready to go to classes. The riots have started since Oct. 27th and I do not understand how I did not hear anything in CNN or Fox being reported, hmmm...

The part I found most disturbing was this:
two schools...were burned, Hamon said. A child care center was burned in Lille in northern France.
and then it says somewhere else:
The vandalism has spread to around 20 communities with large immigrant and Muslim populations who've been plagued by poverty, unemployment and alleged discrimination. In some areas, unemployment is 25 percent

How exactly is burning schools and child care centers supposed to fix their unemployment problems???? Are the children responsible for their unemployment? I understand they are trying to the government aware of their problems (which I am sure it is); but, first rioting is not going to end their poverty or provide them with jobs; second there are many other ways to make their problems known to the government (and burning children's education places is NOT one of them); and third I don't think many people will be sympathetic to their situation when they are burning public places and endangering their lives...in fact, I would want my government to take action to stop these lunatics (which I am sure do not represent the majority of the impoverished OR immigrant OR minority families who are probably sitting quietly in their homes trying to feed their children and live their lives , and shaking their head while watching these maniacs bring chaos to the city....ok, ok that is a little dramatic but who knows maybe I'm right)

(long sigh) crazy world we live in...and it seems to be getting crazier everyday (another long sigh).