San Ramon

Sunday... My second weekend in San Cristobal.
The video Im going to post will show you how San Cristobal celebrates throughout this whole week San Ramon... a Catholic Saint...


This Saint, San Ramon, has a story. When Ramon's mother was in labor with Ramon, she died! and STILL Ramon was born eventhough his mother was dead.

San Ramon is now the symbol of BIRTH, and all throughout, pregnant women go to San Ramon Church, and pray to San Ramon that their birth will be healthy and easy.

So I finish my routine-ish morning of styding and eating and siesta-ing, and head down to San Ramon Church , where the whole area is decorated with little flags and whole scene is SO VERY happy and filled wth people. Its also filled with vendors of all kinds: Games, Games for kids, FOOD like there is no tomorrow.. I HAD to have a bag of "churros con chocolate", which is some kind of pastry thats fried and sooooo good.... fried potatoes, chips, fried bananas, ghazl il banait, coffeeshops.... Just everything is so colorful and happy!


I walked some more, saw a band playing the percussions, walked some more, and felt ready to start a whole new week at school .

I love you San Cristobal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-nW8wcjl9U

Fin de Semana Dos

My spanish is getting harder and I am only getting more serious.
Today, Saturday, I started studing from 11 till 4:30..... NONSTOP... And that really really killed me and made me feel like I wanna go out! Imagine the silence in my house... I dont talk, theres no music, theres JUST me and my head!!! the Spanish wannabe one.

At 5:00 I hit the streets; and come to think of it.... I did a lot!
I visited the Museo Cafe Museo... This is a museum PLUS a coffeshop; About the origins of coffee; Where it comes from, About how there are 26 sects of Indigenous people who master coffee-making (out of the 54 sects of Indigenous people)..... the whole family is involved. They all go out to the lands, pick up the beans, clean them, dry them, put them under the sun for 48 hours, and sell them..... I then had the BESTTTTT cup of coffee.... Seriously... it had Cinnamon in it, bass wohow!!!!

Then, I walked some more and arrived at the Museum of Amber...... This is a museum decribing how Amber is made, where from, and the fact that in the Old days it signified power, and strong social importance. They basically found Amber on the Tomb of the one and only KING PAKAL ....

I walked out of there , and there was a wedding!!!! One that COULD NOT EVEN compare to MY BROTHERS wedding to his Beautiful Bride!!!! (It was gorgeous, but STILL, Kartaba was seriously better.... I sat, I watched, I took pictures, then I felt awkward and I left)

I wanted to visit the Museum of Jade, but I thought ENOUGH museums for today.... I guess Ill do that tomorrow!!!

I saw a very cool guy playing an instrument.....he actually MADE this instrument from a SAW (you know, the one that cuts the tree) and an arrow!!!!! And the sound it made??? WOHOWWW, it was really beautiful.....

I feel happy, coz I feel productive!
This feeling.... productivity...... I just LOVE it!

Maria y Enrique

Well, I didnt really post much earlier coz of one reason... Ive found my routine here in San Cristobal.
I wake up, I walk to classes, I leave school, I go home, SLEEP for half an hour, I cook, I eat, I study for 2 to 3 hours and then hit the streets.... Thats what Ive been doing every single day.
Im not sure how healthy it is for me to develop this SIESTA routine, but when in Mexico , You should do like the mexicans! I mean, theres nothing on the streets coz everyone closes from 2 to 4 anyway!!!
I also developed this renting DVD habit from a cool Mexican woman named Marta... well Marta closes from 12 to 5... I ask her why??? She tells me Quiero Comer!! I wanna eat!!!

HOWEVER.... remember this American girl I met on my 1st day of classes??? Well she invited me over to her place... She says its gonna be Karaoke night... and I dont even know who is gonna be there.. so since 12:00 I was REALLLYYY contemplating whether i should go or not! And indirectly being LINA, ... telling myslef "oh its raining, oh I dont have an umbrella, oh Ill just tell her I fell asleep..... BUT NO NO NO LINA NO! Youre here to CHANGE, remember? For the better! So I picked up my bag , and off I went.... to her place!

Stangely enough, During my 6 months of self-learning Spanish in Dubai (with my Calender at work, remember?); LIZAAA bought me a Spanish book about the story of Enrique y Maria!!!
YEAH WELL, her name is Mary from Philedelphia, and she left her life in America and is now living with her Enrique!!!!!!! NICE!

There was me, Enrique , Mary, Beth and Pete (my friends from the Canyon), and another couple Brian and Megan; and one British girl Helen and another retired American woman who is now teaching at my school!

Microphones out! TV set up! and the 2 groups are formed! Blue against Red. I was Blue and BLUEEEEE WONNN.
I had the tIME of my LIFE , we sang, we talked , we chilled, and I met a set of lives that I would have NEVER imagined meeting! English teachers, retired people, and a cute couple who are in love just talking about WHY MEXICO?

WOWWWW to the things you MISS OUT on when youre ....... just NOT up for trying!!!!!

Different lives, different stories, different reasons, GOOD company, ..... GOOD LIFE!

My Lebanese Experience

its 7:25 in the morning and I need to get ready for classes! But before that.... I really felt the urge to talk about my Lebanese experience yesterday, here in San Cristobal....

Theres this Lebanese restaurant we all visted when we came to San Cristobal last year... and me and Baby went in there and started talking to the guy there... he said his name was Ali...

Eh listen to thissss!!!!

I walked in yesterday..coz i needed some sort of a salad!!! then Tabbouleh it is!
So theres another Lebanese idiot welcoming me in the heaviest lebanese accent.
He sais HIS name is Ali.. and that the other guy I met last years name is Nidal!!!!! Keef hay? I dunno.

The tabbouleh was pure SHIT.. iit was tasteless.... it was allll onions , cut in huge squares...and probably a total of 15 ba'dounes!!!!

The best part is here.....

May I remind you that last year's Ali was talking to us , telling us how he hates his Mexican wife and that he prefers a Lebasese wife, and she keeps telling him she wants a baby but he doesnt want!!! (TO COMPLETE STRANGERS EH?)

Eh, this time!!!.. Aliiii.... was telling me how he lived in London for 8 years and married a Megan.... he lives in "weset manastar" (wlik English, he doesnt know how to speak)... and he "akhadta" to lebanon, and "a33adta" bil Sunsat Hotel (sunset).. like he would "take" a pet!!!!

Ali felt like he cant be with an English woman and that she is greedy and she wants to quit her job and have him spend on her (salt and pepper, salt and pepper)

He also discussed with me how he has a Saudi Princess as his mistress!! its been going on for 8 years!!!!

He also discussed with me how he hates Mexicans and he feels they are "jirbaineen" ... Supposedly, in Lebanon...you will never find homeless people like here... in Lebanon, one would not have a a penny, but she would still carry the latest phone and
the best car.. and he LOOOOVES that about Lebanon...



Im sitting there.... listening and listening.. and almost getting up and slapping the idiot on the left side of his ugly face!

OH OH OH! and the BESTTTT part is,... he freaking charged me for ONEEE plate of shitty Tabbouleh 50 pesos! thats 5 DOLLARS!!!


CAN I SUE THIS IDIOT??? PLEAAAASSSEEEEEEEE??????

Mi primera Fin de Semana

Friday August 21.... As I am standing alone making my organic cup of coffee in La Escuela, this guy come up to me and starts talking to me. His name is Jessy and he's American....
Its Jessy's last day here in San cristobal and hes alone! So yeah! Lets meet after classes and Lets hang out! (Baby, Im sorry :)....)

From 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm, we walk and walk and walk and Im not kidding, we stop probably TWICE! I got introduced to San Cristobal and I acknowledged the fact that My heart is here, My heart is in San Cristobal.
I go into three or four markets. I notice the EXTENSIVE amount of Indigenous people that live here in S.C among th tourists and the more modernized Mexican residents.
These Indigenous people are the essence of the state "Chiapas". Before the Conquistadores (the Spaniards coming into Mexico and colonizing it), these people used to live here and speak their own language. There come from different tribes, all falling under "MAYANS".
And YES! theyre here, they walk the streets of San Cristobal and sell what theyre mostly famous for..... corn and artisanas.
They make clothes, robes, bandanas, bags, bracelets, pen holders, accesories for tables..... you name it.... So you see them MAKING (with their own hands) these things and walking down the streets and AGGRESIVELY trying to sell "uno lapicero por favor??? una bolsita por favor???".

All throughout, I have not seen a single MAN with these women ... What I see is mothers and little little children! Very little children, aged 4 to 7, selling on the streets.... and heres the explanation.... the Men of the Chiapas State are mostly known for their love of politics, religion, and Polygamy! So they marry 3 or 4 women and make sooo many children and send them off to make the dineros! The women have no say in this,... this is an arrangement between the father of the woman and the husband -to- be... in exchange for WHAT??? For land, for corn, or for money!!!!

AT 9:00 pm, as we are having dinner, we meet another couple, siiting on the table to out right FROM the schoolll..... so, SHALL WE??? YES WE SHALL!!!


So here I am, sitting and having dinner with three americans... all sharing the LOVE of Mexico!
We have dinner, and then we go to a bar and have more drinks!
All pictures are gonna be posted... so BE READY for some colors!!!! The markets are unbelieeevable!

I wake up at 7:00 am today, and I meet all three americans at 8:00 am in the Zocelo to enjoy our day outside San Cristobal.....
We take a taxi and start our drive.


San Cristobal is at 2,120 meters above sea level, and we head down to 400meters above seal level. To another city called Chiapa de Corzo.... mainly for visting Canyon de Sumidero.

A two-hour boat trip, down a HUGE river that cuts through alllll of the Chiapas region to the Gulf of Mexico and Guatemala!
The things I saw!! OF LORD the things I saw!!!!
Okay, how may I describe it..... Its basically a river surrounded by HUUUGE mountains.. and let me describe HUGE.... on the left side is a mountain thats 1000 meters high, and on the right side is a mountain thats 1000 meters high!
(obviously, this used to be one mountain, but with time, it split...and gave us this unimaginable view)
and here you go... Nature at its best... I saw Pellicans, I saw Monkeys on trees, I saw TWO crocodiles, I saw butterfliers, birds, and I saw LIFE.

THIS was my first "weekend" here in San Cristobal.

I forgot to mention one minor detail, we all had made a deal in the morning... that the WHOLE day , the communication will be in SPANISH ONLY, otherwise we'll have to pay 10 pesos per word!
YES! I did it! I spent my whole day, speaking in spanish.
I spent my day learning, loving, and LIVING.

My 1st Day

There are so many ways to describe today... to me... briefly... I would say PERFECTOOOOO

I woke up, had never ever slept so peacefully; and had my breakfast alone.
I got dressed and walked down to my Escuela/ School with absolutely nothing on my mind. No expectations. No limitations. No thoughts. and literally FREE of any thoughts.

The school is probably the prettiest school Ive seen. They have a policy of having FUN while learning. So they built the school with a patio and a garden and a kitchen so that the students can have unlimited amounts of organic tea and coffee. The classes are small and all look out to the garden. They also believe in the importance of light. They said that with no light, one could get depressed!!!! TRUEEEE!!!!
cHECK OUT THE PICTURES!

I had my 1st class at 9:00 am with my 1st instructor, Gabriel;
Gabriel wanted to see my level and so we started with small words, and ended up having mini conversations. My shirt is blue, Your shirt is blue, OUr shirts are blue. My family is in Dubai. I would like some cheese, I would like more water. I would like a ticket to Dubai.
It was sooooo much fun and the time flew so fast!

He told me that Im great for a beginner...

AT 10:25 the bell rang!!!!!
and so as I walked out, I met this girl... shes fromAmerica.. and shes a teacher here... She mirrors me... in terms of leaving her life, family, job, boyfriend and settling in Mexico. She had planned on staying 4 months... Shes now completing 2 years!!!!

The bell rang again...and I was called to my 2nd class....
Here, THIS was INTENSE.
My teacher, Rafa, or Rafaelle, started off speaking slooooowlyyyyy with siign languageeee and loudddlyyyyy so i could understand...... and ended up telling me that she thought I was zero! But I was great for a beginner!

We had FULL-ON conversations.... My mother lives in Dubai, she is a housewife. I live 6 blocks from here, and i dont like the cars, I prefer walking. Im bored of routine, Im happy with my boyfriend. He is funny and he lives far away. Latin America interests me.
bigger topics!!!!!


The bell rang again!!!


and I have homework!!!

The City is AMAZING! The streets of San Cristobal are so so narrow and they are shared! between pedestrians and cars,.... The road is tiny ( its a one-way road for cars) and on each side of the road is like a half a meter sidewalk for pedestrians... so if one person is walking up, and the other is walking down, we have to move for each other!
I find that so cool, coz you get so many smiles on the road!! Inno oooops, I will move for you, here, take a smile!

THE COLORS! Oh LOrd the colors! I took pictures and Im gonna post them now! please check them out!!! THIS IS SAN CRISTOBAL!!!
The houses are so short; theyre also all the same height! So as you look from far, you see a narrow colorful place FULL OF LIFE!

THIS IS SAN CRISTOBAL!

Registering

Im back!!!!

I went to the Tienda and bought some stuff for the Kitchen and the house.. and guess what else I did?? I cooked some Pasta with Red Sauce!!!! Liza had told me to get white sauce but the Tienda didnt have!

It's starting to sink in properly. Im starting to register where I am!

The house is decorated and its all furnished; Everything; from the spoons and forks to the gadgets on the wall.
My neighborhood is just soooo pretty! The people around are all locals, although I see the occasional tourist and the backpackers....
The weather is really nice, Its cold, and it also rains sometimes.. alot.... but little drizzles; it doesnt POUR!

Tomorrow should be a good day for me! I will actually start my first day at school!
Im excited! Im really excited coz I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what to expect!

The unknown is quite scary.... but I keep telling myself... Its ALLL in your head Lina. Its ALLLL in your head!

It begins

The bus ride was very calm and I slept through it all. Surprisingly, it was on time. It was scheduled to arrive to San Cristobal at 11, so I was here at 11 sharp!
I get out of the bus.. and im like hmmmmm okay.,... what do i do now?? ...... I look around and see cabs! I take one and tell him to take me to the Institute!
I was there within 5 minutes and it just all so happened soooooo quickly!

I start classes TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM!!! wohowwwww!
They were expecting me.... so they even took me and showed me 2 places, one posada and one appartment...
I chose the appartment. I took it. And Im now typing this from my new house!

Its really cute.... Its 4 apparatments in a "compound"... with a terrace... The appartment itself is huge! I have one bedroom, one kitchen, one tv room (with no tv) and a toilet.

I walked from the institure to the house... its 6 blocks away! So its a good 15 minute walk!

Im in a state of shock! I dont know how I feel.

I think I need to disconnect and start unpacking my bag!!!!!
Shock, shock, shock!!!!

The Voyager

Its 5:00 pm and the vogager is ready to go!

I packed my bags, I put the small bag in the big bag; made sure I have all my papers; bought my ticket.... and I shall be ON THE ROAD in 4 hours.

I will be getting on a BUS , and leaving the state of Quintana Roo and (13 hours later) will get to the state of Chiapas.
I enrolled myself in a Spanish Institute in San Cristobal; where I will be taking 4-weeks of intensive Spanish Classes while discovering the rich culture of Chiapas.

Chiapas is the capital of the Mexican Revolution. When you say Chiapas, you directly have to link it to Emiliano Zapata and the Zapatista followers who demanded nothing but La Tierra y La Libertad!

I would love to add details to the story, but Im pretty sure I will be able to tell you dates and names and more details after I actually stay there.

Alone, and armed with SO MUCH passion inside me..... I ask you to Wish me luck!

Im out.....

Mi Amiga

I dont know if I mentioned her name before, Her name is Melissa.

I made a new friend; and its SOOOO good to meet someone SO DIFFERENT from you, and yet, you get along so well! Look at the two of us from far, youll see us hahahah and SIIIII, BIEN SUUURE, and all that.... we speak in french (so basically, Im still practicing)

I left Jad's house... Im somewhere else in Chetumal with Melissa; The neighborhood houses are like Maria Mercedes houses. Every house has a color...


Dios Mio, look at her, shes cleaning her room; and mopping the floor.... She just turned to me and told me "mi casa es su casa"!
Im serious!!!! She did!!!!

Chetumal por la Noche

Hola Buenos Dias...
I used to think its so CLICHE to use this buenos dias!!!! But theyre serious... its like our Bonjour! or our Marhaba!
So I learnt how to say it, and I learnt the way of using it!

Jad wanted to show me Chetumal by night; and he was serious! So we started off at his place, his friends came over and we started drinking Tequilla... SO NOT what youre thinking.. its NOT the strong tasteless tequilla. Its actually good; and the way they do it here, is that they have a sip of tequilla and then a sip of something called Sangrita. Its the mixure that adds the really good taste!

I was eating bread and cheese... so one Victor was asking if the dog Shiva wants to eat Salad too. I was like SALAD?? wheres the salad.. he goes like:
Pero for me, food is meat, all theees cheeesssssss and breadddd begetaaaaboules esss SALAD!!!

A girl named Aransasu was there. This is one name. Aransasu.
Shes cute. Shes from Chetumal; and she feels very passionately towards singing/ shouting/screaming.

So were all sitting and talking, and our background is Aransasu saying OOHHHHHHHH DESCUULLMAANNEEEEEEEE, AAAHHHHHHH, EEEHHHHHHH, AAAHHHHHHH with ALLLLLL her strength. Im serious, her veins are popping out... and shes not drunk! This is how she is....

Me and Aransasu get along..... Pero yo hablo con ella en espagnol; y ella habla conmigo mas despacio! Shes very sweet and she actually wanted me to sleep with her and her parents!

Im getting the hang of the language... Securo, Claro que si, Awebo, Horale Wey... All of these terms were used by the handsome brother that I have , and Im really remembering him!!

Its really similar to french; and plus, my brain is CONSTANTLY working!!! Im CONSTANTLY looking out for what this means, and what that means, sounds like, its should be close to.... ALWAYS ALWAYS!

Also met Xavier, a true Mayan. He looks soooooo much like a pHilippino, But thats so common here... His father is a Maya and we had a conversation about everything thats everything! Mexico, Felipe Calderone, Honduras, Estados Unidos, China, India, Dubai, the Middle East, and Del Libano!

All in sign language with a bit of Spanish, and French.

Eso es muy Bien!

Quintana Roo

The YUCATAN Peninsula is the lower part of Mexico that takes the shape of a hook and goes into the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean. When you say the word 'Carribean' , I almost nearly faint of love!

The Peninsula has three states; here they are below:
1) Yucatan; and the capital Merida
2) Quintana Roo; and the capital is Chetumal
3) Campeche; and the capital is Campeche

What I experienced on August 12 (yesterday) is a good drive (5-hours) throughout the state of Quintana Roo. We started off in Playa Del Carmen; which is the north part of Quitana Roo. Walked on the beach, had breakfast, the place is REALLY Touristicy!
***FYI: Im starting to DESPISE tourists! Im sorry, but its just that.... They come here, dont make the effort to speak the language, and demand a cup of Starbucks Coffee in the middle of an ancient civilization!!!! Massheeleh yaiha Tourist!!!

Went down to TULUM. ; This is a great archeological site; its kept AS IS. We swam on the beach a bit , had lunch; and realized that there are no buildings! No cement! Its all about the PALAPPAS.....built by the beach and in the middle of nature!

Still going south, we cut through a "ville" called Noh Bec; This is the center of Quintana Roo, and here, is where we find Indigenous People. These people are still following and living their Mayan culture. Es Una Zona Maya. Gone with the Tourists. Gone I say!

And ever further down, is the Capital of Quintana Roo, Chetumal. This is the industrial part, where the MALL is , and there is a Cinema.
Chetumal is very very new, so basically 5 years ago, there was nothing... and AS WE SPEAK, its being created! Investors and entrepreneurs and all!

THIS is it... This is what I came for. I cant describe the feeling, but THIS is what i was dreaming of for 365 days in Dubai. As my cousin once said, EVERY CELL IN MY BODY was calling for this. wlik EVERY CELL.

Intiendo.....

I woke up at 4:00 in the morning , and went straight to the airport, of Montreal.
I was the first in line, literally, and was waiting for Mexicana to open their counters so I could check in.... All of a sudden, i start hearing spanish behind me... the guy behind me is like :"siiii, para aqui, siiiii". I instantly turn around and look at the huggeee line thats been formed behind me, THEYRE ALL Mexicans!!!!!

My lips magnetically start pulling away and I start smiling as I check in, as I walk in the airport, as I get in the plane, as I sleep in the plane, and as I notice that IM HAPPY.

Im here.
I cant believe Im here, It hasnt registered AT ALL.
I landed last night and was picked up by Jad and his girlfriend. Shes SOOOO cute! Shes Mexican! and she speaks French, so Im still speaking French!!! with a bit of "yo pienso que..."
In the car on the way, I was really noticing this:
One year ago, I was HERE with My Man, My brother, His wife, Joey and Liza!!!!!!
WOW what a different feeling!!!! I was emotional! I miss my boyfriend!!!!

We put our bags in, and I decide to take a 5-minute walk, coz seriously, I havent registered a THING!
I get out, and I see this old man, with a guitar on his shoulder. He comes to me and hes like "blablablablablabalabla". Im like"No intiendo, para no habla espagnol"
Hes like" Can I sing you a song for a cigarette?"....
AND so were standing IN THE MIDDLE of Playa Del Carmen, and hes singing to me with his guitar, closing his eyes and very much into it.... Im SMILINGGGGG!
He finishes, I give him the cigarette , and we part!!!!!

The Rush

Okay so heres the thing... I just looked at my green phone and it told me that its 3:10 am. AND i need to sleep! I CANT!

I am really nervous and excited and READY to do this.

I pack my bags tomorrow morning, when I wake up, and then me and Leez go down to Vieux Port to get some last minute stuff and some last minute Montreal-Goodbye-ishness. Saying bye to my Cousins and this whole part of my life.

and I go to sleep and have to be at the airport at 6:00 am! To fly for another 6 hours and get to Cancun-Mexico at 7:00 pm.
Jad is gonna pick me up from the airport and we will head through Playa Del Carmen and then CHETUMAL .

Dont know how long Im staying in Chetumal, Dont know if Ill move from Chetumal , where to, how , and when....

This is it. Its beginning. Its happening. I cant believe it; Im feeling the blood rush through my body and this is something Ive never felt before.

How do I feel?? I feel LUCKY.

Je me souviens

I hadnt expected myself to have this much to talk about; but what you will be reading now is a journey that I've experienced this weekend; from Friday 7th August to Sunday 9th August.


Seven hours on the road from Montreal (in the state of Quebec) to Toronto (in the state of Ottawa), Canada.

It felt slightly different to me being on a road for such a long time, noticing how Canadians spend their weekends;
I saw how the roads are just always being used, by cars, by trucks, by Caravans(OH caravan, this concept just lightens me up), by cars attached to boats, attached to bikes, attached to a jet ski.
Canadians really know how to live their outdoors, and how to "appreciate" their country. Almost everyone here has a hobby, something us living in Dubai RARELY/NEVER have. (think about it , eh?)
One does rafting, one does snowboarding, one takes his family out to camp in another state by a fire.


Along the 401 highway, there are towns spread out from both sides. The town is literally stuck on the highway; so you have the first row of houses looking into all travellers in their cars.
** They have recently started and are currently buiding a wall , a sound-proof wall, to isolate the towns a bit.

The streets went from Maison Neuve and Bleury, and Saint Lauren, and St Catherine, to Stevenson Road, Kingsdale Road, Brock Road.
The car plate numbers went from "884 - Quebec- Je me souviens" to "884- Ottawa"..... Remember the story about "Je me souviens quand le Quebec etais Libre??


At this instant, I start feeling a different vibe. I could see that the little wooden houses with a garden out the front was replaced by a huge tower with an INVESTCO logo on it. Or a certain design carved on the side of the highway with the HP logo on it. Or also, by a very wide and tall building with a PROCTER & GAMBLE headquarters on it.

Wow! Toronto really really looked like another Dubai to me. The gridline of the streets, the smell of BUSINESS HUB was all over it.
Identity of Toronto? To be very fair, I couldnt pinpoint it. (and could be to the fact that I only stayed for 2 days)

Their most famous street is Yonge Street. Its where all the shops, boutiques, restaurants, pubs, and the huge amount of outdoor advertising is. Coca Cola, Dell, MTV, Virgin Mobile were all present. Its almost like Times Square when you get to that area.

When I said shops, I didnt refer to the variety of shops! Chinese and Indians are the most two cultures you see there. Wow. Every car is driven by an Indian. and every other car is driven by a Chinese. The shops and malls cater to them heavily, its almost becoming their national dish... SO MANY indian and noodle shops.


We got there, to Joey's cousin's house and ended up having such a nice chilled time. It was so gloomy and freezing and raining, that we kept the discovering area to the day time! So Oussama joined us for some Dos Pistoles tequila drinks straight from Mexico and stayed up till 2 am blabbing and talking and saying stories , stories from what we've seen when we were vacationing all around the world, and really catching up.

We also had a very nice walk in the campus of the University of Toronto. May i PLEASEEEE say something?? AUB's campus is SO one of the top campuses in the world! It was really really really similar to Univerity of Toronto. The old buildings, the park around it, the nature the trees!

Im gonna post some pictures ; so look out for them. These are the pictures from all around Toronto.

NotiCe

As I previously said; I wake up and I wake up early and alone!<
Its 7:55 am and Ive already had breakfast! While they sleep.

In a few minutes, I will need to wake them up.. Since today, we will be heading to TORONTO.
By car, it will take us 7 hours. And of course, one of the many things to see is the Niagra Falls.

Im assuming that Im gonna be disconnected for three days; We will come back on Sunday!

Not to mention that when I come back, I will pack my bags and on Tuesday 11th August HEAD OUT! To my one and only.... Mexico!

Routine

My Sister in Law asks me where are the 3rd and 4th of August posts! Shes so cute!!!!


Ive been great, slightly greater than great. And for the past 2 days, Ive been constantly monitoring myself...
Heres the thing...
I wake up, I have breakfast, I start working, Liza wakes up , we have coffee, we talk, and then Joey wakes up, and our day fully starts out in the streets of MOntreal.
Ive developed a routine here, which was a bit questionable for me. I mean, Its my 14th day here in Montreal!
Is that normal? When do we cross this line and hop comfortable into the line of "routine".
I completely know my way around; I also do plans alone without the JOOLIZ;
I go to Yoga, I go to cousins, I go to friends,...

This is just amusing for me. I have adapted quite fast!


I HATE saying it , but I have to..... In 14 days, I dont think I looked back for one second.

In 14 days, the stongest element that was on my mind is "FAMILY".
I think about them every day, I think about how they are, where they are, and if theyre doing okay. I think of happy times together. Fu and Nadim... the 2 brothers! The big one who has a character that never ceases to amaze me. And the little one that I would do ANYTHING for! I love them it hurts!


My father, Bless him. The most powerful soul!
My mother; the most sensitive creature.

This is ROOTS. And this is what I look back at! Routine or Not Routine. Everyday.

Divers Cite

I dont know about you, But Im in the mood to tell a little story.

This story has a name. Its named "Diversity" or en francais "Divers Cite" or other people might call it "Montreal".

Divers Cite c'est un terme qu'on utilize ica a Montreal et qui explique ce qu'il passe dans cette cite diverse.

The government of Canada accepts diversity. In all shapes and forms.
It accepts people walking down the streets with PINK hair, it accepts artists on the roads of Montreal playing their guitars and collecting money from people, it accepts jobless people and realizes that they need money and it gives them a minimum monthly income to survive, it accepts artists in Metro stops and it pays them for their services, it accepts Chinese, Lebanese, Europeans and Indians living in their country and eventually it allows them to carry the Canadian Passports.

The government of Canada also accepts sexual diversity. Gays and Lesbians live freely with nothing to worry about, or hide about, or feel uncomfortable about.
They all live in an area whereby the area is named after them... The Village is where everything is Gay-friendly.
Gay-friendly would also mean a flag made up of all the colors of the rainbow. together. Its basically the Gay-friendly Logo.

The Depaneurs (Grocery stores) hang a "Rainbow Flag" outside their shops, the pubs, the clubs, the houses, the appartments, the coffeeshops, and restaurants.

Air Canada published a full page ad of an Air Canada airplane taking off of a Rainbow runway.


DIVERS-CITE .

The feeling of FREEDOM. The feeling you get when you have nothing to hide. The feeling you get when you can take a deep, full, breath and feel light. You live. You experience. You choose the life you want. And you live it freely.

The jobless people I was talking about earlier CHOSE to spend their money on alcohol and sleep on the streets. They chose it.


My story ends here.
A remarkeable experience and realization of the different sides to different lives ---- that I had never even considered raised and lived and worked in Dubai.


The End.