I think I snapped your attention right out of your eyeballs. And made it mine. Just because I wrote three simple letters… S .E .X …

 I have no idea what the hell is going on in Beirut and some Arab countries. This continuous obsession into trying to imitate the west and become like their culture or what ever ….has gone far!!!

Wake up Arabs. Even America and Europe got over this and stopped slutting up!! I mean, I know rappers who are cleaning up their lyrics, movies that are winning Oscars and they are not about sex… I’m just dropping names here but “Julie and Julia”. “J Edgar”. “Avatar” … and many more //// does it ring a bell?

So winning an academy award, and winning the attention of critics does not revolve about sexy anymore like in 60’s or 70’s where sex was a new hot topic and not a taboo, but I guess we are so late that sex just hit us here and some still think it is a hot topic…

I’m not going to generalize, but I will speak from my own knowledge and tell you one thing. This sexual expression that you dear Arabs is experiencing is passed due. Because it has been already experienced back in 1969 … When New York and Every part of the world were in the freedom movement and in a peaceful community that shared everything together, even “semen”…. But now things are different and slutting up became a “cliché” except in Beirut Where theater plays, movie makers, TV series writers, party animals, bar owners, graphic designers are competing against each other on which can give the most sluttiest poster or outrageous play that speaks about sex.

A woman who gets naked on her blog is courageous…

A sex cover on a local magazine is considered an artistic revolution

A song about intercourse and how a guy can knock his girlfriend’s boots out is considered poetry!!

And so on.the list goes on starting from theater plays to movies.

I won’t mention names …

Maybe I’m clueless, but I thought being a great artist lies in the potential of creating something unusual and beautiful that makes people think and wonder and probably change from within…

Why don’t we become the change we want to see in the world!!

If those people are trying to be the change they want in the world, then they are probably “Wana be Whores”. Excuse my French!!!

What is happening people????? What is so special about slutting up, having sex scenes on screen?

I mean why would you wana waste production money, and spend thousands of dollars on a Red Camera or a shoot your film with 35mm, wasting thousands of rolls on failed attempts to create a sex scene!!!

Dear current director, if you want to arouse the audience and make yourself a “famous” director, just grab your “MiniDV” and light some florescent light, and your good to go….

Don’t pretend it is “art” or it is your “inspiration”. Sex was discovered many years ago… it just like food and water. But I don’t see people talking about water and food and sleeping the same way they talk about sex.

….

Speaking of “BEIRUT HOTEL” Any clueless person who thinks Beirut, Lebanon is an area in Israel or behind an oasis and bunch of camels running around will probably think that all girls are like this jazzy night singer and our nights are red as her sex night.

And if you try to criticize this type of films, you will be subjected to several criticisms and you will be called; a conservative uncultured and under civilized dumb ass who don’t appreciate art and your backwardness will destroy us like there is no tomorrow//….

2 weeks ago I returned from Beirut, I stayed in my favorite city for 2 entire weeks, and honestly my first impression toward it was exactly like a husband who just came back from war and his wife was pregnant from another man thinking her husband is dead…

I mean what happened to you dear Beirut?

If I want to use metaphors here, I will probably imagine Beirut, a beautiful woman with a beautiful dark long hair, attractive lips and eyes, sitting in the corner of a deserted old house smelling like cigarettes and holding a vodka bottle in her hand laughing hysterically with a cynical look in her eyes… and looking at me!! : (Oh you are here Farah, I did not expect you would see me like this….)

I don’t even know where to begin dear Beirut, should I start with Hamra Street 

That is filled with pubs… to me they are like open coffins …… dead zombies sitting and hanging around in the corners of that famous street lighting up their cigarette and finishing their glass. They are emotionless and fearless and carless.

Or should I start with people who changed drastically, I don’t even know how to begin to describe the amount of shock I ‘ve had when I had my first words with very close friends of mine … as if they were … stuffed or were mummified.

Nothing has changed since the first time I met them, and believe me that’s not a good thing… you come back after months and years and you see them just where you left off… sitting there talking about the same subjects they were talking about 1 year ago or 2 years ago………

I mean I don’t blame them… but….

Now the political situation is arising more than ever, depression is within every body…people are starting their days and ending it… like machines or books stacked in their positions, and doing their part of work then returning home…

It is like they got used to it or they got stoned.

And on top of that, movies and magazine covers, nightclubs ‘s main theme is sex… as if the hidden message is” lets have sex and get drunk, We are going to die anyway. “

I don’t care anymore…. Do what ever you like, I just said what I think and i’m scared … i’m reallllly really truly extremely scared. Beirut is literally going away from us. And war is not the killer here… it is us.

3rd rock from the sun

a hole in my heart 

a voice from heaven nusrat fateh ali khan

adventures of priscilla queen of the desret

angels and demons 

anything else by woody allen

artchicute of doom

band of brothers 

barbarella queen of the galaxy

barfly

battle of lagers 

berry blue 

bikini bash

bobby

bullet

center of the world

circle of deceit aka le faussaire

clockwork organge

daniel deronda

decryprtage

deja vu

delta of venus 

don’t try this at home 

french twist 

cozu 

great escape 

heat and dust

 history of the world part 1

in the hart of night 

independence day 

jackass

jesebbelle and friends 

julius cesar 

k street 

ken park

karol a man who become pope

kinsey 

le femme nikita 

le pianiste 

la repilion 

last metro 

most of those are either insult arabs 0 shot in israel – sexual content 

or  show compassion with jews …

 i don’t know but i thought lebanon was a free country !!!!

It is 9:38 pm, the weather is freezing outside, though I did not bother to wear my boots tonight, I wanted to look smashing and royal with my Christian Dior black shoes.. i was at my best, my red silk blouse,  short black dress and good luck charm ring inspired by Mary Antoinette collection ;the  beautiful burgundy colored ring was frosting my hand with its beauty.
I was ready for the opera and excited to the point where I was running the entire 20 blocks to get there; there were no available taxis around and the cool breezes were stinging me like a bee.

Here I am in front of the glorious Lincoln Center that in my opinion has a splash of royalty and history in its ambience.
You can feel that every concert or an event there is like an invitation to a ball. Sometimes I could feel that behind those golden wooden doors, Louis xiv is waiting for me to make an entrance.

Unfortunately, the bagel guy across the street brought me back to reality. But it is New York after all, the beautiful horrifying yet amazing city that can take you anywhere to any dimension with a blink of an eye.

I returned to my classical mood, as soon as I sipped from the “chateau latour” glass that was wrapped between my fingers.

Bottles of champagne were popping in the lounge bar, beautiful wrinkled women in warm white fur wrapped around their necks, were moving down stairs with a splash of sophistication in every step they make, men with glasses and cigars were spotted saluting the crowd with a smile or a simple nod.

French and German words were floating along with a poetic feast of salutations and greetings that created an enchanting mood for the waiting hall at Lincoln Center.

Some were commenting on the recent opera entitled “ don Giovanni” others were talking about a recent trip they made to south of France, and some were discussing a certain festival in Vienna.
In the middle of this emotional celebration one way or another I was floating, probably living a dream, a dream that I had when I was young, to be dressed like royalty, and to be born in the 17th or 18th century, but I can’t blame anyone for that.
I guess it all goes down to one thing; Yourself.
You can be anywhere in any time, just use your mind and believe me, it can wander to many beautiful places.

Two more minutes to curtain call, I sat on my chair in box number 35, everything around me was in burgundy, my favorite color. My eyes kept observing and peaking through the crowd.
The crowd looked so beautiful, and perfectly structured like a painting you can spot at the Louvre; A beautiful colored painting of people sitting in an organized matter looking at their best, waiting for the show to begin.

The lights went off, everything seemed so silent, as if we were about to witness a birth of a melody. A soft tune was suddenly unleashed from the pianist at the corner of the stage, that’s when the rest of the orchestra followed him until I realized it.
They were playing Tchaikovsky symphony number 6, movement 4 Karajan. The same musical piece I heard for the first time in my bed in Kuwait when I was 8 years old.

I was swept away from beginning of the tune until the end. Everything around me seemed so blurry, my eyes and ears were focused on the center of the stage, on the maestro’s hands moving along the melodies.
It dawned on me, the first time I heard this melody I was a young girl having a bad day at school, I returned home disappointed because of a bad grade on the math test, and was continuously teased by other students because I was simply different as a half breed Kuwaiti; A second background, a Lebanese one.

Now I’m listening to the same melody, but from a different seat, instead of being 8 years old I’m 23, instead of the gray uniform, I was in my black dress and red silk blouse, everything around me was so perfect to the point where you could mistaken it for a fantasy. I was different.

I can do anything I want. My ideas were floating above me flying around the stage. I thought about my life, it passed like a flash back just in front of my eyes, all those years in Beirut sitting behind the desk learning about René Descartes’s famous quote. “I think therefore I’m” and analyzing Machiavelli’s intentions toward political power; it finally hit me.
Everything seemed so clear now. We spend our entire life searching for the perfect job, the perfect mate, the perfect city and yet we tend to feel miserable most of the time.

I forgot for a moment that I was born in ALSubah hospital in Kuwait.
For a second I closed my eyes and imagined what would my life have been if I was born in Italy or France or even Berlin.
Would I be Farah the same sloppy artist- the perfectionist one? Or another personality ?
I might have been an investment banker or a sales person or even a baker. You never know how life can turn your destiny upside down and take you in directions you would never imagine. .

Will I love my mother the same ?
Be patriotic when ever my eyes spot a Palestinian getting killed on TV?
Will I appreciate Beirut and its beauty and kiss the airplane window when landing?
Will I defend Kuwait in a conversation when it is being criticized?

What will my goals be ? my hopes and dreams?

The sound of violins suddenly awakened a memory I had Back in Paris when I was walking down the street in Saint –Jermaine, where I spotted an old man sitting in the corner drinking wine from a water bottle, and cleansing the painting brush in a small bowl next to him.
He was painting the street in front of him, a group of people were passing by every fraction of a second, I did not know how can he finish the painting if the subject kept moving, I tried to get closer to him, that’s when I discovered he was painting a flower in a vase that was settling in front of his eyesight across the street on a table for two in a romantic bistro just around the corner.

He simply picked what mattered to him, it was unexceptional and he liked it.
I approached the man, and with a simple “Salut” I asked him about the painting, I was surprised when he answered me in German.

There he was a German man sitting in the middle of Paris, painting a flower inside a vase and I wish I took a picture of that beautiful painting that looked so real and scenic.

I was snatched back to reality by the audience ‘s applause. Everybody was standing, the echo of their applause made me wonder … how can we create something so beautiful and yet feel miserable?

The clock hit 12 am, I felt like Cinderella when I was rushing down the stairs that were perfectly covered with red carpet and found myself outside the Lincoln center, the weather was even colder than I remember.
As I was walking down the street heading home, I remembered all those lonely nights I spent in in my studio apartment, behind my laptop editing my film or writing a script or even an article thinking about that day when I graduate and return home and serve my country; just when it hit me !
I’m already serving my country, i’m already making my family proud and I’m already accomplishing my dreams.

I was exploring my true innerself, this old German painter made me realize that you can find what you are looking for in any place in the world.

This memory reminded me of Vincent van Gogh, one of my favorite artists, a real Dutch who spent his early years painting with black and gray until he went to France to a small town called “Arles” where he simply was mesmerized with its beauty and as a result, he discovered color and that helped shape the artistic talent of Vincent the greatest artist of all time.
Sometimes I wonder what the world is preparing for me. I got out of the opera with a great deal in self exploration for my personality.
My year in New York is about to end, 8 days left for my move to Los Angles, California, to the land of stars, Hollywood.
I came to New York with 3 suitcases, a BA in journalism and a fear of the future, I finished my first year in MFA with a diploma in film, 4 suitcases and 14 boxes and a great appetite for knowledge.
Can’t wait to see what this Kuwaiti is going to face in Hollywood…….stay tuned

I know this might sound out of the ordinary, but what I’m about to say might shock some of you and others might just … simply not believe it.
Today and right in the middle of the crowded Herald Square, in midtown Manhattan, I came to a realization that might be a bit late or maybe just in time.
On February 17th just few days before my flight to New York, I sat with the editor in chief of “Adam and Eve”, we imagined how will I contribute to this magazine, I could not think of anything in specific, but the words raced my intuition and simple came out of my mouth, “how about a column ; A Kuwaiti in New York,” I said.
“I love it, “ she instantly replied. We both cracked a wide smile and our eyes glittered with excitement waiting to have the first part published.
Few days later, and after I packed up my bag, and arrived here, I had all those feelings that people talk about when they move into another country …. But there is something important seemed to be missing … these people have missed a major point. …
No I won’t say it, but I will describe it for you. As a future film maker ill imagine my life as a series of scenes and every scene has a beat change, an action and a reaction, suddenly there is an empty black space… do you know what do they call that in movie business ?
A gap !!! while scenes were taking place, one after the other, there was something missing in between I just realized … something was changed in me…
People usually grow up, and not notice any change that tackle’s their character or personality or even a weight gain or loss unless someone tells them in their faces, but there is something changing within me that it feels like a layer of skin is being pulled off my body, and I’m sensing it.
The picture might be ugly, but it’s the truth.
The truth might be ugly, but beautiful in the same time and that’s why I’m here.
Maybe I was supposed to write to you a 3rd sequel about a Kuwaiti in New York, who manages to enjoy being in the big apple, buying Manolo’s Blanhik shoes or meet the perfect American – African or Latin guy who magically turns her mind up side down, but this column is going to give you another kind of stories… Reality.

The last couple of months have influenced me a lot, and made me recreate my character from scratch.
I used to be like any American university student, partying with friends, listening to European DJ`’s, having coffee in Star Bucks and shopping from Top Shop and Forever 21, but this somehow changed.
The moment I arrived here I felt some kind of connection to Arab culture, like never before, I felt if I listen to English music in New York for example, I will be colonized by the American culture and thus deleting any last Arabic part in me, which is why I always used to carry my blackberry where ever I go, and play marina FM while crossing the streets in Manhattan.
I listened to Arabic music like it’s the first time, I appreciated every beat, every melody and I felt that I made a mistake all those years for trying to neglect Arabic melody.
I always complained about Kuwaiti’s as being old fashioned in party scene or even in music making, but now I understand why Kuwait is like that. No body will appreciate Kuwait as it as unless they examine it from distance.
I know for a fact that I have lived in Beirut for the past 7 years and spent my college years with Lebanese people, but that doesn’t mean that I’m entirely Lebanese. There is a part of me screams –Kuwait-. The high school and middle school part, that part that shaped my entire teen hood apart from the summer holidays that I used to spend in my grand mother’s house in South of Lebanon.
I studied in public schools, I used to stand every day at 7:30 in front of the students and scream with every bit of my voice, “ tahya el Kuwait, “ (long live Kuwait) and after that, students used to follow my lead and end it by performing the national anthem.
Kuwait is part of me, and without a doubt it started to show here between yellow cabs, the New York pizza and the crowded streets.
These things suddenly took over my mind, and for some reason I admit, I was a young teen who used to skip prayers over playing play station or shopping thinking that it is better or what ever.
But somehow despite my busy schedule that starts here from 8 am till 12 am at midnight, I found time to pray 5 times.
Being in New York made me closer to my religion, closer to my family and to my country.
We all used to get bored on a Thursday night in Kuwait, or wake up in the morning, wash our faces and do the exact same thing everyday, but when I left this routine and came here for a different kind of life style. It suddenly came to my mind ; I miss waking up at 12pm and going late for work, I miss going to sultan center with my mother and shop for food, I miss eating 10 times a day because there is nothing better to do other than eating, watching TV and eating. I miss all those silly moments spent in marina mall with friends, I miss national TV of Kuwait that no body watches, I even miss the hot weather, the sandy storms, and the Indian workers.
Some people when they are exposed to foreign culture, they get easily affected and integrate in its mood, they don’t react to it or fight back to hold their old traditions and habits, instead the become a foreign version of themselves.
On the other hand there are those people who fight this kind of transformation, they react to it like some kind of emotional rash and refuse it completely.
I ‘m one of those people, I refuse any kind of “amerkinzation” and I ‘m loving every minute of my “lebanonization” and “kuwaitization”.

After observing a lot of people in New York I came up to this conclusion.

I found out that if anybody says the word, “ the city” he or she expect the rest to know that this means Manhattan.
If you have never been to the statue of liberty or the empire state building or you are looking for free things to do in the village voice it means you are a New Yorker!

When you are standing in a packed subway with 200 hundred other people standing next to you and everyone manages to avoid looking at each other.

If you buy a 50$ worth of groceries and fit it in one paper bag.
If you live in a building with a larger population than most Americans towns,
Your door man is Russian, your grocer is Korean, your deli man is Israeli, your building super is Italian, your laundry man is Chinese, your favorite bartender is Irish, your favorite diner owner is Greek, and your favorite falafel guy is Egyptian.
You get pissed off at people who say they are from New York and they tell you they are from upstate.
You can pick out the tourist when they turn their heads to the subway announcements.
You know what bodega is.
When your are in the background of a tourists photo,
When you use the rats in the subway tracks to tell you when the trains are approaching the station.

When you don’t buy newspapers in the morning, because you know somebody will leave theirs on the train.
When your door has more than three locks, and when you consider eye contact an act of over aggression

When you miss “real” pizza and “real” bagels.

When you don’t go to Times Square on weekends
When you can ignore homeless people without feeling too bad
When you know the difference between ray’s pizzas.
When More than half of the people you know have names that take three tires to pronounce correctly.
When you see at least one person you know no matter where you are or when.
When you can walk through the city for hours and not get tired, but once you’re out of New York City and walk for 10 minutes you feel exhausted.
When you don’t own a “I love New York shirt.”
When you have trained yourself to hold your breath upon entering a subway elevator.
When you move up one block to steal the cab from the person waiting for it below you
When you hold the trains’ doors open so you and 50 of your friends can get in
When you refuse to eat pizza anywhere other than New York because the pizza everywhere else is just horrible in comparison.
You know how to fold the New York Times in half, vertically so that you can read it on the subway or bus without knocking off other passenger’s hats
When someone bumps into you and you check your wallet.
When Communicating on the road only takes one finger.
When you walk a mile in 14 mines and think that everything should be open 24 hours.
When you order your dinner and have it delivered from the place across the street
When Rats are your new subway friends.
When you know exactly which subway and door is close to the stairs at the stop your getting off.
When you have jaywalked in front of a cop more than once and they did not care.
When you believe that being able to swear at people in their own languages makes you multi –lingual.
When you cant find an umbrella anywhere when its nice out but the second it rains 5 people are fighting to sell them on the same block.
When you wear sneakers with a suit, and smoke while walking.

A big city like New York, it is hard for anybody especially a tourist or a new comer to find something they want easily, there are a lot of choices when it comes to food, housing, entertainment, job offering and many things else.
To make your life easier, I have gathered some information about few websites and journals that provide to you the best bargains in New York in housing services, shopping destinations, restaurants, and many more.
Deal vogue.com is a great website for people who just arrived to New York, or simply for people who are picky when it comes to dining out, shopping for the house or even personal things like clothes, shoes make up and etc.
Anybody who creates an account on this website will receive a daily newsletter of all the cheap deals regarding invitations to new openings of restaurants, fashion parties, book signing, shopping stores, diet programs and many more regarding your life style choices.
It says in the website that DealVogue creates limited-time offers on the best stuff to eat, see, do and buy in New York City. “ They also said to Expect exclusive deals on many great places for anybody to enjoy at a fabulously discounted price.”
It is as simple as it sounds.

Deals of the month….

16$ for 4 hours, Central Park bike rental.
50$ worth deal of grocery, delivered to your house.
20$ concert for at the symphony place, New York
15$ for 2 day all Access Cinco de mayo pub craw pass only 20 $

What is so beautiful about New York is that anybody can buy art. …
There is a website called Art on a Budget, where you can find used books under 2$, plus paintings that cost 10 $ or less.
You will be bound to read, you will get the chance to buy poetry, biography books with cheap price.
Loft works is one of those outlet stores that has a great variety of clothing designs under 100$ and I guess New York is so professional in that matter. …

Mulberry Street. …
A great place to find affordable fashion items. ..
Any fashion designer is bound to know this street, and recently Kim Kardashian has opened her store” Dash” around Mulberry street.
This neighbor is full of fashionable design outlets from Italy, Sweden, Middle East, France, India and local New York designers.
Every spot shares within its walls a different kind of design, gothic, shabby chic, classic, retro, funky and many more.
It is always crowded, it is close to little Italy area and it is like a Bermuda triangle; once you go mulberry you never go back.
If you want to get the best out of New York bars, beauty salons and spas, you must check this website best-deals.com or sugerdeals.com
Get ready before you book your ticket, and believe me, getting the best deals in New York is easy, but you just need to know where to start.

The number one nominated Hummos place according to Time out New York

Farah ALHashim

I’m sure if the Lebanese famous Chef Ramzi ever decided to take a break and come to New York, he will probably find himself creating another Hummus competition after the Israeli ‘s claims, that Hummus is an Israeli traditional plate.
Where ever you turn your head in New York, your eyes will spot a falafel stand, or a hummus place; an entire restaurant designed only for Hummus business, however the funny part about this piece of information is that the best hummus place in New York owned to a Jewish company and certified with “kosher” Law.
I know that many people especially Lebanese or even Palestinian will get upset or irritated and take it personally if they stepped into a Hummus place and found a middle eastern menu singed by kosher law and considered a part of the Israeli cuisine.
How ever, this does not undermine the company’s hard work and the effort that has been invested into creating such an amazing taste and mouthwatering cuisine .
The best hummus restaurant in NYC is, “The Hummus Place,” that is located in East Village, 100 East Saint’s Mark Place.
When I went to “The Hummus place,” as an Arab I was enjoying of course my Middle Eastern cuisine however, I got to know it better, like it’s the first time we meet.
I mean who has not ate a hummus plate in their lives more than a 1000 times maybe more? Who hasn’t tried Tabboleh with extra lemon, or made Baba ghanoj from scratch?
Hummus was introduced to us, Arabs, the moment we opened our eyes and said our first word; probably hummus was our first word. It is so integrated in our culture, in our lives, that we even forgot what we eat without it, we mesmerized every tang, every flavor and every bite we ever had.
On the other hand, when I saw Americans, French, Jewish people sitting on other tables next to me, ordering hummus like its some kind of antique bottle of wine, or some kind of rare fish plate and they are discussing the finishing touches like herbs, type of vegetables served and many more like the size of the chick bees, I was completely shocked with a goofy smile on my face, asking myself, how do they see hummus, I’m sure their relationship with it is completely different than us.
Few minutes, the waiter came and said,” Do you like it?” I simply nodded with a smile and said,” Of course, it is hommos, I already know what it tastes like?”
The waiter smiled and told me that their hummos is different and it is fresh, but all restaurants say that about their products, I mean who is going to say their food sucks?
I was wrong. The hummus tasted differently than what I have tried in down town Beirut or in Barbar Restaurant in Hamra Street, or even in Kanari restaurant in Hawali.
The taste was foreign to my tongue, yet my appetite was starting to get to know this new taste and I realized that sometimes change is not a bad idea and it can be refreshing.
This restaurant was nominated as number 1 according to time out New York as the most delicious hummus restaurant and according to the village voice it was nominated as the cheapest yet most delicious food destination to go to in NYC.
After an interesting journey in “The Hummus Place” I came to a realization that sometimes we take things for granted, we never realize how interesting or good they are until we lose it. Despite the fact that I rarely ate Hummus in Kuwait or Beirut, I’m eating Hummus practically every other day here, and guess what it is healthy!!
One more thing to know is that their menu has a lot to offer; starting from Hummus, Labneh, roasted eggplant, falafel, Tabboleh and many more Middle Eastern dishes.
Even their website is like an exploded bomb of scientific and healthy information about how Hummus is good for the body and according to their website, “Hummus is one of the few foods that leaves you feeling satisfied without spiking your blood glucose levels. It’s tasty and nutritious, but also low in calories. Hummus is vegetarian dish, actually it’s also vegan. Basically made up of 60 – 70% water, chickpeas, Tahini (from sesame seeds) olive oil and lemon, it’s considered a grain / legume, but if you eat it with bread it’s actually a complete protein. A great source of dietary fiber, Hummus also packs the good monounsaturated fats like Omega 3 and is rich in vitamins C, E, K, and B6 to name a few, but it doesn’t stop there. Minerals like Manganese, Copper and Sodium are accompanied by Iron, Folate, Thiamin, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc.”
One last piece of information, before you finish, your Hummus Place and not forget the round warm mouthwatering delicious pita bread, don’t forget to order yourself a “Mhalabeya,” or a piece of “Knafei,” that will simply blow you away and send you back to “ALHalab,” or “Kanafani.”

Note: despite the conflict of civilization socially and politically speaking between Israel and the Middle East, hummus has managed to unite us not with our hearts but definitely with our stomachs, “Sahten.”

Mother’s day is just around the corner. I’m sure everybody loves their mothers and celebrating mother’s day can happen daily, but some people like to make this day quite unique and special to their mothers.

Adam&Eve had the chance to interview a group of people from different backgrounds, about their most expensive gift, cheapest, ever been given to mothers and the funniest incident happened on that special day.

Mohammad ALKashef (Egypt)
اغلى هدية كانت سلسة دهب وارخص هديج كانت وردة بلدي
اكتر حاجه مضحكة لما جبتلها هدية كانت مكونات للكيك وقلتلها يلاا اعملي كيكة عشان نحتفل بيكي ضحكت وبعد ما عملت الكيك كلتها لوحدي “

Nadine Ahmad (Syria)

Expensive gift: ” A spa certificate for 2 days, she can enjoy the messages, therapies and anything she wants. She deserves it.”
Cheapest gift: ” A white rose.”
Funny incident: ” We actually danced at the mall, while shopping for clothes.”

Sandra Boutros (Lebanon)

“My mother and I have this tradition on mother’s day. We wake up at 6 am, and jog near the beach, then we have an early breakfast at Paul’s Marina mall, and then shopping in Avenues until noon, where she gets to pick the restaurant.
After lunch we go to the movies, or Cruse in the car and listen to the music on the radio; loud of course.” (Laughs)
Funny incident: “We used to flirt with guys in other cars around us, as if we are two teenagers, I did not mind I used to see my mother’s smile as if she is 17 again.”

Ahmad (Morocco)
“I always send her flowers to her bedroom with homemade breakfast in bed. It’s her special day and I just want her to know how much I love her.”
Funny incident: “One time she found a bee inside the flower and shouted, we laughed, it was hilarious, she was still in bed.”

May Mammary (Lebanon)
Expensive gift: “was a ticket to Hawaii.”
Cheapest gift: “A homemade cake with her name on it.”
Funny incident: “once I was giving her the cake and I tripped over the carpet and my head dived into the cake, my mom could not stop laughing, we all laughed for several hours, it was an unforgettable moment.”

Yossif AL-Shimmery (Kuwait)
“Once I recorded a song for her on the karaoke machine, “Set ELHabayeb” I sounded terrible, but my mom’s laughter was mixed with her tears, she loved it. Even though it was a funny experience to me.”
Cheapest gift: “One time I was broke so I got her gum. Her favorites.” (He laughs)

Samir (refused to mention his family name) (Iran)
“Almost anything you give to her will be appreciated. I gave my mom a gift certificate to a day spa once and many other things, but the cheapest one was fruit basket of the month.”

Fatima Dashti (Kuwait)

جمعت كل صورنا مع بعض وقصقصتها وسويتلها مخده عليها كل صور الطفوله “
في مره ابونا ياه وشاف كيكه عيد ميلاد ما يدري ان اليوم عيد الام
وتفشل جدام امي عبالا ان اليوم عيد ميلادها
كان الموقف مضحك “

Dana Abdul-Aziz (Kuwait)

Expensive gift: “Diamond ring.”
Cheapest: “ A red flower.”
Funny incident: “we threw her a surprise party and every one showed up, I still remember her reaction at the door when she screamed laughing, it was hilarious.”

Bashayer Abdulmehsen (Kuwait)

Expensive gift: “A ticket to Beirut, because I know how much she loves this city.”
Cheapest: ” I got her a plate of Hommos, and we ate it together it was an amazing memory.”
Funny incident: “I remember we were in Beirut, she took a picture with a Lebanese singer and he sang for her in the middle of Downtown, it was such a beautiful moment yet funny, everybody was clapping and dancing.”

Bachar (refused to mention his name) (Kuwait)
Expensive gift: ” I got her a brand new BMW car.”
Cheapest gift: ” I got her basket with 10 kinds of cheese from Paris.”
“I always try to buy her the best things, I know I can afford it so why not bring her the best always.”
Funny incident: “We ate cheese, drank tea and listened to French music, even though we did not understand a word.”

Widad (refused to mention her Family name)
“ I know that a lot of people buy expensive gifts to their mothers, but to me money doesn’t buy love, and despite of those who buy cars, or diamond rings, I know it’s a great way to express their love to their mom, but I can simply dedicate a song on the radio to her, get her a book about motherhood or simply a flower. Flowers are beautiful and worth a million dollars.”
“ I can simply tell my mother I love you and give her a warm hug. I know she needs that the most.”

People have different choices when it comes to buying gifts to their mothers, some get flowers, other BMW cars, but the truth is; A mother being there for us is the most precious gift we could ever get, and waking up next to her is the greatest moment of all time, So remember to mesmerize every moment with your mom; these are the golden times.

First Step Washington Airport
I spent roughly around 20 horrifying and intense minutes at the immigration office. my Arab nerves froze up, and all these perceived ideas about terrorism started to gather up on my mind. “ What if they banned me from entering the United States and thought that my mother’s thyme and Labneh are a strange combination of some wild plants. I felt it in my guts and veins, that all my dreams were about to get shattered if this Chinese – American officer will stamp my paper, “ NOT ADDMITTED, “ but he did not, I left their office feeling relaxed as if I just passed the final test in college.
I arrived to midtown Manhattan. And I said to myself, “ Now what?”
I saw it all, The yellow cabs, the neurotic drivers, the long huge buildings, the smell of Chinese take out, Indian curry restaurants and falafel stands mixed up with hot dog carriages and pretzel stands.
Everything looked exactly as it appeared on TV, except this time I was in it.
2 Weeks After
It’s Sunday afternoon, it’s raining outside, I write to you after 3 weeks of survival where I managed to get an apartment in Manhattan, few blocks from Times Square, classical American furniture, a cell phone, a health insurance, and grocery card from Key Mart (their own version of TSC) not to mention a back pain from carrying 20 paper bags in the middle of Times Square without falling on the floor.
I did well I guess. It was quite hard at the beginning. Everything had to be done on my own. There were so many rules and regulations, a lot of conditions to follow and lots of paper work involved, whether it’s about school or living expenses. I guess all countries are the same and the bureaucracy system is exactly the similar everywhere.
So Do you want to know how it feels to be a Kuwaiti living in New York?
It feels good so far, it’s like trying a new dish and not sure what the flavor would be, you might throw up or swallow it and ask for more… I have not reached the digestion period yet.

Kuwait and New York Alike? ?
There are things I saw in the city that directly sent me into a rocket ship to Kuwait; Pink berry stores, Star Bucks where is located in every corner and every block, also the famous Madison’s avenue was filled with international clothing lines such as Chanel, Gabbana and Juicy couture, which directly reminded me of the juicy couture-training suit that Kuwaitis wear with their winter boots.
“I miss you girls.”
I guess Kuwait has little New York in it with all those top brands shops and guess what? Kuwaitis are fashionable just like New Yorkers. Maybe more…
Kuwaitis are fashionable than New Yorkers, even though Manhattan is filled with all British, French, American and German couture; they prefer comfort over style.
Since it’s cold here, I have not experienced their fashion sense yet, everybody’s wrapped up like a hot Panini Sandwich with leather jackets and scarves. But I guess will wait and see until summer.

New York: A city of Sex?
New York is nothing like Sex and the City. This is just a TV show and it is so the opposite.
No one here has the time to dress up and go with the girls to the trendiest clubs and then have brunch in patsies’. I mean people do that, but not everyday, they all got duties and work to do and no one is free to do anything else.
I mean you can tell by the way they walk, and cross the street, they have no time to turn left and say hi or at least check if there are cars, they just keep going no matter what, and never stop until they see the stop sign again. They are on a hurry all the time.
Kuwait and New York has one another in common: Restaurants. There are more than 400 Chinese or international bistros in each street, not to mention thousands of nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and deli’s. (Last part not associated with Kuwait.)
I guess this city has to be this way. It’s a melting pot of ethnicities and different nationalities and backgrounds, besides one block in the big apple equals 10 areas in Kuwait in terms of population, diversity and space. You can see the Jewish, the Christian and the Muslim walking side by side waiting for the stop sign or ordering pizza from the same cashier and paying the same amount of money.
Crazy Manhattan
I managed to see some maniacs the first 2 weeks I came here; the funny and scary thing is that some of them were actually talking loudly to themselves in the middle of the street. They were upset, probably from themselves or from the situation that made them this way.
In every turn, in every direction your eyes will be attracted to a story or a situation that will make you wonder? What is happening in the world?

So Far Yet so Close?
I mean New York is so far from us, yet so close. They have angry people, happy, hungry, bad and good people just like us, they have the same bureaucracy system we have in our governmental institutions, they have the same crazy taxi drivers, young guys who flirt all the time, and girls who like to dress up and go shopping any minute of the day.
They like Sex and the City, Harry Potter and shop in 21forever.
Whether we like it or not globalization reached its peak.
Beauty or the Beast?
Beauty Salons in New York are quite the same as in Kuwait. You just need to know where you are going or you will get mugged. You might get the worst haircut and never know it.
Looking good in New York is expensive, but it’s worth it, its better to be the beauty and not the beast.

New York is always Online
The only annoying part which I hate it here so far is the online service. I mean everything is done through online, banking services, checking your bills, phone accounts, applying for cable and internet, reserving salon appointments and restaurant reservation all done through websites which made wonder maybe in few years if I had to sneeze I, have to do it online.
Call me crazy, but I kind of missed speaking to People. Human communications is the best and lets hope these days will come back soon.

Arabyeon ana? (Type in Arabic)
I remember this time where I was walking down 6th avenue, it was 8 pm, I just came from class and heading home, I suddenly heard Lebanese music, Fairoz singing, “ya jabal eli b3eed, 5alfak 7abayebna,” It was such a breathtaking experience, I rushed like a fanatic looking for the source of the music, where I found a small Lebanese bistro few blocks away from where I was standing, called “Arzit lebnan.” I did not think twice and simply went there and ordered for myself a hummus plate. When I reached the doorstep, there was an old man sitting at the end of the bar, he reminded me of those old men I used to see in Beirut alleys and corners, reading As-Safir or An-Nahar newspaper and drinking Turkish coffee while listening to an old radio placed on a wooden chair. Instead this old man was switching the channels of the TV until he picked LBCI. Abo Geroge and his Lebanese cedar reminded me of Beirut and its magic.
He knew I was an Arab, “Min eyonik ereftik.” He replied (through your eyes I knew you are an Arab.)
Then he forced me to sit down and invited me over Tabboleh and Hummus. I honestly ate the whole plate, tip of my mouth was covered with olive oil and parsley and my eyes were drowning in tears as well. He laughed and told me, “I never saw anyone crying over my plate is it that good?” he asked. I simply nodded and said, “I miss home.”

To be continued ….

ضحكت لانو اخييييييرا رح يتحقق الحلم العربي
وبكيت علي الناس اليي راحت ضحيه الحريه
واخيييرا

رح تحقق الوحده العربيه
اهو
!!!!!
ماسكين ايدينا بايد بعض
خليكو كدا
خليييكو بالشارع
خلي كل الشعب العربي يغار
وينزل علي الشارع زيييكم

رجعت ايامك يا ناصر
رجعت ايامك يا جيفارا
ما فيش اجمل من الوطن
مافيش اجمل من لون النيل
وصخره الروشه
والهرم
وكل رمز عربي بالدول العربيه
انا معاكن
بالروح بالدم نفديك يا مصر
انت ام الدنيا
انتي ام النيل
نحنا معاكي لاخر نفس

بحبك يا مصر

التوقيع
مواطنة عربية