Sunday 27 June 2010

Football and Shajarian

Today after 12 years I have watched a whole football world cup match, Argentina and Mexico. I really enjoyed it. Look forward to the next play which will be Argentina and Germany.
Then treated myself with a programme from BBC Persian about the first and only Shajarian.

Friday 11 June 2010

For whom is much harder, me or my husband

Today I have met one of my Islamic country fellows. I was talking that I am living alone and how difficult it is but mentioned that now I am getting use to it. At this time she arrogantly while reforming her veil said "Yes" ... "but poor your husband, it should be much more difficult for him" and I said to myself "What !!!!", "Why...",
Why she said that really, all these time I thought my situation is much harder, I am the one dealing with new life, culture, study and loneliness.

Tuesday 8 June 2010

Using Chopsticks


We were 8 to 9 people sitting around the coffee table in the Japanese style, each from different part of the world. Shamefully I was the only one who did not know how to use the chopsticks.
If you are interested to learn click here.

Thursday 3 June 2010

unpleasant circumstances

Since I came here I have tried to join different clubs and social events to make friendships and get to know people. Although it is very helpful believe me it is not always easy, if you were stuck at home you would have less problems and headaches.

For example, I was in a discussion group and a friend of mine was talking about the time he was going back to his homeland. He said even though he speaks the language perfectly local people there quickly understand that he is a foreigner and occasionally shopkeepers cheat the prices and charge him more money. While he was talking I recalled some of my own experiences in my homeland. They do the same ... Followed the conversation I said this, which I wish I should not have said: “Maybe they find you sissy”. He looked upset. It was meant to be an insult. But what I meant by that had nothing to do with him and it was about different contexts and people’s behaviour in different context. Being rough for local people has different meanings and signs. A man who is brought up in a very tough milieu has different body language and people usually expect a fixed definite understanding of being a man or women. Definitely sissy in the UK has another meaning and signs. That is why I said “they find you sissy” because as far as my experience tells me every word has relative meanings especially adjectives; there is no beautiful or ugly. Everything is relative. So to me in a society in which people are dealing with initial needs some behaviours look strange and out of norm while for others especially in affluent societies it is a norm and has nothing to do with sexuality or being inferior. In my culture upper classes are called “sissy” by lower classes because they treat women nicely, they dress up more colourful and they don’t have rough accents.

To be honest I look up the word in the dictionary again and he could be right by getting upset but I wanted to say something about different cultures and subcultures through a joke and share my observation. I hope people there would understand that. As usual I learnt something but I hope it would not have cost my friend’s anxiety.

Saturday 8 May 2010

cosmoplitan

Living here is not just experiencing British culture, it is about many cultures and different communities. It is about having friends from Russia to China, Spain to Brazil, Syria to India. How could I know all these people without living here?
Such a blessing situation, I wish for all my beloved family and friends and every human kinds.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Plurality

Hannah Arendt believes that communities are not based on homogeneity; on the contrary they are based on plurality (1958).

Monday 19 April 2010

Big decision

I have finally made my mind .... I am going to work on the kitchen appliances, why? because the necessity of the kitchen itself needs to be reconsidered. Then, what happens to kitchen appliances if we look for a sustainable kitchen?my target group will be ... I think I should not put to much information on my page :)

Kitchen Kitchen ... Kitchen
Food Food ... Food
Eat, Eat ... Eat

Buy, store, gather, wash, boil, cook, bake, serve, eat, wash, restore, ... and repeat.
What else people do in their kitchens:
In Britain definitely people use their kitchens for different purposes, they often gather to talk, listen to radio or music, have an afternoon tea, wash clothes or dry clothes. write to a friend or using the Internet.