I feel sad while writing this final blog for our English writing skills class. The class was a lot of fun and the best part was writing blogs every month. Usually I never got down to writing, lets omit my scribbles in my dream diary here, and I found it to be a nice change. We learned quite a lot in this class. I, for one, had completely lost confidence in my writing skills after my A levels, as I got an E in my English paper. Even though everyone begged me to get the paper rechecked I was too scared and so I refused to do anything about it. Although I would like to add that I got an A in my O levels. For some reason Jamal’s name pops into my head, maybe it is the fact that I needed the feeling of being accepted, and liked, in English class again. This in my opinion has been the biggest gain for me.
Apart from this we learned how to put our thoughts on paper, with the appropriate grammar and punctuation. We learned numerous strategies and heard various pod casts, the starting tune to which is ingrained on each students minds. We learned that we should eavesdrop on people, not in a negative context but instead to help us write better dialogues. We got to know secrets to writing by some famous writers, for example Stephen King and George Orwell. We read a few stories which had confused personalities in them all. And we analyzed them for hours and hours till we could not utter another word and then would be sent off on a break. It was enlightening, and felt great, to know that I could actually come up with a few words to describe other personalities. The stories we read are ‘Urdu, my love song’, Poison, A Hanging and Shooting an Elephant. We got to know the meaning of the word connotative and denotative. We learned how to write persuasive essays and how to write a thesis statement which basically is the main idea of your essay.
We also learned how to politely tell a waitress if we need to go use the restroom. Or else, if we need to command a younger sibling, we learned how to do it nicely. In this class the boys also learned to ask the girls out, politely. We found out that our opinions and statements would sound less judgmental if we use distancing verb forms. Then we started talking in quite a bit of the British accent, when we were doing softening expressions.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Final Shout Out!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Character Sketch: William Forrester
William Forrester (Sean Connary) is a recluse in this movie. He was a very good writer, who published just one book and won a Pulitzer for it. He lives in this own apartment and is not very friendly at first. He has arrangements with a company, which has someone come to his house and to give him his groceries for around a month. William also has outstanding debts, which looks like he will soon be in trouble, as he lives like a hermit and never leaves his house, so it would be safe to assume that he doesn’t have a job.
Soon he finds out that a boy, who used to play at the park, broke into his house and left his backpack there. William out of curiosity opens it and finds a notebook, he also finds that he liked what he was reading. He knew the young boy had promise and had a talent for writing. After reading it he even corrects the writings and wrote comments on it, comments like this is fantastic and specifics needed. He then throws the backpack down on the road, when the boy was looking. The boy finds the corrections and then musters up the courage to go back to William’s house and ask him to mentor him. William finds that the young boy’s name is Jamal Wallace and he shares his passion for writing and reading. The young boy finds that William is a recluse and so he used this to trap him into a situation, he says he would keep his secret if William becomes his mentor. William decides it cannot be harmful. Although I think what William really wanted was to relive his young days. The days when he started writing.
In school Jamal doesn’t work much and tries just to fit in although he deserves and can attain extremely good grades in English, but he tries not to stand out. When the school makes all students take some test Jamal achieves exceptional marks, an excellent private school approaches the head of his current school. Jamal finds this decision very difficult to make and William again helps him here. He looks at the big picture and convinces Jamal that he cannot flourish at a second rate school and instead for him to really learn something he need to switch schools.
This relationship, which seems to have started as a fluke, turns into a beautiful friendship. Jamal even convinces William to leave his house and go watch a game. But leaving the house after 20 years is difficult for William and he finds himself stuck in a crowd, not knowing where to go. It is obvious that he was overwhelmed by the shock of getting out of his house and so Jamal should not have left him alone even for a second. William, who seems to be dazed, goes where ever the crowd took him.
In my opinion, William Forrester is an idol for a starting writer like Jamal Wallace. He is funny, only when passing sarcastic comments. He is a recluse, doesn’t like to leave his house, which for him is a safe place. He likes making videos but that too staying within the premises of the house. He likes cleanliness and order to the point where he stopped his writing until Jamal pushed a book in properly so that it was in line with the others. William developed a close relationship with Jamal even though he did not want it at first. He dodged every question that he thought was unnecessary in way of Jamal’s mentoring. William never gave any personal information but Jamal being inquisistive, was persistant and kept asking.
William is a man of loyalty, ethics and morals too. Jamal gets into trouble at school once. He is accused of plagiarism and is disqualified from a story competition. He even faces expulsion. William then leaves his house, for the first time in twenty years, and comes to Jamal's rescue. he reads the story out for Jamal (as Jamal himself is not allowed to). He gets a standing ovation for the story and later he tells his audience that he had been reading Jamal’s story.
William is generous and giving as well. Apart from giving Jamal attention and the guidance he needed, when he dies he leaves his second unpublished book to Jamal and hopes that Jamal writes a forward for him.
Soon he finds out that a boy, who used to play at the park, broke into his house and left his backpack there. William out of curiosity opens it and finds a notebook, he also finds that he liked what he was reading. He knew the young boy had promise and had a talent for writing. After reading it he even corrects the writings and wrote comments on it, comments like this is fantastic and specifics needed. He then throws the backpack down on the road, when the boy was looking. The boy finds the corrections and then musters up the courage to go back to William’s house and ask him to mentor him. William finds that the young boy’s name is Jamal Wallace and he shares his passion for writing and reading. The young boy finds that William is a recluse and so he used this to trap him into a situation, he says he would keep his secret if William becomes his mentor. William decides it cannot be harmful. Although I think what William really wanted was to relive his young days. The days when he started writing.
In school Jamal doesn’t work much and tries just to fit in although he deserves and can attain extremely good grades in English, but he tries not to stand out. When the school makes all students take some test Jamal achieves exceptional marks, an excellent private school approaches the head of his current school. Jamal finds this decision very difficult to make and William again helps him here. He looks at the big picture and convinces Jamal that he cannot flourish at a second rate school and instead for him to really learn something he need to switch schools.
This relationship, which seems to have started as a fluke, turns into a beautiful friendship. Jamal even convinces William to leave his house and go watch a game. But leaving the house after 20 years is difficult for William and he finds himself stuck in a crowd, not knowing where to go. It is obvious that he was overwhelmed by the shock of getting out of his house and so Jamal should not have left him alone even for a second. William, who seems to be dazed, goes where ever the crowd took him.
In my opinion, William Forrester is an idol for a starting writer like Jamal Wallace. He is funny, only when passing sarcastic comments. He is a recluse, doesn’t like to leave his house, which for him is a safe place. He likes making videos but that too staying within the premises of the house. He likes cleanliness and order to the point where he stopped his writing until Jamal pushed a book in properly so that it was in line with the others. William developed a close relationship with Jamal even though he did not want it at first. He dodged every question that he thought was unnecessary in way of Jamal’s mentoring. William never gave any personal information but Jamal being inquisistive, was persistant and kept asking.
William is a man of loyalty, ethics and morals too. Jamal gets into trouble at school once. He is accused of plagiarism and is disqualified from a story competition. He even faces expulsion. William then leaves his house, for the first time in twenty years, and comes to Jamal's rescue. he reads the story out for Jamal (as Jamal himself is not allowed to). He gets a standing ovation for the story and later he tells his audience that he had been reading Jamal’s story.
William is generous and giving as well. Apart from giving Jamal attention and the guidance he needed, when he dies he leaves his second unpublished book to Jamal and hopes that Jamal writes a forward for him.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Worst of Enemies!
Enemy: A Hostile Force, a person in opposition.
There are a number of enemies in ‘Shooting an elephant.’
The first and most obvious one is the British Raj. The British Raj is the most obvious enemy of the Burmese, which is their reaction to being conquered. Although they are being robbed of their freedome they cannot, as of now, do much about their situation and so it seems that the Burmese want to take small rebellions by making every European in Burma their target.
George Orwell has a number of enemies. The fact that he cannot decide which side he wants to be on, either the British or the Burmese, takes us to the first one. Conflicting emotions hold him back from choosing one side. So the first, and worst, enemy I think is George’s own conscience and his will power. The quote below shows how his will wasn’t his own.
Quote from ‘Shooting an Elephant’: ….but in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the wills of these yellow faces behind.’
The second enemy he has is the British Raj. He knows imperialism is wrong and what the British are doing is worse. (Forcing themselves on the Burmese) The Burmese are also an enemy for George, although he understands the situation they are in, and sympathizes with them, he cannot show that he knows that the people whom he is serving are on the wrong side. Even after understanding this intense situation, he cannot but blaming them for making fun of Europeans all over Burma, targeting him for their cruel jokes and making him bear the brunt of what the British are doing to the Burmese.
Lastly the British Raj has the Burmese as its enemy. After all tyrants always fear, and know that there will be a rebellion some day.
There are a number of enemies in ‘Shooting an elephant.’
The first and most obvious one is the British Raj. The British Raj is the most obvious enemy of the Burmese, which is their reaction to being conquered. Although they are being robbed of their freedome they cannot, as of now, do much about their situation and so it seems that the Burmese want to take small rebellions by making every European in Burma their target.
George Orwell has a number of enemies. The fact that he cannot decide which side he wants to be on, either the British or the Burmese, takes us to the first one. Conflicting emotions hold him back from choosing one side. So the first, and worst, enemy I think is George’s own conscience and his will power. The quote below shows how his will wasn’t his own.
Quote from ‘Shooting an Elephant’: ….but in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the wills of these yellow faces behind.’
The second enemy he has is the British Raj. He knows imperialism is wrong and what the British are doing is worse. (Forcing themselves on the Burmese) The Burmese are also an enemy for George, although he understands the situation they are in, and sympathizes with them, he cannot show that he knows that the people whom he is serving are on the wrong side. Even after understanding this intense situation, he cannot but blaming them for making fun of Europeans all over Burma, targeting him for their cruel jokes and making him bear the brunt of what the British are doing to the Burmese.
Lastly the British Raj has the Burmese as its enemy. After all tyrants always fear, and know that there will be a rebellion some day.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
River Rafting!
I was thrilled when I got to know the news. We were going to go river rafting. This seemed to be the bes thing I will do all summer.
My parents and siblings are all going to come. Everybody’s excited and has high expectations about this event. I mean how many people actually go river rafting in their life. I know of people who only dream about such things. It is going to be a lot of fun. Nothing will go wrong. Even if something does, my dad can handle it. He is very knowledgeable about rafting.
When we got to the river, I started getting scared. Seeing the vast river, with fast and fierce waves crashing hard on the rocks was enough to knock some sense into people. It even reminded me of the swimming lessons that my mother made me take. And I silently thanked her for them.
Finally when we started, it turned out to be a lot of fun. We were made to wear really cool looking life jackets and were sprayed with indefinite amounts of water. It was as if we were sitting in the shower. I loved every millisecond of it and did not want such a roller coaster ride to end.
It definitely was the best thing I did all summer.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Being Mom For Sehri
RINGGGGGGG
“Oh My God!!! Its 5:15 am!!! I’m getting late!!!”
Those are my first words as soon as my alarm rings. Then, as usual, I say to myself, only five more minutes and I will be ready to run today’s marathon. I sleep for another ten minutes and wake up with a start. Closing my eyes for a second, I sit up and take a deep breath.
“Uffff, I have to make the kids shut the television before 2 o clock! I shall give them the good news tomorrow.”
I smile when I think of their reaction to the news and go to the bathroom. It did not take long for me to realize I have to put the tea on the stove, I go to the kitchen put the tea. Then came back and splashed ice cold water, a dozen times, on my face.
On entering the kitchen I immediately went to the automatic-robotic-cook mode and started multi-tasking. Putting all the different kinds of foods on the stove, in the microwave and the oven. I made the parathas, omelet and everything that was required for the day. After all the preparations, I realized Summaiya specifically told me that she would have cereal today. ‘Oh, well,” I thought to myself, “She will just have to eat it. Eventually, she has to have proper food sometime, plus it will help her get through the day.” At this moment, I remember I have to go wake them up.
“Summaiya, Sabika wake aaap, time for sehri, I do not want to hear you both whine all day, so wake aaap”
Right on que, Sabika turns away from the light I just switched on. Summaiya is still sleeping like a log. I start pulling their legs and tugging their blankets away from them. Then I turn the fan on. I keep up my work till I finally manage to make them hear me. After sending Sabika to the bathroom, I use my I’m-getting-angry-now voice on Summaiya and she also manages to drag herself to the bathroom.
That’s a blessing, Summaiya has not noticed that she is having omelet. Oh forgot the bread. I rush to the kitchen while shouting at Summaiya to go wake Dada up, and then to go see what Saby was upto. She must have fallen asleep again. I go to the kitchen to find that my breads just right for me, although it is a bit dark, read burnt, but it will do. I put the parathas, jelly, thermos and the days food on the table. Summaiya has already laid the table and everyone has started eating. I glance at the clock, right on schedule. I take my seat and start having sehri. In a matter of seconds, I realize the parathas are finishing. I get up and make some immediately.
‘Ma, you will run out of time, everyone here is almost done, there is no need for more parathas.’
I make two and return to the table and eat in peace. These are the 10 minutes of calm that make me feel like I have achieved something.
‘Saby, kuch chahiye? Nahi? Ok go and wash your face, then recite the Quran.’
I clean up the table with Summaiya. I realize that amal will take another ten minutes to wake up for water, and she must have water as she does not have any food. I take a bottle and go to my room. “Amal pani peelo.”
I put the half full glass next to her. “Saby go and drink water, and ask everyone to have some too, times running out.”
I drink water, pick the Quran up and started praying from where I left off yesterday. While waiting for the Azaan, we have a habit of reciting the Quran. I watch Saby reciting her own Quran, I smile as I watch her recite it. Her eyes are puffy from waking up in the middle of the night.
Phew!
The rush hour has finally passed till another twenty four hours. I fall asleep until my alarm clock wakes me up again. This time, it will ring to wake me up to send Saby to school.
RINGGGGGGG
“Oh My God!!! Its 7:15 am!!! I’m getting late!!!”
“Oh My God!!! Its 5:15 am!!! I’m getting late!!!”
Those are my first words as soon as my alarm rings. Then, as usual, I say to myself, only five more minutes and I will be ready to run today’s marathon. I sleep for another ten minutes and wake up with a start. Closing my eyes for a second, I sit up and take a deep breath.
“Uffff, I have to make the kids shut the television before 2 o clock! I shall give them the good news tomorrow.”
I smile when I think of their reaction to the news and go to the bathroom. It did not take long for me to realize I have to put the tea on the stove, I go to the kitchen put the tea. Then came back and splashed ice cold water, a dozen times, on my face.
On entering the kitchen I immediately went to the automatic-robotic-cook mode and started multi-tasking. Putting all the different kinds of foods on the stove, in the microwave and the oven. I made the parathas, omelet and everything that was required for the day. After all the preparations, I realized Summaiya specifically told me that she would have cereal today. ‘Oh, well,” I thought to myself, “She will just have to eat it. Eventually, she has to have proper food sometime, plus it will help her get through the day.” At this moment, I remember I have to go wake them up.
“Summaiya, Sabika wake aaap, time for sehri, I do not want to hear you both whine all day, so wake aaap”
Right on que, Sabika turns away from the light I just switched on. Summaiya is still sleeping like a log. I start pulling their legs and tugging their blankets away from them. Then I turn the fan on. I keep up my work till I finally manage to make them hear me. After sending Sabika to the bathroom, I use my I’m-getting-angry-now voice on Summaiya and she also manages to drag herself to the bathroom.
That’s a blessing, Summaiya has not noticed that she is having omelet. Oh forgot the bread. I rush to the kitchen while shouting at Summaiya to go wake Dada up, and then to go see what Saby was upto. She must have fallen asleep again. I go to the kitchen to find that my breads just right for me, although it is a bit dark, read burnt, but it will do. I put the parathas, jelly, thermos and the days food on the table. Summaiya has already laid the table and everyone has started eating. I glance at the clock, right on schedule. I take my seat and start having sehri. In a matter of seconds, I realize the parathas are finishing. I get up and make some immediately.
‘Ma, you will run out of time, everyone here is almost done, there is no need for more parathas.’
I make two and return to the table and eat in peace. These are the 10 minutes of calm that make me feel like I have achieved something.
‘Saby, kuch chahiye? Nahi? Ok go and wash your face, then recite the Quran.’
I clean up the table with Summaiya. I realize that amal will take another ten minutes to wake up for water, and she must have water as she does not have any food. I take a bottle and go to my room. “Amal pani peelo.”
I put the half full glass next to her. “Saby go and drink water, and ask everyone to have some too, times running out.”
I drink water, pick the Quran up and started praying from where I left off yesterday. While waiting for the Azaan, we have a habit of reciting the Quran. I watch Saby reciting her own Quran, I smile as I watch her recite it. Her eyes are puffy from waking up in the middle of the night.
Phew!
The rush hour has finally passed till another twenty four hours. I fall asleep until my alarm clock wakes me up again. This time, it will ring to wake me up to send Saby to school.
RINGGGGGGG
“Oh My God!!! Its 7:15 am!!! I’m getting late!!!”
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Me! Me! Me!
Hello to everyone out there. I’m writing this blog as a starter for my other blogs, which inshallah will follow very soon.
I would like to talk about my interests. I’m really interested in cars and heavy bikes. Even though I do not know much about either, although if I find the right person, I will be more then willing to learn. J As a matter of fact there was a time when I was really seriously considering making or designing cars or else becoming a mechanic, which still seems like a wonderful idea. This way atleast I will have a little bit of knowledge about how cars work.
I am an optimist, to say my glass is always half full. If I get a good book I can read all day. I am usually calm but I do get these urges, do not get me wrong, urges to shout, run around make noise and be boisterous. Twenty whole years and now my family is immune to such activities. I am, was and will always be spontaneous. Actually my mischievousness is addictive. My younger sister learns quite a lot through me. Which then makes my house a bright, full of life and fun place to be in. Another hobby if mine is arts. I took sketching classes once, which was a major headache for my teacher but I actually had fun there. I love throwing things together and coming out with something moderately attractive. That I guess is what abstract art is. I love photography as well. My cousins are extremely irritated but they have started to accept my camera as a part of me where ever i go. I think the fact that moments and memories can be captured, in colour, and saved. Then viewed whenever we want to, and where ever we want to.
I hate cooking. But if I acquire this innate sense of knowing right and wrong, something that I have a feeling most chefs have, I think I will be good at it. Add the fact that it is too hot in Pakistan to stand in the kitchen for more then ten minutes. $o unless my future soul-mate has a super cool air conditioner installed in the kitchen or better yet a centrally air conditioned house, he can expect me to be waiting for the silver platter. I hate shopping too. This is something that shocks my friends speechless but is true. Sometimes if I get my 'urges' I might go and window shop but nothing more.Last but not the least, I am a family person. More of a friends person but without family? I can’t imagine something that absurd!
I would like to talk about my interests. I’m really interested in cars and heavy bikes. Even though I do not know much about either, although if I find the right person, I will be more then willing to learn. J As a matter of fact there was a time when I was really seriously considering making or designing cars or else becoming a mechanic, which still seems like a wonderful idea. This way atleast I will have a little bit of knowledge about how cars work.
I am an optimist, to say my glass is always half full. If I get a good book I can read all day. I am usually calm but I do get these urges, do not get me wrong, urges to shout, run around make noise and be boisterous. Twenty whole years and now my family is immune to such activities. I am, was and will always be spontaneous. Actually my mischievousness is addictive. My younger sister learns quite a lot through me. Which then makes my house a bright, full of life and fun place to be in. Another hobby if mine is arts. I took sketching classes once, which was a major headache for my teacher but I actually had fun there. I love throwing things together and coming out with something moderately attractive. That I guess is what abstract art is. I love photography as well. My cousins are extremely irritated but they have started to accept my camera as a part of me where ever i go. I think the fact that moments and memories can be captured, in colour, and saved. Then viewed whenever we want to, and where ever we want to.
I hate cooking. But if I acquire this innate sense of knowing right and wrong, something that I have a feeling most chefs have, I think I will be good at it. Add the fact that it is too hot in Pakistan to stand in the kitchen for more then ten minutes. $o unless my future soul-mate has a super cool air conditioner installed in the kitchen or better yet a centrally air conditioned house, he can expect me to be waiting for the silver platter. I hate shopping too. This is something that shocks my friends speechless but is true. Sometimes if I get my 'urges' I might go and window shop but nothing more.Last but not the least, I am a family person. More of a friends person but without family? I can’t imagine something that absurd!
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