Graduation Day!

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. ~Benjamin Franklin

The future lies before you
Like a field of driven snow,
Be careful how you tread it,
For every step will show.
~Author Unknown

When you leave here, don't forget why you came. ~Adlai Stevenson, to college graduates

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success.
Robert Orben

These are some of my favorite quotes for today's event. As the mothers, sisters, friends of my students spoke with affection to me, I know how much closer we (my students and I) have become in these two years. Mashael, Mody, Lama, Hadeel and Nadia - all were looking gorgeous and beautiful - not with the makeup, but with the happiness inside - the proud feeling of achievement. Mashallah! Words fail me to describe the feeling I had when they walked down the aisle to the music and claps. And as they went up the stage, I couldn't help thinking of Johara, Wafa and Fahda - the first grads of CL from last year. 8 so far in the kingdom! Today is a proud moment....

Now I just wait for the day three of my favorites take their diplomas...

Nargis, Junta aur Aid!

Masoom hai Amanat!

tujhase naaraaz nahi zindagi, hairaan hoon main
o hairaan hoon main
tere masoom savalon se pareshaan hooN main
o pareshaan hoon main

jeene ke liye socha hi nahi, dard sambhalane honge
muskuraoon to, muskurane ke karz utaarne honge
muskuraoon kabhi to lagata hai
jaise hontonn pe karz rakhaa hai
tujhase ...

aaj agar bhar ayi hai, boondein baras jaayengi
kal kya pata inke liye aakhen taras jayengi
jaane kahan gum kahan khoya
ek aansu chhupake rakha tha
tujhase ...

zindagi tere gum ne hamain rishte naye samajhaye
mile jo hamain dhoop main mile chhaanv ke thande saaye

o tujhase ...

Of Fridays, Food and Friends

PSU Environmental club's booth during Career Day

At last! Finally an evening with no other task. Four of my students so far have applied for their Master’s program at KAUST. Reviewing their statements of purpose and writing recommendation letters took quiet a lot of time. We all took it seriously, now it is up to KAUST to select them.

At the moment I am watching ‘Friends’ – today is the back to back episode day which lifts my spirits. They are my 'Friends' just like they are for so many others.

Last week was mad and I get only one evening to relax. Unfair! Just kidding...

I had the monthly meetings with the training supervisors of five students, my own classes and 3-day Career Day events. We had a booth for our club too. Tomorrow I will attend a Dale Carnegie workshop – 9 to 5. Long day tomorrow! Just when I thought I would take the Saturday off – something comes up. That’s life, I guess. On Monday, I and another colleague are conducting a workshop for other colleagues. bahut hogaya...

I worked today till 4am, slept till 10am and then was working again – preparing lunch and watching TV. I made mixed vegetable stir fry and vegetable fried rice. There were all these vegetables in the fridge and I had no time to cook them. Finally yesterday I made brinjal curry in a novel way and today used most of the vegetables. Here are some pictures from my cell phone which means the quality may not be so good. Anyway, another entry into my ‘time capsule’.

All the vegetables neglected till today...

...are chopped into fine pieces

This one is for the fried rice-

And this for the veg stir fry-

Almost done!

There's the fried rice [picture not so good] and vegetables eaten with salted peanuts.