The Little Prince

One of the most beautiful book I have ever read is The Adventure of Little Prince. This YouTube video is the frist part of the cartoon based on the book that I used to watch on our national TV in Iran. The cartoon is not following the book but the overall idea is the same. The book is so lovely and simple. The little prince is just a pure person that means what ever he says. The cartoon is also so positive. One of my favorite parts is chapter 21, the conversation between fox and the little prince where the fox said “tame me”. Let me put some part of the conversation here:

“But if you tame me …I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow.” fox said.

he used to believe that there is just one rose in the entire world and it’s his he was disappointed when he discovered garden of roses identical to the one he had on his own planet, but when the fox told him about the idea of tame he said to the roses:

“You are not at all like my rose… No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one. You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world…You are beautiful, but you are empty…an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you, the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe …Because she is my rose.”

You know it is true in our everyday life, for example when you buy a house there are millions other houses that would seems more beautiful than what you have, and this idea can prevent you from buying anything as you are always worry that maybe better one is just a ahead, but you know what it doesn’t matter how many gorgeous houses are out there the one that you like this moment is unique since you tame it…I hope you don’t get puzzled..:)))

My biggest Wish

I wish the technology could provide very fast airplanes for ordinary people that could fly from here to my hometown in 1 or 2 hours. Then it was so easy to get back home, and visit my parents and all those who I love so much every weekend.

It’s just so hard to visit your family once in a year, I keep missing my family’s birthday, I keep missing how my niece grows up. I am missing my best friends’ company…

I bet there are many people out there to have the same wish as me, more and more people are migrating to other places and left their beloved ones behind.

Thus dear dear engineers, would you please make my wish come true as soon as possible!!

Before committee meeting , After committee meeting

Whenever I have a meeting with my supervisor committee, I feel I don’t now anything. I mean it you know. Nima always tells me that I am exaggerating about my weaknesses. I don’t know about exaggeration but that feeling is quite right.

Some times at the middle of the meeting I feel I am among the aliens and they are talking strange language that I don’t understand it. You know, it’s like you stand close to the group of people who are taller than you thus they can see scenes that you can’t. You jump up and down to be able to see and at the end you just feel frustrated.

I hate this feeling, to be suspended in the air and don’t know exactly where you are standing of your research’s path. How much close you are to finish it?

I used to be a good student during my bachelor and master years at university. I can’t become suddenly stupid, can I?

Knowledge is the key to all this lack of understanding, a key to understand the aliens’ language. I have a feeling that I should just carry on, and one day not so far away there would be a flash of light that brightens everything and makes me laugh to this post. I cross my finger for that day.

Montreal Trip-Part III

Nima and I went to Quebec City on July 3rd. It is about 230 km from Montréal to Québec city. This city is one of the oldest settlements in North America. Almost everyone there speak French. I heard that people there are kind of biased toward their language and if you are not be able to speak French they don’t bother to speak English. Anyway we stayed there only for a day and I found those who we were in contact with quite friendly.

Here in Canada, each province distinguished its automobiles’ license plate with a short sentence. For example you can see “Beautiful British Colombia” on those cars got licensed in BC. In Québec the sentence is “ Je me souviens” which means “I remember”. Nima told me that the meaning has something to do with English people overcome French people in Canada. I red in Wikipedia that the full quotation is "Je me souviens que né sous le lys, je croîs sous la rose" ("I remember that born under the lily, I grew under the rose" -- referring to the floral emblems of France and England), but this is undocumented. It is also taken by many to mean "I remember my French history and heritage" or, even, "I remember what the English did to the French".

We visited very beautiful Petit Champlain district, which is considered as Canada’s birth place. The city looks more like European cities, especially along Petit Champlain with narrow streets and hanged flowers on the walls.
For lunch we went to cozy restaurant. The way the waitresses dressed up and the restaurant decorations made us feel that we went back in time for 100 years.

Anyway it was our first trip together, and both of us enjoy our time. I certainly recommend Montreal and Québec city to anyone who has a chance to get there.

Montreal Trip-Part II

One of the most interesting exhibitions I have ever attended was made at Montreal science center. It was an exhibition named BODY WORLD 2, which was about a human anatomy. There were several bodies of men and women who devoted their bodies to science to be used after their death. The exhibition was hold before in Europe and Asia. It was amazing. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take any pictures but I do recommend you to visit the website and look at the documents they provided there. It was kind of strange feeling to think that the body you are looking at by interest was belong to real person who was alive some times ago.

Anyway, Nima and I also went to Montreal botanic garden. The garden was so pretty, including Japanese, Chinese, French, and English Garden. I was astounded buy the miniature scale of Japanese garden. As far as I understood they used to have a lake inside the garden full of the colorful fishes called life flowers. In Chinese garden there were several trees in pot. First I thought these miniature tress can’t grow up furthered but our guide correct me that because they are forced to be grown up in the little pot they formed the miniature copy of their natural size. One of the trees in the pot was about 200 years old. I upload several photos from botanic garden, including miniature trees and life flowers.

Let's see the rest of the pictures in part III.

Montreal Trip-Part I

Nima and I went to Montreal for a week (last long weekend + three days off). It was awesome. Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec. Most of the people there, speak French and you can feel the difference between people behavior in Montreal and Quebec with those who leave in English Canada.

I found Montreal more alive than those cities I used to leave in during these years (St. John’s and Toronto). Some of the shops at downtown are open until 9:00 PM and the downtown’s streets are really crowded. We were lucky since at the same time we were there, 28th Jazz festival was hold in Montreal for 11 nights and day which make the city more crowded and alive. The festival was hold by different musical bands in open spaces all over the main downtown streets.

We made a visit to Old Montreal which is the oldest part of the city. There we visited Notre-Dame Basilica the church which is made in 1672. Inside Notre-Dame there are several beautiful paintings all over the roofs and windows. Several tourists were inside the church and were taking the photos.

Montreal downtown is full of shops and restaurants with tables placed outside in open spaces. We found an Italian restaurant with wonderful pizza, very tasty which is not common here in Canada. Honestly I found Iranian pizza style more delicious than Canadian.

I like to share some of the beautiful photos we have taken from Montréal with you. Here is the part I which shows some photos from Notre-Dame and St Joseph church in Montreal.

Why?????

Yesterday I recieved a bad news that two of my friends are getting divorced. When my husband told me that, we were both shocked. I could not believe him. They were so in love with each other, a great couple that we always mentioned them as an example of successful couple. The first time that I met them they told me about their love story that how they met for the first time, very interesting and passionate story.

I still can’t believe they are going to get divorced. I heard different reasons, that why they want to be separated but none of them make sense to me. None of them are serious enough to convert the great romantic life to such an ending point.

It’s like 4 years that they have got married, and last and first time I saw them was last year. They gave Nima (my husband) and me series of small size books about secret of success in love. They were so nice and energetic. And now…

I can’t believe, I don’t want to believe…GOD please stop this…

Raccoon in the waste bin

One of my major passions is animals. I do love animals specially mammals. During my childhood I used to keep different pets, especially dogs which are my first favorite animals. I think each individual animal has his/her own character just like us; some of them are shy, or quiet, loud,etc.
When I was a little girl, my grandfather has a big garden and there were always several dogs there to guard the place. I used to go deep inside the garden with my gang of dogs, which I used to choose a name for each myself. We were really good friends, I had a good understanding about their character, what they need what they are trying to say. They were just like my friends with another language; they weren’t just a dog for me. Any way but I think maybe being in contact with animals from childhood make me a big fan of them.

Yesterday (Sunday, June 24) I went to Erindale park with my husband for walking and on the way back we heard something is moving in the waste bin. Then we discovered that a small raccoon (not a mature one) was get stuck in a waste bin and can’t come out of it.

His face was so cute and there was no fear in his eyes but just a bit frustration of trying to get out. I wasn’t sure if I can pet him or not, (I think I was braver when I was a little girl who didn’t care about the risk of being bitten). Finally we tilted the bin and he came out very slowly and walk toward the trees. I wish I could have pet him. Nima (my husband) took a picture of him.

We really miss you

Today I received the bad news that one of my previous teachers at Tehran University passed away, Dr Mehdi Ghalibafian. I had a course with him on the third year of my bachelor years. He was a very famous teacher , very knowledgeable, very polite and gentle. Can't say more "God bless his great soul"

I am so happy

These days the St. John’s weather warms up and it is just perfect, with 22-23 degree. I really enjoy walking from home to office and back. There is the trail that I am walking through every day and the path is pretty nice with a river passing along.

I love dandelions, those circular yellow flowers growing everywhere. They look so vivid and give a lot of positive energy to me. I put some photos of this trail.

This is a perfect life: beautiful trail to pass along every day, thousands dandelions smiling at you every where, listening to birds singing and to river, and enjoying the weather.

I am simply sooooooooooooooooo happy.

Traditional Iraninan Concert at St. John's

One of my friend’s parents came here to visit him few weeks ago. His father is a musician, and he is playing Setar and Kamanche and he is expert in traditional Iranian music.

Yesterday (Monday June 4th), he had a casual concert at music building on campus. Most of the small Iranian society members showed up and also local people who were interested in.

I am not really fan of traditional Iranian music, I just like some of them but I was curious to see what other people think. At the middle of the concert, one of my non-Iranian friend (John) asked, why one song is so long? I couldn’t help laughing as I remembered the related joke.

But generally everyone found the concert very interesting, but it seems some people preferred Setar to Kamanche. As John said it sounded like the angry female cat.

But another non-Iranian friend, Bob, seems to like it and said you should let your ears get used to it. that's a Good advice for me!!

What's going on in your mind???

Tomorrow is the final part of my comprehensive exam. I only need to calm down. Enough pressure for last few weeks. You know after study different subjects I understood there are lots of stuff that I don’t know much about.

It’s amazing how we human beings developed models to simplify the world surrounding us. Going deep into the details of complicated formula and using different ways to solve differential equations to explain how a simple shell structure behave… there are several books more than 500 pages each just to explain some of these behaviour…

I used to believe the world is based on a simple basic rule and then everything just comes up from that and not more. Definitely I don’t know what’s that simple rule is. You know now I understand what Einstein meant when he said “I am not interested in the details of this or that phenomenon I want to know what is going on in God’s mind when he created the world.

Give your mind a break

Tomorrow is my comprehensive exam part I. I am practicing my proposal but each time when I am reaching to few end slides I a so tired that I can’t hear my voice properly. I hope my voice rise up a bit tomorrow.

my mind really needs a break, last night I thought it’s going to be exploded so I turn on the TV and switch to kids channel and gave my mind a short break with a simple cartoon about little bear and his parents (mother bear and father bear). No conflict nothing to think about, sometime we really need such stuff. Be simple like a child.

Anyway, wish me luck…

SUNNY DAY OUTSIDE

I am in Toronto now. Studying full time everyday, I am preparing myself for the part one of my comprehensive exam, which will be held on May 24th.

I am a bit nervous about it, but that’s ok I will be alright. The weather outside seems perfect, sunny 16 degree. It’s really tempting I love to go out and run but I have to stay inside and study.

Home is now my office and from where I am sitting I have a great overlook to the city of Mississauga. At this moment, I can a see a woman laying on couch and getting tan.

Anayway,….

Borign and Drawing

2:47 Newfoundland time, Saturday afternoon I am working in my office. Actually it is my every Saturday schedule. I have a strong motivation for working hard, and finishing my PhD as soon as possible, that's joining my husband at Toronto.

I have my comprehensive exam ahead; it must be held in less than two months. But before that I will go to Toronto and stay with Nima (my husband) for three weeks. In fact this will be the longest period after our wedding that we two are together.

These days I am so busy with writing my proposal. I hope I can finish it through this weekend. Sounds boring ha!
Whenever I feel bored I start drawing different things on any papers around me, I remember I have had this habit since high school. Most of the time I draw a face of little girl with broad smile, ready to embrace the whole world and dreaming about intact piece of land, covered in green grasses and beautiful flowers. (Since I am the one who drew this little girl I know what’s going on in her dream, trust me.)

I have my camera here and I can take a picture of my drawing . Here it is!

Happy Spring

Today is 6th day of spring. In my country (Iran) there is a holiday for almost two weeks. We Iranian celebrate the first day of spring, Norouz, as a new year. This year, it was on March 20th, at 9:37 PM, (NL local time).

It was my first Norouz with Nima (my husband). He came here in St. John’s and stayed for ten days. I just said goodbye to him in St. John's airport an hour ago.

On march 20, with other Iranian (roughly 20 people), we gathered at Greek restaurant and had dinner. (Actually Greek foods are more close to Iranian taste than others) After our dinner we all gathered at a friend's place, and celebrated the new year.

For Norouz we prepare a table with some stuff which their name start with S in Persian language (the haft sin table) and each of them is the symbol of something. Most of the time we go with:

1- apple (Sib, symbol of beauty and health)
2- sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish (symbol of birth)
3- Samanu (a type of Iranian sweet)
4- senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love

5- Somaq (a type of spice)
6- Coins (Seke, symbol of wealth)
7- Garlic (Sir)

Also we put mirror, candle, gold fish bowl, and holy book. I do love this tradition, when it comes to spring in iran all the street are covered with fish tank full of these beautiful, red creatures, green plant,…every where is red or green. People clean their house, buy new clothes, plan for a trip… I miss that so much.

The good thing for me is that I was born exactly on the first day of spring, as a result every year I have two gifts to look forward, one for my birthday and another for a new year.

Any way, my husband bought me a digital camera for my birthday, and I love that. Now I can start taking pictures of everywhere that I am going and give you a virtual tour.

Here is a photo of my table with 7 S-starting items on it. I have apple, lentil sprout, vinegar(serke in persian), samanu, Hyacinth (flower, sonbol in persian), coins, and garlic...

Happy spring, Happy new year.

Peace...

These days some weird stuff are going on in my country. Because of this damn nuclear power, U.S threaten Iran that if they don’t stop their nuclear program U.S will attack Iran.

I don’t care about nuclear power … what I am worry about is my family, friends and country mate. I don’t know how long we Iranian are supposed to go ups and down, when we are going to settle down and have peaceful life.

Very quickly after 1970 revolution in Iran, the war between Iran and Iraq started. It took 8 years, many many young people were killed or detained during those horrible 8 years. We still suffer from those hideous memories of the war!

I wish Iran was a place everyone dreams to live in; I wish there weren’t any restrictions on my country mate.

Some time I think if people could see further than their nose then they could understand how funny they are when taking every thing so serious and killed each other for absolutely nothing.

We human beings don’t change at all, if thousands years ago our ancestors killed each other to save their territories with stone now at 21st century a civilized human being fight with more developed equipment for the same reason.

Are we really better than animals ? Is this planet really small for all of us to live in happily?

Get Stuck At Home

Last night we had a strong blizzard with more than 30 cm snow, and 100 km/h gust. Huge amount of the snow was gathered behind the entrance door of my house, so I couldn't open it. Buses and taxis don’t work, and the university is closed.

I got stuck at home. Imagine my friends and I were up to surprise one of our friend tonight for his birthday and now every where is closed, we all have to stay at home today.

There is famous saying here in St. John’s, “if you don’t like the weather wait for 5 minutes” I waited all day, but it doesn’t work.

I am still waiting to see some changes in weather condition…

One Day Ski Trip to Clarenville

Last Saturday (Feb 17th) I went to ski trip to Clarenville, 2 hours drive from St John’s, with a group of students. It was my first time so I took some lessens, first and then started my first experience from the lowest hill. I found the ski equipment so heavy although the size and length of the ski shoes was based on my weight and height.

I fell down 10 times until reach to the bottom of the hill. It was all fun only one thing that really annoyed me was, unhooking my ski shoes each time, standing up and hooking them again which took me 5 minutes. It was really hard for me to keep myself stable; I was like a little kid trying her first step.

I really enjoyed watching 3-4 years old kids skiing, it was so cute.

I started skiing 10:00 am and finished at 4:00 pm which is too much for the first experience. Exhausted at the end, I arrived home 8:00 pm and had a deep sleep.

Where do you wish to be right now??

This coming Monday (February 17th) I have my committee meeting. I need to present what I have done up to now and what I am going to do next. I am so tired, all this week I was busy with making slides and analyzing the results, etc but it hasn’t finished yet. I have to work all weekend.

Whenever I am under pressure, my mind flies to different places that I wish to be on that time and most of the time these places are some kind of intact nature like the photo I attached.
I want to be there right now! Ok go back to work.