Tag: adventure

memories

July 1999 — First Adventure, First Shock

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It was in July 1999 when a young couple boarded a plane for the first time —full of hopes, dreams, and a touch of fears. That was me, accompanying my husband, flying to England for an academic adventure.

Those first few days after landing safe and sound on British soil were so dramatic and unexpectedly funny.

Our first shock was the heavy burden we had to handle once we left Heathrow Airport. It wasn’t homesickness— of course, we were emotional before, during, and after embarking on the journey. But, it was another kind of burden that pushed our emotional drama aside: our two heavy pieces of luggage. That was the worst action drama one might experience while travelling. Shocked, my husband and I stared at them, couldn’t believe how and when we packed these two big beasts, and managed to get them onto the flight.

Oh my… May God forgive our families for stuffing our suitcases as if we were flying to Antarctica. And, we just let them—how we could not? The most common and “sincerest” advice we had received from my husband’s colleagues abroad was to pack as much as we could because “life was incredibly expensive in the UK.” By the way, that was a bit of exaggeration.

But, there’s a funny bit after every shock, right?

From London, we travelled to Manchester, and after a short stay there, we headed to Birmingham. The train journeys across these parts of England were hilarious—mainly because of our two bulky companions.

It was a miracle not just to get our two pieces of luggage onto the train but to find enough space for them. Actually, the two bags, lying in a straight line, were like a massive crocodile that swallowed most of the space in the carriage. My husband did the whole job; pushing and lifting. I was blessed to be excused from taking part in that embarrassing show, for I had just discovered I was pregnant.

Looking around at the cute suitcases and backpacks, we couldn’t help but wonder: why on earth had we packed so much? I did my best not to laugh, but I couldn’t. It seemed that my pregnancy hormones were getting the best of me. Thank God they were pressing on my sunny side.

So, whenever my eyes fell on our luggage, I burst out laughing. My husband wished we could push them off the train. ‘Let’s pretend we forgot them somewhere,’ he whispered, and my tears rolled down my face from laughing.

To be continued…

With hope and peace,

Nahla










Just writing

Are You the Same Person?

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Oh, don’t think I’m wondering whether you are a real person or an AI. No, this post isn’t about that.

It’s about how much you’ve changed since you started blogging on WordPress.

It’s a bit hard—no a bit weird— to assess yourself. Of course, you can feel the change in yourself, but it’s just odd to evaluate your own work. You can’t be both the examiner and the examined at the same time, right?

When I first started blogging in 2017, I was looking for some change, or better yet, some adventure. My writings were mostly family–based topics. Step by step, new ideas and thoughts began flowing and flooding into my posts.

Do you know what happened next?

In October 2018, I joined a part-time MA program. Can you believe that without my WordPress blog, I probably wouldn’t have been able to enroll? Why? Because in my application, I needed to attach some of my published work. I would have never believed that my WordPress posts could count as published work, but they did. And two years later, I was awarded my MA degree in Creative Writing. Honestly, I had no idea that one thing would lead me to the other—God’s plan, right?

From 2017 onwards, I felt as if I had discovered a secret garden— one filled with trees, flowers, and beautiful birds. And it wasn’t any far—just around the corner, inside my own mind. The garden wasn’t only colourful but serene, with no mayhem, no pressure, and no fixed times. Just me, my thoughts, and my writing.

It wasn’t until 2020 that I decided to pause my visits to my secret garden–not completely, but mainly my blog.The reason was nothing more than the pandemic, with all its chaos affecting everyone. Still, I can’t believe that pause lasted for four years. I haven’t forgotten about my blog, nor have I stopped writing. On the contrary, I wrote and read more than ever before. That’s why I don’t regret my decision back then, becuase I had learned to appreciate every day of my life with both its good and bad moments.

In February 2024, I revisited my WordPress blog with fresh excitement. DailyPrompt was the first thing I spotted, and it felt like a warm welcome back. Since then, I’ve restarted my blogging journey.

I believe my writing style hasn’t changed much, nor has my voice, but my thoughts have. Isn’t that expected? Eight years are not like eight days.

There’s a quote that says: “You won’t find the same person twice, not even in the same person.” This doesn’t necessarily imply to find an entirely different or bad person instead. The idea suggests that change is natural, and a healthy experience that simply needs to be sought out and nurtured.

Do I need to answer the first question in my post, or you, as my assessor, already gets the answer?


With hope and peace,

Nahla







Just writing

Curiosity and Adventure

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Are they closely related?

You might find yourself curious about something or someone. You might be eager to seek more details, sneaking and sniffing here and there like a cat after a mouse, and staying alert day and night like a secret detective on a top- secret mission. What you are investigating might be non of your business, or it could be part of your own business. In any case, you won’t rest, won’t give up, and will never feel satisfied until you uncover what have been mysterious for you.

Isn’t this what curiosity is? Am I exaggerating, a bit?

However, you won’t be curious unless you are interested, attached, and involved with that specific person or thing. For example, when your neighbour’s driveway is suddendly full of cars, your curiosity might soar to its highest levels. But, you won’t be as interested in a similar situation on the next street.

Hence comes the close relation between curiosity and adventure, for, of course, you won’t be glued in the spot if you’re curious about something or someone. You’ll need to move in one direction, or all directions. However, this is when problems, dangers, and mistakes become too close to happen if you’re not careful enough. Your curiosity could become like the one that killed the cat. That’s when the two cousins, curiosity and adventure, turn you blind and deaf to reason, and push you from the brink of the cliff.

Strange how both curiosity and adventure can brighten your life and also darken it!

Have you read Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier? Mary’s story might give you a living example of these two related traits?

Here’s the link for my review:

/https://nh825.wordpress.com/2025/01/27/jamaica-inn/

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

A flight will do, right?

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Think back on your most memorable road trip.

A year before the lockdown, during the Christmas break, my family and I went on holiday to a beautiful country in North Africa.

Can you  guess which one?

Excited and happy, we headed to Heathrow Airport, had a light meal, browsed around the shops, and finally completed our check-in and boarded the plane.

The flight was full. Passengers, as usual, were talking, laughing, yelling, and some were dozing off. The clicking of seat belts began, and as my husband tried to fix his, he realised that his seat was swinging. I stifled a laught, watching him trying to stablise it, but it was no use. It was broken, but the hostess assured him that it would be fine. No worries!

But worries I couldn’t avoid especially when the plane started taking off. It was the worst, and most violent takeoff I have ever experienced on a flight. The night was clear, and the weather was calm, so I couldn’t understand why things were not smooth. Once the flight disappeared into the sky, and dived into its deep dark waves, announcements of air bumps and turbulences didn’t stop. The plane started shaking, not slightly, but harshly, as if it was a toy in a spoiled child’s hands.

Praying, I did and tried to look cool like the other passengers. My daughter’s seat was next to mine, and we were both full of  fear and worry. When things calmed down a bit, she asked me to swap seats with her eldest brother. I did, and moved to sit next to my middle son.

‘What a great flight,’ he whispered, looking at me, and we both burst out laughing, but just as we started to calm down the plane suddenly dropped. Our hands locked as we sat back, clothing our eyes. A moment later, the drop stopped.

‘Are we going to die?’ He looked at me, laughing.
‘No, we’re going on holiday’.’ I smiled, taking a deep breath to get ready to the aircraft’s miraculous landing.

Thank God, we arrived safe and sound.

‘You have been making this trip quite a lot. Why didn’t you tell me how horrible this flight is? I asked my husband, as we hurried out of the plane

‘You know I fell asleep once I took my seat.’ My husband said, just as simple as that.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

One day

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You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

I would love to go on such an adventure one day. Isn’t it wonderful to go to different places, meet different people, and experience life in different environments?

And you know what? I believe on such a trip I would definitely experience some of the most funniest moments in my life. I’m also sure that I’ll enjoy good company.

Do you know why?  Because, in most cases, people make good company and try to be their best in two occasions: first when they meet for the first time, and second when they need each other.

As for how to go on the trip? I can imagine that leaving my place, and travel across all of those vast lands, within a limited time, for sure the trip should have some fixed dates,  I believe it’d be wise to use all the possible options.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Flying with birds

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Image result for birds migration

 

 

 

Flying in an aeroplane is no longer an adventure. It becomes like getting on a train or a truck or a car, even if the distance you are going is far away.

I’ve just watched something which can be a real adventure; it’s the microlight flight with the birds.

It is miraculous how the birds soar high in groups,  have a plan on time, and fly to a specific destination. They migrate to survive and give us, humans,  the hope of the new beginning.

And, it will be amazing to share this experience; to fly next to those geese and swans, to stretch your arms, and reach and touch their flying wings.

I read briefly about Christian Moullec; he is one of the pioneers in the microlight flight. It’s interesting to know that the protection of migratory birds was his initial objective of starting the project of these flights.

I wonder whether I’d ever dare go on one, but at least I can imagine how this can be an extraordinary, an unforgettable experience.

Watch the video and let’s imagine!