Tag: cultures

daily prompt

We’re humans

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Are you superstitious?

Superstitious! It’s interesting to read and hear about superuptions. Actually, I think it’s a bit fun. There are loads of them in Arabic culture.

For example, if something suddenly broke, say you dropped a glass or a plate, we say that’s no problem for such a simple damage had protected us from an evil eye. Or when we see an army of ants marching into the house, we belive that’s envy, someone is envious at so and so. And if you forgot to take the coffee pot off the heat just before it boiled over, we say that’s a good omen.

These are but a few examples and when I think about them, I can’t overlook the connection between what we were thinking about and what was happening at the same time. In other words, if the object we saw or come across is bad, awful, scary, …. then only bad thoughts, and those people we dislike will popped into our heads. On the opposite, if we like what suddenly crossed our path, say a butterfly or white pigeon, that will give us good thoughts and brighten our mood.

We’re humans, and I believe it’s natural to make these connotations, but it’ll be unrealistic if we let superstitions be in charge of our life.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Fictional characters

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What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

In stories, the name of every character is carefully picked according to things related to the role, the image, the place, the time …. they are representing.  Sometimes, we as readers overlooked this issue. We read and follow the sequence of the events and the development of the plot. But, I have learnt that writers do pay careful attention and time to the names of each character and they usually have a certain  significance.

In real life our names also have a significance, a meaning that in some cases match our own personalities. In arabic culture, people say  everyone has some share of the meaning of his/ her name.

That’s why I find it a bit confusing to have a middle name as the person, in most cases, will be called and known by just one. The other name will be left aside and known mainly in official documents.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

A proverb

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What is the last thing you learned?

No one is a prophet is his own land!

It is not that I don’t know the meaning of it but when my eyes fell on this proverb in one of the books, it was the beauty of the wording and the accuracy of its meaning hat I’ve recently come to learn.

By the way there this proverb has an equalivat in Arabic. It says; The light falls only on the strangers.

In both versions, the meaning is the same.

Haven’t you ever felt that you are more appreciated and honored elsewhere than in your commonplace?

I did.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

People

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What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

What’s better than meeting with different people!

Living in a different country, meeting with people of different culutres, people with different tongues, is such wonderful, though hard, experience that I believed I’ve been blessed to live.  This experience has been teaching me valuable lessons everyday.

I’m still the same me, however in a much wiser, much knowedgable, much careful version. And there’s one more important thing; when you’re living in a froiegn country, you’re granted a silver opportunity for choosing who you want to be. Either to cut your roots, discard them, borrow different seeds, and plant a complete different crop. Or, keep your old roots, plant then in the new soil, feed and water them every now and then. Believe me, you’ll be suprised how your old roots make a unique plant of you.

With all best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Names in fiction

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The more I read, the more I realise that the characters’ names play an important role in stories. There is a special moment when characters introduce themselves, and when others respond. When the name has a significance, this moment becomes exceptional and impressive.

In real life, we, sometimes, pause and stare at the person introducing himself or herself, and feel something special, real, or odd about them.

One day, a friend was telling me about her sister’s newborn baby;

‘Shadow was doing so and so,’ she said, and I asked whether her sister is living in the Uk?

‘No,’ she said.

‘What’s the baby’s name again?’ I asked.

‘Shadow,’ she said.

‘Why your sister gave her baby an English name?’ I asked.

‘It’s Shadow, the Arabic name,’ she replied.

I couldn’t help laughing because Shadow in Arabic means the birds’ singing, the pronunciation is different, slightly, but it spells the same as the shadow in English.

It is interesting to play with this similarity of names in Fiction, isn’t it?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

 

Just writing

Usury

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In Islam, usury is forbidden. It’s an unfair deal to exploit people in need and lend them money on the condition that s/she will pay back double or ten doubles.

But what if usuary was not about money?

I’ve just read this quote by Shams Tabrizi;

“Usuary is permissible in love. So, when one gives you some love, give it back double.”

Or more!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

Just writing

Ayla

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Image result for ayla turkish movie

 

 

 

Ayla is a 2017 Turkish movie; tells the story of a Turkish sergeant and a Korean little girl.  It is based on a true story happened during the Korean War.

It’s about humanity and pure love. One night, when the moon was full, the sergeant found a little girl, terrified, shaking, not just of the freezing cold but also of the disaster, the inhumane massacre surrounded her fragile little frame.

A stranger, with a different tongue and a kind heart, became the girl’s papa. He saved her, cared about her, and never abandoned her. And she understood him, trusted him, and even loved him as her real papa.

But when the mission ended, the sergeant had to go back to his country, and by law, the little girl could not leave with him.

Did she forget her foreign papa? Did he forget the daughter of war? Never.

Fate brought them back together after sixty years.

It reminded me of I’m David movie by Paul Feig; wonderful stories with beautiful messages.

It’s available on Youtube, but with no English subtitles.

Herewith snaps of the movie, hope you will enjoy it.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

The Captain’s daughter

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One day I took my daughter to the local library to get a new book. She picked two, and it was my turn to choose mine. It was The last Pearl by Leah Fleming that caught my sight.

It was the first time to know about Fleming or read any of her books. It’s about a young woman, Greta’s journey in time and place. It’s about family, family poverty, family struggle, family failure, and family success. It’s about kindness, cruelty, misery, and happiness. And that’s the book I have been looking for.

Then I borrowed another book; The Captain’s Daughter. I expected to finish it by the end of the Christmas holiday, but I read it; done.

It’s the story of two Titanic survivors, two women that were destined to save the life of each other. It’s about kindness, friendship, family, motherhood, and humanity. If you’re interested in the setting of different countries, moving home, wartime, and relationships between different cultures and backgrounds, then this one is highly recommended.

And one more thing about the captain’s daughter, it explains how ‘the secrets in a woman’s heart are deeper than the ocean.’

Have you read any of Leah Fleming’s books?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla