Razan Alaqeel's

Does it take time to think?  Does it require much attention to feel?  Does it demand a lot of power to breath?  Or does life as a whole ask for a lot to live each day the way it should be lived?  Happily, joyfully, with no concerns, and absolutely nothing to feel obliged to?  A heart beats, and it moves the body and functions it with every new beat that echoes through the body; it will never be heard out loud, but it will always be felt.  For the veins transport its heavy emotions, and the tissues wrap things around to protect them from any harm. As I walked through the campus with a heart monitor on my chest, I heard its alarm go off.  It sound disturbed my whole day, because I kept on thinking of the reason why I did that.  Then when I realized that it was absolutely nothing to worry about, I began to wonder about my mind's great ability to overthink about everything.  Is it just me?  Or is it everyone?  Why do we think of things beyond our imagination?  The answer to that can

To the Gulf you say goodbye, and I wiped a tear.  Above the Atlantic you will travel, and I did.  Between  the western mountains you shall live, and I agreed. Across the hills you must step, and I walked.  Within its people you can learn, and I listened.  And through its lands you shall live, and here I am, living, loving, and adjusting.  The mountains and the campus of the Appalachian embraced me ask I approached them, offering me nothing but knowledge and new life lessons. Teaching me how to live independently, and helping me grow.  Entering the university is an honor, because it gives me what other schools across the world can't offer; the knowledge of appreciating the surrounding nature. Every other morning, I would wake up for my 8 am class feeling grumpy, but as soon as I step outside of my dorm, I would fall in love again and again with the beauty of the soft sunrise that spreads its rays through the campus.  My "wow-ing" would never stop, the Gulf gave me wat

Another long airplane trip. Another boarding pass which takes me from one window to another so I can keep on gazing through the wonders of the sky.  Another airport that takes me to several flashbacks of the past resulting in many happy memories.  Another country to be crossed and many miles gained in my airline's membership account that is probably gold by now.  Another experience to go through, which is new, different, exciting, and to be honest: sometimes scary. I hugged my mother again as she pulled me tight as if she wants to make sure that this is me, her daughter, in her same figure.  This is her daughter who kept on growing in front of eyes.  This is her daughter who got taller than her, and who started to talk about the world and its countries just like her daddy.  This is her girl, who promised to never let her down.  My mother's hug was a reminder to me of the reason why I've always wanted to travel.  My first airplane seat was on her lap, after that she start

Sending small messages to more than five continents and ten countries could be extremely hard.  But finding the people who would respond to my messages with open hearts and a loud "YAS!" to something that I had to say was a piece of cake.  Having those strong connections made my last few nights light with happiness, because I was reminded through my friends' words, reactions, and pictures that the future really does belong to those of us who care about making it a better place to live for all.  We all shared one similar past during our time as exchange students in the United States in the school year of 2014-2015.  We said "Yes" to a new life that was full of new adventures and wild experiences.  We agreed to cross the Atlantic and the Pacific, because we strongly believed in our power, future, and in our own selves.  Age was not an obstacle, for we drew an amazing picture of America.  Yet the most important parts of this whole year were and forever will

First day of Eid Al-Fitr was like no other.  It all started with the same things that I've grown up to know. The excitement on the night prior to Eid.  The new clothes that are all ironed and ready to be worn for the first time. The sweets that are moved from the kitchen into the living room for the guests and family members who shall arrive early in the morning. The big basket of fruits that are recently bought from the store. The phone calls buzzing from every mobile to greet family about the arrival of Eid. My hair which was straightened to give myself a new look for the big day. My new perfume. My new shoes. My new earrings. And my new soul which may have changed during a year abroad seeking for world understanding through exchanging cultures.  Eid is much more than that. To me, Eid is a spirit that is felt from one heart to another.  It is a love that sparkles in the eyes. Eid will always carry memories of each previous year. We celebrate this day to appreciate Allah'

If this year was one of my dreams, then I would've said "Dreams do come true.", but since my scenario is a bit different, then I shall say: Magic will always cross the lives of everyone. Yet now I'm stopping to think, was this year magic which surprisingly popped in my life and got me into being an exchange student, or was it just time for my destiny to take a new turn and cross the lives of many other people?  I don't know to be honest, because the truth of what this year really did mean to me can only be felt and shall never be written down. For words don't have enough power to translate the way I feel, and magic has no interference in my description now.  I am currently flying over the Atlantic, and this is the start of a new turn.  When the plane's engine made that noise which used to make me search for my courage as a kid when I got on airplanes, because, well, noises like these freak me out. I don't know why, but I guess that they're just a f

My strong heart beats started and that was my signal that my time to leave has arrived.  My last day in McDowell County.  24 more hours between the mountains and that Great Lake which was the source of my tan for the past week. The breeze, the fresh air, and the sweet scent that it carries.  The flowers and the different trees. The birds' songs, and the whole atmosphere of the glorious nature of McDowell County blends in together magically.  I gained the love to this county through its nature, because it made me wonder in peace when I needed silence, and talk in excitement when I needed energy.  The new paved roads, the big Walmart, and the mountains, that is McDowell, that is my Marion which stole my heart even when I didn't realize it.  My American family decided that we would go kayaking at Lake James on the morning of my last day, because who wouldn't enjoy that?!  I couldn't sleep that night, maybe because I was at the lake a day before and my muscles were sti

The time of starting to wrap up my exchange year came with the idea of wrapping a gift for the superintendent of McDowell County Schools. I figured that one whole year that brought to my life the bitter and the sweet deserves to be finished properly. It's like being on a long vacation and buying souvenirs to be taken home with me. But, the reality of living each day knowing that you are going to a place to reflect a certain message is much greater than the thought of being at the beach and knowing that you have to reflect an image of a good tan and outfit.   Back to my main idea, the gift! Mr. Mark Garrett is the superintendent of McDowell County Schools. He has been supporting me ever since I met him. He has a personality that attracts anyone to talk with him. He made me realize that a great leader is a humble and caring person. He showed great consideration to anything I had to say, and this really is an important thing for me. When a leader listens to the young and old, th