Razan Alaqeel's

Since the first day of October I knew that experiencing Fall will be extremely new and beautiful, because we basically don't have a lot of tress that turn colors due to the climate of Saudi Arabia. And I also knew that experiencing Halloween for the first time ever will defiantly add a new chapter to this year.  The color of the leaves stole my heart, as the sound of crushing them brought joy to me everyday whenever we went out to walk the dogs. The smell of this season, its food, and the spirit that I found in all of the people in here made each day joyful and different.  Those people that I'm living, studying, and interacting with here are like nobody else in the world. They're very special in their own way, and they're like this one huge family.  They all know each other, care for each other, and love one another.  Marion may not have a lot, but its people and nature are simply enough for this Saudi girl who looks at everything differently.  Car...

Last week started with reviewing an essay that I'm currently writing about different alternatives for oil in Saudi Arabia. I was looking for something very interesting to add into my 750 words essay, furthermore, I wanted to have something interesting at the school too. I wished for a new and exciting experience as my future was hiding a great surprise for me.  I went to school on Tuesday in the thick darkness of the morning, and I arrived, walked up the tiny and wet steps of the school's entrance and headed to the library to complete working on my essay. Then the day started regularly.  Yet something very, very, very new to me occurred.  "Teachers, please mind the interruption, but the school is currently going through a Code Yellow Lockdown.  There's nothing to worry about now as we'll keep you updated" announced Mrs. Butler through the class's speaker. The first thing I said "What the hell is a Code Yellow?  Are they having a party that we should w...

People sometimes say that a good kid is a reflection of good parents who worked hard in building their kid's personalities and ethics. Starting with Pre School, the credit is always given to those parents, and as the kid grows and reaches high school, the attention is drifted to him as the mother stands on his back with a proud tear in her eyes, while the father pets his back in what I call: a man's pride.  يقال بين الناس أحياناً أن الإبن الصالح هو إنعكاس لوالدين صالحين تعبوا في تربيته و بناء شخصيته و أخلاقه.  إبتداءاً من الروضة، المديح يذهب دائماً للأم و الأب، و بينما يكبر الإبن و يدخل الثانوية، ينتقل كل إهتمام الناس إليه بينما تقف أمه خلفه مع دموع فخر في عيناها، و بينما يربت الأب على كتفه في ما اسميه: فخر الرجال.  Most of the kids though forget about those great inspirational figures who brought them to life. They forget that they'll do anything just to make them happy. They forget that they do their best to give them the best life.  We forget that our parents happ...

We drove into Pleasant Gardens from the McDowell High hill, then turned left to Walnut Street, and after that we took another turn to Oak Circle.  My coordinator Ron said goodbye as he dropped me by the house, and then he left.  I heard my host family's dog (Titan) barking just like any other normal dog, and I knew that we I open the door he'll go outside, then come back inside the house to chase me.  This time I was all by myself with nobody in the house, so I opened the door, went inside as Titan ran outside. I thought that he'll come back, but he just kept running away.  Titan has a hard life as he had different accidents throughout his five years, and he has just left the Animal Hospital yesterday with multiple stitches on his body. So he really can't go outside because he's not as strong as he thinks, maybe that's why I got used to him very quick when I first arrived here.   He ran all the way to Walnut Street and he seemed to know where he was heading. ...

One month, two weeks, two days, and twenty-two hours since I left my country.  That's a long way to walk alone, yet this journey was destined for me, and basically living every moment of it alone is mandatory, but as a human, a young adult, and a teenager in this world: I have all authority to make this year one of my best to live.  I remember people asking me from my very first day whether I was homesick or not. At that point of my journey I had full contact with my parents and siblings, and in fact, I was talking to them every two hours, they knew everything, and I felt safe that way despite the fact that they were 13,000 miles away from me. As days went by, I realized that talking to them wasn't helping, and I started to run away from anything that reminded me of home.  I saw my city's farms in the nature of Marion. I felt the cold weather of Saudi in the beginning of Marion's fall, which basically proved that I'll be freezing by the time of the winter season. I ...

Thirteen years ago, on Sep. 11th, a huge change happened to my life personally, and to many lives and souls all around the world.  We were expecting a baby, my mother was scheduled to have my younger brother on September 11th, 2001.  I was going to have a baby after me, which meant that the amount of the love that I had as a last child was on the risk of decreasing gradually after he opens his eyes to the lights of the world.  I believe that I was either four, or five years old, yet memories of that day are still stuck in my mind.  I woke up in the early morning to go to the Kindergarten, while my mother was in the hospital. I went back home to see the color blue decorating our guests' room, and then I realized that I have a baby brother named after my grandfather: Fahad.  I was really happy indeed, I wanted to see this little and new member of the family, and most importantly, I wanted to see my mom.  As my father had told me when I got older: after the...

August kicked itself off with a one night trip to Qatar, which was basically called: Razan's Farewell Trip. It was an amazing Staycation, we stayed at the hotel and didn't leave it, because the weather was too hot, and because we were able to tan in fifteen quick minutes.   I was planning to order a huge plate of shrimps from the midnight menu that was placed right beside my bed, but after eating some good Lebanese food, I strongly believed that my stomach was satisfied with Humus, stuffed grape leaves, and a huge plate of fruits just for me.  I was with my family all day long, and I simply had lots of fun and enjoyed my time. I felt happy despite the fact that I was going to travel in exactly nine days, and knew absolutely nothing about a city called: Marion, or an organization named FLAG. All I remember about that trip is that I tanned, went to the spa twice, and ate a lot. Then we had to return and I myself had a bag to pack, and some relatives t...