What to make happen

What to make happen

A few New Year’s resolutions from a first-timer

by Fatemah Kareem

For me, making resolutions isn’t usually an important part of my new year. However, maybe this is why I end up wanting to finish a million things but not finishing anything.

So I’m trying this year. This year, my resolutions are as follows:

1. To be thankful for my supportive father

In a country such as Saudi Arabia, if you’re a woman you don’t have the right to be responsible to make decisions and choose the life you want no matter how old you are.

For example, that means you can’t be completely free to travel and pursue your education without male approval (from a father, brother or even a husband).

My father always believed in education as a means of improving one’s life on many levels, which is why he supported my choice to come to Canada and finish my education, regardless of the social restrictions he faced as a member of such a closed culture.

Many women are not lucky enough to have this simple human right, just because their guardians don’t think it’s important for women to travel and have a degree from abroad, despite the benefits of empowering women and help them be independent not only for themselves but also for their society.

My father’s stance on this issue is not something I can take for granted.

2. To express myself and say what I believe in - no matter what

In many countries people don’t have the right to express themselves freely. Many people in these countries don’t try to express their opinions when they’re too different in order to avoid the possible consequences. Instead, they continue to live in miserable conditions.

So I’ve decided to express my opinions even if there are some people who get mad at me; at least it might change something.

3. Talk to more people on the bus

When I first came to Canada, using public transportation was a completely new experience in my life. Being in a place with so many people was uncomfortable in itself, let alone starting conversations with people you don’t really know.

It can be something frightening if you’re not familiar with North American culture, because you don’t really know how the conversation will go. It could be short pleasant comments on any number of topics, or it could just be uncomfortable.

In any case I think it’s important to make the effort, because I’ve found that being silent or putting on that blasé face can be strange for some people.

Once you get used to conversing with strangers, it makes you feel good about yourself and adds spice to your day.

4. Educate Saudi women about their rights

Before women can be asked to fight for their rights, they must know what their rights are. I will start writing in Arabic to defend women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, making sure that I deliver the right message to every woman.

In this way, I wish to make each woman able to effect change in her community and her life.

5. Get behind the wheel

Since women in Saudi Arabia don’t yet have the right to drive a car, my final New Year’s resolution is to get behind the wheel. I want to use my chance as a student in Canada to get my driver’s licence.

As with my other resolutions, this one’s all about making the most of my time in this country. 

Its a new era

Maybe hundreds or even thousands times I had my lunch at school restaurants, and million times I got my coffee from my favorite coffee shop or even shopping. There is no one single time that I pay close attention about the amount of money I spend. The value of that money was missing or not seen as it is in a real life.  Maybe money is the money; it is just the way we see it according to where we stand in this life.

People on top of the economical pyramid might see that five-dollars for Grande cappuccino not that much while person from working class would see it as a half an hour working.  

Like many people in this world my life go though ups and downs, after that day when I lose my financial support that granted to me to continue my post graduate studies, many things has changed.

I couldn't enjoy that grilled chicken burger with the fries and the chocolate milk today, it cost me 10 bucks, I ate it thought. 

What makes us think the way we do? is it because we choose to see things in this way, or it is depending on where we located in the pyramid??

I'm not talking about food only. It’s about everything, food, clothes, religion, and the way we see each other’s.

Am afraid that there is nothing true and nothing wrong, it is more about our inner awareness and personal perspective of everything around us.

The pianist

How bizarre the life is, some times you had the chance to meet people you wouldn’t expect to meet them in your life, Talk to them, or even like them. I used to live in downtown but after moving to quiet area which is near to the University I was so unhappy with the new place I don’t know why.

 I am still emotionally connected to this place; the coffee shops there, the public library, and shopping mall. No matter if, I need to spend thirty minutes to get to my sanctuary, my comfort zone, my first memories place in Canada. I spent my main time reading at the public library or at Starbucks enjoying my coffee or green tea frappuccino recently. He was there, sixty year old, handsome, with completely gray hair. I saw him every time sitting by himself reading newspaper or solving words game in his small book. He always smiling at me and looks comfortable but I always feel that lonesomeness in his eyes.

On Thursday I was there returning from volunteer interview. I stop by starbucks to get my favorite coffee and sit down for few minutes before catching my bus. The moment I was heading to the starbucks sitting area I surprised by the over peopling there. There is no empty spot left! I was standing for a moment figuring out what is my next step would be. He was smiling at me from the first moment I showed up there and then he had the reason to talk to me and asks me if I do not mind sit with him since there was no empty spot left for me. I do not know how to describe this moment but it was not that strange I felt that I was like a present from the sky to him. He wants someone to speak with and because I've tried how hard when you do not have any one to speak with or spend time with. We were talking for two hours in randomized topics, about him and me. He is a pianist working in a hotel playing his music for the hotel's residents. I'm always interested in learning play musical instruments especially piano or the Arabic music instrument "Oud".

As a matter of fact, Saudi Arabia banning learning music or even listen to it, whether in schools or public areas such as coffee shops according to the wahhabi interpretation of Islamic rules. He invited me to listen to him at the hotel lounge on Friday it was like a dream when he starts playing on the piano and I feel like a princess, he was so happy to see me and I felt good about it because I was the reason for some ones happiness in this world.