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November 27, 2004

Momken?!

It is a cold November night in Montréal. I am in the fifth floor of the McLennan library thinking that I should have a theme song for this long journey. The one that came to my mind is Mohamed Mounir’s song Momken.

Momken
Askon beyout el farh. Ah! momken
Askon beyout el houzn. La youmkem
Wi moustahil ya hozn rah toustoun
Idir el zamn ifhamna
Ah! Yimken?!

Shakilni bi ta3m el afrah
Loweini bi loon el touhaf
Wi bi ta3am el manga
Wi kamanga ti3zifli 3ala el garh artah. Yemken?

Mashini 3ala koufouh el raha
Nassini low helm wi rah
Wi Ishmi3na el ma3na beiy3rafini
Low bateit fi ouloubna girah

Askon beyout el farh. Ah! momken
Askon beyout el houzn. La youmkem
Wi moustahil ya hozn rah toustoun
Idir el zamn ifhamna
Ah! Yimken?!

For the non-Arabic speakers:
Possible?
I live in the houses of happiness. Possible.
I live in the houses of sadness. Not possible.
Sadness you will never ever live.
Can time really understand us?!
Yes. Perhaps?

Mold me in the taste of happiness
Color me with the color of apple
And with the taste of mango
And with a violent, play for me on my wounds. Will I be relieved? Perhaps?

Walk me on the palms of relief
Let me forget if a dream is gone
Why is it that the meaning knows me?
If wounds stay the night in our hearts

I live in the houses of happiness. Possible.
I live in the houses of sadness. Not possible.
Sadness you will never ever live.
Time can understand us?!
Yes. Perhaps?

Who said translation is an easy job!

Montreal. November 27th, 2004.
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November 1, 2004

Role Models..

These are people who I look you with great admiration and who inspire me always. They have either induce change in the community or country or always carried the name of their countries no matter where they are.

Kassim Amin
After studying in France, he retuned to Egypt. He was one of the main intellectuals that reshaped the status of women in Egypt. Though heavily attacked at the time, he published two books that laid a landmark in the history of Egyptian women during the end of the nineteenth century and early in the twentieth century.

Saad Zaghloul
The great Egyptian leader during the early twentieth century. He was called the leader of the people. All Egypt was united under his leadership. From a small village in the country side of Egypt, he made it to be the prime minister of Egypt during one of its important struggles of Independence.

Ahmed Zewail
Chemistry Nobel Prize laureate 1999.
He made it! And when he was asked what is your nationality he said: Egyptian American.
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