This was one of the most impulsive decisions ever. Actually this was the only impulsive decision I’ve ever made in my life, in regards to my health. [going for the Z-lasik surgery!!]
Normally I’d panic, and anxiously ask my diabetes doctor million questions before attempting to try anything new, however this time the story was different.
When I was 8, we were sitting peacefully writing on our books in the classroom when suddenly we were visited by eye doctors. They did a free check up on everyone in the class. I was so sure I’d ace it like I aced any other test in that grade.. unfortunately they’ve given me a paper with prescription for glasses, told me it’s very important I do it as soon as possible. I was scared.. because, glasses??
I had a flashback of this girl in my class who the previous month started wearing glasses and the other kids laughed at her, and then I told myself be prepared to get bullied all over again. (Coz I was bullied before for being tiny, switched school).
I was praying with all my heart that the other eye doctor we visited later would say ‘it’s ok just drink carrot juice and you’ll be okay’, which by the way I did, and I hated the taste of it a lot.
They said I had to wear glasses. My parents convinced me that it’s fine, and I get to choose my own frames, to be cool. So just like the good girl I was, I chose a cute navy frame with cars on it.
I went to school the next day, and I was happy that no one bullied me. I believed that it was the charm of the little cars!
I grew older, my sight got worse.
Few years later when laser was introduced (I think I was about 13) my parents did it, and I got excited and thought ‘hey, 5 years later I’ll say goodbye to glasses forever’. Surprisingly, the doctor informed me that it would be impossible for me to get the surgery done due to several complications in my eyes, and my dreams of glasses free life was shattered once more.
2 years later (when I was 15) I finally was old enough to wear contact lens. I was warned a lot about the miss-usage of it and how dangerous it is. Also about how years later I’ll actually get headaches from wearing them a lot, and I thought to myself NO WAY.
Surprise surprise.. after hitting the age of 23, I slowly started getting tired of the contact lens. By 24 I didn’t mind not wearing lens, I just wore my glasses the entire time and avoided looking at the mirror or taking any pictures.
25.. you know still going on?
I received a message from Muscat Eye Laser Cemter, that they offer 50% off on the surgeries, I ran to my mom and told her. She did not encourage me coz she wanted me to go to the same clinic she went to, because they treated her nicely in comparison to the other clinic when she wanted to undergo the surgery.
A week later I was informed that one of my friends ‘zeruga’ was going to to do check ups to do the surgery.. I asked a million questions.
Next thing I knew is that I actually made a phone call and made an appointment for Saturday 2/2/19 for the check ups.
I went on Saturday, and there were so many tests.. so many check ups..
I’ve spent approximately about 4-5 hours there.
Finally when I was sent to discuss the possibilities with the counselor. He confirmed that I indeed have several issues that would make the operation a bit tough.
He said when normal each eye would take 1.5 minutes to operate on, mine would take 10 minutes per eye. So if we assume worse case scenario of normal eye, total time could hardly ever reach 5 minutes, but in my case it would be 20 minutes.
I was shocked, and scared. But I was also too shy to chicken out now, so I said yeah sure let’s have the operation on Tuesday (Sunday and Monday parents were away, and if I said Sunday they’d cancel their trip so I thought I’d wait).
For the two coming days I pretended everything was fine. I haven’t actually spoken about it to anyone in fact.
On the operation day I had a donut for breakfast and my brother got me Caramel machiatto (I normally don’t do breakfasts but they warned me to EAT something) so I thought hey, why not pamper myself to something I like.
I went to the center. It was 10.30
They did one more test, but then something went wrong so they redid it after an hour
They made me wait a lot.. and the waiting made me anxious.
I had to go to the toilet several times (mind you, I don’t remember the last time I’ve done that honestly). More waiting
They sent me for a final talk to the counselor.. confirmed the length of the operation, and he said one more time 18-20 minutes.
They asked me to go in finally at 13.00’sh. I changed into those surgery clothes/gowns you see in movies.. then they put lots of drops in my eyes, cleaned it further, put anesthesia drops too.
I was asked to wait again. I must confess I dosed a little while waiting as the area was really cool and the sofa was comfy and I had to kinda keep my eyes closed, but then I panicked and called the nurse to tell her that I slept, if that would affect the anesthesia they’ve given me, because honestly I could still feel and I thought the affect must have been worn off. (You may laugh, I felt a little stupid but I had to tell them thanks to my paranoia)
After half an hour or so they asked me to go in, and I asked to use the toilet one last time, while they were rushing me telling me that the doctor is waiting.. I quickly went for the last time and I actually suddenly felt too cold started shivering. The nurse laughed and said there is a blanket inside don’t worry.
They’ve ushered me to the bed. Briefly introduced the doctor I haven’t really gotten the chance to see him properly. I laid on the scary bed and well.. then there were lots and I mean LOTS of eye drops. They started with the right eye, million drops look at the green light. LOOK AT THE GREEN LIGHT.
I’m the type of patient who even under pain would actually endure and not make sound. But somehow this was too irritating and too much to my eyes so I had to grit my teeth, and kinda tightened my fists but some low whimpers.. believe me it made me feel embarrassed but I had to, otherwise I’d forget to breathe.
They then shortly began the same procedure with left eye. But in addition to all that, they brought laser to the left eye and I felt oh god this is taking forever, and then suddenly it occurred to me they hadn’t done that to my right eye yet! They took away the laser did few annoying stuff and then moved back to right eye and I felt oh god, when will this finish? So then they did the laser in the right eye finally and when they were putting back the lens or whatever they did I could actually slightly feel the stuff and it was irritating I almost lifted my hand to push away everything but I maintained a good self control. Except for the whimpers I mean that was the only way I reminded myself I gotta breathe.
Million minutes later the surgery was done. The nurse helped me get up because I couldn’t do it myself, and when I got onto my feet I felt very dizzy with no balance, she laughed and said ‘it’s ok, you’re ok.. this is happening because your eyes were open for quite a long time’.
I briefly thanked the doctor and left the room (I was the last patient everyone wanted to just leave I assume). They helped me wear abaya again, have me goggles (ugly ones, I was disappointed, because I once saw a classmate wear cool goggles to school..)
Left the surgery area, was given instructions to take drops and be back the next day.
In addition to the goggles I put my scarf of my face like a niqabi my eyes were irritated somewhat, no burning sensation.
I went home took my drops, had lunch took panadol and laid on bed.
I had just finished with the surgery, I came home and it looked like the house before we reconstructed it, the small old house.. but I didn’t go in, I took my car and started driving towards Athaiba for some reason, and I had crossed each red light and I had no control over the car. I was terrified but I kept telling myself I have to reach. So I reached finally and I parked in horrible way also I went in to see my family.. I took my baby cousin and he hit my in my eyes so I dropped him down and held my head and somehow I had this huge headache
Suddenly I woke up. It was 4 hours later and I realized that my whole face was tensed, I had squinted my eyes? My teeth were again all gritted and I realized I was not supposed to do that but I just couldn’t help it. Took the drops and just wanted to remain in the dark.
The entire time since I came home my little sister was by my side. It was so sweet the way she was willingly just helping and taking care of me. She even opened an audio book for me from her beloved iPad so I could have some sort of entertainment.
So then again I opened another audio book and fell asleep. It’s funny how I slept the whole damn day. I was not bothered for anything and there was constantly a funny feeling in my eyes but I just remained patient.
6th Feb: I went to the clinic at 8.00’sh. There was whole lots of waiting, they called me upstairs did some check up after making me wait for more than half an hour, then I was asked to wait downstairs again for long time then they finally called me in. Put something in my eyes to stop tears? I didn’t really understand what did they put in my eyes but then the doctor said ‘well remove the lens too’ and I got freaked out, when was there any lens in my eyes? Apparently there was a protection lens.
So anyway I went home, I could see everything perfectly (alhamdulillah) and I feel very grateful.
It’s just that sometimes I feel like closing my eyes and not do anything coz I get this irritating feeling.
I still can’t believe I no longer have to use glasses! It feels weird
But it feels nice too.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Visitors from the Netherlands
Hello!!
Long time no post, I know.. No excuses.. I'm just lazy. Also, I'm not sure if anyone is reading.
Last year (2018) has been filled with lots of happy moments mostly, some sad ones too because that is the balance of life, right?
But mostly were happy ones.
But mostly were happy ones.
We're are in the end of November now, one month till the new year, and I'm proudly announcing that my life is actually finally falling into place... Steadily, but still lots of improvement here.
So, let me tell you about the visitors from the Netherlands.
One of my teachers, from back when I used to study in the Netherlands has been contacting me since 2017, she wanted to visit Oman, with her friends. Asked me questions about where to go and what to do, and I told her about the cool places, and the accommodation, as well as the info. She told me she would come in November 2018.
Inge (that's her name) contacted me again when she reached Oman, which was on the 4th of November, a Sunday.
Inge (that's her name) contacted me again when she reached Oman, which was on the 4th of November, a Sunday.
(for my foreign friends, weekend here is Friday and Saturday, then Sunday is the start of the week)
Sunday was a long day at Uni. I came home and got prepared to welcome them (Thanks to my mom, and the helper for preparing all the hospitality related items since I wasn't home the entire day).
They were supposed to be here by 18.30 but thanks to google maps, they ended up reaching Matrah, which isn't that bad, I mean it is still close to Wattaya (Where I Live).
(Future tip for my foreign friends, use the app "Waze" it works properly, while "Google maps" doesn't in this part of the world)
They arrived at 19.00'sh?
I've given them a modern yet traditional Omani hospitality experience. Where there was 'Fuwala' which is the Arabic term for the fruit, coffee and some Halwa on a mat which is beautifully set on the floor, and people sit around it, eat, drink and chat.
The setting looked something like this
Off course, I got these:
It was a lovely day. I was truly very happy.
The setting looked something like this
I anxiously waited until they arrived, with so many emotions and thoughts running in my head.. I wanted their visit to be perfect, I wanted to be a great host but I was too scared that I would not know how to react or entertain them, as I sometimes could get very socially awkward. It had been 2 years since I left the Netherlands and came back home, which means no proper interaction with foreigners for a long time, and just bunch of anxious thoughts of me trying not to do anything embarrassing or offensive. Yes, I tend to overthink unfortunately.
So, my guests arrived, and they were excited to have visited, I felt overwhelmed with joy.
We have spoken about so many things, totally random but related to the differences and similarities between the Omani culture, and the Dutch culture. About the lifestyle, places to visit, things to do here in Oman.
For a moment, I remembered that my stay in the Netherlands was in fact real, because since I settled in Oman, the whole memory of the Netherlands seemed like a beautiful dream. Sometimes, I actually seem to forget that I haven been abroad, I met these wonderful people, and I spent 5 wonderful years among them.
If you would go to previous posts, I posted something about the 'Be my guest tour' where when I lived in the Netherlands, I participated in this program, and when people visited me I showed them the Omani hospitality. So in this day, I felt we were in the 'Be my guest Tour'
Here are some of the pictures, and moments that were captured that day:
It was a lovely day. I was truly very happy.
I think I left a good impression on them. Also considering the fact that it was their very first day in Oman, they said it started in an amazing way and were thrilled to discover Oman further, and that made me even happier.
I keep saying I have to visit the Netherlands soon, but I'm too lazy to even leave my room, leave alone the country.
Next Post is about when Moni came to visit me, for reference check this post.
Friday, June 1, 2018
Qaranqasho!
So here is one of the Arabic\Islamic occasions I truly Enjoy.
It has different names in different countries apparently:
Oman = Qaranqasho
Other gulf countries = Gerge'aan
Iraq = Majina
& so on.. However, the way is similar of celebrating it.
Why is it Islamic occasion?
I'm assuming you all know prophet Mohammed (PBUH). He had one daughter sayeda 'Fatima', who was married to his cousin imam 'Ali'.
& on the 15th of Ramadan, Prophet Mohammed's first grandson (sayeda 'Fatima's first son) was born: Imam 'Hassan'.
Imam: in this context means a Muslim leader at that time.
So because of this occasion Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) gave sweets to his neighbors and friends, as gesture of happiness.
Also, I thought of letting you know of the Arabic calendar, as they differ and have no relation to the Gregorian/Julian calendar.
* Arabic calendar is as follows:
1- Muharam
2- Safar
3- Rabi' el-Awal
4- Rabi' el-Thani
5- Jumada el oola
6- Jumada el-thania
7- Rajab
8- Shaban
9- Ramadan
10- Shawal
11- Tho el-qa'eda
12- Tho el-Hijja
-----
So back to our main topic, Qaranqasho which is on the 15th of Ramadan (but celebrated on the 14th eve), what really happens, or used to happen since I haven't seen anything like it happening this time:
Kids in the neighborhood gather, and they go to each house, ring the bell, and sing some sort of a cute song where they're asking for candy, then people would give them candies\sweets.
So it's like Halloween, but a very cute one with no costumes.
A few years back when kids came to our place, I'd make them sing first, then give them sweets.
What I've noticed this year is that most people do it for the social media and pictures, no more kids going around the neighbors and singing. Also, there are those troublemakers who dress like women apparently and dance taking advantage of a holly day, a cute celebration to just make a mess, which I totally dislike. Why ruin a beautiful tradition?
Then there are those people who celebrate literally every christian\hindu occassion but come and say 'Haram' on Qaranqasho. Wow at these people I pray god show you the right path and give you lots of happiness so you'd stop giving us your misery.
-----
Okay, so here are some of the pictures I've taken during our celebration to it:
on the actual day which was 3 days ago
This is what my parents gave me & Luj
This is the matam I go to. [We have lots of matams, where people go and sit to listen to the lecture which is streamed from men's mosque]
It has different names in different countries apparently:
Oman = Qaranqasho
Other gulf countries = Gerge'aan
Iraq = Majina
& so on.. However, the way is similar of celebrating it.
Why is it Islamic occasion?
I'm assuming you all know prophet Mohammed (PBUH). He had one daughter sayeda 'Fatima', who was married to his cousin imam 'Ali'.
& on the 15th of Ramadan, Prophet Mohammed's first grandson (sayeda 'Fatima's first son) was born: Imam 'Hassan'.
Imam: in this context means a Muslim leader at that time.
So because of this occasion Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) gave sweets to his neighbors and friends, as gesture of happiness.
Also, I thought of letting you know of the Arabic calendar, as they differ and have no relation to the Gregorian/Julian calendar.
* Arabic calendar is as follows:
1- Muharam
2- Safar
3- Rabi' el-Awal
4- Rabi' el-Thani
5- Jumada el oola
6- Jumada el-thania
7- Rajab
8- Shaban
9- Ramadan
10- Shawal
11- Tho el-qa'eda
12- Tho el-Hijja
-----
So back to our main topic, Qaranqasho which is on the 15th of Ramadan (but celebrated on the 14th eve), what really happens, or used to happen since I haven't seen anything like it happening this time:
Kids in the neighborhood gather, and they go to each house, ring the bell, and sing some sort of a cute song where they're asking for candy, then people would give them candies\sweets.
So it's like Halloween, but a very cute one with no costumes.
A few years back when kids came to our place, I'd make them sing first, then give them sweets.
What I've noticed this year is that most people do it for the social media and pictures, no more kids going around the neighbors and singing. Also, there are those troublemakers who dress like women apparently and dance taking advantage of a holly day, a cute celebration to just make a mess, which I totally dislike. Why ruin a beautiful tradition?
Then there are those people who celebrate literally every christian\hindu occassion but come and say 'Haram' on Qaranqasho. Wow at these people I pray god show you the right path and give you lots of happiness so you'd stop giving us your misery.
-----
Okay, so here are some of the pictures I've taken during our celebration to it:
on the actual day which was 3 days ago
This is what my parents gave me & Luj
This is within soor Lawatya (Lawaty is my last name, we have whole bunch of people in the tribe and they used to live here once upon a time, now it's still filled with old houses that no one lives unless its Muharam the first month because we then come daily here to attend lectures\activities, yeah and it has our mosque and matam, the place we attend in order to listen to the lecture or participate in the activities.]
One good thing I've noticed, Lawatya most of time donate blood upon occasions, and for this occasion, there were blood bank buses in front of the Soor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reason why I posted this late [like I said Qaranqasho was 3 days ago] is coz we were gathered at our house, and my aunts and mom got qaranqasho gifts for the kids & I wanted to include the pictures of today as well.
Remember how I wrote above I made kids sing before I gave them candies? Mom did the same to us so we went outside, and entered the house singing Qaranqasho
I got this yay! Filled with childhood sweets, I feel very happy and nostalgic at the sight of it. SO CUTE!
I just realized I didn't take as much videoes and pictures as I expected since the rest is too revealing, I don't think my other family members would agree on posting them. Anyway, so you know we do have happy occasions that I feel are underrated.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
25th surprise birthday party!!
Well, this was the perfect ending for the month to be honest.
I was invited to iftar at my friend's [and other friends joined, coincidentally, I invited them to my main party, and somehow none could join, but all were present here!]
After we had Iftar, I was surprised with a cake, and cute gifts.
Every year I do a birthday week, where I celebrate for a whole week, this time it was a birthday month. I'm grateful.
I just wanted to share with you all some of the pictures. My cute friend actually put on efforts and did made sure there were unicorns everywhere.
I'm truly feeling very blessed.
2 years ago when I came to Oman, I was worried about not having friends because I was away for 5 years, and kinda lost contacts with everyone. Today I have lots of friends. Different groups, different sorts who carry nothing but love in their hearts for me and I feel touched.
Yes ladies & gentlemen, the introvert is speaking about having million friends, can you believe it? I'm surprising everyone all the time they say?
Here are some pictures.
Friday, May 25, 2018
Memories of the Netherlands #1: Who are my friends?
Before I forget any of those cute memories, I decided I'd write them, randomly off course because although I have pictures that state which time and date what happened exactly, I thought why not make it so very random.
First city I went to was Enschede. That's where I spent 2 years before moving to Deventer, because the major I chose was in that department.
You have no idea how excited I was to go to the Netherlands.
I made my arrangements in Oman, and traveled all by myself.
It was a very cold winter, I arrived in Feb. I remember how the air smelled, and what it felt like being there.
in Enschede, I had 3 Omani friends 'Al', 'Mati' and 'Yaqi'. Who were very kind and welcoming.
I was not used to the foreign traditions but they were kind enough to teach me everything.
I was doing English course in Deventer, because it was either stay in Oman until sept or do English course, so I said yea why not, therefore my journey in the trains began then already.
In my English course, all students were Chinese, and it made me feel strange and lonely because they'd speak Chinese most of time, and I felt unwelcome. Later, with days we've become very good friends. We went to trips, parks, and di stuff together. I once went to their house we cooked together and made them eat rice with their hands the Omani style.
There was a funny guy 'David', he'd turn any normal word into a pervered word, and we'd all just laugh a lot because that guy was truly hilarious.
Then there was 'James' who'd yell "someboodyyyy" in the class suddenly because in that time the song 'somebody I used to know' was famous. I actually laughed while writing this.
Then there were Rita, Lily and Queenie, such cute girls with cute accents who kept me company. I really miss those guys.
When I started school in Sept it was back in Enschede and I was glad I didn't have to take a 45 minutes train ride to Deventer. The whole atmosphere was so strange once more. I remember what it felt like walking to uni, all the strange feelings, the smell of the place, and the people.
Then again I was the one who sat quite in the class.
This girl approaches me, sits next to me, and starts talking ALOT!!
In the beginning I thought why is she talking too much? She doesn't even know me that well. But I'm so so happy and glad she did talk to me. My beautiful homie 'Moni', that was.
Oh there was another Omani girl 'Asia' who kept me company too, most of time I'd be kinda lost without her, I don't know, but it feels nice sometimes knowing that there is another person there with you, especially if you [ME] are very quite and don't talk much and are always shy kinda.
So yeah, there was Moni whom I clicked with, and we became very very very good friends. She'd come over so many times, I went to hers maybe once or twice, she lived a little far from the center.
There were also Lebanese girls 'fatima' and 'Jaso' and an Iraqi girl who lived in Germany, Gronau (15 mins train ride to Enschede). They were so lovely and kind, I went to visit them in Gronau a few times!)
In Feb I changed my major from International finance, to international business, so I went back to Deventer.
I was so very not interested in anyone, or in making friends, therefore my daily routine was taking a train from Enschede to Deventer, going to class, take train back home.
I did not talk to anyone, made no friends. Was in my own world.
One day, after two months of joining [I joined in February, we were the Feb students who joined 2nd semester of the 1st year, there were those who started from Sept already and knew each other] so in April Kira was too kind to host a barbecue party in which she invited everyone generally, and for some reason I don't even know why I decided to join, knowing that I'd be alone coz I don't know anyone.
So in the evening I take a train from Enschede to Deventer, pass by Starbucks that was by the station, and a bus to Kira's.
I enter the house and it was already so very crowded [I think I brought my own hotdogs and burgers because Halal food, you know!]. My memory is not being so very helpful right now, but I think I went and stood outside with them while some of the guys barbecued (there were lots of people just coming and going). Then I went inside the kitchen (where most of other people just sat or talked, that was the hangout area) in a corner, just observing people.
So probably for 2 hours I'm just standing there by myself either texting or just lost in my thoughts. Meanwhile, 'Kaspers' comes to say hi and we just have a very tiny small talk in which I give very short answers and no indication that I want to chat, he goes away. He comes back a few minutes later, again tries to have a conversation but my awkwardass gives no proper reply, so he goes away again.
Third time when he comes, he starts talking loud and fast
Kaspers: "Look, this is the third time I'm approaching you, you have to talk to me right now" which made me laugh
Lamya: "I hate people.."
Kaspers grabs Fatma: "she hates people too"
Lamya: "Hi"
Fatma: "Hi" *she has this adorable gangster glance*
Lamya: "I hate people"
Fatma: "yeah me too"
and guys, I swear we clicked. We both stood by the wall judging people and laughing at them. Suddenly, other classmates come around to chat and now they finally know me. So many did say that they did not even notice me in the class, that's how much of a ninja I was.
Fatma and Kaspers became the closest friends to me during my stay in the Netherlands.
Some time later during the party, some old foreign people came, it got funny coz everyone was drunk and they started acting weirdly.
Fatma, Kaspers, 3 other random people who I don't remember their names *IM SO SORRY IF YOU'RE READING THIS, perhaps you're not* decided to go to "***".
I won't explain further, or continue on what happened because... what happens in Holland stays in Holland.
Later they all dropped me at the station, and that, guys was how I made my first friends in Deventer, and believe me the friendship got stronger, they were my family.
ahh, such good days!
Later on, when we 'Feb' students, had to do 1st year 1st semester (because we started 2nd semester 1st year in Feb) we met that year's Sept students.
It was mandatory for us to go to introduction camp. I didn't like the idea in the beginning because I'm not so good in sharing room and bathroom. Luckily, I had 'Nayda' with me, and shes a mom! She promised me everything would be okay and no one would misbehave and do pranks, and she was right no one did. Thanks to this camp, i got to know my other classmates (only who shared the room) a little better. They had parties and such at night but since I don't drink and not interested in people most of time, I didn't join them, I preferred sleeping. During the activities on 2nd day because we had to be teams and such, I got to know other people slightly. Now on the way back from the camp, there was this super annoying guy 'Eren' who would not stop talking. I thought he was friendly in the beginning but then I was too sure he's annoying and we'd remain friends forever. There was 'Luca' also, with super red cheeks, I adore the guy, hes so so so so funny.
You see, I've come to know everyone, and they knew me, but it took really some long time till I actually allowed myself in getting involved in anything.
Some other friends like 'Nick' I've made in the class, I don't know how, but it was coz we played League of legends.
Then there is 'Sheb', my super TBF. It was because of Fatma we got to know each other. My TBF did not speak English properly, but later on she could speak so very well because there was no other way to communicate since I didn't speak Dutch or Turkish.
Sheb & Fatma were literally my family. We did a lot together. They'd stay in my place for hours, come anytime, go anytime, grocery, shopping, trips. We did so much together.
Later I had to change my major again due to certain complications that the supervisor 'forgot' to tell me about since I'm not a European student, so I chose 'international tourism', by then I was already living in Deventer, coz I knew I would not go back to Enschede after forming my own family in here. My classmates were all German, and some bits and pieces from other countries. Inthe beginning I was annoyed again because the majority were German and they'd just speak their language (unintentionally off course, still annoying) and kept missing my old friends, also I hated the process of having to start all over again with people because most of time I do really feel awkward. Thankgod our homeroom teacher Esther was a sweetheart, she kinda made the whole process of getting to know each other easier, as she'd talk to us, arrange out of class activities from time to time. Soon those Germans were so very close my heart, where we'd visit each other, have meals together and do lots of activities together. They succeeded in making me leave home since most of time I preferred gaming, they made me go places with them or they'd just come over. 'Christin' without e, 'Marlyn', and 'Wanja' actually came to Oman too, but it was during the time we lived in Amerat so I couldn't show them a lot, circumstances were different. The there is 'Luisa' and 'caro', 'jurina' and 'marieke'.
My other dear friend 'Bryan' who went with me through the Russia trip thing (check earlier posts for the story) who lived also nearby and had a cute dog 'Athena'.
These people actually played huge roles in my life, and I feel so grateful to have known them honestly. Though we're so far away from each other, I still cherish the memories and feel so happy that I got the opportunity to meet all these great souls.
Hoping we'd meet again, either they visit me in Oman, or I go back to the Netherlands for a quick visit.
First city I went to was Enschede. That's where I spent 2 years before moving to Deventer, because the major I chose was in that department.
You have no idea how excited I was to go to the Netherlands.
I made my arrangements in Oman, and traveled all by myself.
It was a very cold winter, I arrived in Feb. I remember how the air smelled, and what it felt like being there.
in Enschede, I had 3 Omani friends 'Al', 'Mati' and 'Yaqi'. Who were very kind and welcoming.
I was not used to the foreign traditions but they were kind enough to teach me everything.
I was doing English course in Deventer, because it was either stay in Oman until sept or do English course, so I said yea why not, therefore my journey in the trains began then already.
In my English course, all students were Chinese, and it made me feel strange and lonely because they'd speak Chinese most of time, and I felt unwelcome. Later, with days we've become very good friends. We went to trips, parks, and di stuff together. I once went to their house we cooked together and made them eat rice with their hands the Omani style.
There was a funny guy 'David', he'd turn any normal word into a pervered word, and we'd all just laugh a lot because that guy was truly hilarious.
Then there was 'James' who'd yell "someboodyyyy" in the class suddenly because in that time the song 'somebody I used to know' was famous. I actually laughed while writing this.
Then there were Rita, Lily and Queenie, such cute girls with cute accents who kept me company. I really miss those guys.
When I started school in Sept it was back in Enschede and I was glad I didn't have to take a 45 minutes train ride to Deventer. The whole atmosphere was so strange once more. I remember what it felt like walking to uni, all the strange feelings, the smell of the place, and the people.
Then again I was the one who sat quite in the class.
This girl approaches me, sits next to me, and starts talking ALOT!!
In the beginning I thought why is she talking too much? She doesn't even know me that well. But I'm so so happy and glad she did talk to me. My beautiful homie 'Moni', that was.
Oh there was another Omani girl 'Asia' who kept me company too, most of time I'd be kinda lost without her, I don't know, but it feels nice sometimes knowing that there is another person there with you, especially if you [ME] are very quite and don't talk much and are always shy kinda.
So yeah, there was Moni whom I clicked with, and we became very very very good friends. She'd come over so many times, I went to hers maybe once or twice, she lived a little far from the center.
There were also Lebanese girls 'fatima' and 'Jaso' and an Iraqi girl who lived in Germany, Gronau (15 mins train ride to Enschede). They were so lovely and kind, I went to visit them in Gronau a few times!)
In Feb I changed my major from International finance, to international business, so I went back to Deventer.
I was so very not interested in anyone, or in making friends, therefore my daily routine was taking a train from Enschede to Deventer, going to class, take train back home.
I did not talk to anyone, made no friends. Was in my own world.
One day, after two months of joining [I joined in February, we were the Feb students who joined 2nd semester of the 1st year, there were those who started from Sept already and knew each other] so in April Kira was too kind to host a barbecue party in which she invited everyone generally, and for some reason I don't even know why I decided to join, knowing that I'd be alone coz I don't know anyone.
So in the evening I take a train from Enschede to Deventer, pass by Starbucks that was by the station, and a bus to Kira's.
I enter the house and it was already so very crowded [I think I brought my own hotdogs and burgers because Halal food, you know!]. My memory is not being so very helpful right now, but I think I went and stood outside with them while some of the guys barbecued (there were lots of people just coming and going). Then I went inside the kitchen (where most of other people just sat or talked, that was the hangout area) in a corner, just observing people.
So probably for 2 hours I'm just standing there by myself either texting or just lost in my thoughts. Meanwhile, 'Kaspers' comes to say hi and we just have a very tiny small talk in which I give very short answers and no indication that I want to chat, he goes away. He comes back a few minutes later, again tries to have a conversation but my awkwardass gives no proper reply, so he goes away again.
Third time when he comes, he starts talking loud and fast
Kaspers: "Look, this is the third time I'm approaching you, you have to talk to me right now" which made me laugh
Lamya: "I hate people.."
Kaspers grabs Fatma: "she hates people too"
Lamya: "Hi"
Fatma: "Hi" *she has this adorable gangster glance*
Lamya: "I hate people"
Fatma: "yeah me too"
and guys, I swear we clicked. We both stood by the wall judging people and laughing at them. Suddenly, other classmates come around to chat and now they finally know me. So many did say that they did not even notice me in the class, that's how much of a ninja I was.
Fatma and Kaspers became the closest friends to me during my stay in the Netherlands.
Some time later during the party, some old foreign people came, it got funny coz everyone was drunk and they started acting weirdly.
Fatma, Kaspers, 3 other random people who I don't remember their names *IM SO SORRY IF YOU'RE READING THIS, perhaps you're not* decided to go to "***".
I won't explain further, or continue on what happened because... what happens in Holland stays in Holland.
Later they all dropped me at the station, and that, guys was how I made my first friends in Deventer, and believe me the friendship got stronger, they were my family.
ahh, such good days!
Later on, when we 'Feb' students, had to do 1st year 1st semester (because we started 2nd semester 1st year in Feb) we met that year's Sept students.
It was mandatory for us to go to introduction camp. I didn't like the idea in the beginning because I'm not so good in sharing room and bathroom. Luckily, I had 'Nayda' with me, and shes a mom! She promised me everything would be okay and no one would misbehave and do pranks, and she was right no one did. Thanks to this camp, i got to know my other classmates (only who shared the room) a little better. They had parties and such at night but since I don't drink and not interested in people most of time, I didn't join them, I preferred sleeping. During the activities on 2nd day because we had to be teams and such, I got to know other people slightly. Now on the way back from the camp, there was this super annoying guy 'Eren' who would not stop talking. I thought he was friendly in the beginning but then I was too sure he's annoying and we'd remain friends forever. There was 'Luca' also, with super red cheeks, I adore the guy, hes so so so so funny.
You see, I've come to know everyone, and they knew me, but it took really some long time till I actually allowed myself in getting involved in anything.
Some other friends like 'Nick' I've made in the class, I don't know how, but it was coz we played League of legends.
Then there is 'Sheb', my super TBF. It was because of Fatma we got to know each other. My TBF did not speak English properly, but later on she could speak so very well because there was no other way to communicate since I didn't speak Dutch or Turkish.
Sheb & Fatma were literally my family. We did a lot together. They'd stay in my place for hours, come anytime, go anytime, grocery, shopping, trips. We did so much together.
Later I had to change my major again due to certain complications that the supervisor 'forgot' to tell me about since I'm not a European student, so I chose 'international tourism', by then I was already living in Deventer, coz I knew I would not go back to Enschede after forming my own family in here. My classmates were all German, and some bits and pieces from other countries. Inthe beginning I was annoyed again because the majority were German and they'd just speak their language (unintentionally off course, still annoying) and kept missing my old friends, also I hated the process of having to start all over again with people because most of time I do really feel awkward. Thankgod our homeroom teacher Esther was a sweetheart, she kinda made the whole process of getting to know each other easier, as she'd talk to us, arrange out of class activities from time to time. Soon those Germans were so very close my heart, where we'd visit each other, have meals together and do lots of activities together. They succeeded in making me leave home since most of time I preferred gaming, they made me go places with them or they'd just come over. 'Christin' without e, 'Marlyn', and 'Wanja' actually came to Oman too, but it was during the time we lived in Amerat so I couldn't show them a lot, circumstances were different. The there is 'Luisa' and 'caro', 'jurina' and 'marieke'.
My other dear friend 'Bryan' who went with me through the Russia trip thing (check earlier posts for the story) who lived also nearby and had a cute dog 'Athena'.
These people actually played huge roles in my life, and I feel so grateful to have known them honestly. Though we're so far away from each other, I still cherish the memories and feel so happy that I got the opportunity to meet all these great souls.
Hoping we'd meet again, either they visit me in Oman, or I go back to the Netherlands for a quick visit.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
DisneyLand trip vol.3 : with friends!
To be honest, this wasn't the first time I went to DisneyLand. Yet, stepping into this land makes me all happy, and once again I feel like I'm a child in a dream world..
This was the third time to be frank.
The first time was when I was 6, I went with my family to DisneyLand - USA
The second time was when I was 19, again with family, DisneyLand - Paris
The third time was recently, on the 13th of October 2014 - with my aunt.
Felt so weird and lonely going there without my family this time. I was remembering my siblings and parents all the time as we've been there before, and done things together!
Here is a picture of mine taken during the trip.
So many pictures were taken on this day.
There were parades coming and going. At one point I was so excited to see it the next thing I know is; I started crying like a baby. Mhmm.. I did miss my family a lot, and believe me, during those 3 years of my living abroad I did feel homesick but never did I cry for feeling homesick, this was my first breakdown! I think I was overwhelmed also because 3 years ago I came to the same place with my family.
The rest of the day went really amazing.. Off course we had to wait a lot in the queue to go on the rides, but you don't feel the time running when you're there. There is some sort of joy everywhere in the air.
The feeling where you literally feel you're living in the cartoon!
There are lots of pictures, lots of incidents but I was too lazy to continue this post that's why I'm posting this 4 years later?
Mhm.. I've decided I'd write my memories from when I used to live in Holland.
My 22nd birthday
So I was scrolling down to my old posts.. I did notice that I've posted a little something about my 21st birthday, and thought to myself: Hey! Why don't I post about the recent party I've had!! [I'm posting this 3 years after I'm a quarter century now check the post below, I forgot this one in the drafts, nice!]
During the actual birth date, I was in Oman, and had a little celebration at my grandma's house.
I've ordered me a red velvet ice cream cake from cold stone. Man oh man, it was delicious.
Back to my party in the Netherlands. Once I was back to the Netherlands my friend welcomed me with this cake.
So basically, everyone had white shirts on, and then we all drew on each others' shirts. As you can conclude too, I had three awesome delicious birthday cakes, the main cake was minion themed... because BANANA!! [ it was red velvet :$ ].
We also played some dancing games, there is an app for it, which was so hilarious.
Then came the most exciting part, where a friend of mine forced me to do fireworks, they've bought them already and I had to light it. Well, i think they all knew I was too scared.. but this time i was forced to light one.
I have a clip, which I won't share not here, where I'm too scared to light the fireworks so my friend holds my hand forcing me to light it and then i panic and runaway leaving the lighter right there.. BOOM goes the fire work.. we all laugh and i feel like I've done something huge, go in and open my presents.
Then there was off course lots of dancing, laughing and drawing on shirts. Lots of pictures were taken too.
Such cute lovely presents from each single one of them.
For some reason, I just found thisd one on my drafts!
There are many more pictures on my facebook, but I thought these would be enough for now
During the actual birth date, I was in Oman, and had a little celebration at my grandma's house.
I've ordered me a red velvet ice cream cake from cold stone. Man oh man, it was delicious.
Back to my party in the Netherlands. Once I was back to the Netherlands my friend welcomed me with this cake.
No jealousy please *Ma Sha Allah*
I forgot to tell you that cakes in the Netherlands are not the same like in Oman, mostly you find pies.. Unless off course you order one (custom made) and tell them what you really want.
Then I made a proper plan for an awesome party.
The theme was : Graffiti.
My favorite subject.
Here are some of the pictures from the party.
So basically, everyone had white shirts on, and then we all drew on each others' shirts. As you can conclude too, I had three awesome delicious birthday cakes, the main cake was minion themed... because BANANA!! [ it was red velvet :$ ].
We also played some dancing games, there is an app for it, which was so hilarious.
Then came the most exciting part, where a friend of mine forced me to do fireworks, they've bought them already and I had to light it. Well, i think they all knew I was too scared.. but this time i was forced to light one.
I have a clip, which I won't share not here, where I'm too scared to light the fireworks so my friend holds my hand forcing me to light it and then i panic and runaway leaving the lighter right there.. BOOM goes the fire work.. we all laugh and i feel like I've done something huge, go in and open my presents.
Then there was off course lots of dancing, laughing and drawing on shirts. Lots of pictures were taken too.
Such cute lovely presents from each single one of them.
For some reason, I just found thisd one on my drafts!
There are many more pictures on my facebook, but I thought these would be enough for now
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