千里の道も一歩から

It looks like a maze.

  

This is Al-Balad in Jeddah.

  

Meeting wonderful people,

Discovering new culture,

Learning new languages,

Creating new receipes,

My life in Jeddah is absolutely delightful!  

HAPPY EASTER!

  

Please look at this picture!When he started to write this,I was lost for words!!!!!!!!!

This is real Arabic calligraphy.



This is the most beautiful writing I have ever seen-smooth,rhythmic and dynamic!All toghther they made beautiful harmony!I'll never forget about that day.

I learned calligraphy in Japan.That's why I'm eager to see this!

One of my dreams came true!  

Then I asked him to write my name in Arabic.I'm learning Arabic by myself and I wanted to try my new language with native person.


(Of course I can't eat with them like this!)  

When I wrote Hiragana,my Saudi student copied me.I noticed his first Hiragana was beautiful shaped.I thought maybe he is learning how to write letters like all Japanese.He has a good sense of writing.




  

During the lesson,I asked my husband to sit down together with us.Coz he understands how hard learning Japanese is!When he arrived in Japan,he knew only a few words,Sushi,Sumou,and so on...

  

Last week I had a great oppotunity in Jeddah.I taught Japanese,in English,to a Saudi student.As you know,in this country it is very hard to meet people especially opposite sex.He is really into Japanese manga.His favorite comic is Naruto.

  

　を、アラビア語で

من جد وجد ومن زرع حصد

マン　ジャッダ　ワジャダ　ワ　マン　ザラア　ハサダ



  

  

Last weekend we went to see "King Fahd's fountain".The fountain shoots water 853 feet in the air (260m!)using a jet engine above the Red Sea.

I was surprised when we visited there,It was 11p.m.But the beach was abosolutely packed-and not only with adults.A lot of small children were playing near the sea.

It was getting darker and busier (especially with picnicers).It seems this is definitely a part of "Arabian culture"!




  

This is the Royal Mile,a famous thoroughfare in Edinburgh.  

Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle here since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century its principal role was as a military base with a large garrison. Its importance as a historic monument was recognised from the 19th century, and various restoration programmes have been carried out since. As one of the most important fortresses in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts, from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, up to the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully, on several occasions.

from Wikipedia



  

Счастливого Нового Года и Рождества!  

Total time 4hrs 30 mins (prep time 30mins cook time 4 hrs) serving 8

This dish should be prepared several days ahead of time for flavor to develop.
It keeps very well in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or so.very high in vitamins.


Ingredients:

2 cups cleaned wheat berries
3 -4 quarts water
1 cup cleaned poppy seed
1/3 cup honey
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or 1/2 cup pecans

Directions:

1 Wash wheat in cold water and soak overnight in the 3 to 4 quarts of water.
2 The next day, bring the water to a boil then simmer for 4 to 5 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
3 The wheat is ready when the kernels burst open and the fluid is thick and creamy.
4 Chop the poppy seed in a food processor (or coffee grinder) (or you can buy ground poppy seeds in some deli's) and set aside.
5 Mix honey, sugar and hot water.
6 Mix the honey mixture, poppy seeds, and chopped nuts and wheat.
7 More honey can be added to taste.
8 Keep in refrigerator.

  

  

"It was so beautiful."

She called her children to come and see this wonderous sight.Then,while looking at it,the tree changed into real silver!

Nowadays people still believe spiders are lucky symbols of X'mas.(DO NOT kill one in your house)

That's why they still decorate X'mas trees with fake spider ornaments/decorations.

  

On her way home she walked through a forest.She found a small tree there and took it back to her home,where she decorated it with her family.It was a fabulous time for them.
They said
"Thank you God."

Next morning she got up because her room was very bright.However,it was so bright she couldn't open her eyes at first.
When she did look at her X'mas tree,it was covered in "spider's webs" and was reflecting because of sunshine.



  

7th of January was Russian Orthodox X'mas.
They have 2 X'mases and 2 New Years.(completely opposite from KSA)
I'll tell you an old Ukranian story of X'mas.

A long time ago,there was a lady named Katya,who worked as a maid.She was hardworking,honest and she had a warm heart.Even if she saw a spider,she couldn't kill it.But even though she worked hard,she was very poor.

She worked on X'mas Eve to decorate a luxurious X'mas tree.she wanted to buy her own but couldn't afford to buy one.