Aki has been with us for 6 months now, seems like yesterday when I had to go pick him up from the airport. I was so worried about having a 2 month old puppy go through a 6+ hour connecting flight from Budapest, stopping in Paris then finally Riyadh. I kept wondering if he would be alright, hoping he wasn’t scared, lonely or hungry/thirsty on his way to me.

I got to the airport ahead of time, I really didn’t want to make him wait; since I knew he’d been in a crate during the entire trip (except when he stopped in Paris, they walked him) and I didn’t want him to be in there any longer. However, he ended up waiting as the process wasn’t as simple as I thought it would be. After asking around at the airport, it turns out that we had to drive further down to a storage house where they keep food, plants and animals that have been shipped from overseas for further inspection and pick-up.

After finding our way to the place, we go in only for a long procedure and a lot of papers to go through and sign. The place was huge and we had to go to different offices on different floors to get things done. This took us about an hour and a half. Finally, when we were done…we were taken to an enormous and really loud storage room. Even though it was around 10 PM, the place was packed with workers driving pick-up trucks moving crates and boxes around. Not a nice place for a puppy to be in!

I finally get pointed to the right direction, and saw a small crate in the middle of all that ruckus and literally ran to it. Inside I found the cutest little creature ever, Aki! He was calm and quiet till he saw us, he started whining and it just broke my heart! I gave him water right away and he gulped it all down in one go. Some workers helped carry his crate to the car and we went home.

Aki wouldn’t stop whining the whole entire ride, he just wanted to get out of the crate. I sat next to the crate and kept petting him hoping it would help, but not really. So, we get home and I take the crate up to my room and FINALLY get to open it! The first thing he does is run out, sniff around and find his “potty place” -  which I prepared before leaving to pick him up - to do his business.

He was so excited and a bit scared, sudden movements made him flinch. He seemed so overwhelmed that I just thought it’s best if he’d go to bed and let him explore his surroundings tomorrow. I decided to keep him in my room, so that’s where he’ll be sleeping. I gave him his new toys, a blanket, turned the lights off and left - and he went crazy! He whined and howled all night long, he only calmed down when I went to bed myself. The whining continued every night for almost a month.

It was really tough in the beginning, Aki was (and still is) very hyper and happy-go-lucky, so it was hard keeping him under control. And like all puppies, he had a biting problem since he was teething. I was alarmed by that behavior since  I didn’t want the biting to be a permanent habit of his, especially that he is a large breed dog and his bite is quite strong and painful - even as a puppy.

I put a lot of time in correcting his bad behavior and reinforcing any good behavior, sometimes it all seemed pointless and I’d rarely see any good results; and there were time when he would drive me crazy I end up too exhausted to handle him anymore. Training Aki was a real challenge for me due to so many factors:

- It was the first time I take care of a dog all by myself.
- Akitas are known to be stubborn and highly intelligent, so they tend to rebel and get bored easily.
- Not a lot of people are experienced with Akitas.
-  Akitas are very strong and MUST be trained firmly and properly.
- We have a cat (Hafey) and Akitas re natural hunters, which means Aki might chase or attack Hafey unless trained to accept the cat as a member of the family. That alone made me stress so much.
- My mother simply didn’t like him so I had to make sure he does not get too close to her. (honestly, that was the least of my worries)

Things have changed so much now, I suppose Aki and myself just needed time to learn more about each other and adjust. His behavior has improved so much and he is loved by so many people now, no one can resist his charm! I took Aki to a trainer a couple of months after his arrival and that really helped. It was quite expensive though, but worth it. He knows his place now and doesn’t cross the line (most of the time), he was able to accept and respect Hafey and actually wants to play with him - though the difference in size makes us a bit nervous and so we always monitor them when they’re together. He also doubled in size in such a short period and is growing up to be a healthy and happy dog.

The only thing left is to control that appetite of his, he seems to always be hungry! I hope it’s just due to the fact he’s still growing and that he will settle down at some point. Hopefully.
Eitherway, I love him more than anything! He’s a beautiful dog, and a great companion.

I would like to give special thanks to my sister, Shahd. She was so supportive and always there to lend a helping hand. Whenever I felt like giving up, she would always be the one to make me try harder. She also took care of him when I went away for a while without complaining even once. Thank you, Shushu!

By just reading the title,  I’m sure everyone must have had a different reaction or opinion on what it implies. No, it’s not as sappy as it seems to be! So many people link a broken heart with a failed romance, but that’s not always the case.

I think we can all agree that for starters, a broken heart is simply a feeling of loss. It doesn’t necessarily mean the loss of a lover as I mentioned earlier, it could be anything from that to the loss of a friend, a family member or even a dream. The reasons and causes of a broken heart are different, though the feeling is the same; loss.

This kind of loss is usually described the same way by people, a feeling of depression, intolerable pain, emptiness and confusion with a side of low self esteem. In short, a wave of grief.

This is how a broken heart is defined:

” A broken heart (or heartbreak) is a common metaphor used to describe the intense emotional pain or suffering one feels after losing a loved one, through death, divorce, moving, being dumped, or other means. It is an extremely old and widespread metaphor, dating to at least the Indian Ramayana writings (400 BC - 200 AD).[1]

Heartbreak is usually associated with losing a spouse or loved one, though losing a parent, child, pet, or close friend can also “break one’s heart”. The phrase refers to the physical pain one may feel in the chest as a result of the loss. Although “heartbreak” is usually a metaphor, there is a condition — appropriately known as Broken Heart Syndrome — where a traumatizing incident triggers the brain to distribute chemicals that weaken heart tissue. “

So, in some cases it can actually be more than just a metaphor. Interesting, don’t you think?

Almost everyone goes through a heartbreak, and you will either see for yourself or have others tell you that you will get over it and heal eventually. Even if at the time you feel like you will never move on or get past the incident.

How long will it last? How long before that empty feeling fades away? That depends on the person and how they decide to deal with the issue.

However, it’s not an easy task at all. You try to go about your daily routine, and try not to think about it too much, but it keeps coming back, sweeping over you like a wave - that feeling in the pit of your stomach - you take in a big breath of air. How long am I going to feel this way?

The most important thing we should all know is that it’s okay to feel that way. It’s okay to get sad and show it. It’s okay to give yourself a break for a while.

The point is…let it take it’s course.

I do believe that a lot of our suffering when we face heartbreak; is self inflicted. That means it’s up to us to stop our suffering, or let it continue on till it controls our lives and eat at us.

Even if not all heartbreak can be cured, just by being able to move on you learn a lot more about yourself and others. You learn how to restore balance back into your life, which isn’t a simple trick to perform.

And in the case of love, never engage in the internal monologue of self blame that usually happens at the end of a relationship. “If only I had done/said things differently…” is the worst thing you could do to yourself. That “If only” is an insult to who you are, since by doing/saying things differently than you did would no longer be “you”.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to present the newest and furriest member to the family…Aki.

Aki is 12 weeks old and comes from a native Japanese breed called Akita Inu. The Akita Inu is a large breed dog originating from the Akita prefecture in Japan; and was originally bred for hunting and guarding, but nowadays he’s more of a family/home pet.

The Akita Inu is actually considered a national treasure in Japan, it is said that a house which has an Akita Inu is a house of good fortune and prosperity. The reason behind this is the legendary loyalty and devotion of this dog to it’s family and master.

In one of Tokyo’s busiest and most popular hang out place, Shinjuku; you can find a statue of an Akita Inu named Hachiko right in front of the underground station’s gate.

Hachiko’s owner Hidesaburō Ueno was a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. During his owner’s life Hachikō saw him off from the front door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno didn’t return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered a stroke at the university that day. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was waiting.

Hachikō was given away after his master’s death, but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. After time, Hachikō apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he didn’t see his friend among the commuters at the station.

The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. Realizing that Hachikō waited in vigil for his dead master, their hearts were touched. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.

This continued for 10 years, with Hachikō appearing only in the evening time, precisely when the train was due at the station.

I know many people would feel that we should work on human rights or other more urgent matters in Saudi Arabia first, but many of us fail to understand that even if we still need to sort out other major issues;  it doesn’t mean we should disregard everything else. We need to shed light on all the issues facing our community in order to raise the society’s awareness.

Let’s not forget that change takes time, so the sooner we start discussing and realizing the problems we need to solve; the better.

In Saudi Arabia, one of the first Hadeeths by the Prophet (PBUH) taught to children is about a woman who got punished for torturing a cat. As such, one would think we should be one of the most animal friendly places in the world.

Unfortunately, that is not the case.  Dogs are hated and are viewed as “impure”, stray cats are all over the streets and are not safe, black animals are thought to be “evil” in some way, and many people don’t know how to properly care for a pet; or know which animals actually fall under the category of pet and which don’t. Why would anyone keep a tiger, a wild cat or an alligator in their home? They definitely don’t belong there and it’s dangerous to keep them there!

The reason behind all this is simple: Animals need us and we need animals. Why? The well being of our planet is OUR responsibly and that includes everything from keeping our planet healthy and taking care of all the living creatures inhabiting it.

Animals need us because they can’t object or fight for their rights, so they depend on us for making sure they are safe and happy. We also need animals because they are  an essential and vital element in keeping the equilibrium and state of our planet in a good condition.

Furthermore, it’s not only a matter of need. It’s a matter of respect to life too.

My concerns:

1. Riyadh Zoo’s upkeep of their animals is deteriorating every year, and the animals are in bad shape. A zoo is a wonderful and fun educational experience for both children and adults, that’s why we must try to improve its state.
   This might help:
   For more information, read this article by Arab News and join this cause on Facebook.
2. The large number of street cats. There are cats everywhere, and we don’t have many supported animal rescue centers to take care of them.
   This might help:
   Visit Saudi Paws and Open Paws. Both rescue, vaccinate, deworm and clean abandoned or stray animals. They also put them up for adoption or foster care. Join Saudi Paws’ cause on Facebook here.
3. Pet shops. Before buying your pet from a pet shop try to look for other options, check the links above or ask around for any animals that are threatened to be abadoned by their carers for any reason.
4. People keeping pets without commiting to the responsibility of caring for them. You shouldn’t keep pets in your home only for your entertainment or treat them like fashion items. They need love, care and attention.

Photographer: Talal Alamri

Last night a Taiko (”drum” in Japanese) performance was hosted by the Embassy of Japan at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh, and it was an open invitation. the group performing was made up of three members; with the famous percussionist and composer  Joji Hirota being the lead, along with my sister’s classmate and friend Moriya Keisuke and Akinori Fujimoto.

The show was brilliant, the music was lovely and Joji Hirota really swept the crowd off its feet with his performance and attitude. He is a true legend, it’s worth checking his official website to learn more about his accomplishments and talent.

Furthermore, I was very much pleased with the whole set up. it was quite organized and the crowd showed much enthusiasm and support that got the performers to add new elements to the show that were not originally part of the it! Joji Hirota asked the crowd to sing along some of the songs with him, and they did a great job. Even the performers were amazed by the crowd’s excitement and by how fast they picked up the lyrics they were asked to sing along with them.

In short, it was a success. I only hope for more events of this kind in the future of Riyadh.

So here goes:

• 1 Sweet Potatoes: There are many ways to cook sweet potatoes, the simplest method; and the one I prefer is to bake them just like a regular potato. You can add a bit of butter, cinnamon or brown sugar to top it off.They’re high in beta carotene which are converted to vitamin A in your body, can help slow the aging process and reduce the risk of some cancers. Sweet potatoes are also good sources of fiber, vitamins B-6, C and E, Folate and Potassium. And like all vegetables, they’re fat-free and low in calories — one small sweet potato has just 54 calories.
  
• 2 Spinach: I love it when Spinach is added to casseroles and pies, such as quiche for example. When it’s cooked it really adds flavor to the dish.I’m sure most people know the benefits of Spinach; thanks to Popeye, but I’ll name a few more modest ones. For starters, it’s loaded with Iron, Folate, Magnesium, Calcium, vitamins A, C and B-6! Furthermore, Spinach can give your immune system a real boost.
  
• 3 Green Tea: For almost 6 years now, the amount of green tea that I probably consumed on a daily basis surpasses the amount of water that I should be drinking. I simply love it, and my day ends up with me feeling like there’s something missing if I skip tea time. There are many different types of green tea, here’s a list of Japanese Green Teas from Wikipedia.The reason why green tea is considered to be good for your health, other than the well known fact that it helps digestion and weight loss. It’s packed with Polyphenols; which has 100 times the antioxidant punch of vitamin C! This Phytochemical may also help in reducing risk of cancer; since it deprives early tumors from nourishment and can also prevent DNA damage.
  
• 4 Salmon: Not only is salmon is simply delicious smoked, raw (sushi) or grilled. It has a very distinct color and shape, that even people who are not big fans of sea food can point it out.The key to the benefits of Salmon, is in it’s diet. The Salmon fish eats other small fish which in turn eat smaller fish called Algae. Algaes possess a very essential kind of fat known as the Omega-3 Fatty Acids — a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots and lowers blood pressure. It’s also a good source of Protein.
  
• 5 Nuts: They’re great to snack on, taste good and don’t contain the harmful fats in other snacks like potato chips and such.That said, it doesn’t mean you can eat as much as you want from them. They still do have fat in them, but the good kind of fat that lowers the bad cholestrol (LDL) and increases the good cholestrol (HDL). However, too much of it may end up causing weight gain. They are also an excellent source of vitamin E, a very important antioxident that fights off cancer and heart disease.
  
• 6 Broccoli: I don’t have a problem with it, but I know many people can’t stand the taste of Broccoli, but they way you cook it can play a huge part in the taste. I suggest boiling (which helps unlock even more benefits if cooked lightly) some Broccoli then serving it with cheese dip, that should enhance or at least cover up the taste if you really hate it. It tastes pretty good that way actually! Though if you really can’t eat Broccoli, then replace it with Brussel Sprouts or Cabbage.Broccoli is full of Beta-Carotene and Phytochemicals that may prevent cancer from developing especially breast, colon and stomach cancers.  It’s also rich in fiber and vitamin C.
• 7 Tomatoes: I can’t live without tomatoes in my diet, and I don’y get people who hate tomatoes. They’re on pizza, in , soups and pastas. You can’t hide from them! And their simply yum. I especially love cherry tomatoes, not only do they look more appeaing…they’re easier to deal with!A powerful anti-oxident that prevents free radicals; and so yes, Tomatoes will reduce risk of cancer too. Tomatoes are also a great source for vitamin C and Beta-Carotene. Tip: You can release more benefits by adding a bit olive oil. Don’t worry if you don’t like Tomatoes much, you still get benefits from Ketchup and tomatoe sauce (on pizza) since they reduce risk of prostate cancer.
  
• 8 Blueberries: Another great food to snack on if you have a bit of a sweet tooth. I like to add it to cereal sometimes since they are easy to add to almost anything, no peeling or cutting needed.Though very small in size, Blueberries may contain more anti-oxidents than any other food item out there. They not only fight off free radicals and prevent heart disease, they have a unique benefit due to it’s special compound that boosts brainpower. Also, they prevent urinary tract infection; like Cranberry (another favorite, but not listed here).
• 9 Honey: I like to use Honey as a sweetner instead of sugar, I put it with my coffee/tea and sometimes with fruits that have a bitter taste to them.Honey is packed with anti-oxidents and can almost be a miracle worker, besides it’s ani-inflamatory and healing power.  It’s also a good energy booster and improves your immune system. It’s anti- bacterial properties helps detoxify your body and digestive system, this also allows people to use Honey on external wounds and cuts to prevent infections.
• 
• 10 Oats: One word: Quaker. I’ve been drinking Quaker soups since I can remember, never get sick of it. You can also eat it as porridge if soups are not for you.Oats are rich in Fiber and Protien. They lower cholestrol and blood pressure and make you feel full really fast; which helps you eats less and control you weight.

Farewell 2008. You weren’t very pleasant, but you’re still precious nonetheless…like all the years before and all the years to come.

I hope for better times to come, and for everyone to be well. May you all achieve your goals, and may your lives be full of special moments with the ones you love.

I’ve heard about this animated film during my last visit to London in October. My sister and my friend watched it on DVD and were really blown away by it, and after they told me what it was all about; I too felt like it was not to be missed.

Well, today I managed to finally find it and I watched it. It’s far beyond typical and I do recommend it to everyone (especially women).

Basically, it’s a movie based on an autobiographical comic book by Marjane Satrapi (in French). A story of a young girl coming-of-age in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Marjane takes us on a trip through her childhood, her experiences, Iran’s history, it’s people, they’re struggles and lifestyle. It’s very real, though some people might think it’s a tad bit over rated.

Marjane was also able to incorporate different elements in her story. Though it was very emotional; you’ll find yourself getting into fists of laughter quite often, or captivated by the historical events told in pure simplicity. It’s also very touching.

The heroine leaves Iran to study in Vienna after her parents felt that Iran as it was then; was not suitable for their daughter to live in. That’s when she faces the inner struggle we all go through at some point in our lives, the one between who we are and who we want to be.

Okay, so we all are a bit skeptical about the whole issue of ghosts and spirits being real or not. Some people might feel believing in the supernatural in general is naive and childish. Maybe because during our childhood our world consisted of not only ghosts and haunted places, but monsters hiding under our bed, superman and tooth fairies. We believed that there could be other strange creatures besides us in the world, we needed to. It’s healthy for children to have a wild imagination, but a lot of people consider it silly when adults do.

As we “grow up” our view of the world changes and yet, some people still do get scared of ghost stories. Which is kind of funny I think, why get scared of something you don’t believe in? Or does it fall under “people are scared of the unknown” sort of thing?

The reason I’m writing this, is not because I have any idea if ghosts and spirits actually do exist or because I’m into the paranormal. It’s simply because I heard something very interesting about ghosts, which I think makes much more sense than the old fashioned theory behind them.

I heard from my sister, who went through a phase of reading and researching topics on ghosts; that ghosts are merely strong negative emotions that someone had experienced at some point in the place they spent most of their time in, whether it be a home, a hospital, etc.

This person’s feelings were so intense that they were able to leave their mark in the place, like a finger print. They also don’t have to be deceased to do so. It could be someone who was terribly ill and was going through a very hard time, or someone who had lost a dear person to them.

Furthermore, ghosts are not considered to be the same as spirits; spirits usually refer to the souls of the deceased. However, I won’t get into that since it doesn’t interest me as much as ghosts.

I think I find this more logical since I believe that the world and everything in it, has it’s own energy. So perhaps, the energy we give off can have an effect on others. For example, like when you enter a place and feel the tension between people. Or that eerie feeling we get when we go to the hospital.

We all heard about Saudi rock and metal bands emerging recently, and the latest one we’ve heard about was even a female rock band called the Accolade. It seems like metal/rock is the most genre of music we’ve seen Saudi musicians do thus far.

This shows us that the music scene is slowly growing in Saudi Arabia and the number of independent musicians and artists is also increasing. This is of course great and I think we should give them credit for what they’re trying to do and support them; especially the talented ones.

This is the reason behind this post actually. W’aleed is a young musician who creates music of a different kind of genre this time, which is electronica, minimalist and progressive. He’s quite new and has released 6 individual tracks so far alongside some compilations with other musicians.

You can listen to his tracks on MySpcace or download them here.