Comments on: Shift

By: junaid

junaid — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:06:22 +0000

well, not having it all figured out by “this age” is not a bad thing – seriously, I know about not knowing…companies pay me to tell them stuff like this: “knowing” or “having things figured out” is a strategic disadvantage in these times. Agility is the key and you lose that if you’re all prepared and shit.

personally, just aimlessly wandering and stumbling across stuff has served me pretty well so far and I have no intent to change…

By: Prixie

Prixie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:07:59 +0000

if you ever give up writing, remember i know where you live!…well…sort of!

By: Prixie

Prixie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:07:15 +0000

saal, you write like no other i have ever read nor met. you have The Gift. And I know how it seems to feel in lmbo, but life would not be so interesting if we always had stuff figured out all the time.

enjoy Egypt!

By: Dreamlife

Dreamlife — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:05:18 +0000

That’s a good idea – it’ll help a lot more to be surrounded by the language. If you’re not staying in Alexandria, you really should visit. It’s a really beautiful place – much nicer than Cairo, in my view.

She’s fine, and it’s amazing having a little person with her own developing personality, alhamdullilah She seems to be starting with teething now, and I’ve heard that that can be a painful process (for the baby as well as the parents). I wrote my first poemy thing about her last week…well, it was part of a bigger poem, but an integral part. Stop by and check it out if you have time.

By: Fatima

Fatima — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:36:31 +0000

The ‘finding yourself’ theory is a conspiracy set out to illustrate our insecurities. Who says that we have to only be great in one thing? Pssht!
I don’t know what I am supposed to be – I am constantly dabbling in everything. I thought I wanted to be a programmer/ web designer/graphic designer/something in IT around Grade 10. I designed my high school website, messed about in the earliest Adobe programs, added Art as a 7th subject, etc. I hated it by the end of my matric year and refused to look that way, going in a different direction completely. I even got rid of my PC! I now find myself, after all these years, drawn to it once again.

The love for things we are passionate about dwindles at times. Sometimes we need to store it in a drawer and look at it at a later time.

Saaleha, your words are magical.

Perhaps Egypt will inspire you as you delve deeper into the land of Prophets and Pharoahs

By: shafs

shafs — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:48:48 +0000

even if dreams feel like theyr being deferred, they’r not totally laid to rest, are they?
soldier on, hun…

will be a pleasure to bookparty with u!

By: Azra

Azra — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:33:27 +0000

We’re hoping to leave in May next year InshaAllah. I’m actually looking to get away from the Saffas LOL (but I know what you mean). Knowing people in a foreign place makes assimilation easier. Hoping to work/live there for a while…meet other people with similar interests etc. My uncle from Amsterdam wants to join us too, we’ll see how it goes InshaAllah. My initial choice was Tunis in Tunisia, but unemployment rates are high at the moment and proficiency in French is preferred. When are you guys leaving?

By: saaleha

saaleha — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:13:50 +0000

Azra, when are you two planning on leaving? There seems to be quite a few Saffas over there; for when things do seem a bit too ferengee, it’s nice to have reminders of home.

By: saaleha

saaleha — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:11:21 +0000

Hey Shafs:) Inshallah, if dreams are not destined to be deferred, please help organise my launches?

By: saaleha

saaleha — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:09:21 +0000

Thanks Nafisa. I think it was something Salman Rushdie wrote somewhere to the effect that one must step out of the frame in order to see the full picture. So here’s to stepping out:)

By: saaleha

saaleha — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:07:33 +0000

You’re already great Waseem:)

By: saaleha

saaleha — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:06:57 +0000

That one’s mostly healed. Focus, need a prescription of that:)
I officially declare your flat the northern branch of ColourNouns’ Soul&Paper division. Rent payable in petit fours from Fournos.

By: Azra

Azra — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:35:58 +0000

Incidentally, my sister and I are off to Egypt as well, but I have no clue how long I’ll be gone for, maybe a couple months – maybe a couple years…depends on how much I like it.

Re: writing…things like that you can’t plan. It just happens. Let it happen without putting to much thought into it.

By: shafs

shafs — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:38:31 +0000

I wait for the day that I can purchase and read your books. Takes me back to the days of your capsule accounts of your travels. Yep I remember them…
What incredibly breathtaking writing! I mean honestly lady S, You already ARE a Serious Writer.

By: Nafisa

Nafisa — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:21:20 +0000

You cannot give up on your dream. No no. You can postpone it though.

Good luck with Egypt..maybe when you get back, you can focus on your dream again

By: Waseem

Waseem — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:18:30 +0000

Ditto, except I think you are helluva lot more accomplished than me, you seem to make a success of thinks you do. I don’t know if that’s purposeful

I don’t think I could be a ‘serious’ or any kind of writer either, I don’t have the dedication

By: zk

zk — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:34:39 +0000

hey is the cut as deep as the one you incurred in my badly lit apartment

you need to focus and sit down and do it
because we know you can and you write amazing stuff

also i firmly believe keep hobbies as hobbies or in your case dnt take on more then you can handle
but remember you will be approached when and if i need it

and aasia is right.. us knowing where we should be at this age is def all a myth.

so bleh HUMBUG

mwah

By: saaleha

saaleha — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:59:49 +0000

I love how specific and at the same time, broad, the language is. It’s little wonder that Arabic poets who write in English have such a rich and meaningful way with the words.
How is the t-word going?

By: saaleha

saaleha — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:54:38 +0000

Great sage as always Yacoob:) How is your little one?
Naeem and I are planning on spending a few months in Egypt to study Arabic. We keep pushing the trip back as we can only leave once Naeem finds/trains someone suitable to take over from him at work for our months away. We’re at the perfect time in our lives to do something like this, because as you say, once the little people arrive, we will be all-consumed.

By: saaleha

saaleha — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:35:14 +0000

haha@ mad geniusy-person-girl. Now there’s a job description to aspire towards!