Monday, August 18, 2014

The power of a Hug ( Act 2)

Few months ago i wrote about the power of a hug, and how it can make feel people better especially when it come from a child.

I found out that greetings are important in South Africa, and people ( at least those i met) would go directly to a hug to make you feel comfortable and happy to be around them.

a hug will bring that security feeling that every single person would look for.
i'm happy that i found people that would react the same way as me and will make me feel normal and understood.

45 days in Johannesburg!!!

i've been far from any writting since my arrival to Joburg, i have a million stories to tell, a lot experiences, but sometimes inspiration doesn;t really follow.

the beginning was a little difficult , i had to understand the meaning of ta dry winter, i do remember studying this at primary school but i did not get it till i had to wake up in the morning in a freezing room ( -2 degrees) withh no heater ( which mandatory in my life) and a blue sunny sky!!! day after day for the first week , i've been waiting for the rain or the snow, then i had to face the reality it's going to be awefully cold, so first decision, change my hotel, and sometimes, irrationnal decisions end up being the best of your life.

after settling down in a better place, i could start having fun, spending some time with my techwomen family, visiting the city, cooking&baking, and somehow i felt home. and yes the moment i started cleaning and washing the dishes without complaning i understood that i just found my new home.

So every weekend, it's the tourist on me that appears, lion park, elephant sanctuary, cable car at harties, the red bus tour, sandton city, montecasino  or rooderpoort, when ever i can go for a walk i just don;t miss it.

i've been surprised by the diversity in Johannesburg, i was not expecting  it to be this much big, i came here 3 years ago, for a week, and i realized i did not see anything back then.

i've been to an amazing event atwits University where i've been lucky to attend a lecture given by Ms Graca Machal the widow of former President Mandela, the way she talked about africa and the situation of the countries, the rural areas, made me love my life way more and i felt really as an african citizen, and proud of it.
i've been around my ladies from techwomen for the Taungana project, it's going to be a one week event where high school girl from rural area from Zambia, Zimbabwe and SouthAfrica will have a one week exposure trip to STEM career. i'm so proud of this project and i believe it might bring a lot of understanding to all these girls...4 days to go #TaunganaAfrica

i feel happy here, and i have to say it started with a social dance evening at RoseBank, where i found out that i can register and dance with the best teachers of salsa, tango, tumba, foxtrot or EC swing, i had no idea that it's possible to have ballroom classes, and for sure i will be looking for this in my country, but i found a place where i can learn kizomba, that sexy passionate angolan dance, few years ago i tried to dance it but i did not understand the importance of  connection and loosing the control, the moment i got it i felt free i felt happy to follow the lead and enjoy.

South Africa is a surprising country, so many differnces and in the same time, it's a small world in one country, i hope i can have that chance to come back in here and visit other places.
i still have 3 weeks in Joburg, and am ready to enjoy the best of it!!

Friday, July 4, 2014

Last day at Cape Town

Here we are 3 weeks have gone and I'm getting ready to leave Cape Town.
I've been surprised by the city, it has been beautiful, with surprising people and amazing experience.
It felt weird every time I'm walking back to my hotel people would greet me even if they've never met me before.
It seems it's a quite city with no rush or stress, and in a certain way people are happy to live here or be here.
I've never heard anyone here saying I don't like the city I want to leave, and after three weeks I do understand that feeling.
I loved how the city might surprise you, I went from Windhoek to San Francisco just by visiting Cape Town, going up and down in the city, visiting table mountain or spending an afternoon in camps bay it felt naturally in a place I can call home.
Today am on my way to cape point that latest part of Africa, coming from North Africa, I would be able to say I've seen both of the side of Africa.
First stop is Hout Bay to spend some time with seals, next step the chapman peak let's see how it goes.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Facts about me

12 facts about me:
1. I love travelling, moving around the world, and getting used to new life
2. I enjoy walking for the whole day on sunny days without having a lunch break ( it’s a waste of time for me, especially if my schedule is tight)
3. My perfect week end, would be to stay in bed having a TV series marathon
4. I love Sushi, I can eat it 3 times a day without complain
5. I can get angry but the moment i say it out loud am fine ( forgive very quickly)
6. I hate picnics, or any events with food and nature ( don’t ask me why I have no idea)
7. I hate people asking questions when they already know the answer
8. The worst season for me is the winter, I get depressed and bad mood
9. Friendship is very important and doesn’t mean I need to talk to you all the time
10. I started learning different languages because it is a passion to understand people around me
11. Dancing is a second nature for me.
12. I’m African first, Algerian and Muslim.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Startup Women Weekend Maghreb!!

Have you ever imagine creating your own startup?
do you have any idea that can be a startup?
these are the questions you have to ask your self to be part of this event, and obviously you need to be a woman!!

I am in total admiration of these ladies coming from Algeria, Tunisia, & Morroco to be part of this first SWWM, to spend 54 hours in a room to develop their buisness plan, and pitch their ideas.
I feel i'm not courageous enough to put my self in this situation.
I can just imagine the pressure and stress that each one of them is feeling, luckily coaches and mentors are there around to meet everybody, to guide them and share their expereince.

After the SWWM, winning or not the competition, each one of them will feel grown up , each one of them will go back home with more knowledge, new friends and the satisfaction of giving their best in a project they beleived in.

I wish all of them a good luck for another sleepless night!!

Friday, April 4, 2014

Namibia the unknown country

Before to go to Namibia, all what I knew about it was that Frankie Frederick one of the best sprinter in the world is from Namibia.
I've discovered that Namibia has been colonized by German, Namibia has suffered from appartheid as much as South Africa, and I realized it is one of the youngest country that has got their independence , this year the 24th year has been celebrated.
I found out that in Namibia from which tribe you are from is very important, when I arrived many people were thinking that I might be a colored person ( a mixed person), and people would speak to me in Afrikaans first.

To be continued...

An afternoon under the sun!!

For a long time I've been traveling and trying to enjoy the best of each city or country, but sometimes planning to go out arrange accommodations etc.. It s just too much, when the best way to enjoy is most of the time simpler.
You just need to lay down under the sun and feel the warm feeling on your skin, you just need to put your feet in the pool and have that fresh sensation.
After a long tiring day, after some disappointment and stress, nothing can relax better that sitting under the sun and enjoying a fresh little wind.
I would agree that this moment would have been perfect if I could share it with important people in my life, but I cannot choose who is around me and who is not.
Am still enjoying even if I'm alone and I'm not saying I'm lonely!!
Happy late afternoon!!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Swakopmund... The coastal city

For a long time I've been traveling only to work without really enjoying the country or having touristic moment, after a month in Namibia, I realize it's an amazing country and I've heard a lot about the desert, the coast and ocean. I could not miss this chance to visit.
I went to Zambia last year without going to livingstone, I still regret it up to now.
Traveling from one city to another is a great bus ride, I've been lucky to seat in the from, so I could take pictures, relax and admire the beauty the country.

My daily life can be very complicated and I find my self disappointed , angry, nervous, and sad, I've decided for a weekend I forget everything and take a me time, a break time from my life.

It was just amazing, a big thanks to my student for booking everything for me especially that amazing hotel, I had some real rest there.

Unfortunately, I've forgotten to book activities, I wanted to go for desert and ocean adventures without knowing exactly what I can do.

So first when I arrived to the hotel I asked the reception for help to arrange a ride to the desert and a cruise.
I did not give any informations about what I want to do, I ended up in a living desert adventure, where the guide started looking for lizards, snakes and beetles, explaining the Eco system of the Namib, and how that weird foggy weather is important to maintain the animals in the desert, I was impressed by what I heard.
I felt more cautious, walking on the sand, looking for the trace. In the same time, he explained how destructive humans can be with their quad bike and 4*4 leaving trace on the sand, and hurting the Eco system, and for a minute I wanted to ask him to visit the Sahara, and see if he can find the same animals, if our Eco system is safe.

Second day, I went for a dolphin cruise, to be clear I did not see any dolphin but loved the seals, and the boat ride, I missed that feeling, watching the waves, pelican and seagulls, the lady working for that ocean adventure company was just lovely, after couple of minutes we became best friend telling each other about our life etc.. These kind of meeting are what I love in my life, no real attachment just two strangers looking for somebody to listen without judging or for a simple company. I would totally recommend this cruise.
And the most important I had oyster for the first time, with lemon and Tabasco and it s delicious, I loved it.

On my Saturday afternoon, I've decided to walk all way down from hotel to the city center , just to have  more ocean time, I loved being between the water and the wind, I felt that ocean water and felt happy.

I finished my trip to a visit to the gruner krantz, where I discovered local music, but also Nigerian and Kenyan , it was a great moment.

Swakopmund will always be that gift I had for myself, to remember that happiness is what I should feel everyday.

Monday, March 3, 2014

The power of a Hug!!

During these last years, I've been meeting people from all around the world, we might not speak the same language, but it doesn't matter because sometimes you meet people that share the same values, the same life appetite that make it so easy to understand each other, and the best way would be to exchange a hug. I believe it's the most emotional way to get close to someone.

That's why every good meeting or conversation will always finish with a hug.

Last time while teaching a small little girl came to my class, I was happy, being a baby lover, I wanted to play with her, I tried to lift her and she did not resist, she was quiet and lovely, holding her and teaching in the same time felt crazy but great, that little girl hug was full of emotion and innocence, I felt happy and loved.

There are moments where everything seems to be confused and lost, you may talk for hours, give your opinions, feel understood, but the moment you exchange that hug to say good bye, you really put the emotion and words together.

A hug is the best way to keep close to somebody, at least in my daily life.

Am sending all my love through a big hug to all of you.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

DZWIT ..... DZ Women in Technology

DZWIT, DZ Women in Technology was an event hold on January 25th, 2014 at the cyberparc of Sidi abdellah.

DZWIT was an initiative of 5 women from different backgrounds and life experience working together to present an event for women by women.










On the D day they were there, students, professionals on Science, Technology or Engineering, they saved the day and has been part of this amazing opportunity to meet women in STEM, to share experience and get inspired.

The target of the event was to introduce three different topics, if you have a project, an idea, a wish to be entrepreneur why not start at the Incubator, and try to make that dream come true, in another word how to start your startup?
Then priority has been giving to introduce the Techwomen Program, bringing Alumnae emerging leaders to share their experience, insights, giving few minutes to IIE Team, mentors and other emerging leaders to put their own words on describing the program, and inspire the ladies.
The Q&A session has been really appreciated by the audience, the same preoccupation that we have met in the Silicon Valley, has been found in Algeria.
The last topic was about Mowgli Mentoring Organization, it has been really helpful to open mind to possibility of being a role model, a mentor to entrepreneur.

At the end of the day, after all the discussions, the ladies were feeling confident to come and discuss with us, share their uncertainties, asking questions, looking for the next step to join the DZWIT community.


Thursday, January 2, 2014

My 50 dreams (updated august 2015)

My 50 dreams
  1. Jump from an airplane ( skydiving) DONE
  2. Learn trapeze in a circus
  3. Ride an elephant
  4. Play with an elephant DONE 
  5. Go to cape Town DONE
  6. Be a part of a dance group and perform a choreography DONE
  7. Take a hot balloon air ride
  8. Visit paris
  9. Visit Havana
  10. Drive a vintage car
  11. Buy an automatic gear car DONE
  12. Get married with my soul mate Working on IT
  13. Learn to dance kizomba DONE 
  14. Learn 6 languages at least
  15. Read a book/night for a month
  16. Have twins
  17. Learn scuba diving
  18. Dance one time/week DONE 
  19. Be a consultant
  20. Meet Pitbull
  21. Learn photography
  22. Go back to Ethiopia
  23. Work with children
  24. Make audiobooks
  25. Learn quran
  26. Master cookies/cakes recipes
  27. Lose weight DONE
  28. Try zumba
  29. Go to newyork DONE
  30. Try jet skiing
  31. Swim with a dolphin
  32. Fly in a helicopter (done) 
  33. Learn to ride a bicycle
  34. Build a snowman
  35. Play piano with a professional
  36. Keep calm 6 days /week DONE
  37. Try a picnic with friends DONE
  38. Buy a house
  39. Go for a manicure DONE
  40. Write a novel
  41. Make somebody happy DONE
  42. Take care of relative DONE
  43. Kiss a stranger (done) 
  44. Sing on stage DONE
  45. Make Ethiopian hair style DONE
  46. Drink more water DONE
  47. Go to the beach
  48. Smile once/day DONE
  49. Surprise someone
  50. Be happy