08_JUL-AUG14_OC MAG For WEB

ON CAMPUS SINCE 2002
Jul/ AUG 2014 - ISSUE 113
To leave home,
or to stay
pampered?
Exclusive
Interview
with
Maybe it’s time
for you to
break up
Fadi Zaghmout
gets
unveiled
Mission Accomplished?!
NAAH.... We thought so back in 2002 :)
Join OC and be part of the success story.
02
OC Magazine | 113
On Campus, forever young...
www.ocjordan.com
CONT
ENTS
JUL / AUG 2014 - OC Magazine
07
The Arabic/English Dispute
The never-ending war of languages
in Jordan takes its toll on university
students.
The Jordan Museum
Take a tour around Jordan’s latest
milestone; The Jordan Museum.
13
08
Is It Time to Break Up?
OC points out everything your notso-innocent girlfriend is doing that
you are overlooking.
16
Cross-Dressing the Language Barrier
There is no language that is allinclusive, which could be a problem for
the 21st-century complicated lifestyle.
18
The King of All Queens
Our very own Jordanian King Deco
takes us inside her musical process
with this exclusive OC interview.
22
Behind The White Veil
When your society decides to hide
their taboos away, Fadi Zaghmout
unveils what’s behind closed doors.
28
At The Gate of Triumph
A jack of all trades, Balkees
Abderrahman sets foot in the publishing
industry with her book, Love At The Gate.
The Wheels That Spin You
The type of car you drive reveals so
much about your character, if you can
afford the car of your dreams that is.
47
42
Indigenous Sports
A sport is capable of defining a
nation. Guess where does camel
racing originate from?
I Should Leave My Home, Right?
The question that every graduating
high school student asks is
answered by a student who left.
52
ON CAMPUS MAGAZINE
Editor
Amer El-Mousa
Contributors
Dana Mehyar
Hani Barghouthi
Mira Karouta
Mustafa Al-Hayali
Qutaiba Abdelhaq
Raneem Asad
Redda Talhouni
Sadad Talhouni
Saria Kanawati
Sultan Abdel Hamid
Tala Abdulhadi
Walid Dib
Zeina Abu Orabi
Photographer
Isra Ayasrah
Waseem Al-Qawasmi
Yes we are all students, everyone can join OC!
Drop us a line at: [email protected]
Design by
Moh. Abu Ghannam
OC Founder - 2002
Haitham Hawashin
Editor’s
Note
The days are getting shorter. The heat waves are less intense.
All your friends who study abroad have already left by now.
This only means one thing; it’s the beginning of another year
at college! University is a place where we, as students, try to
discover ourselves. It’s a time to explore, analyze and conclude
who we are; whether through the clothes we wear, the people
we befriend, the culture that brought us up, or even the cultures
that intrigue us most. The formation of our identities is nothing
but a never-ending game of tug-of-war. Coinciding with the
beginning of another academic year, the OC team has decided
to emphasize on how to develop one’s identity, no matter which
approach suits you, our dear readers, most.
Cover
Senior Associate
Mufid Hawashin
ON CAMPUS SINCE 2002
JUl/ AUG 2014 - ISSUE 113
Another Leading Magazine by
TO LEAVE HOME,
OR TO STAY
Voice: +962 6 5630 430
Fax: +962 6 5630 440
General: [email protected]
Web: OCjordan.com
Printed at Nahda Press
The publisher of OC magazine doesn’t necessarily
agree with all thoughts or opinions introduced in the
magazine, the publisher is only providing the vehicle
for young talents to relate and communicate with the
world in their own interesting way.
PAMPERED?
EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW
WITH
MAYBE IT’S TIME
FOR YOU TO
BREAK UP
FADI ZAGHMOUT
GETS
UNVEILED
University | Teacher Talk
University Issues | University
A Full-Time
Sabbatical
By Zeina Abu Orabi
With research focused on fundamental understanding of
physiochemical cellular properties and interactions in environmental
and biological systems, Dr. Nihal Abu Lail has published over 30
technical articles and presented her research in over 100 national
meetings. Currently, she is teaching three courses at Jordan University
of Science & Technology. She’s also the advisor of 7 Ph.D. students,
co-advisor of 2 Ph.D. students, serves on the committees of 25 Ph.D.
students and supervises 32 undergraduate researchers, all while
spending her Fulbright fellowship and sabbatical at JUST.
OC: When and how did you decide to
move back to Jordan? Do you regret your
decision?
NAL: I am here at JUST as an associate
professor visitor for just an academic year. I
obtained a Fulbright fellowship as an American
researcher and I decided to spend that in
Jordan. My decision was mainly to pay back
a little to my country and home institution, to
spend time with my family, and to test how it
is to work and live in Jordan. At this point in my
career, I am not thinking about moving back to
Jordan. Things may change later on.
OC: What was the biggest cultural
difference you noticed between living
here and living in the United States?
NAL: There are so many differences. If I have
to select one, it will be the respect of time. In
the US, people are prompt and respect their
commitments. In Jordan, people are a lot more
relaxed about meeting their schedules. This
behavior largely affects productivity.
OC: What is the major difference
between education systems here and in
the United States?
NAL: The main difference is that Jordanian
education is highly theoretical, while it is a lot
08
OC Magazine | 113
more practical in the US. Students in the US
have a lot of problem solving and hands-on
skills. They are also oriented to solve real-world
issues. Jordanian students, on the other hand,
have a solid theoretical background.
OC: What is your teaching philosophy?
NAL: My long-term teaching goal is to improve
learning of students by developing courses
that enhance students’ ability to learn scientific
and engineering concepts, providing mentored
teaching and research experiences, too.
In addition to classroom teaching, I believe
that various backgrounds, cultures and
levels of understanding to work together as
a research community on unified research
goals is one of the most effective principles
of student learning. Providing students with
such team-oriented experiences is essential to
nurturing their self-growth.
Also, I believe that we need to start at
pre-college level to recruit our next generation
of engineers. Finally, I strive to be an effective
teacher. Towards that, I learned how to assess
students’ knowledge and adapt course
contents accordingly.
OC: Where do you see the Jordanian
society heading in the next five years in
Name: Nehal Abu-Lail
Date of Birth:
April 24th, 1974
Teaches at: Washington
State University, USA.
Started teaching in: August
16th, 2006
Degrees: B.Sc. from Jordan
University of Science and
Technology (JUST)
M.Sc. from JUST
Ph.D. from Worcester
Polytechnic Institute, USA
Post-doctoral training at
Duke University, USA.
Major: Chemical Engineering
for all degrees
terms of social development?
NAL: I see a lot of efforts focused at youth
development, which is great. Efforts
encouraging the young population to startup
companies and to become entrepreneurs
are increasing significantly. Empowerment
of women is another aspect of social
development that is on the rise in Jordan.
OC: What is your definition of diversity?
How diverse is the JUST society?
NAL: To me, a diverse society is one that
has breadth in all its characteristics. This
means that the society represents different
backgrounds, cultures, religions and
disciplines, encouraging the celebration of
differences to improve the society. JUST
population is diverse to a certain extent.
The majority of our students and faculty
are Jordanians. However, different cultures,
religions and disciplines are well represented.
OC: What is one thing you’d like to see
change in Jordan that affects students
directly?
NAL: This is really a difficult question. Maybe
we can change the criteria by which students
enter into higher education and choose
their disciplines.
www.ocjordan.com
The Arabic/
English Dispute
By Zeina Abu Orabi
When you walk across campus on your first day of university, already lost and relieved to find
your lecture hall, don’t be alarmed to hear your professor explain some topics in Arabic rather
than English. Although this problem is being efficiently dealt with at some universities, others
seem to think it’s a minor issue and negligible.
Origins
A lot of people, especially students,
seem to blame the high school education
system in Jordan. Yes, English is a
compulsory subject in Tawjihi, but the
way it is taught is a little misguiding.
Students are taught grammar from grade
1 up until graduation, but their writing
and reading skills aren’t improved upon.
Basically, if you ask a student which verb
should be used in a sentence, they’ll
tell you the exact tense and how it’s
conjugated. Ask them to write a short
story of how their day went and they’ll
hesitate.
Private schools tend to choose their
own curriculum for English and teach the
one provided by the Ministry of Education
on the last two years only, which is why
most private school students have betterpracticed English.
The Dilemma of Arabic
First of all, the number of international
students from exchange programs is
increasing constantly. Malaysian students
at the Jordan University of Science and
www.ocjordan.com
Technology, for example, frequently feel
left out when a professor decides to
explain that last step in Arabic.
Secondly, there are many students
who are choosing to do international
high school programs in Jordan rather
than the local one. Such programs are
the SATs, IGCSEs and IB. Thinking that
they’ll study university in English, why
not start from high school? The biggest
problem they face is having to learn all
those scientific terms in both languages,
because the exams are in English.
Let’s also keep in mind that university
books are in English. When did you ever
see an engineering or medical book in
Arabic? I know I haven’t!
Lastly, most Jordanian students who
pursue post-graduate degrees do so
abroad, the USA and UK being the two
most sought-for countries. Learning in
English is essential for their future.
Help, Anybody?
The Ministry of Education should, of
course, hire qualified teachers who
can follow up on students individually
after each essay. Obviously this cannot
be achieved in a fortnight, but it is the
second most sustainable solution for
such problem; the most being changing
curricula.
Students need to focus on
strengthening their reading, writing and
comprehension skills just as much as
they spend hours learning grammar
rules. A well-laid-out curriculum ensures
this.
Another solution may be directing
university entrance exams also towards
writing and reading skills. Many people
detested literature class, but it really
lengthens your perspectives.
Your Role
To change anything at all, you should
always start with yourself. Read books or
magazines more frequently (read every
issue of OC, for example). Reading not
only expands your vocabulary, it also
trains your comprehensive skills. You’ll
find it easier and faster to study and
learn new information. Good luck on your
Calculus exam on Sunday!
113 | OC Magazine
09
Mind, Body & Soul | Hangout
Hangout | Mind, Body & Soul
The
Jordan
Museum
Name of the Place: The Jordan Museum
Type of Museum: History and Cultural
Date opened: Soft opening
Opening Hours: Saturday, Sunday &
Monday, 10 AM – 2 PM
Entrance Fees: Free
For: Every person claiming they love this
country’s culture & history and yet aren’t
willing to read about it. Plus, morning
people!
By Redda Talhouni
From the moment you step into the parking lot in Ras Al Ayn, a sense of unwavering intrigue
unfolds. The history & culture story begins there with large artifacts greeting you, including a
train compartment from the Ottoman Era! As you walk towards the interior campus, a quaint little
fountain centers a tranquil outdoor square where the souvenir store, the book shop and café/
restaurant are set to open, and to the left the entrance to The Jordan Museum.
Management
Despite the fact that The Jordan Museum
is still under going further development
for its official opening, it was actually
brought into fruition back in 2002 and
to life on the ground in 2005. Since
then, its board of Trustees, led by her
Majesty Queen Rania- Al-Abdullah and
her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya
Bint El-Hassan, have managed to form
alliances with international and local
research institutions, and collaborate with
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OC Magazine | 113
various universities including the Royal
Ontario Museum, the Louvre Museum and
the Smithsonian institution.
The Exhibition
The enriching experience is presented to
all in a chronological series of exhibition
spaces, starting from the Old Stone Age
(1,500,00 – 3600 BC) building towards
Modern Jordan (1917-2014) and projecting
into the future through the Palaeothilic
Era, the Neolithic Era, the Bronze Age, the
Iron Age, the Classical and Late Antique
Periods and the Islamic Periods. Each
section is explored thematically, where
the nine major themes displayed are
the environment, food production and
processing, visual art and architecture,
cultural exchange and trade, politics and
the military, communication and writing,
industry, religions, and daily domestic
life in Jordan. What is more, there are
several state of the art interactive spaces
distributed among some galleries
www.ocjordan.com
that allow you a ‘hands-on’ learning
experience.
Don’t Forget Children
A visit to The Jordan Museum isn’t
restricted to adults. Children can enjoy
their time by spending it in ‘Makany’, which
is a child-specific area that enables the
kids to educate themselves by partaking in
numerous creative projects and performing
arts activities instigated by their visit.
The Highlight Exhibition
Of the most notable exhibitions that you
should truly not miss is the controversial
Dead Sea Scrolls section, which features
scroll artifacts from the Qumran site as
well as the only Copper scroll, all written
www.ocjordan.com
in Hebrew Mishnaic dialect. Secondly, the
‘Writing Matter of Communication’ gallery
is one where attention to detail is of utmost
importance. Plenty of knowledge can be
gained from the beautiful mural displaying
the history behind the alphabets, and
various relics will teach all there is to know
about the progress of language in Jordan
through the ages. Furthermore, you can
get your own name printed in Aramien,
Nabataean and Grecian!
The Jordan Museum is definitely building
up to become the “comprehensive national
centre for learning and knowledge” it sets
out to be, and with it’s upcoming full opening,
it will definitely leave any and all of its visitors
connected with the appealing history and
culture of our beloved Jordan.
After the Museum…
In all honesty, getting your friends to join
you for a museum visit might be a slight
difficult task. To help you do so, try luring
them by promising any of the following
AFTER activities.
1. BROPPING! If you manage to get them to
the museum at 10, then you’ll have plenty
of time to grab brunch followed by the
best deals & steals shopping anywhere in
the downtown region! Get it? BROPPING.
2. LUNCH! The museum closes at 2,
so whenever you do get them to the
museum you can always promise a
lunch date after, with Abdoun and the
downtown area nearby, your options are
vast.
113 | OC Magazine
11
Mind, Body & Soul | Fiver
Spending your 5
JDs, the right way!
By Sultan Abdel Hamid
Have you ever wanted to do so much, but had so little cash to walk you through your plans? Well, don’t
underestimate the little amount of money you have, for even 5JDs can take you a long way! This time, you’re
going extreme – for a completely valid reason, which is… erm… to pamper the ones you love? Spending 5JDs to get
an excessive amount of one item is an art, and here are the lessons you need to learn.
Bottomless Falafel
There is nothing more
delicious than the sizzling
crust of a hot falafel
straight out of the fryer.
Go to any of the falafel
restaurants and buy
your entire family huge
amounts of falafel for
everyone to enjoy! Let’s
say you’re going to a really
expensive place with 5
piasters per piece, you
get a hundred pieces! So
many people will love you
that day.
12
OC Magazine | 113
One Endless Movie
If you had no intentions
to go shopping, weren’t
hungry, and had nothing
else in mind, then there is
one thing you absolutely
have to do; visit a DVD
store to span their vast
collection of movies. After
narrowing down your
options, try bargaining as
much as possible till you
buy all your movies for 5
JDs. It might seem out of
this world, but if you set
your mind and heart to
it, you can buy a month’s
worth of movies. Don’t
forget to ask for your free
movies afterwards!
Shop Till Your Wallet Drops
Shopping makes everyone
feel happy. The only thing
better than shopping
is cheap shopping!
Fortunately, Amman
is the absolute most
convenient place. Go for a
walk in the Friday market.
You can buy everything
from necessities to
undergarments to
accessories, but use
your bargaining skills. If
you were feeling extra
generous that day, you
might as well buy a few
gifts for your friends and
family! Think of all the joy
they’ll feel after surprising
them with a cute gift (they
don’t need to know it’s
cheap).
Sweet Deal
If your cravings were
aching for something
sweet, you should get
some dessert for you and
your family and friends as
well! Instead of ordering
one waffle with an extra
topping and a scoop of
ice cream on the side, go
for 5 extra large pieces
of Knafeh to satisfy your
sweet tooth, and to invite
everyone else around you
(or you can just eat them
all by yourself).
Do-Gooder For a Change
Instead of spoiling yourself
with food and gifts,
change your routine every
once in a while. You can go
buy the same amounts of
falafel or knafeh and give it
to the many beggars that
will probably be around.
Although satisfying your
cravings in other ways
will make you feel very
happy, but allowing others
to feel that same sort of
happiness might just do it
for you. Or you can simply
donate your 5 JDs to any
organization; every penny
counts.
www.ocjordan.com
Mind, Body & Soul | He Said, She Said
Dr. Love | Mind, Body & Soul
Is It Time to
Break Up?
Would You Want To Be The
Opposite Gender?
OC Magazine | 113
He Said:
She Said:
14
The very first identity category in which we find
ourselves placed is that of gender. As newborns, our
baby clothes are either blue or pink, adorned either
with flowers or with trains. Then, as we grow up, we
become increasingly exposed, albeit not necessarily
aware, of gender constraints. We are either given
Barbie dolls or toy cars. We find out that girls have
cooties and that boys are mean. We study, we work,
and we build relationships. Are we still defined
by the identity category in which we were born?
Unfortunately, we are. However, the extent to which
our gender is a burden depends on our own selves. In
my opinion, women have a heavier burden to bear than
men when it comes to most economic, domestic and
social dimensions. Personally, I am proud of meeting
that threshold. It is what makes being a woman much
more fulfilling. While I admit that I have considered how
great it would be to put less effort into dressing up or
to not have raging emotions fluctuating throughout
each and every month, I cannot say that I would prefer
to be a man. Men may face less challenges, but women
constitute the intrinsically stronger gender because of
the hurdles they have to overcome.
It is common to hear women complain about how men
have life easy. That general assumption is definitely
not a fallacy. Men have more job opportunities. Men
are given preference in the workforce. Men are more
likely to succeed in politics. Men do not have to run
households. Men would not get cat-called in the street.
Men have fewer responsibilities. Men are assessed on
lower standards. Men are not consistently judged in
society. But women - we have the opportunity and the
capacity to change all of that.
Who would want to be a female? They get
pregnant and go through the worst physical
pain - voluntarily. They are constantly being
hunted on the streets by men’s eyes and
their sour comments. They overreact to most
things and let their emotions take over them.
They ask for their rights in a way that makes it
seem that men should not even exist. They all
are on a diet… all the freaking time. But worst
of all, when they need something, they all turn
innocent and become damsels in distress,
expecting prince charming to deal with their
situations.
But then again, being men aren’t better by
any means. We set the silliest standards for
being macho. We look at women as objects.
We overreact to most things and let rage take
over. Our rights are being stripped away by
women. We all want to be gym addicts. And
worst of all, we talk and gossip more than we’d
like to believe.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that humanity
sucks! Neither gender is full-on saint or sinner.
We do things that make the other gender
think of us as irresponsible, irritable or maybe
even despicable. Is it because of hormonal
differences? Is it because each gender is
raised differently? Is it because we cannot
understand the opposing gender and can’t
put ourselves in their shoes? I’m not sure of
the answer to any of those, but one thing for
sure is… I never wish people (and myself) to
go through labor pain.
www.ocjordan.com
By Walid Dib
It’s so easy to see signs of a faltering relationship from a third person’s point of view, but almost
impossible to see it when you are the one who is knee deep in infatuation, or – God forbid –
Love. Dr. Love recommends reading the bullet points below to cure your crush-oneitis, since
infatuation goggles are just as dangerous as, if not more dangerous than, beer goggles.
P.S. Please keep in mind that Dr. Love is a dude, and as such, will give info from a dude’s
perspective for other dudes. If you are a female reader, and you’ve got an ounce of logic, you
will find that these rules apply to both genders anyway.
Does she spend more time with her
friends than with you?
How often are you two used to going out?
Is it much less now? Does she prioritize
evenings with her friends over evenings
with you? Does she flake more often than
she did when you first met*? Are you the
one constantly initiating ideas for a date?
If answered yes to more than 3 of these
questions, I’ve got bad news for you, chum.
*It isn’t uncommon for a lady to play hard
to get when you first meet, and flake a few
times. If she is flaking on dates 6 months
into the relationship more often than when
you met, it’s time to raise some red flags.
How often does she mention Faris*?
Ah, Faris… Handsome, rich, and adventurous
Faris. Is she telling about how exciting Faris’s
life is? Did she mention how he just came back
from volunteering with AIDS victims in Kenya
for 6 months? Or about that time where he
subdued two cobras by charming them with a
harmonica he fashioned out of tree bark? Oh,
Faris is so crazy. Did she tell you about his view
on relationships and love? Or how he flirted
with her casually?
Red. Flag. Bro.
*Faris, alternatively known to the west as
Chad, comes in many different flavors: Shadi,
Sami, Omar, Nidal, etc.
Does she spend more time with her
phone than with you on a date?
Any self-respecting human would know
it’s time to break up. If you need this article
to tell you that perhaps you should break
up with her after numerous dates with her
tapping away at her phone constantly as
opposed to talking with you, then it is too
late for you my friend. You are in No Man’s
Land.
Is she considering sudden, radical change?
Did she tell you she wants to dye her hair pink?
Does she want to get a thigh tattoo? Perhaps
shave the left side of her head à la Skrillex?
Did she suddenly decide she wants to take
a gap year and travel somewhere exotic for
work and travel? If two things similar to the
above examples happen in the same week,
completely suddenly, expect an “I think we
need to take a break” sometime tomorrow.
www.ocjordan.com
Statistics taken from
Happify’s research into
happy couples:
• Happy couples have five positive
interactions for every negative one.
• Unhappy couples only have 0.8 positive
interactions for every negative one.
• A study showed that couples who were
asked to recall a moment that involved
“shared laughter” reported being more
satisfied in their relationship than those
prompted to recall positive moments in
their relationships.
• Couples in the happiest relationships
bring out the best in each other. They help
each other get closer to becoming their
“ideal” selves.
• In another study, couples who
show enthusiasm, ask questions,
congratulate their partner, relive
experiences with them at least three
times a day for a week showed a surge of
happiness and a decrease in depression.
113 | OC Magazine
15
Mind, Body & Soul | how to
Health | Mind, Body & Soul
Live Up to Your
Cultural Expectations
By Tala Abdulhadi
As a girl, our society seems to have created an elaborate system of stereotypical ideals that you are expected
to conform to. Whether it is your outer appearance, your state of mind, or your personality, if you do not fit the
norm, then it is very likely that you are considered to be a reject according to Jordanian standards. As a guy, of
course, there are many expectations to live up to as well. However, being a girl in this society can be rather brutal.
Be a ‘Shagfeh’
In order to achieve ‘shagfeh’ status, you
must first starve yourself to the point
of no return. But never confess that you
are on a diet, or that you hardly eat at
all. In fact, you must reinforce the notion
that this is your natural weight. Your
choice of attire must consist of skinny
jeans and ballet flats. Hair must be blond
and straightened at all times. Maximum
make-up consumption is recommended.
women prays for you to soon find a good
husband. Second, try not to punch old
women. Third, take a crash course in
conventional femininity; i.e. feign fragility.
Get Engaged During University
(Or Immediately After Graduation)
First, you must smile when an elderly
Love (or pretend to love) children
(and people)
The more baby pictures you post on
Fear Cats
As a Jordanian girl, you must always
sense an impending doom upon seeing
a feline (of the domestic kind) in the
distance. Squeal in terror and run to the
sheltering arms of the nearest male.
Facebook, the more likely it is that you
will attract a mate. When greeting people
you see every day, behave as though
you have not seen them for months.
Remember to kiss on the cheeks; the
number is never consistent, just go with
it anyway.
Control your ideas
Perhaps the most significant of all, mental
restriction plays a very significant role
living up to these cultural expectations.
Get a mental corset or a muzzle to
prevent any radical or reasonable ideas
from escaping your mouth.
Host
The
Most
Stereotypical Jordanian Party
By Redda Talhouni
It’s Thursday night, and somehow you have been talked into inviting 10 people over by the 2 friends you
initially invited (If you’re 2 friends keep inviting other people to hang out, they’re probably sick of you. GET
THE HINT!). Here are a few simple tricks to turn a regular gathering into the most Jordanian celebration ever.
1. Music
Sure modern day bands like Blues O
Bantalon, Jadal and Autostrad are perfect
examples of modern day Jordanian
music, but to truly humor and impress
your friends dig up your parents’ old
cassettes… just kidding. Open YouTube
and organize your very own SUPERJO
playlist featuring the greatest old school
Jordanian hits like Abu Yousef’s “Izgort” or
Majdi Khouri’s “Hawwa”. Or if your friends
prefer something contemporary, go for
‘mejwez’!
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OC Magazine | 113
2. Food
Nothing screams Jordanian cuisine like
mansaf, and nothing screams too much
work like mansaf, either. Therefore, the
best solution is to present a knock off
version, slyly calling it Man-kaf because
whatever you serve as a knock off version
of mansaf, will most definitely end you up
with a ‘kaf’ (slap).
3. Decoration
Flag the place up. Hang the Jordanian flag
at the door and anywhere you can, inside.
The Poison
Pipe of Arabs
By Zeina Abu Orabi
Medical research takes a while to conduct because it is both expensive
and time-consuming. Another factor to add to the equation is the fact that
many effects are only seen on the long run. For example, a certain drug
may be established to be safe, yet years later, disastrous side-effects are
discovered. Because smoking shisha is a rather recent trend, there is little
research on what effects it may cause other than those in common with
regular cigarette smoking, but the latest research is rather alarming. The
following are some facts that will make you think twice next time you grab
your pipe.
Different names: Shisha, Hookah, Narghile,
Waterpipe, Hubbly Bubbly, Argeeleh
• The exact origin of shisha is unknown. It
is speculated that it originates from India,
Persia or Turkey. It definitely came out of
the Middle East/Asian area though - sadly!
• Unlike popular belief, shisha smoking
has the same risks as cigarette smoking;
heart disease, different types of cancer,
respiratory disease and even pregnancy
complications. In fact, health care
professionals are alarmed because those
who smoke shisha inhale deeper than
when they smoke cigarettes. The effects
are yet to be unfolded.
• While only one deep inhalation of shisha is
equivalent to smoking one cigarette, the
volume of smoke inhaled in one hour of
smoking shisha is equivalent to smoking
100-200 cigarettes according to research
by the World Health Organization.
• Myth: the water in the waterpipe dissolves
any harmful substance from tobacco.
Most importantly, don’t forget to use the
‘shmagh’ as the tablecloth for when you
play cards, or offer it to your guests as an
entry dress code.
Made for Jordan
4. Activities
Unlike other gatherings, small talk won’t
suffice as fun. At this Jordanian love fest,
present to your guests the option to frown
and smoke sheesha – excessively. The key
here is to offer, offer and offer, because
if it’s one thing that makes any party
Jordanian, it’s our unwavering hospitality!
www.ocjordan.com
Truth: the purpose of the water is to cool
the smoke to maintain a sweeter taste,
and even though it does dissolve some
of the nicotine, there still persists a large
amount of nicotine and carcinogens in the
smoke you inhale
• Secondhand smoking is also an issue
when it comes to shisha. Even if you’re
not smoking it, you’re inhaling carbon
monoxide and heavy metals. This might
trigger sensitivity reactions and cause
respiratory disease
• For the points above, FIND an illustration
of shisha and each point comes out of
it as if it’s a diagram. The points are not
related to any part of the argeeleh, so
it doesn’t matter to which
parts you attach them.
Here is an example so
you can understand
the idea. Of course,
it needs to look
better than this.
Perhaps what most people don’t realize
is how our identity as a Muslim country
affects all sorts of global trades. Importing
pharmaceutical products, among others,
falls into certain regulations that are
derived from the Islamic scriptures. To
get a pharmaceutical product certified
www.ocjordan.com
into Middle-Eastern countries, a
statement declaring that the product
does not contain any substance from
animal sources (particularly pork) must
be presented. These requirements are
specifically important when dealing with
gelatin capsules and gelatin gummy bears.
In fact several companies were asked to
re-evaluate the contents of their products
to confirm their gelatin is sans pork.
113 | OC Magazine
17
Feature | Language
Language | Feature
someone’s brain is limited by the same
parameters. In the brain of someone who
can only speak Arabic or can only speak
French, the only way to think of a person is
“he” or “she”. In Arabic, even “they” has two
possible genders. For an Arabic speaker,
there is no in-between because there is no
way to express an in-between.
Cross-Dressing
the Language Barrier
By Hani Barghouthi
Finding identity is difficult by any standard. It is especially difficult when you begin your life out of the
womb with a string of definitions aimed at the person in the delivery room who just turned 30 seconds old.
“It’s” a Baby
It’s a bouncing baby boy!
Let’s look at that one again. “It’s a
bouncing baby boy!”
A sentence like “It’s a bouncing baby
boy” is possible in a language like English
because English speakers have the luxury
of a neutral gender. This allows a doctor
to hide the gender of a child from the
child’s parents and allows children the
ability to conceal the genders of their
friends from their parents. It is only now
becoming clear that a lot of people have a
lot of genders to hide from their parents.
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OC Magazine | 113
It is the absence of neutrality in
languages like Arabic and French
that makes gender ambiguity quite
impossible.
Straight to the Point
Language is absolutely essential in
defining two identities; gender and
sexuality. In a world that relies on
quick and concise establishment of
information, an attention span wide
enough to listen to someone explain
in detail the gender with which they
identify, or the logistics of their sexual
orientation is just not available anymore.
We have gotten used to knowing what
“will you marry me” means in Cantonese,
for example, within seconds using a
smartphone and an Internet connection.
Who has the time for a conversation
anymore? That stuff is so 90s.
In terms of time consumption, the
languages you grow up with or the
languages you can speak play a massive
role, either simplifying the development
of gender and sexual identity or making
it somehow even more difficult than it
already is.
www.ocjordan.com
Articulating Language
Let’s begin counting. Both English and
French have an added article before any
noun in order to define its quantitative
assumption (singular or plural). In Arabic,
this is included within the word itself. Arabic
and French are quite similar in that every
single noun has a gender, and the article
(in French) and suffix (in Arabic) is vital in
defining that gender. In English, however,
unless the noun is a proper name, both it
and its article remain neutral. When a word
is plural, English remains neutral, whereas
Arabic includes the plurality and gender
within the word itself (Arabic words are fullobshin) and French has a neutral article, but
the noun itself has a gender-specific plural.
Let’s take the word “friend” as an example.
In Arabic, it is either “sadeeq” (masculine),
“sadeeqa” (feminine) or “asdiqa’/sadeeqat”
(masculine/feminine plural). In French, it is
“un ami” (masculine), “une amie” (feminine)
or “des amis/des amies” (plural masculine/
feminine).
Gender Ambiguity
For one thing, this makes learning English
much easier than learning Arabic and
French. More importantly, though, the need
to assign a gender to every single noun
www.ocjordan.com
The need to assign
a gender to every
noun in Arabic and
French narrows the
scope of thinking.
in Arabic and French narrows the scope
of thinking for someone who exclusively
speaks one of these two languages. When
speaking Arabic or French, one’s “friend”
has to either be a male or a female, their
“parent” cannot be one of the two, but
has to be a mother or a father. In English,
“this is my friend” is a perfectly acceptable
introduction that does not allow the
listener/reader any room to make an
assumption regarding this friend’s gender
or the nature of their relationship with the
speaker.
We can go a step in the more personal
direction with this. In Arabic and French,
someone’s own gender cannot be
ambiguous, whether while introducing
themselves to someone or even when going
through that thinking process (who am I?)
on their own. By speaking a language that
is limited to these parameters of gender,
Sexual Preferences
The same applies to sexuality. Defining
one’s sexuality is especially difficult in a
language like Arabic because it is not a
language tailored to be inclusive of sexual
orientations alternative to heterosexuality.
For one thing, the most commonly
used term to describe homosexuality
is derived from the name of a tribe who
lived thousands of years ago and was
condemned by the Abrahamic religions.
The word only applies to homosexual
males. The negative connotation speaks
for itself. A more politically correct term
exists (“mithli” which comes from the
word for “same”) but is not as colloquially
used. Bisexuality, asexuality and any other
variations on sexuality are nonentities in the
Arabic language, and the only reason some
people know the Arabic word for “lesbian”
is because they read the Arabic subtitles
on MBC Max. In English and in French, it is
much easier to describe sexuality because
of the number of possible options available.
Sexuality is less of an issue than gender.
It would be logical to assume, because
of its physical nature. Where gender
reassignment and diversity and all that jazz
depend on the person’s thought process (if
they decide not to identify with the gender
in which they are born), sexuality depends
on humans’ primal instincts and does not
actually require a strict definition. Not only
does it not require it, but because human
sexuality can be so very difficult to contain
and very easily manipulated, making a
definition quite redundant.
Unlimited?
There is another way of looking at this. It
is possible that the limited diversity made
available by a certain language does not
actually limit a person’s scope and their
ability to develop their identity, but just
simplifies the job for them by having clearly
defined options. For many people, less
is more. For me, choosing an item off a
menu is difficult enough and I always piss
my friends off while trying. I cannot begin
to imagine what kind of angry/homicidal
glares I would get from them if they had to
wait for me to decide on which identity I
think most fits me.
113 | OC Magazine
19
Cover Story | Feature
The King of All Queens
By Amer El-Mousa
A rare phenomenon it is when a Jordanian artist aims for an international market. What is even scarcer is a
Jordanian artist with a different identity to separate her from the herd in the music industry. Meet King Deco;
a young New York-based singer who has lived and finished her high school education in Amman, moving to
the US to earn her degrees, and going against the flow to do what she loves the most.
Real Name:
Dana Salah
Stage Name:
King Deco
Date of Birth:
September 7th
Star Sign:
Virgo
Education:
BSc in Economics,
BA in Theater
Occupation:
Singer
Latest Release:
Tigris (EP) - 2014
It’s not easy to pursue a passion in music in
a country like Jordan, due to the limitations
of cultural and social boundaries. For once,
women are not normally allowed to live
abroad on their own, unless it’s to continue
education or to work at a reputable job. Even
then, they are expected to return home
some day.
Furthermore, the music industry here
is not very supportive. While lyrically
most current and upcoming bands tackle
relatable issues, the sound, genres and
styles do not offer enough variety for every
taste out there; this why King Deco stands
as a heroic figure to save the day. Having
released the first part of her twin EP set,
Tigris and Euphrates, On Campus thought
that it only makes sense to dig deeper into
the life of King Deco, find out what made
her the person she is today, and officially
introduce to her land of origin. Here’s our
exclusive, and the very first in Jordan,
interview with King Deco:
OC: You had an interest in music as
young as you were 11 years old. How did
that interest develop?
KD: I recorded my first song when I was
11. I had trouble focusing as a child and
the only thing that could really hold my
concentration was music, so it was always
something I leaned towards.
www.ocjordan.com
OC: How did living in a society like
Amman affect this interest, along with
your taste in music?
KD: Living in Amman, it was hard to think
about music as something other than a
hobby. Making the decision to turn music
into a career was a little tougher because
of that. I wasn’t exposed to many different
genres of music, so it took a little longer to
really get to know my own taste.
OC: What genres or artists do you listen
to now?
KD: I try to stay open to everything. Every so
often I’ll become obsessed with a song or an
artist and that’s all I will listen to for weeks.
A couple of months ago, I was obsessed
The great thing
about Amman
though is that
you’re surrounded
by close family and
friends. If anything
happens, you have
an army of people
supporting you..
with The Weeknd. I thought his record
was executed brilliantly. It had a story and
created a world the listener could submerge
in. That’s something I try to do with my
music; create a dream-like world one can
escape to.
OC: Living in New York completely differs
than living in Amman. What do you love
and hate the most about each?
KD: There’s something so alive about New
York. It’s the perfect place to be an artist.
There’s inspiration around every corner,
graffiti, aquariums, even strangers on the
street. When I get writer’s block, I’ll go for
a walk and get inspired by something. In
Jordan, the sidewalks have trees in them!
The great thing about Amman though
is that you’re surrounded by family and
friends. If anything happens, you have an
army of people supporting you. My father
and his friends all grew up together. They
got married, and their wives are all friends
now, and even their kids are all friends.
There’s something very beautiful about that.
OC: You graduated from Duke University,
a prestigious school, which is what
every Jordanian family wants for their
offsprings. What major did you end up
studying? And how did you use that to
your advantage as a musician?
KD: I double majored in Economics and
113 | OC Magazine
21
Feature | Cover Story
Cover Story | Feature
Cleopatra was
basically the
first “King” and to
me she embodies
female strength.
A man in her
position wouldn’t
have had to deal
with some of the
things that she
did.
Theater. It landed me the job that got me
to New York! I didn’t last there very long (I
quit 5 months later), but I don’t know how I
possibly could have stayed in the U.S. if not
for that position. As a musician, I can’t say
that my degree directly helped.
OC: Before recording Tigris, what were
you doing?
KD: Before Tigris, I was writing songs
for other artists as well as writing and
producing songs for myself. Things changed
after my session with Felix Snow (the first
producer I ever worked with). I wrote the
hook for “One” the night before our session,
and when we started working, I was able
to get down all my ideas and didn’t have to
worry about production for the first time.
He was as fast as lightening. After “One”, I
felt like I have finally found my sound. Some
of the things that brought together all the
things that made me who I was include my
Middle Eastern roots, my love for layering
vocals, the hip hop I grew up listening to, and
my love for water and underwater sounds.
I started working on both EPs, Tigris and
Euphrates, after that.
OC: You’ve launched Tigris recently, and
it is coherent in its sound, creating a
strong sense of identity that most new
artists lack. What is the story behind
each song?
KD: “One” was about that time when I was
trying to adjust to supporting myself. The
only thing I could rely on was this inner faith
that everything was going to work itself out.
It’s about letting go and sinking into the
universe’s plan for you.
I wrote “Ocean” when I got a one-way ticket
home via email from my parents. I explained
that I wasn’t ready to come back just yet and
22
OC Magazine | 113
was going to make it work on my own. It was
kind of scary. I felt like I was disappointing
them. “Ocean” is about taking all of my selfdoubt and fears and drowning them.
Last but not least, “Laila” (meaning Night)
is about fading into a moment with someone.
It’s a happy love song.
OC: How did Tigris materialize?
KD: I finished “One” with Felix in a single
session. I knew I wanted the version on
the EP to have a rapper on it, though. I felt
Kinetics would be perfect for it. He’s just
really good with words, so I took a chance,
and he completely nailed it. He brings in all
the references that describe the Decosphere
visually; kaleidoscopes, Cleopatra, Caesars…
etc.
As for “Ocean”, when I first wrote the song,
the only part of the song that I actually had
was the hook. In my gut, I knew that I should
have written the rest of it with a rapper, but
I didn’t think to approach Kinetics about
it. When he delivered the verse for “One”, I
played him the other songs on the EP. He
heard “Ocean” and was like, “The song has a
cool melody, but what is it about?” So I told
him the story of the plane ticket and what
life was like back home (both good and bad)
and we just ended up putting that story into
words.
OC: You use two Arabic words in your
song “Laila”, which are Night and Sky
(Laila and Sama respectively). How did
you end up using Arabic words as chants
in the background?
KD: “Laila”, produced by my friend Adam
Pallin (stylized as A.D.A.M), was originally
called “Fading”. I started with gibberish chants
that went like “ooh wa ya”. It didn’t make any
sense, though. I needed words and everything
in English sounded cheesy. I wrote that one
with two of my good friends Martine Choo
and Christine PLG, so they were open to
trying different chants and vocal layers.
OC: Your aesthetic is very much related
to Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and
basically the extreme past of the Middle
East. How did this aesthetic come about?
KD: It was something I found myself intrigued
by. Cleopatra was basically the first “King”,
and to me she embodies female strength. A
man in her position wouldn’t have had to deal
with some of the things that she has done as
a ruler.
I try to pay attention to all the things I’m
drawn to and represent them in my own way;
astronomy (nebulas, galaxies, constellations,
Neptune… etc) and water are also common
themes that I draw from.
OC: Why did you decide to call your EPs
Tigris and Euphrates?
KD: I wanted to make two bodies of work
that made a whole, like two halves of a circle.
It’s this idea of duality; two sides of myself
that pull in opposite directions. I wanted
something to portray that idea. I also have a
fascination with water, so it made sense to
name the set after these two twin rivers.
OC: Your persona and the themes you
discuss, even your name, is all about
female empowerment. Is that what you’re
trying to deliver to the listener?
KD: Yes. I actually wrote a song yesterday
about that. It’s a little more straightforward
and aggressive than what I normally would
go for. Essentially, my music is ethereal, light,
and kind of washy. Who knows if this song will
see the light of day, but I’m excited to explore
that territory; being a strong woman and
being proud of it. I think with my background
www.ocjordan.com
and the way I grew up, it’s something I’m
trying to communicate.
OC: The music scene in Jordan has been
greatly expanding throughout the past
5 years. However, most of the people
coming up here go towards one genre.
Ayah Marar is one of the few that made it
internationally with Dance music. Are you
keeping an eye on such people here?
KD: Definitely, I look up to Ayah Marar. I
looked at her career and how she did it and I
think it’s amazing. I don’t follow many bands
in Amman, but Humam Ammari is definitely
another talented Jordanian. I was in a writing
session a while back and one of the writers
pulled up a video of Humam playing the
guitar, being like “check out this guy”. Humam
killed it. It was another “Jordanian pride”
moment for me.
OC: You have a growing fan base here,
mainly because of me. Should we expect
a concert in Amman anytime soon?
I wrote “Ocean”
when I got a oneway ticket home
via email from my
parents. I explained
that I wasn’t ready
to come back just
yet and was going
to make it work on
my own..
KD: One of my dreams is to come back to
Amman and perform with my band and all
the people involved in my project.
OC: One of your interviews mentions
that you write your lyrics in Hieroglyphic.
That’s not something you hear everyday!
Can you elaborate on that?
KD: Usually before I sit down to write a song,
I’ll already have the chorus or hook in my
head; just a couple of lines or melodies that
come to me while I’m walking or something.
It’ll be lyrics that are kind of abstract and I
don’t always know what they mean. When I
write them down and go over them, I usually
realize that they’re about something I’m going
through at the time. I have to sit down and
decipher what my subconscious just gave
me. Writing lyrics in hieroglyphs is just that
process.
OC: Tigris is part of a two EP set. What
should we expect on the next EP and
what can you reveal about your plans for
the future?
KD: I’m going to probably put out 4 songs on
Euphrates. The writing is pretty much done.
There’s still Middle Eastern influence, nautical
elements and love stories.
OC: Are you going for a similar sound, or
something a little more experimental?
KD: The sound is pretty consistent since
they’re both essentially two halves of one
project. I experiment a little bit though.
OC: Mesopotamia, Tigris and Euphrates,
Cleopatra, King Deco, Decosphere, Rain,
Stars, female empowerment… These are
all keywords related to your persona. If
you want to summarize it all in terms of
identity, who is King Deco?
KD: She is a person trying to find her place in
the world as a woman and as a singer.
Check out Tigris on iTunes and King
Deco’s latest single, “Ocean”.
Check out the following
personal information King Deco
shared with OC!
Favorite Food: Guacamole, sushi and
Wara’ Dawali… Not together, of course
Pet Peeve: Disloyalty
Languages Spoken: English, Arabic and
a little bit of French
School: Amman Baccalaureate School
College: Duke University
Guilty Pleasure: Revenge! The TV show,
not the actual thing
Embarrassing Song on your iPod: ...One
More Time by Britney, does that count?
Favorite Movie: The Fountain
Favorite Arabic Musician: Fairouz.
Dream Collaborations: Darren
Aronofsky, Tom Elmhirst, Chance the
Rapper & Drake
Favorite Social Network: Pinterest!
Cellphone: A very broken iPhone 5C
www.kingde.co
facebook.com/iamkingdeco
@iamkingdeco
soundcloud.com/kingdeco
www.ocjordan.com
113 | OC Magazine
23
Feature | Interview
Fadi Zaghmout | Interview
Name:
Fadi Zaghmout
Date of Birth:
June 15th, 1978
Degree:
MA in Creative Writing
and Critical Thinking
Job:
Information and
Communication
Technology Advisor
Currently Residing in:
Amman/Jordan
Languages Spoken:
Arabic and English
Behind the White Veil
Fadi Zaghmout
By Tala Abdulhadi
OC: How has your Creative Writing
degree helped you develop as a writer?
FZ: The course had a critical thinking side
where we read lots of critical essays. We
had four main modules. I would say that the
psychoanalysis module was my favourite.
There is much to learn from Freud in terms
of creative writing; ambivalence, the double,
the uncanny, mourning and dealing with
loss are some techniques I have developed.
I also learned to cut down unnecessary
words, and to focus on showing rather than
telling.
OC: What inspired you to write Aroos
Amman (Bride of Amman)?
FZ: Our heavy legacy of social values that is
making our lives harder than it should be, as
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OC Magazine | 113
well as the social obsession in marriage and
its effect on the lives of youth in Jordan.
I understand that marriage is a means
to regulate sexuality, yet and while
exaggerated in importance, the institution
of marriage in Jordan is pretty limited.
We have no civil marriage that recognises
inter-religious, non-religious or same sex
relationships. Women are expected to be
virgins, and preferred to be young, along
with so many other silly constraints. It
also reinforces patriarchal society where
it is expected that the man to provide
a home and cater for all of the wedding
expenses and post wedding daily financial
responsibilities.
OC: Each character in Aroos Amman
reflective of the writers’ own lives.
Which character is most reflective of
you? How is that?
FZ: I think there are different parts in each
character where I somehow reflect myself.
For example, I’d like to think that I am visible
in the positivity, determination and honesty
of Hayat, the rebellious and adventurous
nature of Rana, and the activist social
sensitivity of Salma.
OC: Why do you choose to write your
novels in Arabic, but blog in both
English and Arabic?
FZ: My blog tackles issues of gender and
sexuality, and therefore gained more
support from English reading audiences.
When I read Arabic newspapers, especially
local ones, I rarely see liberal voices that
call for individual and sexual freedom. That
is why I started using Arabic on my blog. I
also realized that my English language is in
not good as my Arabic. I can express myself
much better in Arabic. I don’t think that I am
capable of writing an entire book in English.
OC: What is the basis of your decision
regarding which language to use when
writing your novels?
FZ: I think it has to do more with my level
of proficiency in the language. I am a native
Arabic speaker and can express myself
much better in Arabic. In addition to that,
I am writing for an Arabic audience and
publishing in an Arabic market.
OC: How did you come up with your
latest short story It Was Just A Kiss?
What messages were you aiming to
send while writing it?
FZ: I had to deliver both a critical essay and
a creative piece for my dissertation. For the
critical part, I did a psychoanalysis read for
the father/son relationship in two prose;
seems to have its own identity, socially
speaking. How would you describe each
narrator in terms of identity?
FZ: Laila is the achiever; a woman who
plays it right, does what society expects
from her and excels in it. Salma represents
women who struggle with the social
obsession with marriage. Hayat is a social
victim who is forced to break out the social
boundaries, whereas Rana is the contrary
of Laila. She follows her heart rather
than playing it by the rules. Ali represents
individuals with two sides; one that is
highly appreciated by society (being a
man) and one that is highly condoned (his
homosexual desires).
OC: The works of authors are always
www.ocjordan.com
www.ocjordan.com
I understand
that marriage is a
means to regulate
sexuality, yet and
while exaggerated
in importance,
the institution of
marriage in Jordan is
pretty limited..
The Kite Runner by Khaled Al Husseni, and
When We Were Orphans by Ishiguro Kazuo,
studying how a father figure affects the
death drive of the son. I tackled the subject
from a gender identity perspective.
The creative part had to be related.
I thought of reflecting the father/son
relationship into a mother/daughter one.
Instead of a dominant manly father as
in The Kite Runner, I came up with the
character of this mother who is overly
feminine.
OC: When should we expect your next
novel?
FZ: I am hoping for a release date in
September or October of this year (fingers
crossed).
OC: Could you give us a brief
description of your upcoming new
work? Is it similar to any of your
previous works in any way?
FZ: Sure I can. I would say it is different
than Arous Amman. It tries to read a
future where science can control the aging
process and prevent dying from old age.
On one hand, we have this huge shift in the
paradigm of death while on the other hand
we still have the same other variables that
make us human beings. It is called Janna
‘Ala Al-ard (Heaven on Earth).
OC: If you had the choice of changing
one thing about Jordanian society, what
would it be?
FZ: I would heal the relationship between
men and women.
OC: What advice can you give to
aspiring writers? FZ: I would advise aspiring writers to
question everything around them; to
deconstruct common truth, belief systems,
social values; to be creative and bring us
new stories that we haven’t heard before.
That doesn’t mean writing a novel is an easy
task. It requires discipline and dedication.
There is no time to waste worrying about
things. So just write, write, write, and worry
later.
Fadi’s Top 5 Books:
The Pillars
of the Earth
Ken Follet
Angels and
Demons
Dan Brown
The Passion of New Year Eve
Angela Carter
1984
George Orwell
The Kite Runner
Khaled Al Husseni
Favorite Artist: Elissa
Favorite Movie: Halla’ La Wain
Favorite Dish: Fattet Makdoos
Favorite Author: Dan Brown
Dream Vacation: Seychelles Islands
Best Birthday Gift: A book with many
white papers and a hard cover with my
name on it to start writing my first novel.
Favorite Dessert: Knafeh
Guilty Pleasure: Bread
Most Embarrassing Incident:
Once I was shopping and met an
acquaintance. I said hi and we talked a
bit. When I was ready to leave, I wanted
to say goodbye. I approached him as
he had his back to me. I poked his back,
and he turned. He turned out to be
someone else. I said bye and left!
Pet Peeve: Laziness
Your Biggest Fear: Death
113 | OC Magazine
25
Globalization | Feature
The More, The Merrier
Jordan is notorious for having quite an
influential tribal system that is considered
near sacred; Jordan’s bro code. You should
always stick with your family or tribe, right or
wrong. Everyone knows blood runs thicker
than water. Growing up in a culture like
Jordan’s can be rather difficult if you’re trying
to find a voice that is completely yours; raw
and unfiltered.
Globalization:
The Emancipation
of Identity
By Dana Mehyar
Apart from gossip, there isnt much the human species enjoys more than classification and stratification, and
so cultures and countries are largely classified as either indivdualistic or collectivistic. Jordan and the Arab
nation in general, being collectivistic, have always valued the good of the group over individual good, have
always expected unconditional respect of the highest figure of authority or the oldest person on the dinner
table, and have always praised obedience from the young.
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OC Magazine | 113
www.ocjordan.com
Change in Motion
The world, however, seems to be converging
and meeting up at the left hand side of the
globe, as the Western way has diffused and
impacted just about every culture with a
satellite dish and internet access, Jordan
being no exception. This huge shift to more
westernised lifestyles and values may very
well be driving the current system into
obsoleteness. A new age has been set in
motion, with us, the millenials, its product and
driver.
Satellite TV was introduced somewhere
between the 70s and 80s, with the internet
being introduced in the late 90s, arguably
being the driving force behind the culture
change we are witnessing today. Music
started to become more hybridised. With
artists like Amr Diab being one of, if not the
first, to infuse traditional Arabic beats and
sounds with Westerns tunes and instruments.
Gender roles have finally begun to change,
with a more equal share of household chores
being distributed among the couple, or
family. More women are pursuing university
education, both at home and abroad, and
consequently are representing a larger
percentage of the workforce.
Foreign languages, especially English, have
flooded in. B’s have been perfected into P’s,
and the infamous ‘Bebsi’ has turned into the
new and improved ‘Pepsi’.
Individuals born in this transitory epoch
found themselves caught in the middle, with
concepts like “home” and “identity” becoming
harder to define.
What is identity?
Since the very beginning, one’s identity was
predetermined in the womb. It was left to
chance. The particular place we happened
to be born in became our permanent home.
This home gave us its culture to wear around
our necks and gave us values that were
expected to serve as our moral compass.
These days we are finding ourselves living
outside our home town, away from the
streets we played in and the shops we
bought popsicles from. We are open to a
world of choice, and many of us are having a
hard time finding a balance between staying
www.ocjordan.com
true to who we were born to be and between
building our own personalities, carving and
molding and polishing the image we present
to the world, letting it know who we are as
individuals.
Millenials, or individuals born in the 1980s
and 90s, may experience a constant tug of
war of sorts; a tug of war that takes place in
no man’s land, as we find ourselves caught in
between two worlds. I cannot imagine a time
where the difference between the parental
generation and their offspring’s could have
been more vast. Our parents have raised
us as their parents have raised them, with
a presumed image of how their child will
turn out to be, only to find a child speaking a
language foreign to their own, more fluently
than the one used to raise them.
No one has imagined that there might
be a language barrier between parent and
child! But the fact is that the exposure we
as children have gained from the new world
around us has had as much of an impact on
us as the efforts our parents put into raising
us.
Straying away from cultural traditions and
values has always been condemned, but is
it really that dire of a sin? Are we not solely
responsible for the lives we live, should we
not live the lives we choose? Is it really wrong
to let go of values, beliefs or traditions that
clash with the worldview we have adopted?
Because are values meant to be inherited, or
developed? These are all questions that may
bombard us as millenials.
Where’s Home?
As more and more of us move away to
live on our own, whether it be to attend
university or work, many would agree that in
order to assimilate successfully, one has to
compromise.
The more we live an independent life
outside Jordan and the Arab nation, the more
we become in tune with our individuality. We
might even begin to attach to the place we
have moved to, and see it more as a home
than the place we lived our whole lives.
It may give us the permission to be who we
want to be, to believe what we want to believe,
to speak out and speak up without fear.
Interests change and develop as we try
out different identites to adopt as your own,
and realize that identity isn’t something
predetermined and set in stone. Instead, it is
dynamic and shaped by experience just as a
cliff is shaped by the waves beating hard at it.
Each wave may have negligible impact, but
the cumulative effect is undeniably huge.
As time passes, this may make the
question “where do you come from?” trickier
to answer. We may never feel completely
native in this new land, but we may also feel
more and more like a foreigner in the place
of our birth, belonging fully to neither. As the
political music group, Torabyeh, phrased it; “I,
with my ID, am an alien, but in this country I
feel choked.”
On a more positive note, I watched a TED
talk recently by an Indian, English, American,
Japanese man named Pico Iyer who talked
about those of us who do not seem to belong
to any one box in particular; the millenials, the
third culture kids, the inbetweeners. Perhaps,
the unlabelable?
His perspective on the issue was a
refreshing one. He spoke about how
emancipating it can be to not fully belong or
come from any one place. There is greater
freedom, greater choice, more versatility.
You cannot be associated with any single
set of stereotypes or cultural checklist. Lots
of people won’t get you. They won’t get that
your home need not necessarily be the place
where you learned to say your first naughty
words. As Iyer eloquently put it, home has less
and less to do with a piece of soil than a piece
of soul, and less and less to do with the place
where you were born, and more and more the
place where you become yourself.
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27
ON CAMPUS MAGAZINE
FOR & BY JORDANIAN STUDENTS
?
2008
design & drawing by
mohammad al_mo'ti
Feature | Interview
Balkees Abderrahman | Interview
At The Gate of Triumph:
Balkees
Abderrahman
By Sultan Abdel Hamid
A publisher of two books, a medical researcher, a humanitarian activist,
a youth speaker, and a 5th year medical student at the University of
Jordan, the OC meets Balkees Abderrahman to get to now the person
behind the words!
OC: How did you get the opportunity of
writing a published medical research
paper while you were still in med school?
BA: Most medical students are occupied
with the literal “now” and forget about
the future. Physicians should be involved
in research to expand their knowledge.
Being the crazy person I am, I got so
involved in all the research chances I
found so I can learn how to do one by
myself the hard way. It was funny at first.
I had to actually do a research on how to
do a medical research! Later on, people
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OC Magazine | 113
www.ocjordan.com
www.ocjordan.com
start hearing about you and inviting
you to conferences to present what
you have. I was selected as a research
representative in the John Hopkins
medical world conference, mostly
because I was a hard worker at such a
young age.
OC: What is the theme of your first novel
Love at the Gate?
BA: I feel like in this current time, our
world constantly speaks about cultural
coexistence and accepting others. We
have speakers, authors and critics that
Name:
Balkees Abderrahman
Occupation:
Student, Novelist and Researcher
Major:
Medicine
Nationality:
Jordanian
Favorite Car:
A Jaguar… although I haven’t ever
driven one yet
Favorite Food:
All sorts of Italian pastas!
Dream Vacation:
Europe, with its marvelous castles
and mesmerizing nature
Favorite Hanging Out Spot:
Starbucks, I get a lot of things done
here!
Favorite Movie:
Gladiator
Latest Piece of Work:
Love at the Gate
go up to the podium and speak; yet no
one listens. We are just fighting with each
other. Acceptance in general is the major
problem we face. People judge others
based on origins, culture, color, religion,
and what have you. First impressions of
people are normal, but we take them to
the next level by judging.
OC: What difficulties did you face while
writing and publishing your novel?
BA: I wrote the book two years ago, in my
third year of medical school. That alone
was one of the most difficult things. I
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31
Interview | Balkees Abderrahman
Balkees’s Favorite Books:
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne
The Power of Now
Eckhart Tolle
wanted to make a rich novel that can fit
into any pocket so everyone can enjoy it.
When you write about something you truly
love, your heart will lead you on through
the pages. It took some sleepless nights
and lots of work, but it seemed effortless.
In order to reach out on a more global
level, I found it more convenient to publish
it though an American company abroad.
After a few rejections, my novel was finally
published!
OC: How responsive was the world towards
your attempt at becoming an international
writer?
BA: As a writer or a person trying to present
any piece of work, you want to impress
people, hoping the response of the public is
great. Sometimes fear of rejection is hard to
overcome, but then comes the confidence
after the doubt. Take that leap of faith
and go forward with whatever you have in
mind. At least that is what I did, and I am
very grateful for that. You’ll be surprised
that whenever you have something good
between your hands, someone out there
will definitely open the door for you.
OC: What other activities did you
participate in throughout the past 4 years
in med school, and how did they affect
you?
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OC Magazine | 113
BA: Along with writing my research paper
and writing my novel, I was also active in
various volunteer associations. I was a
little insane to intensify so much of this
work in med school, but it was definitely
worth it. Every single activity and project
shaped the person I am today. I also tried
learning about the many societies I visited
abroad, such as the time I went to Italy. I
tried to be as perceptive as possible, which
is something I learned from my parents.
I believe this is the most important thing,
which I link back to the theme of my novel;
coexistence and acceptance. Today, I can
easily say I am a complex reflection of all
the experiences I have been through.
OC: What advice do you have for the youth
who want to go out and make a difference
in the world today?
BA: It seems like everyone is just mimicking
each other, and very few people are chasing
their own dreams. Break the traditional
rules. At first, people will call you crazy,
but you must prove to them that you are
crazy good. My advice is to be individual.
Whenever you find an opportunity, take
it. Don’t fear the rejection, and be patient
enough to remain committed to what you
want to achieve. But most of all, remember
that it is okay to fail.
The Chicken Soup Collection
Multiple Authors
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Balkees’s Favorite Authors:
Dan Brown
Jubran Khaleel Jubran
Mohammad Darwish
Nizar Qabbani
Nicholas Sparks
www.ocjordan.com
Entertainment | Tech
Tech | Entertainment
Smile!
You’re Always
The
Myths
of the Technologically
on Camera
By Mira Karouta
Over the last 10 years, Social Networking has grown very rapidly and phenomenally. It seems that if you tell
someone you’re not on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, you’re pretty much considered a social outcast. The idea
of stalking someone online and not finding any trace of their identity seems foreign and irritating to most people.
However, no matter how well kept and hidden you think you are, there is still someone watching your every move
online. Smile, pucker up, and say hello to your new psycho stalker girlfriend, the NSA.
Who’s Stalking You?
The National Stalker Security Alliance
(NSA) is a secretive, US intelligence
organization with a mass surveillance
operation in the United States that
essentially aims to protect the citizens
of good ol’ America by monitoring both
telephone and online communications,
mainly raising red flags when key threat
words are mentioned. All of these
communications are stored, backed up
and saved into terabytes upon terabytes
in a larger-than-an-IKEA building out in
Alaska. Now I know what you’re thinking.
“Mira, this is cool and all, but we’re all the
way out in Jordan. How does this affect us
at all?” Well, let me tell you how it affects
you in one simple sentence - If you’ve
been in the States and/or made contact
with any citizen from the United States,
then you’re already a happily registered
member of the NSAs database.
The Beginnings
The main reason we now know how the
NSA really functions now is because of
computer specialist Edward Snowden,
former NSA contractor who is currently
a whistleblower. For the past 10 months,
he’s been leaking classified NSA
documents. His first major leak was on
June 3rd, 2013, in which he exposed
PRISM, a surveillance program launched
in 2007 to have direct access to internet
communications from Apple, Google and
Microsoft. According to these documents,
these companies, along with others,
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OC Magazine | 113
have worked closely with the NSA to
help them bypass encryption and other
privacy controls, and in return the agency
pays for many of these companies’
compliance costs; all without the consent
or awareness of the public.
Caught Red-Handed
It’s pretty scary if you think about it hard
enough. Snowden explains that they can
pretty much formulate your entire life
and frame you for something you haven’t
done if they wanted to. Think about it
once more and for a second imagine
that Google search engine was the NSA
all along. And you? You were typing in all
kinds of keywords, phrases, embarrassing
questions and symptoms that you
wouldn’t ask your own mother about. It’s
all stored.
The Actual Nightmare
Are you paranoid yet? Frankly, we’re only
scratching the surface. It seems obvious,
but this proves that there’s a lot more that
we don’t know about. Recent studies and
surveys by IT professionals show they are
more concerned with hackers penetrating
the NSAs security system and gaining
access to endless sensitive documents at
their fingertips. Basically, the only thing
worse than a “protective stalker” is the
protective stalker’s stalker that’s likely to be
able to scavenge anything and everything
they’ve ever wanted to know about
something and weaponize it.
As lighthearted as I have been with this
article, I actually encourage you to research
the subject and perhaps become part of the
conversation of what it might mean for the
future of online and phone communication.
10 Things to Do on CCTV
01 - G
ather a group of 5 and do The
Macarena over and over in hopes
of expanding into a massive CCTV
Macarena Flash mob.
02 - Make ridiculous faces
03 - H
ave a staring contest with the
camera.
04 - I f it’s one of those cameras that
goes left and right, stand on one of
either sides and do an elaborate
pose every time it turns back to
face you.
05 - O
nce again, gather a huge group
and start running towards each
other in slow motion.
06 - A Bollywood routine.
07 - Wear a trench coat, a ginger wig
and do the Rick Astley.
08 - The Moonwalk.
09 - The Fresh Prince’s Carlton dance.
10 - S
peak Whale like Dory in Finding
Nemo.
www.ocjordan.com
Challenged
By Amer El-Mousa
Let’s be honest. Not everyone in Jordan, not even the Middle East, knows how to use their phone or their TV,
especially if that person is above 30. The rate at which technology advances is increasing exponentially, and even the
technologically well-rounded can fall into the pit of misusing a device. However, there are myths that people have
created as excuses to misuse their devices, and interestingly they spread faster than the common cold.
Myth #1:
Facebook is a
Newspaper
There was a
time when
people actually
got their news
from trusted
sources. Now,
the first thing in
the morning that
people do is get
their news from
Facebook. Brad
and Angelina
adopted once
again? The
8th circle is
closing down
this weekend?
Fast food chains
are anti-PETA?
Aliens are finally
here? Anything
unrelated to
your friends and
family is here.
www.ocjordan.com
Myth #2:
Raise Your
Voice When On
The Phone
Phones are
meant to deliver
our voices to the
other end of the
call. So why not
help the phone
to do its job?
Raise your voice
drastically when
you answer a call
to ensure that
the person on
the other end
hears you so
damn well - along
with the people
in China.
Myth #3:
Insist. INSIST!
It is believed
that the more
you press the
elevator button,
the faster it will
get here. Every
time you press
it, it gives it a
push upwards
(or downwards)
towards your
floor. Keep on
pushing the
button until
it gets here.
Capiche? (The
same applies to
touch screens,
computer mice
and anything
electronic with
buttons)
Myth #4:
Against the Flow
Elevators
buttons usually
consist of two
directions;
upwards and
downwards.
Always press
the one that
would bring
the elevator to
your floor. The
people behind
this invention did
not think of the
logic of where
does the user
want to go. So
if you’re going
to the upper
floor, don’t push
“Up”. It wouldn’t
make sense, now
would it?
Myth #5:
More
Megapixels,
Please
Have you heard
of the Nokia
Phone with
40MP? You
should totally
get it if you like
photography
and want to be
a professional
photographer!
All professional
photographers
don’t use any of
the photography
principles and
techniques, like
lens width and
lighting. They
only care about
their megapixels.
Myth #6:
Fully Recharged
Leave your
phone or
computer to
recharge all night
long. It needs to
rest just like you
do. You’re not
any better than
you electronic
devices! If you
charge it a
couple of hours
per day, even if
your tablet says
that it is fully
charged, don’t
listen to it and
keep it till the
next morning.
Myth #7:
Internet = Wi-Fi
There’s not
such things as
cable internet,
DSL internet,
or 3G internet
for that matter.
Nowadays,
there’s only
Wi-Fi. If you own
a router, it must
be Wi-Fi internet,
no matter what
sort of internet
connection this
router uses.
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35
Entertainment | Tech
Tech | Entertainment
Samsung Electronics Launches
New app store allows customers to easily access and enjoy select
applications across their Samsung Galaxy devices
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., launched
Samsung GALAXY Apps, an app store that
offers hundreds of apps exclusively available
to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices.
An improvement upon its predecessor,
Samsung Apps, the new app store features
apps that will allow greater customization
of mobile devices, and will also function as
a platform to offer various promotions and
discounts.
“At Samsung, we continuously strive
to create value for our customers by
providing differentiated solutions and
services coupled with innovative devices,”
said WonPyo Hong, President of the Media
Solution Center at Samsung Electronics.
“Samsung GALAXY Apps is an extension
of that promise, as it offers our customers
exclusive apps to enrich their experience.”
Samsung GALAXY Apps features an
intuitive user interface comprised of three
sections, Best Picks, Top, and For Galaxy.
Best Picks allows users to easily find
recommended apps and promotions, while
Top showcases the most popular apps
which can be viewed according to their
popularity, date, and price.
For Galaxy includes up to four sections.
Galaxy Gifts offers premium apps
exclusively for Galaxy devices. Galaxy
Essentials delivers must-have apps for
Galaxy devices. Apps for Professionals is
the home of business focused apps and
other services that fully utilize the features
of Galaxy devices. Galaxy Specials lets users
download apps specifically created by using
Samsung SDKs.
Samsung GALAXY Apps will eventually
be available to over 130 million users across
161 countries around the world. For more
information, please visit http://apps.
samsung.com/.
Take a Better
Selfie
The new Samsung SMART Camera NX3000 is the latest
addition to Samsung’s award winning NX series of compact
system cameras. With state-of-the-art technical specifications
housed in a retro design, the premium NX3000 is the perfect
option for photography enthusiasts who want a stylish device
that delivers crisp, high quality images, capturing life moments
in stunning detail with ease and pleasure.
The NX3000 comes with a powerful 20.3MP
APS-C CMOS Sensor, 1/4000 shutter speed
and 5fps continuous shooting to capture
beautiful photos in crisp clarity, at any time
and from any location.
With a focus on selfies, the Samsung
NX3000 features a convenient 3.0-inch
Flip-up Display with Wink Shot. By simply
opening the screen, framing a face in the
display and winking, users can turn on the
device and capture the perfect selfie in one
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OC Magazine | 113
hassle-free motion.
As is standard for all of Samsung’s
recently released SMART cameras, the
NX3000 features industry-leading Tag &
Go integration that allows for the seamless
sharing of images via state-of-the-art Wi-Fi
and NFC connectivity. Tag & Go allows for
the use of advanced connectivity features
including Photo Beam, Remote Viewfinder
Pro and Mobile Link.
The NX3000 is available in White, Black
and Brown, and is bundled with Samsung’s
new compact 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power
Zoom ED OIS Lens. This powerful-yetcompact and lightweight lens allows for
easy and convenient zoom-shooting,
delivering stunning detail in every shot.
Additionally, with the 16-50mm Power
Zoom lens, users can control the camera’s
zoom function on their mobile device via
Remote Viewfinder Pro, allowing for even
more creativity.
www.ocjordan.com
Samsung Printers Receive
Seven
Awards
for Outstanding Achievement
from Buyers Laboratory
Awards recognize printing expertise in performance and eco-friendly technology
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, announced
that its printers and Multi-function
Printers (MFPs) have won seven awards
for Outstanding Achievement at the
Buyers Laboratory (BLI) 2014 Summer
Pick Awards. The Xpress C1810/1860
series, M2835/2885 series, and the
MultiXpress CLX-8640/8650 series
were all recognized for their superior
performance in the printing category.
“Samsung’s Printing solutions are
designed to drive productivity and
efficiency so we are delighted that
BLI has recognized our commitment
to creating innovative products that
meet changing business needs”
said David SW Song, Senior Vice
President of Strategic Marketing and
Sales, Printing Solutions at Samsung
Electronics.
Samsung recognized for superior
product performance
In the hardware sector, five
Samsung printers and MFPs
were recognized for Outstanding
Achievement. This includes the
Xpress C1810/1860 series released
earlier this year, which received the
award for the Outstanding Personal
Color Printer and MFP. With its
full-color touchscreen, the device
is able to simplify any printing
task such as scanning, copying or
downloading.
Tony Maceri, BLI Senior Test
Technician praised this model
for delivering a complete pack of
leading-edge technologies at an
affordable price. He said, “The
full-color touchscreen, still rare
at this level, makes programming
scan or copy jobs simple, while
Samsung’s Mobile Print App and the
integrated NFC technology let people
www.ocjordan.com
print or scan with a simple tap of their
NFC-enabled smartphone on the MFP.”
The Xpress M2835/2885 series also
received awards for the Outstanding
Personal Monochrome Printer and MFP
respectively, demonstrating the simplicity
of Samsung’s mobile printing technology.
“Mobile printing is an emerging trend,
but printing from a smartphone or
tablet can be challenging,” said BLI Senior
Analyst of Printers and A4 MFP, Marlene
Orr. “With the Xpress M2835/2885’s
integrated NFC technology, mobile
printing couldn’t be easier: I can just tap
my NFC-enabled smart phone on the
printer and MFP, the Samsung Mobile
Print App automatically downloads and
my phone connects to the printer and
MFP so I can print my job right away.”
The enterprise-ready A4 color laser
MFP, MultiXpress CLX-8650 received
recognition as an Outstanding A4
color MFP for Large Workgroups,
due to its reliability, eco-friendly
features and high performance.
Energy Savings
The A4 color laser MFPs,
MultiXpress CLX-8640/8650 series
received an award for Outstanding
Achievement in Energy Efficiency,
strengthening its reputation as
the benchmark in energy saving
technology. Thanks to Samsung’s
advanced eco-friendly technology,
these models consume less energy
than standard printers and have
received many five-star ratings in
environmental categories.
“The Samsung MultiXpress
CLX-8640/8650 series provide
users with an energy-efficient
device that can help any
organization reduce their overall
environmental impact compared
with the competing devices as
tested,” said Lisa Reider, BLI’s Senior
Product Editor for Environmental.
“Thanks to its fast warm-up times
and additional energy- and wastesaving features, the CLX-8640/8650
series provide many ways to help end
users go green.”
113 | OC Magazine
37
Entertainment | Art
How We See/Look 1/
Julia (2014)
Art | Entertainment
Redhead/Pink &
Black Outfit/Orange
Room (2014)
How We See/Look 1/
Daria (2014)
Dress
to Express
Brunette/Black
Dress/Oranges
Room (2014)
By Amer El-Mousa
In a world that does not allow for full self-expression, art is the statement that reflects what goes on behind
closed doors. While the world requires us to be sane, and 100% self aware and defined, real people with real
emotions and real thoughts do not function that way. The development of one’s identity stops only with our
demise. Otherwise, the process never ceases and we’re bound to question ourselves during the course of our
lives. Some of us question themselves more than others, leading to an identity crisis.
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OC Magazine | 113
www.ocjordan.com
www.ocjordan.com
Blond/Pink
Dress/Standing
Corner (2014)
With her exhibition “Kigurumi, Dollers and How We See”, Laurie
Simmons found the place between human and doll; the place
where a striking contrast of how we are required to live and how our
states of mind actually are live in harmony. In her quest to explore
questioning one’s self and one’s knowledge of things, Simmons
utilizes photography to what seems to be eye-pleasing images,
which when looked at thoroughly, the subtle and intricate details
reveal shocking truths.
The exhibition itself is themed after a Japanese phenomenon
called “Kigurumi”; a Japanese term for role play, where a person
dresses up in full body costumes of characters mainly. Even the
dolls utilized in the photographs are all inspired by various Japanese
cultural marvels in our current day; lolitas, school girls, hentai… etc,
all of which are popular around the world and make up one aspect
of the image presented to us about youth culture in Japan.
As for the photographs themselves, the settings always present
something innocent, such as nurseries, houses and walls with
children drawings. These settings host the dressed-up people and
their thought-provocative actions.
Taking “Blond/Pink Dress/Standing Corner” (2014) as an
example, the doller seems to be standing in a nursery, with a blue
wall and childish drawings of the sun and cars. The doller, however,
is standing in the corner in a striking pink latex dress and high
boots, with a pose of worry or anxiety.
Whereas in “Blue Hair/Red Dress/Green Room/Arms Up” (2014),
the doller is wearing a mini red latex dress with high heel boots,
stretching her arms on a chair with an expressive view to her private
113 | OC Magazine
39
Entertainment | Art
Yellow Hair/
Brunette/Mermaids
(2014)
Blue Hair/Red
Dress/Green Room/
Arms Up (2014)
The exhibition
itself is themed
after a Japanese
phenomenon
called “Kigurumi”; a
Japanese term for
role play.
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OC Magazine | 113
Blonde/Acqua
Sweater/Dog (2014)
Brunette/Red
Dress/Standing
Corner (2014)
parts. There is a correlation in this to Hentai,
which is soft porn that usually consists of
cartoon characters or children-beloved
icons, which emphasizes the moral deviation
of the 21st century with its technological
advancements and filthy desires.
The contradictions of the playful, subtle
imagery in that art piece is available
throughout all the pieces in the exhibition.
While the concept of Kigurumi is an acquired
taste, Simmons’s work explores modern
existence throughout this phenomenon;
themes include isolation, identity crisis,
new culture based on lack of personal
communication, along with the human body
through loneliness.
Human dolls might not be what everybody
looks for, but Laurie Simmons makes sure
she emphasizes what’s wrong with our world
today through one of its niche occurrences;
dressing up, looking perfect and hiding
behind what the world asks you to do.
www.ocjordan.com
Entertainment | Music
Playlist | Entertainment
A Reimagined Playlist
By Amer El-Mousa
Songs do not necessarily appeal to every single taste or audiences. A song could be too old for some,
too pop for some, or even too derogatory to others. That’s when new and upcoming artists, or even
established artists, try to tackle songs from a different angle and give the song a complete makeover to
make it more likeable by the different audience. This playlist collects 10 different songs from across the
pop universe and reimagines them in a way that keeps the song fresh years after their initial release.
Reimagining
Music
By Amer El-Mousa
Songs do not necessarily belong to the ones who make them, or at least not by
blood. There are endless times when covers save the original versions from their
state of being. It is not necessarily because the original performer is not good
enough. So what makes covers more appealing than the original?
Sometimes, which is the rare case,
the original artists cannot deliver the
emotion to the listeners. This seems
weird, but in the music industry, not
everyone writes their own music. So
it makes sense that an artist does not
necessarily relate to every single song
they sing. For example, “Say Something”
by A Great Big World and Christina
Aguilera became an instant hit when it
was released end of last year. However,
when it was covered by Alex & Sierra
on the XFactor, the audience was left in
awe at how the duo delivered the song.
It became their best song of the season,
becoming their winning single.
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But it’s not always about less-thanperfect delivery. Sometimes, artists can
take songs and completely reimagine
them as their own, giving the song a
different flavor. David Guetta and Akon
released a song at the beginning of the
EDM era in 2008 called “Sexy Chick”.
It is a dance song with elements from
R&B and Hip-hop. So when Paloma
Faith covered the song on BBC Radio,
people did not know what to expect.
Paloma is an artist with a raspy voice
and a musical direction along the lines
of Amy Winehouse and Duffy. The cover
replaced the synths and electronic kick
drums with a piano and strings, turning
the overtly sexual song into something
ironically gloomy.
Furthermore, it could also be that
covers bring the song to new audiences.
When a song is covered, it normally is
covered in the style and the genre of the
new artist singing, which means the song
can be exposed to a whole new set of
people that are not fans of the original
genre. Taking Kelis’s “Milkshake” as an
example, the song is a phenomenon by
itself due to its beat and lyrics. However,
Goodnight Nurse covered the song in
punk/rock mode and it kind of revived the
songs years and years later after it was
released amongst old and new fans.
www.ocjordan.com
Acoustic
Rock
Electronic/Pop
Starstrukk
Marina & The
Diamonds
Originally by 3Oh!3
& Katy Perry
A rare hit by 3Oh!3
and when Katy Perry
was not really big household name, the
original is very peppy and immature; just like
3Oh!3. Marina & The Diamonds transforms
the song into something more emotional.
Milkshake
Originally by Kelis
Goodnight Nurse
If your kind of party
must include bands
and rock music,
and still should be
twerk-friendly, this is the perfect cover.
Keeping the original’s spirit and mixing it up
with guitar riffs, no one in their right mind is
going to hate this one.
Video Games
Originally by Lana
Del Rey
The Young
Professionals
Lana’s debut single
established her sound
amongst her fans. But the title indicated
something more upbeat and electronic. That’s
exactly what this cover is; a reimagined cover
with video game influences.
Toxic
Melanie Martinez
Originally by
Britney Spears
Britney’s signature
song is stripped
down into a
one-woman show. Melanie’s raspy-yetsweet vocals are haunting and reintroduce
2000’s biggest hit to a new generation.
Paper Planes
Originally by M.I.A
This Century
M.I.A’s “Paper Planes”
earned success
because of Slumdog
Millionaire. Replace
the swag with guitars and you get yourself
one hell of a cover.
Hanging On
Originally by Active
Child
Ellie Goulding
Who’s Active Child?
Well, before Ellie
Goulding, they were
non-existent. She took one of their songs
and spread their name with her sweet limited
vocals and impeccable taste in music.
Sexy Chick
Paloma Faith
Originally by David
Guetta & Akon
Gone are the hip hop
beats and dance
synths. They are
replaces by an Amy Winehouse offspring
who shows the true colors of the lyrics; a
derogatory song for women.
Smooth Criminal
Originally by
Michael Jackson
Alien Ant Farm
There’s no denial that
Michael Jackson is
the King of Pop. But
that doesn’t mean he cannot be reintroduced
in a fresh-er manner. Enter Alien Ant Farm.
This was probably their only hit.
Phantom of the Opera
Nicole Scherzinger
Originally by Andrew
Lloyd Webber
This is the most
surprising cover
on the list. Nicole
Scherzinger is better known as the face of The
Pussycat Dolls; the group that does nothing
but aim to sell music through sex appeal.
We were torn between
two amazing covers
for this song, so we
thought you deserve to
know both:
Sweet Dreams
(Are Made of This)
Originally by
Eurythmics
www.ocjordan.com
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson is the
creepiest artist out there,
but that doesn’t mean he
can’t make a good song.
If you’re into pop music
and dark heavy music,
this combines both worlds
perfectly.
Emily Browning
This is not a dance song, but
rather a chill electronic one.
The hauntingly overwhelming
mood of the song is captured
well with the orchestral
implementations and Emily’s
calm-slash-creepy vocal
delivery.
113 | OC Magazine
43
Entertainment | Auto
Auto | Entertainment
The Wheels
That Spin You
By Mustafa Al-Hayali
The type of car you drive is a reflection of your personality. If you were one of the lucky college
students who actually get to pick their own car, then you should see if our description of you
matches the kind of ride you choose. But if you are one of the many who end up having to drive the
oldest car available in the garage, then don’t worry, we do not have the right to judge you!
Sedans
So let’s get into it! First is
the Sedan, if you chose
a sedan as your first car then you must
be a settle, calm person who considers
practicality as the most important aspect
in life. Which is a great thing for me but
if you were a student… not so much.
Sedans are usually associated with older
generations and people who have families.
Estates
Next up is the Estate, if
you chose an estate that
would mean one of two things, first is that
you are freaking boring. Or you could be a
person who likes to take long distance car
trips or likes to ski or surf, in that case you
would pass but still be under suspicion.
Micro Cars
Micro cars are the
smallest cars you can
find on the street; sometimes they can
only fit two people like the Smart. They
only exist for the ultimate efficient people
who do not care about anything but getting
from point A to point B without any regard
to time, quality, or comfort of the ride.
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OC Magazine | 113
Hatchbacks
Hatchbacks are
the smart choice
because unlike the other categories, you
can combine more than one specific
character in your car. You can find
hatchbacks for speed enthusiasts but
have a bit of practicality in it, you can find
a fuel efficient hatchback that you would
still enjoy driving for long distances and
so on. It all depends on what you would
like to have and most of them offer great
specs for cheaper prices.
Hatchbacks are usually the choice of
somebody who knows what he/she
specifically require in a car and where to
exactly find it!
Coupes
But if driving and
speeding is your life
then you must be a Coupe kind of person.
Granted coupes are the hottest looking
cars out there and they are usually
linked to reckless drivers who love the
thrill of speed and enjoy spending a big
portion of their day breaking speed limits
and pushing their car to its maximum
potential.
Convertibles
Convertibles are to a
certain level similar to
coupes when it comes to the people who
would choose to buy them but usually
they are more about enjoying the drive
rather than speeding beyond sanity. If
you like to drive to the country side and
enjoy the sun and scenery there then a
convertible is a must for you!
SUVs
However if you like
off-roading and going
in adventures to the wilderness where
you will be looking to reach places where
no one has ever been to before then you
definitely need yourself an SUV, but the
sad truth about the people who actually
own SUVs is that they rarely use their cars
for what they were originally built to do!
Porsche Mecan
A Big 911, Not A Small Cayenne
By Qutaiba Abdelhaq
Nuqul Automotive has officially launched the brand new Mecan in Jordan. The compact SUV is like
no other in its segment. The Mecan is available in two models, the Mecan S, and the Mecan Turbo, both
of which can be found roaming freely inside the Porsche showroom near the 7th circle.
The Mecan S holds a 3.0-liter, V6 engine
enhanced by a twin turbo, roaring at a top
speed of 254 km/h, and achieving 0 – 100
km/h within 5.4 second, while the Turbo
runs a 3.6-liter, V6 twin turbo engine that
produces 266 km/h top speed, and goes
from 0 – 100 km/h in merely 4.8 seconds.
Derived from the word “Tiger” in
Indonesian, the Mecan is fast and very
responsive, thanks to the 7-speed dual
clutch PDK gearbox, and the All-WheelDrive mode, available in both models. The
Mecan shares third of its platform with
Audi Q5. However, it has its own engine,
transmission, and design, which represent
the unique character of the Mecan, not to
mention its speed and agility.
But grand features have a price; the
Mecan’s price tag will start with 105,000
JOD, making it one of the most exclusive
compact SUVs ever.
Pick-Ups
Pick-ups are the
ultimate hardcore rides,
whether you buy one for carrying heavy
machinery or just for the fun of going on
off-roading trips (or even both!) makes you
the ultimate badass in the vehicles world!
www.ocjordan.com
www.ocjordan.com
113 | OC Magazine
45
Entertainment | Books
Movies | Entertainment
Literature’s Tortured Souls
By Raneem Asad
It is through the reading of fiction that one finds the most nuanced expositions of identity, humanity,
and life’s greatest challenges. Many of literature’s most poignant characters share an identity plagued
with angst and enmeshed in a unique perception of human life’s absurdities. For these characters,
multihued layers of internal anguish instigate a drive to end their very existence.
Svidrigrailov
Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Svidrigrailov is one
of the most morally
reprehensible characters
of the novel as a selfish
womanizer and suspect
of murder. However,
he commits arbitrary
acts of kindness and
purity, bringing to the
forefront the question
of atonement for past
actions. By the end of
the novel, unable to
overcome his reputation
and reintegrate himself
with his society, he
eventually kills himself as
a self-declared victim of
unrequited love.
Billy Bibbit
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest
by Ken Kesey
Billy Bibbit is a minor
character in Ken Kesey’s
setting of a psychiatric
ward and depiction of
mental illness. He is
a repressed, shy and
nervous character, who
eventually commits
suicide in response
to a threat by a nurse,
causing a fear of losing
his mother’s love. The
suicide is particularly
chilling as both a tragic
and celebrated event. In
imposing his own death,
Billy finally succeeds in
defying authority and
succeeding by his own
accord.
Esther Greenwood
The Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath
A semi-autobiographical
portrayal of Sylvia Plath’s life,
Esther Greenwood depicts
an internal struggle against
mental instability and the way
in which the external world
perceives it. Having placed
her identity dependent upon
her academic achievements,
Esther finds difficulty in
adapting to life outside
of school and cultural
norms. This eventually
leads to depression and a
deteriorating mental state.
She expresses a desire to
leave the world through
a number of attempted
suicides, but consequently
finds herself entrapped even
further in a mental asylum.
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
by Leo Tolstoy
Entrapped in a tale
of forbidden love and
fluctuating loyalties,
Anna finds herself in
a state of mental and
emotional confusion.
Unsure of where to place
her beliefs, or how to
rationalize the complex
situation she finds herself
in, Anna contemplates
suicide as a means of
escape. In a dramatic
fashion befitting her
distress, she eventually
throws herself in front of
a train. The scene itself is
perhaps one of the most
beautiful and poignant
prose depicting death in
literature.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
A list concerning
tortured souls would
be incomplete without
Shakespeare’s starcrossed lovers. The
young characters find
themselves the subjects
of a case of intense
forbidden love, as they
learn to question the
meaning of family and
the demarcation of what
lies in a last name. In a
renowned double-suicide,
Romeo and Juliet choose
death over life without
one another. And “thus
with a kiss” they die.
Modern Psychological Thrillers
Enduring Love
by Ian McEwan
This gripping
novel is centered
on a couple’s
witnessing of
an arbitrary
accident and the absurd
consequences that follow.
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OC Magazine | 113
Before
I Go To Sleep
by S. J. Watson
The main
character’s
memory resets
every night after
she sleeps, allowing for an
intense exposition of the roles
of identity, trust, and love.
Defending Jacob
by William Landay
A crime novel
concerning the
murder of a
young boy and
the trial case,
which will make readers question
the role of genetics in governing
a person’s thoughts and actions.
The Fifth Child
by Dorris Lessing
Can someone
be born ‘bad’?
Lessing’s
intense novel
explores this
controversial question with
elegant prose and intense
psychological insights.
www.ocjordan.com
Of Motion
and Puppeteers
Weirdest Movie
Characters
By Qutaiba Abdelhaq
Although filmmaking is taught in several institutes around the globe
through the relevantly same curriculum, individuality plays a key role in
creating the masterpieces we see everyday. Regardless of whether actors
play well, the director is the visionary behind the final cut of every scene.
Through Hollywood’s history, many directors flaunted themes such as
sex, violence, love, and many more, but what makes some distinctive is
somehow considered the X factor of film industry. Here is a list of the most
acclaimed directors and their most notable work.
Woody Allen
Through the sass,
sarcasm and wits,
Mr. Allen has always
managed to induce
the beauty of his own
favorite things, such as Brooklyn, Bagels,
and smart-ass comebacks. Through over
50 years in the industry, the name of Mr.
Allen spans over Broadway, Hollywood,
and stand-up comedy.
Known For: Never acknowledging his
nominations or wins of the Academy
Awards.
Most Notable Work: Annie Hall, Midnight
in Paris, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Tim Burton
Some say he only
sees black and red.
Others call him the
master of weird, but
what we know is
that Tim has a vision that no one seems
to have figured out yet. It’s translating
beautifully in his work, from black and
red themed animation films, to full on
musicals that defined a generation.
Known For: Casting Johnny Depp and
Helena Bonham Carter in almost every
movie.
Most Notable Work: The Nightmare
Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands,
and Sweeney Todd.
Quentin Tarantino
With no need for
an introduction,
Tarantino has
sent chills down
our spines in the
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most cheerful ways possible; either
by splashing blood everywhere, or by
creating fearful scenarios that could or
couldn’t happen. With Uma Thurman
as his muse, Quentin never fails to rebel
against the norms of the film industry.
Known For: Creating films out of his
favorite music in his bedroom.
Most Notable Work: Kill Bill, Grindhouse
(with Robert Rodriguez), and Pulp Fiction.
Peter Jackson
The director of The
Lord of the Rings
franchise is a fan of
gigantic budgeted
motion pictures,
elective casting, and state of the art
graphics. The Desolation of Smaug is
rumored to have cost $250 million.
Known for: Owning a Shire themed
replica house.
Most notable work: The Lord of the
Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy (in
production).
Guy Ritchie
Bring on the crooks
and low lives of the
British empire, and of
course Mr. Holmes.
Guy Ritchie is one
of the most acclaimed directors ever,
with shocking themes and magnificent
adaptations. He is the guy that teaches us
how to be the coolest criminals ever.
Known For: Being married to Madonna
for 6 years.
Most notable work: Snatch, Lock,
Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, and the
Sherlock Holmes movies.
Captain Jack
Sparrow Johnny Depp in
Pirates of the
Caribbean
Bellatrix Lestrange
- Helena Bonham
Carter in Harry
Potter and the Order
of the Phoenix
Donny Giovanni Ribisi
in Ted
Lydia Deetz Winona Ryder in
Beetlejuice
And the Oscar for
Best Director goes to:
2010 Tom
Hooper – The
King’s Speech
2011 Michel
Hazanavicius –
The Artist
2012 Ang Lee –
Life of Pi
2013 Alfonso
Cuaron – Gravity
113 | OC Magazine
47
Entertainment | Games
Sports | Entertainment
Indigenous
Watch Dogs
Sports
Enhances AI Identities
in Video Games
By Mira Karouta
By Saria Kanawati
If you’re a gamer, you would already be aware of Ubisofts’ new
title, Watch Dogs. If you’re an avid gamer and a Ubisoft follower,
you’ve learned of the open-world games’ delay because of quality
concerns and being annoyed about not getting it in time for
Christmas. Thankfully, it wasn’t too long of a wait and we find that
the wait was really worth it.
The game was finally released on May
27th, 2014, and Ubisoft claims that it was
time well spent. One of the biggest reasons
that caused the delay was noticing how
repetitive the game was becoming once
they put all the pieces together. The game’s
main appeal is that everything in the world
of Watch Dogs is hackable - from cell
phones to security cameras, traffic signals
and random citizens, and sure enough,
things were getting very linear with things
like AI and gameplay. From what it sounds
like, the AI is probably the most obvious
change we see.
This is because the writers have built
up the identities of the characters that
exist in the world and gave it a polish pass,
doing things like creating random text
messages and short conversations to add
complexity and bring the characters to
life. Whilst you’re hacking the people you
pass on the streets with your smartphone,
you’ll notice they have even more in depth
profiles showing random details like their
salaries and even web browsing history. The
characters data is randomly pulled by the
game by grabbing five pieces of information
- first name, last name, age, occupation
and curious fact, then compiling them
into one. This makes it nearly impossible
for you to find a character with the same
characteristics twice, and helps create a
sense of believability for the player.
Meanwhile, the animators took it upon
themselves to add depth and complexity
Around the globe, we are of different colors, cultures, traditions, and values. Most of the Westerners are amazed
by our bizarre culture, specifically in sports; but have they ever taken a second to realize how peculiar some of
their indigenous sports are? You would be surprised by how crazy some of these unheard-of activities are.
to how the AI reacts if you choose to hack
publicly, which makes the player become
even more immersed and careful about
your actions in the Watch Dogs world.
Gameplay-wise, you can either choose to
be a casual stalker and endlessly listen in
on peoples phone calls and read their text
messages or become a good Samaritan by
hunting down the criminals of the city. The
gameplay systems are endless in this open
world of Chicago-themed city. You have
a skill tree to work on skills like hacking,
combat and crafting items. You can also
either choose to be a silent assassin, or
go on a killing spree. There’s also the good
ol’ fashioned steal-a-car-and-get-chasedby-the-police fiasco involved. It’s pretty
much the nerdy version of GTA with a touch
of hipsterness. Only thing missing is the
opportunity to take a #selfie in-game and
tweet it.
*Available on PC, XBox 360, XBox One,
PS3 & PS4
A Fighter from
Every Street
A timeless, button-bashing classic. We
have all played at least one match of
Street Fighter in our lives, and the fans
have gone above and beyond the diehard
status. Despite going for the sultry ladies
of Street Fighter to start with, you’ll
always end up finding and loving the
identity of a particular character that’ll
be your number one choice once you’re
familiar enough with their moves.
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OC Magazine | 113
www.ocjordan.com
Wife Carrying
Bossaball
Moving all the way across to Finland, there is an ecstatically fun
sport called Wife Carrying. Its festival is held annually in July, where
a man is to traverse a 253.5 meter-course, which includes various
surfaces of dry land and water obstacles, while carrying his wife on
his back during the shortest time possible. The wife doesn’t really
have to be the woman whom the participant is married to. However,
she needs to be over the age of 17, and above 49 kilos. Moreover, if
the wife is dropped,
he would pay a 15
additional seconds as
fine. The prize would
be a new mobile
phone along with his
wife’s weight in beer!
How exotic can the
Finns get?
Another sport that was invented in Belgium, but is native to the
African-Brazilians, is called Bossaball. It’s a beautiful hybrid
between volleyball, beach soccer, gymnastics, and capoeira (the
martial arts dance). It’s played on a specially-designed inflatable
court with a circular trampoline on each side of the net. Some of the
rules include 8 touches per possession; double touch is allowed, but
not by your hands; the teams are awarded 3 points if scored while
using trampoline,
but only 1 otherwise.
The match is played
till a team scores 25
points, and a total of
3 matches per set. It
has got to be one of
the most intriguing
and amusing sports.
Camel Racing
Camel Wrestling
Starting off, one of the things that most
identifies us Arabs is anything that has to
do with camels. Therefore, camel racing is
definitely a sport associated with the Arab
world. It originated in Saudi Arabia, but
later spread to the Gulf and the rest of the
Arab countries. It is exactly like horseback
riding races, except desert beasts are
replacing the horses. This might be
completely normal to us. To the Westerners,
however, it’s so strange that most of the
souvenirs they buy from our countries have
something to do with a camel.
As we share some common traditions,
culture, and food with our Turkish
neighbors, they also took our camel idea
and elaborated on it. They came up with
something called Camel Wrestling, and it’s
an official sport held every year in January
in Selcuk, where two male camels are to
fight together for a female one nearby. The
two males keep fighting till one of them
drops. This hints on how depreciative of
the woman and aggressive the Turks are.
No wonder the Ottomans invaded us for
400 years!
www.ocjordan.com
Beer Can Regatta
Ending the tour in Australia, in Darwin,
one of the places with the highest beer
consumption, the residents of the town
came up with a twisted use for empty
beer cans. In a sport-like event called Beer
Can Regatta, the people are to build a
boat from the aluminum. When the boat
is ready, it is to race from the beach to
a specified target, and back. The boat is
empowered by human paddlers. Back
in 1986, this event gathered more than
20,000 spectators! Could be just an
excuse to drink even more beer?
113 | OC Magazine
49
Bits | Random Facts
What You Did NOT
Know About Jordan
• The black iris is the national flower. It is
very rare, growing in wadi rum.
• Amman, the capital of jordan, was
originally built on 7 hills. Today, it has
expanded to encompass 19 hills.
• In some tribal areas, it is considered an
action of politeness to refuse a meal for
three times before actually accepting it.
• The area first inhabited in jordan is “ain
alghazal”, which lies near amman, around
9,000 years ago.
• King hussein has ruled jordan for 47 years.
• Around 7 million people live in jordan
today, but 3 million people reside in
amman.
• The recommended vaccines for travelers
visiting jordan are hepatitis a, typhoid, and
rabies.
• Around 25% of the jordanian population
uses the internet - that’s around 1,700,00
people.
• An important event in jordan’s history
is the “black september” in 1970, which
determined the hashemite as the ruling
monarchy.
• Literacy rate in jordan is around 96%,
ranking 110 out of 215 countries in literacy
rates.
• It is widely believed that mount nebo in
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OC Magazine | 113
jordan is the burial place of moses.
• Jordanian females are more likely to stay
alive after 65 years of age than jordanian
men.
• The two natural hazards that can occur
in jordan are droughts and periodic
earthquakes.
• The national symbol of jordan is the eagle.
• Jordan is the 88th country in terms of
carbon dioxide emissions from energy
consumption.
• Jordan is the 5th country in the world in
terms of military expenditure, spending
4.65% Of its gdp on military finances.
• Jordan competed in the summer olympics
from 1980-2000 a total of 8 times.
• The olive tree is the most common tree in
jordan. (Pic: olive)
• There are over 1 million females serving in
the jordanian military.
• Jordan has the world’s lowest suicide rate
(0.04 Per 1000).
• On the top of jordan’s main exports is
clothing, and crude oil is the top main
import.
• 30% Of jordanian adults are obese.
• The red crescent society is the first social
charity association established in jordan in
the year 1948.
• Although built around 2,000 years ago,
petra has only been introduced to the
western world in the 19th century.
• The number of medals won by jordan in
the asian games between 1986-2919 is 29.
• Jordan hosted the pan arab games in the
year 1999.
• The philadelphia hotel is amman’s premier
first class hotel built in 1926.
• Electric power first reached amman, albeit
on a limited scale by small generators in
1925.
• 98% Of citizens are connected to a water
network.
• The oldest house in amman was built in
1890’s located in downtown area.
• The abu ali kiosk, located in downtown
amman, has been open for 35+ years and
was featured in the new york times.
• 56 Café and restaurants are located inside
officer glubb pasha’s old house. They just
restored its interior.
• According to recent studies the number of
jordanian cars is almost near 1,000,000.
• Almost every single building in amman is
made of stone or concrete and clad with
thin, white limestone slabs.
• The 7-sided star on the flag represents the
opening 7 verses of the quran.
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Bits | Horoscopes
quiz | bits
Your Arabic
Horoscope
By Saria Kanawati
What Horrible
Characteristic
Applies to You?
By Saria Kanawati
Aries
(Mar 21 - Apr 19)
Not a typical Arab, but you’re
proud of where you come from.
You absolutely hate the Arab
interchange for the letters ‘b’
and ‘p’, where beoble puy pooks.
You will spend a minimum of
three hours welcoming the
invited people at your wedding.
Arab percentage: 70%
Leo
(Jul 23 - Aug 22)
Most Leo’s are modified Arabs in
a way. You don’t have the classic
physical features of an Arab, that’s
why people always regard you as
foreigners. You have a weird Arabic
accent, and a weird English one
too. You love teaching foreigners
bad words as though you were
teaching them ‘how are you?’.
Arab percentage: 55%
Sagittarius
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Sagittariuses are always young
at heart. A cup of Arabic coffee,
along with Fairuz’s songs, are
essential every morning.
You keep benefitting from being
under your parents’ support till
you have no other choice.
You just love big western
brands.
Arab percentage: 50%
52
OC Magazine | 113
Taurus
(Apr 20 - May 20)
As a kid, you always dreamed of
being a policeman.
Your favorite dish is macaroni
with yoghurt. Your dad always
curses you using words that
affect him.
You ‘get down’ from the car
instead of ‘getting out’ of it.
Arab percentage: 80%
Virgo
(Aug 23 - Sep 22)
When it comes to relationships,
guy Virgos are definitely Arabs.
The key food for a Virgo is
‘wara’ dawali’ (Vine leaves).
You are addicted to cards, and
keep playing with friends at the
‘ahweh’ (Coffee Shop) till the
break of dawn. You think that
Arabs will always be backwards.
Arab percentage: 85%
Capricorn
(Dec 22 - Jan 19)
To Capricorns, everything good
has an Arabic root, be it inventions
or people. Capricorns are naive,
and don’t understand the Arab
double standards. They welcome
their guests warmly in order to
make them feel at home. Their
culture and values mean a lot to
them.
Arab percentage: 80%
Gemini
(May 21 - June 20)
A hardcore, Arab-minded person
all the way. Even if you don’t
admit it, you think girls are more
or less inferior to men. You eat
everything with bread, even
salad. You’re a master at playing
the ‘tableh’ (Drum). Arab nobility
and generosity define you.
Arab percentage: 95%
Libra
(Sep 23 - Oct 22)
Libras don’t act like Arabs,
but they sure are patriotic and
loyal to the whole Arab world.
You balance things out greatly
before taking action, unlike most
Arabs. You always look forward
to Fridays. Fruit trees are a musthave in your backyard. You love
the Arabic language greatly.
Arab percentage: 70%
Aquarius
(Jan 20 - Feb 18)
An Aquarius will most likely end
up marrying his/her cousin.
You are very possessive of the
people around you. You have
an old Arabic name which you
don’t really prefer. You doubt
everything and everyone around
you. ‘Bizer’ (Roasted seeds) is
just your cup of tea.
Arab percentage: 85%
Cancer
(Jun 21 - Jul 22)
You are a moody Arabic person.
You are ‘un-cun-for-table’ saying
the English word ‘tease’ in public. All
your relatives in town live close by, in
walking distance from your house.
To you, all non-Arab cultures are
morally corrupt, and you’re afraid of
the upcoming new generations.
Arab percentage: 75%
Scorpio
(Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Scorpios are unique Arabs.
Unlike the majority, you try to
remain independent a lot sooner
than others. You don’t really like
listening to old singers like Um
Kulthoum and Abd Al Haleem
Hafez. You love having a small
farmhouse to keep chicken and
rabbits.
Arab percentage: 40%
Pisces
(Feb 19 - Mar 20)
A Pisces is one fish in a whole
school. You have more cousins that
you can count, and family meetings
are sacred to you. You have relatives
living all over the world. You don’t
really trust local products, and
always prefer the ‘ajnabi’ (Foreign)
version of it. You always wished
Arabs had a different mentality.
Arab percentage: 75%
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1. My greatest challenge:
A. My life is too busy and
disorganized
B. I get trapped in strong
emotions
C. I’m bored and stuck in
routine
D. I don’t know what the
purpose of my life is
2. To me, pain is:
A. Negative energy and
limitation
B. Insecurity
C. Unhappiness
D. Incapability
3. I want to work on:
A. Accepting myself just like
I am
B. Expressing myself more
freely
C. Improving certain
weaknesses in myself
D. Being a better person to
others
Results: If most of your answers were:
A – Uptight! You need to chill: You are
somewhat self-conscious, and any bad
omen can change your mood completely.
You believe in the detrimental effect of
negative energy, and you mentally allow it
to limit the big goals you set for yourself. Be
more confident, and challenge the setbacks
that you face, turning them into obstacles
you once faced.
B – Dramatic! Your brain is somewhere
else: You most definitely are an emotional
person. You set your feelings as a compass
to your life, allowing it to control the direction
you head in. You are willing to give up almost
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4. I approach the problems
that I face:
A. With sharp actions
B. With extreme emotions
C. Indifferently
D. I seek other’s help
6. My utopia would surely have:
A. Released negativity,
limitation, and anxiety
B. Perfect relationships
C. Resolved fear and conflict
D. A set purpose to my life
5. Out of these, the most
valuable to me is:
A. Order and peace of mind
B. Love and connection
C. Fun and happiness
D. Purpose and contribution
7. I want to, but still can’t:
A. Be me around everyone
B. Open up my heart
C. Break my mundane lifestyle
D. Be the most successful at
what I do
anything in order to, not only find the one,
but also to build firm relationships with
the people you care about. Be wise when it
comes to controversial issues, and don’t let
your heart completely block out your brain.
C – Lost! Take a break: You always feel
as though you are trapped in a maze with
the same patterns repeated over and
over again. You’re stuck in a monotonous
lifestyle, that is not necessarily bad, yet
you feel like it is suffocating you. You are
willing to do whatever it takes to see a smile
root up from your heart again. It’s pretty
simple, make sure you are around the right
people, take a quick vacation, and leave
everything behind so that you can snap
out of the boredom, and go back to your
life appreciating all the good things in it.
Happiness is found in the simplest things.
D – Overthinking! Walk the walk: You
are spending so much more time trying to
figure out why you live rather than actually
living. You spend endless nights thinking
about the true meaning behind life, that
you don’t see that the answer is in the
word itself, life. You also try to analyze the
ultimate purpose behind everything you
come across, that you tend to overlook
the beauty of it. Do not tire yourself by
overthinking everything, just let it be.
113 | OC Magazine
53
bits | Opinion
I Should Leave
My Home, Right?
OUR TICKETING
SERVICE IS IN
YOUR PALM!
By Raneem Asad
The recent trend in the media extolls travel as a primary means of self-discovery. Our conception of
identity falsely resonates along the lines of a visit to a foreign land. Through our culture, we develop our
values; through our family, we develop our compassion; through our home, we become who we are.
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There are no rules of precedence for one’s
own life. Yet we continue in search for one,
and this generation finds it online. The
current online trend is that of extolling
travel as the ideal means of self-discovery.
The young bird grows by leaving his nest,
spreading his wings, and flying far away.
Leaving home is praised and glorified.
The most important element of the cliche
analogy is overlooked: to leave the nest,
the bird must have wings to spread. More
importantly: the wings must be his or
her own. Those wings are sketched and
stitched, broken and repaired, at home.
The corollary to travel, a desire that
runs deeply through the young adult
grapevine, is having a home to leave.
One’s identity is found while walking
down familiar streets, conversing with
loved ones, and engaging in the practices
of one’s own culture. Floundering down
foreign roads may add perspective,
but can never diminish the gratitude
associated with one’s own home.
Community, culture, and family allow for
the first manifestation of identity and the
initial route to self-discovery.
54
OC Magazine | 113
The experiences of looking at the Eiffel
Tower or staring at a television screen
have the same affect on a person whose
mind is blind. Physical boundaries do
not constrain a person; it is mental
boundaries that form the walls of any
prison. It is not the constantly familiar
setting of the home that is an obstacle to
development; it is the stagnant and lazy
approach to thought. Rather than wax
lyrical about getting on a plane, let us
recognize the virtues of opening a book
and nurturing an array of ideas.
One’s identity is
found while walking
down familiar
streets, conversing
with loved ones,
and engaging in the
practices of one’s
own culture.
Self-discovery is a journey of the mind
that one may experience in any setting.
In one city, the same as in another city,
a thought may find unity in an infinite
perspective; that there as well as
elsewhere one may wear his heart out in
pursuit of passion and stretch his mind in
the search of a cause.
Such adventures of the heart and the
mind may better yet be experienced
within one’s own home. We extoll escape
of the burdens of responsibility and
routine, but are ignorant of the luxury it
entails. The emotional difficulty of dealing
with a loved one’s suffering is trumped by
the privilege of having someone to love.
Forge ahead in the direction of kindness,
of curiosity, and of passion. On that path,
no drawn-up map is necessary.
Rather than share a common
disposition that our journey to selfdiscovery is catapulted by travel to a
foreign land, we must first and foremost
recognize our hometown as our mounting.
It is the seed of which we sprung, the root
of which we grew, and the land to which
we will - or should - always return.
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