Leaving home...Heading to The UK

Wednesday, 14th of October, 2009

I left Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, heading toward London accompanied with my father and brother.

Due to the lack of time, we couldn’t reserve in Saudi Airlines

 since all flights were fully booked.

The flight was nearly 10 hours

because of the transfer, which I honestly hate the most.

We arrived in London and had to step by the Saudi Bureau to finish some papers

 and then proceed to Nottingham.

I was a bit mad coz I wanted to stay in London for a few days

Unfortunately, I was supposed to attend my first classes the next day.

After reaching our destination,

we spent the night at a hotel in down town,

 I was too exhausted that I slept immediately.

My plan was to go to the university with my father

 for I didn’t know where or how to get there.

To my surprise, I met two of my friends in the lobby next morning,

we laughed when we saw each other because we didn’t plan for this to happen.

They told me that they have been to the campus the other day

 so we decided to go together and my dad stayed in the hotel with their fathers.

It all went good in the first day,

 and in the night, I was discussing the accommodation possibilities with my father.

He took the charge of doing this task after calling some friends

 who recommended few good neighbors in the city.

We stayed almost one week in the hotel and then took off

to our new house which I was disappointed with later on.

it was the first time for me to clean a house and wash dishes,

I even couldn’t cook till daddy taught me some recipes.

I was so pleasant with him around,

we went to parks together, did lots of shopping

 and since he likes walking, he used to do it all the time with my brother

 but when I was with them, I could complain all the time and he just made fun of me.

My father then went back home after spending two weeks with me,

 and I took the responsibility of everything.

What is life without a dream??!!!

Everyone has a dream seeks to achieve

mine was studying abroad
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The story begins at the age of 14, when one of my teachers at school told me about

her educational trip to the US and some adventures there.

As any teen, I felt so enthusiast about the idea of trying something new,

so I went to my father in the same day and said “ dad, I want to study abroad ”.

He looked at me with amazement for he knew that studying was my last interests.

He said some words which stuck in my heart and mind

“ that’s a big decision and you should prove your worth” he said.

I thought about his words till realized what he meant

I need to work hard if I want to get this opportunity

________________

In the next 3 years, I was a diligent student until graduated from high school with high grades,

but my dream is still out there, unachieved,

particularly after enrolling at KAU (King Abdulaziz University).

I assumed then that I have to wait no less than 4 years to finish my bachelor degree..

When all of a sudden, I heard about scholarships to the UK

and these are exclusively for English language students

What delightful news!!!

My feelings were Indescribable at that time,

yet, it was only for those who have done their second year

and I just completed my first one.

Another thing was that I had to meet the admission requirements

and the principal one was getting high scores,

thus, it was a challenge year for me

__________________

I faced a lot of frustration and many times was about to give up

 but by the end of that year,

I was one of the students who have been accepted in this scholarship.

And the dream comes true

Did I find this experience as I wished??

Did I face any troubles??

____________

You're gonna find out later

A letter to my mother

My darling mother

What shall I write to express my feelings, 

Homesickness and loneliness are nothing compared to my longing for you.

Mammy,

It’s been 6 months that I haven’t seen you and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been through..

I miss you so much..

I miss you like the deserts miss the rain..

I miss you when I remember how you trusted me and encouraged me to fulfill my dream anywhere even if we had to stay apart..

I miss you when I remember that you tried to be strong when we had to say goodbye and once I cried, you cried and told me ‘’ baby, days will pass quickly and you’ll come back again to me”.

I miss you when I hold your photo and imagine that I’m holding you..

I miss you though you call me every day to make sure that I’m alright, to make sure that I wake up to school, and at night, you ask me “sweety how was your day?”.

Your calls brighten my day and eliminate the grief..

your words make me stronger to overcome my weakness..

Mother,

I know that I have troubled you a lot in my upbringing and now I regret every moment I have been the cause of your anger.

Please forgive me..

you know mammy, I promised myself when I go back home, I will always be an obedient daughter and will do what I can to make you proud of me..

Mama,

you're everything in my life..

You’re the reason for my strength in this foreignness.. 

I need you so badly..

 like a heart needs a beat,

like a flower needs the rain..

And I love you so much

I love you times the number of stars in the sky..

I love you more than you could know..

Than I could ever show..

I love you greatest mother..

_______________

Your girl

Ameerah