Dalai Lama received Gold Medal in Washington DC "My religion is kindness"

Last week I was listening to His Royal Highness Dalai Lama speaking in Washington after receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian honor. The Congress, with the Democrats in majority, decided to award the 72 year old Tibetan spiritual leader, who represents Peace and Harmony. In 1989 Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace prise by the Norwegian Nobel committee, the chairman said this was "in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi."

President Bush who handed the gold medal made it clear in his speach that this is a medal for religious freedom. China expressed its opposition to Congress's decision to honor the Dalai Lama. The medal's past recipients include Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa.

Basically we are all the same human beings with the same potential to be a good human being or a bad human being .The important thing is to realize the positive side and try to increase that; realize the negative side and try to reduce.

Few years ago I read the International Bestseller ‘The Art of Happiness’, by HH Dalai Lama. Back then his writings and his personality captured me. Tenzin Gyatso (born 6 July 1935) is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. In 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's Head of State and most important political ruler while Tibet faced occupation by China. After the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959 and the Chinese invasion in Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso fled to India.

I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life.

Although I am not Buddhist, but there are some great lessons I have gained through Dalai Lamas life. I value his world view and his courage to fight for something he believes in. I believe we can all learn beautiful things from each other, we just need to be open to learning and respecting each other!

Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.

Sissel Kyrkjebo - my favourite Norwegian artist

Today I would like to share one of the most beautiful voices that I have come across in my life. Sissel Kyrkjebo is Norwegian, she has been my favourite Norwegian artist since my childhood. I remember when I was 13/14 my mum took me to her concert,I was in the front, just admiring this heavenly voice. Each one of her albums has had something beautiful to offer my spirit. She is my background music when I am in my office doing work or reading.

17 May – Norwegian National Day and My Birthday!!!

17 May is the official national day in Norway, all shops and offices are closed throughout the whole country. Everyone will get out from morning marching in the streets with their class, or groups they are part of. This is the only day during the year we see the whole royal family coming out on their balcony waving. People will wave the Norwegian flag, and congratulate each other. It is the Constitution Day, which was founded first in 1814. I have never seen any country united together in celebrating the national day as it is done in Norway.

Not only is it the Birth of a Nation, but it also is my birthday. Due to this, everyone always remembers my birthday, so I would always receive a lot of wishes as walking down in our town.




This big day is not only celebrated in Norway, but my all Norwegians living abroad. London Parks will be filled with all dressed up Norwegians who wave the Norwegian flag. Norwegian societies will have events during the whole day with typical Norwegian food (I love these events, it connects me back to Norway again).

During growing up the tradition was to meet up in school in the morning and get ready for the march with our national clothes (I would wear my Iranian national dress), and this would last till noon. Then we would get changed into our sport outfit and meet up for an other march during afternoon with our team. As walking down the streets we would throw the ball to each other and shout out our teams name. It was always a competition while growing up of who would eat most ice cream during the day. In 6th grade we would have a football match between the schools, the whole town would meet up to watch this important game.

NOROOZ- Year of 2566 (1386)

Happy New year to all Persians and all those celebrating Norooz around the world. I remember when I was living with my parents they made such an effort in order to teach us our Iranian tradition and customs. Mum made 'sabzi polo ba mahi' (rice with fish), which is the traditional food on the day of new year. She would put on 'haft sin', which is a table full of seven symbolic items beginning with 's', which all symbolise something related to health,prosperity,new beginning etc. My dad would get us brand new notes from the bank and give each one of us as the new year started. In Norway we would get at least a day off school in order to celebrate our New Year, which I valued. We would spend the day visiting friends and family and hope for some 'eydy', which is gift given in form of money.

Now that I have lived away from my parents since I was 18, I have not got to celebrate Norooz as I have wanted to. Last year was the only year I had the chance of being with my parents on the day, I flew in to Norway just few hours before the New Year. I think this is the day I would most want to be with my family and start a new year with those I love and appriciate. The good thing about being Iranian is that we get to start fresh twise a year, ones in January and ones in March. so if we have missed on our January new year resolution, we always have got the chance of starting in March. But today I am spending it with some good friends and hopefully getting some 'eydy':)

What is Norooz
In harmony with rebirth of nature, the Persian New Year Celebration, or Norooz, always begins on the first day of spring, March 20th of each year. Norooz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts - the End and Rebirth. About 3000 years ago Persian's major religion was Zoroastrianism, named in honor of its founder Zoroaster, and arguably the world's first monotheistic religion. Zoroastrians had a festival called "Farvardgan" which lasted ten days, and took place at the end of the solar year. It appears that this was a festival of sorrow and mourning , signifying the end of life while the festival of Norooz, at the beginning of spring signified rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration. Norooz was officially acknowledged and named "Norooz" by mythical Persian emperor, Shah Jamshid, from Achaemenid Dynasty (500 BC). Ashaemenied created the first major empire in the region and built Persepolis complex (Takhte Jamshid) in the city of Shiraz. Norooz in Persian means "New Day" and brings hope, peace and prosperity to the world and has been celebrated among people regardless of ethnic background, political views or religion in many countries around the globe such as Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Georgia, Iraq, Tajikistan, Syria ,Armenia and India. Some of the activities during Norooz are Spring cleaning, buying new cloths, painting eggs, family reunion, giving presents, visiting neighbors and friends and celebrating by having a picnic on the 13th day of Spring. Happy Norooz!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Sunday the 18th of February, 2007 is the first day of the Chinese new year.

By the Chinese Calendar 2007 is the Year of the Pig. Each year is designated by one of the 12 Animals. Old people often lose track of their age, because they are rarely asked about their present age. Every one just have to remember that he or she was born in the "Year of the Dog" or whatever. Since this is the Year of the Pig, any one who was born in the Year of the Pig is now either 0 or 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 or 96 years old.

Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries, which predates the International Calendar we use at the present day which goes back only some 425 years. The calendar measures time, from short durations of minutes and hours, to intervals of time measured in months, years and centuries, entirely based on the astronomical observations of the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars.
Dragon occupies a very important position in Chinese mythology. It shows up in arts, literature, poetry, architecture, songs, and many aspects of the Chinese conscience. The origin of Chinese dragons is unknown, but certainly pre-dates the written history.
So to all my Chinese friends who are spread around the world, I find your culture fascinating, and love the fact that I can celebrated this event with you, Happy New Year to you all!

I know how to cook!

Lately I have come across many who thought girls growing up in the West do not know how to cook, clean, shop food or do normal daily life duties.

I have been told several times that when people see me they wont think I even know how to open a bottle of milk, and that I probably have someone doing all these things for me, I wish!!!!

But let me tell the world, girls growing up in the west do know how to cook,clean,iron,scrub,invite friends over, etc. I have to say I was amazed when I went to iran and saw that the girls were not working as much as my parents had told me they do (I guess they were thinking of iran as if it was 20 years ago).

So lately I am shocking and surprising many in showing them that, you know what I know how to cook. I might not want to cook 'gormesabzi' or 'fesenjoon' (iranian dish), but that doesnt mean I am not a good cook!