Aiyana moved into her residence at McGill this weekend

It's been quite a weekend, moving Aiyana in. Very emotional at times. She's doing well, already meeting other nice students, going out, enjoying the city, and making friends. I'm fluctuating between being really excited for her and being heartbroken. The house feels so empty coming back to. It's really weird. I'm numb.

I know I'll get used to it eventually, but right now it's a hard transition.

Here are some pictures:

Aiyana and Ed walked right by the engineering buildings where I spent so much time and have so many great memories from, on their way to her residence.

The iconic McGill walkway, with the arts building in the background, where she'll probably be spending much time this year studying international development.

Her building is really nice, right on Sherbrooke Street, and within minutes from McGill and all of downtown.

I almost burst into tears when I walked into my room after driving back home and saw her little horse from when she was small, one of her favorite toys, on my bed.

I'm glad for Aiyana, and for my parents, who will get to see her much more often now. I'll be going to Montreal more often as well to see all of them.

Meanwhile, I'll keep myself busy with school and trying to support Sena and Aiyana as much as possible from far away.

Peace

Really enjoying my cousin's visit

We're really enjoying the visit of my cousin and her family from Germany. It's really fun to talk to her and her kids, who are all grown up and very interesting. I'm so glad that Sena and Aiyana are getting to meet their cousins from different countries (Germany and France this year, Romania last year). It's refreshing and mind opening to spend time with people whose daily contexts are different than our own.

Peace

Reeling

This trip to Spain was so amazing, and now that I'm back, I feel like I'm reeling from it all. It was not easy, as it is never easy to travel with others, especially those we are close to, with conflicts arising inevitably; but it was amazing and so, so beautiful.

I've learned so much, about history and the interplay of the three religions, Islam, Jewish and Christian, and how what happened in Andalusia in the middle ages shaped so much of our world today.

I'm so amazed, not only by the realizations and connections I've made on this trip, but by the sheer physical beauty of the landscape and architecture, there to see and experience today, as a beacon from times long gone.

Just like Istanbul last year, this trip burst my little bubble of self centered worries, annoyances and complaints, and opened me up again to the truth that the world is big and beautiful and so interesting; that there's so much to learn and experience, and that despite everything, there's so much beauty and goodness out there.

I'm so grateful! I'm sure that before too long, I'll get stuck in my bubble again, but before that happens, I'll do my best to keep myself open.

A few more pictures:

Sunset in Toledo, from our apartment.

The best shawarma and fattouche....

Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes 

My reading list after this trip is totally out of control...

Peace

Toledo, Spain

Falling asleep and waking up in Toledo .

The world breaks our heart, and consoles us with its incomprehensible beauty and mystery.

Alhambra - part 2

I really love Persian and Arabic gardens. They are beautiful and mysterious and evoke a feeling of peace, tranquility and harmony. 

Alhambra, Granada - part 1

Yesterday, we visited the Alhambra palace and gardens in Granada. This was my second time seeing this jewel of a place (I was here back in 1997).

Reading about the history of Granada, learning more about its culture, architecture, garden design, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude at how amazing our world really is, and how lucky I am to have this opportunity to witness it.

Ronda, Spain

This is Ronda, Spain, a place loved by Hemingway, and which inspired his "For whom the bell tolls" and other works. We visited it yesterday, and it was spectacular.

Peace

A thought on prosperity

I'm reading a book about the history of Andalusia, called The Ornament of the world, by Maria Rosa Menocal, and I've been thinking about the meaning of "prosperity".

Prosperity, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, is:

"The condition of being successful or thriving

especially : economic well-being".

Yet, I believe that this definition is limited and misleading. When we define prosperity primarily in economic terms, we exclude important aspects. There is a kind of prosperity that is not tied to money alone. A prosperity of the spirit and the intellect; a spiritual and emotional prosperity which allows one to connect to beauty in different forms, thus expanding, enriching and consoling us.

....

Peace