iPhone iOS 6

Just finished watching Apple event (June 2012), great one! Promised by fall, iOS can upload photos and. In addition to many other great features that have been released, e.g. Navigation. MacBook pro is getting new feature that I was waiting for , HDMI and USB3 ports. Love you Apple ;) Check the original link: http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/126pihbedvcoihbefvbhjkbvsefbg/event/index.html

iPhone Post

Long time no post!

iPhone is so addictive that you start doing things that you love and don't have time to do.

I will try to add photo through iPhone as well, and of course it's Lara and Nadeen's

Opps it did not work! When Apple will enable simple things like .....?

Trip to Canada

Frankfurt Airport
Susan House with Rocky


After 3 years and 3 months we got the Canadian immigrant visa, its a single entry visa which is valid till the expiry of the Medical Test (less than a year). We booked on Air Canada airlines from Dubai to Toronto with connection through Frankfurt.

The first flight from Dubai to Frankfurt was with Lufthansa airlines, it took 6.5 hours, we had to wait to for 4 hours for the next flight (air Canada) to Toronto which took 7.5 hours, after arrival we spent about 1.5 hours till we get out off the airport (2 hours from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, 2 hours waiting for the flight, 6.5 to Germany, 4 transit, 7.5 second flight, 1.5 in Toronto airport = Hell), Susan (my cousin) and her son (Mohamed) were waiting for us (time was 2:30 pm Canada time). we went to their house, then Mohamed and I went to the guy who is renting the apartment. we took the keys and we droped the bag there, after that we went back to my cousin apartment where we had great lunch :). Mohamed has a Dog called Rochy, Lara and Nadeen got crazy while playing with him.

After lunch, Hemsa, Mohamed and I went to the bank to open an account. Then we went home and fall a sleep.

Day 2 (Social insurance Number Day), we went with Mohamed to the office which responsible for issuing the SIN, and it took about half an hour only to get the number on a piece of paper (till we get the card by mail), I went to the bank again to get a Credit card (the bank refused to give credit card if we have no SIN). We had lunch in Susan apartment then we went Grocery Shopping at Metro supermarket.

NB: to get the SIN people have to come in person if older that 18 years

Bashar Mazin Sim card which I got from UAE did not work, so I had to buy a new line, its a prepaid card, I credited it with $ 100 so that it will be valid for 1 year.

I spoke with Ali Amer, Ali Baiee, Anmar and Shireen. hopefuly we will meet them soon.

We have to go for the driving license and the OHIP in the coming few days.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

I don't have the time to update my blog frequently, I am busy all the time, and please don't ask "busy with what", because I don't know the answer for this question.

Lets start with the update of the last post "KG or University", Lara has been accepted in the school and hopefully she will start in September.

Nadine birthday was on 18 April, we did not make a big party because Hemsa is a Little bit depressed due to her sister's condition.

My annual leave will start on 25 May, and we are going to Canada for Landing, we will spend about one month there and most probably in Mississauga (depending on Ali Amer of course because he will choose the place). According to the net, the weather is very nice during this period of the year. We will have a connecting flight through Frankfurt and due to the fact that we are 7ASHARAT we need a visa even for spending 4 hours in the airport.

KG or University?!

I visited Choueifat School 2 weeks back to register my daughter “Lara” for KG 2 (currently she is in KG 1 Rawafid School), they gave me a form to fill and bring on 1 March, I spoke with many friends regarding the same, they told me that you have to go as early as possible because lot of people will come in the morning and the seats are limited.

I woke up 6:45 am, shower, dressed up and went to Mohamed (a friend of mine who want to register his son for KG 1), we reached the School at 7:55 happily thinking that we are the first to come, upon interring the school we got shocked by the number of people queuing for registration, we waited our turn and after one hour they called our names and took our forms and gave us appointment on 17 March.

We discovered after making several calls that since the interview on 17 March it means that everything is finalized by that time and she will not be accepted, other said that since they gave an appointment for the interview means that there is a chance.What the hell is this, its just Kindergarten. Anyhow lets wait and see.

5th Anniversary

Though Hemsa was suspecting that something is going on, she did not know that we are going to Beirut until one day before the flight date; I told her one day before so that we have some time to buy winter clothes (living in UAE requires a shirt and jacket maximum).
She was very excited and happy about the Idea of going to Lebanon to celebrate our 5th anniversary.

As the most important thing for Iraqis is the visa issue, I spoke with the Lebanese Embassy one day before to confirm that the visa will be issued upon arrival to Beirut international airport (Rafeeq Hariri airport), the lady at the embassy said that you have a return ticket, hotel reservation, and $ 2000 cash.

Lets sort the picnic by dates:
18 Feb 2009:
Our flight was at 10 am, Bashar came and pick us up at 7 am, upon checking in the stupid lady at the counter said “I can not check you in unless you have a visa” I told her that the visa will be issued upon arrival, she replied that their system is showing that the visa is required before departure. I doubled check with embassy and they have confirmed that the visa will be issued in Beirut, the supervisor there suggested speaking with Beirut to confirm, and thanks God Beirut confirmed the Embassy story.
Flight time was 3.5 hours, but due the time difference with reached at 11:35 am Beirut time, heading to the immigration section a man was standing in front of the counters asking about nationalities and advising the counter number to go to, as usual Iraqis have different rules, he said you have to go to the airport security to get the visa, they were very cooperative and immediately they approved the visa.
We reached the hotel (Safir Heliopolitan) at about 1 pm, we rented a taxi for 24 hours for the whole period (4 days). Abu Mohamed (the taxi driver) took us immediately to place called Hareesa, and you have to reach there by the teleferic , the place was very nice. Jbeil was the second destination for that day, we reached the hotel by 9 pm (11 UAE time) we just fell sleep.

19 Feb 2009:
Early morning breakfast, cap to the mountain where we have a SNOW day, it was really fun, after which we went down the mountain to Jeita Grotto (a cave with 2 parts, upper and lower). After which we went to wax museum, lunch, hotel then down town at night (called Solidire), where we sat in a coffee shop (with couple of minutes of facebooking :) )

20 Feb 2009:
We headed south to Musa house and Bait El Dein (ancient places), it was raining heavily and very risky driving up and down the mountain. Lunch at Raouche.
At night we had dinner with Hemsa’s cousin Mazin and his wife’s family (his wife Ranya, her father and mother). It was Italian restaurant.
Late night we visited a night club ( to finish all activities of Lebanon “the Famous night life”

21 Feb 2009:
Breakfast, Hamra street, sweet shop, check out, airport.

Over all it was a great trip.

Shakira New Year Party

My sister Zeina has arranged to bring 2 Diamond tickets for her and Bashar, and 2 Pearl tickets for Hemsa and I, fortunately, Hadeel (my friend) has arranged to replace ours with Diamond tickets;

We were near the stage (so damn close). It was very crowded and everybody went crazy when Shakira came up the stage.
She started with an Arabic song for Fairoz, “A3tini el nai w ganni” (Give me the flute and sing), she was fantastic.
After that she sang few song that we don’t know (as if I know most of her songs), may be in Latin or Spanish.

I don’t want to mention what had happened when she starts singing “Hips don’t lie”, and “whenever, wherever”, everybody starts jumping and waving like maniacs.
She danced and played guitar several time, and this black guy (who says Shakira Shakira) played piano.
At 11:59 and 50 seconds, Shakira started counting down for the New Year, thousands of Fans were counting down with her, 10, 9,………..1, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERBODY, then the fire works started.

We went to the party with Hadeel&Harith (with their little princess Dana), Dina&Ali, Zeina&Bashar.

Salam

PS: Please go to Facebook for more pictures.