Education Junkies

June 27 marks my 3^rd University Graduation Anniversary and already I’m beginning to feel that my degree has gone obsolete.

Every where around my are my fellow AUB graduates enjoying stable jobs, like me, progressing with their careers, like me, getting good mentoring, like me, and pursuing advanced degrees and certificates, not like me.

This matter has been lingering in the back of my mind for a while, but the course I attended last week at Ecole Superieure des Affaires (ESA) on Risk in Financial Services that was arranged by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) in London to prepare persons in the financial risk industry for an examination with Banque du Liban got me thinking of how important it is to make a strategic educational move towards acquiring a certification in this domain if not going all out for a Master Degree.

I have come to realize that the Lebanese people, especially those blessed with a sharp mind and an even sharper trust fund have been hitting the books and acquiring MBA’s, EMBA’s, CFA’s, FRM’s, CPA’s, CMA’s… and every other letter in the English alphabet next to their names on their business cards.

Companies, Bank’s, and every other major employer in the country have been on the lookout for candidates to standout due to those qualifications, even if the salary offerings are even less than the minimum wage given to a McDonald’s counter employee in the United States.

It’s not an option or an advantage anymore; being certified is a must if one plans to survive in this increasingly competitive domain.

Another “Tello” Fit for the Blogosphere

And there I thought I was the only member of my family with good writing skills!

I was surprised when I got a WhatsApp from my little brother, http://byserene.blogspot.com/#!/2011/11/little-brother.html, saying that he has begun his own blog!

Take a look! http://moudzz.blogspot.com/

Like, Share, and Follow!

Vampires in Suits

Vampires are widely known as undead beings who feed in the blood of living creatures. Vampires became popular in the early 18^th century when a superstition broke out in Western Europe, coming from the Balkans and Eastern Europe where Vampire legends and folktales were already popular.

I have come to a firm belief that vampires do exist, and they exist in our modern day corporate world more than any time in history. Being part of the corporate world for about three modest years, I have come across so many vampires that my belief is ever stronger, and I have facts to prove it.

·         Vampires are said to arise from evil and pursue blood; isn’t money the most evil thing in the world today, and isn’t it the blood that keeps everything going?

·         Vampires have no restraint on turning on friends or relatives to satisfy their thirst; isn’t it believed that “Business is Business, and friendship is outside the office”?

·         Vampires are characterized as charismatic figures usually dressed in dark attire; aren’t the people you work with charismatic in their dark suits and blazers?

·         Vampires hunt during the dark hours of the night; aren’t the most destructive corporate decisions that involve back-stabbing and ruin done after working hours?

·          Vampires never come near garlic as it disintegrates them; no corporate vampire would have a chicken shawarma sandwich during work even if his life depended on it.

·         Vampires have a way of bewitching their victims and turning them into vampires; don’t you feel that you or your friends change after being in the corporate world for a while.

Vampires are real, and they are all around, and I can’t help but be lured into the trap…

I Discovered Baking

After the Betty Croaker instant cakes became boring, I tried to sway my newly discovered kitchen talents into sweets.  And the results are award winning (at least in the Wife Awards category!)

Lately I have been using some of my mom’s recipes in making Apple Pies, Cinnamon Rolls, and Chewy Chocolate – Chip Cookies and they are turning out to be delicious; if you intend to turn a blind eye on all the sugar, butter, and calories!

 

If anyone is interested in a recipe, I’ll be glad to share!

Bino

It was a gift from my dad on my high school graduation; it was a new, cute, and silver Peugeot 307; it was “the” car for an 18 year old university girl; and I loved it. Naturally, I gave it a name, a character, and the accessories to go with it. Fabien, nicknamed Bino, was my car, a blond, gay Frenchman, who was tough and fragile all together with a dice in the mirror.

Then came the July war, and our trip to Canada, and the debate to stay there, or come back to Lebanon, to sell everything, including Bino, or keep everything until further notice. I still remember the temper tantrums I threw just to come back to Lebanon for Bino and AUB; and it worked!

For 6 years, Bino was my best friend and companion. I still remember all the traffic jams we used to suffer on the highway to Beirut every morning, and back home in the evening. I remember all the chocolate bars and the juice cartons I used to leave behind because I was always in a hurry. I remember all the clothes and the shoes I used to lose, then find again with Bino. I remember the longest drive we had, which was to the south for a picnic with a bunch of friends from university.

He was with me through my high school graduation, my university years and graduation, he went with me on all those useless job interviews, and then to my first job, and now my second. He was with me while I was running around preparing for my wedding and remodeling my house.    

But even the sweetest fruit will grow old and sour someday. A few weeks ago, I decided that Bino needed his retirement so I decided to put him up for sale. After the many phone calls, questions, price debates, and the lost Saturday at the Car Zone “Nef3a” (that is a different story) the deal was done and Bino had his new owner.

There are some moments in life that you know you will never forget, like the moment I found out I got accepted to AUB, or the moment I saw my husband for the first time, and now I have the moment I gave up Bino’s keys to the old man in the grey sweater.

Bitter, sweet… but I’m ready for a new car now!

Search in Progress…

Osaka Sushi Lounge Vs. Tsumani

It has been quite a long time since I trashed one of Lebanon’s top places, so today’s lash out goes to Osaka Sushi Lounge located in the Kantari area.

For almost a year now, I have been hearing from friends that Osaka is the best sushi place in town. According to everyone, it’s supposed to have the best atmosphere, best service, and the best sushi in terms of variety and taste. So on Saturday, and after a month of contemplating the visit, my husband and I decided to try it mainly because we couldn’t get a reservation at Tsunami, our regular sushi place, because it was fully booked.

And so it goes, we arrived to Osaka at 10:30 pm, and sat at the bar until one of the tables was cleared which took about 7 minutes. We sat down and looked through the menu at the very limited variety and decided on what to order. After 20 minutes of waiting, my husband finally motioned to the waitress to notice that we were ready to make the order.

While we waited for the food to arrive, I couldn’t help but notice that the restaurant was not divided into a smoking and a non-smoking section. Usually at sushi places with an open bar, guests are prohibited from smoking on the bar because it’s directly over the food while it’s being prepared; at Osaka, sushi and cigarette smoke mixed perfectly in an atmosphere of ultimate Zen! (Super sarcastic tone)

The food arrived with a great presentation, but I wish I could say the same thing about the taste. Each and every piece of Maki was spicy, even the ones that didn’t include “spice” in their descriptions, not to mention salty to an extent that you are not able to taste the ingredients.

So in a nut shell, if you are looking for over priced, smoky, and salty sushi, brought to your table with bad service, then Osaka is your place!

For reservations, please call 01-360630

Tsumani, on the other hand, has a menu that is filled with pages and pages of different types of Sushi, Sashimi, Maki, salads, appetizers, and hot dishes to an extent that you can visit once a week for a whole year, and still order something new each time, as is the case with my husband and I.

The service is speedy and friendly, and if you choose to sit at the “non-smoking” bar, you will really enjoy watching a pair of very professional and talented chiefs make your delicious sushi with such skill that triggers your appetite even more.

So in a nut shell, if you are looking for affordable, clean, and delicious sushi, brought to your table with friendly and professional service, then Tsunami is your place.

For reservations, please call 01-337327

Fashion Trends for Spring/ Summer 2012

After quite a rough winter, and all its leather jackets, fur vests, scarves, and high boots, one is in serious need of a hint of spring, and all the new trends in store for the much awaited season.

The past fall/ winter’s fashion was rich in animal prints, dark metallics, furs, leathers, and a few signature colors like caramel, grey, burgundy, and dark green. All of which made the season warmer and the shopping, especially enjoyable.

From the looks of store windows, fashion websites, and catwalks, this spring/ summer seems to be promising so let’s skip the poetic mumbo jumbo of spring being the season of rebirth, and jump straight into its fashion must haves!

Even though prints and metallics have been scaling catwalks for a while now, they don’t seem to be backing down anytime soon. Floral and geometric prints are making their way back onto store shelves, accompanied by more metallics, but instead of the classic gold, silver, and bronze, it’s more colorful with electric shades of blue, teal, and pink. When it comes to colors, light pinks, peaches, yellows, blues, and other pastels are everywhere, and getting them mixed together in a floral pattern is the way to go.

The Bohemian look, along with its head bands, wavy hair, large bangles, pale make up, and loose fit clothing is one of the hottest looks this season. It is my personal favorite because it gives off a relaxed yet mysterious aura.

 

Happy Shopping!