the eli mirror

ELI Newspaper

Spring 2013, Issue 2

online at eli.gmu.edu

online at eli.gmu.edu

THE ELI MIRROR

Cover article

written by:

Shuruq Alhaithi,

Noha Al Najjar

Maha Alghuraibi

Photograph by

Xiao Yang

CONTENTS

ELI News p 1-2

Freedom! p 3-6

Work & Leisure p 7-14

Travel p 16-17

Food & Drink p 18-19

More field trip p 20

pictures

ELI field trip to DC

The cherry trees begin to blossom

On the 2

nd of April, the ELI

students and faculty went

to Washington DC to see

the cherry blossom trees

that Japan sent them as a

gift before the World War

II. After arriving, they

separate into groups and

each group began went to

different places. Some

groups had a teacher to

lead the group, and show

them the memorials.

There were a few opened

cherry blossoms and

viewers enjoyed the

scene. Students saw a lot

of memorials like the

Washington Monument,

the World War II

Memorial, Vietnam

Veterans Memorial,

Lincoln Memorial,

Reflecting Pool, Korean

War Veterans Memorial,

FDR Memorial, Thomas

Jefferson Memorial and

Martin Luther King

Memorial.

There were some tents

selling stuff which referred

to the cherry blossom

trees. Some of the tents

sell different kinds of food

. In addition, there were

boats that students could

go in on the Tidal Basin

and on the Potomac

River. Also, they rode

bicycles and took a tour

around the trees.

On the other side, there

was a stage which had

Japanese people who

acted and sang for the

audience.

In the end, the ELI

students and faculty had

a great time despite the

cold weather, and they

learned new things about

memorials. They took a lot

of pictures, and they

shared information with

friends and families back

home.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 2

ELI NEWS

Written by:

Shuruq Alharthi

Maha Alghuraibi

Faisal Alharkan

Maryam Alhumaidi

Afraa Almowallad

Abrar Alrehaili

Majedh Alsewaiah

Shatha Balto

Jiaye (Jessica)

Guo

Hae Sung Park

Xiao Yang

Photograph by:

Majedh Alsewaiah

.

2nd

column

Your article will automatically continue to this column

3rd

column

This is the last column for your first article

A CLOUD IS COMING!

Have you ever thought

what would happen if we

asked for our 1-20 to be

signed, but the person

who was responsible for it

was chatting on

FaceBook? Or you

needed help about

housing, university

applications and

immunizations and had

only broken English?

Luckily we don’t have to

worry about that because

we have Cloud!

Cloud is the ELI Program

Administrator and she

also teaches English at

the ELI. Many people

don’t know it, but her real

name is Katherine. Cloud

is her middle name and

her mother’s last name.

She started using this

name in high school

because there were too

many girls called

Catherine and her friends

liked the name “Cloud”

She has been working in

the ELI for a year .Before

that she worked as a

receptionist in the English

Department. She is a

graduate of the University

of Virginia. She speaks 2

½ languages! (English,

Spanish and a little

French). She has many

hobbies including reading,

writing, camping, hiking

and cooking, and she

spends time with her cat,

Caliope, every day.

Cloud told us that one of

the hardest things in her

job is time management

because she has so many

different things to do in

her job. When she first

started at the ELI she was

nervous and she

sometimes had problems

because she didn’t

understand the students’

pronunciation.

But she soon adjusted

and she loves her job at

the ELI because she is

interested in other

languages and cultures.

Also she likes helping

people and she also likes

introducing people to new

things (like watching the

Arab students see snow

for the first time). She also

likes working with the

teachers and other

administrators, and she

said that they make her

work with the students

easier.

Cloud is responsible for

the new ELI webpage, at

eli.gmu.edu, (where you

can see the online version

of this newspaper – click

on BLOG). She said it

took 8 or 9 months to

make the web page. She

admitted that she didn’t

design it by herself. It

was designed by Will

Rees. But then she took

that design and put all the

information on it. She

updates and changes the

web page all the time.

She wants to add more

student writing on the Blog

with information about

new and old students.

She told us that she

enjoys reading our

newspaper and she thinks

our articles are interesting

and well written.

We asked her for some

advice on the best way to

study English. She said

the best way is to do

activities that you like and

that make you use English

like watching TV shows

and movies, listening to

music or meeting

American people.

For the future, Cloud said

she will work in the ELI for

at least three or four more

years until she finishes

her Master of Fine Arts

degree (with a major in

poetry). We hope she will

be a teacher who likes

teaching so much! And

we hope she’ll be happy!

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 3

FREEDOM!

Majedh Alsewaiah

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


Who Kills American People Every Year?

Sandy Hook victims

Who kills American people every year? That is a big question, but I got an answer to that question. My example explains clearly who kills many American people. When I saw photos of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in the U.S, I felt the same pain experienced by the mothers of the victims and the injured.

I remember that day very well. Many TV channels conveyed the incident, moment by moment.

I felt different emotions, anxiousness, fear, and sadness together.

When I watched it on the TV, I smelt the gunpowder and the death.

I saw the fear and terror inside the eyes of the children and parents. I heard the sound of screaming and panic when the criminal shot his weapon at the children.

I remember the most terrifying moment when dark covered the region. Many policemen looked for the criminal, and then they found him dead. He had committed suicide.

My daughter's school set aside time to talk about the incident. Also, it set aside time to write words of condolence.

The students prayed for the injured and families' victims.

I think this is a good step to educate the children about the danger of guns.

In the long term, this step will be the great beginning of steps.

May be this step will change the law which is responsible for killing many American people every year.

This is a real criminal

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 4

FREEDOM!

Alyami, Shehab

.

2nd

column


Stop Human Trafficking

There are many

important issues in the

world. One of them is

human trafficking. I know

many people don’t know

what human trafficking

means. In fact, I didn’t

know about this issue

before my friends Molly

and Hannah invited me to

a human trafficking

lecture.

Human trafficking

is when people sell

children, men and women

by forcing them to do

sexual acts or unwanted

work or sell parts of the

body to make money.

This happens all around

the world. There are

nonprofits to fight against

this issue. A lot of

charities want to help

these people but many

don’t know how to do it

right or don’t work

together. But one of the

biggest nonprofits called

International Justice

Mission (IJM) does really

good work to prevent

human trafficking. IJM

works in sixteen countries

in East Asia, Africa and

South America. All

countries have laws

against human trafficking

but it happens because of

corruption, for example

bribery, murder, rape and

threats. IJM’s plan is to

work with the local police

department trying to

enforce the laws against

trafficking.

Molly is a student

at George Mason

University who will

graduate May 2013. After

graduation, Molly will be

interning with IJM in

Cambodia for one year.

She will be helping

transition the victims of

trafficking from slavery

into a safe house so that

they can have a new life.

The reason she wants to

work with IJM is because

she feels a lot of passion

about stopping human

trafficking. She feels this

is an issue that is growing

and wants to help people

know more about it.

Molly’s friend

Hannah also feels very

sad about this issue and

believes God wants us to

help them. Hannah said

“Honestly it makes me cry

like right now because it’s

not fair that any person

has to go through that, like

that a woman should get

raped fifteen times a day

by fifteen different men

and be viewed as a

object.” When I asked

Hannah if she would go to

help these people she

said “Yes if God asked me

to go then I would go.”

I hope that we can

stop this issue to make a

good life for our children. I

hope when other people

read that this is happening

in the world that they will

want to help end this

problem too.

Student at ELI

in GMU

Hanna and Molly are

student at GMU

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 5

FREEDOM!

Hae Sung Park

To be

continued….

Today’s people

Obama

PSY

adele

2nd

column


Can North Koreans Watch TV?

He is resting content. Because he always does exactly as he pleases.

1st Introducing Kim Jung

Eun

South Korea and North

Korea fought in a war in

1952. Since then, North

Korea hasbecome a

dictatorship. This means

one man has all the

power. Right now, their

leader is Kim Jung Eun.

Many South Koreans call

him “terrible man”.

2nd Kim’s politics

Kim Jung Eun is the

absolute ruler of North

Korea. Right now, he

wants to keep cheap

televisions and cellphones

out of his country. This is

because TVs and phones

are used to see the

outside world. Kim Jung

Eun knows that if people

see the outside world,

they won’t want to stay in

North Korea. He lies to his

people about other

countries.

3rd Don’t do that!

Smugglers bring in TVs,

cellphones, and TV show

DVDs from China and S.

Korea. The TV shows are

very popular in N. Korea.

It sounds crazy to ban TV

shows, but Kim Jung Eun

knows that if people see

TV characters with food,

jobs, and expensive

things, they will want that

so much for themselves.

He doesn’t want to lose

his respect and power.

Kim Jung Eun is trying to

stop these smugglers

from coming to N. Korea

from China. The border

between the countries is

880 miles long. Kim put

guards and strong fences

there. The punishment for

smugglers is very strong.

Still, smugglers come into

the country. N. Korea

citizens are slowly

understanding the

outside world. The TV

shows let them see Hong

Kong, Taiwan, S. Korea,

and The United States.

These places are clearly

better than N. Korea. Kim

Jung Eun can’t keep his

citizens in the dark

forever.

(North Korea’s flag)

Obama is

going to

come to

GMU next

Week.

Page 3

Psy’ll come

to

washington

soon.

It’ll rain so

much

tonight.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 6

FREEDOM!

Majedh Alsewaiah

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


My Picture is Symbol of Freedom at MASON

Hala Nouman In the middle and Adam Braktar on the left

I heard about the democracy in America, but now I have really seen it at George Mason University.

This photo was taken in the courtyard opposite the Johnson Center.

Four months ago I was outside the Johnson Center when I saw a group of students carrying banners .

They were demonstrating to protest against the war in Gaza.

Hala Nouman is an Arab student who organized the demonstration with her friend Adam Braktar and shared with Muslims and Jewish students.

They sent a direct and clear message to stop the war in Gaza.

In addition, a group of Israeli students carried banners about Palestinian bombing.

When I see this photo, I feel good about freedom of

opinion at Mason.

Finally, I think this is the best university where students can learn and coexist despite different beliefs and cultures.

Also, I think my photo is a symbol of freedom of opinion at Mason.

Israeli students

Figure 1 Israeli students

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 7

WORK &

LEISURE

Doaa Alrefaei

The job I would never have dreamed of

My first day in school as Ateacher

When I was in a high

school unlike all my

friends, I decided to

be a doctor.

Especially, I thought

would be a famous

surgeon who works

hard all night to save

her patients’ lives.

After I graduated

from high school, I

got married, and I

lived away from my

family, so it was hard

for me to be a

student in medical

school. Therefore, I

decided to study in

the School of

Management where I

called the shots. \\\

While I was

studying, I dreamed

of being a manager

who changes all the

methods and theories

for management and

creates modern rules.

I liked my major most

when I was practicing

in the companies and

banks.

I love the way that

managers think and

how they deal with

their employees and

make decisions. My

major focuses on

decisions that have

value and that made

me think of my

decisions before I act.

After I graduated, I

was looking for a job

that fit my interests.

Someone offered for

me to be a teacher in

school. That was a job

I used to think it was

not a vital job. I

visited the school and

I meet the students. I

saw an attractive

work environment

which I wanted.

I was a teacher in a

high school and that

was the most

interesting job I

would never have

dreamed of. Hence, I

realized that the main

idea in my life is we

cannot see the forest

for the trees.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 8

WORK & LEISURE

Shatha Balto.

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


New Things for 30 Days.

We get inspiration from people around us, stories we read, and places we visit. It happened to me that homework led me to know Ted Talks for the first time. It opened my eyes for ways to change the way I live.

Matt Cutts, who is one of the people who has presented on Ted Talks, said that he changed himself from the man who sat behind the laptop every day to the man who climbed mountains, wrote a novel, and stopped eating chocolate just for 30 days.

He changed his life style from boring to challenging and exciting. Therefore I asked myself, why don’t I step up and do new small things for 30 days? Last week I

started to read a new book.

Whenever we tell someone a story, it would be either a fantasy or a real story. So when I decided to fall in love with a new book, I wanted it to be far away from “And they live happily ever after”. For that reason, I have chosen a book that has been successful for the last 20 years.

When I started to read it, it made me cry at the first two stories, because it reminded me of my father and how much I need him to tell me: “Have I told you today, how much I love you”? And smile at the third, because it made me thing how much hugs are important in our daily life.

Since that time I couldn’t wait for the bed time to read stories that would take me to another world. Stories that would make me better person. I assure you that Chicken Soup for the Soul should be on your home library books.

Anyhow, this wasn’t the way I wanted to spend my holiday. However, the stories from the book retold me that life is not always easy. And life is not happy as we see it in movies, it’s also as we see on the news. Try to do new thing for 30 days, and as Matt said it, from the moment you decide to change your daily routine, the moment will be memorable, valuable, and worthy.

The ELI

Mirror

Spring

2013

Issue 2, p 9

WORK &

LEISURE

Maha Alghuraibi

LEGO MINDS

Lego Mindstorms Robot

Make your own Robot!

What is a Robot? Simply it is a machine programmed by humans. It is made to do something complex or easy.

In 2012, I went to Saudi Aramco Summer Festival which had some interesting events. There was a corner for making robots and programming them. It was a really special experience for me to make a robot. Step by step, I learned how to build the robot's structure and decide what I wanted it to do.

First of all, I put elements together and installed the wheels in a correct

place. Then I started to program my robot by laptop. My robot was programmed to walk when I clapped my hands! Another robot was programmed to stop when it saw a partition. It just took half an hour to build a simple robot.

These types of robots have basic tasks. Nevertheless, many robots are made to do complex functions like medical, engineering, and industry purposes.

If you are interest in programming and robots, LEGO Company provides MindStorms product to make your own

robot! It comes with 619 elements to build a robot. Also, the programming language of the brain of robot (NXT) is basic and easy for new users. There is no difficult engineering requirement to establish LEGO robots. However, there are some books that can help you to create the robot.

In the end, because of my experience in robot project, I think that building a robot and programming it is a unique creative thing in a technology area. I recommend it to those people who like to try new things.

My first Robot in Saudi Aramco Summer Festival

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 10

WORK &

LEISURE

Noha

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


ONLINE SHOPPING

With the advancement of

technology at the

moment, people prefer to

shop online for many

reasons. Online shopping

has advantages and

disadvantages.

The most well-known

companies for online

shopping are

Amazon.com and

Ebay.com. They are

known to be the most

secure websites for online

shopping.

People can shop online

whenever they want.

Also they have more

choices of the products.

They also can save their

own time.

Another advantage for

online shopping is that it

can be delivered to your

own house. This is a great

help if you are so busy

with work.

But online shopping can

stop people from moving

and socializing with other

people which can be

considered a

disadvantage.

In my opinion, for the

best quality products, I

prefer the normal

shopping because I can be

sure that the product is

good and not broken.

In addition with online

shopping there can be

problems while delivering

the product.

Moreover online

shopping cannot always

be secure. People must

make sure before using

their credit cards on any

website over the internet

because their accounts

can be hacked.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2

WORK & LEISURE

Maha

Alghuraibi My source:

Mind Map

"A Mind Map is ‘the

whole-brain alternative to

linear thinking. (It) reaches

out in all directions and

catches thoughts from any

angle" - Michael Michalko,

Cracking Creativity.

If you find difficulties

when you organize your

concepts, why don’t you

try a mind map?

The brain has an

amazing power that we

must use. It has been

shown that the brain is

divided into two sections;

the right side and the left

side. The right side of the

brain is responsible for

creativity. On the other

hand, the left side is

responsible for logic and

analyzing.

A mind map is a perfect

way to help your brain to

remember what you want.

It can help you in

planning, solving

problems, creativity,

focusing, memorizing

easily and realizing the

whole idea.

What do you need in order

to draw a mind map? You

just need some empty

white papers, pens,

colors, your mind and your

imagination!

There are seven steps

to drawing a mind map.

First, start in the center

because that might give

you more freedom to go to

all directions of the map.

Second, use an image or

a shape which expresses

your main idea because

images help you to focus.

Third, use colors when

you draw your mind map.

The colors improve the

mind map, and make it

interesting and attractive.

Fourth, match branches

with the main image.

Matching the various

branches with the main

idea is an important thing

for the mind because it

works by matching. Fifth,

because straight lines

may make your brain feel

bored, your branch lines

should be curving not

straight. Sixth, try to use

key words on each line

that could make the mind

map stronger and easier

to remember. Finally,

because images help us

to memorize fast, draw

small images at branches.

I think the most

entertaining and helpful

book on mind maps is The

Ultimate Book of Mind

Maps. It was written by

Tony Buzan who is the

inventor of the mind map.

This book contains a lot of

information about the

brain’s advantages, and

the mind map’s secrets.

Hopefully, everyone will

read it and get benefits

from it; and good luck in

your life journey with mind

maps!

The mind map which is

shown above is from

www.mindtools.com

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 12

WORK &

LEISURE

Abrar alrehaili

My small project

All people have an

ambition, probably

after they

graduate or during

their studies.

When I graduated,

my goal was “don't

be without work or

a job". If I can do

anything I will do

anything.

I tried a lot of

things. I baked cup

cakes, prepared

different kinds of

cheese cakes, drew

on t-shirts,

made decoupage

and collage art.

I started to think

about my skills

and what I had

gotten from my

college education.

One of my skills

was drawing but

unusual drawing..

I like to draw on

t-shirts, and make

special t-shirts.

The first t-shirt

was for my

daughter when she

was 6 months old.

And when I

confirmed my

abilities, I painted

fifty t-shirts

in one week. The

fifty t-shirts

were for Taibah

University where I

graduated from.

That was the

beginning.

After that I got a

lot of orders from

my friends, my

family and other

people who I didn't

know before. In

fact most orders

were on the

internet.

I'm so proud and

glad of this small

project. And also

because, I reached

my goal.

Eventually, I adore

fine arts of all

kinds. And I hope

to get my big

dream.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 13

WORK &

LEISURE

Youssef

Alnajrani

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


Drifting in Saudi Arabia

Drifting in Saudi Arabia

I think Saudi Arabia is the

most popular place for

drifting. Drifting is an

interesting sport, and it has

become a new competition

between guys. There are a

lot of guys who like to drift,

but they don't think about

what will happen if they

drift without safety. They

probably will die. For

example, in my country

there are some guys who

venture by themselves.

And we read every day or

at least every week in the

newspaper about someone

who was drifting and died,

or went to the hospital.

Also the guys who are

around the drift are also in

danger, and they could die

too.

People like to drift, but they

don't have a good reason

for it. They just drift for fun

and they like to be famous

and they like to see people

clap for them and

encourage them. Some of

them drift because they

don't have a job or they

have nothing to do and

then they decide to drift .

And when they drift they

drift anywhere in the street

because they don't have a

good place for drifting and

that's one reason for the

drifters .

There are many drifters in

my country, but the best

drifters are in the capital

city, Riyadh. They are

crazy guys. They never

feel afraid and they can

drift in any car, big or

small, they don't car.

Sometimes guys go to

steal some cars for drifting,

and when they’ve finished

they leave the car on any

street or burn it.

The police in my country

can't catch some drifters

because the drifters try to

lose the police by going

inside some neighborhood.

And that is difficult for the

police .

There are also some guys

who drink, and drift and

some of them get some

drugs and then they drift.

A few of them have a gun

when they drift. Guys who

drink and have guns

sometimes kill each other

because they are

drinking, and they can’t

control themselves. Also

they show off their guns in

front of people.

These guys are generally

lazy and unsuccessful in

the school. And most of

them have been in

prison. Usually they don't

listen to their parents, and

they don’t get a good

education.

Every country in the world

has the same thing. I

hope no one does this

because it's not good for

anyone, and I hope every

country's government

help's the guys because

these guys are the future.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 14

WORK &

LEISURE

Xiao Yang

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


One of my favorite movie

The trailer of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Although I am not crazy about movies, I enjoy watching movies especially in the theater. I prefer romantic comedies and fairy tales when I see a movie. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is one of my favorite movies. It was released on March 31st 2011.

This movie talks about two men who love the same woman. The woman, who’s called Zixin Chen, works in a bank in Hong Kong. The two men are called Shenran Zhang and Qihong Fang. Henran is working at the opposite side of Zixin’s office. He

does many interesting things to make her happy.

But one day she sees her ex-boyfriend and his pregnant girlfriend, and she feels terrible. At that time, she meets Qiheng. At first, Qiheng appears like a “beggar”. After a long time, they get to know each other.

Qiheng is an architect. Because his creation failed once, he is in low spirits. She encourages Qihong to start all over again. Shenran is still making Zixin happy, but he can not be constant in love, Zixin is

disappointed in Shenran. However, Shenran knew the matter himself.

Finally, Zixin choses Shenran in the end.

The actors and actress are my favorite stars. This is one of the reasons that it appeals to me.

Both actors are famous in China, They play roles in action, romantic comedies, and many kinds of movies. The actress works in drama, movies, also she is a model.

In general this movie’s sound effects and visual effects are very nice.

THE ELI

MIRROR

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 15

TRAVEL

Mohammed-

alharbi

3rd

column


This picture was taken

when I was in Daytona

Beach (Florida). As most

of you know, Florida State

is the most beautiful state

in America.

I went there one time with

my friends during my last

vacation. I was surprised

because this was the first

time I came to Florida.

First of all I went there

with a group of people:

some of my friends and

some people who came

from Ballston and also

students from George

Mason University.

It takes around 17 hours

from Virginia to Florida.

We went there by bus. It

was a long trip, but I

enjoyed It because we

stopped 5 times to take a

break and to do whatever

we wanted like buy

something, eat, drink and

walk around to breathe

fresh air.

After that, when we

arrived in Daytona Beach,

I was very tired. Then we

rented some rooms in the

Hilton Hotel.

On the first day I met

some new friends and we

went to Daytona

International Speedway. I

really liked this place so

we took a tour around this

place for 1 hour to learn

all the different places

inside it. Then we went

back to our hotel.

After that I went down to

the beach and walked

around the downtown of

Daytona Beach. There are

many shopping centers,

coffee shops and many

different stores.

On the second day we

went to Santa Augustine,

the oldest city in the

United States. First we

woke up early at 8:00 am.

Then we take a bus to go

there. When we arrived

there, we found a camp

inside it with some small

tents and there was a lot

of interesting stuff to see.

Then we decided to go

around the area to see,

some museums and also

some ancient monuments.

We spent all the day in

Santa Augustine. I really

liked this city because I’m

interested in old historic

building. I saw many old

buildings in this city. It was

a wonderful day.

On the third day it was the

New Year Eve and many

people were on the beach

and some of them in

downtown Daytona and all

of them celebrating by

dancing. This night was

unforgettable because our

hotel had a big room so

we got into this room and

there was a lot of food to

eat with our friends. When

you picked up the food

you sat at the nice table in

front of a stage with some

activities and folk dances.

After that we went out of

the hotel to see the

Pyrotechnics.

As you see my trip to

Daytona Beach was great,

and I hope to go there

next vacation. Of course

you will also like this city,

so recommend you go

there too.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 16

TRAVEL

Afraa almowallad

A break in your routine

Potomc River

Have you tried to break your routine ? if so, it will not work if you do not visit Great Falls Park.

It is a huge unique park that contains the Potomac River and extensive forest which make a wonderful view. In addition, you will not feel bored if you go there in any season, because there are several activities you can do.

One of them, is seeing the falls. Falls are a short walk from the visitor center. Another, is horseback riding and bicycling.

There are specific places for them.

Furthermore, there is picnicking. There are many picnic tables with grills which are available. Moreover, there is white water boating and fishing. Boaters must have experience and a Virginia or Maryland license for fishing.

Last but not least, is rock climbing. You should register at the Visitors Center before climbing.

Breaking your routine is not an easy thing for

everyone, but if you try one of these activities you will have a nice day and experiences something you had not tried before in your whole life .

The ELI

Mirror

Spring

2013

Issue 2,

p 17

TRAVEL

Jessica

Guo

West Point –My Spring Break Trip

The badge of West Point

In the last month, I

and my friends went to West

Point for our Spring Break.

It was so fun there, although

the weather was not good. In

fact, because West Point is

one of the famous schools

around the world, we

decided to go there for our

Spring break.

After 5 hours, we arrived at

West Point. And before we

went in the school, every one

needed to check the passport

that we had for safety

everyday. But we were still

excited, because we were not

only there, but also we could

live in the school. Guess what?

We rented rooms in West

Point.

That was so great because

the hotel was almost 50

years old, so everything

looked so classical,

including the rooms that we

had. We stayed there for

three days.

On the Second day, we

went to the West Point

Museum and the school

campus for a visit. The

museum, not only had the

history about West Point, but

also War history. This was

not only the American wars;

bust also the wars all around

the world. And in the school,

we saw a majestic church.

The tour conductor told us:

“every student of West Point

needs to keep three words in

their mind: duty, honor,

and country. These

three words mean

anything.”

Although the journey

to West Point was not

long enough, but only a

few days, now I know

why West Point is so

famous around the

world. Because West

Point students are not

only rich, but also they

are smart, brave, fair

and kind. That is the

most important reason

that I learned in the few

days. I enjoyed myself

so much those three

days, it was my best

memories.

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


Mahshi

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p18

FOOD & DRINK

Shuruq Alahrthi

.

2nd

column


3rd

column


Mahshi is one of the

mostfamous dishes in the

Middle East. Mahshi

consists of several kinds

of vegetables stuffed with

rice and meat.

Ingredients:

1. One pound of minced beef or chicken, whatever you like.

2. Different kinds of

vegetables (as

you like).

3. One cup of rice,

washed.

4. Spices, oil, cup of

water.

5. 3 large teaspoons

of tomato sauce.

6. One medium

chopped tomato

and onion

Preparation:

First of all, carefully make

a hole in the vegetable

that you want to stuff.

Try to not break the hollow

vegetable. There are

special tools to hollow it.

It will look like this picture.

It will take some time but

believe me it’s worth it.

Let’s make the stuffing

now. Fry one chopped

onion in the oil in a pot.

Once it is golden add one

chopped tomato. Then

add the minced beef and

the spices and cook them

until they are done.

Boil the rice in water with

a little bit of salt until its

half done. After that add it

to the meat. Mix it

together with all flavors.

Next, stuff the vegetables

with the rice and meat.

Try to squeeze out as

much water as you can.

In a glass pan put the

stuffed vegetable. And

heat the oven to 350°.

In another pot fry the

chopped onion and add

the chopped tomato. Then

add the 3 teaspoons of

tomato sauce and the cup

of water too. After it boils,

put it on the top of the

stuffed vegetable.

Put the dish in the oven

for 30 minutes.

Finally, you can enjoy the

delicious mahshi.

This dish cannot be made

for one person and it is

enough for 5-7 people.

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 19

FOOD & DRINK

Maryam

Alhumaidi

caption for picture

I would like to not

only tell you about

the difference

between coffees in

different countries,

but I would like also

to share the

emotional meaning

of Arabic coffee.

At first it seemed to

me that all kinds of

coffee are pretty

much the same

even though they

have a slightly

different taste.

It is all coffee and it

can prevent a

headache and push

me to finish what I

intend to do.

After a while being

immersed in

American culture I

have realized that

the coffee I used to

drink in my country

is memorable, it

always sticks in my

mind.

Moreover, I noticed

that in every

country all over the

world they might

treat coffee as a

medication.

There is one

exception, in the Arabic Gulf there is

a lovely feeling that

can surround

people once they

drink coffee.

It is because of the

traditional way of

drinking coffee

which is seen as

part of a social

activity.

If people spend just

a short time having

coffee, coffee will

not leave any

different feeling

from other coffee.

But because we

have to drink it in a

group of people and

enjoy sharing that

moment, it gives us

the magic of coffee.

Magic of coffee

The ELI Mirror

Spring 2013

Issue 2, p 20

More Fieldtrip

Pictures

Jefferson Memorial by Shuruq

Tidal Basin cherry blossoms by

Hae Sung

Washington Munument by Faisal

Reflecting Pool by Shatha

Washington Monument by

Shuruq

Martin Luther King Monument by Majedh

the eli mirror

Documents

eli students

eli mirror spring

eli newspaper spring

eli program administrator

pictures eli field trip

eli mirror cover article

xiao yang contents eli

lincoln memorial