Day 37: Perfect Integral

Monday: March 31, 2014

Today as I was taking notes for calculus class, a magical thing happened. The clouds parted, a single sun beam shone onto my paper, angels began to sing, and for a split second my pen was enchanted. In that moment, my paper was graced with the perfect integral sign. I don't think I'll live to see it again.

Day 36: Sugar Addiction

Sunday: March 30, 2014

One of my favorite soft drinks in the world is strawberry Fanta, because it's incredibly sweet. If I'm not mistaken, the sodas sold here in the Middle East are made with real sugar and not artificial sweeteners. I have no idea who this little character is on the side of the can, but she seems just as enthusiastic about the stuff as I am.

Day 35: Modern Art

Saturday: March 29, 2014

When I go for runs, I like to pass the time a little by making up stories about the people that live in the houses. I know for a fact that this family has a nanny and a cute dog. I like to imagine that the dad is a business executive with a funky side. He's all seriousness, except for his eccentric ties. The mom is probably a former lawyer who found herself in the domestic sphere, so she's turned to using her negotiation skills to argue with the other soccer moms. They should have two kids with ruddy cheeks and cute curls, both in elementary school. Overall, the family is lovely but life in Dubai has left them with an air of pretentiousness. Which explains this useless piece of art.

Day 34: Just A Trim, Please

Friday: March 28, 2014

It always makes me sad to see trees with their branches lopped off. I understand that in this community, it's important that trees don't grow too big, otherwise they pose a threat to people and property. Even so, I don't like seeing them so naked. The trees remind me of when I go to the hairdresser to take care of split ends, and leave with nearly a foot of hair chopped off.

Day 33: Jewelry Holder

Thursday: March 27, 2014

I've had this jewelry holder for several years now. It holds all of my favorite necklaces. One of them is a heart pendant I received from a friend shortly before I moved away. Another is a golden one seen in the bottom right corner, it looks like a woven thread. I received that one from a friend as well, for my birthday. 

Day 32: Rain, Rain

Wednesday: March 26, 2014

I woke up to the sound of rain pounding against my window. I really like rain, as long as I can stay warm and inside, and blast Bon Iver to set the mood. We usually don't get rain this late into the year. Either way, I'm not complaining.

Day 31: Cluttered Desk, Cluttered Mind

Tuesday: March 25, 2014

I really like this quote by Albert Einstein, "If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" I'm not condoning messiness, but I must say there is a method to my madness, especially in terms of organization. To an innocent onlooker, my desk is chaotic. But I know where everything is, and yes, I do need to have my batteries and sparkles easily accessible. 

Day 30: Go Get 'Em, Tigress

Monday: March 24, 2014

I have these motivational placards plastered on my wall. As silly as it sounds, they really help me with motivation because I'm reminded to keep on keeping on. I also like how the bright colors complement the rest of my room.

Day 29: Armed Forces Officers Club

Sunday: March 23, 2014

I passed by the Armed Forces Officers Club and really liked the architectural design of the gate. Plus, that guard leaning on the cart is just so sassy.

Day 28: Sunshine and Sunflowers

Saturday: March 22, 2013

I went for a run (if you can't tell, I like running in my neighborhood) and saw these pretty flowers. Sunflowers don't typically grow here, so someone must like them enough to have them imported. I also liked the way the sun shone in from the right corner. Overall this picture makes me very happy.

Day 27: The Withdrawal

Friday: March 21, 2013

I'm still so elated that I got to go to the concert yesterday with all of my youth group friends. I have my ticket saved and I still can't bring myself to take off my wristbands.

Day 26: Passion/ Chris Tomlin Concert

Thursday: March 20, 2014

Today I attended a Passion/ Chris Tomlin Concert in Abu Dhabi. What's really amazing is that a Christian oriented event was able to go on smoothly here in the Middle East. I loved all the songs, and the sermon. The energy was amazing, and I'd love to attend one again in the future.

Day 25: Life of a Homeschooler

I'm often asked what my daily schedule as a homeschool student entails. I do all the same work as any student attending a brick-and-mortar school, laboratory assignments included. My set up may look a little different, considering I have to make use of my resources and surroundings. Here is a shot of one trial of my physics lab regarding simple and complex machines.

Day 24: Tiles and Tessellations

I'm aware that this ceiling isn't quite a tessellation. The pattern is more of a Fibonacci based one, like the petals of a flower. I really like the contrast between the bright blue and gold detailing. I want to say it's Byzantine inspired, but I'm not too sure.

Day 23: Watermelon Refresher

Today I had a watermelon juice. I don't know if watermelons are in season, but this juice was fairly good. It was sweet and the seeds had been filtered out, which I like.

Day 22: (Soy) Milk and Cookies

I have lots of food allergies, including but currently not limited to eggs, lactose, and mussels/scallops. My egg allergy in particular means I can't eat traditionally cooked cakes, pastries, fried foods, and many dressings, just to name a few off-limit items. I found these cookies that cater to all of my allergies, and also taste pretty good. I'm very happy.

Day 21: Metro Ride 2.0

Saturday: March 15, 2014

I took a metro ride and snapped this photo before boarding the train. The metro is a really great way to get around the city, because its inexpensive and it reaches many places throughout central Dubai. It's my favorite mode of transport because I can go independently, and there isn't any traffic.

Day 20: Desert Bowl

Friday: March 14, 2014 also known as Pi Day

Today my little brother's American football team had their Desert Bowl Championship. The league has really grown, and this is a very big deal. Unfortunately, they lost 35-14. I'm still very proud of my brother (number 82 second from left) and his team because they accepted defeat with grace.

Day 19: Duality

Thursday: March 13, 2013

This photograph is full of dualities. Black and white, English and Arabic, East meets West. You'll notice that there are "regular" rules, such as no littering and no pets within the park. But there are also more unusual requests, such as no shisha and dressing in accordance to local customs. This typically means shoulders and knees should be covered.

Day 18: Highway Life

Wednesday: March 12, 2013

I took this photo while my dad drove. This past week there's been a shift in weather, including winds that have brought in sandstorms. As a result, my sinuses have been acting up and the sky is perpetually cloudy. Not even the skyline is visible anymore.

Day 17: Stop! قف!

Tuesday: March 11, 2014

After more than three years in the Middle East, I tend to look over the bilingual signs every where. It seems almost natural to have signs in both Arabic and English. The stop sign is pronounced "hafeh." It doesn't even really translate to "stop," it more along the lines of "hold on!"

Day 16: Hearts On Hearts

Monday: March 10,  2014
I decided to coordinate my accessories today. Not pictured is my heart themed tank top. I'm a bit late to the whole love season. 

Day 15: Run Around the Neighborhood

Sunday: March 9, 2014

I've been taking advantage of the nice weather and going outside when possible. I love running outdoors, especially when the heat isn't too stifling. I snapped this shot as I went around a corner.

Day 14: Bless This House

Saturday: March 8, 2014

Several years ago, my family and I took a trip to Cairo, Egypt. This was before the Arab Spring and things got crazy in the nation. We purchased this papyrus scroll that its supposed to say "bless this house" in Egyptian Arabic. None of us can read Egyptian Arabic, so weren't not one hundred percent certain.

Day 13: Metro Ride

Friday: March 7, 2014

Today I took the metro to my youth group meeting. The sun was setting and I captured the reflection of the sun on the buildings as we sped by.

Day 12: Tiny Tacos

Thursday: March 6, 2014

My family and I went out to a Mexican restaurant for a light lunch. Instead of entrees, we ordered a bunch of appetizers. The photos for these tacos were apparently enlarged to show texture, because they were much smaller than expected, measuring about 2 inches long.

Day 11: The Tomato Huller

Wednesday: March 5, 2014

This tomato huller confused me. My family and I went into Crate and Barrel to pick up some kitchen utensils. I saw this and had no idea such an invention existed. What a time to be alive.

Day 10: Pool Day

Tuesday: March 4, 2014

The weather's been nice and warm as of late. My little brother begged to go to the pool. I agreed on the condition that I could just watch and take pictures. I'm not quite brave enough to bear the cool water just yet. I'm satisfied just dipping my toes.

Day 9: Trinket Box

Monday: March 3, 2014

Last year, I took an old storage box and upcycled it. I printed out a vintage map and pasted it to the cover. I use it to store my favorite trinkets, including currency from around the world, pretty ribbons, glitter hearts, and printed Instagram photos.

Day 8: City skyline

Sunday: March 2, 2014

My family and I went for a drive in downtown Dubai, and I snapped this photo of the skyline. The lone, skinny building that sticks out is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Day 7: Cycling Track

Saturday: March 1, 2014

My family and I went to the Nad Al Sheba cycling track for an afternoon of family exercise. It's an amazing, safe place to go cycle (or jog) and there are a few distances available. We each did the 8 km track twice, except for my dad, who did it thrice. This was my "victory face" after completing my two loops.