Monday, February 25, 2013

مما شاهدت في المانيا



iswi دون ادنى شك, كان يوم وصلتني رسالة من
من اسعد ايام حياتي اذ تم قبولي للمشاركة في ملتقى للطلبة في المينو 2011 قرب فرانكفرت
و ذلك يعني انني سأقضي 10 ايام في الدولة التي طالما حلمت بزيارته
كانت توقعاتي عالية, و لحسن الحظ لم يخب ظني بل عدت بحماس اكبر.
و في 2012 تم قبولي للمشاركة في مهرجان اخر في شمال المانيا ,حماسي هذه المرة كان حقا اكبر و اعظم.
بداية, زيارة المانيا كانت بمثابة بهجة لعيني, و كمعجبة كبيرة بتميز اسلوبها المعماري و ازقتها المرصوفة
وانه لمن المدهش كيف استطاعت المانيا ان ترمم و تعيد بناء كل البنايات القديمة التي هدمت خلال الحرب العالمية الثالثة و المحافظة على قيمه التفافية البنايات السوفياتية في الشمال هي من اكثر ما اثارني
تلك البنايات تجدها في كل الدول السوفياتية سابقا, لم تعد تظهر بنفس الشكل الكئيب و المظلم
فقد باتت واجهاتها مبتهجة بالوان زاهية كما تعطي الزهور جل نوافذها
و مما اعجبني كفاحهم و ابتكارهم لطرق جديدة لتحول كل ما في المدن الى شئ جميل يسر الناظرين
.الشباب ايضا يمثلون جزءا كبيرا من هده المبادرة, و يعملون في مختلف المشاريع
الرسومات الرائعة على الجدران هي من بين نتائج هده المبادرات الاكثر وضوحا
و لست اتحدث عن اعمال الهواة التخريبية و انما الاعمال الفنية التي تضفي روعة و اضافة خاصة لجو المدينة
بالطبع, الناس تحمل في نفسها معتقدات و احكام مسبقة عن كل دولة
و اكثر هده الاحكام شيوعا عن المانيا تتعلق بمدى انضباطهم فيما يخص المواعيد, و من خلال تجربتي يمكنني القول بان القطارات و الحافلات يمكنها ان تتأخر عن موعدها الى ما يناهز النصف ساعة
لكن هذا لا يحصل دائما , و القاعدة هنا ان المواصلات دائما تتبع مواعدها بشكل جيد
و من الاحكام التي تطلق عن الامان انهم يتعاملون بمشاعر باردة و قلة ترحيب ازاء بالأجانب ,لم احادث الكثير من كبار السن
.لكن الشباب كانوا في قمة الترحيب و تقبل اختلاف التفافات
لا تنس اخد وجبة خفيفة عند ذهابك الى حفلة هنا في المانيا فالمضيف ليس من المفترض ان يتكفل بالتوفير الطعام و الشراب
للحاضرين, ولا تنس ان تحمل معك نصف دولار او دولار لدخول المحال التجارية
كل المحالات التجارية تكون مقفلة ايام الاحد و في الاغلب لا تفتح ابوابها ايام السبت الا بعد الساعة الرابعة زوالا
و توقع ايضا ان تقتني اروع المثلجات التي تباع في اكشاك خاصة صغيرة على اطراف الشوارع
و من الغريب هنا ان تمن قارورة ماء يفوق ثمن جعة ,و جهز نفسك لان تقوم بعزل النفايات لكي يتم اعادة تصنيعها فيما بعد.
وعلى العكس من مالدوفا, فالمقاهي و الحدائق لا يوجد بيها ولوج مجاني للأنترنت, كما ان تمن تذكارات المواصلات باهض الا انه تمن مستحق للمناظر الطبيعية التي
ستراها عبر النافدة اثناء التنقل. كما انك ستشاهد اثناء السفر العديدة من التوربينات و اللوحات الشمسية التي تولد الطاقة و كذا حقول مليئة بأكوام القش
.و بلا شك فالدراجة هنا هي واحدة من اهم وسائل المواصلات هنا

العيش في المانيا لمده عشرين يوما علمني ان الامان جد مسؤولين عن حياتهم و يهتمون بمستقبل بلادهم
كل شيء هنا مثال حي على ان لهذه الدولة مبادئ راسخة تتبع التقاليد و هي مثال يجب على باقي الدول الاحتذاء به

و اني لأتوق لزيارتها مجددا

 ارينا بريكيدوفا
 شيسينو , مولدوفا

Friday, February 22, 2013

فن الخط العربي


كلمة الخطاطة في حد ذاتها, كلمة مأخوذة من اليونانية و التي تعني الكتابة "بخط يد جميل" و نخص هنا اللغة العربية
فن الخط العربي هو بالأساس شكل من اشكال الفنون الاسلامية التي تعبر عن
.الجماليات التصويرية, و تظهر الملكة الفنية و الابداع
تعبر برموز بسيطة عن الوحدة و الجمال و القوة من خلال جمالية الفن .خصوصا كونها كانت اول وسيلة للحفاظ و ايصال القران الكريم
فن الخطاطة بات يشكل في حد ذاته فنا, اكبر الخطاطين عملوا جاهدين لكي يجعلوا منه ما هو عليه حاليا فن متميز بكل المقاييس.
و بالإضافة الى ذلك, فان الخطاطات العربية و الفارسية و التركية العثمانية نجدها بكثرة الى جانب زخرفات عربية, تكسوا اسقفة و جدران المساجد و .هي تمثل جزءا مهما من الثقافة العربية
ان القواعد الجمالية التي تحدد الخط العربي ما هي الا انعكاس للقيم الثقافية للعالم الاسلامي
و البحث في الفروقات الموجودة بين فن الخطاطة العربي و الغير العربي قد يكون وسيلة لفهم خبايا و مميزات كل ثقافة على حده, فمن المستحيل ان .تتخيل الحضارة الاسلامية دون فن الخط العربي
نبع تطور الخط العربي من مخطوطات الشمال العربي, والتي تأثرت بالكتابة النبطية التي شهدت ازدهارا في الشمال الشرقي مع مطلع القرن الخامس خصوصا بين القبائل العربية التي كانت تقطن الحيراء و الانبار
و امتدت بعد ذلك الى الحجاز و غرب الجزيرة العربية و قد ساهم حرب ابن امية في نشرها بين الفئة الأرستقراطية من اهل قريش
.قبيلة الرسول مجمد صل الله عليه و سلم
و رغم ان المصادر العربية القديمة تصنف انماط الخط حسب المدن التي كانت تستخدم فيها, فان هاته الاصناف يمكن تقسيمها الى شقين اساسين مع اختلافات بسيطة بين الاسلوبين
و هما الاسلوب الجاف و الدي ينحدر منه الخط الكوفي
.و النمط الرطب و الذي اسس للمخطوطات النصية الموجودة
.و قد طرأ على الخط العربي عبر مرور التاريخ عدة تغييرات, وكذا تأثر بأشكال الكتابة الاقليمية و التاريخية
الاساليب الاكثر اعتمادا حاليا هي : الخط الكوفي و اسلوب النسخ و الرقعة و الثلث و الديواني و الفارسي
و بذلك يعتبر الخط العربي من اجمل و انقى اشكال الفن, وبكل اختلافاته و تعدد أساليبه فهو من ارقى الفنون في عصرنا الحالي,


احمد وحيد
القاهرة مصر




Monday, February 18, 2013

To the North


I must be a different kind of bird. All the birds fly from cold places to warm places, but I love to go to Nordic countries in the winter. There, there is a different kind of warmth and cosiness. For two winters in a row I went to Norway and afterwards Finland, and I fell in love with the snowflakes, the whiteness all around and wearing lots of layers of clothing.
In Denmark the feeling is called hyggelig - the feeling of cosiness, of candles near the window, and the good interesting talks with your friends.
Some people say that Germans are the best at always being on time and keeping order, but if so, they haven’t met Nordic people. If the bus is at 23.24, the bus arrives exactly at 23.24. They try to be green and sustainable, walk if they can walk, take the bus, or take the bike, leave newspapers on the bus for other people to read. Never hurry, never make noise in public, never yell in public, or argue on the streets. Of course sometimes they don’t even talk to you on the street, but if you ask something, you will definitely get an answer.
I like their student traditions, I like that their universities make them go around the world and meet different people, different cultures and traditions, different religion.


Walking on the street you feel safe, no matter if it’s 3 pm or 3 am.
And, of course, their women are very beautiful. Sometimes you may feel that people are sort of shy or they don’t really trust to share more, but it is just a matter of time.  Nordic people have to get used to the way you are, and after this you will see how they really are.
When I’m old I will retire to one of the Scandinavian countries. But till then I still have on my to-visit-list: Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
And you may ask: why? Why go and see how other people live, what they’re like and what they believe in? The answer is simple: it is not about them, we are selfish humans, so it is all about us. It is the road we have to take to discover ourselves, to see what our soul desires and where we can call home.

All the adventures, all the stories you will tell to your grandchildren, are all a part of you, and it is up to you whether you have enough courage to accept this part of you, or rather ignore it and live life on the safe side.


Bon voyage.



By Alexandru Lebedev
Chisinau, Moldova

For futher stories from Alex, visit:




Friday, February 15, 2013

Tunisia 2012: A Transition Period

I know that physically, I look like a completely different girl to the one who left Edinburgh in March.  My level of attention to my appearance is probably about 10% of what is was.  Gone are the days of fake tan, false eyelashes and skyscraper heels. Gone, and good riddance I might add!

Even in my personality I'm told there is a change, but it's been harder for me to recognise.  I've always known who I am on the inside, it was being comfortable enough to reflect that on the outside that was difficult.

The pressure I felt as a young woman in the U.K was not only about aesthetics, although that in itself is enough to make anyone crumble quicker than a dropped compact.  It was the daily rat race to perfection, to have a dazzling night life, dream job, dream wardrobe, planned holidays, sporadic weekends and of course, not forgetting to photograph every single moment for Facebook, just in case others were in doubt that you do in fact love your life.  Or not.  

I probably fooled most.  Thank God I didn't fool myself.  Coming to Tunisia was one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

One of the first things that struck me about Tunisia, is the lack of advertisements.  Where on earth was all the stuff I HAD to buy?  And where were those perfect half naked woman that were put on this earth to make the rest of us mere humans feel bad about ourselves?  Everything that was so real, so part of my everyday life at home, had dissolved somewhere between the North Sea and North Africa.  There also isn't the same culture of celebrity and gossip magazines.   After 6 months without it, when I was faced with a copy of 'Heat'  magazine, I remember feeling genuinely offended by what was being said to me, both implicitly and explicitly.   Telling me 21 ways to have higher self-esteem whilst humiliating the poor reality TV star who has put on a few pounds.  


Now it goes without saying that there are pressures on women here too, each society has it's own problems. However as a 'westerner' coming here, it's like a cleansing of the mind.  I feel like I've regained a human sense of reality, with real human values at the core.  So what's important?  The same things that deep down we all care about in the U.K, family, friends and being a good person.  The difference is that here, these things take priority, without exception.  The western world teaches us to focus on the things on the surface and that that will make us happy on the inside.  In Tunisia, it's the contrary.


I watch teenage girls here going to school, in their trainers, jeans and blazer, looking liked fresh-faced children, which is what they are.  They're not plastered with make-up and dressed like girls in their twenties.  We need to take a good look at our youth in the U.K, at our young women and ask ourselves, how does our society nurture them?  Because as long as we continue to churn out images of unrealistic beauty and scathing attacks on women deemed 'too fat' or 'ugly', the '21 ways to better self-esteem' will be lost in the bottom of the make-up bag.  And I think, they deserve better.

This post is dedicated to my dear friend Lucia Spata.  'Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not discovered until they arrive.'

For futher stories from Kimberly, visit:

http://hurriyah-tunisia.blogspot.com/



By Kimberly Davidson 
Edinburgh, the United Kingdom


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Austria - mountains and cities



I like to travel. It has the power to remind me of the beauty and wonder that surround us which we can easily forget while too involved in the uproar of our daily lives. But this very beauty is what keeps us optimistic and full of the joy of life. These feelings are extremely important to live a happy live.

Of the European countries I have visited lately, one which impressed me a lot is Austria. I visited it in the summer and, although there was no snow in the mountains, what I saw in there dazzled me, and I would now include it in my list of favorite countries. So, what is it that I liked about Austria? Well, a lot of things.
First of all, the Austrian culture is rich and deeply rooted in its people and society. Proof of the importance of Austria’s people are the old architectural artworks that have not only survived hundreds of years of wars and changing environments, but also look like they were built last year.

There is also an impressive agenda of cultural events which take place weekly and sometimes daily in Vienna and other cities of the country. These events are always very well organised and coordinated, thus there is a sense of quality every such event. But Austrian people do not only organise good events, they like to see quality everywhere around, from their work and home environments, to the wild nature and the hills that cover the whole country, as even their meadows are richly full.

Austria is a country which can serve as an example not only to a developing country like ours, but also to other developed western countries.  Austria is the result of hundreds of years of history. Its monuments stand as proof of the history of its people and its cities are at the heart of newest technologies and the latest developments. It is a country that must be visited by every traveller and every person who wants to learn from this successful country to make their own country better.





By Zadnipru Maria
Chisinau, Moldova


Sunday, February 10, 2013

The Art of Arabic Calligraphy




The word calligraphy itself, taken from the Greek kallos (beauty) and graphy (writing), is literally understood in the West as ‘beautiful (hand) writing’ of the Arabic language.

Arabic calligraphy is a primary form of art for Islamic visual expression and creativity.  It is a very simple symbol representing unity, beauty, and power through art, especially as it was the primary means of preservation and transmission of the Qur’an (the holy book of Islam).  Today Arabic calligraphy has become, in itself, art. 
Great artistic calligraphers have worked hard to make it the brilliant art that we have today.  As well as this, Arabic, Persian and Ottoman Turkish calligraphy are associated with abstract arabesque motifs on the walls and ceilings of mosques and it is a very important part of Arab culture.  The aesthetic principles of Arabic calligraphy are a reflection of the cultural values of the Muslim world. Thorough investigation into the aesthetic differences between Arabic and non-Arabic calligraphy might provide an approach for understanding the essential spirit of each culture. It is impossible to imagine Islamic civilization without Arabic calligraphy.
Arabic calligraphic development stemmed from the North Arabic script, influenced by the Nabataean script, which was established in north-eastern Arabia and flourished in the 5th century among the Arabian tribes who inhabited Hirah and Anbar. It spread to Hijaz in western Arabia and its use was popularised among the aristocracy of the Quraysh, the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad, by Harb ibn Ummayyah.
Although early Arabic sources mention several calligraphic styles in reference to the cities in which they were used, they generally fit into two broad categories with only some minor variations. These categories are the "dry styles," the early predecessors of Kufic, and the "moist styles," the early predecessors of the cursive family of scripts.
Historically Arabic script has undergone different reformations, as well as being influenced by regional and epochal writing styles. Today the main styles are the Kufic script, Naskh style, Riq’a, Thuluth, Diwanii and Farsi.

We consider Arabic calligraphy to be one of the most precious unspotted art forms, elegant in its own right, this being a round-up of applications of the Arabic calligraphy in the real world.

By Ahmed Wahid
Cairo,Egypt




Monday, February 4, 2013

My impressions about Germany



Without any doubt, one of the happiest day of my life was the day I received an e-mail from ISWI. I had been accepted as a participant at a festival for students in Ilmenau in 2011 – near Frankfurt. It meant a 10 day holiday in the country I had always wanted to visit. My expectations were high and, fortunately, I came back even more excited. And in 2012 I was accepted to another festival – GrIStuF, in the north of Germany. The excitement was even greater.
First of all, visiting Germany was a delight for my eyes, as I am a big fan of its architectural style and paved streets. It’s amazing how Germans managed to reconstruct the old buildings destroyed in  WWII and preserve their cultural values. The Soviet buildings in the north impressed me the most. These buildings, so common in every former-Soviet country, no longer look depressing and ugly. The facades are coloured and have flowers at windows. It’s amazing how they fight for creativity and try to transform everything into something beautiful. Young people are also involved, taking part in different projects. The most visible results are the extraordinary paintings on walls. I’m not talking about amateur vandalism, but artistic graffiti that adds something special to the city’s atmosphere.
Of course, people hold a lot of stereotypes about any country. The most common stereotype about Germans concerns their punctuality. From my experience, I can say that their trains and buses can be late by up to 30 minutes. But this doesn’t happen all the time. As a rule, the transport is always on time and follows the schedule.
Another stereotype is based upon their cold behavior toward foreigners. I didn’t talk much to elder people, but young people are receptive and welcome cultural diversity.
When going to a party in Germany, don’t forget to buy the snacks, as the host isn’t supposed to provide you with food or drinks. Always have some 50 cent or one euro coins to slot into the supermarket trolley. Remember that on Sunday the shops are closed and on Saturday, in general, they are only open till 4.00PM. Expect to buy delicious ice cream on the streets at special machines or kiosks. And be aware that a bottle of water can be more expensive than a beer. Be prepared to recycle and sort the rubbish. Unlike in Moldova, they don’t always have free Wi-Fi in parks or cafés. Transport tickets are very expensive, but it’s worth the money. Also, when travelling, the landscape outside the window will include lots of wind turbines, roofs covered with solar panels and beautiful rolls of hay in the fields. And, unarguably, the bike is one of the most important mean of transport.
Travelling and living for 20 days in Germany, proved to me that Germans are responsible about their life and care about the future. Each small thing in Germany is living proof that this nation has strong values, follows traditions and can serve as a model for other countries. I can't wait to visit Germany again.


By Peregudova Irina  
Chisinau, Moldova