Hokie

40

2007-09-01T10:14:00.000-04:00

در تصاویر حكاكی شده بر سنگهای تخت جمشید هیچكس عصبانی نیست. هیچكس سوار بر اسب نیست. هیچكس را در حال تعظیم نمیبینید. هیچكس سر افكنده و شكست خورده نیست .هیچ قومی بر قوم دیگر برتر نیست و هیچ تصویر خشنی در آن وجود ندارد . از افتخارهاي ایرانیان این است كه هیچگاه برده داری در ایران مرسوم نبوده است در بین صدها پیكره تراشیده شده بر سنگهای تخت جمشید حتی یك تصویر برهنه و عریان وجود ندارد

39

2007-07-26T11:14:00.000-04:00

Be who you are and enjoy it. That’s hard when you give an advice and see someone is using it against you.
I learned to live my life and enjoy my happiness. I am a positive person and love whatever I have in my life. I love dreaming about brighter future. I enjoy whatever I achieved and look forward to whatever I am going to accomplish.
I love people for who they are, not for who I want them to be. I enjoy being around people. I know that I spent a lot of energy for my friends and really care about them, hence I should be careful. Some people don’t believe on honesty and love, they are the ones without true happiness. Enjoy every moment of every day and see the beauty of Life.

38

2007-07-19T14:21:00.000-04:00

ایران زمین کجاست

هر روز خبرها را می خونم و روزی نیست که آه نکشم یا تاسف نخورم برآنچه بر مردم و مملکت می رود. هر روز به این فکر می کنم که چگونه ملتی دچار چنین سرنوشتی می شود؟ به جوانانی فکرمی کنم که سرشارند از شور زندگی ولی یاس از دیدگانشان موج می زند. فقط نزدیک به 4 ساله که اومدم بیرون وهمیشه شاد و خندان و امیدوار بودم ولی از وقتی اومدم بیرون می فهمم زیر چه فشاری زندگی می کردم. فشاری که انرژیهای زیادی رو بیهوده هدر می ده. دلم می خواد روزی برسه که از فکر کردن به ایران اشک تو چشمام جمع نشه و این ملک از سرای حسرت به سرای امید بدل بشه

37

2007-07-03T13:14:00.000-04:00

Moving Month

It is around one month that we are busy with moving from our apartment in Foxridge to a town house in South Main Street. It was a long process; we had to do a lot of work in the new place. I was expecting it to be done by last Monday. But it took more than what I thought. For whatever is wrong in the house we need to call or go to the office several times. That's how it works in the school town.
Today is the first day that I feel that we are settled in the new place, although there are still things to do. I put a lot of time, and I think it was worth it because we will live better throughout the year.
I need to focus on my research, 7 weeks of summer is already gone. There is just one more month left. I need to push it hard.

Tomorrow is Fourth of July, America's Independence Day. It is the first time that we are not traveling on this day since I came to US. In 2004 we were in Mount Rushmore South Dakota, in 2005 we were in Fargo but we left the town on July 9th to Blacksburg. Last year we were with friends in Lake Michigan and this year we are in Blacksburg in our new house. I heard that Blacksburg has nice fireworks, so I am excited to go and watch it.

36

2007-06-09T22:07:00.001-04:00

PERSEPOLIS by Marjan Satrapi

کتاب پرسپولیس نوشته مرجان ساتراپی را روز 31 می از همسر گرامی کادو گرفتم. جای همگی خالی مدتها بود که اینجوری از خواندن لذت نبرده بودم. این کتاب دو قسمت داره. کتاب اول خاطرات بچگی مرجان را در ایران در دوران انقلاب و جنگ تصویر می کند. داستان کاملا واقعی و نقاشیها فوق العاده است. این کتاب واقعییتهای تلخ زندگی ما را در آن دوران به نحوی بسیار دلپذیر بیان می کند. کلی خاطره برام زنده شد

35

2007-06-09T12:59:00.000-04:00

I received my laptop (INSPIRON 6400) and my American Red Cross lifeguarding/First Aid card yesterday. This post is from my new computer. It is a gift from my dear husband. He ordered it last week on Monday June 4th. I was expecting to receive it by the end of the month, but it came earlier. I am really happy about it.

It seems that it will be a very busy summer for me.

The first month went by very fast.

First we went to Forward to Professorship conference in DC from May 16th to 18th and after that a trip around Virginia until May 21th.

After coming back I dived into my research to finish all left over’s from spring research and prepare the finalized version of the journal paper I was preparing.

Meanwhile I finished the lifeguarding class and passed the exams on May 31st. It felt really good passing the written exam with highest score and then passing the practical part without any problem gave me a boost of confidence. I felt I am still capable of accomplishing the things that I really enjoy. the next step is training certificate.

I finished the paper and all the revisions on Sunday June 3rd. The final results were very promising. I really liked the way I managed everything in the last 2 weeks of work.

Last week was mostly getting some rest, organizing my thoughts, cleaning the papers and planning for future.

In a week we are going to move to a town house in south Main Street. I am excited about going to a new place, but I will definitely miss this apartment. I have a lot of good memories in this apartment. Our life has changed a lot during the past two years.

I need to start to study for my prelim exam. It will be much easier to study now, when I have the laptop and I can sit anywhere and study and work.

34

2007-05-10T13:50:00.000-04:00

To my family:

I find myself thinking of many good memories we've shared ...
Happy times we laughed, our way through and troubled times when you helped me just by being there.
Each memory is special and each one makes me look forward to a day that we can spend many more good times together in the years ahead.

I love you and missed you so much.

33

2007-01-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

Our Christmass Vacation

We had a great christmass break this year. We had 10 days road trip from Virginia to Texas and back. In our way we passed though 10 states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia.

It was a wonderful experience. The best part of our trip was on Christmass day which we were in Atlanta in the morning and arrived in New Oleans at night. I loved Austin in Texas, and Memphis in Tennessee.

We had a great time in Dallas, and the 2007 party was awesome. I hope a year full of success and happiness for my family and friends.

32

2006-11-07T20:43:00.000-05:00

Is talking the easiest or hardest thing to do?

I went to a negotiations and conflict resolution workshop and learned there are techniques and methods to relate to people effectively.

I wished everyone had the opportunity to learn the right ways of talking and negotiating; it could save lots of energy and solve lots of misunderstandings.

I will try to write about what I learned later.

31

2006-11-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

When you do something that you always dreamed of and you feel that everything is possible. Age doesn't matter, desire is the only thing that matters.

30

2006-10-16T13:18:00.000-04:00

Dance of Nations

I will dance again in Dance of Nations on Friday october 20th.
We will perform Kereshme and Babakaram.

See the poster of event!

29

2006-10-16T13:10:00.000-04:00

Fitness Assesment Test

Last Thurseday I did a Fitness Assesment Test to see what is my fitness level. Despite my feelings the results was not that bad. My flexibility and push ups were among 90% top percent of the table, my sit ups was in 80% range. My Endurance in cradio was good. So the results show I am a fit and healthy person with 15% extra fat, which I am planning to loose.

The result showed that I have still strong body and I can work out as much as I want. I will push my self hard like old days. You will see. I will go back to my high school and undergrad life style, but this time all grown up and ready to keep everything for the rest of life.

28

2006-10-13T15:54:00.000-04:00

This post is for Rasa. Last week he told me update this blog or close it. This is the first time that I found time to think freely and write. Although I wished to write in Farsi, but the software he sent me didn't work, so again here I am with a new english post.

Last weekend on Saturday we went for a hike. It was very nice and strange weather. We went all the way up to Dragon Tooth peak in fog. It was the first hike in US that felt like hiking in Iran. I felt that I really missed Kolakchal, Darake, Shirpala, ... and more than that all memories of our hike with Mohammad and Rasa.

Both me and Rasa started hiking with Mohammad, our first hike was on Friday Farvardin 13th, 1378. We went to Spilet peak. It was a new experience and very pleasant one. After that Chin-kalagh, next was Tochal. The hike that I never forget and wish to do it once more in my life.

Last weekend I also remembered another thing. The time that I was studying with Mani and Rasa and helping them with their math and physics courses, and I felt guilty. I felt that I didn't have enough patience with them. I thought that I could have done better job, specially with Rasa. I know I never meant to heart his feelings and just wanted to push him.

The last thing that really took me to home and got me off gaurd was our neighbor's son violin sound. Nobody can imagine that how close it was to my heart. I went years back, when Rasa first started to play violin.

I had a really busy week. I will post more often and put some pictures.

27

2006-09-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

RAFTING
Lower Gauley (Sunday September 10th)

26

2006-08-25T20:01:00.000-04:00

Summer
It was a different summer this year.
Right after Spring semester, our friend came from Canada, and the week after that we went to Florida for 4 days, Daytona Beach and Orlando.
My favorite month was June. It started with my trip to New York, Manhattan. It was really good, it was the first time that I drove out of the town and in high way. In two days we finished most of important places in Manhattan. Places like Liberty Island, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum, ... This city was full of energy. The week after that my swimming classes and Tennis and Ballet lessons began.
It was the first summer since I came to US that I started something new. Learning Tennis was very new and strange experience for me.
Then for 4thof July holidays we went to Chicago and camped in Michigan Lake area. I enjoyed camping with a group of sixteen people. Dodge ball in the water, Beach Football and Vollyball was quit fun.
After that July was kind of slow. I just concentrated on research and tennis.
The second week of August we had guests, and now summer is now over.

25

2006-08-25T02:05:00.000-04:00

I am back again.
The school year started from this Monday August 21st. It is amazing how time flies, my last post was in May and I can't believe that now summer is over.
I wanted to come earlier, but to be honest with you I forgot my username and password and for a while I was trying to get it back.
Anyways I will update here more often. Come here every now and then.

24

2006-05-07T22:37:00.000-04:00

رسا جان تولدت مبارک

این روزها بیست سال خاطره رو پیش خودم مرور و برای بیست سال آینده کلی آرزوهای خوب کردم. همیشه تندرست و شاد و پیروز باشی

23

2006-04-15T12:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry for not updating regularly. Actually there is alot going on here in Blacksburg since March. We activate Iranian club here in VT and were busy handeling New Year's ceremonies (Chahar shanbe Souri, Nowruz, and Sizdah be dar). Then it was International week and Street Fair event on last Sunday April 9th.
We presented Iran. We had a booth, served the food (Lubia Polo, Mast o khiar, and Shole Zard), showed our handcraft, and pictures from Iran. Dancing with costumes was the other part of street fair. People loved our energetic dance. It was lots of work, but at the day everything worked out just perfect.

It was a great experience. I saw lots of different dances and different costumes. We had the most beautiful booth in the fair and I was proud to be Iranian.

22

2006-03-31T19:42:00.000-05:00

See Azar Nafisi's talk here.

21

2006-03-20T08:53:00.000-05:00

سال نو مبارک

20

2006-01-18T18:18:00.000-05:00

Good old memories! See it you will found out what I am talking about.

19

2006-01-13T05:42:00.000-05:00

See us in this video clip !

18

2006-01-11T17:06:00.000-05:00

On January 21 we want to go to Daruish Concert in DC, it has been Mohammad's dream to be in his concert. I am really curious to see Mohammad's reaction in the concert and his idea afterwards.

It made me to think about dreams and wishes!!!

For me whatever I wished for long time and it finally came true it felt really good.

17

2006-01-09T23:34:00.000-05:00

امشب آخرین شب تعطیلات زمستانیه و از فردا رسمأ تنبلی کنار گذاشته سر کار حاضر می شم. جاتون خالی تعطیلات خیلی خوبی بود، از وقتی آمدم آمریکا تا حالا هیچ تعطیلی اینجوری خوش نگذشته بود. هم فال بود هم تماشا. یعنی هم تفریح بود و هم ورزش. اسکی و سنگ نوردی خیلی مزه داد. تجربه های جدیدی که همیشه دلم می خواست که امتحانشون کنم

به نظرم دلم برای سال 2005 تنگ بشه، سال پر فراز و نشیب ولی به یادماندنی بود. باورم نمی شه که به همه آرزوهای اول سالم رسیدم. البته شکر خدا الان چند ساله که هر سال رو با آرزویی شروع می کنم که به قولی نا ممکن بنظر می رسه و خدا را هزاران شکر که برآورده می شه. اما قضیه این سال 2005 چیزه دیگری است.این سال، سال بسیار پرباری در زندگی مشترک ما بود، سالی پر از تجربه های جدید و دور از ذهن که به پیشوازشان رفتیم و از ذره ذرهء آنها یادگرفتیم و به خود باوری رسیدیم. فکر کنم به اندازه 5 سالی بزرگتر شدم، برای همین با افتخار ماههای آخر دهه بیست زندگیم را پشت سر می گذارم وبا شور و شوق به پیشواز دهه سی می روم

16

2005-12-29T11:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Christmass and New Year

We came back from our ski trip with friends Tuesday night. We went to snowshoes mountain with a group of 13 friends. It was my first ski trip and I enjoyed it a lot.

We got to our cabin in Slatyfork farm on Friday afternoon around 4:30, then we started to put things and foods in cabinets. In the first night we had "Chelo Kabab" so soon after arival friends started to prepare everything for kabab. We smoked water pipe and played group games afterwards.

The next day we went for sking in Silver Greek area, it was a sunny and a very nice day. We bought a 2 day lift ticket. Arash thought us how to put on ski and how to start to move, how to stop. So we started going down a bunny slope, and going back up on a lift. After that we should learn how to fall and how to stand up again. Then we started to go in ski trails. It was an amazing experience. We finished the day with a delicouse "Jooje Kabab".

On Sunday we had a rainy day. Ski trails were icy and it was fog all over ski area. So we postponed our tickets for the next day. We went to the village and around the area, and then we went back to the cabin. Guys started to play pocker, we rested for a while and started to cook. After everybody got back home we started to have a dance party.

Monday was the last day in cabin, so we gathered everything and said goodbye to people who were heading back to their homes and we went to ski. It was snowy day with a very strong wind. We skied in South mountain area and learned how to make turns in the slopes. It was an unforgettable experience for me. I was done sking at 4:30 when they closed lifts, but 4 of our friends went back to sking in Silver Greek area between 7 to 9.

Our group of 7 spent the night in a hotel in the way. Tuesday noon was the time to say goodbye and head back to our town Blacksburg. Full of good memories and joy.

15

2005-12-21T17:05:00.000-05:00

14

2005-12-08T18:48:00.000-05:00

زندگی مجموعه ای است از اتفاقات بزرگ و کوچک

13

2005-12-02T00:52:00.000-05:00

روز یکشنبه سیزده آذر سالگرد ازدواج بهترین پدر و مادر و عاشق ترین زوج دنیا یعنی مامان و بابای عزیز منه. از همین جا از راه دور روی هردوشون می بوسم و بهشون از صمیم قلب تبریک می گم. روزهای زندگی من پر ازشور وجودشان، گرمی خاطراتشان و وجد صدایشان است. آرزو دارم روزی دوباره سخت در آغوش بفشارمشان و در چشمان پر محبتشان خیره شوم و بگویم چقدر دوستشان دارم و به داشتن چنین پدر و مادرنازنینی افتخار می کنم

12

2005-12-01T12:05:00.000-05:00

یوهو!!!! امروز از مامان گلم ایمیل گرفتم. انقدر مزه داد که نمی دونین
گفتم بدوم بیام اینجا بنویسم که همیشه تاریخش یادم بمونه
می دونین انقدر مزه میده وقتی صبح ایمیلت و چک می کنی ، همچین نامه ای از خانواده و دوستان دریافت کنی. به هر حال مامانی جونم خوشحالم کردی و به قول بابا دلم و شاد کردی
باید از رسا هم تشکر ویژه بکنم، دستت درد نکنه مرد، من اگه تو رو نداشتم چی کار میکردم
وای من فعلا برم، کلی کار دارم. بعد برمیگردم

11

2005-11-27T10:47:00.000-05:00

November 24th is Thanksgiving Day. In this day people gather together and eat and celebrate it. We had one week break, with 2 weekends attached to it. So actually we had 10 days fall-break. Today is the last day.

To be honest, I didn't have special progress in my school works. I had just fun and rest.

Last weekend on Saturday we had potluck party in our place. It was really fun. Potluck party means that people who are invited to the party should cook and bring something with them. The host only provides the place and cooks one kind of food. We had food from all around the world, 2 appetizers from Hungry, 6 main dish, 1 Iranian and five American, 2 types of salad from Hungry, and 4 deserts, 2 from Iran, 1 from India and 1 from Hungry.

Tuesday was cleaning in our lab. You know that I am working in Nonlinear Systems Lab (NSL). So we started from 8:30, first we did clean and redecorate our office place, it was lots of work. We moved tables, selves, filing cabinets, cleaned everywhere. The worse part was mopping the floor.
In the meanwhile Craig was doing inventory and organized all working area cabinets. Then we continued our work and helped him in cleaning the working area and mopping floor. I think it was around 5:30 that we finished our hard work, but our lab looks really nice. It is neat and clean. Thursday was Thanksgiving Day and we where invited to Charlottesville for Thanksgiving dinner. Charlottesville is two and half hours away from us. We were there at 5:00 and had a wonderful traditional dinner (Stuffed Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, Mashed Potato, and Sweet Potato). We talked a lot, so much good memories that we had in Iran. The other old friends living in town came to see us. It was really good.
On Friday we went out to see the University of Virginia (UVA) Campus. This is an old beautiful school. Three of US presidents were from this school. Edgar Allan Poe was also from here.
Then we went to downtown. It had a very cute European style downtown. The day after Thanksgiving Day is a shopping day for American people. There are lots of sale and good deals. So everywhere was crowded. We went to a tea bazaar too.

We were back in Blacksburg 12:30 in the morning of the Saturday.
So it is clear that the only days that I worked a little bit was last Monday and Wednesday and yesterday.
Please pray for me, I am behind in all my courses. I have a project due and homework due on December first.

10

2005-11-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

Hokie and Space Hokie

I met Dr Charles Camarda, mission specialist of Space Shuttle Mission STS-114 last night. Dr. Charlie Camarda,PhD AOE 1990 Virginia Tech, flew on the July 26-August 9, 2005 Space Shuttle flight .

Charlie arrived at NASA soon after receiving a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, and began work as a research scientist at the Langley Research Center in 1974. He has worked on numerous shuttle component developments, and holds seven patents on various innovations. Among them is NASA's Heat-Pipe-Cooled Sandwich Panel, named one of the top 100 technical innovations of 1983 by Industrial Research Magazine.

A childhood dream of being an astronaut was realized in 1996, when he was named a mission specialist and began awaiting an assignment. He is one of the oldest (53) first-time space fliers ever.

He said: "Pick your passion and meet your goals. Choose what you love to do, whatever that may be. It helps you succeed, even if your plans change. Because I love science and engineering, I have enjoyed every job on my career path. I didn't start out as an astronaut, but by staying true to my passions, look where I am now!"

We talked a lot and I took his autograph on his picture.

Space ice cream (Freeze-Dried ice cream)

9

2005-11-03T11:34:00.000-05:00

Sorry it was a link for character check, which is not available anymore!

8

2005-10-28T15:28:00.000-04:00

I just enjoy her way of writing. She is great. I wonder what our people’s destiny was if we had more of this kind.

7

2005-10-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

افسوس و صد افسوس! چرا ملتی از داشتن اولیه ترین حقوق خود محروم می شود؟ن

http://roozonline.com/02article/011065.shtml

6

2005-10-18T11:45:00.000-04:00

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
James Dean

5

2005-10-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

پاییز اینجاست
دیدن رنگهای زرد، قرمز، قهوه ای و سبز در کنارهم آدم رو به وجد میاره

با این همه زیبایی، چرا همیشه چیزهای غم انگیز به خزان و پاییز تشبیه میشن، خزان عمر، پاییز زندگی و ... ؟
نمی دونم چرا من همیشه تو پاییز دلم می گرفت؟ امسال دارم از آفتاب گرم پاییزی و از دیدن طبیعت رنگارنگ و برگ ریزان لذت میبرم. البته عادت راه رفتن روی برگهای خشک به قوت خودش باقیه. خش خش، خش خش

4

2005-10-13T14:07:00.000-04:00

I was thinking, why it is so difficult to start? and how one should overcome his/her inertia and just do it?
I believe, once I start a new thing, it looks much easier.

3

2005-10-08T20:47:00.000-04:00

زندگی در صدف خویش گوهر ساختن است

داخل شعله شدن سوختن و نگداختن است

مذهب زنده دلان خواب پریشانی نیست

از همین خاک جهان دگری ساختن است

سالهاست هر وقت دلم از سختی زمانه گرفته، یا انگیزه هام ضعیف شده و یا حتی وقتهایی که دراوج موفقیتم، این شعرو با خودم زمزمه می کنم. خیلی ساله! البته جهان دیگری را نساختم ولی همیشه تلاش کردم و جلو رفتم. ن

2

2005-10-07T15:01:00.000-04:00

"Graduate students will find out that the most important thing in their life is to have good relation with their advisor" Craig told this statement when I missed our meeting and didn't email him.
People here are very kind and positive.
When you miss a meeting, you will get an email asking are you all right? Is everything ok?
When you write a report that you were asked to do, you will get appreciations and encouragement.
When you don't feel good about your research progress, you will hear that you are doing amazing job.
When you don't feel good about your course work and are frightened by your results and grades, you will hear that study and learn as much as possible, do your best and don't worry about the result.
You can share your ideas, your concerns, and your problems with people. You are not in fight with anyone. You are not scared of people's thoughts.
Here is a place that everyone sees your success and forgets your mistakes.
In this system, you work hard and look forward to better future. You enjoy every moment of being yourself.

What a pleasure!

1

2005-09-20T13:25:00.000-04:00

Hokie is Virginia Tech's mascot. It specifies everything related to Virginia Tech. Each Virginia Tech student is a Hokie, and we have Hokie teams, Hokie clubs, Hokie foods, ...

Hokie was a word that people used to express feeling, approval, excitement, surprise. Hokie, then, is a word like 'hooray,' or 'yeah,' or 'rah.'

Whatever its original meaning, the word in the popular cheer did grab attention and has been a part of Virginia Tech tradition since1872.

The costume worn by today's HokieBird made its first appearance in 1987. HokieBird has won national mascot competitions and has been so popular that the mascot landed an appearance on Animal Planet's "Turkey Secrets," shown annually around Thanksgiving.