The ELI Mirror
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Transcript of 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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
Page 5
It’ll rain so
much
tonight.
The ELI Mirror
Spring 2013
Issue 2, p 6
FREEDOM!
Majedh Alsewaiah
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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.
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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
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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
Page 11
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
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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
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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
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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.
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Mahshi
The ELI Mirror
Spring 2013
Issue 2, p18
FOOD & DRINK
Shuruq Alahrthi
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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