Kite runner

A friend of mine has been telling me for a long time to read this book. I value his opinion on these matters so I would have read this book but lately I haven't had any chance to read anything that is not related to my work and the project I am working on like a donkey. Browsing the TV tonight, I found that this movie was showing. Didn't catch it from beginning but was early enough for the story to make sense and be linked. At the end, I give two thumbs up. Wonderful story, one of those that stay with you, in your mind late after the movie is over and you are confused with a couple of bright-colorful-happy advertisements about good products being sold in North America. Is a powerful story that, although I am not from that part of the World, I understand how it works and what is respected, by choice or not. It is refreshing to read how life is seen from that side of the fence. All we hear is the story that media gives to us. Can be American media or European one, it doesn't matter. The voice of the people from Afghanistan is rarely heard and taken seriously. Even the guy that helped him from Pakistan, represents a whole country that is not taken with respect and right attention. It is almost as calling someone mother f@#&^$ if you call them Paki, and yet again, he was human and put himself in trouble. One other thing that this movie brings is the way the new generation of the people from these countries, is changing and how they are looking at things with more tolerance. The old generation represented by their parents at the end of the movie falls down, all that "Keep your head up", "Don't embarrass the family", "Respect older man".... all these big words and "lessons for life", are all a big bubble that is not what it seems. The new generation is between these "rules" put in front of them from their families and the other open-kind of life seen around them from other people in North America.

Before and After a gift

Maybe I'm writing this too soon and it would be wiser if I wait a little longer to understand what is going on but I just feel like I have to get this garbage out of my mind and chest. At the end, that's why I have opened this blog for!





So we all have been in the circumstances when a special friend or family member has the birthday coming soon and you put some thoughts to find a gift that doesn't have to be expensive, just thoughtful, nice and will bring a smile on their face. And sometimes you do actually get an idea on what it will be and you feel good about it! Depending on what it is, you arrange it so they get it on time. There are two parts on the gift, the Giving part and the Receiving part. So in this case you are the Giving part. You Give your idea wrapped with whatever took to deliver it (it can be hand work, time, money, material, etc). They Receive your idea but might actually not notice the wrapping. And if you notice that the wrapping is taken for granted, then you expect at least the gift itself to turn on some smiles and "Thank you"'s, hoping that the person at least will mean some of it. We all know that the gifts we get are usually useless but at least we all say "Waw, this is great!! Thank you so much" and stuff like that to make the Giving part feel appreciated and good about what they did.
So if you have done all what the Giving part should do but was not in person, face-to-face because of the circumstances, you at least expect an e-mail or some sort of message to tell you that the Receiving part did get the gift, did open the gift and did 'like' the gift. But what you get is actually a message that has nothing to do about your wrapping or your gift, nothing, nada, zip! The message is about how nice the day was and how the others have called them to wish them happy birthday and how much they liked that!
So today I learned something new and actually helpful: Do not spend time, energy or anything to wish someone's Happy Birthday! All you have to do is to have their number on your phone and give a ring sometime during the day! That will be considered a nice surprise, you will hear the "Waw", maybe a fake one but you will hear them say it. And everyone will be happy! Yep! that's it!
Again, because this was not face-to-face but all by e-mail, things are not very clear on what happened. I do not think that is all finished here or I will not hear something about what I did. What makes me write this is that I am not hearing that today. It will come later and will be explained why and I might change my mind and feel better but right now, is good that we are not face-to-face. Is sort of a test for how can I handle cases that make me angry in a modern, cold blood, non emotional and business like manner. I am growing every day :)