Chadia, well that is me, I think my part in this work, was to planned the idea, the journey, the blog, the organization of the work, was also about writing in the blog, taking photos, making contacts, saving the data and putting it in the blog in a simple, clear, organized and cool way. Also one more thing was to encourage the group showing that I knew were I was going even afraid that I was not so sure.
To do this work, I stopped everything that I was doing in my life, was exactly a work of day and night. I put all my concentration and effort in this Project.
My crazy angels:
Shadi, He is my right arm, he is the one that was with me since I started, not this project but the University, he is the one who find this University for me, and the one who helped me in all projects, he is the journalist that could not have the diploma, but for sure gained all its knowledge.
More than this, while I was in University he was not just helping me, but concentrate in the technological part of this kind of work.
In this project he even stop working to help me, and he made me start the blog, he said: “You have to start now”, and I did. He is the one who arranged what we had, the one who put plans into actions, which also help a lot with his great ideas, he was the one in the journey that was always in a hurry, because he said: “We have to go to more places, yala, yala”.
Also he is the Machine man, I can say that everything about technology was about him, the way that computers worked, the network that he did in our office, the super UPS that he brought and for many times this ups saved our work, when the electricity was off, an this just happened many times.
He also take care of the batteries, of the data, and the one, who designed the blog with me, not the “beauty” part, but the connection, links, technology, interaction, the construction of the blog, with his great and smart knowledge about software, Internet, blog, website and design.
Also the translation, every time that I want to say something in Arab that I don't know, Shadi is my tongue, and the problem is that I talk too much.
Thanks a Lot, specially for being patient all the time and being with me wherever I go.
Shadi is a real genius, Bill Gates take care because Shadi is coming!
Professor Muhammad, he is the most intelligent, calm, wise of the group, also he has a great memory. His mind is a computer, whenever we forgot something, he is the only one who remembered, also we use to forget parts of equipments in the way, but he always checked all things, and keeping making sure that everything was there.
Professor Muhammad helped a lot in many ways, taking notes, making records, speaking with people, writing all information that we got, the one who has an excellent Arab language, helping me put all the data in the blog, translating Arab terms to English terms. Moreover most of the interviews we realized together and the meetings that we had in the office organizing everything, there was not one day, that he was not there.
Professor Muhammad take all his vacation to help us in our work, helping in diverse ways, that I couldn’t even name. If was not his notes, the work had failed, because his notes, were so complete, and so exact.
His presence enriches our group, when Professor Muhammad went to speak with people, his way of communication, his diplomacy, and his niceness makes all people contribute with us. In addition his own knowledge and experience in life, make everything easier.
But what makes me more surprised about Professor Muhammad, was something that I didn't expect, his disposal, force and vigor. When we were very tired, Professor Muhammad was still full of energy to see and show more and more Sacred Places.
That is why he is the Professor of the group, he always has something to teach, and he is an example for us. Thanks a lot Professor Muhammad offering to us everything that you can give.
Hassan, well our story with Hassan is a long one, we known him for a long time, and all the time he was there with us. Here I have the chance to say that you Hassan helped to save the life of my brother Nader in his accident in the south of Lebanon some years ago.
Always you have been an excellent friend, more than a friend a real brother.
In this project Hassan, was with us during all days of the Project, he knows Lebanon very well, that is why was easy to go to the places, he has an incredible sense of direction. He also took very creative photos, he must be a photographer, and he was the athlete of the group, to climb mountains, to walk a lot, to run, he was the best. He gave all his sweat to help on this. Also he brings us the car, a camera, etc...
Everyday 6:00 in the morning Hassan was there in my building waiting for me, he just used his free days off going in this journey.
He was so patient in taking us to all those places, I will never forget, Hassan how much you gave to this Project, it was like he was doing his own Project.
Incredible dedication, thanks to being so courageous in everything that you do. You are a brave Hero.
Sobhi, is a friend of us, that always has been there, in good times and bad times, he is the one who helped us a lot in this project while driving, taking photos, and the most important thing, was that he took us for many Sacred Places, that were very distant, and few people knew about.
Also his great humor was a pleasure in the journey, where he made de journey much more fun and nice.Sobhi thank you for all you have worked, and done for this project, and more than this, thanks for all the times that you are always there.
Sharif, is my older brother, he was at first saying, Chadia why are you doing this big work, you don’t have to take 100% in your Senior Project, just take a 60 over 100, it is okey. But I say to him, I love to do what I am doing, it is really not about the grade(but please professors, yanni I need the grade too). One day he decided to go with me, I said to him, that is hard work, and you will be tired, but he insisted. When he came back he was so happy about our project, and in our Journey he helped us taking photos, making videos, making records, and driving, that the other day he wanted to go too.
He was so calm, and patient, which is a very good thing in this kind of work, while we were all tired and sometimes nervous, he was still calm.
He just handle it very well, and after the journey he told me: You’ve chosen the right job”, any other work I will be part of your team.
Now he is in Brazil, and I miss him and his good humor a lot, specially when he used to sing. Thanks my Brother Sharif, for helping me in this decisive step of my life.
Samira is my sister, for sure she was always there for me, and with her I feel strong, and with her I feel security. To be honest, today I am not so inspired, and she knows how much she means for me...About the Project she also finds a way to help.
Samira is a dentist, and she has a clinic, she offered for us a room in her clinic, and there we made our office.Everyday she is patient with our noisy presence in her clinic. By the way is my chance to make her clinic’s advertisement, here. She is the best dentist, believe me!
About our project I don't know if she knows what we are talking about, she is so busy taking care of people’s tooth that there is no time for nothing else.
I hope that she finds time, and see this Project one day.
Thanks for everything, just knowing that you are close to me make me happy.
Jamile, my sister, she is in London and could not be here to help with her Creative presence, but it was in her personality that I based my idea. The adventurous spirit that she has, make her travel to many parts of the World, and her passion for walking, sports, cycling, make her go far away, in 1995 she got the second place of the Brazilian championship cycling. She also did the Way of St. James- El Camino de Santiago, which is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. She walked in the total 800kilometers, and many other trips she did across the world, also to Machu Picchu, Peru, is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level, which is also all about walking. As you can see her free nature and spirit, inspired me to travel around Lebanon, and to work in this Mystical journey. Thanks jaja, for helping me wherever you are, you are like a star for me, that I look from far, but always is there brightening my way.
Abdul, my father, he always said that study is the first thing. He could not finish his studies, but he helped many people to finish their studies.
Also he was a very successful trade man in Brazil.
When he went to Brazil, he had nothing but a ring that he sold and started his life. His creativity, claw, and strongness, were the base for everything.
He is a generous man,the man that for 50 years worked at 6:00 until 10:00 at night, there were not holidays for him. I am so proud of him in many ways, I just wanted to made him proud of me too. I learn many things with him, and helping others was the best lesson, that I had. He also made me believe that everything is possible, and in his opinion a man doesn’t need to be very religious, but to have faith is what real matters, and then you can walk on the water.
I feel so special in being his daughter because, he is the source of my Lebanese Origin, he is the reason why we are here today.
Fifteen years ago, my father became sick, with Parkinson Disorder, which is a Disorder very difficult, when you see a powerful man loosing his force is so difficult , but even sick with 70 years he is younger than me in spirit, and an inspiration to see that despite his desorder, he continue to work and live with a great humor,and day after day his own life, is a fight, where he never gives up.
During this project he made many contacts for me, and show me many good people where I could take advices, and he sometimes came to our office, to see how the working was doing.
In my graduation, he was there, he left Beirut and went to Bekka , all shaking to see me. Thanks my father to do the maximum, to make me here where I am. You are an incredible, brave and strong man thank you.
Samia Arida, she is my mother, what can I say about her, everything that I learned is from her, since I was born in this life, she always helped me as a friend, as a sister, as a teacher and as a mother. Now could not be different. When we went out searching for financial support, no ones was there to help, but she. She is the one who offered all financial support that we needed to make this journey and the blog the Center of Love.
She is the one who helped not just financially but emotionally, the one who made me believe in myself, and despite her worries about her daughter going in this journey, she could not say to me don’t go, she is the one who encouraged me, in do what I decide to do.
She is the inspiration of my work, because she always has an appreciation for the Sacred, and she taught me a lot about it.
Her personality is something incredible, in all my life never, I say never she said something rude, always nice, kind, and very patient, she taught me that doesn't matter the problems you are going trough, with faith you can take everything.
She left her University of Medicine, to help my father, and in all those years despite her full work, she always finds a time for us being the perfect mother, women, and businesswoman.
When my parents got divorced, she just take care of us alone, because my father traveled to another city, and many problems happened, some that movies didin’t show yet. However there was she, strong more than any men that I knew, in front of us like a fortress.
Even divorced she is the one who helps my father in many ways.
She is victorious in all aspects of life, and she proved to me that obedience and trust in God, give you the victory, and even if takes a long time, at the end, you will be satisfied and happy. Moreover she shows me that love is worth than hate, forgiveness is greater than revenge, patient is wiser than yells, that enemies must be helped and not defeat as she did many times and kindness always wins bad.
The best of all she taught those things not with words, but with actions.
To say the Truth, my graduation was not about me, but about her, she is the reason why I was standing there, I was not seeing all people that were present, I was there just, for her.
Everyone who knows her just fell extremely in peace by her side.
For all things that she passed by, many people say that she is a Saint.
Well, for sure, she is a saint for me and my Sacred Place is wherever she is.
