Monday, February 1, 2010

The Girl Next Door

Hi again Translation Department students.
If you got questions or difficulties in your life or study, write to me about them at.. transmag2010@gmail.com
or you can put them in the red box at the secretary’s office.

The Girl Next Door 


AD

The Petry Club announces that the copmetetion of Poetry Writing in English Language is still open. Send your poems to…
transmag2010@gmail.com
or you can put them in the Red Box at the secretary office.
If you believe in your poetic abilities, give it a try; the winner will be rewarded.
No deadline is announced yet.

ISSUE NO 2: EDITORIAL

Wishing

Making wishes is something we do all the time as a result of emotional feelings that occur deep inside ourselves when we feel sad, happy or regret on something we have done or said before and we wish that if we could turn the clock back and make things right or simply make them disappear, this is the blind side of our experience in life. But on the bright side, we make wishes and ask God to make them come true in the future and guide us so that we don’t make mistakes.
Let's, my dear readers, not have a blind side in our journey in life, and if you feel lost in the darkness of the night don’t worry because the stars will lead you. Just close your eyes, be careful what you wish for and keep these things in your mind: IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, IT IS NEVER TOO YOUNG TO GET MARRIED, NEVER TOO SOON TO FALL IN LOVE. Be optimistic and NEVER SAY NEVER.

Hala Hikmet

ISSUE NO 2: Interview


An Interview with Assistant Lecturer
DIA A. SULAIBI



Q: Who is Mr. Dia, in general?
- Well, I can say that I am an ambitious perfectionist who is in a non-stop quest for happiness and peace within himself. You may interpret that as you wish.
Q: Who is your model in life?
- That is a very deep question. I was influenced by so many people, most of which I did not even have the honor to meet. But, I was always impressed by those who can express themselves and their thoughts so brilliantly. I may name Steven Spielberg and J. K. Rowling.
Q: Where and when did you get your M.A. degree?
- Just four years ago, and I got it from this department; Department of Translation.
Q: Do you think that teaching is a fascinating career?
- Absolutely, but there is a downside to it; teaching may literally consume your whole time if you are not organized. Teaching is a very big responsibility and one should be up to it.
Q: What do you want to be in the future?
- A fiction writer, I guess, I like to imagine new worlds and places and fill them with things.

Q: How do you feel as a general supervisor of TRANSMAG?
- I feel very proud. Actually, I feel like we have right here in TRANSMAG the seed of something big. I expect a gret future to TRANSMAG and its staff.
Q: Who inspired you to be who you are?
- That would be my late mother and father. My big sister also had a big impact on me and on my character.
Q: What do you want to say to students who flee from lectures?
- What do I want to say to them? They wouldn’t listen anyway, would they? Nonetheless, it is a very big mistake to do such a thing. I know, for one, that I do my best to give a proper lecture (and so do all of the other teachers) and I don’t want to see my efforts go in vain. Those students just don’t get it.
Q: Who are your favourite actor and actress, and why?
- I am a big movie fan, you know, so I like many actors. But, if I may choose one I would go for Johnny Depp (star of Pirates of the Caribbean) because he is so talented and versatile; he can make you laugh and equally he can make you cry. As for the actresses, Cate Blanchett is my favourite; she’s so good in everything she does. Watch The Aviator and you will know what I’m talking about.
Q: Finally, do you have anything to say to the TRANSMAG staff?
- Yes, I do. In fact, it is something I try to convey to them frequently, that is to “cherish the moment and your being together.” These are very critical times in which your chracters will be shaped, so make the most of them.

Interviewed by: Ibrahim T. Ibrahim

ISSUE NO 2: THE NEW ISLAMIC YEAR

THE NEW ISLAMIC YEAR


When the persecution of the people of Mecca against the Muslims grew intense, as they saw the new religion of Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) spread widely, all infileds of mecca gathered to make one decision and that is to terminate Prophet Mohmmed’s (peace and blessings be upon him) life and to put an end to his religion.
Allah almighty chose Madina as the land of Hijrah (emigration for the sake of Allah). The prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)was ordered to emigrate from Mecca to Madina where there were more supporters for Islam.
that day was marked to be the beginning of the Islamic year which is called Hijra year, it was the year (662 A.D.). The Islamic calender is a lunar calender that is based on 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days, used to date events in many Muslim countries, and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic holy days and festivals.
muslims nowadays are celebrating the hijri year all around the world every year.

Prepared by: Assel K. Mahmood

ISSUE NO 2: The New Year

The New Year

The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible crescent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).
The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.
The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.
The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.
In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

Prepared by: Raghad H. Iskandar

ISSUE NO 2: NEW YEAR TRADITIONS

NEW YEAR TRADITIONS

Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year's resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in California.
Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Prepared by: Raghad H. Iskandar

ISSUE NO 2: FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR

FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.
Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.
Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.

Prepared by: Raghad H. Iskandar

ISSUE NO 2: Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is a celebration of the new year in Asian communities around the world. The date of the New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, so festivities begin with the new cycle of the moon that falls between January 21 and February 19. Each year is named for one of 12 symbolic animals in sequence. The animals, in their sequential order, are the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar.
Known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam, and Sol in Korea, the new year celebration is the most important and the longest of all festivals in these communities, traditionally lasting for two weeks. During this period, towns and villages are decorated with colored lanterns, floral displays, and brightly colored banners emblazoned with new year greetings. Preparations traditionally begin in the home the week before the new year, when families thoroughly clean their houses to symbolically sweep away all traces of misfortune. They also pay off debts, add a new coat of red paint to doors and windowpanes, and decorate the home with flowers. To avoid bad luck, parents warn their children to be on their best behavior and to avoid the use of vulgar expressions. On the evening before the new year, families gather for a feast of special dishes. Each dish has symbolic meaning, often signifying good luck and prosperity. At midnight, families light fireworks to attract the attention of benevolent gods and to frighten away evil spirits. The fireworks last until dawn, although celebrants may sporadically light more fireworks for the next two weeks. On the first day of the new year, people put on new clothes to symbolize the discarding of the old year and its misfortunes. Then they take gifts to friends and relatives. The gifts usually include special rice flour cakes and fruits such as kumquats and oranges. Many adults, particularly married ones, also follow an ancient custom of giving small red packets of money (called hong bao or lai see in Chinese) to children, unmarried adults, and employees or servants.
Among the most spectacular festivities of Lunar New Year are the dragon and lion dances. As many as 50 or more people support long dragons and lions made from vibrant paper and cloth while dancing in processions down city streets. The dancers perform to the beating of gongs and drums, while other celebrants perform acrobatic displays. Some of the performers may occasionally reach up to take red money packets or fruits and vegetables hung from storefronts. The celebrations end with the lantern festival, an event in which merchants hang lighted paper lanterns outside their shops. Many of the lanterns rotate with the heat of the candles they contain. Children often parade through the streets during the lantern festival, carrying lanterns of various shapes and patterns.

PREPARED BY: IBRAHIM T. IBRAHIM

ISSUE NO 2: CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS

"The angel said , Behold , I bring you a good news of a great joy , today is born to you a savior and he is the CHRIST"

Jesus Christ this poor baby who is born in a very humble and poor place , brought the light to this dark life , the deliverance to people who were sunk in sin , richness, pride, happiness and hope to every desperate human, love to every empty heart and peace to every disturbed person.
Now one must realize the real meaning of Christmas, to give the thirsty a cold glass water, to dress up the naked a garment of love , to feed the hungry a good food , to clean up your heart from spite and hatred and to fill it with love, to deal with all nicely and fairly , to treat others the way you want them to treat you, to love people like you love yourself and to smile during hard times.
I am sure that you are thinking of giving your loved ones a special gift in this occasion, but did you think of presenting a gift to Jesus in his birth day? Do not worry, Jesus does not want money, all he wants is that your heart be filled with love so that it would be a warm place for him. He wants your belief, your prayer, your thanks, your faithfulness to him. He wants your spiritual happiness so that you make others also feel happy. He wants you to forgive your enemy. So let us pray and ask this poor and great baby..
"To lay peace upon our country, to stop wars between nations, to save those who are suffering from difficulties and illness, to lay fairness and equality between people and to make us always a strong and unified family living in one home. Amen."
The Traditions of Christmas
This tradition dates back to the Roman feasts, but Christianity gave it a new and great meaning. The Romans used a special kind of trees to celebrate the sun’s feast, and because Jesus is the light that enlightened our dark life this tree became a part of the Christian’s embellishment in celebrations. What about Santa Claus (Papa Noël for the French, and Father Christmas for the British). This well-known figure is originally based on Saint "Nicolas"; a priest who used to give out gifts and provisions to poor families, and he was especially known for helping widows in order to make them happy in such special occasions.
In the end, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and the best in your life.

By: Raghad H. Iskandar

ISSUE NO 2: The History of the Advent Wreath

The History of the Advent Wreath

A friend asked me about the Advent wreath — its history, meaning, etc.. I think I gave her a pretty good answer. Perhaps you could provide a little more information.
The Advent wreath is part of the long-standing Catholic tradition. However, the actual origins are uncertain. There is evidence of pre-Christian Germanic peoples using wreathes with lit candles during the cold and dark December days as a sign of hope in the future warm and extended-sunlight days of Spring. In Scandinavia during Winter, lighted candles were placed around a wheel, and prayers were offered to the god of light to turn “the wheel of the earth” back toward the sun to lengthen the days and restore warmth.
By the Middle Ages, the Christians adapted this tradition and used Advent wreathes as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. After all, Christ is “the Light that came into the world” to dispel the darkness of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (cf. John 3:19-21). By 1600, both Catholics and Lutherans had more formal practices surrounding the Advent wreath.
The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith: The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was made of holly. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised through Christ.
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior. Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding Christ’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of the second coming.
The light again signifies Christ, the Light of the world. Some modern day adaptations include a white candle placed in the middle of the wreath, which represents Christ and is lit on Christmas Eve. Another tradition is to replace the three purple and one rose candles with four white candles, which will be lit throughout Christmas season.
family blesses the wreath by praying. In the first week of Advent the youngest child lights one purple candle. During the second week of Advent, the father prays, the oldest child then lights the purple candle from the first week plus one more purple candle. During the third week of Advent, the father prays, the mother then lights the two previously lit purple candles plus the rose candle. Finally, the father prays during the fourth week of Advent, he then lights all of the candles of the wreath.
The wreath and its prayers provides a way to augment this special preparation for Christmas. Moreover, this good tradition helps us to remain vigilant in our homes and not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas.

Prepared by HALA HIKMET
(from an article by WILLIAM SAUNDERS)

ISSUE NO 2: A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (full title, A Christmas Carol: In Prose. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas) is a novel by Charles Dickens about miserly, cold, unfeeling, old Ebenezer Scrooge and his secular conversation and redemption after being visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve.
I quote this saying from Charles Dickens:
I have endeavored in this ghostly little book, to raise the ghost of an idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.
Their faithful friend and servant, c.d.
December, 1843.
The book was first published on 19th Dec. 1843 and quickly met with commercial success and critical acclaim. The tale been viewed as an indictment of nineteenth century industrial capitalism.
A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print and has been adapted many times to cinema and television.
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009) is the latest film adaptation of Charles Dickens 1843 story of the same name. The film was written to the screen and directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Jim Carrey in a multitude of roles, including Ebenezer Scrooge as a young, middle age and old man and as three of the ghosts who haunt Scrooge.
The 3D (three-dimensional)film was produced through the process of performance capture. It had been released on 4th Nov. 2009. It had its world premiere in London at the same time of the switching on of the annual Oxford and Regent Street Christmas lights, which in 2009 had a Dickens theme. In its opening weekend, the film gross was $30,000,000. It has grossed $115,249,331 in the USA and 118,200,000 in foreign markets. The worldwide gross reached $233,449,331 since being released.
Jim Carrey said that he had a good time portraying some of Scrooges inhuman company, in particular the bombastic, bacchanalian ghost of Christmas Present.

Prepared by:
Israa A . Ameen

ISSUE NO 2: POEM

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas is the time of joy
Merry Merry
For every girl and boy
Christmas is the time to share
Merry Merry
For all the poor and whom in despair
Christmas is the time to give
Merry Merry
For all who wants to live
Christmas lights everywhere
And happy joyful smiles
Christmas bells are jingling
All night and for a while
It is time to have a tree
And to treat it gently and mild
Hanging socks at the fire place
For Santa to give gifts
And children await the morning
Having eagerness at their lips
Merry Merry
The world is laughing
For the birth of Jesus Christ
And hails of haven’s grace
Snowing……………. How nice

Written By: Aseel K. Mahmood

ISSUE NO 2: FRIENDS OF THE MONTH

FOURTH GRADE
DALYA, or Delloo as we like to call her, is the friend of this month. We chose her for being kind, nice, caring, fun, good-hearted, and of course clever. Dalya, you are a beautiful young lady and you deserve to be in this place. Keep on going forward!


THIRD GRADE
ABEER FAROOK is a fantastic girl because she has incredible qualities. Her accent is as good as an American citizen’s accent. Abeer is a humble girl and she likes to help everybody. Her skills in translation and pronunciation exceeds all the students of her grade and she is hard to compete with. We wish Abeer all the best and hope that she will be “THE BEST” all the time.


SECOND GRADE
ISRAA, who is elected to be the friend of this month is the most intelligent, honest, lovely, cute and beautiful girl. She has a strong personality and when you need help you'll always find Israa.

ISSUE NO 2: SPORT

MOHAIMIN SALEEM MALAKH

Q: Who is Mohaimean Saleem Malakh?
- I’m a student at the Department of Biology, College of Science in the first grade. I began playing football, when I was 12 years old. I joined THE AMOU BABA FOOTBALL SCHOOL, I studied at that school for 4 years then the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) called me to the Iraqi cubs’ team in the Asian Festival in Qatar in 2005. Nowadays, I am one of the players in Baghdad Football Club,  then I’ll go to Iraqi Youth Team.
Q: What are the features that made our youth team qualify to the finals of the Asian Cup?
-         - Actually, the players’ relationships with each other are great. We are like a family and we have brotherhood and unity in our team. The above mentioned factors are the main cause of our success. In addition, this team was established 4 years ago.
Q: Describe for us the impressions of our players by the wonderful results that your team achieved?
-         The players’ feelings can’t be described and the championship was excellent for two reasons:
1-The team was victorious  in each of its matches.
2-For the first time, Iraq hosts the first championship on its land.
Q: What are your expectations of the future of our teams in the final matches of Asian Cup?
- In Fact, God willing, we are going to achieve good results that will amaze The Iraqi audience. This thing will happen if we get a good support to our morale and good training camps. 
Q: Any last words to the Iraqi people?
-         I hope good luck for everyone and to have peace in Iraq. I do work hard in my study, and I hope the crisis of IFA will be resolved quickly.
INTERVIEWED BY: MUSHRIQ A. JABER