Since this is the last day of the decade (depending on how you count it), I thought I'd boil down the last ten years of my life into a big event that summed it up.
2000 - Sweet 16 Party
2001 - 9/11
2002 - High School Graduation
2003 - Started working in medicine
2004 - Voted for the first time
2005 - Took the MCAT
2006 - College Graduation
2007 - Georgetown
2008 - Started Medical School
2009 - Traveling: Austin, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Houston
Who knows what 2010 will bring? Cheers and Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, September 06, 2009
An American Man and a Little Iranian Girl
An American man was seated next to a little Iranian girl on the airplane, when the stranger turned to her and said, 'Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger'. The little girl, who had just opened her coloring book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger: 'What would you like to talk about?'
'Oh, I don't know,' said the American. 'Since you are Iranian, how about nuclear power?' And he smiles.
'OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first'.
'A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass.
Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass..
Why do you suppose that is?'
The American, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says,
'Hmmm, I have no idea.'?
To which the little girl replies,
'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power... when you don't know shit?'
'Oh, I don't know,' said the American. 'Since you are Iranian, how about nuclear power?' And he smiles.
'OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first'.
'A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass.
Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass..
Why do you suppose that is?'
The American, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says,
'Hmmm, I have no idea.'?
To which the little girl replies,
'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power... when you don't know shit?'
Monday, May 11, 2009
Private Practice Personality Quiz
Addison's definitely my favorite character, so I'm happy to get her on the quiz!
Thursday, February 05, 2009
25 Things
Like many of you, I've been noticing how everyone I know on Facebook is making a list of 25 things about themselves. Even the New York Times has done a story on it. Here's my list of 25 things about me you may not have known before.
1. I’m proud to be Persian! It’s amazing to inherit the world’s oldest civilization, a rich culture, and a beautiful language. I feel like Iran is this amazing woman who is held captive by a bad husband so no one can see how great she is and she can’t reach her full potential. I believe that it’s my duty as an expatriate to keep her spirit going, so I often happily take on the role of ambassador of my culture and try to learn as much as I can about Persian history, literature, etc.
2. My biggest pet peeve is ignorance. While there are obviously a lot of misconceptions about Islam and Iran, people are also ignorant about a lot of other things. I think it’s important to be educated about politics, other cultures and faiths, and other disciplines. A lot of scientists don’t know about liberal arts, and vice versa. When I lived in Washington, there was a lot of ignorance about Texas and Southerners. I think a well-rounded education is really important.
3. I love literature. I majored in English in college, and it’s the smartest thing I ever did. I was in a great program at SMU, and I learned a lot about myself and the world around me in my classes. My specialty is British Literature, particularly Romantic poetry, Victorian novels, and Modernist poetry. I consider myself to be a Feminist literary critic, but a lot of my analysis is also seen as “post-colonial” because I interpret things from an “eastern” perspective. I really like either of these labels, but they are part of the discipline. For example, my senior thesis was on Pride and Prejudice, and I included a lengthy discussion about how this book is much more relevant now to those of the Third World than it is to modern Westerners, citing Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran and the film Bride and Prejudice.
4. I hate high-fructose corn syrup. I wrote my masters thesis on it at Georgetown. If you knew all of these horrible things it causes, you would hate it too. It should be banned – don’t eat it!
5. I love teaching! I teach MCAT Verbal for the Princeton Review (it’s the best MCAT prep class!) I really love teaching premeds because I see myself in them, and I have a great opportunity to expose them to literature. My students have done really well in the med school admissions process, and I’m so happy to have been a part of their success. I just got contacted by Princeton Review’s marketing team, and they want to feature me in MCAT brochures nationwide. So I could be the new face of MCAT for the Princeton Review!
6. I’m a fan of mocktails. My favorites are Shirley Temples and Virgin Mojitos.
7. I’m a big fan of Doctor Who. I think it’s such an amazing show, and it’s been on since 1963. It combines my favorite things: doctors, time travel, and Britain. When I find a fellow Whovian, we both get giddy and talk about it. I want my own TARDIS.
8. I was born in England. It’s something cool that people don’t expect. I like a lot of things about England – they also have a long history and produced amazing works.
9. I was born on February 29, Leap Year Day. It’s a great icebreaker. When I was a kid I thought it made me special, like a day had been created just so I could be born. It’s strange to not have a birthday every year, and everyone has an opinion on when I should celebrate mine. For the record, I use February 28, and I think it makes the most sense to me.
10. I broke my collarbone when I was 4. I was climbing a big dresser playing King Kong, and it fell on me. I didn’t break another bone until exactly 20 years later when I broke my wrist in DC tripping on a manhole.
11. I’m addicted to TV. I hate most forms of reality TV (except The Hills and Kardashians), but I watch lots of sitcoms and dramas. Name a show, and I probably watch it. I watch shows via the Internet so that it doesn’t interfere with my school/study schedule. I also watch shows from England (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Robin Hood, Merlin) and Canada (Little Mosque on the Prairie, Degrassi).
12. I love my sisters!! They are my best friends in the whole world!
13. I love tea. I drink it constantly. I use to think it was weird that my parents drank so much tea. But when I moved to DC, I started drinking it all the time, and I still do. I have different flavors to match my moods.
14. I don’t understand how everyone on Gossip Girl seems the same age…and that age is not high school-aged. And Chuck Bass is hilarious
15. I’m loving med school much more than grad school, even though I study the same things. I have a really great group of friends. My three main girls and I really remind me of Sex and the City (without the sex…or the city); we really are there for each other, and I feel like I can count on them for so much. I also think I’m a lot smarter now than I was in grad school, and I can handle things better.
16. I’ve been trying to find new music. Right now, I’m into Farez, Adele, and Jhanvieh. If you have any recommendations, let me know.
17. I love singing and dancing. I used to perform a lot more when I was younger. I hope I’ll get some more opportunities in the future. People still come up to me and ask me if I was that girl who sang “Ey Iran” at the Nowrooz show all those years ago.
18. I like checking out new technology on C-Net. Whether it’s new cell phones or computers, I like knowing what’s out there. Right now, I like the G1, but I’m hoping a G2 will come out when it’s time for me to update my Dash.
19. I check bestweekever.tv every day. It’s my favorite blog, and it’s so funny! I also follow Persianesque, Madam Secretary, and Michael Moore’s page.
20. NPR is the best radio station. I hated listening to it when I was a kid, but I started listening on my own when I was studying for the MCAT. It’s been four years, and I haven’t stopped. I love Everything you ever wanted to know, Fresh air, Think, and A way with words.
21. I think Mehran Modiri is a genius. He creates, writes, directs, produces, and stars in sitcoms in Iran. They are so funny and clever! Bamshad is the greatest character ever. I also think Bebin.tv is very clever, and both these entities are changing the face of Farsi-language TV.
22. I’m an officer for three clubs on campus. I’m most proud of being my school’s delegate to the American Medical Association. I went to the Texas Medical Association conference last weekend in Austin, and we won Chapter of the Year for the second year in a row. I’m so proud of my school, and I’ll do what I can so we win a third time.
23. Apparently, all of my friends think that I can pass for a white American girl. I’m trying to digest this new information, and I still don’t really believe this is true.
24. My favorite band of all time is The Monkees. Forget what you think you know about them, their music is amazing!
25. My favorite drink at Starbucks is a grande, soy, sugar-free vanilla latte with two Splendas. It takes a while to order, but it’s so good!
1. I’m proud to be Persian! It’s amazing to inherit the world’s oldest civilization, a rich culture, and a beautiful language. I feel like Iran is this amazing woman who is held captive by a bad husband so no one can see how great she is and she can’t reach her full potential. I believe that it’s my duty as an expatriate to keep her spirit going, so I often happily take on the role of ambassador of my culture and try to learn as much as I can about Persian history, literature, etc.
2. My biggest pet peeve is ignorance. While there are obviously a lot of misconceptions about Islam and Iran, people are also ignorant about a lot of other things. I think it’s important to be educated about politics, other cultures and faiths, and other disciplines. A lot of scientists don’t know about liberal arts, and vice versa. When I lived in Washington, there was a lot of ignorance about Texas and Southerners. I think a well-rounded education is really important.
3. I love literature. I majored in English in college, and it’s the smartest thing I ever did. I was in a great program at SMU, and I learned a lot about myself and the world around me in my classes. My specialty is British Literature, particularly Romantic poetry, Victorian novels, and Modernist poetry. I consider myself to be a Feminist literary critic, but a lot of my analysis is also seen as “post-colonial” because I interpret things from an “eastern” perspective. I really like either of these labels, but they are part of the discipline. For example, my senior thesis was on Pride and Prejudice, and I included a lengthy discussion about how this book is much more relevant now to those of the Third World than it is to modern Westerners, citing Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran and the film Bride and Prejudice.
4. I hate high-fructose corn syrup. I wrote my masters thesis on it at Georgetown. If you knew all of these horrible things it causes, you would hate it too. It should be banned – don’t eat it!
5. I love teaching! I teach MCAT Verbal for the Princeton Review (it’s the best MCAT prep class!) I really love teaching premeds because I see myself in them, and I have a great opportunity to expose them to literature. My students have done really well in the med school admissions process, and I’m so happy to have been a part of their success. I just got contacted by Princeton Review’s marketing team, and they want to feature me in MCAT brochures nationwide. So I could be the new face of MCAT for the Princeton Review!
6. I’m a fan of mocktails. My favorites are Shirley Temples and Virgin Mojitos.
7. I’m a big fan of Doctor Who. I think it’s such an amazing show, and it’s been on since 1963. It combines my favorite things: doctors, time travel, and Britain. When I find a fellow Whovian, we both get giddy and talk about it. I want my own TARDIS.
8. I was born in England. It’s something cool that people don’t expect. I like a lot of things about England – they also have a long history and produced amazing works.
9. I was born on February 29, Leap Year Day. It’s a great icebreaker. When I was a kid I thought it made me special, like a day had been created just so I could be born. It’s strange to not have a birthday every year, and everyone has an opinion on when I should celebrate mine. For the record, I use February 28, and I think it makes the most sense to me.
10. I broke my collarbone when I was 4. I was climbing a big dresser playing King Kong, and it fell on me. I didn’t break another bone until exactly 20 years later when I broke my wrist in DC tripping on a manhole.
11. I’m addicted to TV. I hate most forms of reality TV (except The Hills and Kardashians), but I watch lots of sitcoms and dramas. Name a show, and I probably watch it. I watch shows via the Internet so that it doesn’t interfere with my school/study schedule. I also watch shows from England (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Robin Hood, Merlin) and Canada (Little Mosque on the Prairie, Degrassi).
12. I love my sisters!! They are my best friends in the whole world!
13. I love tea. I drink it constantly. I use to think it was weird that my parents drank so much tea. But when I moved to DC, I started drinking it all the time, and I still do. I have different flavors to match my moods.
14. I don’t understand how everyone on Gossip Girl seems the same age…and that age is not high school-aged. And Chuck Bass is hilarious
15. I’m loving med school much more than grad school, even though I study the same things. I have a really great group of friends. My three main girls and I really remind me of Sex and the City (without the sex…or the city); we really are there for each other, and I feel like I can count on them for so much. I also think I’m a lot smarter now than I was in grad school, and I can handle things better.
16. I’ve been trying to find new music. Right now, I’m into Farez, Adele, and Jhanvieh. If you have any recommendations, let me know.
17. I love singing and dancing. I used to perform a lot more when I was younger. I hope I’ll get some more opportunities in the future. People still come up to me and ask me if I was that girl who sang “Ey Iran” at the Nowrooz show all those years ago.
18. I like checking out new technology on C-Net. Whether it’s new cell phones or computers, I like knowing what’s out there. Right now, I like the G1, but I’m hoping a G2 will come out when it’s time for me to update my Dash.
19. I check bestweekever.tv every day. It’s my favorite blog, and it’s so funny! I also follow Persianesque, Madam Secretary, and Michael Moore’s page.
20. NPR is the best radio station. I hated listening to it when I was a kid, but I started listening on my own when I was studying for the MCAT. It’s been four years, and I haven’t stopped. I love Everything you ever wanted to know, Fresh air, Think, and A way with words.
21. I think Mehran Modiri is a genius. He creates, writes, directs, produces, and stars in sitcoms in Iran. They are so funny and clever! Bamshad is the greatest character ever. I also think Bebin.tv is very clever, and both these entities are changing the face of Farsi-language TV.
22. I’m an officer for three clubs on campus. I’m most proud of being my school’s delegate to the American Medical Association. I went to the Texas Medical Association conference last weekend in Austin, and we won Chapter of the Year for the second year in a row. I’m so proud of my school, and I’ll do what I can so we win a third time.
23. Apparently, all of my friends think that I can pass for a white American girl. I’m trying to digest this new information, and I still don’t really believe this is true.
24. My favorite band of all time is The Monkees. Forget what you think you know about them, their music is amazing!
25. My favorite drink at Starbucks is a grande, soy, sugar-free vanilla latte with two Splendas. It takes a while to order, but it’s so good!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
YES WE DID!
It is a new day in America. I am proud to say that I voted for the first African-American president of the United States, Barack Obama! This is a historic night. Tonight, my generation united to make change and end the darkness our country has been in the past eight years. We stood up to an administration that controlled our lives through fear and lies. We finally have a president who will serve with dignity as a symbol of who an American really is. Barack was born a child of an immigrant, raised in a household where he looked different from everyone else in his family, studied hard and received the best education, chose to serve his community instead of looking for a big salary, and finally chose to stand up and serve his country when we needed him the most. President Obama is an inspiration - we can become anything that we want to be. He has changed the face America presents to the world and replaces our redneck cowboy image with cosmopolitan intelligence. From now on, everything will change. We're saved and out of the darkness, and I can't wait to see where President Obama will take us.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Britney's back!!!
It's no secret that I'm a huge Britney fan, and even less of a secret that she been crazy the past few years. Well, Britney countered back last Friday and, in her words, she's "got your crazy." Her new video for "Womanizer" premiered on 20/20, and it is awesome! She's looking hot, and the first thing you see is her showing off her svelte new bod. This is definitely a must-see. I'm hoping that the return of Britney is a sign of returning to 1999-2000; back when life was good, the economy was in surplus, and America was safe and on top. New Britney + new president = a bright and happy future for America!Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Michael Phelps: 8 in 08
Some of you may remember my Michael Phelps post from 2004. Reading it now, I realize that not much has changed at all. Michael is still "humble, cute, fit, kind, determined, and a team player," except now he's the GREATEST OLYMPIAN EVER! That's right, Michael has done what no one has ever done before: win 8 gold medals in a single Olympics. And he has more gold medals than any Olympian in the history of the modern games. And he's not even done! He's going to compete in London in 2012 and no doubt get even more medals.Not only am I so proud of him, but since 2004 I have felt this connection with him. These past four years were like Olympic training for medical school. And now that I am here, I am actually achieving the goals that I had made for myself in childhood. In 2012, I will graduate from medical school and become a doctor, which to me is the ultimate gold medal. Michael and I were both nerds who got tormented and bullied in school, who are now achieving our dreams and making a difference. Of course, I am not operating on the scale of Mr. Phelps, but he has inspired me for so long to keep going through the tough times and let the negativity of others fuel me to keep going.
Congratulations, Michael. I know that your hard work and dedication will continue to inspire me and others around the world to live up to their full potential and, perhaps, exceed it.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
New Chapter
Dear readers, I am happy to say that I have started a new chapter in my life. I started this blog when I was 19 years old with the dream of becoming a doctor, and since that time, you have all seen my ups and down on that journey. You were there when I took my pre-reqs, my MCAT, faced down my premed advisor, applied, interviewed, was waitlisted, applied to grad school, graduated from college, retook the MCAT, moved to DC, reapplied, interviewed, was ACCEPTED!, and received my masters degree. Well, dear readers, I have just completed my first two weeks of medical school here in Texas, and I am studying for my first medical school test. Having a masters degree has really helped me here - I feel like I have an advantage over the other students since I have seen this material before.But beyond the academic, I feel that I am actually living the dream I have had since I was two-years-old of becoming a physician. All I have ever wanted to do is devote my life to the service of others, to be their advocate when they are in need, and to share my great capacity to love and care for others. It's been a long time coming, and I feel so blessed to actually be living the life I have always known I was meant to live. I want to share this new chapter of my life with all of you. Some of you are old friends, some are premeds, and some are just passing through. Regardless, I hope that the lessons I have learned in the past and will learn in the future will help you in your lives, and help me continue the journey of introspection I began nearly five years ago.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The other day I read this article on Yahoo! about a new show in Afghanistan: Afghanistan's Next Top Model. At first, I thought that this was a great chance for oppressed women to step out into the public eye and express themselves. For so long, Afghan women were kept hidden behind their burqas and now they would have a chance to be seen. This was a great way for them to be empowered and feel good about themselves and their femininity.
Then I got to this sentence:
But asked if he looked more at the clothes or the girls, he replied with a smile: "The girls of course."
Oh, hell no! This woke me up to another side to this. America's Next Top Model is not about empowering women; it's about objectifying them! So why should Afghanistan's Next Top Model be any different? These women grew up in a society that told them they don't matter, and now they're being told that they can matter only if they are beautiful on the outside. What about the inside? Why not have a show like ABC's The Scholar where the smartest girls win scholarships? Or a Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire type sitcom with a strong young female lead? Now I understand that Afghanistan is new at this whole TV thing and this is a big step on it's own, but I think they should consider preventing the creation of a superficial, beauty-obsessed culture that makes girls feel bad about themselves on a daily basis like we unfortunately have in the US.
Don't believe me? Just watch this video:
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Umbrella
Umbrella was the official song this summer, especially in rain-soaked Texas. Check out this cover from one of my favorite singers, Mandy Moore.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Feelin Groovy
I'm really pumped cuz I kicked ass on my Physiology exam. I'm so excited and happy about this. Plus my sister is visiting me here in DC tomorrow. She'll be staying with me for a week and then we'll head back home to Texas together. Things are looking awesome.
I finished watching Sleeper Cell season 2. This show is great cuz it shows Muslims of all races, ethnicities, sexes, and even (gasp!) sexual orientation. I find it funny that the 2 Iraqi Sunni characters are played by Shi'a Iranians...talk about your opposites. And what makes it funnier was that one of them was mistaken for an Iranian on the show itself. The show points out a lot of different issues and personal struggles that American Muslims have to deal with. One of my favorite lines is when Darwin, the undercover FBI agent pictured here, has a terrorist at gunpoint --
Terrorist: What kind of a true Muslim works for America?
Darwin: I don't work for America. I am an American.
I was like, hell yeah! Darwin is a great metaphor for American Muslims who have to live in the shadow of terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism. He illustrates the constant struggle between the confidence that they are wrong, the scary feeling that you can identify with them on some level, and the guilt of that identification. He knows that the only way to stop the fanatics who have hijacked his religion is to become one of them and play their game - even if it ultimately means going on his own suicide mission.
I finished watching Sleeper Cell season 2. This show is great cuz it shows Muslims of all races, ethnicities, sexes, and even (gasp!) sexual orientation. I find it funny that the 2 Iraqi Sunni characters are played by Shi'a Iranians...talk about your opposites. And what makes it funnier was that one of them was mistaken for an Iranian on the show itself. The show points out a lot of different issues and personal struggles that American Muslims have to deal with. One of my favorite lines is when Darwin, the undercover FBI agent pictured here, has a terrorist at gunpoint --Terrorist: What kind of a true Muslim works for America?
Darwin: I don't work for America. I am an American.
I was like, hell yeah! Darwin is a great metaphor for American Muslims who have to live in the shadow of terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism. He illustrates the constant struggle between the confidence that they are wrong, the scary feeling that you can identify with them on some level, and the guilt of that identification. He knows that the only way to stop the fanatics who have hijacked his religion is to become one of them and play their game - even if it ultimately means going on his own suicide mission.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Oscars 2007
Hooray for Hollywood! Last night's Oscars was wonderful and upbeat and full of highlights:
So it was a night of upsets and highlights, and as always, a memorable night where dreams came true for many people.
- West Bank Story won for best live action short. Now, I hadn't heard of this movie before, but the acceptance speech was so great that I looked it up. I love that it is based on my favorite movie, West Side Story, but also incorporates peace in the Middle East.
- Will Ferrell, Jack Black, and John C. Reilly put on a hilarious musical number that pointed out the sad truth that the Academy ignores comedians when choosing Oscar nominees. I didn't really like the conclusion that the actors should take on serious roles, but I guess you can't be a guest in someone's house and then spit on them.
- I was very surprised by a couple winners. First, I thought Eddie Murphy would win Best Supporting Actor because this was really his one chance. As mentioned above, the Academy snubs comedians so this was a great time to give it to Eddie. Of course, Alan Arkin is a comedian and played a comedic role in Little Miss Sunshine, so...yeah.
- Another winner that surprised me was Marie Antoinette for Best Costume Design. See, in the preshow, they interviewed the Devil Wears Prada costume designer with Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway. Then they had Emily and Anne present the award and make all these jokes about how they know fashion the best b/c of the movie, and then they had to give the award to Marie Antoinette! Talk about a letdown. Although, I thought the acceptance speech was very nice.
- Another huge upset was when Melissa Etheridge won for Best Original Song for An Inconvenient Truth. Right before the award was announced the cast of Dreamgirls performed 3 songs they were nominated for and it was huge and Broadway-tastic. Ellen even said, "I would hate to have to follow that." And then Melissa won. Yes, this Oscars had a lot of the rug being pulled out from under people.
- The one category where I wanted this to happen was in Best Picture. I was rooting for Little Miss Sunshine, but instead it went to The Departed. It's interesting because a couple years ago I wanted The Aviator to sweep the Oscars - Leo as best actor, Scorsese as best director, and The Aviator as best picture. But instead, that honor went to The Departed to give Scorsese his long-deserved Oscar.
- Ellen was an amazing host, and kept the banter light and apolitical, which was very different form Jon Stewart last year. She would randomly run into the audience with gags, like this one:
So it was a night of upsets and highlights, and as always, a memorable night where dreams came true for many people.
Friday, February 16, 2007
I'm Back and Matching!
Hey y'all, I apologize that it's been a long time since my last post - a semester in fact. I've been living in DC and growing up a lot. Maybe I'll tell you more about it, but I'm not ready now. I am ready to give you good news. Yesterday was the Texas Match and I matched to University of North Texas! Yes, I have been accepted to medical school, and I can now live up to my name! All the pain from last year seems like a dream compared to how I feel now. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and darkness does not have to consume us forever. With faith, persistence, and my family's love and support I was able to keep going and achieve my goal. I wish all of you the best of luck in making your dreams come true!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
My First Apartment
I just signed the lease on my very first apartment! I feel like such an adult now. It's gonna be so cool having my own place for the first time. It's near my school too, so bye-bye excessively long commute! It's so thrilling. I'm already planning what my days are gonna be like: going to school and coming back to my apartment to study. It's gonna be a challenging academic year, but I think the excitement of living in a new city is gonna make up for it.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
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