So my Tunisia proposal has been approved!
The plan is that I will be there at the end of the month. I feel challenged at the moment, as the Arab Summit is really a big event. I have already started doing some research but there is a lot of work to be done.
I wanna make sure that I fully understand the subject before I start reporting on it. Tunisia, Tunisia here I come.
The first time I met her was at press conference last year. She was working as a photographer for AFP. It was the first time for me to meet a female photojournalist in Jordan, as this career is usually dominated by men.
I ran into her maybe once or twice after that and she struck me as smart, very friendly and full of energy. We even talked about Jeff and I asked her if AFP was looking for freelance photographers. She was very helpful and gave me some good tips. I was shocked today to read that she passed away in Madrid at the age of 34.
Why her? She had so much to give! I think I am depressed.
‘A shooting star’
By Randa Habib
When she joined AFP-Amman in the summer of 2001, Leila Gorchev brought with her not just the great talent of an artistic photographer, but also the smile and the kindness of a great human being.
Her curiousity about everything around her, her sensitivity, that made her special, her talent behind a camera, which was her way of expressing the beauty in her and the serenity she was looking for — all these made us feel privileged to have her as a colleague.
I remember the time she accompanied me for an interview, of Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania. At the end of the interview, Leila asked King Abdullah for “just one more.” Gracefully, the King went back to the living room, and we started chatting again, so Leila could take “some more portraits.” No one could say no to her.
Through her eyes, Leila Gorchev made us all see parts of Jordan in a different light. Her pictures were so amazing, that we decided to use a Wadi Rum shot taken by Leila as a New Year greeting card. She managed to transform the vast desert sands into a sea of hope.
Last summer, Leila decided to follow her heart and her talent elsewhere.
She passed away in Madrid, the city that represented for her the dream and the future…
But the future was not to be for Leila. She was 34 years old.
Leila Gorchev was a shooting star.
The writer is the director of Agence France-Presse/Amman.
My husband is back to blogging. Having the internet line in our new apartment is making life in Doha bearable for both of us. Check out his latest blog
Once again Addasi got us free season tickets to Qatar Total Open 2004.
It is a huge event in which international women tennis players compete right here in Doha. The championship includes some big names like: Jennifer Capriati, Anastasia Myskina and others.
We are very excited about it and glad that I’m not working the coming two days.
I have been feeling productive today for some reason. I finished the Tunisia proposal and already submitted it to my boss.
Last night I finished The Eye of the Sun, a brilliant story recommended for women who are torn between East and the West.
The next book on my reading list in Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho. My Lebanese friend Amal gave it to me today saying it is a must read. We also finally managed to watch Lost in Translation. We had been on the waiting list for almost weeks then two days ago, the DVD rental shop sent us a text message saying we can come and collect it. I thought that was sweet.
My weekend starts in an hour and I can’t wait. Tennis Tennis, here we come.
Yes, it actually happened! We finally have internet at the house. This morning at 8:00 am Jeff tried it and it worked, as simple as that. Now I can blog from home using the live journal client instead of the web-based content entry system.
Other than that, scores perished in Iraq in blasts that targeted Shia worshippers. This kept me busy all day. When will this bloodshed end?