What's in a name?

I always thought my name meant "Little girl". Since Ann represents a woman and hence the assumption that Annette meant little girl.

Cigar --> Cigarette
Ann --> Annette


But when i did some research on it, i found:

1) Annette is derived from Anne (Usage in French)
2) Anne is actually the french form of Hannah!
3) Anne was apparently the name of the mother of the Virgin Mary
4) Hannah (from the hebrew word Channah) meant "favour" or "grace" or "the gracious one" or "loving one".
5) Hannah was the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament.
6) The latin version of the name is Anna.

Sarah:

1)Means Princess. And my sister has always gloated about her being a princess! :| .It's a pretty name though.

2) There are 58 versions of the name Sarah.
3) The Farsi version of the name is Soraya!
4) Amir's wife in the kite runner is named Soraya.
5) Soraya was the name of the first wife of the last shah of Iran.

Will update soon! Cya

I.B.I.A.

Yesterday, I realized that life is totally worth living and everyday is a better day and a more challenging day. I met some of the most amazing people last night and i certainly learnt a lot of things from them. So, we had good food, good people and a great day of fellowship. What more could i ask for. As an International conference was being held at my parent's workplace, people from all over the world were attending the conference and yesterday we hosted dinner at our place.

But really, they were among the most polite people I've ever met in my life! I actually heard so many "thank you"'s that actually could have exceeded the number of times i've ever heard from the people around me everyday! You know what it actually made me a better person. I want to be more affectionate (Oh no) and more loving (don't get your hopes high :P) and more generous (it's your lucky day!). What i want to say is that would it kill us if we were more polite? I could use the term "profusely polite" to describe them.

Oh yeah.
I- Indian
B- British
I- Iranian
A- American

Atleast now i know what an Iranian flag looks like! Shame on me! :(

I'd met Janet last year I think and she totally blew me away. She's from Britain and she's probably the most fun and classy lady I've met. She's not afraid to experiment with her clothes and certainly does not compromise on her luggage. The driver told my dad that they couldn't even lift her suitcase!!! Ray, an American joked whether they could see HER BEHIND HER SUITCASE! :D Americans and their sarcasm. PRICELESS. She was quite the talk of the conference with her shoes matching her suitcase! But a very smart lady nonetheless! I was really impressed. Her husband, Rodney made a nice wooden bowl with a lid for us. Made of Holly and Indian Timber and polished with beeswax. Awww.

Ralph, the American lady wore a beautiful Salwar Khammez and lovely shoes. (The shoes.You have to love the shoes!!) She gave me such a big hug, I was taken by surprise. She was going gaga over my Mom's Sari. Ah yes, the Sari. She popped me a question. "So.. What are your plans?"
I said "I have two more yrs of college. "

And then she asked," after that? "

And i dont know what came over me, but i said, "I want to travel the world!!"

Everyone was like "ooooooh.. thats nice! Where do you wanna go?" I said
(believe it or not) Paris!!
That was a fun conversation. I do want to travel the world one day.


Apparently my sister's dessert was a big hit! Lemon Pie. WOW. I can still taste it!!
Dinner was excellent! It always feels great to have some good food! Ah.. I'm in heaven! After everybody had left, the Iranian Woman arrived. Her flight had been late. I think she was the most fascinating of them all!

Elahi. What a beautiful name? My Mom told me her full name. (It was SO long, but fascinating nonetheless) Well, she's the first Iranian I've ever met! And she is really what you call a woman. Such dignity, such grace. She wore a cream coloured suit with stripes of a lighter shade and a beautiful cream coloured scarf that covered her head. She spoke with a very distinguishable Iranian accent which i found really fascinating. She said she felt closer to the Indians as she found lots of similar words that were used. For instance,

1)Chai
2)Paneer
3)Bhise (20 in Hindi)
Those were among the few we discovered were in common. My Mom asked her about Iran. She said, with sadness that was evident to all of us,that they didn't have the luxury of security which we enjoy in India(To an extent). She told us about how her mother was robbed while she was on her way to the Doctor. The robber grabbed her purse and ran away. She had important papers with her. And this happens ever so often and the police station is always full of people with their complaints. They told her they can do nothing about it and that she should apply for her papers, saying she had "lost" them. It would be faster. Elahi said that she wondered if the police were in league with the robbers!

She told us about the work conditions in Iran. How people who worked hard were just not paid because they were classified as another group and how people who didn't work at all, were paid a fat pay cheque. She said that based on the basic needs that the people rightfully deserved, it had failed miserably. Common people really don't care about oil or nuclear power. They want a peaceful and safe place to live. Where their family is secure and living conditions are good. She said that their actions did not tally with their promises. The Shah had promised (back in the late 70's or early nineties )that they would have so much money that they would come door to door with money to give. Well, I don't know what draws a person to their mother land. Despite the suffering and treachery, nothing can compare to the land you call your homeland. The place you call home. Some say that North Western Iran used to be
The garden of Eden . There has been a lot of theories about the actual location of the garden of Eden. I'm currently reading the book of Geneses and everytime I read it, I find a new angle to it.

A very accomplished lady. A very beautiful heart.

And i was very honoured to meet this amazing woman. She loved her family deeply and embraced life as it came before her. Life is tough.

But the key is to embrace it.

Embrace the cross

Embrace the cross, you Christian Soldier;
Hold on to what is pure and right.
Though the world may not embrace her,
Hold on soldier, hold on tight.

I pray that I can see, O Master;
I pray that Thou grantest me sight.
That I may walk through dark,hereafter;
Shine on me,Thy glorious Light.

Embrace the cross, you Christian Soldier;
Hold on to what is pure and right.
Though the world may not embrace her,
Embrace her with me day and night!

Embrace the cross, you Christian Soldier
The world today has gone astray.
Though none agree to embrace her with you,
Remember that Christ leadeth the way.

My heart leaps for joy, to serve Thee;
For goodness and strength I to Thee pray.
Embrace the cross, O Christian Soldier,
For He will lift your burden away.

Embrace the cross, O Christian Soldier;
Await the Lord in that precious hour.
For then the world will fear His presence,
Then the world will feel His power.

And everything that has breath will praise the Lord.
Every being,every leaf, every flower.
Embrace the cross, O Christian soldier;
For the Lord our God will reign forever!
-Annette

I LOVE this photograph!
One of my experiments with my camera.