At Chautauqua Lake

Why Chautauqua?
Last year, my Mama was invited to Chautauqua to give a lecture. She loved it. Everyone was active, amiable, and attached. This year, she was invited to attend and possibly participate in the event, Pakistan Week. You can see the list of speakers at their website.

Off we go!
This summer, in late July, my mother took me (and my twelve year old brother Khalid) to New York.
We went on a plane, arriving in Buffalo, NY. A driver from Chautauqua Institution picked us up and drove us through a woodland highway for about an hour until we reached the institution. Once we reached our destination, the Hall of Missions, we were greeted by the President, Mrs. Jones, and her assistants, Mr. and Mrs. Brockman. After dropping off our bags, Mama gave my brother and I a tour of the area. We walked around the hilly institution. After discovering a bike shop, we rented three and went for a ride. We saw many neighborhoods with beautiful flowers.

The next morning, at the Hall of Missions's special served breakfast, my brother and I had the chance to meet the world renowned scholar Karen Armstrong! She was there to give a lecture at the end of Pakistan Week as a finale. (Mama took the picture of her below) I also met rockstar Salman Ahmed, and a Reverend couple. (Salman Ahmad is the man in the black jacket)

That night, we saw a ballet performed by young performers ( ages 15 through 25 ). They all did very well and it was a delightful performance. We walked back to the Hall of Missions using The Brick Walk, which was simply a walkway paved in red brick with houses on either side.

The next day, Mama took us to the camp that she had registered us in. It is called the Boys and Girls Club. We were there from 9:00 to 12:00 and 2:00 to 4:00. All the kids were divided into small groups by the grade they would be in when their school opened in Fall. I was in Group 5 Girls. Our schedule changed everyday except for instructional swimming. We had that every morning when we got to camp. I didn't enjoy it much because of all of the muck at the bottom and the fact that it was so cold. Mind you, though, I love to swim. I have been blessed with long hair and it was hard to get all of the algae out, though we managed in the end.

The next days were the same. My brother and I played at their playground after the camp ended. We then walked back to the Hall of Missions around 5:00. We watched either a symphony orchestra or the ballet in the evening, depending on what they were showing.

Speaking of music, everyday, my brother and I practiced our duets together. My brother plays the flute, and I play the piano.

Delightful is too feeble a word to describe this trip. It was so much fun, and I know that if you go too, your experience will be the same.

The website for Chautauqua institute has all the things you need to know. 

Blog Post No. 1

This is my first blog post. This is exciting.

I am going to the fifth grade this coming school year. Changing schools is not easy, let me tell you that. But if you are one neighborhood away, then it is easier to make it through. I do not know anything about my new school, Mantua ES, except that:

• Located deep in a neighborhood,
• Teachers there are very strict ( which is half good and half bad )
• It is made up of three programs: a total communications center for the deaf, the gifted and talented program, and a base school program

Why do I write?

Mama says writing frees the soul, and that it is therapy. I do not know what to write. I have never written a blogpost before, though creating one has been on my to-do list for years. It is hard to believe that I did not start blogging sooner since I am nine years old (but turning ten two days).  
Mama taught me to write when I was five, and a year before, I started to read.

Why am I writing a blog?

It's hard. To write a blog, especially when you don't even know if someone is reading it or not. But I know my friends and family will keep up, and it is for them that I write.

Mama inspired me to do this. She has her own blog called women with a voice which profiles amazing women around the world. My mama is amazing. 

Why do I paint?

I express myself through my art (even if my paintings don't look so good afterwards). I love experimenting with my tools. I like the way a paintbrush feels in my hand. I like to mix acrylic paint. But I don't like washing the brushes because it takes too long.


Why the piano?

I play the classics on my piano. Currently, I am playing Moonlight Sonata by Ludvig van Beethoven, Mazurka in C minor by F. Chopin, and Song From A Secret Garden by Rolf Lovland. These are all songs chosen by me and my lovely Russian-born teacher Natallia. These pieces, and anything played on the piano,  really soothe me. It is amazing how you can bring a piece to life with the fantasy of music.

I encourage you to follow me in this blog. I will make recommendations on books to read, places to see, and things to do with your family.