Write a summary of one of Elsa Marston's stories in no more than 500 words. Make a list of the main events of the story first.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
+of+Rima.jpg)
- Dr. Najjar
- I am an assistant professor in the English Program at the Arab American University - Jenin. I teach literature and writing.
Mariam Zaidan
ReplyDelete20810517
October 26, 2009
Aneesi, a fourteen-year-old Syrian maid working for a Lebanese family, is the main character in the short story “The Hand of Fatima” written by Elsa Morton. In the story Aneesi hears her employer discussing they need someone to build a wall for them. Aneesi’s father is a good stonemason who needs to find work in order to keep his son in school. The Jubeili’s agree to hire Aneesi’s father. The Jubeili’s have a son and daughter that are quite different. The son, Iskandar, is a responsible college student who gives lessons to Aneesi encouraging her to continue her education so she can become a secretary and get more money, while Maya, the daughter, is a selfish, careless teenager who is always losing money and treating Aneesi poorly. When Aneesi’s father comes to work for the Jubeili’s, they are very pleased with his work and pay him well. With some of his earnings, he buys a golden charm in the shape of a hand with a turtle in it for Aneesi. Aneesi is happy about the gift but is worried it might be a bribe for her to consider marrying a man her father wants her to marry. Aneesi doesn’t want to marry because her dream is to live in Lebanon as a secretary or manager. After Maya goes on a shopping trip with her friends, she returns unhappy. When asked why she is unhappy by her mother, she says she didn’t have enough money because having left her purse unattended before leaving Aneesi’s father stole her money. The Jubeili’s believe their daughter and fire the old man. Aneesi suspects her father for one instant because he was able to buy her a golden charm, but then regretting her lack of faith, she looks in some of Maya’s pockets knowing she always loses her money and finds the “stolen” money. Upon returning the money to the Jubeili’s, Aneesi says she must go see her family and tells them that her father wouldn’t come back to work for them after being asked. Iskandar tells Aneesi to come back to Lebanon for a hope to have a better future. Aneesi leaves thinking that this meeting with her father will be very difficult because she will have to stand up for what she wants and deny her father’s wishes.
Mr. Kareem, Amal's teacher, decided to leave Al Iraq and go to work in one of the culf state. Amal was sad because the good teacher will leave them soon. The brighter thought popped in to Amal's head, someone good was coming,Uncle Omer, famous relative from America , bringing things the family sorely needed and couldn't buy in Baghdad. Bilaal, Amal's brother , chattered about the wonderful toys and cars that he will got from Uncle Omer, who thought Uncle Omer is Santa claus. Amal's friends in the school hope to insist on a young , handsome teacher to take Mr. Kareem's place. Then Amal got sick, with no medicine available that her family could afford. After a time, Amal was almost healthy again , but she 'd had to repeat the year at school, and she had a new group. Amal spoke to her new friends" we should give Mr. Kareem a gift" all of them were surprised, and disagreed about her idea. Then they agreed and decided to collect money for the gift, which will be a good book Amal choose it. Amal's parents prepared everything for Uncle Omer visit, and after he arrived , he opened the gift . There is nothing for Bilaal. He started crying, because he thought Uncle Omer Santa claus coming with a lot of toys. Uncle Omer stammered with embarrassment, then he gave the children money, but Billal refused to take them and said "I want a red car" and cried again, then he slept. Uncle Omer went again. Amal's father decided to sell some of his family book to have some money to buy a red car for Bilaal. After that, Bilaal had a beautiful car, he was really happy to have car like that. Then Amal went to buy a good book for Mr. Kareem. She chose an Arabic book was written by Abu Nawwas. It was expensive , so she used the money that Uncle Omer gave her to buy the book. When the girls were in the party that was for Mr. Kareem, they gave him the book. Mr. Kareem was so happy to have that book, and after he read some pages from the book , he found that it belonged to his professor at the university. After Amal read the name , she read her grandfather's name in the book. Then everything become clear , Abu Nawwas equaled a little car. After a moment Mr. Kareem said" I wish I could return this book to the family of that great man" Amal felt a shame of her family at having had to sell the book. Then she said" I think they'd be happy to knew that the book is with you." He said" For now, I am honored to keep it." Amal left the class ; she was treasuring the images that lingered in her mind ……the book resting in Mr. Kareem's thin fingers, the red car firmly clutched in Bilaal's little hand.
ReplyDeleteList of main events: (Santa Claus in Baghdad)
ReplyDelete1- Amal wanted to reward her teacher Mr. Kareem by buying a gift for him and she decided a book.
2- Bilaal loved the character Santa Clause and he always said he is coming.
3- Uncle Omar, who was one from the relatives, was living in America and he always got some important requirements for Baghdad.
4- Bilaal thought that Uncle Omar is Santa Claus and he got toys.
5- Uncle Omar didn’t bring toys with him so Bilaal got sad.
6- Bilaal’s father sold some books to buy his son a toy and to get surprised.
7- Finally, Amal bought the book for Mr. Kareem and it was her father book which he sold it to buy the toy for Bilaal.
Santa Claus in Baghdad
Amal was a small girl from Baghdad. She was an elementary school student, who was sad about her Arabic teacher Mr. Kareem. He would leave the school as many others teachers did. Amal loved him so much and she planed to get him a gift to thank him for his efforts. She told her classmates to share that and they began collecting money. Amal preferred a book for her teacher and the girls agreed with that.
After school, she went to take her brother Bilaal from his school. Bilaal was seven years old; the slightest thing might throw him into a tizzy. Bilaal’s teacher was showing the class" Santa Claus" movie many times and that for the less quantity of requirement there in Baghdad. Bilaal was amazed by Santa Claus and he thought that Uncle Omar was him. Uncle Omar was a relative person to the family and he was living in America. He would bring many requirements and medicine that they need in Baghdad. Bilaal heard about Uncle Omar and he thought that he was Santa Claus; he would bring toys with him and he was always saying" he is coming." Finally, Uncle Omar reached Baghdad and Amals family was waiting for him and they were so happy. He opened the bags and he began picking some medicine and vitamins that they need. Bilaal asked him about his toy, the red car which he wished, but he didn’t bring any toys with him. Bilaal felt so sad and he began crying; Uncle Omar got impressed. On the next day, Amal heard a low voice between her parents. The father wanted to sell some books to buy a car for his son Bilaal, because he didn’t have money. Amal’s mother was telling him that those books were so important for his father. In the Evening, Bilaal’s father gave him a car and he told him that it's from Uncle Omar, Santa Claus. Bilaal felt so happy and Amal too.
After setting with Uncle Omar, Amal should begin searching for the best book for her teacher. She went to the book shops and she began searching for a good gift, a good book that Mr. Kareem will feel happy when he read. She went to many bookshops and she was searching. She was worried and she didn’t know what to buy for him, about Shakespeare or poems by Robert frost, especially that Mr. Kareem knew English well as Arabic. Finally, she found the book; very beautiful book with golden frames for Abu-Nawas poems. The book was expensive, more than what she had collected from the girls. After long discution, she took the book with the good price and she gave it to Mr. Kareem. Mr. Kareem was surprised and began with thanking. He liked the book very much, but he noticed something strange. The book was signed by his great teacher who taught him. Amals father was the teacher and the book was that book, which her father sold it for her brother toy!!!
Eman Najem
ReplyDelete20810781
section:2
There were an Iraqi students, with there teachers- Mr. Kareem-, who wanted to leave them to teach abroad, so the students decided to buy a gift for him, and collected the money from them selves, and to let Amal-one of the students-to go shopping and choose the best gift for him.
Amal's family were poor, and they have a cousin, who works in America, so now a days he decided to visit them in Baghdad. The family were preparing them selves, and every one dreamed of his gift, especially Bilaal-Amal's brother-, and he thought uncle Omar is Santa Claus, so he dreamed with a nice red car, unfortunately, when uncle Omar had arrived to the home, he started opening the gifts, so Bilaal started crying because he want a red car. In order to make him happy, uncle Omar decide to give Bilaal and other children a money, but Bilaal refused to take it and continued crying for a red car, so his father sold an old books for his father, to buy a car for Bilaal.
Amal went to buy the book for Mr. Kareem, and she chose a book; thought that Mr. Kareem would like it, and it was written by an Arab poet called Abu Nawwas, whom Mr. Kareem prefer. but it was expensive, so Amal complete the price from the money which her uncle gave to her.
The next day, Amal with her class mates made a party an gave the book for Mr. Kareem. When he opened the book, he noticed a name on the book for his professor in the university, and that was Amal's grand pa, so that made them all surprised, so Amal said:'' they'd be happy to knew that the book is with you'', Mr. Kareem said'' for now. I am honored to keep it''
"Santa Claus in Baghdad", a story from Iraq, written by Elsa Marston.
ReplyDeleteIn this story Amal an Iraqi girl study at school and she had to repeat the year at school, because she was ill, and she repeated the year with new classmate students. Her brother Bilaal, her Uncle Omar how came from America with medicine and vitamins not with toys and games as Bilaal thought, and Mr. Kareem Amal's teacher who want to leave school because he got offered to work out side Iraq in one of Gulf states, no one can refused something like that because of the occupation and the economic conditions in Iraq. MR. Kareem was very good teacher, so Amal felt sad because he will leave the school and they will lose good teacher like him and they did not know if they will had good teacher like him.
Amal spoke to her classmate and said that they should gave him a present before he left the school, some of them disagree with her, but other agree with her. Finally all of them agree and when they argue about what the present will be Amal said that book will be very good present for him and they decided to collect money to buy the book, Amal and others from her classmate will search for good book for Mr. Kareem.
Amal parents prepared every thing for Uncle Omar visit, when he arrived and gave the gift for the family Bilaal started crying because there is no toys for him as he thought, he thought that hi Uncle Omar is Santa Clause and will bring toys for him. His Uncle gave them money, but that did not make him stop crying or stop saying that he want a red car.
Amal fathers decided to sell one of his family's, and bought a red car for Bilaal.
Bilaal got his new red car and he was very happy.
Amal went to buy the book for Mr. Kareem, she choose a book for Abu Nawwas, but the book was too expensive so she used the money that he Uncle gave it to her.
When she and the girls where on the party for Mr. Kareem, she gave him the book and he was so happy. When he read few pages from it he discovered that the book for his professor who teach him in the university, when Amal read the name she discovered that the book for her grandfather and she also knows that this is the book which her father sell to buy the car for he brother Bilaal. Mr. Kareem said" I wish I could return this book to the family of that great man". Amal said for him "I think they'd be happy to know that the book is with you".
Amal felt shame because her family sell very important book to buy a car for her little brother Billal.
“Santa Clause in Baghdad” by Elsa Morton is a story set in Iraq during the war focusing on one family’s life and how it was affected by the repercussions of war. The story begins with a young girl names Amal listening to her teacher’s farewell speech. The girls in her class discussed how they are delighted to be relieved of an old teacher, on the other hand Amal was thinking of what a loss it is .Mr. Kareem was enthusiastic and taught with great competence.
ReplyDeleteA great idea came to Amal’s mind that would show a great deal of appreciation to her teacher. She spoke up suggesting they purchase a gift for Mr. Kareem, which was rare for her after her recovery from pneumonia and being lowered a grade. After discussing this issue with the group of girls and receiving approval from the popular leader of the group (Hala), the idea was declared a success. They discussed the matter in details concluding that the girls well gather money from each student and purchase a book chosen by Amal, while throwing the teacher a small party.
After school Amal walked to pick up her younger brother Bilal, who was seven years old. He was a bright and anxious child excited about any idea that came to mind but it appeared that he was in trouble as the teacher asked to discuss Bilal’s problem with Amal. The teacher explained that after reading to her class the story of Santa clause, Bilal was obsessed and announced to all his peers that Santa was coming to Baghdad. It was apparent that Bilal connected the idea of his uncle Omar coming from America to Santa clause. The young boy imagined that his uncle was Santa clause and would bring him many toys. This idea was devoured the day his uncle came, only bringing medicines and beneficial objects for adults. Bilal did not leave the situation quiet. He threw a tantrum screaming and asking for a red toy car.
A day after the family said their goodbyes and thanks to Uncle Omar Bilal’s father felt despondent toward his child. As a result, he sold one of his father’s valuable books to purchase a red toy car for Bilal. When the car was given to Bilal he was told that it came from Santa clause. Bilal was consumed with a great deal of happiness that escalated to his father.
The next day Amal went to the flea market to purchase a gift for her teacher when she found the perfect book of poems by Abu Nawwas. Since the book was too expensive, Amal had to use her gift money to purchase it. She sacrificed purchasing new cloths that she had long awaited for. Mr. Kareem was in shock and over whelmed with gratitude as he never imagined owning such a rare book. He had some sadness at the thought of the previous scholar who owned this book and had to sell it for an undeserving price. Amal soon discovers that the scholar was her grandfather and the book was sold to purchase the red toy car.
Mr. Kareem, who is a good teacher in Arabic literature, wants to leave his country Al Iraq because he has a chance to work in one of Gulf states. Amal, she is the main character, becomes so sad because of all good people always go. Hala, she is in Amal's class, when she hears about Mr. Kareem's news, she likes it, becuase she wants handsome teacher.
ReplyDeleteAmal suggests, she and her classmate should give Mr. Kareem a gift, it is surprise to them, but they agree and decide to collect money to buy the present, thinking about what they will bring, after discussion Amal and her friends will buy a good book.
After that, Uncle Omar, a famous relative from America, came back to home and visiting Amal's family. Bilaal, Amal's brother, thinks Uncle Omar is Santa Claus, actually he is not. Uncle Omar gives some presents to Amal's family, and money for children. Bilaal isn't happy about money, he wants a red car. he starts crying and crying, then going to sleep. Then his father decided to sell some of his family book to have some money, that because Amal's family is poor, can not buy toys for his child.
Bilaal's father buys the red car, Bilaal becomes very happy. After that, Amal goes to buy a beautiful book for Mr. Kareem, Amal likes the book which was written by Abu Nawwas, it is so expensive, as a result, she uses the money that Uncle Omar gave her to buy this book.
Amal and her friends make a party for Mr. Kareem, and in the party they give their lovely teacher the Arabic book. Mr. Kareem begins to read the first page; surprisingly, he finds that the book belongs to his professor at the university, Amal reads her grandfather's name in the first page, she knows, this book for her grandfather, in addition, the book equald a little car. Mr. Kareem hopes if he can return this book to great professor's family. Beside he is honored to keep it.
Finally, the book becomes with Mr. Kareem fingers, the red car clutched in Bilaal's small hand.
Santa Claus in Baghdad
ReplyDeleteSanta Claus in Baghdadis a story written by Elsa Marston. It is a beautiful story because it shows some great values such as the love of students for their teachers .In addition, it explains that the best gift is not according at the high price.
In this story there is a teacher of Arabic who works in a school in Baghdad. He is a good teacher ,loves his work and try to convey to his students the richness of Arabic literature. So, most of students respect him especially Amal . Unfortunately, he wants to move to Gulf State at the end of the semester. So, Amal decided with her friends to give him a gift. The students collected money from each other to buy a present. Amal thought about the gift and finally she decided to buy book for her teacher.
Her father sold many books that his family had and this was great loss for the family .Mr. Karim told the students that Baghdad was the center of civilization. It had an expensive books in the House of Wisdom library, but it was destroyed completely. After that, Amal went to buy a book , she chose tow books . One is a collection of poems for Robert Frost , another one was very beautiful with leather cover, embossed in gold ,the pages was heavy and with decoration, she thought that it is Al Quran but it was a poetry book for Abu Nawas. She bought this book and said that Mr. Karim will like it. The day after that , students gave the book to their teacher . Mr. Karim was surprised , the book was so fantastic for him. He read the name which was written in it . Amal was shocked that the book for her family and her father sold it because he wanted to buy a small red car for his son Billal who was very nervous and Amal tried to calm him by promising that Santa Claus will visit them and give him a gift. Her uncle Omar came from America but he did not bring anything to the small children, Billal started crying that he wane his red car . His father was embarrassed . So, he sold the books to buy a small red car for him. Amal asked herself ( Abu Nawas and his book equal to a small red car????) Iman Shawqi
A Summary of Faces
ReplyDeleteFaces is a story written by Elsa Marston, and it talked about a Syrian family, whose the parents were divorced, and as any story like that, the absolute victims were the children, Suhayl is the only son, and he became almost a guy, who can have a decisions. He was with his father where in a public bathroom; when his father showed him a picture for women that he wanted to marry her.
Suhayl was completely shocked, how he can tell his mother that his father is going to marry anther women, then his father took him in a tour in Damascus, then Suhayl went back to his home, and he found his mother their, and they had a dinner together, his mind was completely full with ideas and thoughts, about his father, and that ideas annoyed him.
He decided to make a surprise to his, which it would be a special dinner, he will made it by him self, the dinner would be Hummus, spaghetti, salad, and fruit. He decided to use the money that his father gave it to him in this dinner. The day after that he went to school and when he was there he has a brilliant idea, he will asked his best friend Raee'f for a help, but the help wouldn’t be directly from him, but from his super mom, who can cooked a wonderful meals.
He went with Raee'f to his house, and he met Raee'f mother, who was a kind women, she started telling him how to make hummus … but he shouted when she told him to use a canned chickpeas, because he remembered his father, how he became annoyed when his mother used canned chickpeas.
He left Raee'f house, and the exact date is coming, the week end as he planned, and his mother now in her job, he wanted to finish every thing before she came, he made every thing, and the kitchen is in a complete disaster, she came and he told her about his surprise, his mother tasted the food and she liked it, but when she finished eating, she wanted to go to the kitchen, but she shocked by the damage that he left.
She shouted in a high voice, Suhayl was too shy, and he asked his mother to forgive him, but his mother was annoyed, because she shouted at him. Then she put her arms around him… And they felt how deeply each one of them loved the other; and how his mother cheering him by saying, that he is her son, who will always love and take care of.
The story set in baghdad,its begins with a young girl names AMALS who was sad about her teacher MR KAREEM because he want to leave the school AMAL love him so,she decided to give him a gift
ReplyDeleteAMALS family were poor ,his brother name is BILLAL all time in school his teacher show him acartoon about santa clause so he think that his uncle OMAR is an santa clause who wants to come from the west to visit him and give him a toys but when he come he give him a only bringing medicines and beneficial objects for adults.BILLAL felt sad and started cry and said :"i want a red car" so,his father decided to bougth ared car for him.
AMAL want to buy agift for her teacher so, he spoke to her classmate and said that they should gave him a present before he left the school ,some of them disagree but other agree with her.after all disscussion AMAL and her friends will buy a book for her teacher .
Ayoung girl and his friends make a party for MR.KAREEM ,in the party they give thier arabic book luckly when MR.KAREEM began read the book he found that book belongs to his professors in the university and also related to AMAL that this book wrote by AMAL grandfather .
Mr. Kareem said" I wish return this book to the family of that great man". Amal said for him "I think they'd be happy to know that the book is with you".
Amal felt shame because her family sell very important book to buy a car for her little brother Billal.
The Hand of Fatima
ReplyDeleteSummary
The story starts with Aneesi, a-fifteen years old maid for the Jubeili family, who longed for a rest after having a hard work all day. She was so tired and hungry. Zeina, reminded her husband, Dr. Jubeili, that their garden wall should be repaired. Sitt Zeina, a beautiful woman with thick black hair worn loose to her shoulders, got angry as she knew that Aneesi eavesdropped (listened) on their conversation which was a family matter. Aneesi hoped that the Jubeilis would hire her father, a skilful stonemason and a government car driver in Syria, to repair the wall for them so that he could have a few weeks' pay to feed his family. In addition, this job would prevent her brother, Hussein, from dropping out of school to work. Dr. Jubeili agreed to give Aneesi's father a chance to do the stone work, and that made her very happy.
The Jubeilis had a family of two; Maya, seventeen years old and her brother, Iskandar. Maya used to make Aneesi very busy in washing her clothes and ironing them. As she was collecting Maya's clothes in her room, she found the jeans and imagined how she would look like in them. That made her remember the good moments she used to spend with her father in Syria. However, Iskandar, Maya's brother, was so different from her. He was so kind to Aneesi and gave her lessons in English and Arabic. He made her think of having a commercial course at the YMCA to get a real job and have a better life as that was her dream. Aneesi's father arrived at the Jubeili's house. She received him with great happiness and eager greetings. He told her good news; about Hussein who did well at school and about Fareed, postmaster's son, who asked for her hand. Her father mentioned good things about him in an attempt to convince her to accept the marriage proposal. She decided that she didn't want to marry him. Life had taught her to decide for herself and not to accept everything.
One evening, Aneesi's father bought her a gold present from Beirut. It was "The Hand of Fatima" which indicates good luck and protection. The family accused her father of stealing Maya's money; therefore, they sent him back to Damascus. Even Aneesi had bad thoughts about him, especially as she thought about the price of the gold present he bought her. While Aneesi was gathering Maya's clothes from her room for laundering, she found her money in her sweater and gave them to her mother. They asked Aneesi to forgive them for accusing her father. Finally, she decided to go to her father in Syria and give him the remaining money for the days he worked, plus a large bonus. The family asked her to come back when she is ready.
Summarizing “Santa Claus in Bagdad”
ReplyDeleteAmal and her friends were arguing about what was the perfect gift to be given to Mr. Kareem, for he was leaving soon; the perfect one was a book. Fortunately, some one good was coming! Uncle Omar whom Amal’s brother Bilaal imagined him as a Santa Claus. Uncle Omar arrived in Bagdad and visited all the relatives, and when it was Amal’s family’s turn, her mother made a cooking that had never happened for years. Finally he arrived to her house with a large suitcase, and the hugging and kissing lasted for a while; however, he was not loking like a rich man for Amal, nor was not he looking like a Santa Claus for Bilaal. They all liked the dinner, and at last the time came to see what else Uncle Omar brought. After opining the case, a whole pharmacy was laying before them; amal and bilaal lost the interest and sat back in their chairs because they thought that it is not a wonderfull thing to see aspirin —even if you hadn’t been able to get it for years. But they received bills instead.
Asking about the car that he thought he would receive from Uncle Omar, Bilaal lost his mind when they told him that there was no car. A few days later, Dad soled his father’s books to bring a new- red car for his son. When Mom knew, she became so angry because they were like a treasure for Alma’s grandfather. And one of these books was the gift that the class had given to Mr. Kareem. So the books equaled a little red car. The jewel of her grandfather’s
library had gone to make Bilaal happy, to help a little boy believe that good things could sometimes happen . . . that Santa Claus would not completely forget the children of Baghdad, this is what Amal had concluded at last.
Suhayl is small boy lives in Syria. His parents will divorce. One day’s Suhayl went with his father to Turkish bath’s during their conversation, Suhayl hoped that his father talked about their separated family in order to became completed family. But he shocked that his father will married a beautiful woman after a month, suhayl felt nervous and angry when his father gave him Huda’s picture ‘’ the future wife’’. But he tore the photo to bite and put it under the divan cushion, when his father went back the dressing rooms. Suhayl asked his father when he said that Huda is beautiful but suhayl replied that his mother also beautiful woman, his father answered that he will understand the reason for getting divorce in the future. After Suhayl went to the house, he was happy because his mother not asked him about the visit with his father because it was nothing good to tell her . while Suhayl went to the bath room he saw his mother’s face from the mirror he was wonder :”how could she be the same mother he had always know?.......where had she gone?”. After awhile, Suhayl thought in away that could return his mother’s smile, he was know that she used to smile after she returned home but actually she tired from work and accounts with a construction company. Suhayl decided to make a dinner before his mother arrived from her work and that’s in order to make her happy and smile again , therefore, he managed to study hard , because he does not want his mother nervous for getting bad marks. Then, when Suhayl want to his school by a bus he looked at the people faces he saw many strange things that these faces hide a secrets. after that, Suhayl arrived the school and he told his Christian friend Raeef about his secret that he want make dinner for his mom and suhayl want Reef’s mother to help him to make hummus, but Raeef laughed at him…and thought that suhayl joked. After wards, Raeef promised suhayl not told any boy at the school about the secret and he will help him. Suhayl went to Reef’s house. He was surprised that Reef’s family lived in shabby side with litter and dirty paint. Suhyal annoyed from Reef’s mother because she thought that suhayl could not make hummus. Therefore, she asked him to making hummus from canned chickpeas but at the end, she gave him the way to make hummus. After that, suhayl looked at the Christian pictures Jesus and Maryam and other saints, he though why this happy family put these sadness pictures?. Then Suhayl bought things from his money that he saved. After that, Suhayl arrived his house and went to the kitchen and made Spaghetti, Salad and Hummus. He made every thing in the kitchen messy. However, his mother tasted the dinner and she surprised that her son can do that , after awhile, suhayl’s mother smiled although her sadness.
ReplyDeleteSanta clause
ReplyDeleteAmal, she is a little, shy girl who study at school. she and her friends had a teacher called Mr. Kareem . One day, this teacher want to arrive this school. Amal said to her friend to buy a present for him but, her friend hala told her:" why should we suppose to buy for him a gift? He was such a bad teacher, always he gives us a lot of home work, and he gave us low degrees." Amal said:" No, we must buy to him a gift." Then Amal decided to buy to her teacher a gift, and it was a literature book because he is teaching this material. Then she decided to buy Abu Nwas book.
Although Hala thought about some one handsome to teach them, Amal insisted that there teacher deserves this present.
Then she remembered that someone good was coming! Uncle Omar, the famous relative from America.
was due any day now, bringing things the family sorely needed and couldn’t buy in Baghdad.
Amal’s mother kept talking about nutritional things, while Bilaal, who had strange idea about what will his uncle buy to him. He always thought that his uncle is Santa clause with the car which pulls him.
Then her uncle came and he did not buy the car for Bilaal. After that her grand father decided to sill his library. And he do to make to make Bilaal happy, to help a little boy believe
that good things could happen . . . and that Santa clause would not forget the children of Baghdad. So all the books had gone also Abu Nwaas's book.
Finally, Amal looked up at Mr. Kareem, and they held each other’s gaze for a moment. Then
Mr. Kareem arrived that place and he wished if he can return to this family.
In impoverished Baghdad, 16-year-old Amal hopes to regain her social status at school by volunteering to find a book as a class gift for the departing literature teacher. Meanwhile, her emotionally fragile little brother becomes obsessed with the notion that a visiting uncle from America--whom he confuses with Santa Claus--will bring him toys. Ashamed never to have been able to give his son a toy. When the uncle visits Amal's family at home, the little boy think that his uncle will bring some toys with him, but his uncle bring some medicine with him instead. The child's father sells some more prized family possessions and buys a model car for him. When Amal go to buy the literature book, she discover that the book is to her grandfather.
ReplyDeleteAmal never fell sad because she know that the book will be with her teacher Kareem.
Sana said...
ReplyDeleteAneesi is a Syrian girl who is working as a maid for a Lebanon family, she is fourteen years old, she is the girl that Elsa Marton talks about her in her story “The Hand of Fatima”.
One day Aneesi hears the Lebanon family talks about a wall they want to build and they need employees to build it, so she wants tell her father to work, because he is a stonemason, and he needs money to spend on the family, there is Iskandar _her brother_ needs money to keep in school, he gives her lessons to be a secretary and works in Lebanon, Aneesi’s sister Maya is careless teenager.
The father wants Aneesi marry, but she wants to be a manager in Lebanon, one day Maya return home unhappy, because she didn’t has enough money when she was in the shopping trip, Aneesi finds the money in Maya’s pocket when the father expelled from the work because of the theft , and now Aneesi is ready to talk to her father telling him about her dreams for her future.
In the story of the hand of hatima .Aneesi is poor Syrian girl who left the school to work as a maid to lebanese family inorder to help her father and give her brother a chance to study will. during her service the family wants workers to build a wall in there garden .She supposed her father to work because he is a stoneman and the family accept it .She was happy of that because her father will be near to her .
ReplyDeleteOne day Mary went to trip and when she came back to home she was sad because she lost the money ,her mother accused Aneesi's father that he stole the money ,so they expelled him from the work and he returned home .After what happend Aneesi left the work too and went home with some knowledge from Iskendar_Maya's brother_ who's expected to her agood future .
Summarizing of Santa clause in Baghdad.
ReplyDeleteThe main character in this story was
girl , which was called Amal, she was a student in school, where her teacher Mr. Kareem was taught her The Arabic literature ,he was good teacher but he didn't give the students good grades easily. Mr. Kareem wanted to leave the place where he was working to catch on another chance in one of the Gulf states.
Amal felt sorry about that ,because the good people always went away, she felt then better
When she thought uncle Omar ,her famous relative from America was coming ,and he would bring beautiful things with him.
At the races ,the girls traipsed out to the school yards gather, in little knots, Amal would have joined one of the quieter group, but she shifted
Towards the girls who always cluster around Hala ,beautiful and confident girl ,she was talking about Mr. Kareem leaving he and another girls in the class were not interested if the teacher explained the lessons well or o not. They wanted a handsome teacher and teacher who gave them good grades
Suddenly, Amal spoke ,we should give Mr. Kareem a gift , the other girls was surprising then Hala said "why?" to reward him for giving us low grades. " After long time of arguments and conversation between Amal, Hala, and other student they decided to bring a present then begin another long conversation about what would be a good gift to man.
Many suggestions flight in the air "A book
he teaches literature "Amal said.
Amal take the responsibility to choose the book. After that Amal went off to pick up her brother from his school ,as she imagine her brother she was jumping up and down in frenzy "He is coming, Santa clause is coming, I told them ,but they did not believe me tell them Amal." Bilaal said.
Amal felt confused,
Should have let him go on thinking Santana clause was coming, or correct him at start? Then uncle Omar arrived in Baghdad. When Amal arrived from school, she found her mother exhausted from cooking many dishes. Then helped her mother in preparing the dishes . At last the dinner was ready and Uncle Omar arrived. After they ate ,the time came to see what Uncle Omar had brought ,the suitcase was consisting bottles, boxes, jars, reading glasses ……………
Uncle Omar said that he could not bring presents for the children ,but he gave them a lot of money . Bilaal said "I want a car, a red one", "Where's my car ". "Santa clause has toy". Uncle Omar stammered with embarrassment, "I don't a car "
One day after Amal and her family took the evening meal . Papa called Bilaal and said "some thing wonderful has happened our visitor Uncle omar ,you remember him ? "
"He had a surprise for you."" He could not find it in the big suitcase " then he gave Bilaal a red car , Bilaal felt happy . Amal's parents sold many things to get money one of these things were books, that her grand father left them to his son (Amal's Father).
In the next day ,Amal decided to go to supermarket to buy the book , she was very confused ,about which book she must choose . after along time she chose a book for Robert Forest ,then the seller advice her to look on another book book was so beautiful the tooled leather cover, and the pages had decoration ,with rich colors painted by hand
Santa Clause in Baghdad
ReplyDeleteThis story talking about a poor family living in Iraq and describing the impact of war on them and this story is a story of conflict and steadfastness also because of the living conditions experienced by this family. And talked about Amal" the main character in this story" that was listening to her teacher, Karim, who wants to leave Iraq because he had the opportunity to work in the Gulf States
Amal likes her teacher a lot and was saddened when she heard that he will leave the school, but Amal got the great idea to show the love and appreciate. She proposed to the students to bring a gift to their teacher. One of the students named Hala initially refused then she convinced to attend a gift for their teacher.
Every day Amal picks up her younger brother, Bilal from the school, who was seven years old. But Bilal was always thinking of Santa Claus, after watching cartoon which was introduced by the teacher in the classroom. And predicted that his uncle Omar, who will come from the United States after a few days, is Santa Claus.
Uncle Omar arrived in Baghdad and visited all the relatives, and all was happy to see him and when it was Amal’s family’s turn, her mother made a cooking that had never. And Amal amazed for all this cooking and when he arrived all family kissing him and hugging him also all were very happy to see him. Bilaal looking at his uncle but he amazed because he didn’t look like Santa clause at all. After the dinner all especially Billal was excited to see what's inside the luggage, but there was just medicine and aspirin and like that. Bilal and her sister were very sad because he want a red car but his uncle didn’t bring to him any thing so Dad soled his father’s books to bring a new- red car for his son .
Finally Amal and all the student make a party for Mr.Kareem ,in the party they give a gift to him. It was a book. A nd when he began read the book he found that book belongs to his professors in the university. And that professors was Amal’s grandpa.
Mr. Kareem said" that he was so happy and honored to keep it but he wish to return to this great family but Amal said that that " they'd be happy to know that the book is with you"
The most interesting story in the book is"Santa Cluse in Baghdad". It includes many wonderful values and shows that Baghdad was the center of the knowledge at that days.
ReplyDeleteThe story is a bout a young, polite girl her name is Amal. She was ill and that what makes here study with other students who is younger than her. Amal was taught by a wonderful teacher who teachs the Arab Literature, loves his work and try to convey to his students the richness of Arabic literature. So, most of students respect him especially Amal. This teacher has a good chance to teach in a nother country so Amal and the other students decided to buy a present for him. finally she decided to buy a book for her teacher.
Her family was a poor family they don't have any thing ecsept some books to her grandfather who was an Arabic teacher and he is the same person who tought her teacher Karim. Her father decided to sell these books inorder to buy a red car for his son who thinks that his uncle is Santa Clause himself because they come from the same place which is United State of America.
After that, Amal went to buy a book , she chose tow books . After a long thaught, she bought a poetry book for Abu Nawas. The book was very beautiful with leather cover, embossed in gold ,the pages was heavy and with decoration,
After that , students gave the book to their teacher . Mr. Karim was very surprised. He read the name which was written in it . Amal was shocked that this book is for her grandfather but she was imbarressed so she did not tell Mr. Karim that it is for her grand father.
Santa Clause In Baghdad is a story was written by Elsa Marston, and its about an Iraqi family.
ReplyDeleteIn this story there is a teacher called Mr. Kareem, who decide to travel abroad and teach there, so that the student want to buy a gift to their best teacher, for this reason they collected money and ask Amal, who is a student too to buy the gift.
Amal's family is poor family, Amal has an uncle who lives in America and he decided to visit Iraq and he will bring with him many gifts and the imagine him as the Santa Clause, when the uncle came the found that he did not bring any gifts with him ,and the Amal's brother Bilal asked his father, who does not have money to buy a present for him, so that the father decided to sell his books to buy a present to his child, as a result Amal bought this books and gave them as a gift to her teacher