Blog Entries

Still Worth Your Weight (And More) In Gold

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Susan notes: I've missed the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the city of my birth. I don't have a TV here in Dubai, and no way to watch them otherwise.

I feel sad to have missed the excitement and joy of competition, even as I < [...]

Cougars: Are We Predators? Or Just Playful Pussycats?

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100

“What do you think of this ad from Air New Zealand?”

The question, and a YouTube link, came from my friend Bebhinn Kelly, Chief Fashionista at www.hellwafashion.com, and a regular supplier of juicy, thought-provoking and sometimes controversial material for AWR.

I clicked. I watched. I pondered. I considered blogging. I demurred.

That was earlier this week. This morning, I got my daily Huffington Post email update, and there it was [...]

Salmon In Snowshoes: Frosty Canadian Cuisine Is Heaven On Earth

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100

As Dubai and Dubai-ens basked in the afterglow of the fantastic, and no-doubt-soon-to-be-infamous-for-their-sheer-over-the-top-splendour fireworks, this cool Canadian and her octagenarian mother dined on much more humble, but equally unforgettable fare: winter-barbecued fresh Atlantic salmon, steamed broccoli al dente, and small, lightly salted, yet at once succulently sweet, red potatos smothered in butter.

It was truly a meal to die for, accompanied as it was with a fine Chile [...]

One Of Few Occasions I Wished I Could Be In Two Places At The Same Time

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100

The Burj Khalifa (formerly known as The Burj Dubai), the world's tallest building, officially opened today, January 4, 2010.

For the past 12 months, I've lived in its shadow, about a kilometer away from where it towers. Each time I left my not-so-temporary home-away-from-home in Jumeirah 2, one of Dubai's more established areas, I cast my eyes on "The Burj," in all its dubious splendour.

I'm not a fan of big buildings. Or of bigness in general. But wh [...]

Peace Women In Palestine & Israel Strive For A Better World

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100
One year ago this week violence erupted once again in Palestine. It continued unabated for weeks. Hundreds of people were killed. Thousands of homes were destroyed. Millions of lives were impacted.

Today, one year later, the living conditions in Palestine co [...]

My Darling Clementines: Christmas Reflections From Morocco

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100
Susan notes: Carolyn Theriault is a Canadian expatriate currently living in Turkey. She's a prolific blogger, twitterer, and self-confessed "snark." She's also the author of Stealing Fatima's Hand, "an unforgettable collection of interconnected narratives presenting an alternative view of Morocco."

The following piece was originally published on Theriault's lively blog This Cat's Abroad. As a guest blog post, it's as juicy as they get... [...]

One World. One Goal: Education For Everyone!

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:18:50 +0100
Susan notes: another guest blog post by the absolutely amazing Sara Refai, new AWR partner in crime...

In September of 2000, world leaders gathered at the UN headquarters in
New York to discuss what the UN’s role should be in the new millennium.

The resu [...]

Where Are The Women Of Pakistan, India And Afghanistan?

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100
Susan notes: US journalist, author, blogger and self-confessed “dove” Sara Davidson is in Afghanistan researching the views of Afghan women on the US military presence in their country, and more. Her blog posts are fascinating. In this, the fifth to date, s [...]

Everything You Really Don't Need To Know About Me (And More!)

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100

"But Susan," Fatma chided, "I couldn't find anything about YOU on your website."

I couldn't help but laugh at Fatma's reproach. Because almost everything on AWR is about me in some wa [...]

Marilyn Monroe, AWR And Tejori Team Up In Diamonds Are Your Best Friend Deal

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Kaushik Pattni is finally having his way with me and Marilyn Monroe.

The top man at family-owned, Dubai-based Tejori jewelers has pursued me for about a year, with an offer I finally couldn't refuse.

An AWR member himself (I like me [...]

Arab Women Still Have A Long Way To Go To Achieve Equality

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Twenty-nine-year-old communications professional and blogger Sara Refai has a Masters Degree in Social Psychology, and has worked with political analysis companies, conflict resolution organisations, and PR agencies over the last six years. As part of the Lebanese diaspora, she has lived in both the Middle East and the West, where she's studied and learned about different cultures and how they evolve.

A twitter friend pointed me to one of Refai's blog p [...]

Some Days It Pays To Stay In Bed. Or Does It?

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100
My friends Elaine and Gray kindly agreed to host me at their place for two weeks while my villa mate Tricia welcomes family and friends at “ours” (it’s her villa really, I just have a room there, but that’s another story).

Elaine, Gray, and Elaine’s son Phil are in Oman for the Eid holiday, so I’m in charge of their two dogs Poppy and Gypsy. They’re good dogs. Most of the time.

Today, as usual, I took them for their morning [...]

Kikune Dreams Of One Day Becoming A Kyoto Geisha

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Kikune knelt in front of Fukiko and me, the epitome of grace and beauty in a spectacular melon-coloured kimono.

She was in turn thoughtful, playful and coy, as she answered my questions and shared the trials, tribulations, and joys of fulfilling her dream: to become one of Kyoto& [...]

Anti-Trafficking Crusader Sunitha Krishnan Fights To Save Women & Girls In India

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100
The auditorium fell dead silent when Dr. Sunitha Krishnan stepped onto the stage at TED India on November 6. And Tedsters around the world, watching via a live stream webcast, were transfixed – or at least we were in Dubai!

The diminutive, soft-spoken, [...]

Unwritten Rules Keep Women From Plum Corporate Posts

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100
Susan notes: Executive coach, entrepreneur and soon-to-be published author Lynn Harris knows what lies behind the dearth of women in corner offices and boardrooms: a whole bunch of unwritten rules!

I can’t wait to read her upcoming book Unwritten Rules: What Women Need To Know About Leading In Today's Organizations (scheduled for release by the end of this year), in which she explains all the ins and outs. In the meantime, she shares some opinions in this guest bl [...]

Nine Goofy Reasons (& One Great One) To Wear Pink Every Day

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100
As you can see from the photo, I don't need an excuse to go pink, but in case you do, here are 10 reasons to wear pink every day (nine of the them are kinda' goofy, and the last is a very good one):

1) So you won’t be mistaken for a Ninja turtle

Help Women in Need Get Free Mammograms: It Only Takes One Click!

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100
Want to do something meaningful during breast cancer awareness month? And then keep it up every day with hardly any effort whatsoever?

It's easy.

You can help underprivileged women in the United States get free mammograms by visiting The US-based Breast Cancer site and clicking on the pink button that says "Click here to Give."

And you can get there from here by clicking anywhere on the image below.

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Thanks to:

Sarah Darker,

Cyprus

Related links:

Seven Powerful Parenting Secrets To Help Create Amazing Women Of The Future

[...]

Personal Branding (Pink Or Otherwise!) Puts Money In Your Pocket

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

A friend of mine and I had a conversation this morning about her nearly-teenaged daughter, who has just started at a new school.

“They’re really strict about the uniforms and how the kids conduct themselves in public,” she said. “They tell them: ‘listen, when you’re in uniform, you’re an ambassador for the school. How you look and behave show people who you are. And how you look and behave also reflect on your school and who WE are. S [...]

The Margaret Moth Story: FEARLESS (or: A Heroine Just Walked Into My Life)

susan@amazingwomenrock.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100
Journalist and camerawoman Margaret Moth is one of a kind.

No doubt. No argument. And definitely no tears.

Born Margaret Wilson, Moth changed her last name after asking herself what stopped her from having her own moniker rather than inh [...]