Dear members of the site:
Please allow me to ask you to use this site for our future activity: http://the-leaves-of-life.blogspot.com/.
The spirit of The Night Ocean is perpetual and will never change. Sue's kindness and generosity is behind whatever happens in our online classes. The only reason I move the site to this new address is that the name "The Leaves of Life" is mentioned in Sue's new book Wild Apples and also to give a better organization to the students writings. These writings can be an excellen mirror to reflect the Iranian culture and life.We would also like to organize the students letters and Sue's lessons and corrections in a better and more accessible way.
I have sent an invitation to all the members of the site. Our nonmember visitors from Canada, Asia and European countries can also refer and use the site easily since I have not restricted it to the site's members.
Any suggestion or advice to make the site better and more useful and enjoyable would be welcome.
Your old friend, Ali
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Ehsan's writing
Hi dear Sue.
I know It's a long time that I didn't send a letter. Sorry I was too busy.
I Had my first term exams until Monday. They were good and I think my scores will be good too.
Before my first term exams I had a big provincial test quiz. My grades was: The second student in the class,The third student In The school and the eleventh student in the province. Now I'm very glad.
Take care.E.N
I know It's a long time that I didn't send a letter. Sorry I was too busy.
I Had my first term exams until Monday. They were good and I think my scores will be good too.
Before my first term exams I had a big provincial test quiz. My grades was: The second student in the class,The third student In The school and the eleventh student in the province. Now I'm very glad.
Take care.E.N
Friday, December 03, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Good suggestion
Ali told me about a new suggestion and a new site that they write articles. We can write articles about different subjects. It is good that you tell us practice and we write answer in our site. We can send our personal letters to their emails.
Tehran’s weather is very smog in these days. Respiring is difficult. Schools and governmental offices were close on Wednesday and Thursday.
Exams season will come very soon. I have a hard semester. I will have 2 quizzes in Saturday and Monday.
Take care,
Your friend,Bahman
Ali told me about a new suggestion and a new site that they write articles. We can write articles about different subjects. It is good that you tell us practice and we write answer in our site. We can send our personal letters to their emails.
Tehran’s weather is very smog in these days. Respiring is difficult. Schools and governmental offices were close on Wednesday and Thursday.
Exams season will come very soon. I have a hard semester. I will have 2 quizzes in Saturday and Monday.
Take care,
Your friend,Bahman
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wild Apples
Long after Thoreau's wild apples have withered and dried, we are so fortunate as to have a writer in America, with all its uproars in industry and technology, who keeps the dream of nature and its wild apples alive for us. How fortunate I was to encounter her and the apples that still bloom in her heart.
Sue's book has finally rested in my hands long after its writer rested in the dearest, unseen corners of my heart where very few people have ever entered. My name is heard here and there in this book like the breeze that passes over the grass or the leaves of the trees Sue speaks so beautifully of. This book is among the dearest gifts I have ever received in life. Something like the Masnavi which my dervish grandfather gave me.
Sue, I want to ask for your permission to do two things. First, if you allow us we want to make many copies of your book and distribute them among the many people who so entusiastically want to read it. And second I want to start another blog and call it "The Leaves of Life." It is because you have mentioned this name in your book making it very special for me. Another reason is that the organization of The Night Ocean has become a bit confusing. Letters are mixed up with many other things. If we go to the new blog I will transfer the precisous material from here to there and give them a better organization which will make it practically more helpful to the many people who visit it.
The gardens of my heart are full of the scent of many wild apples, Sue. I can never thank you enough for being so brave as to write this beautiful book and for sending a copy of it to me.
Ali
Sue's book has finally rested in my hands long after its writer rested in the dearest, unseen corners of my heart where very few people have ever entered. My name is heard here and there in this book like the breeze that passes over the grass or the leaves of the trees Sue speaks so beautifully of. This book is among the dearest gifts I have ever received in life. Something like the Masnavi which my dervish grandfather gave me.
Sue, I want to ask for your permission to do two things. First, if you allow us we want to make many copies of your book and distribute them among the many people who so entusiastically want to read it. And second I want to start another blog and call it "The Leaves of Life." It is because you have mentioned this name in your book making it very special for me. Another reason is that the organization of The Night Ocean has become a bit confusing. Letters are mixed up with many other things. If we go to the new blog I will transfer the precisous material from here to there and give them a better organization which will make it practically more helpful to the many people who visit it.
The gardens of my heart are full of the scent of many wild apples, Sue. I can never thank you enough for being so brave as to write this beautiful book and for sending a copy of it to me.
Ali
Sunday, November 28, 2010
A letter from Faranak to Sue
Dear Sue,
I heard about VoIP(Voice over Internet Protocol) a few days ago. This technology is very common in the US and your sun is very familiar to it.
VoIP works on a network. When we use it, we can talk each other through Internet an satellites and nobody can hear our words.
For instance, you have several offices in several countries. If you use VoIP, you can dial just 2 or 3 numbers to connect to other office phones like a internal telephone network of a company.
It is just a usage of VoIP and It is used in many cases.
I said to you network is very young in Iran so VoIP isn't common here now.
I have a thesis next term. I really like to do a new and special things in this field but I don't know what I can do. It makes my mind busy.
In the US, you do most things on a network that I don't know most of them. I thank you a lot if you help me about it.
Your friend, Faranak.
I heard about VoIP(Voice over Internet Protocol) a few days ago. This technology is very common in the US and your sun is very familiar to it.
VoIP works on a network. When we use it, we can talk each other through Internet an satellites and nobody can hear our words.
For instance, you have several offices in several countries. If you use VoIP, you can dial just 2 or 3 numbers to connect to other office phones like a internal telephone network of a company.
It is just a usage of VoIP and It is used in many cases.
I said to you network is very young in Iran so VoIP isn't common here now.
I have a thesis next term. I really like to do a new and special things in this field but I don't know what I can do. It makes my mind busy.
In the US, you do most things on a network that I don't know most of them. I thank you a lot if you help me about it.
Your friend, Faranak.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Thank you for helping me. Ali told me that Henry Thoreau lived in a shack in Walden forest. I saw Walden forest in maps.
In our film that plant should go 50 meters up for light, because it was between many high trees. Therefore it couldn’t see light. Your sentence structure is much better than me, because you are a writer. You know all things that are necessary for writing a good letter. Sometimes I must change my sentence, because my circle words are little and I must make a new sentence. It is a practice for writing, because sometimes we cannot make sentences with our words. We need many words for making sentences. Sometimes we have it problem in our vernacular.
Take care,
Bahman
Thank you for helping me. Ali told me that Henry Thoreau lived in a shack in Walden forest. I saw Walden forest in maps.
In our film that plant should go 50 meters up for light, because it was between many high trees. Therefore it couldn’t see light. Your sentence structure is much better than me, because you are a writer. You know all things that are necessary for writing a good letter. Sometimes I must change my sentence, because my circle words are little and I must make a new sentence. It is a practice for writing, because sometimes we cannot make sentences with our words. We need many words for making sentences. Sometimes we have it problem in our vernacular.
Take care,
Bahman
Friday, November 26, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
We saw a beautiful film in class. It is about plants. Carnivorous plants hunt by deceive. In a forest a plant for light must go 50 meters up. It is very interesting and beautiful. Like animals plants strive for life. To our eyes planet world is very slow. We saw the oldest tree in our planet. Maybe, it has seen sun rise more than 150000000 times.
We answered to IELTS listening questions too. Today’s questions were hard.
I have an exam tomorrow. It is about materials, steels and cast irons. I like this lessen and enjoy it. I should go to university 1 month. After exams I must read for Masters Entry Exam.
I hope can to pass this exam.
Take care,
Bahman
We saw a beautiful film in class. It is about plants. Carnivorous plants hunt by deceive. In a forest a plant for light must go 50 meters up. It is very interesting and beautiful. Like animals plants strive for life. To our eyes planet world is very slow. We saw the oldest tree in our planet. Maybe, it has seen sun rise more than 150000000 times.
We answered to IELTS listening questions too. Today’s questions were hard.
I have an exam tomorrow. It is about materials, steels and cast irons. I like this lessen and enjoy it. I should go to university 1 month. After exams I must read for Masters Entry Exam.
I hope can to pass this exam.
Take care,
Bahman
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Shirin and Farhad
Sue,
Khosro was a Persian king and the husband of Shirin. Farhad who was a mountain digger fell in love with the king's wife. Noticing that Farhad will never give up his love by any means or threats, Khosro askes him to dig through a huge mountain called Bistoon to obtain Shirin. Bistoon was made of hard rocks, but Khosro was asured that even if the mountain had been made of soft mud Farhad would have been unable to complete the task. Farhad was so resolute and so much in love with Shirin that after a short time Khosro realized that he was sure to cut through the mountain and steal his wife away from him. He tried to discourage Farhad in many ways, but nothing seemed to work. In the end his advisors told him that the only way to discourage this ardent lover was to tell him that the beloved Shirin no longer existed. The king does this. He sends an old woman to Farhand, asking her to pretend that she is a passerby. In the conversation that happens between them, the woman tells Farhad that the beloved for whom he is cutting through the mountain is no longer alive. Upon hearing the news of Shirin's death, instead of hitting the ax on the mountain, Farhad brings the final blow of his ax on his own head and dies.
I have a picture of Bistoon which shows the rememnats of Farhad's ax. Unfortunately, I could not attach it to this post. I'll ask Faranak to do this. People visit Bistoon like a holy shrine in Iran. If you ever visit Iran this is one of the places we will visit.
One of my nieces is called Shirin. It is a very common name in Iran.
Ali from the land of lovers
Khosro was a Persian king and the husband of Shirin. Farhad who was a mountain digger fell in love with the king's wife. Noticing that Farhad will never give up his love by any means or threats, Khosro askes him to dig through a huge mountain called Bistoon to obtain Shirin. Bistoon was made of hard rocks, but Khosro was asured that even if the mountain had been made of soft mud Farhad would have been unable to complete the task. Farhad was so resolute and so much in love with Shirin that after a short time Khosro realized that he was sure to cut through the mountain and steal his wife away from him. He tried to discourage Farhad in many ways, but nothing seemed to work. In the end his advisors told him that the only way to discourage this ardent lover was to tell him that the beloved Shirin no longer existed. The king does this. He sends an old woman to Farhand, asking her to pretend that she is a passerby. In the conversation that happens between them, the woman tells Farhad that the beloved for whom he is cutting through the mountain is no longer alive. Upon hearing the news of Shirin's death, instead of hitting the ax on the mountain, Farhad brings the final blow of his ax on his own head and dies.
I have a picture of Bistoon which shows the rememnats of Farhad's ax. Unfortunately, I could not attach it to this post. I'll ask Faranak to do this. People visit Bistoon like a holy shrine in Iran. If you ever visit Iran this is one of the places we will visit.
One of my nieces is called Shirin. It is a very common name in Iran.
Ali from the land of lovers
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
I think that you can find Shirin and Farhad story in internet. It is so beautiful. We have a mountain called Bisoton in Iran. In this story Farhad go to Bisoton and erase some of the mountain, because Khosro loves Shirin and Khosro is a king. Khosro kills Farhad. We have a book from Nezami Ganjavi. 5 lovely stories are in that book. I hope you can find Khamse or 5 Ganj (5 treasures) (Nezami’s book) in internet. I try to find this book if I can.
We have some lovely stories in Shahname (a book from Ferdosi). I think Shahname is in internet, because it is an internationally book.
Really, Molana jalaledin Mohammad Balkhi or Molave or Molana are names of Rumi. I don’t like to call Rumi, because Molavi is an Iranian poet.
Take care,
Bahman
I think that you can find Shirin and Farhad story in internet. It is so beautiful. We have a mountain called Bisoton in Iran. In this story Farhad go to Bisoton and erase some of the mountain, because Khosro loves Shirin and Khosro is a king. Khosro kills Farhad. We have a book from Nezami Ganjavi. 5 lovely stories are in that book. I hope you can find Khamse or 5 Ganj (5 treasures) (Nezami’s book) in internet. I try to find this book if I can.
We have some lovely stories in Shahname (a book from Ferdosi). I think Shahname is in internet, because it is an internationally book.
Really, Molana jalaledin Mohammad Balkhi or Molave or Molana are names of Rumi. I don’t like to call Rumi, because Molavi is an Iranian poet.
Take care,
Bahman
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Statistics
So far, this weblog has been restricted to the use of my own students mostly. Yesterday I opened the weblog to general audience and immediately we have had visitors from: Canada, Germany, Sweden, United Arab Imarates, Denmark and even United Kingdom. Total visits to our weblog during its life amounts to more than 2,700. Bear in mind that the weblog has been a restricted one for most of its life. Yesterday we have had 52 visits from Canada and 17 visits from China alone. 46 people have used Nokia mobile phones to connect to our weblog in the world and 4 people have visited us using Macintosh computers.
Ali and Sue
The Weblog's Founders
Ali and Sue
The Weblog's Founders
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Thank you, it is so good, because I wrote my last letter by myself. I read Romeo and Juliet story and I enjoyed it. I think it is a tragedy like Leili and Majnon. We have many tragedies stories in our literature for example Farhad and Shirin. Classic literature and classic music and classic stories are more beautiful.
Moharam month will come soon. Imam Hoseyn (Imam Hoseyn is a little grandson of Mohammad) killed in this month. He killed for God. Kufe’s (a city in Iraq) people wrote letters for Imam and invited him to Kufa, but when Imam was in Kufa’s way they forgot them Imam. They wrote about 12000 letters for Imam. They sold them belief. Imam was alone and thirsty and he killed by him enemy. We called a martyr when a man or woman killed in god way.
I think by myself and ask this question from myself:
What was I doing if I was in Imam hoseyn period?
Take care,
Bahman
Thank you, it is so good, because I wrote my last letter by myself. I read Romeo and Juliet story and I enjoyed it. I think it is a tragedy like Leili and Majnon. We have many tragedies stories in our literature for example Farhad and Shirin. Classic literature and classic music and classic stories are more beautiful.
Moharam month will come soon. Imam Hoseyn (Imam Hoseyn is a little grandson of Mohammad) killed in this month. He killed for God. Kufe’s (a city in Iraq) people wrote letters for Imam and invited him to Kufa, but when Imam was in Kufa’s way they forgot them Imam. They wrote about 12000 letters for Imam. They sold them belief. Imam was alone and thirsty and he killed by him enemy. We called a martyr when a man or woman killed in god way.
I think by myself and ask this question from myself:
What was I doing if I was in Imam hoseyn period?
Take care,
Bahman
Faranak's Writing
Hi Sue,
I haven't write a letter for a long time. I miss you a lot and have a lot of speeches to tell you.
I had a presentation today. It was the first important presentation during the university.
2 days ago, I wrote a letter to you and wanted you to guide me about this presentation. Unfortunately my laptop detected a problem and couldn't connect to the Internet.
Dear friend, I'm studying for entrance exam. I love to accept in the IT/Network major. Network is one of the branches of IT.
IT is a young field in Iran. In Tehran, one university just accept 17 students in the Network branch.
I started to study in middle of October and my exam is in middle of February. I Started late because I had the internship in the summer, so I'm a little hopeless.
Now, I go to the university and have 10 lessons to study for this exam. I think 24 hours are very few for me, specially that I'm very sensitive to sleep.
You have a kind heart, pray for me.
Dear Sue, Could you see the site about Leili and Majnun? Is it good?
Leili and Majnun is one of the best story in Persian, It is very nice and a little sad. I really love it.
Sorry, I try to short my letter but it is long.
Your friend, Faranak.
I haven't write a letter for a long time. I miss you a lot and have a lot of speeches to tell you.
I had a presentation today. It was the first important presentation during the university.
2 days ago, I wrote a letter to you and wanted you to guide me about this presentation. Unfortunately my laptop detected a problem and couldn't connect to the Internet.
Dear friend, I'm studying for entrance exam. I love to accept in the IT/Network major. Network is one of the branches of IT.
IT is a young field in Iran. In Tehran, one university just accept 17 students in the Network branch.
I started to study in middle of October and my exam is in middle of February. I Started late because I had the internship in the summer, so I'm a little hopeless.
Now, I go to the university and have 10 lessons to study for this exam. I think 24 hours are very few for me, specially that I'm very sensitive to sleep.
You have a kind heart, pray for me.
Dear Sue, Could you see the site about Leili and Majnun? Is it good?
Leili and Majnun is one of the best story in Persian, It is very nice and a little sad. I really love it.
Sorry, I try to short my letter but it is long.
Your friend, Faranak.
Searching For the Source
Hello to Group:
I have a children's story about a Persian legend associated with a 16th century Mamluk carpet, explaining its pattern which looks like a landscape strewn with jewels. I have only the simple story, but wondered if anyone knew the source of this story? I am trying to collect some Persian stories that have messages. This is simply a story of a treasure lost and regained, unless you all can tell me of its deeper message.
Your friend, Sue
I have a children's story about a Persian legend associated with a 16th century Mamluk carpet, explaining its pattern which looks like a landscape strewn with jewels. I have only the simple story, but wondered if anyone knew the source of this story? I am trying to collect some Persian stories that have messages. This is simply a story of a treasure lost and regained, unless you all can tell me of its deeper message.
Your friend, Sue
Friday, November 19, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Thank you for correcting my letter. I am so happy that we can read Masnavi in class. We listened to listening tests on Friday. Next week, we will see a film in class. It is so good, because we must see and listen. Films help us very much. I think films are better than NEWS. Words are so difficult and I forget them. Review is so good, but is difficult. I am so busy in these days and I should write in little time and my letters have errors, so sorry. I should review my letters by myself.
Do you read Leily and Majnon story?
I love that story and it is a beautiful lovely story. I hope that you enjoy it.
Take care,
Bahman
Thank you for correcting my letter. I am so happy that we can read Masnavi in class. We listened to listening tests on Friday. Next week, we will see a film in class. It is so good, because we must see and listen. Films help us very much. I think films are better than NEWS. Words are so difficult and I forget them. Review is so good, but is difficult. I am so busy in these days and I should write in little time and my letters have errors, so sorry. I should review my letters by myself.
Do you read Leily and Majnon story?
I love that story and it is a beautiful lovely story. I hope that you enjoy it.
Take care,
Bahman
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Introducing Miss Faranak Mohammadian
Miss Faranak Mohammadian is a wonderful 21 year old girl who has recently entered my classes. She is such a nice, calm girl and absolutely resolute in mastering English. She studies architecture in the best university in Iran. How fortunate I am to be working with such nice ladies and gentlemen.
Here are some of Faranak Mohammadian's recent writings. They show where she is starting English with us:
1.
My name is Faranak.I'm twenty-one years old.I study at Tehran University.My field is architecture.I have 18 courses in this term and 4 days I should go to university.My university is on Enghelab st.Everyday I have to wake up at 6 o'clock to reach my first class starting at 8 o'clock,because our house isn't near my university and the streets are very busy at the morning.
2.
Today is wendsday.I'm in the world architecture class.I'm not well.I'm sick and my schedules are very busy for today.Our professor's speaking about the Roman's architecture but I can't listen carefully.My thaught is in the other place…
3.
3days ago,some of my classmates went to Yazd by train.I liked to go with them but I couldn't.Because I had a class couldn't cancel it.I'm very sad.It must had been interesting…
4.
I'll have an exam next week.I should study hard to pass it successfully.It's important for me to get a good mark.
Here are some of Faranak Mohammadian's recent writings. They show where she is starting English with us:
1.
My name is Faranak.I'm twenty-one years old.I study at Tehran University.My field is architecture.I have 18 courses in this term and 4 days I should go to university.My university is on Enghelab st.Everyday I have to wake up at 6 o'clock to reach my first class starting at 8 o'clock,because our house isn't near my university and the streets are very busy at the morning.
2.
Today is wendsday.I'm in the world architecture class.I'm not well.I'm sick and my schedules are very busy for today.Our professor's speaking about the Roman's architecture but I can't listen carefully.My thaught is in the other place…
3.
3days ago,some of my classmates went to Yazd by train.I liked to go with them but I couldn't.Because I had a class couldn't cancel it.I'm very sad.It must had been interesting…
4.
I'll have an exam next week.I should study hard to pass it successfully.It's important for me to get a good mark.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Can Anyone Help Me?
Dear Friends,
I would love to have this story in English: Leyli and Majnun” by Nizami Ganjevi. I don't know how long it is, or how much work it would be to send me a copy, but I would be so happy to be able to read this wonderful story. It is a love story, and very much resembles the Shakespearian play "Romeo and Juliet".
If anyone has this story, and in order not to crowd out our letters, please send it to my email address: spetrovski@comcast.net
I have the general outline of the story but I would love to have it in Nizami's words.
Thank you for any help you can give me.
Sue Petrovski
I would love to have this story in English: Leyli and Majnun” by Nizami Ganjevi. I don't know how long it is, or how much work it would be to send me a copy, but I would be so happy to be able to read this wonderful story. It is a love story, and very much resembles the Shakespearian play "Romeo and Juliet".
If anyone has this story, and in order not to crowd out our letters, please send it to my email address: spetrovski@comcast.net
I have the general outline of the story but I would love to have it in Nizami's words.
Thank you for any help you can give me.
Sue Petrovski
Friday, November 12, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Sorry to take a while to answer your letter. We had a concert last Thursday and I was very busy. Our concert was very good. We did practice all last week until 10 p.m. I had 2 pieces that played them alone. I was the first player in band. I had great stress but, I was good.
Ali took an IELTS test on Friday that was a good suggestion. We answered to 10 listening questions. I answered to all of them and my answerers were correct. I think reading questions is harder than listening questions for me, because I don’t know many words. Words are my big problem.
Take care,
Bahman
Sorry to take a while to answer your letter. We had a concert last Thursday and I was very busy. Our concert was very good. We did practice all last week until 10 p.m. I had 2 pieces that played them alone. I was the first player in band. I had great stress but, I was good.
Ali took an IELTS test on Friday that was a good suggestion. We answered to 10 listening questions. I answered to all of them and my answerers were correct. I think reading questions is harder than listening questions for me, because I don’t know many words. Words are my big problem.
Take care,
Bahman
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
One of those moments
There are moments in life which can not be described in any tongue. You just feel these moments and let their joy flow in your soul. The moment I received the following comment from Sue is one of those moments. I am honored to consider myself one of her friends. Rumi has taught me that sharing hearts is sweeter than sharing a mere tongue. That is what has been happening between Sue and me over the many years of our beautiful friendship.
Here is Sue's comment on Masnavi's first story where Rumi shows that the king was able to buy the slave woman, but not her love:
Oh Ali, On page 43 of Wild Apples I have quoted Thoreau:
You may buy a servant or slave, in short, but you cannot buy a friend. You can't buy the finer part of any fruit--i.e.the highest use and enjoyment of it. You can't buy the pleasure whit it yields to him who truly plucks it; you can't buy a good appetite, even."
Even a King or rich man is kept from the richest enjoyments. We cannot make someone love us. Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Sue I can not wait to hold your beautiful book in my hands and in the hands of my heart.
T
Here is Sue's comment on Masnavi's first story where Rumi shows that the king was able to buy the slave woman, but not her love:
Oh Ali, On page 43 of Wild Apples I have quoted Thoreau:
You may buy a servant or slave, in short, but you cannot buy a friend. You can't buy the finer part of any fruit--i.e.the highest use and enjoyment of it. You can't buy the pleasure whit it yields to him who truly plucks it; you can't buy a good appetite, even."
Even a King or rich man is kept from the richest enjoyments. We cannot make someone love us. Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Sue I can not wait to hold your beautiful book in my hands and in the hands of my heart.
T
Sunday, November 07, 2010
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