Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Today

Today the newly elected Tunisian Parliament, the first democratically-elected parliament this small country has ever seen, gathered along with a number of guests-of-honor at the Bardo Palace. 

Today Béji Caïd-Sebsi was sworn in as the President of Tunisia, the first democratically-elected president this small country has ever seen. 

Today Mr. Caïd-Sebsi honoured the three victims of political assassination during the reign of the religious party: Lotfi Nagdh, Chokri Belaïd, and Mohamed Brahmi.

Today Béji Caïd-Sebsi went to the Presidential Palace to take over his official functions there (although he plans on living in his own home).

Today Tunisians have achieved what seemed impossible 5 years ago--a democracy. They have thrown off dictatorship and extremisms. They have persisted despite corruption, chaos, filth, and the possibility of civil war. 

Today, finally, I would like to introduce myself, for I have maintained a relative anonymity in this blog because I have lived under dictatorship and with uncertainty. 


I am Nadia Mamelouk, PhD., 
aka MulticoloredPieces, 
aka MulticoloredSnippets.

I am an ex-pat American artist from Oregon living on a small citrus farm with my family. In addition, I have made a commitment to teaching English in a Tunisian university because, like the whole country, the educational system has been in free-fall since the 2011 Revolution...I hope I can help in some small way. 

Today I can see myself better.












Today I have very short hair for "Bootcamp" over at the Sketchbook Skool. 

Today I might be regretting the short haircut as it is snowing all over northern Tunisia and within 5 miles of my house.  



Today is a new day full of Hope 
and so we begin the New Year full of Hope.


May your New Year be filled with Hope as well.

36 comments:

Magpie's Mumblings said...

May your 'today' be filled with infinitely better tomorrows...happy new year to you and yours. (btw - so nice to 'see' you!).

Suzanna said...

Nadia...very nice to see you! Glad to hear of the improvements and such hopefulness...Best wishes for you and your during this new year; it sounds like it will be exciting...

Gaia said...

Hi Nadia,All very best for a wonderful year ahead!

deanna7trees said...

such a wonderful beginning for a new year. so happy for you and your country.

Sujata Shah said...

Happy TODAY and many more after this Nadia! Hugs to you!
I like your short hair :-)

Maria Shell said...

What a wonderful post Nadia and a beautiful way to start the New Year!

Brenda said...

Hello Nadia! Wishing you peace and joy in Tunisia.

Merilyn said...

What a great beginning for 2015! Wishing you and your community a safe and peaceful New Year!!!!!

Mary said...

Nice introduction, Nadia! May 2015 bring you much happiness.

Cate Rose said...

Kudos to you AND Tunisia, Nadia! Happy New Year to you and your family. Hugs!

Martha said...

Such a thoughtful and thought-provoking post, Nadia. I enjoy knowing more about Tunisia, especially as I now associate it with your lovely smile.

What a wonderful beginning to a new era.

Martha

mokrasouth said...

I am happy for you and for your adopted homeland. What a triumph! May this be a blessed and happy New Year for you. Also, loved seeing your 'coming out.' We at Thursday Bee look forward to your return visit!

Deb

Linda said...

Best wishes for the new year Nadia!

Ann X said...

WOW, Nadia! Congratulations! I know how it feels! When Baltic states shook off the Soviets, it was my fight and my victory, and it felt great! Enjoy and celebrate! Democracy isn't perfect but the best this world has. Happy, happy New year!

blandina said...

What a wonderful lady you are! And not only because at last I see your face.
Happy New Year, may 2015 be a year of peace for you and your country.

Ms. said...

Been watching and waiting with you from far away thanks to radio waves. I'm sending you one of Odetta's lat live performances and it was fine http://youtu.be/oGieUYI9ZGw. Hope held high for the new possibilities. Happy New year.

MulticoloredPieces said...

Thanks, everyone. Enjoyed the Odetta song, Michelle.

Erin Winslow aka Itsbugart said...

How wonderful! I am glad for you and your family and the Tunisian people! Best wishes for a happy 2015!!! <3

Leah said...

Beautiful news! May the new year be filled with better and happy and peace for you, your family and your country!

Radka said...

Congratulations to you Nadia, and to people of Tunisia!
Pleased to meet you :-)
xx

Stitching Lady said...

How nice to see you, Nadia. All the best to you and yours in 2015.

Quilteuse Forever said...

Je suis si heureuse pour toi et ta famille Nadia ! A chaque fois que j'entends parler de Tunisie, mes pensées vont vers toi, ton jardin de citrons, tes oeuvres sensibles...
Très heureuse année 2015 !

KhadijaTeri said...

Happy New Year Nadia!

Roxanne said...

All the best to your adopted country. I'm so glad for the people there. And finally we can see your lovely face. Hugs!

Bouts Choisis said...

Marvellous news! A much more hopeful future for one country in the world - let's hope many others will soon see an improvement too! As it says in the song "First time ever I saw your face" - nice to "meet" you! Lynne.

Julie Fukuda said...

Great start! I hope the promise in the bud will burst into joyous bloom along tomorrow's way!

Norma Schlager said...

Happy New Year, Nadia. What a wonderful promise of good things to come. I loved your picture and your short hair.

The Idaho Beauty said...

Well hello there! I'm not sure I'd formed any idea of what you might look like, but still it was a surprise to see your smiling face! I understand the need for anonymity, was in that place when I started my blog. Eventually, I felt it safe to allow my name and face to show and so far, nothing bad has come from the openness. Thank you for the info and the New Year's greeting. May 2015 be an excellent one for you and your adopted country.

Carole Reid said...

You can always wear a hat, Nadia! Happy New Year to you and yours.

Nat Palaskas said...

Happy New Year Nadia. Happy New Hair! Happy New You!!! With lots of love from the land Down-under - Hugs Nat

Linda A. Miller said...

Happy New Year, Nadia! Seems like a positive start for your adopted homeland. And how nice to put a face to your posts now.

Mo Crow said...

Magic days Nadia!

Bonnie Hull said...

YAY!!! xxoo from your home town. B

Doris Perlhuhn said...

That all sounds very good. Have a happy happy new year. Doris

O'Quilts said...

Wow...you certainly must feel brave and free!! I did not know that it snowed on small citrus farms?? Hope...I could use some of that...I think I will borrow yours...nice to see your positive posts cuz I lost you for awhile. I do think you are brave. hugs from Charlotte

Tammy said...

And so here you are .. such a lovely face you have and self portraits that you did capture this beautiful soul of yours .. with eyes glowing and hair of light .. so nice to see you!!