Happy thanksgiving عید شکرگزاری مبارک باد

Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons.Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November, which this year (2006) is November 23rd.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.
The Pilgrims were early settlers on the east coast of North America. They had to work hard to find or grow their own food. At harvest time in autumn, the Pilgrims were very thankful that they had a good crop of food to eat during the coming winter. They thanked God and they also thanked the native Americans for helping them learn how to grow food. So they invited their two key Native American helpers, Squanto, Samoset, plus Chief Massasoit, to share in their Thanksgiving feast. The Native Americans brought their families, numbering over 90 people. The Pilgrims were overwhelmed, and didn´t have enough food, so the Native Americans brought along their own supplies for the feast. The Wampanoags brought turkey, deer, berries, squash, cornbread, and beans--things that they'd farmed and that they'd shown the Pilgrims how to care for.
Thanksgiving is traditionally a celebration of a good harvest or a good year, the health of our family and friends, the many blessings we have been granted and the promise of the days of thankfulness ahead. It is a time to be at one with our roots and our most basic beliefs in human goodness and kindness.

Sir John Templeton: "How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative—or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."

Beating of Iranian student by US police ضرب و شتم دانشجوی ایرانی دانشگاه کالیفرنیا توسط پلیس؟چرا؟؟؟؟

Everbody believes that such a treatment is not tolerable with an Iranian student who was studying at the university library.

This act has been done by the police of a country which claims to be supporter of freedom, human rights and democracy for other countries and which is trying to rule the entire world, he added.

We all teachers and students condemn the savage and inhuman act of the US police, calling for following up the case.

welcome package بسته ی پستی از تایوان برای کلاس اولیها

How marvellous it was! All my students were so pleased tthat they received the welcome package from Taiwan as part of their iearn project, and they were so excited when seeing all the package contents including postal cards, a letter form Lishan Highschool students along with their signatures, and one CD whcih introduced the highschool and the class to us. The whole class read the friendly letter with great eagerness.
In reaction to this gift, my students are gathering some pictures and useful information about Kashan, Highschool and our women' traditional clothes (hijab).They are supposed to write them a letter of thanks.So enjoyable, isn't it?
Thanks so much for the joy and happiness you brought to my class.

چقدر باور داریم که کانون تابش و بازتابش تمام افکار و اعمال خود هستیم؟

A MATTER OF TRUST
A young boy knocked on the door of a lady's house and asked if she wanted to buy some of the berries he had just picked. "Yes," she said, "and I'll take your pail into the kitchen and measure out two quarts."
The boy stood outside and played with the dog. "Why don't you come in and see that I measure your berries right?" asked the lady. "How do you know that I may not cheat you?"

"I am not afraid," replied the boy", for you would get the worst of it."
"Get the worst of it?" replied the lady, "What do you mean by that?"
"Why," said the boy, "I'd only lose the berries; you would be a thief !"
چقدر باور داریم که نتایج کارها و فعالیتهای مثبت ما دوباره به خود ما بر میگردد؟ اگر قرار بود منتظر تشویق و تمجید عده ای ! .......باشیم موفق به انجام هیچ کار متبتی نمی شدیم ولی ای کاش می فهمیدند؟

Happy Veteran's Day یاد شهیدان گرامی باد

Veterans Day is an American holiday for honoring war veterans.It's the time for honoring living veterans who have served in the military during wartime or peacetime, partially to complement Memorial Day, which primarily honors the dead. It falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. All major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.
In Iran we also pay tribute to the veterans.We also honor the courage of those who were lost in war, we think of their families who lost a loved one, and pray for their comfort.
Veterans have placed the nation's security before their own lives. Their sacrifice creates a debt that we can never fully repay.
Iran owes its calm and security to the selfless endeavors of the gallant combatants who created momentous epics in Islamic Revolution in 1979 and Sacred Defense (the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war) and defeated aggressors on various fronts.
Safeguarding the lofty status of martyrs and respecting their families, as well as protecting the rights of war veterans, is a national duty which must become the top priority of all proponents of the Islamic Revolution.

What a ..............class!! !چه کلاس ضد حالی

Today I was not happy with my class. Having took part in Aban 13th rallies, the students were very tired and impatient. (Aban 13 marks three important events: the anniversary of the takeover of the former US embassy in Tehran by the Muslim Students Following the Imam's Line (1979), the anniversary of the exile of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini by the ex-shah (1964), and the Students Day (marking the day in 1978 in which several of the students taking part in a protest rally against the former shah were martyred)).
Students full of energy and great eagerness is something that a teacher is seeking, at least in Farzanegan Highschool, something that is missing among some students of mine!

Happy Guy Fawkes Day آتش بازی در انگلیس :چهارشنبه سوری ایرانیان

In England, fireworks are used to celebrate November 5 - the anniversary of Guy Fawkes' failed attempt to blow up the houses of Parliament.
Other countries use fireworks to mark the anniversary of different events. Here are a few of them:
The signing of the US Declaration of Independence on July 4
The start of the French Revolution on July 14
The Chinese New Year, which is about a month after Jan 1.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at the end of October or beginning of November
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah, around December or January.
Canada Day on July 1
Last Wednesday of the year (Chahar Shanbeh Suri) in Iran : On the eve of last Wednesday of the year, bonfires are lit in public places with the help of fire and light, it is hoped for enlightenment and happiness throughout the coming year. People leap over the flames, shouting:
Give me your beautiful red color And take back my sickly pallor!

Wishing you a day that' s sparkling with fun,
bursting with joy,
And crackling with laughter!
Have a blast this Guy Fawke's Day!

A memorable day full of learning!روزی به یاد ماندنی در جلسه سخنرانی استاد عزیز

Spending 8 hours on bus to attend a 2 hour lecture by my Great Professor Dr. Atai at Tarbiat Modarres Univesrsity really worth it.It was not just "NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN ESAP : PUTTING LEARNER IN THE PERSPECTIVE" which taught me alot, but it was my honor to have the presence of some M.A and PhD students as well as three great professors, Dr.Atai, Dr. Kiani, and Dr. Ziaei.I taped the whole speech although the quality is not good enough.Fortunately, the next day Ms. Hemmati forwarded the whole article to TELLSI members.
I never allow those pleasurable and memorable days of learning escape my mind as I have paid alot for them.I wish I were a univesrsity student once more, God willing(Amin).