So I’ve been MIA for the last few weeks now, and it’s high time I let you all know what I was up to. Berkeley is on the semester system, and since Spring Semester ended (on May 21st) I have been trying to finalize my summer plans. As of yesterday I finally figured them out!

This story requires a lot of background info, so I apologize.

I was born(was that a groan?) in the city of Abu Dhabi, UAE a month before the first Gulf War ended. This event in the region actually ties into why I am at Berkeley, I’ll get into it later. Three months later I moved to Northbrook, IL, till I was one, and then I moved to Portland, OR. When I was five I ended up moving back to Abu Dhabi where I lived till the summer of 2007, and then I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.

While living in the Middle East I went to a couple private schools, the first from “KG2,” the kindergarten equivalent, till 7th grade, and the other from 8th grade through 11th. The one where I’d spent most of high school was a part of the “SABIS” system, a Lebanese system that has its roots in the late 1880’s. This system played a big part in my academic prepardness for college, but not the emotional or social side. I had a hard time identifying with the kids, because I was a total culture clash myself of Lebanese and European heritage, and the school was a total clash with Middle Eastern and American culture .

I went to Abraham Lincoln High School in San Jose, CA for senior year; and for the first time in many years-this is  hella cheesy, I know-I felt free. All teenagers have a struggle, and mine had been tremendously complicated in the year before I moved to San Jose. Coming here meant I was free to be myself, around my friends and family…I could be more open and my confidence developed tremendously.

Since coming to Berkeley I’ve developed my own, somewhat rare culture. I think you could call it Californian?The only reason why is that people here are SO DIVERSE, there’s really no other way to put it, and I absolutely love it!And before coming here I’d never known people as goofy as I am.

BACK TO ORIGINAL STORY:

I have a job to pay for my personal expenses, but I am also very fortunate to be supported by my parents, for which I am truly greatful. That job required me to be up here(Berkeley) for the summer apparently, but because of what goes back to bad planning and decisions on the part of the government of California, this has proven really unnecessary. (Life lesson will be blogged about later)…since my dad is paying for my education,  and we’d been kind of distant,  I was waiting for his early June visit to make my summer decisons. Not the best plan…

Anyways, I feel that it is important to give you that background so I can start blogging for y’all. In addition, here are a bunch of pictures I’ve been taking this summer, with commentary of course.  http://picasaweb.google.com/zak.habash/BB0609?authkey=Gv1sRgCJemxqSSlcLuIA&feat=directlink

If you have any questions, please don’t hestitate to let me know!My username on here is Zak014(creative, right?)…

Salam!

Hi gals/guys!

So first off, my name is Zak. I hail from many places all over the world (no joke), but most recently San Jose, CA. I just finished my freshman year at UC Berkeley, where I pretty much live full time now in a house off campus. My plans for the summer include taking a class at a community college, making bank any way possible, playing ultimate Frisbee whether the weather cooperates or not, throwing sick trance-electro-ey dance parties in the mountains, making more tie dye than I need and hopefully learning how to surf?…I’m a pretty spontaneous and open-minded guy, I love the outdoors and I love trying out new things. I’m also really into learning and experiencing different cultures. By different I mean world cultures, and the many sub-cultures that we have here in California; I go to a pretty diverse school, I live in a very diverse area and I come from a pretty diverse background-so it’s great getting to know new people and sharing stories. I must be off now unfortunately, but before I go I feel this would be a good place to teach you an Arabic word. This word is “Salaam,” and it means “Peace.” So Salaam everyone!