O’tkir Mulikboyev	Tue, Dec 24, 10:19 PM (3 days ago)
to me

The Magic of Chemistry

In the beautiful city of Samarkand, there was a highly qualified teacher named Jasur at School No. 81. From a young age, he had been passionate about chemistry, and through his diligence and aspirations, he had become a teacher who dedicated himself to sharing his favorite subject with his students. His classes were different from ordinary lessons. Jasur referred to chemistry as magic and taught his students to look at it from this perspective.

“Today, we will create magic together,” Jasur announced one day as he entered the classroom. The students’ eyes widened in surprise. Jasur showcased his small, yet well-equipped table. On it were various flasks, test tubes, chemical substances, and several intriguing devices.

“I’m going to share a secret with you,” Jasur continued, “Chemistry is real magic. We combine different substances and create new and extraordinary things. We change colors, release gases, and even make it rain artificially.”

The students were left in awe. Jasur demonstrated the first experiment. He mixed several colored solutions and observed how their colors changed. Then he combined a few substances to create a foamy and colorful liquid. The students’ exclamations filled the classroom.

“This is not magic; this is chemistry,” Jasur explained. “We just need to understand the properties of the substances and combine them correctly. If we follow the laws of chemistry, we can create any magic!”

Jasur’s classes were interesting and exciting. He allowed the students to conduct various experiments, teaching them how to work with chemical substances, while also helping them make their own discoveries.

One day, Jasur proposed an experiment called “Magical Crystals.” They dissolved different salts in water and then cooled them slowly to create beautiful crystals. The students’ eyes shone with wonder and curiosity. They were thrilled to see the crystals they had created.

Jasur’s classes made chemistry more engaging and understandable for his students. They began to view chemistry not just as a subject, but as an exciting and extraordinary world. Jasur inspired his students with his chemical magic and helped them enhance their knowledge.

Jasur Mulikboyev, Son of Qochqor

Chemistry Teacher, School No. 81, Samarkand City

Beautiful Writing

When I recall my distant school days, one event never leaves my memory. Our school primarily focused on subjects such as mathematics and physics, as there were more teachers for those subjects. Due to a lack of teachers for native language, literature, and history, teachers from the fields of mathematics or biology would often teach these subjects instead. Often, lessons of native language and literature were replaced with physics and mathematics classes.

One day, a native language and literature teacher arrived from a faraway village to our dear school. Although no one had seen the new teacher yet, the whole village was buzzing with talk about her. There were rumors circulating that she was “very strict,” that she would “kick any student out of class who didn’t participate,” or that she would “keep us in class until the evening.” Finally, the much-anticipated moment arrived. A teacher, who seemed to be in her early twenties or mid-twenties, entered our classroom, accompanied by the director. She had a pleasant demeanor, a good posture, and a smile on her face. The director introduced the teacher, wishing us success in the new academic year before leaving the class.

All twenty students in the class couldn’t take their eyes off the teacher. Our native language and literature teacher, with great kindness, read our names from the class journal and went through each one of us, introducing herself. Thus, our first lesson became an introductory session. Our new teacher made an effort to conduct lessons in a simpler and more engaging manner. We, the model students, believed that the subjects of native language and literature were not particularly difficult.

Soon, the lesson processes began. One day, our favorite teacher assigned us to write an essay about our favorite character. We all completed the assignment and submitted it to the teacher. During the next lesson, our teacher reviewed the essays, corrected them, and returned them to us. Almost all of us received very low grades. Our notebooks were marked with red ink, indicating that grammatical mistakes had been corrected. For some reason, many of us wrote poorly and unclearly. Whispers and noisy expressions of surprise began in the classroom. Even the top students in the class received bad grades.

One classmate, despite his poor handwriting, insisted on the importance of writing without mistakes, while others argued that the minor punctuation errors did not count as significant mistakes. Sensing the wave of discussions rising in the class, our teacher finally spoke up, as always in a calm but serious tone, “Dear students! Writing without mistakes reflects one’s literacy. Beautiful handwriting demonstrates valuable moral qualities. Writing poorly, with spelling mistakes, does not suit you. Such shortcomings must be addressed.” We all sat in silence. The lesson ended in that manner.

After the lessons, the upper-grade students scattered to their respective homes. Some were searching for something in books late at night, pondering how to write without mistakes. Others tried to emulate the elegant letters they saw in books to improve their handwriting. Meanwhile, some of us, as if pretending to be bankrupt business people or bosses who had made mistakes somewhere, watched television. Others, disregarding it, felt that this issue was not a matter of life and death. Deep down, they were agitated and embarrassed. Each of us wrestled with the question of “How could I have made so many mistakes in my writing?” It troubled our conscience to be in high school yet make so many errors. Everyone hoped that this process would pass more quickly.

Gulsora Mulikboyeva, 4th-year student of the “Life Safety in Activities” program at Samarkand State University of Architecture and Construction.

A new thought from the land of the Pyramids

PhD Ahmed Elsersawy: A Political Writer passionate about Culture like a Bridge among Nations  

PhD Ahmed Elsersawy, born in Egypt in the mid-1960s, has spent much of his life traveling across continents as a war correspondent. Though he studied economics at university, his professional career has been deeply immersed in arts and culture, which he has always seen as a bridge—one of the shortest and fastest ways to connect people, regardless of their differences.  

This “secret blend” of journalism, war coverage, economics, and culture reflects his belief in diversity, acceptance, and humanity’s ability to simply act in their authenticity as human beings and individual uniqueness. 

He emphasizes, as he often says, that what matters is where a person ends up, not where they began. 

When I asked him to elaborate, he explained that we, as humans, are not responsible for where we are born, our names, or the cultural heritage we carry. However, we are entirely responsible for our beliefs, ideas, and intellect once we mature. This is where the importance of culture and arts lies; they guide a person toward their authentic path and goals, drawing them toward becoming a good human being in the sense defined by the “philosophy of beauty.”  

So tells us the Egyptian journalist Ahmed Elsersawy , who works for one of Egypt’s most prestigious and widely circulated media institutions, “Akhbar Al-Youm.” This comes in light of his launch of a new initiative that has resonated widely in Egypt and abroad: “Bridges of the Sea and the Ocean.” The initiative aims to create cultural and artistic bridges connecting the peoples of the Mediterranean (the Sea) with the peoples of the Americas (the Ocean), spanning the Atlantic and Pacific.

To this purpose he has identified the new SF Mayor Daniel Lurie and Hon. Angela Alioto, a Californian of Italian origin as agents for the  plan “Bridges of the Sea and the Ocean” creating a strong cultural, artistic and social cooperation and twinning between SF and its ethnic groups as Asians, Latinos , Italians etc., Rome as  center of the Mediterranean and Cairo, the door to the East. 

Elsersawy intends to officially invite the SF Mayor Daniel Lurie and Hon. Angela Alioto to Egypt to create solid synergies with Californian universities and strengthen the cinematographic bridge between the Arab world and California, highlighting the documentary aspect to promote cultural exchanges.

And we come to religious dialogue, which is fundamental to achieving goals of peace. 

To this end, not only is special attention given to the Franciscans in Egypt and to the city of SF founded by the Franciscan missions, but a recent Arabic-to-Italian and English translation of one of his most significant works, a book about Pope Shenouda III (1923–2012), the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Egypt, is in preparation. Pope Shenouda III is considered one of the greatest patriarchs in the nearly 2,000-year history of the Coptic Orthodox Church. 

The book is planned to be presented at the Egyptian Academy of Rome, directed by Dr. Rania Yahya and in SF and LA . 

Among Elsersawy’s six published works, this particular book stands out for reflecting his unique vision and strong enthusiasm for diversity, embracing differences, and accepting the “other.” A Muslim writer documenting the “genius of the 117th Patriarch in the history of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church,” Elsersawy approached Pope Shenouda not as a clergyman but as a leader who witnessed Egypt’s societal, political, security, and economic changes over eight decades. He tells the story of the Pope’s life through the lens of these transformations and their impact.  

In addition to this fascinating book, Al-Sarsawi is currently working on a Ph.D. in International Media. He has also authored a book about Egypt’s war in October 1973, a short story collection published in Beirut, and a memoir about his work as a military correspondent, covering wars in Kosovo (1999), Ethiopia and Eritrea (2000), and several Middle Eastern conflicts from 2005 to the present.  

Moreover, Elsersawy is a former press advisor to the Egyptian government, a screenwriter, and a documentary filmmaker. Influenced by prominent Egyptian writers like the Nobel Prize Naguib Mahfouz, Ihsan Abdel Quddous, and Abbas Al-Akkad, Elsersawy is currently training aspiring documentary filmmakers in the Gulf and North Africa to prepare a new generation capable of competing at international festivals.

Interview with Dra. Jeannette Eureka Tiburcio

CEO, Global Federation of Leadership and High Intelligence

Mexico

conducted by

EVA Petropoulou Lianou

….

E.pl..Dr. Jeanette Eureka Tiburcio, can you tell us about your childhood and what your dreams were? 

 J E.T.. My childhood was very blessed, with a loving, integrated family, a lover of art, culture, poetry, painting, dance and science. My parents, my sister and my grandmother are my great pillars along with my entire family. My parents fed me poetry.  As a child I daydreamed all the time, constructing stories. I dreamed of being an architect, teacher, writer, dancer, journalist, doing activities that help others and the planet. I dreamed of traveling throughout Mexico and then the world and having great friends with whom I could share tastes and hobbies, and I always dreamed of returning home, to my beloved Mexico with my family, which is my everything. 

Epl . You are president of a very important multicultural association.

Can you introduce those associations?

JE.T..Of course, dear, I am President of the Global Federation of Leadership and High Intelligence, which is an Association that is dedicated to strengthening actions in educational, cultural, literary, scientific and environmental matters in 145 countries, developing various festivals, book fairs, events. , meetings, recognitions, etc. At the same time, I am President of the World Academy of Literature, History, Art and Culture as well as the UNAccc Mexico and Latin America.

Epl . Do you consider yourself a poet, author or architect?

J.E.T. .I consider myself a creative being with infinite possibilities, and being a poet is a necessity, just like breathing.

Epl. When you start writing, what is your inspiration?

JET  I am inspired by everything that I experience.

Epl. Tell us about your new book.

J.ET. My latest book: Who threw my heart into the fire, under the Madrileño publishing label: Huso Editorial, is an invitation to my personal journey, with reflections on the world, my Homeland, my beloved Veracruz, life, the tracing of paths for youth and childhood, identity….about the giving faith, among many other muses…. all interpreted under my eyes and my feelings as a poet, through poetry. 

Epl. Wishes for 2025?

JET   I wish that we can have a more dignity life and safety in earth, that no child goes to sleep hungry, whether physically, intellectually, or spiritually… that health is present in the lives of each and every one, as well as light of expansion, that we can live a life with security, fully and in freedom where we can guarantee a future for those who are by our side, illuminating everything… children and young people mainly.

Thank you so much dear Presidente

Jeanette Eureka Tiburcio

This poem is part of Corey Cook’s recently released chapbook heads held low, which is available here.

Christmas Day

He’s by himself

On Christmas Day

And thoughts

Of dying alone 

Seem less unpleasant

Than they have been

For years.

Taylor Dibbert is a writer, journalist, and poet in Washington, DC. “Takoma,” his sixth book, is due out on January 3.

Dawn in the Forest: An Ode to Nature

The sun rises out of the belly of the earth
Like a giant orange over the mellow meadows
Birds singing their esoteric songs,
Honeysuckles bask in the morning dew
A doe rustling to life after a long sleep
Caterwauling creatures echo over hillsides
Below the canopy are vanguards of activity
Supple blow of the wind weaving in and out of the trees
Conglomeration of broods chirping in their nests
Cryptic mating calls abound
The forest miniature wilds
From aphids to beetles slugs to toads
All on a brownish tarnished tray in disarray on the forest floor
Centipedes skulk through soil caterpillars chomp though leaves
Beetles pelt in their holes trailing and gathering in a
Resilient resolve to cling to life in spite of natural strife
In the deciduous forest that scraps its skin in the fall
Nature calms like a mother
Spring awakens
Chipmunks come out of burrows
Baby katydids and tent caterpillars hatch
Queen bumble bees collect nectar from wild flowers
Azure butterflies greet the dawn
Luna moth squirms and scratches within its cocoon

Green tiger beetles with large eyes jumping spiders with sharp eyes
Pounce on prey!
Between the ferns at your feet and the tree over your head
Is the leafy understory
It’s the furrowed tree trunks weedy bushes brushing your shoulders
Old dead tree that lie on the floor expecting to be explored
Red spotted purple butterflies, ant lions and wood nymphs
Sunset descends as many animals become bed heads
Chipmunk heads to its burrow cicadas stop singing
Birds fly to their resting place
Bush katydid shed its skin in nocturne
All insects molt so they can grow
Winter is here…
Woods are lovely dark and deep says Mr. Frost
And its inhabitants have NO promises to keep
Icicles sparkle on bare branches
Downy white snow manteau the ground
Mysterious eyes carved obsidian in the moonlit dusk
The geese robins and monarch butterflies fly south
While the animals that stay germinate winter skin to stay warm
The air is pure and clean like a mountain stream
Now all bed heads head off to bed to sleep perchance to dream…

[Originally published in Litterateur Redefining World anthology and Fleury’s book: Chain Letter to America: The One Thing You Can Do to End Racism: A Collection of Essays, Fiction and Poetry Celebrating Multiculturalism] 

Jacques Fleury is a Boston Globe featured Haitian-American poet, educator, author of four books, and literary arts student at Harvard University online. His latest publication “You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self”  & other titles are available at all Boston Public Libraries, the University of Massachusetts Healey Library, the University of Wyoming, Askews and Holts Library Services in the United Kingdom, The Harvard Book Store, The Grolier Poetry Bookshop, Amazon etc…  He has been published in prestigious publications such as Wilderness House Literary Review, Muddy River Poetry Review, Litterateur Redefining World anthologies out of India, Poets Reading the News, the Cornell University Press anthology Class Lives: Stories from Our Economic Divide, Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene, among others…Visit him at: http://www.authorsden.com/jacquesfleury.