Melanz Magazine

MELANZ August 2005

Eastern Traditions For Life In The West

Monthly Magazine

www.MelanzOnline.com

Getting Ready For My First Day Of

411 On Underground Vegetables Stress & Emotional Stability Puerto Vallarta -Sun Meets Sand Meets Serenity!

Islamic Art Exhibit At Fort Worth Museum 80 Summer Business Ideas For Kids

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Inspiration

“

Let your children go if you want to keep them.

Malcolm Forbes

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Oscar Wilde

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

�

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.

Sydney J. Harris

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CONTENTS

features

Getting Ready For My First Day Of School

13

Children react differently to going to school for the first time. Annie Ghazi lays out a plan to prepare for this day for parents & kids.

Stress & Emotional Stability

The 411 On Underground 08 Vegetables

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

We eat ’em almost every day. But how much do we really know about underground vegetables?

02

19

You have the power to control your emotions. Learn ways to deal with stress and your emotions.

departments

From the Editor’s Desk

05

Spice it up: Makhani (Butter) Chicken

07

HomeDecor: What Is French Country?

11

Leisure: Walking The Thin Line: Episode 5

21

Family: 30 Back To School Shopping Tips

Islamic Art Exhibit At The Fort Worth Museum

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Great treasures of Islamic Art are on display at the Kimbell Art Museum in Forth Worth, TX.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 23 Sun Meets Sand Meets Serenity

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Freedom, adventure, & escape.. a perfect travel destination south of the border.

04

FinanceABC: 31 80 Summer Business Ideas For Kids by Biz4Kids.com

MELANZ Eastern Traditions For Life In the West Publisher MELANZ Magazine Managing Editor Annie Ghazi annie@faruki.cc Nutrition Section Editor Roohe Ahmed, MPH / RD Roo490@hotmail.com Travel Section Sonia Laflamme (sonia@justsaygo.com) Naeem Randhawa (naeem@justsaygo.com) LivingWell Editor Sara Ghazi Family Section Shehla Merchant Finance Section Christian Erickson That’s Life Athar Zia, MS Contributors Imran Randhawa, Nikhat Qureshi, Dr. Iffat Farooqui -BDS, Syed Faiz Qadri -M.D., Gerhardt Wagner -PhD, Syed Pirzada Sattar -MD, A. Rehman, Syeda Akhtar Subscriptions / Advertising Inquiries

Main Office Tel: (714) 757-0786 Southern CA / Orange County Rep Chris Janumala (714) 717-0111 Mailing Address P.O. Box 5172 Lynnwood, WA 98046.

Email: Info@MelanzOnline.com

Parenthood is often mistaken as superiority, something that authorizes full control and a certain level of status. Yet, it seems more like a privilege, a God given responsibility that we have to strive to fulfill.

Parenthood many times feels like a chore, continually binding us to someone or many little someone’s. Yet it’s, more often than not, a relief from all the other expectations, we as adults, are bound to.

In one of my favorite books, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, author Stephen Covey talks about growing difficulties, for one of his sons, in school. Academically, socially, and physically their son was doing poorly. Covey and his wife tried many different ways to build his confidence and be supportive, but soon learned that by being so protective they were sending the wrong message: Son you are weak, you can’t do this on your own. As the realization settled in, the couple took a different approach which included changing themselves and analyzing “the lens from which they saw the world.” Soon they challenged themselves to allow their child to grow without “measuring him against social expectations.”

We live in a world of pitied glances and tsk tsks, especially when it comes to bringing up our children; it’s mainly why we feel like parenthood is a chore, therefore, we enforce our authority. We don’t want to let others down. Our children, thus, get lost in the mesh, left in front of the television then buffed and shined before appearing in public. I’m just as guilty for misguidedly bowing to social agenda. Attempting to change ourselves seems almost fictional, an insensible joke perhaps, but what if it’s a need…in order to appreciate our role as parents? And what do we do now?

Pray… and probably try our hardest to be parents first and social figures afterwards.

Always, Annie

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Copyright © 2005 Melanz Magazine. Reproduction of any part or the entirety without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited content, articles, photographs, or illustrations. The views/ opinions expressed by the writers/editors are not necessarily the views of MELANZ / and/or its partners/ owners and accordingly no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof. All the stories and their characters are fictional unless mentioned otherwise. For healthcare, finance, and family counseling issues please refer to a related professional. MELANZ does not offer solutions to your specific problem and none of the articles should be taken as a solution by the readers. MELANZ is not responsible for errors or omissions. MELANZ/its partners/owners are not responsible for checking the accuracy of information provided by the advertisers. Advertising copy, logos, and artwork are the sole responsibility of individual advertisers, not of MELANZ. Printed in USA.

From the Editor’s Desk

05

Badami Truffles

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Next Month, Only In MELANZ

06

www.MelanzOnline.com

Spice it up

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Makhani (Butter) Chicken Directions

2 medium onions, thinly sliced 2 cups yogurt 1 cup cream 6 ounces unsalted butter, softened Salt to taste 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp chili powder 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 2 tbsp ground almonds 6 boneless chicken breasts, skinned, cut into bit size pieces 1/2 tsp saffron, soaked in 2 tablespoons milk 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp cornstarch 1/4 cup water 1 tsp cilantro, chopped

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. SautĂŠ onion until soft and translucent.

2. Place in a food processor with yogurt, cream, butter, salt, turmeric, chili and cumin powder, garlic and almonds.

3. Grease bottom of casserole dish with additional butter; then place the chicken pieces in a single layer in it.

4. Pour the paste from the food processor over the chicken and set aside in a cool place to marinate for 1/2 hour. Preheat an oven to 350F. 5. Cover the casserole with a tight fitting lid or a sheet of aluminum foil and place in oven for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and the butter has risen to the surface of the sauce.

6. Pour contents of casserole dish into a large pot. Place pot on low heat on stovetop. Add the saffron and mix gently.

7. Mix together cornstarch and water, then stir into the sauce. Cook for 5 minutes or until thickened.

8. Remove from heat and place in serving dish. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy with Naan or rice!

Utensils Large casserole dish, mixing spoon, food processor, large pot, serving platter.

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MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Ingredients

Dine In Take Out Catering Pure Vegetarian

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Nutrition

411

On Underground Vegetables

By Roohe Ahmed, MPH / RD

Lurking underground, amongst dirt and the creepy crawlers are the root vegetables. The above description doesn’t exactly make them sound desirable, BUT many of the common vegetables we use on a daily basis are actually those grown underground.

Here’s the 411 on root vegetables….

Although it’s summer time, root vegetables are typically at their peak in the winter months, therefore they are mostly used in soups, stews, casseroles—warm dishes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of them anytime. What are these root vegetables?

Amongst the many they include: rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, beets, carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes, ginger.

Some may not sound so familiar, but there are many that we Desis use on a daily basis, such as garlic, onions, and ginger. Then there are those that we may never have used such as rutabagas and parsnips, but why not give them a try? After all, most root vegetables consist of the same general properties such as being starchy and thick, therefore providing consistency to whatever you use them in.

Beets You can’t miss seeing beets. So brightly colored, that when you boil them, the water is left that bright magenta. If you have a dish that you feel needs a splash of color, add in beets, or if your table top looks boring, change it up a little by tossing some boiled or raw beets onto a salad—it will definitely make your entire meal stand out.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Beets are native across a wide area ranging from Britain to India. They are especially high in natural sugar and just by roasting them in the oven; you can definitely notice an increase in sweetness.

Beets contain calcium and anti-oxidants, which help to fight free radicals, and thereby reduce risk of cancer, and are also high in fiber.

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Nutrition

Carrots Our friends, the carrots. Usually the only vegetable that young children will eat, after potatoes (think French fries).

Carrots were originally native to Afghanistan but were also known to the Greeks and Romans. In the wild, the carrot’s original color is actually white, but is orange in color due to cultivation by the Dutch in the 1700’s, and was brought here by the colonists. Carrots are a member of the parsley family and are related to parsnip, celery and fennel.

Carrots are rich in vitamin A and phytochemicals such as carotenoids. Large carrots have ten times more carotenoids and vitamin A than the baby ones do, so while the baby ones may be cute, you may want to use the large ones at times; shred them and toss over a salad, rice, soups, or just eat plain.

And as Desis know all too well, it can make a fantastic dessert (Gajar ka Halwa). But watch it—the ghee (oil churned from butter) is not much of a turn on for our arteries….

Turnips “Turnips…” Just the name can potentially cause a child (or adult for that matter) to cringe and wonder at the origination of its name. However, turnips have been cultivated for about 4,000 years, and have been a staple food for much of the poor in both Europe and Asia. Today’s cooks may add them to one-pot oven dishes or stir-fries, as well as mash or purée them for a pleasant change from mashed potatoes.

Turnips, which are part of the mustard family, contain vitamin C and phytochemicals, which as we know, help to combat cancer, heart disease and DNA damage.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

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Nutrition

How to select, store, and prep the root veggies?

The above listed root-veggies do not by any means represent the whole variety of root vegetables. Perusing the produce section, you find just as many vegetables grown underground as those grown above ground.

When selecting these vegetables, choose root vegetables that are smooth and firm, with a bright color.

The best carrots are young and slender, and large carrots have more flavor than baby ones. Both parsnips and turnips are preferable young, when they are small and sweeter. Although parsnips are available yearround, their peak months are in fall and winter, after the first frost. Beets are also best selected at this time of year.

Store carrots in a plastic bag in the vegetable bin of a refrigerator, but try to keep them away from produce such as apples, which release a gas that can give carrots a bitter taste. Although turnips can be refrigerated, tightly wrapped, for 2 weeks, they do best in a well-ventilated, cool area. Parsnips and beets can also be refrigerated in a plastic bag for up to two weeks.

When you are ready to use these vegetables, of course thoroughly wash them. You need to only rinse carrots, but older ones should be peeled before cooking. Turnips and parsnips should be washed, trimmed and peeled before using. When beets are ready to be oven roasted, their skins should be left on to avoid damage to cells and retain the rich color.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

While to some these vegetables can be, well, boring, their health benefits and versatility make them great players in the kitchen and on your table top. Right now your grocery cart may be full of all the great summer produce (watermelons, mangos, berries, etc‌), but try to throw in these root vegetables and experiment. Bon appetit!

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And a lot more

ITS ALL ONLINE >>> www.MelanzOnline.com

HomeDecor

What Is French Country?

In today’s modern world, elements in a room are screaming for design inspiration. Not too long ago, people sought these inspirations by exploring distant lands and historical architecture. After years of travel and surveillance, people brought back French Country design. This flourishing statement entered the US market as one of the most authentic and appealing ways to uplift the interior of a home.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

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HomeDecor When you give-way to renovating, add a personal touch with French Country design, which suggests the depiction of rural France: a mix of cozy nooks and home cooked creativity. To unmask this rustic style, consider the fact that it can fit into almost any room and create a wide array of impressions; whether it’s the barn style look you prefer, to the facade of a grandeur chateau.

C o l o r

C o r n e r

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

French Country Colors Cobalt Blue Deep Russet Reds Brilliant Yellows With a Mix of Natural earth tones and gold

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Within a French Country layout, you’ll notice the importance of incorporating natural materials, such as carved wood details, woven chairs, plastered walls, or natural stone floors. Before the advance in technology, the French like many other European nations created their living space from hand. But because the French were intensely artistic and swayed by beauty, they went to lengths to symbolize splendor in every inch of their lives and homes. The living room’s focus was almost always the fireplace and is still included in today’s mimicking design.

For those who plan on using the design elements from French Country, consider using rustic furniture such as large harvest style dining tables, carved wood-work, and armoires to encase pottery and linens. Gathering large groups of people for dinner and work was common; therefore large tables were customary centerpieces near the kitchen. In your country retreat include accessories that imply homemade: woven baskets, wrought iron, ceramics, carved wood tile, and old oil paintings.

French Country soothes the soul and can be brought to life in any house you want to call a home.

Cover Story

Getting Ready For My First Day Of

SCHOOL

By Annie Ghazi

On a scale from 1 to 10, one being the worst and ten being the best, you hope that the experience of sending kids off to school is above a six. It’s an emotional tug-of-war sometimes, sending children to a place outside of your boundaries, away from sight. But the shear excitement that dances in their eyes makes the transition to kindergarten, all worth while.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Kindergarten is a wonderful experience and opportunity for children to finally settle into what’s normally called: reality. It’s the initiation of accessing greater knowledge, experiencing vast changes, and acquiring multiple responsibilities and roles. It’s finally time for them to let go of your finger and walk on their own, in a new terrain. Yet the process is not always easy for you, the parent, or her, the kindergartener, to move up that first step in the ladder. Parents have numerous questions about schooling and how to survive the first phase. In the following we’ll try to address some of the most important ones, in reference to the transition to Kindergarten.

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Cover Story

?

Ho w do I mentally and ph ysically prepare m or his ffir ir st yyear ear How physically myy child ffor irst of school?

Children are initially aware of the idea of school, but they cannot comprehend the physical experience of attending class and fulfilling its obligations. Sudden surprises in the form of routine change are also very difficult for kids to adjust to. Therefore use the months prior to as practice.

Gradually change bedtimes; incorporate a certain time for play and a certain time for study.

Structure the day as if the child were already going to school; remind them of the changes that are developing in a positive light. For instance, discuss with him about his future opportunity to make new friends and learn new information.

Occasionally give your child a tour of his new school. Have him visit his new class and new teacher. Guide him through the new environment and discuss his new role as a student. This is also a good time to explain precautionary methods by visiting the nurse’s office, explaining crosswalks, and who to talk to when he needs help. Allow children to gain an acquaintanceship with their teacher, explaining their authoritative significance. Children cannot completely grasp the concept of leaving home and mom until they’ve actually started school, but being informed about the upcoming changes in his life will generate acceptability to the transition.

It’s the night bef ore her ffir ir st da o help her before irst dayy of kindergar kindergartten. What do I do tto se ttle in ttomorr omorr ow? omorro settle Children have a very keen sense of a parent’s emotions, especially stress and anxiety. Though she may find the minor alterations in schedule insignificant, your reaction or pre-reaction to an upcoming event will convey the ultimate message of “good” or “bad”. After all, you’ve been her role model this entire time, you are all she knows. So reduce your anxiety first. Don’t reflect your apprehension towards the transitional phase (school years). As the saying goes, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Well if you can’t express a sense of calmness and joy, don’t express the mere opposite either. Too much excitement may well send your child off to hide under the bed too.

Rather, spend this time with her to induce more preparation. Invite her to make her school snack and help pick out a nice outfit. Gather the necessary belongings with her for her special day. Allow your child to feel that they are going to be accomplishing something, rather than feeling something horrible and frightening lies ahead.

Remind the child of her new schedule and that once she’s in her class, it will be time for you to leave for a while and for her to spend time with other kids under a different authoritative figure (teacher). Don’t stop there though, alleviate her stress by informing her that you will return to pick her up and bring her home.

Consider adapting a few activities after school ends, such as the following suggests: > Come home, put away things > Wash up, eat lunch > Review what happened at school > Allow play for 1 hour > Return to a form of study (revising what they learned) MELANZ | AUGUST 05

In a study done by Wilfried Griebel and Renate Niesel (1999), parents also assumed a change in role expectations, once children entered school. “Parents acted as the school’s agents at home. They tried to give a positive representation of school and the teacher at home to keep the children motivated for working.

This is considered to be an important way of preparation for transition to school (ibid, 1999).”

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Cover Story

Separation Anxie ty Anxiety ty.. What is it? And does m myy child ha havve it?

It’s the first day of kindergarten, Aisha walks into class with her son Abdullah and all of a sudden he freezes. Suddenly Aisha’s trying to detach her anxiety-ridden five year old from her leg. All everyone can hear is, “I don’t want to stay, please don’t leave me Momma!”

In an utterly heart-wrenching moment such as this, you’re doubtful about his readiness for school. Well, he definitely is.

Separation anxiety is when a child is in an unknown environment with unknown people and feels very vulnerable.

At this point he knows of only one secure place, and that is with his parent. Though not all children go through separation anxiety exactly at this time or in this way, they do cross paths with it, sometime if not many times in their life. Since this is the most visible reaction and at a most crucial transition period, parents should know: it has to be addressed.

Is it normal?

Most definitely. Anxiety is one of the various ways we as humans cope with experiences outside of our comfort zone and to children who are entering the school years, the only comfort they know is with their parents and most likely mom. So entering a new arena without this protective shield will cause great stress for young dependents.

Ho w do I deal with it, especially no w that w e’re already at school?

How now we’re When your child reacts this way, don’t leave him to fight the battle on his own just yet. Remain in the classroom with him; if necessary allow him to stay in your lap. Gradually the child will observe and explore his new environment. He will recognize his peers at play and their interaction with the teacher. Soon he’ll remove himself from you (maybe not too far) and begin adjusting on his own. If he’s not playing with others, that’s fine. Once you see that he’s happily absorbed into an activity (without you), consider discussing your departure with him. If he’s okay with it, relay that his teacher will be his caregiver and that you will return at an allotted time. Remove yourself from the classroom immediately after this. If he refuses to let you go, stay. It may take more than a day or less than an hour, but when he’s ready to say good-bye, abide by it.

A few don’ts:

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Don’t sneak out! It will break his trust in you and increase the anxiety.

Don’t stay, if he’s okay with you leaving! Trust goes both ways. Trust him to be a bit more independent, even if it’s hard on you. Just as adults, children’s minds allow a small window of opportunity to take the leap. During this transition, he will round-up a bit of courage and tell you to go, but this courage can dissipate just as fast, closing off this opportunity to be independent. If you stay he may retract to his dependence and make situations worse.

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Cover Story

What about m eelings? I’m stressed, upse t, and anxious myy (the parent) ffeelings? upset, about all these changes.

It’s Sunday night, you’ve prepared her things, put her to bed, and ran a list of all the things you need to do tomorrow, yet you can’t help but feel as if your child’s being taken away from you.

Then the guilt rides in for not feeling happier about her first day of school. Are you completely and utterly the worst parent in the world?

Absolutely NOT!!!

Feelings of loss of control, loss of intimacy with the child, anxiety about her independence, and anguish over not knowing what’s happening in her life all the time, are all owed to you. This transitional phase is not only a significant life-altering event for her, but also a time in your life where you have to learn to let go. And letting go of someone who you’ve cared for constantly and watched over protectively, is down right difficult.

Jerry McClelland, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, wrote in her own study of mother’s experiences when sending children to kindergarten, “I anguished over his entry into kindergarten because the state, through the school, began to exert a lot of control over him in contrast to the control my husband and I had been able to assert over his care earlier…. I did not like the fact that the kindergarten teacher’s authority could supersede mine under certain conditions (1995).”

Is the w ay I’m ffeeling eeling normal? wa It couldn’t get more normal than this. As McClelland mentioned above, we give up some of our rights upon our children and allow others to make informed decisions about what they should and shouldn’t know or do. We’ve also been able to protect them from certain negative life experiences that now have an open invitation to be bluntly available and we aren’t there to supervise. All these years you’ve witnessed each moment in her development and now you won’t be able to experience all her new achievements or help her in every decision.

“Children’s independence is scary.” The absence of children is felt immensely, especially for stay-at-home parents. This feeling is common and should be understood as a way to cope with new changes.

What’s important to also realize is that a parent’s fears and concerns may be attributed to their own childhood experiences. For instance, if you had a traumatic injury during your first year of school, you may fear that your child is in an unsafe environment and want to protect her from injuries. At large kids fall, get hurt and get over it and may never have to experience a major injury.

Ho w do I relie ties and fface ace the ffacts? acts?

How relievve m myy anxie anxieties

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Allow the unfamiliar to become familiar. Interact with the school and teacher before the school year begins. Educate yourself about the rules and regulations within the school. Get involved with your child’s education.

Attend school activities and work on school projects with her.

Know that this separation is a major step in the process of your children growing up.

Know that the first day will be hard on you.

Visit the class when you feel the need, by dropping by a few minutes before the end of the day.

Have consistent dialogue with the teacher about the class and your child.

Get ready for change in your own routine. Other than different pick-up and drop-off times, family life in general will be converted into a stricter atmosphere, busier schedule and require more effort on your behalf.

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Cover Story

What changes should I be e xpecting in expecting my child as the months go b y? by?

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Children usually feel that their experiences of school are very different from what they initially expected. As we mentioned before, children’s idea of school is not specific or concrete. Their vague interpretation of school comes from their inexperience to the actual event.

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The answers are… not cookie cut-outs nor are they universal. In any culture, under any circumstance the parent’s ultimate challenge is to be consistent, involved, and willing to live a greater portion of their life for their kids and not for themselves. This is how success will be truly attained.

Once in school, children realize they must do certain things, whereas before they were allowed to do things they wanted themselves, and this change isn’t favored. Children won’t favor homework as much either, as this ties them to responsibilities that were nonexistent before.

You may also notice more conflict between your kindergartener and younger siblings, because the schoolaged child feels that younger ones don’t have as many constraints as they do, therefore act out of jealousy.

Your daughter has now been attending kindergarten for over 5 months. One afternoon, she sits struggling with a project, when you try to help she pushes you away.You might think, “Where is she getting this rude behavior from,” but in fact it’s a sign of independence. Children adapt to experimenting techniques, independently, at an early age, but during the school-years, developmental tasks are more structured, requiring the child to think in-depth. Her mission now is to do the thinking without your help and this is considerably a very important strategy for plain ol’ growing up. Your job is this: stand out of the way and permit her the space she needs. If she doesn’t overcome the obstacle, she will come to you, provided you are easily accessible.

LivingWell

Stress

& Emotional Stability

By Sara Ghazi

Stress makes us most vulnerable to acquiring bad habits such as overeating, smoking, and drinking, this is why it is so adverse to our health. Splurges such as these can be the temporary relief of stress, but will catch up with you quickly. Therefore, it is imperative that we learn to deal with stress and our emotions, and learn to channel them in the right direction. Many people like to think of life as 10% what happens to them, and 90% how they react to it—which brings about a very important point that many of us fail to realize: we have the power to control how we feel.

Emotions are the product of our behavior, thoughts, physiology, and spirituality. Balancing these aspects of one’s life can lead to emotional stability and a stress-free life. After all, emotions are our primary source of energy and motivation.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

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LivingWell There is no formulaic solution to figuring out one’s emotions, but there are steps we can take in order to channel our emotions in the right direction. For example, for some, being stuck in traffic can be the most frustrating experience ever, but for others, traffic is quite fascinating, and a wonder of life. Here are a few simple strategies on how to begin to manage your emotions, and minimize stress:

Identify the Cause: What event provoked this emotion?

What Part of Your Body is Reacting?

If you’re feeling pain or discomfort somewhere, recognize that area and rate the unpleasantness.

What are You Thinking?

What thoughts are evoking these feelings?

Recall what you were thinking and what lead you to feel emotional.

Sense Your Spirit: What is most revealed by this emotion? What is most hidden? This may help you realize that you have low-self esteem or you are too arrogant.

There are many ways people learn to manage their emotions and stress, but everyone can use some tips on how to live a stress-free life…

1. Throw something away everyday: Having more means having more to do.

Throwing away old clothes, will save space and will make your life simpler.

2. Plan ahead: This is a no-brainer, planning ahead (like calculating how much time it will take you to get to work if you have to get gas and run errands before) will leave time for error, and allot time for everything you need to do.

3. Learn to say “no”: There are those of us who are too nice, and can’t say no when someone asks for a favor.

Prioritizing your life will help you realize whether or not you have time to help others.

4. Change how you respond to difficult situations: Be positive, not negative. Learn to be patient with others, and channel your negative energy into positivism. ..............................................................................

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Leisure

WALKING THE THIN LINE EPISODE: 5

By A. Rehman shut behind his friend, Ajay stole away to the nearest corner and flipped open his cell phone in one swift move. Ajay moved the curtain slightly and scanned the street below, as the he waited for someone to answer.

“Hi, it’s me. Yes he was there,” Ajay conveyed in a slightly whispered voice. “I don’t know if he has it… I can’t ask him, he’ll get suspicious…

Okay, okay, I’ll try.” Ajay slid his phone back into his pocket and strolled back to where he was sitting, calmly regrouping his posture. A few minutes later Shiraz came out of the restroom. Ajay quickly stood up and suggested, “Buddy, why don’t you come by my place around seven-thirty. I have to pick up a few things for mom, so I’ll head out right now.”

Taken aback a bit by his sudden change of plans, Shiraz plainly answered, “Okay. See you at 7:30.” *

*

*

The street was nearly empty, when a dark stretch limo came into view, pulling to the curb nearside a highrise apartment complex that had been built fairly recently. The driver quickly veered around the car to the back passenger side door and showed the way to a small bearded man of medium built. His long coat draped around a vested suit as he stood confidently nodding off to his driver, “Thank you Nawaz. Please come back in an hour or so.” Striding calmly to the entrance, the man allowed the doorman to let him in. The flush

lighting inside, shone two men adjacent to a long corridor, that looked up at the sound of footsteps.

“It better be good,” the man said barely glancing at the men who rushed to his side.

“Thank you, sir, for coming on such short notice. Please come with me,” responded the taller of the two dark-suited men. The elevator pulled itself up to the 67 th floor, while the men stood listening to the humming of soft classical music. A sharp bell sounded, and the elevator doors swung open to a large, lavishly set, penthouse.

“David, welcome and thank you for coming over,” remarked a rather tall, overweight man, whose voice sat heavily behind his large mouth.

He stood awkwardly near a neatly set dining table, balancing part of his weight on a slender velvetbacked chair. The dim lights hid his already sunken eyes, but gave way to his size by stretching a large shadow in front of him.

“Hello Chaudry. You look tired,” David said as he walked towards his host. Chaudry waved his hand signaling the two guards to leave.

“So what’s the big news, Chaudry?”

Chaudry returned his glance towards his guest, “Please have a seat. There is good news. We found the kid. Lucky for us, he’s still in Manhattan.” Chaudry pulled a chair back across from David and focused his hands outward to keep his balance while slowly seating himself. A young woman walked in swinging a tray and placed its contents in front of the two men, >>

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

“So did you tell your parents?” Ajay asked, completely astounded by the incident he just heard.

“No… no one else knew… until Nadeem told Seema, of course.”

“What happened afterwards?”

Ajay was impeccably intrigued and curious.

Still distraught from the current situation Shiraz stuttered, “Sometimes I feel as if I’m being followed. Maybe it’s just me.”

“Did you ever inquire about that place again?” Ajay asked.

“You know after retur ning to Karachi, I asked a couple of my friends from Punjab about that place, but no one knows about it.”

“So you told them about the incident?”

“No way man. Actually I asked them to go to that gas station to see if they could find a momentous watch I left there. To my surprise, one of my friends went and found no gas station!” Shiraz paused, “This matter is stressing me out a lot. I will go to Pakistan for Nadeem’s wedding and won’t come back until this matter is resolved.” The sun settled behind the buildings, leaving the horizon a blushed pink. They were so busy talking that they didn’t realize so much time had passed by. Shiraz stood up and switched on the lights. “Man… its time for prayer, do you want to wait?”

“Sure I can wait. Afterwards we’ll go to my place. Mom is saving us some dinner,” answered Ajay.

Shiraz quietly stepped past the kitchen and headed towards the bathroom, to wash up. As the door

21

Leisure

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

“Enjoy.”

David’s eyes followed the girl into the kitchen corridor, and then shifted towards the linen cloth that sat atop a gold trimmed plate, “You did well, but it took you six months.

I’ve waited too long.” Chaudry placed a tray of finger-foods near David’s hand, before shoving a handful his own serving of cheese crisps down his throat. “So does he have it?” David looked away annoyed by the man’s grotesque munching.

“Umm, mmm, I don’t know yet,” Chaudry said swallowing the last of the morsels in his mouth. He stood up and rolled his finger around the room, thoughtfully looking for something. With an expression of aha, Chaudry walked past the elevator, disappearing behind a desk. David nibbled a bite of his chocolate torte, carefully.

He glanced back towards his right at Chaudry, who strolled towards him with a file tucked under his arm.

“Here it is,” said Chaudry handing David the folder, “The kid’s name is Shiraz. Shiraz Mir. His father, Jamshaid and mother, Nabila Mir. I have their addresses; pictures of the family are what you’re looking at now. All their movements from the past 8 years or so.” David skimmed through the information, then returned to the photographs.

Chaudry breathlessly sat back and took a large gulp of his coffee, “The kid is 24 now. No family here. His parents are still in Karachi. His phone records indicate numerous calls to a relative of his, Nadeem.”

22

“Hmm,” David looked up at his associate, “Is he keeping it here or did he leave it in Pakistan?”

“David, we just found out it was him. He gave a proper description of the place. I am sure he has it, but I don’t want to scare him off yet. We don’t know where it is. Besides, the kid is smart. He has an idea he’s being watched.”

“We’ve already waited too long for this. I can’t waste anymore time on this. I want it, ASAP,” David ordered coldly.

“The situation is delicate. Let me figure out where he’s hiding it. If he finds out we’re on his tail, he’ll make it harder for us. He’s planning on going to Karachi soon. Said he wants to resolve the matter now.”

“Just get it Chaudry,” David didn’t want to waste another second with the man. He tilted slightly to pull out his cell phone and told his driver it was time to head back. *

*

*

It was still some time before he had to meet Ajay, so Shiraz decided to return his mother’s call. After reconfirming that things were fine with him Shiraz clarified that he was overloaded with work and was stressing out because of it. After long efforts of convincing, Nabila gave her son reprieve.

He still had an hour before dinner at Ajay’s and decided to meet with Gary. Shiraz swung his backpack onto his shoulders as he shut the door behind him. Shiraz enjoyed talking to Gary, since he had an

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expanse of knowledge on Business Law, and since he was just a few blocks down, Shiraz would have just enough time to sit with him and get back before seven-thirty. He stood thinking about this near the elevator, when all of a sudden he got the feeling that someone was watching him. He looked down either side of the hallway, but no one was around. “I’m just being cynical,” he murmured.

An hour later, Shiraz quickly walked through a small crowd of people towards Ajay’s home. As he reached a hundred feet ahead of the crowd he past, that quivering sense arose in him again, raising the hair on his neck. Was someone following him? “I think I’m going crazy.”

After dinner, Shiraz remarked about the great food and felt more at ease. Half an hour later he walked back to his place. The clock near his bed ticked ten o’clock as he entered the apartment. It was a long day, but Shiraz wasn’t ready to sleep. He dropped his backpack near the entrance and pulled his nightstand away from the wall. With the tips of his fingers, Shiraz pulled at a piece of the wall that had been clearly cut out with a sharp object.

As he pulled out the rectangular drywall piece, Shiraz looked into the small compartment and pulled out a notebook. Shiraz opened the book to a marked page. At the bottom of a list, he scribbled, “Ajay Desai must go.”

To be continued....

TO SUBSCRIBE CALL (714) 757-0786 OR GO ONLINE: www.MelanzOnline.com MELANZ Magazine: Eastern Traditions For Life In The West

Leisure Travel

Puerto Vallarta – Sun Meets Sand Meets Serenity!

Story and Photos by Naeem Randhawa

Somewhere between the take-off from Mexico City Airport and Aero México flight 603’s touchdown in Puerto Vallarta, there’s a drastic shift in mood and color among the anticipating vacation bound passengers. I’m part of that shift, from work and life’s everyday tensions to that welcoming immediate sense of freedom, adventure and escape. Isn’t this why we all vacation?

When you choose a vacation, you want to invest in one that is truly rewarding, a destination that leaves you with something to bring back. After all, you can’t get away as often as you’d like so choose wisely!

Puerto Vallarta is one of those smart destination choices – for many reasons. It’s been referred to as the Jewel of the Mexican Riviera, the Technicolor panoramic sun-drenched beaches being just one reason. Puerto Vallarta doesn’t have the prepackaged run-of-the-mill vacation treatment that many other places often deliver. It doesn’t have you hustling and bustling around schedules for your next activity or leave you worrying about whether you’re getting a good deal for your hotel or meal.

What it does have are picturesque sandy beaches, easy-going locals who greet you with a smile, dozens of unique activities from which to choose, some of the most sumptuous food you’ve ever had, great restaurants and hotels, and plenty of relaxation and serenity!

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

My taxi arrived at the Casa Magna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort. On the way to check-in, the walkway and terraces are lined with lush local flora, aiding the work-to-play transition. Continuously voted as one of the world’s best resorts every year by trade magazines like Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel and Leisure, the hotel’s reputation is well deserved.

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Leisure Travel All the rooms in the beachfront resort provide breathtaking views of the ocean and the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains in the distance. Upon arriving in my room, I put my bags down, opened the doors and stepped out onto my private balcony. You breathe in the atmosphere of the surroundings – beachgoers walking the beach, hotel guests dipping in the grand pool below, the fresh air drifting in from the Pacific, vacationers parasailing, local fishermen in the distance coming into the harbor, a mariachi band performing near the beach. The laptop remained closed for the rest of the evening!

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

You can find a variety of restaurants at The CasaMagna Resort with ambiance and a selection of cuisines. I dined at the Mikado that evening. Featuring Teppanyaki cooking, this restaurant offers Japanese (including sushi), Thai and Chinese dishes. The chefs serve at the table and perform some fancy cutting, dicing and slicing acrobatics while preparing your food. Be brave and volunteer and they’ll let you try a couple of moves. The restaurant is a fine dining experience with contemporary decor, including a wall of colorful hand made origami, a mini indoor garden and pond.

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All the rooms in the beachfront resort provide breath-taking views of the ocean and the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains in the distance.

The others restaurants on the premises include Las Casitas, a poolside grill serving Mexican dishes; La Estancia, which features a variety of dishes including steaks, seafood and Mexican fare; and Champions Sports Bar, an American sports themed restaurant.

With all these choices, you may never have to dine off property!

If your will and determination hold out, you can get your game on in any of the resort’s three lighted tennis courts, work out in the health club or just relax in the spa and get a full body massage. Also, stop by for the nightly cigar rolling demonstrations by Leopoldo Ponce. Having learned the trade from his father, Ponce enjoys sharing the finer details of the technique of cigar rolling and happily answers questions from the crowd. I’m kicking myself for not buying more of those cigars; my supply ran out a whole lot sooner than expected!

Leisure Travel

Old Town Square - Plaza Principal Take a ten minute taxi ride to stroll into the old town square or Zócalo and go shopping and sightseeing for the afternoon. Walking through narrow stonepaved streets, you can hunt for deals on clothing, ceramics and other souvenirs. Silver is big here, as in most Mexican destinations but be prepared to haggle if you’re shopping on the street.

The Plaza Principal with an impressive brick and mortar cathedral and a beautiful restored crown atop its tower is facing the square and at the center of the town. When I arrived, a local Mexican couple who had just gotten married was surrounded by celebrating family and friends and a mariachi band.

The crowd spilled into the street, and a shiny yellow Cadillac from the 60s waited for the newlyweds. In the midst of this quaint setting, I intently tried not to let the Domino’s across the square ruin the vivid moment!

Local Art There is a vibrant artist community in the area. I joined an art walk hosted by a local artist and gallery owner. We walked along the Malecón or boardwalk, observing and photographing over half a dozen really elaborate copper sculptures, including bronze dolphins, a leaping humpback whale and some very large sculptures that attract many visitors. The local artists use very bright contrasting and vivid colors in their paintings and you can visit the gallery and buy some of these paintings and sculptures. The prices are definitely a bargain considering the quality and amount of work that goes into each piece.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

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Leisure Travel

Activities for Everyone One of the surprising things about Puerto Vallarta is the number and variety of activities offered. Planning for the trip, I researched the Internet but did not find nearly the amount of offerings that are actually available. Besides the multiple choices of beach and water activities like parasailing, boating and boat tours, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, dolphin and whale tours, and a “pirate ship” tour, there’s plenty to do on land as well! You can go horseback riding through the jungle and mountains, ATV off road, hit the links at a championship golf course, visit the old set from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie Predator, take a treetop canopy tour, and sightsee in nearby towns.

I decided to grab some goggles, tie on a handkerchief and jump on an ATV to go touring through the jungle! Wild ATV Tours provide all you need to know to handle your bike. They run through the safety drill and make sure you’re set to go.

The exciting ride starts with you following the guide as you curve out of town into the jungle. When you have more than a dozen ATV’s driving in a line, spitting up dust, you really begin to appreciate the handkerchief covering your nose and mouth. Although the ride is controlled, you do get to pick up some speed; I got my need for speed and got my vehicle up to 68 km/hr! Ah— what’s the point of throttle if you ain’t gonna use it! In the middle of the ride you arrive at a river and everyone turns off their machines to enjoy the surrounding lush jungle and cold water.

Canopy Tours

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

Thrill seekers will find plenty to do. I followed up the ATV tour with a canopy tour the next day with Canopy Tours de Los Veranos. Located south of the beach resorts, this company provides transport by old military-style, colorfully painted shuttle buses from downtown to their base locations. Canopy Tours is the largest canopy tour company and offers the thrill of riding zip lines from treetop to treetop through the jungle for any age, whether you’re eight or eighty!

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Originally started in Costa Rica, this eco-adventure uses a system of pulleys, tether lines, and treetop platforms accessed via winding stairs. The activity is safe, and navigation and guidance is provided step by step by well-trained guides. Along the path, the guides will point out local trees, plants, flowers, and the abundant birds, providing explanations and the >

Leisure Travel

background of each. The tour starts with some baby steps – a couple of short zip lines to build some confidence and to teach the simple techniques. Once you shed your initial fears, you start anticipating more speed and more incline. A total of 15 cables, with the longest being 350 meters across, complete the tour.

Zipping along at 30 mph over treetops and staring at the trees, rocks and streams below is a blast you won’t soon forget. At the end of the tour, the company sells pictures and videos taken of your Tarzan yells and wild ride.

How to Get There Aero México, Mexico’s largest airline, flies into Puerto Vallarta via Mexico City from its 17 gateway cities in the United States. Aero México Vacations offers personalized vacation travel packages and works in

M & K Travel Services, Inc. Visit our website

www.mandktravel.com for special deals.

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Puerto Vallarta is a destination that will leave you wanting to return again and again. The CasaMagna Marriott is a family friendly resort inviting you to bring the clan with you on vacation. The ATV and canopy tours will satisfy your need for an adrenaline rush, and there are plenty of beautiful beaches and sightseeing and shopping opportunities as well as the chance to soak up the local culture.

Consider Puerto Vallarta, the Jewel of the Mexican Riviera, for your next vacation. ................................................................................

Go to www.MelanzOnline.com For a list of Tour and Lodging places.

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27

Know YourNeighbor

Palace & Mosque Islamic Art From The Victoria & Albert Museum In Fort Worth, TX

By Sonia Laflamme & Nikhat Qureshi Photos by Imran Randhawa

“God is Beautiful and loves Beauty” as narrated by the Prophet of Islam (pbuh).

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

This Hadith (saying of Muhammad, the messenger of God) makes me realize that Muslims have not only been inspired, but have also been encouraged to integrate beauty into their everyday lives. From artistically designed architecture (palaces, mosques, public areas) to everyday items such as rugs, lanter ns, ceramics, jewelry boxes, and more.

Art is a cultural and religious reflection; perhaps the most accessible expression of Muslim civilization. Through the brilliant use of color and the wonderful balance between design and form, Islamic art creates an immediate visual impact on its viewer. This not only invites a closer look but also beckons the viewer to learn more about its origin.

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Today, the beauty and legacy of Islamic art is alive and thriving in such Middle Eastern countries as Turkey, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, India, Egypt and Morocco. Outside of the Middle East, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London has one of the most important and renowned Islamic art collections in the world.

The V&A is currently undergoing renovations, so the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas was granted an extraordinary opportunity to host the collection and present this magnificent Islamic art collection to the American public.

It is providing an important window

to showcase the history of a religion and a culture that is often in the news but still so misunderstood in the West. The exhibition is organized for viewing in five different sections: “The Written Word”, is a section highlighting calligraphy in the Qur’an (Muslims holy scripture and God’s Divine Message). The art of calligraphy was developed in early Islam, and the form has created beautiful styles and designs using Arabic scripture. It is considered the noblest and most distinctive form of Islamic art because of its association with the Qur’an.

The “Courts and Courtiers” section of the exhibition introduces art made for the secular realm of the ruling elite. Islam discourages artists from producing figures and animals in art – as this is attributed to being a divine act, so there is not an abundance of this type of art work.

Featured in the exhibit are works from two royal courts that flourished in the 16th and 17 th centuries, the court of the Ottoman dynasty that ruled in Istanbul, Turkey and the Safavid dynasty in Iran. Due to the differences between the two dynasties, their art developed in very different paths. Safavid art often shows human and animal figures on tiles and textiles.

The “Mosques, Shrines, and Churches” section presents beautifully crafted works created for religious establishments. A very impressive piece of craved work is a

20-foot high pulpit (minbar) made in the 15 th century for a mosque in Cairo. Solid wood was in short supply in Egypt, so this piece was made up of hundreds of carved pieces of wood, brought together much like a jigsaw puzzle with in-laid pieces of ivory throughout the piece.

Jews and Christians, who are respected as “peoples of the book”,under the Ottoman rule were fully integrated into the Islamic society. This is reflected in the exhibit which shows a bible and challis, crafted by Islamic artists. Christians were inspired by the beauty of Islamic art work and commissioned Islamic artists to decorate their churches, reflecting the religious tolerance that has characterized Islamic culture from its beginnings in the 7th century.

Know YourNeighbor “Ottoman patronage” section considers the impact of Islamic rulers on artistic style. In the 15th century, the sultan Mehmet invested in the production of ceramic ware for his court, which paved the way for a new material, fritware, created by Iznik potters in Turkey. Fritware is white ceramic made of finely grounded pebbles and sand that resembles Chinese porcelain. It is considered one of the highest achievements of Islamic art. This decorative Mosque lamp is unique, made especially for The Sulieman Mosque in Turkey; it is the only one that has survived.

Traditionally, the colors used where pale blue and white, from Chinese porcelain, but Iznik potters were innovative and experimenting with new colors, as can be seen by the red colored glaze on the lamp.

The display of “Artistic Exchange” the final section includes works of Islamic, European, and Chinese art. The Middle East was at the center of the vast international trading system, until the 16th century and so Islamic artists influenced and were influenced by international art.

One such influence was Chinese porcelains which arrived in the Middle East in 8th century. In an attempt to reproduce and improve it, Islamic artists developed lusterware, a kind of pottery with an overglaze finish containing copper and silver or other materials that give the effect of iridescence. Chinese porcelain was white and decorated with a pale blue floral pattern (pot on left). This blue and white vase (pot on right) shows the influence of Chinese porcelain on Islamic art. The Iranian potters recreated the white and blue vase, but painted them with a distinct Iranian floral pattern.

This new lusterware pottery was then traded with Europe which influenced European potters to adopt Middle Eastern styles. The intermingling of cultures is reflected in other works as well, such as inlaid metal wares, silk velvets, and ivory and wood carvings.By walking through these sections in the exhibition, observing all the magnificent pieces, I was filled with inexpressible feelings about the Muslim artists’ innovative skills in arts and crafts. These artifacts, invite the West, and all of us, to explore and learn about the Muslim’s glorious past and their acquaintance with the arts and sciences.

Today, the Islamic world remains a vast land stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with an important presence in Europe and America, by using the power of expression through their art Muslim artists again have a role to play, signifying Islamic purpose, values and identity, and show the world that Muslim artists sketch spiritual strength, and spread it, in attempting to follow the beauty of Allah and by evoking the Hadith “God is beautiful and he loves beauty”.

The great treasures of Islamic art of the V&A museum are on display at the Kimbell Art Museum from April 3 to September 4, 2005. Dr. Timothy Potts, director of the museum, comments, “The refurbishing of the V&A’s Islamic galleries has provided a unique opportunity to bring a broad selection of the museum’s most beautiful and important works to the United States. The result is a spectacular panorama of an exotic and still underappreciated civilization that has had long –standing artistic and political relations with Europe and the rest of the world, each culture greatly enriching the other. Individually the works are outstanding masterpieces; together, there could be no better introduction to the sublime beauty and pervasive spirituality of Islamic art.”

For more information: Kimbell Art Museum Online: www.kimbellart.org

Family

Back To School

$hopping Tips

By Annie Ghazi Big Families… not so big spending wallets… where to begin? Shop successfully: Keep this list of shopping tips with you as you rummage through the supply aisle.

GATHER The List: Teachers hand out supply lists before classes begin, via mail or the semester prior to. Go through your children’s closets before you settle for what they want for the school year. Write down necessities first and negotiate on amenities second.

EARLY Morning Rush: Is almost non-existent. For basic supplies and necessities, kids don’t necessarily have to go with you. Purchase these items while people are still at work and stores are still organized.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

ONE For All And All For One: Combine the use of clothes and accessories for kids. Purchase items that children can share, rather than buying duplicate pairs of items that can be alternated.

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MAKE 3 Budgets: One for supplies, one for clothes & accessories, and one for unexpected school shopping during the rest of the year.

Don’t back out on the set limit, no matter what the kids say.

PURCHASE Durable Clothing: Attire that is long-lasting will align very well with the family budget. Don’t save a buck if you know it will be replaced in a month, but don’t spend the extra buck if you’re just getting it for the fad and it’ll fade out in a week.

SHOP After The Season: The best summer sales are before summer ends. Spread out the clothes spending throughout the year. Don’t purchase the entire year’s stock of clothing and shoes right now. End of winter sales have the best prices for winter clothes.

GREEN Means Business: Use cash rather than credit and debit cards. The numbers add up and you’ll lose track of your budget.

Plus, kids will see the money going from your hand or theirs and spend wisely. In the end you won’t owe anyone an extra cent and still have money in the bank for other occasional spending.

Put away actual cash for the yearly spending budget as well to avoid depending on the next paycheck for last minute purchases.

STAY For Hours Not An Entire Day: Spend a few hours shopping rather than leaving at dawn and returning way after dusk.

Exhaustion can lead to excessive spending and worthless products. And you still won’t have everything marked off on your checklist!

FinanceABC

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Summer Business Ideas For Kids

By Christian Erickson, Biz4kids.com

Summertime blues? Thinking of what you should do during the hot months? A summer business is a great idea! If you think the only businesses for kids are baby-sitting and lawn care, think again. Biz4Kids has put together the “Biz4Kids 80 List” of youth business ideas. Some are pretty typical and some are rather unique. Finding a business that will suit your needs and turn a profit is the first step.

What makes a youth business a great business? Obviously, different people will give different answers.

It's impossible to account for everyone's interests and personality traits -- including bad habits -and how they might fit into a particular business. What makes a great business opportunity is much easier to gauge. How much do you get paid? How much fun and interest will the business provide? What kind of skills and tools do you need?

You must also consider what you

As you discover the market need and your level of interest, you’ll also need to determine if any special skills or tools are needed for this business. Create a start-up budget and determine how much money it will cost to get the business started.

Where will you get the money?

Answering these questions is only the first step in starting a business.

Starting with a creative process certainly helps and using the “Biz4Kids 80 List” might help. Don’t be bored this summer…have fun and make money!

When considering a business…

Answer the question: Why do I want to do THIS as a business?

Remember that you must set goals

and reach those goals. Doing something you enjoy will certainly help you in that quest.

Put together a plan on paper.

It can be as detailed or as vague as you wish but the important part is getting this plan on paper. When you write things down, good things happen.

Deter mine how you will make a profit.

Consider the cost to start the business. Then set prices, stick to those prices and collect the money owed to you.

Provide outstanding customer service.

Sounds obvious but too often businesses forget this concept and lose business as a result.

Find a mentor to help you along the way.

This can be tougher than it sounds but finding an older, more experienced person to guide you is very valuable. It can be a parent, a cousin, a Scout Master, anyone but make sure this person understands your goals and reason for starting a business. ......................................................

Biz4Kids.com 80 Business Ideas For Kids on next page.

MELANZ | AUGUST 05

How much you get paid is determined by need. How much do people in your market need what you have to provide? If you are considering selling birdfeeders or cleaning up dog mess, determine the level of “need.” Do people want birdfeeders? How many people keep yard dogs? Conducting market research will help you determine if your business idea will make money in your market and the number of potential customers.

want to do. What will you enjoy do ing? How often will you do it? If answering these questions is tough, consider what you really don’t want to do. Most often the businesses that a youth can start and run center around activities that adults do not want to do, which is why they are willing to pay you. It might be messy such as a washing trashcans or it might be monotonous like painting a fence. Your work is a reflection of who you are and if you are unhappy it will show. Happy business owners are the most successful.

If you think the only businesses for kids are baby-sitting and lawn care, think again.

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MELANZ | AUGUST 05

80 SUMMER

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BUSINESS

1. After-the-Storm Cleanup Service 2. Arts & Craft Sales 3. Auto Detailing - wax and all 4. Be a Mother's Helper 5. Be a Party Clown 6. Bicycle Courier Service 7. Bicycle Repair Service 8. Car Washing 9. Carry Trash cans / Recycling bins to - from curb 10. Clean Patio Furniture 11. Coat Check Service at parties 12. Collect Mail and Paper for people on Vacation 13. Create and Sell Address Labels 14. Create and Sell Personal Stationary 15.Create and Sell Stepping Stones for Yards 16. Create Neighborhood Cook Book with Neighbors’ Favorite Recipes 17. Create Neighborhood Coupon Book 18. Decorate and Sell Coffee Mugs 19. Decorate and Sell Picture Frames 20. Design and Sell Mouse Pads 21. Design, Create & Sell T-Shirts 22. Disc Jockey for a party 23. Document / Junk Mail Paper Shredder 24. Dog Mess Cleanup 25. Entertainment for Kids Parties 26. Face Painting 27. Fence Painting 28. Garage Sales Assistant 29. Genealogy Researcher 30. Grocery Store Shopping Assistant 31. Holiday Decorator Assistant 32. Host a neighborhood kids flea market 33. Housekeeper/Cook for Elderly 34. House-Plant Watering and Care 35. Lawn Care 36. Lemonade Stand Owner / Operator 37. Mailbox Design 38. Maintain Bird Feeders 39. Maintain Cemetery Plots 40. Make and Sell Candles 41. Make and Sell Gift Baskets 42. Make and Sell Gift Wrap 43. Make and Sell Greeting Cards 44. Make and Sell Jewelry 45. Make and Sell Scented Soaps 46. Make Family Calendars 47. Make Stress Relievers 48. Make Yard Signs 49. Mall Shopping Assistant 50. Neighborhood Yard Sale Coordinator 51. Organize Garage 52. Package and Sell Compost / Manure 53. Paint Addresses on Curbs

IDEAS

B Y BIZ4KIDS.COM

54. Paint, Decorate and Sell Indoor Flower Pots 55. Paper Delivery 56. Personal Computer Training 57. Pet Sitting 58. Pet Walking 59. Photographer 60. Pick Up and Delivery Service 61. Picking Up Sticks & Pine Cones 62. Pool Maintenance 63. Provide Dance Lessons 64. Publish a Neighborhood Newsletter 65. Rake Leaves 66. Recharge Batteries 67. Research & Pricing Service - finding the best deal 68. Run Day Camps 69. Selling Bird Houses 70. Selling Things on Ebay 71. Sidewalk and Driveway Sweeping 72. Store Front Cleaning 73. Swimming Lessons 74. Tutoring Service 75. Typist 76. Vending Machine Owner / Operator 77. Video Taping 78. Window Washing 79. Wrapping Gifts 80. Write a Neighborhood Phone Directory

Market Place

To Place your ad here Call (714) 757-0786 or email info@MelanzOnline.com

INDIAN SWEETS & SPICES

SUNSTAR WIRELESS

Visit us for Indian Grocery, Halal Meats, Fresh Vegetables, DVDs, CDs, etc.

18002 15th Ave. NE # D Shoreline, WA 98155 Tel: (206) 367-4568

Dish Installations. CD & DVD Sales & Rentals.

Cell Phones & Accessories. Calling Cards SATISFACTION GUARANTEED 23811 104th Ave SE Kent, WA 98031

Ph: (253) 852-5139 CUTIE CARE IN CORONA

HELP WANTED

Now there is an in-home daycare that is safe and comfortable for your little one. Call us now and ask for Syeda Ghazi.

Looking for energetic and aggressive Advertising Sales People in California, Texas, and Washington States. Previous outside sales experience is a must. Email relevant resume to info@MelanzOnline.com for consideration.

951-898-1036

Bharat Groceries Foods Video, Phone Cards, & Catering

Contact Bharma Vemireddy 14340 NE 20th Street Bellevue, WA 98007 Phone: 425-746-0857 E: contact@bharatgroceries.com www.BharatGroceries.com

BOLLYWOOD VIDEOS & GROCERIES

Groceries, Movies, DVDs, CDs, Frozen foods, Dariy products, Phone cards, Sweets 14818 International Blvd. Tukwila, WA Phone: (206) 242-7028

APNA BAZAR Indian Groceries, Vegetables, & Movies 2245 148th Ave. NE Bellevue, WA 98007 Phone: (425) 664-6887 www.apnabazarusa.com

K.K. MARKET Z Z Z Z Z

Groceries & Sweets Video & Audio Tapes Sales & Rentals DECAM / PAL NTSC Conversion DJ / VJ Services For your Weddings & Parties Many Other Services To Come

23805 104th Ave. SE. Kent, WA 98031 Tel: 253-854-5236

N.W. HALAL & AFGHAN BAKERY Woner Sayed Arif (206) 431-0941 15047 Military Rd. S. Seatac, WA 98188

Naan-N-Curry 709 South 3rd St. Renton, WA 98055 Tel: (425) 271-6226 Fax:(425) 793-7223 Online: www.naan-n-curry.biz We serve only Halal food fresh when you order