Alharid Festival 
By Muath Ageeli 

Do you know what happens in April on Farasan Island?

In April, the largest festival in this Island is Alharid
(AL-HARR-EED) festival, the most important festival to occur in the area. This festival is consecutive to 3 days where people do fishing and commemoration throughout these days.


Farasan Island is considered one of the remote regions in Saudi Arabia. It's located in the south-west of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea near to Yemen.

People catch fish in a particular area, the Alhasees (AL-HA-SEES) beach, which is located in the north-west of Farasan Island. Alharid is considered one of the kind of migrant fish which comes to this island to reproduce then people will do fishing. 

To catch this type of fish, people should run from the beach in the middle of the sea to fishing with a specific type of trawl. The average catch is 30 fish.

 At the end of the day, people enjoy a great event and eat this fish by cooking in the oven with a lot of spices.

In addition, they wear a certain type of clothing to express their happiness. People perform many kinds of the most famous dance in this Island, which called Danah (DA-NA-H).

Alharid Festival is the most beautiful of festivals which occur in the region. So, if you are planning to go to Farasan Island in the future, you should go there in April because you will enjoy the festival and the perfect weather. 

Spanish American Soldier Statue
By Afnan Alsharif 

The University of Idaho campus is a historically rich place of statue, landmarks, and traditions. The Spanish War memorial statue is one of these historical statues on campus.

In 1907, the Spanish American soldier statue was built to remember the Spanish American War, a military conflict between Spain and the United States from April to August of 1898.

However, many people can't see the statue due to many trees a rounding it. When asking students and a facially member at University of Idaho about this statue if they know, and what they think about it, they were shocking and thinking  to remember if there is statue by this name and where it is.

Many UI students didn't know about the Spanish American soldier statue and its history, or why and when the statue was built. But according to Rachel, an art student, the University should teach students about the historical events or landmarks to learn about American history. She also mentioned that some American people didn't have background about their history she doesn't know how the people live without know their history.

Some people think that there are many places around Idaho campus to transfer the statue in a spotlight area, and most of them agree the statue should be front of the library. One student, who didn't want to give his name, asked, "But who will listen to what we say?"

In the end, most students reclaim from the University of Idaho would like the statue moved because it is part of their history.   

The American Powwow: An Amazing Celebration 
By Khaled AL-Omari

What do you know about powwows?

Powwows are celebrations reflect Native American culture. Native Americans celebrate annually in Moscow, Idaho, at the Kibbie Dome. Powwow this year was in April 4th and 5th.

Participants celebrate showing their traditions through dancing, arts, and craft vendors with Native American students, non-native students, and the community. The powwow event sells handicrafts such as clothes, jewelry, and animal statues. Their clothes are made by animals' leather and plumage. Also they sell a kind of tree incense.

The attendants enjoyed with diverse dancing. According to Atsadi, one of the Native Americans, "The dancers stop dancing when the drummers stop drumming."

A powwow is a great celebration which reflects the Native American culture. If you missed attending the powwow this year, you should attend next year. It is good to spend time to get to know new culture.

The Best Restaurant on Campus
By Muath Ageeli

What is your favorite restaurant on campus? Many students prefer to eat on campus because Bob's and Denny's are the best restaurants on campus, many students prefer to eat there.  

Some of the students prefer certain types of foods available, such as healthy and junk food. Furthermore, Bob's considered one of the kind of open buffet, which makes students eat until, full at a very nominal price for a meal to all students who lives on/off the campus. As for students who live on campus, they should have to pay for all meals are available to them by the university. These student fees should pay to the university for two meals, which around $250 per month. 

However, Denny's considered one of the best restaurants on campus, fast food. Additionally, students have to pay for every meal they want to eat. Knowing that, there are variations in the prices contained in the menu. 

Predominantly,  most students prefer Denny's rather than Bob's. According to Al-Shammari, who is one of the students in American Language & Culture Program (ALCP), when he lived on campus, he had trouble eating at Bob's because of being unable to find a place to sit. Also, in Bob's, they prepare food in advance.

Therefore, he preferred going to Denny's to eat because they provide adequate space; also, prepare food for you at the same time that request.


In sum, there are many restaurants in Moscow, but most students students prefer to stay and eat on campus. 

Foreign Students' Culture Shock
By Mohsen Jabali

Photo by Mohsen Jabali

On Tuesday, foreign students attended a lecture about culture shock in the Living Learning Community, provided by American Language and Culture Program's director, Katie Schiffelbein.

At the University of Idaho, foreign students arrived from different destinations around the world, and they suffer from culture shock in Moscow for the first time.

Many students feel a big shock while some do not. Due to travel around the world, some students adapted to an American lifestyle after their first week. On the other hand, several students saw the big gap between their own cultures and American culture; however, the biggest issue always facing new students is the English language acquisition.

Schiffelbein says, "I know that new students may not feel confident in terms of language, how to fit in with citizens, and how to deal with issues that students first time face. "At the same time, Joon Ho Ji, a Korean student, has been in the United States two weeks and two days. He says, "I enjoy the culture in Moscow; however, I have a few problems about English vocabulary because if I want to buy something I would find that, but I did not know the words, so I should explain about what I want many times in other words."

At the end of the lecture, Shiao-wei Chu, an ALCP instructor says, "I have been here for five years and every day I face something new, which means every experience represents a culture shock." Students excited about experience that shared in the lecture and they gained new information that will help them in future.

New foreign students are able to deal with cultural and personal problems if they attend the culture shock lecture as soon as they arrive to the University of Idaho.

People Fast for a Month
By Saleh karhan, Abdualrazag Arhuma & Salman Alharbi 

Muslims temporary stop eating and drink from daybreak until sunset every day for a month, called Ramadan (/ˌræməˈdɑːn/;). Ramadan is a ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is the noon month calendar. Ramadan happens every year, and all Muslims around the world have to fast at the same time no matter where they live according to the Muslim's religion.

The purpose of fasting Ramadan is to remind Muslims other people who do not have food. Fasting is the third pillars of the five pillars of Islam. Five foundations have been believed by Muslims. According to the Muslims' religion, the first pillar of the five is shahadah, which declaring there is no god except God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger. The second pillar is Salat (ṣalāh), which is a ritual prayer five times a day. The fourth pillar is Zakat (Zakāt), which people give 2.5% of one's savings to the poor and needy. The fifth is Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if one is able. 

Muslims actually have two main meals each day in Ramadan. One of the meals is called "Suhoor." Muslims prepare themselves to fast a day by eating and drink before dawn. 

The second meal is called "Iftar." Muslims eat date and drink water after sunset, in Ifter.  Then they eat soup and other kinds of food because people are different in their societies and their cultures. During in this meal, the majority of Muslims invites people to eat together, so people can see a great table of food with many different kinds of food

During Ramadan, Muslims increase their reading of the Holy Quran, and their praying. Also, they visit their families, and their friends. 

Ramadan is considered a healthy month because Muslims eat little food. You should try to fast to see how poor people live, and to make your body healthy. 

India Night
By Salman Alharbi 

Have you been ever attended India Night? 

On April 19, 2015, was India Night at University of Idaho. In the Ballroom in Bruce M. Pitman Center, People from India, who is called Indian students' Association Presents, celebrated India Night from 5 - 8 P.m. Indians invited many people to give information about India culture that day. India has an old history such, Egypt and China. Most students from University of Idaho were impressed by students wearing Indian clothes.

To begin the Indian student's Association Presents. They announced to all students at the University of Idaho about that India Night. Indians created a beautiful ticket design to attract the audiences. The Taj Mahal, which is a famous building in India, and few people who dance by India style.

Also, it was written in their tickets information about the event, and the price of tickets. Moreover, they covered tables and chairs by using similar colors that were in their country's flag. Furthermore, they brought some items that their community use in their country, such clothes, their country's flag and food.

Furthermore, the events had seven types of dance. The events were started and ended with dancing. Two of the dances were amazing, which are the Star Kid Performance and the Snake Dance. Also, they had fashion show.

Finally, the India Night includes many kinds of India food that reflects about their culture. According to Mubarak a student at University of Idaho who attended the event, said that he has been in the United States for three years. He comes to the most of the events that India made it because he said "I like India food."

If any India Night is near you, you should attend to open you mind to another cultural and an amazing country. It is amazing that people can see other cultures in counties they lived.

Majed Alrashidi

Majed Alrashidi is from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Now he is studying at the American Language and Culture Program in Moscow, Idaho, and this is his first international travel. He is a graduate student, with a Bachelor degree from Saudi Arabia. He wants to complete a Master degree. He is major is Teaching English as a Second Language. He really enjoys this experience, and hopes to improve his English language. He was a soccer player in Saudi Arabia and he likes playing soccer with his Arabic friends in U. S. He prefers spending his free time working out at the gym.

Muath Ageeli 

Muath Ageeli is from Farasan Island, Saudi Arabia. He is currently a student in the American Language & Culture Program (ALCP) at the University of Idaho. He will matriculate to the University of Idaho to get Bachelor science in Chemistry science. Farasan Island is a small place like Moscow, which helps people who live there to communicate with each other as fast as they want. Muath likes living in Moscow, Idaho, because he loves to stay in a small place and enjoys the cold weather. Muath has a big family in Saudi Arabia. He likes to stay in touch with his family and play games with his friends. In addition, Muath likes to play soccer, volleyball, table tennis and go swimming.  

Saleh Karhan

Saleh Karhan is from Najran, Saudi Arabia. He is a student in the American Language Culture Program and his goal is to go to University of Idaho and study civil engineering. He decided to get this major because he loves engineering and most companies in Saudi Arabia prefer civil engineering. He is studying in the U.S.A because he wants to get more experience and learn a new culture. In his free time, he likes playing video games, listening to music, and watching soccer.  

Shengan Gu

Shengan Gu is from China, Shanghai. Currently, he is studying English at American Language and Culture Program (ALCP) as his second language. After graduation, he will go to the University of Idaho for his bachelor degree in Accounting. He chose this college because China has a cooperative relationship with University of Idaho. He loves sports and arts. And he is keen on basketball, rolling blading, hiking, and singing.

Zakaria Alghamdi

Zakaria Alghamdi --as his teachers and friends call him, Zak-- is from Alkhobar in eastern province of Saudi Arabia. He came to the United States in January 2015 looking for education in English as an undergraduate. Currently he is an American Language and Culture Program student who wants to study at the University of Idaho Mechanical Engineering. His dream is to be a CEO of a big oil company. He likes playing soccer, and joined Youth World Cup (2012) in Gothia, Sweden. He also likes to cook Arabic food with his friends.

Abdualrazag Arhuma

Abdualrazag Arhuma is from Tarhuna, Libya. He is a student studying at the American Language and culture Program in the University of Idaho. He has a bachelor in Accounting. He came to the United States of America to learn English as a second language, and to get his Masters in Accounting. He would like to be an accountant in the AL Waha Company of petroleum, or an accountancy teacher in any university in his country. In addition, he prefers to study at American universities more than his country's universities, because it have better education. He wrote an article about the barley harvest in his country last year. His hobbies are hunting, traveling, and camping with his friends.