From: Shadi (ccie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Sun Mar 31 2002 - 13:39:47 GMT-3
I MADE IT, I MADE IT, I HAVE JUST PASSED THE CCIE FROM THE FIRST ATTEMPT IN
JOHANNESBURG.
If I told you my story, you will not believe it, my exam was last Thursday in
Johannesburg, and distance between my home and Johannesburg is about 2 days
flight.
I have finished the lab just on time, I didn't have time at all to check
anything back.
I was staying in Palazzo beside the MonteCasino. it was a very nice hotel.
Believe it or not, I didn't want to check my email at all that night, I said
to myself, you still have that tiny hope that you have passed, so leave it in
your heart and don't kill it. but I started to convince myself that I have
failed my exam and started to plan for the trip to Brussels in SEP.
Next was my flight to Dubai, Dubai was my transit to my home country, it was
at 7:00pm, I tried many times to check my email in the Hotel Business Center,
but the Business Center was closed because of Holidays, and when they opened
it for me, I could not find an empty PC to check my email, to tell you the
truth I didn't want to see my email at all, each time I see the PCs full, I
become happy ;-)
Then I said you have a long flight to Dubai , about 8 hours, so why to spoil
your flight, make that hope in you, and went to Dubai.
Again the same thing, I didn't want to check my email at all, because I will
stay in transit in Dubai for about 8 hours, and I was upset because I didn't
find a room in the airport hotel, they are all full, so I slept on a chair, so
I was upset, and I didn't want to add more on me.
In the morning, I said I will check in the airport business center at 11:00am,
before my flight for about 2 hours, because if I passed I will buy for my
family a huge punch of chocolates, and to my young brother a full option
digital Camera.
I went to the Airport business center, I sit, and opened my hotmail; I saw 34
new emails, then I opened my inbox, but before that, I put my right hand on
the subject field on the emails, and I saw that I got an email from Cisco. I
closed my eyes, and removed my right hand just a little bit, I saw
C........O......N......G.
I removed my hand, I started SHOUTING, all the airport was looking at me, I
was shouting "Yes, Yes, I did it I did it" the security guards came to me, I
told them this is the happiest day in my life. even I forgot my email open I
left my desk and I was dancing in the airport hallway. All was staring at me.
but I didn't care at all, I was so tired for about 2 days not sleeping at all
because of the long tiring flights.
I know it's long to say that, but imagine that you have convinced your self
that you have failed, and you actually you didn't. I had a strong feeling that
I did great, but because I didn't check anything at all, I convinced myself
with failure. Because I hate bad surprises.
I would like to gift this HUGE success to my parents who am sure without their
prayers, I could not make it,
And I would like to thank some guys who really helped me alot during my
studies:
Thank you Marc Russell and Brad Ellis, your CCIE Bootcamps were great, Thank
you Derek Small for your very nice Fatkid site. And to my first friend in this
track John Mcgauy.
And the best guy who helped me a lot and supported me, the real CCIE Jeff
Kesmeyer from Bradshaw labs, I read his CCIE notes all over my flight to
Johannesburg, all the passengers were sleeping and I was the only guy who was
lighting up his lamp and reading all the whole night flight to Johannsberg.
I love you Jeff, you are great a man. You helped me a lot, and your site is
really great.
Thanks for people who responded to my questions on this group study, you
helped me a lot guys, you were great. Thank you all. And I will do what you
did to me with others, as I will help others the much I can.
Johannesburg is a very nice city, I wish If I could check my email before I
leave it, if so, I would go to Safari tour and camp in the jungle ;-)
Am feeling great, because I did it the first time, and in Johannesburg / South
Africa too. And it adds a lot value to your CCIE achievement to have it in
Johannesburg in the oneday lab ;-)
Shadi
CCIE# 9047
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