It seems there's no time to post between school and my son. I barely even get to see my husband anymore now that we've both got completely different schedules. (except for our awful 'masculine' literature class...shudder)
I really don't have it that bad. I've got Tuesdays and Thursdays off from now until October. Okay, so it's not that long, but still, I'll take what I can get, of course!
I was in the process of typing a post about hijab, and now I want to type about nostalgia, and I also had something in the works about Alzheimers.
Oh, and I wanted to fill you all in on my Arabic class.
BUT...it's 2 in the morning. My son's been in bed for hours and I should've gone then, as well.
Insha'Allah I'll find time sometime...but I still really want to finish the Qur'an over Ramadan and I'm not doing very good. :/
Too too busy.
So, all I'll type...It's Labor Day Weekend! No school again until Wednesday. My town is hosting a festival. This festival celebrates the town's Italian heritage and immigrants in general. The street is lined with Italian flags and 30 different flags are all flying in immigrant square next to the coal fountain and drinking fountain brought from Italy. We have it every year on Labor Day weekend. It's a big deal to me (I am Italian, second generation Italian-American), and my husband doesn't understand it (and if there was a KSA festival he wouldn't go?). Tonight was the parade and he did not attend with me. I, therefore, hung out with my parents since my friends are all 21+ and spending the weekend drinking (Italians are known for their wine). After the parade we went down to the festival grounds. I saw a couple friends that I kind of lost contact with after my son was born. Some, the contact was lost partially (or fully) on purpose. But it was nice to be civil, exchange pleasantries, give short 'where I am in life' updates, and move on. The highlight of my night came in the form of three Japanese girls. If you knew my town, you'd realize how strange a sight this is. My town is white through and through...African American's are rarities and are all assumed to be 'half.' Sounds awful, but it's the truth. (and we wonder why my husband's wanting to move elsewhere)
Anyway, while ordering a Pepsi I stumbled upon a friend of my brother's and his girlfriend. The girlfriend, who was a freshman in highschool when I was a senior, said, "How do you like your Arabic class?" I say, "It's really fun...wait, how do you know I'm taking Arabic?" She explains that she's a friend of my teacher's (Layla, who I found out is from Bahrain). She then introduces me to her Japanese roomate and two other Japanese study abroad students that are at our university for the year. They oo'd and aah'd over my son and gave him the title of 'cutest baby in the world.' They were soooo sweet and interesting to talk to. Of course, my love for all things cultural is why I'm minoring in ESL. I get along with foreigners better than I get along with Americans half the time. They were just so genuine and honestly wanted to talk to me as opposed to the obligation felt by my peers mentioned in the above paragraph.
It was just nice. I wish I would have gotten their phone numbers, or e-mail addresses, or at least the number of the girl that went to my high school and is friends with my Arabic teacher. I am in the market for friends, as you know, and this was the best opportunity thus far. But...I missed it.
I'd like Muslim friends. But I don't wear hijab and when I see hijabis on campus and try to smile they generally just ignore me. I also have a fear that even if we were to become friends, that once they found out I was Shia that they would start thinking bad things about me. There's a Muslim American in my Arabic class that also doesn't wear hijab. She was raised Muslim by African American parents. I think I want to talk to her. Share my religious journey with someone in person. You all are great, but nobody in my real life (aside from my husband and his family in KSA) knows....it's a lonely journey.
I remember now...I also want to write a post about gossip.
ALSO, offensive float in the parade...only it was probably only offensive to me. A lot of churches participate in the parade, therefore I saw a number of 'Jesus Saves' floats, each one making me feel more guilty than the last for 'forsaking' Jesus. I was feeling guilty until a float came by with a teen in a white strapless prom dress next to a teen in a tux. Behind them, a man dressed like Jesus with his arms crossed over his chest in a 'I'm just that good' kind of way. In between them, a fountain spray of purple liquid. Motto "Jesus's first miracle, turning water into wine." It's an Italian festival, and there is an emphasis on wine, (hence, the museo del vino...i.e. wine museum...and the wine garden, where all my friends probably were, and the stomping of grapes...which is fun, squishy, and disgusting all at the same time) SO, I think they were playing off of the Italy/wine thing...BUT, degrading Jesus into simply the guy who provides the open bar at the wedding really ticked me off. Not only was there a fount of 'wine' on the float, but there was like, club music playing in the background. It just totally gave off the 'Life with Jesus is one big party' vibe to me. Ugh. Sometimes I still worry if I made the right choice religiously, but one thing I'm sure of, is that the respect and modesty in Islam far surpasses that of modern, mainstream Christianity, and I really really like that. Insha'Allah I will grow in my faith everyday and have more and more eye-opening moments.
Now it's 2:45. Bedtime.
Ma'alsalamah Ladies
5 comments:
Salam
A friend of mine was starting to study at a university in the UK. The musslim youthgroup there set up a meeting where they were talking about how unjust everybody was against islam and muslims, how the muslims were disgriminated and that muslims should be respected and so forth..so my friend a shia girl asked in the meeting i am a shiamuslim, i hope thats ok? She was kicked out of the meeting :P...
So yeah you as convert, you as white american have probably a disadvantage when it comes to meeting "born muslims" and then telling them your shia will probably be even worse but maybe you will wind someone who isnt hateful towards shias and maybe you even find some shias...
Its like meeting people in your class, not everybody you meet is or will be a friend.
I myself start to write about a thing and save it, now i have 122 unpublished articles that is about stuff that i wanted to write about :P
Salaamu Alaikum,
I can't imagine not knowing what faith i want to be- it would eat me up inside. I never went through that whole 'what religion' phase. I'm not sure why, probably because i was so young and so open and Islam is very much like Christianity.
This took me a while to realize though, and i'm surprised at how many muslims do not know this...but just encase i'll tell you. The bible is a holy book. But of course since it has been written people have corrupted it (very openly too, but none of the people who corrupted it will admit it). So if it makes you feel good you can read it. But just know that you can't really follow it because of the corruptions. The Prophet Mohammed (sws) followed the people of the book in matters where he was not told what to do (By Allah).
You probably just skipped all of that lol because you knew it, but i was just making sure.
I downloaded rosetta stone [arabic] and wow it works SO well!!!! (um, go on youtube to find out how to get it for free :P )
I enjoyed reading about the festival and parade and your meeting some foreign students. I also find it so wonderful to meet nonAmericans. Really exciting! :)
I'm with you on not caring much for that wine float that you mentioned and what you said about mainstream Christianity these days. It's really shameful.
Take care.
That float sounds horrible! Ick.
Being discriminated against for being Shia is horrible too. But, you know, I think it's about 50/50 in terms of who accepts us and who doesn't... at least that seems to be what happens in my town. The only thing I would say (that you already know) is brush up on your knowledge a bit so you can answer all the questions that will come!
It doesn't matter if you are Shia or Sunni. The concern over being a Shia or Sunni is real, but should have no valid point in Islam. When I converted, I went to my Muslim friend from Kuwait, asked her about this -- she said it did not matter. That we are all just Muslim. Just go up to them, say Hi! You don't become friends with someone over night. If they are Muslim women from different countries -- they may be embarrased by their English skills. You have a minor in ESL...maybe teach English classes at your local misjid. Or get involved with a program at your school to voleenteer with ESL things.
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