Happy Friday!

When I'm studying, I'm in the zone and do not like being disturbed. Not even for a moment. That's how I've been since I started med school and that's how it's going to be until I take my next exam. Le sigh. Study-wise, I guess that's a good thing, because I tend to stay on track. But it's also a  horrible thing because so much stress comes along with it if I don't stick to my schedule.

Things on my to-do list when I finally have enough time to do it

1. Burn my books - I'm kidding. Knowledge is very valuable to me and feel like I'm dissing intelligence by doing so. I would never ever do that. But I am looking forward to putting them away, out of sight, as well as removing the desk from the bedroom.

2. Work out. I was running but stopped. I am totally going to join a gym and repair my body from months and months of sitting around for hours at a time.

3. Cook! I love cooking and want to try out fancy stuff that takes time and patience. I don't know if I'll be able to follow through with this one, but I'll definitely try.

4. Read. I have not read a novel for fun in about a year and a half. It's time. There are so many books I have in mind.

5. $hopping! This I'll do after the gym and after I lose 5 pounds. There are some things on my wish list, but I think I'll hold off until I drop a few pounds. This'll be motivation to get to work!

6. Garden. I was hoping to get some gardening in this summer, but that proved to be a fail. Hopefully this coming spring/summer of 2013

7. Pinterest. I take breaks and go on pinterest, saving recipes, DIY projects and other things. I want to actually do some of those and even post them up here!

8. Go places with my husband. When he's lucky and gets two days in a row off, we naturally want to go and take a day or two trip somewhere, but can't because I am not off. We have a list of a few places in the States we'd like to visit and hopefully we can do that one day. Lucky for me, he also has his boards coming up so I won't feel as bad because he has to study, too!

9. Give my closet a makeover. I am super excited to do this. We have a walk in closet, but it definitely can be changed to make the most of the space.

10. Redo the bathroom. Paint, retile, and change the mirror, lighting and countertop. I might as well change everything. :) It's not so bad, but I want to do something drastic to something. haha.

I think my brain is ready to get back to my books. Peace :)

Is anyone there?

Some of us are starting new jobs, studying for boards and exams, taking care of families. I can't even keep up with the Kardashians. When I have free time all I want to do is lie around. Or turn my brain completely off, which is exactly what I do. I sign in to Netflix and I don't know what happens after that. I don't need alcohol to get a hangover.

When I do have that I should really write a blog post moment and sign in and type up a new post...nothing. Nothing come to mind. Nothing exciting, witty or clever to entertain you or ourselves with.

I'm pretty sure be boring was not one of the things on my list of things to look forward to as I aged.

Well I guess this is what happens when you're an unemployed college graduate studying for her boards. If I had a job I could at least tell you work stories, or random things I observe through out the day. You do NOT want to know what I see and hear at Barnes & Nobles. That's a little TMI for the blog. {but not for Twitter!}

I guess I'll try to pop in every once in a while. And if anyone is reading this, please let us know in the comments what you'd like to see on the blog, and if I come back {which I honestly have every intention of doing so} I'll make it happen. I'm sure more posts is one of them. El Oh El. Until next time.

Peace
Falling Up

Learn to Learn

My sister and I were having a conversation one day about school. She had told one of her teachers that she wanted to go into education so she could become a high school or middle school teacher. Her chemistry teacher told her that she shouldn't go into education because the job market is not good for teachers.

Sure, sounds like reasonable enough advice right? But what is this chemistry teacher's premise? It is that we get an education in order to solidify a job.

What about getting an education to be an educated person??

I had some friends over and we were talking about how college really just made us become learners for the sake of getting good grades and completing our credits. I barely ever studied in undergrad. I just did the minimum required in order for me to get my A and forget about the class after the semester was done. But now that I'm in grad school I have subjects that are specialized in what I actually care about learning and understanding. Like this one linguistics course I'm taking, for instance. The professor wrote a bunch of articles and books that I read before coming to the course so I was really exciting to study under her. The way she runs things is that we read each week, discuss material, and write a few papers. There are no exams. Honestly I love this way of learning but I'm engaged, keeping up with all the readings, and actually understanding and applying what we're discussing in my work. I'm not worrying about what I need to remember to do well on an exam.

So that is it. I am going to go back to school...but this time around just to be a well-educated and well-read individual. No registrations, no fees, no deadlines, and no exams. Just pure learning for the sake of learning. I started with www.khanacademy.org which is an AWESOME tool for everyone. Right now I'm watching the videos on Organic Chemistry.

I used to be pre-med before I switched over to the social sciences. Don't get me wrong, I love the social sciences and I definitely love my job and what I'm pursuing right now. But I remember that I used to looovee my math and science courses and I really miss them! So far the first few videos of Orgo have been challenging but interesting and engaging.

What have you always wanted to learn?

Blobby Bobby

I logged on to blogger today to find everything changed. I like new things so I guess I'm not complaining. I just find it odd to be writing up a post in an unfamiliar setting. Ah well.

Anyways, I'm visiting my family for a few days. Every time I'm home I go into ultimate lazy mode. I am a complete blob and don't want to move or do anything. I just lie there like a wounded tiger. {I am a tiger according to the Chinese horoscope.}

I sleep in my brother and Sister-in-laws room since they don't live here; and my sister took my room after I got married and moved out. When I came I dropped all my junk right at the entrance of my brother's room and left it there. It hasn't moved since. And nothing can make me move it. Not even the number of complaints from my family members saying they've almost died tripping over my stuff.

I become a lethargic sloth at home. Not that I'm all busy at home with my husband. All I do there is sit at my desk and study all day. But man, am I neat. I'm Danny Tanner {the dad from Full House}. I study at a desk in my room and I can't study if my surroundings are messy. I can't focus at all. My mind will be on the messy bed, or the clothes lying around, or my makeup all over the dresser. I don't even wear makeup on a daily basis but it manages to take over my dresser every now and then.

Anyways, I am home and I am lazy. It feels good to be home. But why must I turn into a blob? I feel like a fatty cake. Anyways, this might be the most useless post I've ever written. But right now I feel pretty useless. Maybe I'll go clean something. yay.

On Top of Things. For five minutes

I forgot that I don't live with my mom anymore.
Which means that I need to know where important things are.
Like my Debit card. And bank statements.
And Reciepts and warranties of the washing machine and two laptops we just bought.
I thought I lost them.

So bought a file with dividers in them. One file. For many small, important things
It's green and from Walmart {my new favorite store and third home}.

But I forgot I don't live with my mom and didn't organize anything for a month.
For a month the empty file sat on the nightstand and stared at me.
It would have kept staring had Mr. FallingUp not shoved it into the drawer.

Then I realized my mom doesn't live with me.
And I cleaned out the drawers and gathered all the receipts and cards {gift cards too} and labelled everything. Now my file is full and happy. The end.

This was the proud moment of my day. My highlight. This is my life. My housewife life until I take my boards.
The end.

 One time my room was so messy the cleaning lady refused to clean it. 

My mother did not find it amusing.

My grandmother

I used to think my grandmother didn't love me. She liked my cousins more and I could tell she liked my little sister, who didn't talk much. My grandmother is a tough-lover. She doesn't show affection easily. Her way of "loving us" is feeding us. She wouldn't nag and say, "Oh please eat," rather she'd say, "The food is good (because she cooked it)," to entice us.

When I was in high school I yelled at her once. I still regret that til this day. This particular incident was an argument between my parents. She listened, but as usual, didn't butt-in. I on the other hand expected her to say something and say what was right. If that day she was planning on doing it, I didn't give her the chance. Rather I said some mean things. I was frustrated. She never brought it up again. I didn't think she cared.

About two years ago I discovered an album at my parent's house. It had pictures of all my grandmother's grandchildren, including my 6th grade school picture. She carried the album in her bag. I was shocked! She did love me after all.

Last year my grandmother decided to go to Bangladesh all of a sudden. She loves her country. The whole family tried to talk her out of it. She wouldn't listen. That's how she is; she does what she puts her mind to. Our family gathered like a magnet at my youngest uncle's house, with whom she lives. As the luggage were being weighed, and my grandmother napped we made jokes about her.

All of us talked late into the night. We shared giggles, and watched each other nearly doze off. We wondered if she wanted us all to go to the airport the next morning. My cousin and I tip-toed into her room to ask her. With my grandmother you never know what would please or displease her. "You ask her...no you ask her," we said back and forth. We were scared.

The next morning we exchanged looks. "What are you guys standing around for. Get in the car," my grandmother said. "I guess we are going," I said to my cousin.Things had changed for both of us. We were both in our second year of marriage (at the time) and it had been ages since the family stayed over and spent time together.

Everyone was thinking: what if this is the last time we'd see my grandmother. At the airport we took family pictures (my grandmother doesn't always take pics). My cousin and I escorted my grandmother to the bathroom. I held her arm. "Oh don't do that," grandmother said. "Why not? What will happen if I hold you?" I asked. "It doesn't feel comfortable," she said casually. I let out a loud laugh. Just a thing she would say.

We gently put her in a wheelchair, hugged her and bid her goodbye. And everyone went back to normal again.

Dear Diary

Not a word on the streets about the girl who went missing
The girl who dried her eyes for the sake of affection
She felt warmth tender and real
But then somehow she got real caught up

There she was frail and fragile waiting for someone to lift her up.
She turned to family who turned her away.
She turned to friends who helped pave her way.
And later became a part of a group she never thought to be.

Once that girl used to dream big but think small.
She used to climb the sky but barely walk a step too far.
That girl she lost her reason to smile.
As people had often said she was one of a kind.

They lied.
They didn't know what was bottled up inside.
They didn't know what she did dare to hide.
They didn't care to know the real her.

Suddenly she found herself.
She found a voice to speak.
A place to walk and roam freely.
Her faith flourished and her education was nourished.

She grew up.
She got married.
She had a baby.
She left all her dreams and came into reality.

Sitting in a room typing, rather than writing
"Dear Diary"...
She lifted up her fingers and typed:
"This is my story."

Soaking Up Tears

Last Friday was such a blessed night. Habib Umar bin Hafeedh, a descendent of the Prophet Muhammed, may the peace of God and blessings be upon him, a profound contemporary scholar, and an overwhelmingly wise man visited our city all the way from Yemen. I had been following him along these past two days over his 5-6 events planned in the area.

The Prophet Muhammed once said, "Seek nearness to the scholars who remind you God." And honestly this man just kept doing that. He would tell stories of people around the Prophet or He would remind us of a verse from the Qur'an and with his sincerity of sharing these simple yet profound teachings, he kept bringing tears to my eyes, especially Friday night.

After the event Chuckles jokingly said to CC, "Did you crryyy??" and CC responded defensively, "Uhh no!" (Sorry to call you girls out!) But really this conversation really got me reflecting. Why are we so embarrassed of crying in front of others?

Perhaps we don't like to feel vulnerable in front of others and we perceive tears to be a sign of weakness.
Perhaps we believe that crying is only for the weak; the strong ones know how to keep it together.
Or perhaps we seeing our flowing tears as an intimate experience, not wanting to share the moment with others.

Whatever the case, I too felt this same embarrassment as tears were streaming down my face during Habib's talk, thinking should I take out a tissue or will that attract too much attention to the tears? Then I finally just thought, forget it! I'm here; I'm being affected; I'm crying and its okay.

And it was this morning after the morning prayer as I was sitting and reflecting I came upon the question: Why did God create tears?

Maybe its to remind us of God and His control over all things. Because really, when you're crying you can't control it...the tears sort of just come as they please when they please.

And maybe its just to remind us of our humanity. Tears make a person real. Everyone tries hard to stay composed, to not break down in front of others, and to stay strong. But there's just something about seeing a person with tears streaming down their face that just makes them seem so much more real.

Sometimes I think you don't truly know a person unless you've seen them cry; seen them in their moment of weakness, a moment in which they're not trying to cloak their emotion. With that said, I suppose there's very few people I truly know then.

Prayer for Japan

Friday's 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami devastated Japan's north-east coast, with more than 3,000 confirmed dead and thousands missing. (BBC)

A fire and explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi plant led to temporary radiation spike (CNN)

The radiation fears added to the catastrophe that has been unfolding in Japan, where at least 10,000 people are believed to have been killed and millions of people have spent four nights with little food, water or heating in near-freezing temperatures as they dealt with the loss of homes and loved ones. (Huffington Post)

 The National Police Agency said Tuesday afternoon that, so far, 2,722 people were confirmed to have died in the earthquake and tsunami, and many thousands remained missing. Bodies continued to wash ashore after having been pulled out to sea by the tsunami’s retreat. (NY Times)

Please take some time out to make a prayer for Japan. May God make it easier for them and protect them all! 

Over the (mole) Hill.

I haven’t been blogging lately because I have nothing to blog about. I do have quite a few posts in mind, but lately I’ve been lazy.

Too lazy to type. Too lazy to think. Good thing my body breathes for me or else I might have been too lazy to do that. Isn’t it sad that I’m too lazy to type? I mean, could I get any lazier? I guess I could get those things that type for you. I forgot what they’re called. But you speak into a microphone and the computer does all the typing. My dad got that yearrrrrs ago. But he got frustrated with it since it didn’t work too well. Maybe it was the accent? hah.  But his isn’t so bad.

So I am over the hill (25) and I feel kind of old, physically. My joints are giving way. I can’t work out anymore. Doing the work out video is killing my knees and my ankle joints so I’m sticking to running every other day. I’ve always had ish with my knees. Growing pains, they said. Haha. Is there such thing??

You know what I did? I did something dumb. I made a promise to God if I passed my exam I would fast for a month. Then I passed. And I was happy. And then I was like, “o crap”. So while the days are shorter I’m trying to do as many as I can. A month is a lot. I should be used to fasting since Muslims fast in Ramadan anyways, but it’s a whole different experience. I feel like God has mercy on us or something because the time FLIES by and I don’t realize I’m fasting.

I went through a vanity crisis, which could have been associated with my quarter-life crisis. Months before my birthday I realized I was turning a QUARTER OF A CENTURY old. I got sad. Then I noticed I had dark circles under my eyes. I didn’t want to use chemical junk on my skin nor did I want to conceal the circles, since I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis. I wanted them gone. I was getting sufficient sleep so I had no idea why they were there. So I stuck tea bags on my eyes. And cucumbers. and I put some vitamin cream on the area to strengthen the capillaries and skin. And then they were gone. I heard water is good to prevent these circle. But if it runs in your family, you might have a harder time with them.

Alhamdulillah I have very low maintenance skin. I don’t even use soap. So when I get a stubborn pimple or anything that doesn’t go away in 4 hours I go crazy. But my reaction was escalated due to the fact that I realized I was getting older. If people asked me how old I was I would say 24, but think 25 in my head. And then I became a quarter of a century old. And then. nothing.

It’s not so bad. I’m glad I’m old. No drama.  <3

This is a random random post. But that’s how my mind goes. And I type how I think and I can’t help it. Peace. <3

You Don't Really Know

Almost every girl I know is trying to get married.

"Youthful Wisdom, please can you find me a guy. I need to get married."

So I'm about to break it down for real right now. I'm so ANNOYED with single people talking about marriage as if its the most amazing thing in the world. I'm FRUSTRATED with girls bringing up the marriage topic all the time. I'm TIRED of girls without guys planning out their extravagant future wedding. I'm SICK of people telling me that I got it easy and that my life is amazing because I'm married to the Hubster. (Alhumdulillah)

It's about time everyone gets a reality check. Marriage is not the most amazing thing in the world. Yes, its awesome but does that it mean that your life is suddenly going to be fulfilled if you're not fulfilled right now? Does it mean that you'll find happiness if you don't know how to be happy one your own? Does it mean that your pathetic life is suddenly going to be filled with spontaneous fun and flavor?

NO. It does not.

Everyone always talks about marriage in the most positive light. As amazing as married life is, its important that we be frank about it. The reality is, marriage is just a continuation of your life, only now with more responsibilities and hardships.  It is the union of two completely different people with different backgrounds, different customs, different ways of living. And now these two people must come together and figure out how to build a life together, in unison.

I don't think people realize how difficult that really is. I don't think people realize how emotionally grueling this process is. Marriage tests you in every facet of your life and if you're patient then perhaps you'll make it through alive and happy. But that does not happen right off the bat.

Statistics say that almost 50% of first marriages result in divorce. Thats one in every two people!! Take a minute to let that sink in. Seriously. The main reasons why: poor communication, arguments, and infidelity.

If you aren't patient, if you don't know how to keep your mouth shut when you're angry, if you don't know how to place others in front of yourself, if you get upset easily, if you complain often, then you need to A) rethink whether you're really ready for marriage and B) understand the reality of this lifestyle change.

My advice to all you singlettes trying to get married: Please please please ENJOY your single life. God gave us different phases of our life so we can grow and learn from them. There is a blessing in being single and there is a blessing in being married. And hopefully you get to enjoy both those blessings. Be grateful for whatever one you're in because you're in one stage or the other because thats what God knows is best for you.

I apologize if this post offended you. I just wanted everyone to know the reality of what they keep asking for.

Hi everyone!

Hows your new year going? Mine's been packed with writing assignments that make me crave memorization-only classes ;). Anywho, up in my neck of the woods there were these huge snowstorms that made everything look sooo pretty and interesting!

This is the entrance to my school it made me think of a winter wonderland :))

Ooo and this is something I found which I thought was really cool, it's a poster that was found in New York. If you ask me, it should be everywhere!

Since it's now citrus season I thought i'd plug my favorite citrus-y fruit! The Blood Orange!

Ok I think thats enough time procrastinating on my 8 page paper :) meet up with you lovelies soon with something a little more substantive ;p

To be or not to be (my friend)

I have a question for all you intellectual individuals out there.

How do you form true long-lasting friendships?

Not the kind that just last through the four or more months of class you have together. Or the kind that are just there because you're parents are friends but you never really hit it off. Or the kind where you're just friends because you have a close mutual friend.

I'm talking about real, down to earth, selfless kind of friendship. What if you come to a point in your life where you're done with school and the friends you had all moving on, following their own life plans. Maybe you've started to grow apart, not physically, but perhaps mentally. You now have different goals, different interests. Or maybe you feel like you don't have time anymore.

But the reality is that when you have an intimate friend, you'll make the time to hang out and to update each other on your lives.

So thats my question. How do you form true long-lasting friendships?

A word (or two) to the Unwise.

"Ok, everyone. Let's blend this word together and sound it out."

"K-i-l-t. Kilt."

"Who knows what kilt means? Or what is a kilt?"

::All hands in the classroom shoot up::

"Kilt is like you killing someone and murdering them."

"Kilt is not a verb. It is not when you kill someone"

::All hands shoot right back down::

--------------

"What's a crib?"

That's the place where you live.

------------------
"Ms. Attitude, I was finna do that?"

"You was finna do that? Is that the correct way to say that?"

"Oh sorry, I was going to finna do that."

-------------------

"Who knows what a snob is?"

"Snob is when you are messy."

"No, that's a slob."

"Oh, oh, oh, I know! I know! "

"What is a snob?"

"Snob is when your nose is runny and boogers come out of it. Sometimes it even goes in your mouth."


--------------------------------------
"Ms. Attitude, he called me a name. It hurt my feelings."

"What did he say?"

"He called me boughed."

"Boughed? "

"Boughed."

"What does boughed mean?"

"Boughed is like when you are boughed. It's like when you're mean. And you act uppity."

"Uppity?"

"Uppity."

"Is boughed in the dictionary?"

"Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

"Oh."

"How do you spell boughed?"

"B-O-U-G-H-E-D. Boughed. "

"Wow. It's like a spelling bee. "

------------------------------
Sometimes I teach.

And sometimes they teach me.

And you thought it was a one way relationship.

Why I Saved Myself

"So how he is in bed? I mean relatively speaking...in comparisons to your exes."

"Actually, my husband was my first."

"WHAT?? Get outta here. How old are you?"

"22" 

"Wow. That must have been liberating...long time waiting, huh?"

Surprisingly, for most females my chastity comes as a shocker. Apparently its a liberating experience to have sex; and even more liberating to have it casually just like men because at that point we're like equal genders. Right?

I mentor a bunch of high school girls in my community. We'll sit in my car and talk about their boy problems and how the guy they're talking to/texting/hanging out with is different. And to every single one of these girls I say the same line.

Boys just want to get in your panties. 

Really, I have a husband. I now know the male perspective all too well. And for some reasons many girls just don't buy it. Here's my take on it.

Boys want sex. Why? Because they have a build up of pressure and the release of an orgasm feels amazing. (Really amazing, actually)

Okay so now that they know they need sex what's next? Find a vagina to stick it in, preferably one that has legs. The finding part is usually really easy because girls nowadays are a) throwing themselves at guys like sex objects with their miniskirts, outrageous cleavage, and booty popping skills or b) wanting to be 'liberated' so are open to having casual sex for the pleasure.

Sex is more than just a physical release. Its more than just a one night fling. Its a beautiful experience of two people being as close as possible to each other, physically and hopefully emotionally too. In my humble opinion, girls that give themselves up are just vaginas boys are hoping to find.

I never wanted to be just a vagina. There's a lot more that comes with this package. I wanted my man to need more than whats in my panties. I wanted him to need me. And so came the Hubster who had to put in a LOT of effort to even come close to having sex with me. He had to pull his life together, know his purpose, foster a deep relationship with me, and finally, seal the deal with a ring and signature.

The Hubster sarcastically asked me the other day, "You think I really need you??"

"Absolutely." 

"I think so too."

Gobble Gobble

Its that time of year again.

When everyone goes home, spends time with family, eats turkey and stuffing, and thinks about the things they're grateful for.

Sounds all beautiful and flowery.

But there's a group of people in our country who don't join us in this turkey/gratitude celebration. Instead these people mourn this day as it commemorates the genocide of thousands of their ancestors.

The Native Americans.

The people who were here first living a peaceful life until the pilgrims came and exploited them then wrote down in history how amazing their relationship was and how everyone sat together on a long table on Thanksgiving and ate food they grew together.

So this Thursday, while we're eating our turkeys, lets think back and make a prayer for the amazing Native Americans who were massacred unjustly in our early history.

Happy Eid

HAPPY (belated) EID EVERYONE! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful celebration and ate tons of delicious food! 

=D 

Surprise!

The story goes a little something like this.

I'm sitting in the den, minding my own business, watching random youtube videos on the Hubster's macbook as usual. (My laptop is crappy and takes 10 minutes just to load up) I had a bunch of tabs open and what not. Then I hear someone rustling in the kitchen then starting walking up the stairs.

Lo and behold it was the Hubster. He comes right into the den, closes all my tabs and shuts the laptop.

"What the heck! I was doing stuff yo!" 

"Yea but its MY laptop. So I can do whatever I want with it."

"Excuse me? You just closed everything I was looking at!!"

"So? Its mine. I own it. Just like I own you." He has the most serious look ever at this point

"WHAT? Are you serious? I'm not your property homie. What's wrong with you?"

"Go get me some juice." He walks off and lays down in the bedroom

I of course storm into the bedroom super mad. "Get you some juice?? How dare you talk to me like that."

"Just go downstairs and get me some juice" Now he starts gesturing me to go away.

"Why are you treating me so crappy right now? Seriously." Then I walked downstairs to the kitchen even though I really just wanted to beat the Hubster.

Upon entering the kitchen I saw this big white box on the table.

Hmm... weird. What's this? 

I pick up the box and start turning it looking for a sticker or something that said what it was.

OMG. 

On the side, very small and discreet, the box said "macbook."

"OMG OMG OMG!!!!"

The Hubster came down smiling. I opened the box and inside was a fresh beautiful brand new macbook!

"You are so annoying!! Thank you thank you thank you!!"


The end.

The Pregnancy Scare

The pregnancy scare...

If you're married or sexually active you probably know what I mean.

I really hate dealing with it. So I had my period back in the end of August, right? Yea so granted I have a pretty regular cycle you would think I'd get it again at the end of September, correct? Wrong.

Guess how late I was.

Just guess.

2 WEEKS. That has never happened before. So after the first few days I'm thinking hey no big deal. Then the first week passes and I'm thinking "oh crap, what if I'm pregnant?" Even though I technically have a .001% chance of getting pregnant...

Babies are wonderful. Really, they are. But I have a work and school and other things to do right now let alone have a little child take over my existence. Sigh. I always pray to God, "Oh God, please don't grant me the blessing of a child just yet because I personally don't feel ready. But if you're going to grant it anyhow please please please make me content with it. Ameen."

Anyhow, I found my my mom and sister were all 2 weeks late too which made me feel a LOT better. Thank God I just got my period yesterday. Woo hoo!

In other news I finally started using tampons. A word of the wise to pad-users, tampons are so freaking amazing! Pads feel so uncomfortable and like diapers for reals. With tampons, you just put 'em in and move on with life. Its amazing!

Conscious Culture

Sometimes I just don't feel like studying. I'll look at my notes and think to myself...yea yea I'll figure it out on the exam.

That worked real swell during undergrad.

Grad schools a whole different ball park. For reals. But even though I have an exam in two hours I choose to write a post instead! Lucky for you guys.

The Hubster and I went to Pittsburgh for a nice little weekend trip a few weeks ago. Let me tell you...it was one of the most amazing experiences ever. Seriously.

We met all these amazing Muslims from African American and Puerto Rican backgrounds... some converted to Islam. Pittsburgh actually has an extremely rich history of indigenous Muslims from hundreds of years ago.

History goes a little something like this... back when colonies were beginning in the US, there was a Spanish colony called Roanoke that ended up failing rather quickly. That colony had hundreds of Moriscos, free Muslim laborers, from Spain. After the collapse of the colony historians couldn't tell what happened to all the settlers. Apparently many Muslims in Pittsburgh have roots back to these Moriscos. What's even cooler is that first actual Masjid in the US is in Pittsburgh. What's interesting is that these Muslims were part of mainstream Orthodox Islam, not the Nation of Islam (a deviant sect of Islam). So there are actually many families in the Burgh that are African American and have been Muslim for generations upon generations.

This whole idea of African American Muslims who were originally Muslim is something new to the immigrant Muslim community that really tends to think as themselves as the "original" Muslims in the US whereas African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Caucasians must all be converted to Islam. That however is not the case and its time we all look back at the history of Islam in the US because clearly it did not start with the wave of Arab and Southeast Asian Muslim immigrants in the 70's .

Meeting all these different types of people was really eye opening for me because I finally met people who had solid Muslim American identities, something that the immigrant community is struggling with greatly. The issue that first generation Muslims (from immigrant parents) are dealing with is this:

Their parents have their Islam and "back home" culture intertwined. Their kids however have an American culture that they're trying to reconcile with their heritage and their Islamic culture. What most people don't understand is that "Islamic" culture and American culture are NOT diametrically opposed.

Islam never came to eradicate culture, it came to beautify it. So in essence our Muslim American culture should something that is conscious culture which encompasses all that is good and leaves that which is not beneficial.

Here's an example. I have a friend who loves Hip Hop and thats a rooted part of his culture. Is there anything wrong with that? Absolutely not. His Islamic identity will affect his Hip Hop though by weeding out those lyrics that have negativity (drugs, alcohol, strippers, etc). So really this guy can practice his Islam to the fullest and use it to effect this love for Hip Hop and make it even better.

For more on the the history of Islam in Pittsburgh check this out..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4CG-U1-NwE