She Recycles too

She Recycles too, originally uploaded by Organica59.

Will you?

Calling the Police

If your father/husband/brother gave you a black eye, would you call the cops?

I would.

Morocco

Morocco, originally uploaded by Organica59.

My Interfaith Experience

For four months now I've sat through a series of interfaith sessions. I've performed my salat at a Presbyterian Church and learned how the congregants at an Episcopal Church Baptize; managed to eat yummy hummus at a Reform Judaism Synagogue where we got to touch the original scrolls saved from Austria post the Jewish Holocaust. At a nearby Sufi Mosque, in the heart of the city, we recited Rumi poetry and reflected on the beauty of the words of Quran. I've even went as far as reciting verses of the Quran to a group of 40 participants or so without breaking a sweat. I've met with religious leaders of all faiths and shared fruitful discussions about Judaism, Zionism, Christ and the Muslim world.

I never meant to be part of this journey. As a matter of fact, I was reluctant to accept the offer at first. I failed to see the importance of this particular initiative. You could call me naive.

Four months later, things have changed. I mentor four young Muslim girls in this service learning-based project. I've learned to be more appreciative, understanding and reflective. Tonight I met with a woman I haven't seen since early fall. Back then we shared apple cidar as we discussed the essentials of faith development. I remember exactly how I introduced myself. I stated my name and insistently pointed that the most important aspect of faith development in youth was "intrinsic motivation." I remember her smiling at the passionate young Muslim woman eager to share her views among the Rectors and Pastors. Here we were tonight, months later at her place of worship, her parish, learning and growing. We embraced the first few minutes of my arrival. I still wonder what makes me feel love for her and everyone else, could it be the love of God?

She invited me to speak to her congregation about Islam on a separate occasion. She said, "We spend too much time talking about each other, it's we talk with each other!"

I love the language of faiths. It makes me closer to God, my Lord. Learning about other truths has made my own Truth much clearer and dearer to me. My experiences has lead me beyond the bounds of tolerance to embrace the true meaning of pluralism in our society.

Sometimes I can't help but think I was purposely sent down this path. And I am thankful. Alhumdulilah.

(The Rabbai said if the girls dropped the scrolls he would have to fast for 40 days!)

I am Sorry I Dropped You

I am Sorry I Dropped You, originally uploaded by Organica59.

Down the toilet.

One of Those Days

1:00 am House pet left in my room. Pet snores.
3:00 am Try to lure pet outside room. Pet still snoring.
6:00 am Sigh. Going to work.
6:10 am First time ever to wear floral Turkish scarf. Like it.
6:30 am Indian dude calls me "honey" at Dunkin. Yummy vanilla chai though.
6:45 am Morning traffic. Radio? Guy cheats on wife on Facebook? Sad.
7:45 am Work. Locked out of classroom.
9:04 am Boys fighting.
10:48 am Lunch, thank God!
11:49 am One of the students threatened to hit me. I wrote him up. Now he is acting better.
12:15 am Meeting postponed to 12:30. Waste of time.
12:16 am School officer and Dean were amused to see me smiling for once. I told them it was because it was my prep time (i.e. student-free!)
1:00 pm Sigh. I drank 16 oz. of diet pepsi.
1:30 pm Dean calls me into office because kid that threatened me is accusing me of pushing him. Right. He is bigger and taller. I wouldn't be that stupid!
2:30 pm Kids gone wild. The "other" teacher in the room gives kids candy for no good reason. I am royally pissed.
3:00 pm My voice is gone for the day.
3:00 pm Administered detention. Only 5 out 20 showed. Oh well.
4:12 pm Parent didn't show up for emergency meeting requested by the 6th grade team.
4:15 pm Found out that I suspended my first student today. Sorta feel guilty.
5:30 pm Decided to visit the mall. Need to go on diet. Clothes shopping depresses me.
7:30 pm latte hour.
7:50 pm A quick visit to the $ store. I bought at least 100 pencils.
...

When Aunties Sniff Singles Out

Setting: At a mosque.
Appearances: I look like crap. Bad hijab day.

Tanty (Egyptian version of Auntie) approaches me with a smile and cell phone in hand.
Tanty: "Hello, habibty. How are you doing? And how is your mothzar? Do you mind me take picture of you?"
Me: "Well..I.."
Tanty already armed with her cell phone camera is aiming for my face, ignoring anything I have to say and focusing on my bad angle (with huge pimple this week!)
Me: "Me? Picture? Umm, can we do it later, tant?"
Tanty can't seem to hear me and is examining my horrific photos on her phone and must have noticed the disturbed look on my face.
Tanty: "Why you don't email me instead? You don forget, OK?"
Me: "Okay."

The joys of being single.

On Sexual Harassment

Setting: In the school hallway.

Teacher says: "Gentleman, please line up straight!"
Boys *Ignore teacher request and proceed to slap/touch/fight one another.
Teacher says sarcastically: "Stop touching each other!"
One of the older looking students says: "I would rather touch you anyways."

Teacher wrote student up for prohibition of foul language and noted that the student used a sexual tone in his speech. When she approached her superiors about the situation and explained that these remarks aren't a first, the administration made the teacher aware that the boy has a history of sexual activity in his record. They recommended the teacher contact the parent or any living family member to ask for assistance. They suggested that they could advise him to STOP! In addition, he looks much older than 12 and is more than likely 17 or 18 in disguise. Sadly there is no way to prove this on record.

Final decision on the matter? "We got to wait for an incident to happen before any action could be taken against him."

Bull. I am buying me some pepper spray!

Death of a Mother

Me: "Do you know what's happening right now?"
Him: "My mommy is dead and this is her funeral."

He looks older, much older today although he is only seven. His beautiful mommy died at the age of thirty after a long struggle with a chronic condition. I walked into the funeral parlor and found him sitting with his soccer coaches. He wasn't crying, yet he seemed so distant almost detached.

I paid my respects to his father and requested that he sit by me. Today was the day we would practice everything we talked about in our Sunday School classroom for the past 2 years. I asked him how he felt. He told me he was bored and would rather play with his DS. And did I know that he changed the name on his DS to Mommy's name so he will never forget her?

It took everything I had to not bust into tears. Instead I smiled and told him that his bestfriend (who is also my student) always brought his own DS to class and played VIVA something and could he teach me too?

His mother lay 10 feet away from us. Casket open for everyone to see and here we were talking virtual soccer.

"Remember we talked about death in class? We all will go sometime" I said. He nodded and said, "She has all her rings on and her favorite necklace, too!"

He looked at me for just a second. I knew what that look meant.

That's when I whispered something in his ear. This time he didn't look at me, but shut his eyes and squeezed my fingers.

Ina lilah we Ina Ilyhe Rajoon

I promised.