This week, last Thursday actually, was Eid Al Adha, a Muslim holiday that celebrates sacrifice, particularly the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son following God’s command

sheep are part of the sacrifice. its complicated.

The week (9 days) before the day of Eid Al Adha which, translated from Arabic, literally means the Day of Sacrifice, are spent fasting by those who aren’t able to do Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca. I was super confused, incidentally, when people starting talking about Christians making the pilgrimage to attend Pope Francis’ speaking events.

they see me rollin’ they hatinnnn’

There were too many religious pilgrimages going on at the same time; I got all turned around. But yay universalism for bringing us all together! I, like so many others, stayed far, far away from Philadelphia this weekend, having been very fulfilled and happy with my own religious experience earlier in the week. However that doesn’t mean I didn’t keep up with what has happening online. I saw Baby Pope and, really, doesn’t that mean that I’ve already seen the best of the Pope’s visit?

He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protecter, a Baby Pope. – Christopher Nolan, probably

But back to Eid. A few of us had been fasting the week before, or at least the days that we could fast. My Tuesdays are incredibly hectic and so I had to let that day go. But Wednesday was a very important day, called Wakfat Arafa, when the people who are at Hajj stand at the Mountain Arafat.

We all woke up at 6:30 AM (or earlier. Or like me, your recent friendly insomniac, got absolutely no sleep at all) and headed to the mosque, called the Islamic Society of Greater Valley Forge. I drove, which always makes me happy, though in hindsight, it’s been pointed out to me that I probably should not have been behind the wheel.

it’s very unsafe to take selfies while driving, so here’s a photo of the Pope in the Pope Mobile. Just imagine its me driving.

The Islamic Society of Greater Valley Forge is very close to a church and a synagogue and it’s very lovely to see the people from the various religions allow each other access to the different parking lots and to see everyone congratulating each other on the day. It is incredibly heartening to see. It almost almost made it okay that I wasn’t home for Eid. But I got to spend Eid with a great gang so all was well.

Some members of the MSA following the Eid Salat, looking pretty fly.

So naturally, one of the things we really enjoyed after the Muslim Student Association went to Eid Salat [Eid Prayer] together, was getting brunch! *insert flamenco dancer emoji* Shoutout to Minella’s for seating 10 people without a fuss and for wishing us happy holiday. This is the second time I’ve been to Minella’s Diner after Eid and I’m already sad that I won’t get to do that next year!

food was a good idea. omg, food was such a good idea.

All in all, it was a lovely day with wonderful people and a day off for me. A belated Eid Mubarak to all and I hope you had a great Thursday and a great weekend!

couldn’t resist.

In the past two weeks, I’ve seen a bunch of alumna friends, some who live in the area Philadelphia area and some who don’t (New York). I have spent time with my friends at Bryn Mawr and I have also seen friends from home (Kuwait).

And I absolutely love that.

For the first few months (for the first couple years even!) I’ve had trouble navigating a really tough line – how to maintain the friendships I have with my friends from home, people who’ve graduated, staying in the present, etc. It’s difficult. As soon as I am in one place, I focus all my social energy, which is usually very quickly exhausted, on the people in that location. Which means that when it comes to non-immediate socializing, whether online or phone calls, it usually goes a little like this:

me, always

It reminds me of a reading I am doing for my Anthropology Senior Seminar about studying expatriate Japanese housewives who are living in America. The ethnographer talks about how they don’t have a set community center or designated social space, because “they are often seemed to be less interested in building relationships in their temporary homes abroad than in painting their social ties back home”. (Kurotani 206) Me, I am facing the opposite. I am aware that Bryn Mawr is temporary home, and I want to be present here, but its difficult because I know that it a temporary home.

I think every summer break, every time another class graduates, I am always worried about if I’ll remain in touch with people, if I’ll still manage to save some time to see them again. Particularly if they move to another state, country, etc.

Because then you lose someone who you’ve spent all year working in the library with…

You miss the friend who would jolt you awake in class…

You’re not around the the one who completed your weird dance duo…

shoutout to ID’15 and our thesis dance

And no matter how much you promise to communicate, whether with friends that have graduated from Bryn Mawr already, or friends who went to school with you at home and who you’re no longer in touch with, it usually falls a little short.

you’ll try janice, but it’ll be hard.

So that’s why I am very glad that I got to do that last weekend. Even though I’ve always been a little scared of New York (subways, crowds and buildings, oh my!), it’s great that it has become a somewhat impromptu meeting space for all my friends.

this is what I’ve always been scared of

And I genuinely can’t wait until I can make more visits there this year and do my best to the people in my life.

ALL OF THE LOVE TO EVERYONE.

PS: Bonus photo of ID’15

see, she has a normal-looking, pretty photo, but then she tells me to pose with the napkin.