We're moving...again.
Hopefully by September 1st, we will be all settled in to our new place.....half a block away--literally.
After many struggles with the management of our current building over them poorly maintaining our building/apartment, we decided that it's time to move on. Additionally, we're doing the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and think it would be a good idea to downsize a little bit so we can save more money.
We scoured Juffair (and another nearby area) for apartments that met our criteria. The result:
We will move 1/2 a block away, which means we'll still be very close to Shawn's work. He can still ride his bicycle there and spend lunch hour with us.
We found a cute, but more modest 2 bedroom apartment (our current one is 4 bedrooms and we never use most of the space in our house).
We'll still have all the amenities we have here, including a pool, gym, cable, all utilities paid, furnishings, etc.
We will be saving 200 dinars in rent--534 dollars a month!
We're very excited about the move and it has been taking up our time lately through the apartment search and now packing. We have boxes everywhere!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Exciting News!
So, I have to put this on the blog! My sister and niece Elle are coming to visit us here in Bahrain in just six short weeks! I'm so excited I can hardly wait!
The downside is that she's coming during Ramadan, so we'll be spending a lot of time indoors during the day. Most shops and restaurants are closed during the day because Muslims fast during the daytime for an entire month. It's a civil offense for people to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public.
The downside is that she's coming during Ramadan, so we'll be spending a lot of time indoors during the day. Most shops and restaurants are closed during the day because Muslims fast during the daytime for an entire month. It's a civil offense for people to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public.
Kitchen Fun
Kai's Injury of the Week
Poolside
Thursday, August 16, 2007
How It Happened
Last Saturday Shawn was playing basketball and rolled his ankle. He got checked out and it was just a really bad sprain, but it was very swollen and purple for several days. He was limping around with a cane for three days!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Lunch Time!
The Most Pitiful Face Ever
The Kids Playing
Bath Time!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Toddlerese
I wrote in a previous post that I want to learn another language before I die. Well, I realized that I am actually quite fluent in another language already--Toddlerese!
Somehow I can take a series of grunts, hand gestures and garbled consonants and hear very clearly, "I would like more Cheerios, Mommy!"
Lately Kai's language abilities have really taken off. He is starting to speak mostly in sentences and his words are becoming much clearer. Shawn is also becoming proficient at this new language, though he still relies on my fluency from time to time to translate more complex combinations.
It has made everyday living much easier, as Kai can now express what he wants, likes, dislikes or needs. Other things are also changing because of this language explosion.
Here's something that happened this morning:
As I was getting things ready to make breakfast (in accordance with my Mom Diet), I sliced a small pat of butter and set it aside on a butter wrapper. I went across the kitchen to the countertops and continued making preparations, turning my back to Kai. After about a minute or two, I turned back to find the pat of butter missing in action. I looked in Kai's hands, all around on the table and floor, but I could not find the butter pat.
So, I asked Kai where the pat of butter was. He said, "Butter went on the floor. My spit it out." I turned around to see a partially chewed piece of butter on the floor. Mystery solved.
Here's what would have happened before Kai started talking so much:
I would have looked all over for the missing butter pat and then would have started to question my sanity. My internal monologue would have been something like this--"I know it was there before, right? I mean, I remember putting the butter there. Or was it just a figment of my imagination? Am I getting today confused with yesterday? How could it have just disappeared? Did I already use it and not remember? I must be losing my mind!"
Later, after making breakfast, I would have gone back to the countertop to put breakfast on our plates. I would have stepped in the missing butter pat and then a new line of thinking would emerge--"How did that get here? Did I drop it? Did it somehow transfer on my clothes??? How could that possibly have happened??" The mystery would never have been solved and I'd have butter on my foot!
Hooray for my newfound Toddlerese abilities! It helps solve so many of life's little mysteries.
Somehow I can take a series of grunts, hand gestures and garbled consonants and hear very clearly, "I would like more Cheerios, Mommy!"
Lately Kai's language abilities have really taken off. He is starting to speak mostly in sentences and his words are becoming much clearer. Shawn is also becoming proficient at this new language, though he still relies on my fluency from time to time to translate more complex combinations.
It has made everyday living much easier, as Kai can now express what he wants, likes, dislikes or needs. Other things are also changing because of this language explosion.
Here's something that happened this morning:
As I was getting things ready to make breakfast (in accordance with my Mom Diet), I sliced a small pat of butter and set it aside on a butter wrapper. I went across the kitchen to the countertops and continued making preparations, turning my back to Kai. After about a minute or two, I turned back to find the pat of butter missing in action. I looked in Kai's hands, all around on the table and floor, but I could not find the butter pat.
So, I asked Kai where the pat of butter was. He said, "Butter went on the floor. My spit it out." I turned around to see a partially chewed piece of butter on the floor. Mystery solved.
Here's what would have happened before Kai started talking so much:
I would have looked all over for the missing butter pat and then would have started to question my sanity. My internal monologue would have been something like this--"I know it was there before, right? I mean, I remember putting the butter there. Or was it just a figment of my imagination? Am I getting today confused with yesterday? How could it have just disappeared? Did I already use it and not remember? I must be losing my mind!"
Later, after making breakfast, I would have gone back to the countertop to put breakfast on our plates. I would have stepped in the missing butter pat and then a new line of thinking would emerge--"How did that get here? Did I drop it? Did it somehow transfer on my clothes??? How could that possibly have happened??" The mystery would never have been solved and I'd have butter on my foot!
Hooray for my newfound Toddlerese abilities! It helps solve so many of life's little mysteries.
Arabic lesson
Many people here use the phrase, "Insh'allah" sprinkled into their speech. It means, "God willing."
Unfortunately, many people use it in this context:
"Yes, your car should be ready tomorrow, insha'allah."
"I will come check your broken A/C. I should be able to do it later, insha'allah."
Now I will say, "Ebrahim said he was going to come fix the A/C today, insha'llah." Shawn says, "Oh....GREAT.....that means WHO KNOWS!!" I guess if you didn't know the actual translation, you might be inclined to believe that IS what it means!
Unfortunately, many people use it in this context:
"Yes, your car should be ready tomorrow, insha'allah."
"I will come check your broken A/C. I should be able to do it later, insha'allah."
Now I will say, "Ebrahim said he was going to come fix the A/C today, insha'llah." Shawn says, "Oh....GREAT.....that means WHO KNOWS!!" I guess if you didn't know the actual translation, you might be inclined to believe that IS what it means!
It's Hot, Ya'll!
Seriously! It is super hot! How can we tell?
1. The temperature inside our air conditioned bedroom was 82 degrees at 11 o'clock at night the other night.
2. The temperature in our un-air conditioned bathroom was 102.5 degrees at 11 o'clock at night the other night.
3. The coolest water we can get out of the tap in our house right now is 105 degrees (the cold tap all the way on). In order to give the kids baths, I have to plan ahead by filling the bathtub and letting it cool down for a few hours.
4. Getting into my car the other day, I burned myself pressing the door unlock button. Then I burned myself strapping the kids into their car seats. I burned myself starting the car. I burned myself adjusting the rear view mirror.The steering wheel was blistering hot, too. And we even had the sunshades in place!
And for added fun, it is humid, humid, humid!
1. The temperature inside our air conditioned bedroom was 82 degrees at 11 o'clock at night the other night.
2. The temperature in our un-air conditioned bathroom was 102.5 degrees at 11 o'clock at night the other night.
3. The coolest water we can get out of the tap in our house right now is 105 degrees (the cold tap all the way on). In order to give the kids baths, I have to plan ahead by filling the bathtub and letting it cool down for a few hours.
4. Getting into my car the other day, I burned myself pressing the door unlock button. Then I burned myself strapping the kids into their car seats. I burned myself starting the car. I burned myself adjusting the rear view mirror.The steering wheel was blistering hot, too. And we even had the sunshades in place!
And for added fun, it is humid, humid, humid!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Mom Diet Plan
So I've figured out why I lost all my pregnancy weight pretty quickly this time. It's a revolutionary plan that I'm going to write a book about. You guys are lucky to get the first look at what should be a huge development in dieting. I call it the "Mom Diet Plan."
Here's how it worked for me:
I started with just Kai (this was several months ago). For breakfast I would make three scrambled eggs covered in grated cheese, a piece of buttered toast and a glass of orange juice. At first, I ate most of it by myself, but Kai had about a quarter of a piece of toast and about half an egg. You slowly start giving your child a little bit more as they grow older. Then your second child starts eating solids, so you set aside some of the eggs from your plate to feed to them. The first child is now up to half a piece of toast and an entire egg, as well as begging from your plate once he's done with his.
I've realized that my breakfast intake has been cut in half because of all this sharing with my kids! No wonder I've lost the weight...
Here's how it worked for me:
I started with just Kai (this was several months ago). For breakfast I would make three scrambled eggs covered in grated cheese, a piece of buttered toast and a glass of orange juice. At first, I ate most of it by myself, but Kai had about a quarter of a piece of toast and about half an egg. You slowly start giving your child a little bit more as they grow older. Then your second child starts eating solids, so you set aside some of the eggs from your plate to feed to them. The first child is now up to half a piece of toast and an entire egg, as well as begging from your plate once he's done with his.
I've realized that my breakfast intake has been cut in half because of all this sharing with my kids! No wonder I've lost the weight...
Monday, July 23, 2007
Meme
It's another meme, courtesy of my sister Celeste.
5 things I want to do before I die:
Live in Europe.
Learn another language (or two, or three).
Learn to surf.
See my kids grow up and have kids of their own.
Become a midwife.
5 things I can do:
Make my pinkie toe "dance," though Shawn has asked me not to anymore.
Make people laugh (especially my kids).
Name that tune.
Boggle.
Birth babies.
5 things I can't do:
Go without sleep.
Cook and talk at the same time (thanks, Mom!).
Jump on trampolines.
Paint my own nails without getting it all over myself.
Go without a day planner, even though my schedule is extremely flexible.
5 things that make a man attractive:
Being family oriented.
A good sense of humor.
Intelligence.
Nice eyes.
Patience.
5 celebrities I have a crush on:
My sister stole most of my list. You can see the pictures on Poetic Justice. I only have one change to her list:
Tom Brady
Ryan Phillipe
Sawyer on "LOST"
Hayden Christensen
David Caruso (very strange, but true!)
5 things I want to do before I die:
Live in Europe.
Learn another language (or two, or three).
Learn to surf.
See my kids grow up and have kids of their own.
Become a midwife.
5 things I can do:
Make my pinkie toe "dance," though Shawn has asked me not to anymore.
Make people laugh (especially my kids).
Name that tune.
Boggle.
Birth babies.
5 things I can't do:
Go without sleep.
Cook and talk at the same time (thanks, Mom!).
Jump on trampolines.
Paint my own nails without getting it all over myself.
Go without a day planner, even though my schedule is extremely flexible.
5 things that make a man attractive:
Being family oriented.
A good sense of humor.
Intelligence.
Nice eyes.
Patience.
5 celebrities I have a crush on:
My sister stole most of my list. You can see the pictures on Poetic Justice. I only have one change to her list:
Tom Brady
Ryan Phillipe
Sawyer on "LOST"
Hayden Christensen
David Caruso (very strange, but true!)
Other Interesting Numbers in Healthcare
Cost to non-citizens in Bahraini government hospitals:
Hysterectomy: $400.00
Liposuction: $265.00
Rhinoplasty: $265.00
Breast implants: $200.00
Kidney Transplant: $13,250.00
Kidney Transplant in the US (average costs): $25,000 to 150,000.
Hysterectomy: $400.00
Liposuction: $265.00
Rhinoplasty: $265.00
Breast implants: $200.00
Kidney Transplant: $13,250.00
Kidney Transplant in the US (average costs): $25,000 to 150,000.
Number Crunching
As some of you may know, I am currently enrolled in a course to become a Certified Childbirth Educator through Lamaze International. I have been doing alot of reading about pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding in the last few months and was thinking today about the state of our healthcare system. Here are some interesting numbers:
Average costs of births in Sri Lanka:
Vaginal birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Cesarean birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Vaginal birth in private hospital (citizen pays for their own care): $265.00
Cesarean birth in private hospital (citizen pays for their own care): $400.00
Average costs of births in Bahrain:
Vaginal birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Cesarean birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Vaginal birth in private hospital: Between $200.00 and $1,500.00 depending on what "frills" you opt for.
Cesarean birth in private hospital: Between $600.00 and $2,450.00 depending on what "frills" you opt for.
Average costs of births in America:
Vaginal birth: $7,737.00
Cesarean birth: $11,000
Average costs of births in Sri Lanka:
Vaginal birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Cesarean birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Vaginal birth in private hospital (citizen pays for their own care): $265.00
Cesarean birth in private hospital (citizen pays for their own care): $400.00
Average costs of births in Bahrain:
Vaginal birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Cesarean birth in government hospital: FREE to all citizens
Vaginal birth in private hospital: Between $200.00 and $1,500.00 depending on what "frills" you opt for.
Cesarean birth in private hospital: Between $600.00 and $2,450.00 depending on what "frills" you opt for.
Average costs of births in America:
Vaginal birth: $7,737.00
Cesarean birth: $11,000
Finally!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Greed
Imagine working hard labor. I mean, REALLY hard labor. Lifting and laying bricks by hand, carrying sand in huge bags and wheelbarrows. Preparing electrical wiring and hammering nails. Now imagine doing it in 125-degree heat in the midday sun on the top of a construction site with no protective gear (hard hat, safety harness, good work boots). Imagine doing this job six days a week, 12 hours a day. And all for less than $200 a month.
Sadly, this is the situation of many, many migrant workers here in Bahrain. Food, clothing and housing here all cost about what you would expect to pay in any average American city of moderate to large size. These workers primarily come from India, Sri Lanka, the Phillipines and other Asian countries. It tells you a lot about their own economies that the jobs they have here put them in better financial positions. I have no idea how these people manage to survive. What is even more amazing is that they are somehow able to support families back in their native countries--yet they are! From what I have been told and read, it is almost unheard of for a Bahraini to work a job like this.
Also unfortunately, because of this abundance of people willing to do grueling work for almost nothing, migrant workers are often mistreated, discriminated against, abused, left unpaid, crammed into tiny, crowded housing camps. Their passports become property of their "sponsor" or employer, meaning they cannot leave the country unless their sponsor allows them to.
Not surprisingly, there are many people profiting from this labor situation. To make matters worse, any time the public raises issues to improve the situation for the workers, businesses lobby against the proposed changes. This year they have made the decree that all employers are required to allow their laborers a break from noon to four in the afternoon through the months of July and August. The heat is at its peak during this time and many workers are exposed directly to the cruel elements. From what I've read in the Gulf Daily News, employers are fighting and opposing this decree. Their solution is to make employees work even earlier in the day and later into the night. Indeed, it is not uncommon for us to see people working at construction sites at 10 PM or later.
Workers often cannot afford transportation of any kind to their job sites, so the companies which employ them will provide them transportation by way of an open truck bed. Because there have been injuries and deaths from overcrowded trucks and people falling out of them, the government decided that they would no longer allow workers to be transported this way. So I have seen some trucks now that have basically been rigged up with boards or tarps to "close" them. Imagine riding in that in sweltering heat! So somebody proposed that companies should be responsible for providing air conditioned, enclosed buses for their workers. Several companies complained that this would be too expensive (yet they pay their workers almost nothing!) and that if the workers went from the air conditioned buses to their work sites, they would become ill from the drastic changes in temperature!
This is an Arab, Muslim country. I'm not sure how the West came to symbolize to some Muslims and Arabs an evil, greedy super-power bent on oppressing the helpless. It is clear to me now that greed most likely exists everywhere in the world. Unfortunately, it seems to be one of the things which is truly cross-cultural.
Sadly, this is the situation of many, many migrant workers here in Bahrain. Food, clothing and housing here all cost about what you would expect to pay in any average American city of moderate to large size. These workers primarily come from India, Sri Lanka, the Phillipines and other Asian countries. It tells you a lot about their own economies that the jobs they have here put them in better financial positions. I have no idea how these people manage to survive. What is even more amazing is that they are somehow able to support families back in their native countries--yet they are! From what I have been told and read, it is almost unheard of for a Bahraini to work a job like this.
Also unfortunately, because of this abundance of people willing to do grueling work for almost nothing, migrant workers are often mistreated, discriminated against, abused, left unpaid, crammed into tiny, crowded housing camps. Their passports become property of their "sponsor" or employer, meaning they cannot leave the country unless their sponsor allows them to.
Not surprisingly, there are many people profiting from this labor situation. To make matters worse, any time the public raises issues to improve the situation for the workers, businesses lobby against the proposed changes. This year they have made the decree that all employers are required to allow their laborers a break from noon to four in the afternoon through the months of July and August. The heat is at its peak during this time and many workers are exposed directly to the cruel elements. From what I've read in the Gulf Daily News, employers are fighting and opposing this decree. Their solution is to make employees work even earlier in the day and later into the night. Indeed, it is not uncommon for us to see people working at construction sites at 10 PM or later.
Workers often cannot afford transportation of any kind to their job sites, so the companies which employ them will provide them transportation by way of an open truck bed. Because there have been injuries and deaths from overcrowded trucks and people falling out of them, the government decided that they would no longer allow workers to be transported this way. So I have seen some trucks now that have basically been rigged up with boards or tarps to "close" them. Imagine riding in that in sweltering heat! So somebody proposed that companies should be responsible for providing air conditioned, enclosed buses for their workers. Several companies complained that this would be too expensive (yet they pay their workers almost nothing!) and that if the workers went from the air conditioned buses to their work sites, they would become ill from the drastic changes in temperature!
This is an Arab, Muslim country. I'm not sure how the West came to symbolize to some Muslims and Arabs an evil, greedy super-power bent on oppressing the helpless. It is clear to me now that greed most likely exists everywhere in the world. Unfortunately, it seems to be one of the things which is truly cross-cultural.
The Kids Playing
Numbers
We have a big, foam playmat that connects together like a jigsaw puzzle. It has numbers and mathematical symbols on it. Kai takes great pleasure in immediately tearing it up into as many pieces as possible as soon as I put it back together. It is a nice place for Quinn to crawl around since it acts as a cushion against our tile floor.
This morning, Quinn was crawling around and Kai went and sat by her. I told him to teach Quinn the numbers and sure enough, he started showing Quinn the numbers and explaining them to her. "Quinn! This is a seven! Quinn! This is a two!" It was adorable. So cute, in fact, that I got out my camera to record it for posterity. Of course, as soon as I pulled out the camera, my two little hams immediately stopped what they were doing and fixated on the camera. Oh well, I tried....
This morning, Quinn was crawling around and Kai went and sat by her. I told him to teach Quinn the numbers and sure enough, he started showing Quinn the numbers and explaining them to her. "Quinn! This is a seven! Quinn! This is a two!" It was adorable. So cute, in fact, that I got out my camera to record it for posterity. Of course, as soon as I pulled out the camera, my two little hams immediately stopped what they were doing and fixated on the camera. Oh well, I tried....
How Motherhood Changes a Woman
This morning, I was cleaning up the living room and realized during this simple task how much I've changed since becoming a mother. As I was picking up Thomas the Tank Engine books, crayons and toy cars, I noticed a Cheerio on the floor in an area where Kai had been snacking. Without even thinking, I picked it up and ate it, noted mentally that it "wasn't even stale yet," then did a dead stop!!! (ERRRRR--tires screeching sound)
Did I just eat a Cheerio off the floor? Did I just automatically do it without thinking? Was I so used to doing it that the mere fact that it wasn't stale a source of something to be glad about (as in, "well, at least this time it wasn't stale")?
I guess it's time we re-examined the "five-second rule."
Did I just eat a Cheerio off the floor? Did I just automatically do it without thinking? Was I so used to doing it that the mere fact that it wasn't stale a source of something to be glad about (as in, "well, at least this time it wasn't stale")?
I guess it's time we re-examined the "five-second rule."
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Play Group
Wednesday night Shawn was playing in a volleyball game, so I thought I'd bring the kids to go watch him play. I pulled into the parking lot on the Base and dragged the stroller out of the trunk. As I did this, a woman driving by in an SUV stopped rather abruptly and rolled down her window to speak to me. She asked, "Did you just get here?" I thought maybe she meant parking-wise and wanted my spot. She meant here as in Bahrain and told me about a playgroup she and some of the other moms from the Base participate in. She gave me her contact information and I decided that it was something I was definitely interested in doing with the kids. The reason she thought I must have been new to the country was because I had the airline check tag still attached to my stroller (oops!) from our trip home in April!
We have a pretty hermit-like existence aside from the usual shopping trips to the grocery store, Shawn's sporting events and an occasional weekend outing. Things get worse during the summer because it's so hot the kids can't even really go outside to play any. So I thought the playgroup would probably greatly benefit us.
When I spoke to the playgroup organizer, she said that this particular playgroup a lot of the dads would be coming, too, so Shawn decided he would check it out. The group was hosted this week by a very nice couple who is from Poland originally. They have lived in Bahrain for over a decade each and have an adorable little girl. There was another Polish couple there who had a 2 year old boy and a baby girl with the exact same birthdate as Quinn--December 8, 2006. Needless to say, we compared notes. There were several other couples, mostly Americans. In total there were something like 8 kids all running around everywhere. Everyone was very nice and the kids all got along surprisingly well. Shawn and I had a nice time and I think it is something I will continue to do in the future. That was my big excitement for the week!
Augusta "SuperMom" Cherri
We have a pretty hermit-like existence aside from the usual shopping trips to the grocery store, Shawn's sporting events and an occasional weekend outing. Things get worse during the summer because it's so hot the kids can't even really go outside to play any. So I thought the playgroup would probably greatly benefit us.
When I spoke to the playgroup organizer, she said that this particular playgroup a lot of the dads would be coming, too, so Shawn decided he would check it out. The group was hosted this week by a very nice couple who is from Poland originally. They have lived in Bahrain for over a decade each and have an adorable little girl. There was another Polish couple there who had a 2 year old boy and a baby girl with the exact same birthdate as Quinn--December 8, 2006. Needless to say, we compared notes. There were several other couples, mostly Americans. In total there were something like 8 kids all running around everywhere. Everyone was very nice and the kids all got along surprisingly well. Shawn and I had a nice time and I think it is something I will continue to do in the future. That was my big excitement for the week!
Augusta "SuperMom" Cherri
Friday, July 13, 2007
Islam
There are two reasons I printed the letter shown in the previous post. The first is that I think there is a misconception in the West that Islam is primarily made up of the extremist terrorists who have so damaged the world. I have to admit that I had all those prejudices in my mind when we first came to Bahrain. What I have actually learned is that by and large, the overwhelming majority of Muslims I've come into contact here are very similar to us. They want to have families, friends, homes, jobs, purpose and to worship their God. Nobody has mistreated us here because we are Americans. Nobody has mistreated us here because we are not Muslim.
My guess is that the overwhelming majority of Muslims fall into this category. Unfortunately, there are a great number of cultural practices here (and from what I understand, in much of the Muslim world) that do not reflect well on Islam. This is the issue to which Ms. Fleetwood is referring.
For the record, Islam has Five Pillars (things which are required of all Muslims and essential to belief):
1. Profession of Faith (much like professing your belief in Christ, for Christians)
2. Prayer
3. Charity
4. Fasting (especially during Ramadan as an act of submission to Allah)
5. Pilgrimage (to Mecca once in your lifetime if you are of physical and financial means to do so)
All of these are worthy and positive values. I hope that people will read this and understand that Islam is not the religion of the zealots that is portrayed on CNN.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of cultural influences on the practice of Islam that have been breeding negative consequences. I think Ms. Fleetwood said it better than I did, so I will finish my comments here.
My guess is that the overwhelming majority of Muslims fall into this category. Unfortunately, there are a great number of cultural practices here (and from what I understand, in much of the Muslim world) that do not reflect well on Islam. This is the issue to which Ms. Fleetwood is referring.
For the record, Islam has Five Pillars (things which are required of all Muslims and essential to belief):
1. Profession of Faith (much like professing your belief in Christ, for Christians)
2. Prayer
3. Charity
4. Fasting (especially during Ramadan as an act of submission to Allah)
5. Pilgrimage (to Mecca once in your lifetime if you are of physical and financial means to do so)
All of these are worthy and positive values. I hope that people will read this and understand that Islam is not the religion of the zealots that is portrayed on CNN.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of cultural influences on the practice of Islam that have been breeding negative consequences. I think Ms. Fleetwood said it better than I did, so I will finish my comments here.
A Fascinating Letter
I usually check the Gulf Daily News Online every day. It is an English-language newspaper here in Bahrain. I enjoy reading the Letters to the Editor section. Lately there has been an ongoing debate in the Letters section discussing the issue of women's dress (Muslim hijab vs. less modest clothing). This morning I read a very fascinating letter from a Muslim woman and thought it was worthy of re-printing. Additionally, though she is speaking to other Muslims, I think it really applies to everyone, regardless of what their particular religious affiliations are:
"Silence is surely deafening
I AM curious as to this recent spate of letters for and against the hijab.
I want to know why the issue of hijab is such a strongly contested one. Why Muslims are willing to protest and riot over it being banned such as in France? Why so many believe it's practically a pillar of Islam and consider women who don't wear it outside the shadow of Islam and not 'really Muslim'? Why girls are sent back into a burning building because they are not wearing the hijab and end up burning to death for it? Is the hijab even more important than life?
How about all those terrorist bombers out there who claim they are performing jihad or holy war in the name of Islam? How come we aren't protesting and rioting against those misguided animals who are destroying the peaceful image of our religion in every corner of the globe?
Yet when somebody draws some cartoons of our prophet (PBUH), we riot and protest and people end up getting killed over it.
When someone writes a book denouncing Islam, we are up in arms causing damage and headlines and in the end proving them right about the non-peaceful aspects of Islam. When people are stoned for adultery, women suffer and the men go free, we are curiously silent about it.
When girls' schools are closed and education is deemed unnecessary for them, we become mute.
When women are kept bound in marriage to abusive husbands because the right to divorce is taken from them, the silence is deafening.
You may probably say all these are part of culture not Islam. Of course it is, but so-called Muslims are doing it. So who do you think get the blame. Muslims who can't read and enlighten themselves about true Islam and practice oppressive patriarchal cultural traditions?
How about Muslims who read into the Quran that God wants death to all non-Muslims or that bombing is OK if you say Allahu Ahkbar first and go to the mosque and pray once the smoke clears and the body count is televised?
How about those Muslims who believe women are inferior to men and so must bend to the will of men in all matters and not to the will of God?
Why aren't we protesting against those Muslims, those so-called Islamic practices?
In the end, it's not any of those Muslims that get blamed for what others perceive Islam to be - it's God.
Non-Muslims around the world are blaming Allah for creating such a backward oppressive religion that promotes terrorism, oppresses women and makes the headlines every night with some new horrific tragedy. And it's moderate Muslims who remain silent when all this occurs who condone and agree with its continued practice by remaining silent. Just saying 'that's not Islam' is not enough anymore.
If we can protest and riot over hijab, cartoons and anti-Islamic books, why cant we protest over terrorism, oppression and down right un-Islamic practices that have turned our religion of peace into a mockery and a scapegoat for every evil act men can come up with these days?
We need to stand up and claim our religion back and should stop arguing and causing a division in the ummah over petty stuff that hardly warrants the weight we give it.
We need to show the terrorists and the world that whatever religion they are practising (or just claiming to) surely isn't Islam. I've had enough. How about you?
Lee Ann Fleetwood"
"Silence is surely deafening
I AM curious as to this recent spate of letters for and against the hijab.
I want to know why the issue of hijab is such a strongly contested one. Why Muslims are willing to protest and riot over it being banned such as in France? Why so many believe it's practically a pillar of Islam and consider women who don't wear it outside the shadow of Islam and not 'really Muslim'? Why girls are sent back into a burning building because they are not wearing the hijab and end up burning to death for it? Is the hijab even more important than life?
How about all those terrorist bombers out there who claim they are performing jihad or holy war in the name of Islam? How come we aren't protesting and rioting against those misguided animals who are destroying the peaceful image of our religion in every corner of the globe?
Yet when somebody draws some cartoons of our prophet (PBUH), we riot and protest and people end up getting killed over it.
When someone writes a book denouncing Islam, we are up in arms causing damage and headlines and in the end proving them right about the non-peaceful aspects of Islam. When people are stoned for adultery, women suffer and the men go free, we are curiously silent about it.
When girls' schools are closed and education is deemed unnecessary for them, we become mute.
When women are kept bound in marriage to abusive husbands because the right to divorce is taken from them, the silence is deafening.
You may probably say all these are part of culture not Islam. Of course it is, but so-called Muslims are doing it. So who do you think get the blame. Muslims who can't read and enlighten themselves about true Islam and practice oppressive patriarchal cultural traditions?
How about Muslims who read into the Quran that God wants death to all non-Muslims or that bombing is OK if you say Allahu Ahkbar first and go to the mosque and pray once the smoke clears and the body count is televised?
How about those Muslims who believe women are inferior to men and so must bend to the will of men in all matters and not to the will of God?
Why aren't we protesting against those Muslims, those so-called Islamic practices?
In the end, it's not any of those Muslims that get blamed for what others perceive Islam to be - it's God.
Non-Muslims around the world are blaming Allah for creating such a backward oppressive religion that promotes terrorism, oppresses women and makes the headlines every night with some new horrific tragedy. And it's moderate Muslims who remain silent when all this occurs who condone and agree with its continued practice by remaining silent. Just saying 'that's not Islam' is not enough anymore.
If we can protest and riot over hijab, cartoons and anti-Islamic books, why cant we protest over terrorism, oppression and down right un-Islamic practices that have turned our religion of peace into a mockery and a scapegoat for every evil act men can come up with these days?
We need to stand up and claim our religion back and should stop arguing and causing a division in the ummah over petty stuff that hardly warrants the weight we give it.
We need to show the terrorists and the world that whatever religion they are practising (or just claiming to) surely isn't Islam. I've had enough. How about you?
Lee Ann Fleetwood"
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Boys
Yesterday I amused Kai for a good 10 minutes or so while I was cooking dinner. How? By throwing a packet of guacamole seasoning at him repeatedly. He handed it to me and I threw it at him with an accompanying sound effect and he laughed so hard. Then he brought the packet back to me and braced himself for me to do it again. Step 1, step 2, repeat. A full 10 minutes of fun!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
My Short-Lived Career as a Yoga Model
I'm putting this story on here mainly to amuse my sister; it's definitely the kind of thing she would laugh at. So, for those of you who don't know, I've been attending yoga classes twice a week the last two months at a nearby yoga studio. Well, at the end of my yoga class on Friday, the instructor told us he would have a photographer come in to take a few pictures of us doing some yoga postures to put in the new brochure they're working on right now.
I was in the front row, so I was right behind the instructor and he asked us to do this one pose (the triangle pose, for you yoga-enthusiasts) while the photographer took a picture. I leaned over and was trying to look professional; not smiling too big or looking depressed or weird. So the guy takes a couple of pictures, then he calls the yoga instructor over and they say something to each other in a language I don't understand. The photographer pointed at me, then the yoga instructor nodded. Then the photographer calls another woman up to stand directly in front of me and proceeds to take several pictures that way!
I totally got rejected! I keep telling myself it was because my clothes were dark and probably didn't translate well into pictures. The woman who replaced me was wearing brightly colored clothes. That's what I keep telling myself anyway....
Augusta "Yogi" Cherri
I was in the front row, so I was right behind the instructor and he asked us to do this one pose (the triangle pose, for you yoga-enthusiasts) while the photographer took a picture. I leaned over and was trying to look professional; not smiling too big or looking depressed or weird. So the guy takes a couple of pictures, then he calls the yoga instructor over and they say something to each other in a language I don't understand. The photographer pointed at me, then the yoga instructor nodded. Then the photographer calls another woman up to stand directly in front of me and proceeds to take several pictures that way!
I totally got rejected! I keep telling myself it was because my clothes were dark and probably didn't translate well into pictures. The woman who replaced me was wearing brightly colored clothes. That's what I keep telling myself anyway....
Augusta "Yogi" Cherri
Friday, July 6, 2007
Kai vs. the Potty
So far, so good. We are on Day 4 of Mission: Potty Training. I read online all sorts of tips on how to potty train toddlers effectively and Kai seemed like he was ready. Tuesday, I pulled up all the rugs, took off Kai's diaper and set the potty out. At first he was reluctant, but then when he realized that he could get a couple of Skittles after her peed in the potty, he was all about it. Day 1 he had 4 accidents. Day 2, he had 2. Days 3 and 4, he didn't have any (so far, for Day 4). He's catching on rather quickly. In fact, once the Skittles were introduced, he would repeatedly pee every 10 minutes or so in the potty to "have more candy, Mommy!"
But so far, he's just been bottomless pretty much all day. I don't know how well he'll do once we transition to him wearing "big boy underwear." Wish me luck!
Augusta "Keeper of the Skittles" Cherri
But so far, he's just been bottomless pretty much all day. I don't know how well he'll do once we transition to him wearing "big boy underwear." Wish me luck!
Augusta "Keeper of the Skittles" Cherri
More Pictures of the Kids
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