Walking to Uni was like walking through a jungle. The underpass was flooded so I took a risk and ran across the highway. I held my abaya up by about an inch so that the branches won't tear a hole in my abaya, oblivious to the fact that anyone would even care that I was wearing jeans inside.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, someone jumped next to me and said, "Does Nadia wear jeans?!"

lol, there are a lot of misconceptions about hijab, abayas and what muslim women can and cannot wear. For example, I'm pretty sure she thinks I wear the hijab to sleep & shower. It must totally blow her mind that I actually don't wear the hijab 24/7.

Anyways, everyone in tutorial was complaining about cars and windows and leaks when my tutor piped up with "Perth is not prepared for any disaster. We will not survive a terrorist attack", causing some people to look my way. Great, just wonderful.

You know what though? Sometimes I feel like I've been stereotyped so many times that I actually victimize myself? Like maybe those people weren't looking at me in an accusatory way but I just felt it because it is what I have come to expect. I feel discriminated, even when in actuality, it may not have been the case.


Have you ever felt that way?

Monday's Musings

Thank you Telstra and Bigpond for majorly messing up our bills for the 2nd time. I've said it once and I'll say it again, I'd rather be transferred to a call centre in India with fast and efficient service than be put on hold for more than half the length of the call to a centre somewhere in Australia. Telstra should also learn how not to disconnect calls more than once while a customer is being put on hold.
Stop it with all these phantom costs that we did NOT incur. And please, start some sort of unifying system so that your customer support officers don't contradict each other and sound stupid.
I'm going to laugh the next time Telstra calls me for a plan change/upgrade and claim that they are the largest telco and that they don't outsource their calls to India.
That's nothing to be proud of when your service sucks.

I skipped neuro revision lab, will stare at brains in my atlas. Back to muscles of the gluteal region for now.

oh, I saw this lady @ Northbridge rocking a long sleeved silver blouse with black tights. And for some unknown reason, she couldn't stick to one outfit so she also had on a black tube top and a denim skirt. I don't know what's in fashion right now but I'm pretty sure that's not it??

Me? I'm guilty of wearing my pajamas with an abaya on top. Anyone else doing that? It's soooo comfortable.

Scanning the Hijab

At Singapore's Changi Airport, their security checks are so tight that after they scan your carry on luggage and make you walk through the metal detector, they stop you and wave their magic wand around your hijab, looking for little elves that may be hiding inside.

I have been through this numerous times and I wish they would go about doing it in a more discreet manner. Once, the security official shouted to her partner to quickly get the magic wand [I have no idea what it's real name really is] to scan my HEAD. On another occasion, I was pulled back after being cleared because I needed to have my scarf scanned.

I do not wear any sort of hair accessory that makes my head look disproportionate so no one ever suspects that I am hiding anything inside. Unfortunately, these officers are just doing their jobs listening to some higher power who thinks its necessary to scan people's heads.

Question: Wouldn't the metal detector detect if there was something metal under my hijab anyways? Also, what does the magic wand actually scan for?


Actually, come to think of it, I remember on my way for Umrah, at an airport ( I don't recall which), all the ladies were brought into a small room where a female security officer made us flip our hijabs over our heads and she made sure that there was nothing inside.

Hijab

So, said girl in previous post decided to ask me a question this afternoon while we were walking across the field towards the dissection room.

she asked what i (or i guess, in general all hijabis) thought about muslimahs who don't wear hijab. She said that if other non muslim girls are viewed as 'cheap' or 'trashy' while wearing tight, short, revealing clothing then would a muslim girl be viewed the same way if she was without hijab?

she also asked if i was forced into wearing hijab and if not, whether i knew of anyone who had been forced to wear it.

so this was my answer: no, i dont think muslim girls without hijabs are cheap or trashy. hijab is a religious duty but, i have seen girls without hijab act better than those with hijab on. no i was not forced into hijab and yes i do know of girls who had been forced into wearing it.

i know my answer could have been alot better but this was what i said at that point in time. i could also have left out the part where i mentioned hijabis acting worse than non hijabis. duh nadia, you're supposed to be painting a good picture of hijabis but yes sometimes i say things that i regret. im sorry! ):

she seemed focussed on only one thing...girls being forced to wear hijab and i felt like she wanted to dramatize the whole hijab issue so i left my answer at that.

i hate how people try to manipulate an issue and turn people against each other. noooo, i like wearing hijab! seriously, it makes me feel safe but i know she will never understand.


also, a friend commented "Wow Nadia, i love how colorful you are today" while I was wearing black abaya, black hijab and black shoes.


i <3 my friends *ehem*

Redefined.

So today I stepped out of the house without eyeliner or lipgloss. No perfume either.

You see, I thought wearing abaya would make me stronger in my faith but then there were all these little things that were holding me back (well, I didn't really figure this out on my own. a little bird educated me).

Some of you might think that light makeup is OK, which is what I used to think/still think (?). But if I was being honest to myself, I will admit that I put on eyeliner to look nice. I don't stink either but I just like how my perfume smells.

A girl friend (note the space) used to comment on how lovely I smelled and imagine what the boys with their raging hormones might think. This very same girl friend is the one who goes and blabs my secrets out loud and how I regret trusting her with these details. She might point out a good looking male to me and I might agree. After that, she starts referring to him as if he is my crush which is obviously a lie. Embarrassing. i am keeping my mouth shut around that girl.

I'm working on the little things, InshaAllah...like oh SOCKS :D


OH, maghrib. bye i need to break my fast.

Abaya Attempt 3

So I just realised that my title in the previous blog entry had nothing to do with what I actually blogged about.

Well, this was what I wanted to say before I ran out of time. Just because I can say sentences like 'anta majnun jiddan' and 'anta ahbal' and 'ana thakiah' and other random words like 'dajajah' does not mean that I am fluent in arabic. LOL too funny.

Anyways, today will be attempt 3 at Abaya in Uni. The first time I wore it, a classmate said "Woah, impressive...is that actually a gown?!" I didn't feel like explaining so I said Yes. (:
You know what I hate about windy days? It blows your abaya INTO you, outlining every single err,...curve you have on you. Regardless of how loose your abaya is, the wind's gona do that. I bet I look like a complete idiot, trying to pull my abaya off me Lol. What would you do?

here is another observation about abaya: when I am wearing my shades, people stare more. why? is it because i am more mysterious (??!!) because they can only see my nose and mouth?

Just Married!

Lol, no..not really though I wish it was true.


We are watching the same sun! idk...

I love the rain but its getting too much.

So, it's been raining pretty much every single day. The bottom of my pants get soaked so I have to change every time I want to pray. Add that to the fact that I have no dryer and..well you get a whole load of dirty clothes.

BUT, my best friend is AWESOMEEEE and lets me use the dryer over there (:

Plane ride was terrible. I sat next to a hunky aussie teenager who thought that I also wanted to listen to his music at 3 in the freaking morning. I didn't get ANY sleep and the food sucked. I've been getting really paranoid lately and now I step off the plane with various aches/stabbing pains in my limbs. DVT anyone?

I havent cooked anything since I came back to Perth, been eating out practically every day ): I dont have much space in the freezer to store any food anyways. I havent even unpacked. Can you believe it? I am clearly not in the right frame of mind. I'm not ready for Uni to start yet. My best friend said "You are so confused" and I said " YES, I am not"....Brilliant ey?

Uni started formally yesterday, with a lab which is crazy. People don't have tutorials til the 2nd week of Uni and we have a 2 hour lab on the first day of the first week of Uni? My name is nowhere to be found on any of the student lists. Great, I am NON existent. The units don't appear in my student account and right now I am living on favours, asking friends to print notes for me because I dont have access to them.

I have to see the Professor later. Oh I just came back from his 8am lecture and needless to say, there will be no skipping of lectures this semester. He has Blue Squares of Death...the squares hides a student's photo and name [OMG my student ID photo ): ] and when he reveals what's hidden under the square, the student has to answer a question. Also a way in which he notes attendance.

By the way, I don't understand his accent. Seriously...

Yesterday I saw him and I scared him away. Funny but kinda sad.

Sick Sundays

Fever, Cough, Headache, Nauseous --> Ultimate combo

I feel sick..the lady who took my temperature at the masjid almost didn't let me in because of the H1N1 flu going around. However, she changed her mind because my temperature dropped by 0.6degree Celsius when she took it a second time.

I almost wished she had refused me entry because I had to sit through 3 hours of activities that shouldn't be held in a masjid.

Also, when I walked into the masjid, all the ladies looked me up, down and around (lol). Checking out my dress (brandless), my jeans (Target, yo), toe socks, hijab and absence of bling.


Oh, and another weird thing. They had the ladies sitting infront. I mean, forget about all that equality/feminist thing... I actually prefer sitting behind the men.

Ok, here's a brain teaser...

In a crowded room, where can everyone else sit that you can't?

Transsexual in Iran

SBS played 'Transsexual in Iran' yesterday night. This was when I realised I had no idea what the true definition of a trans/bi/homo sexual/gay/ lesbian was.

I have my Stedmans Medical Dictionary infront of me right now.

Transsexual: A person with the external genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics of one gender but whose personal identification and psychosocial configuration are that of the opposite gender.

Bisexual: Having gonads of both sexes or a person who engages in both heterosexual and homosexual activities.

Homosexual: Relating to erotic attraction or activity including sexual congress between people of the same sex.

Gay: A homosexual, especially male.

Lesbian: A homosexual, especially female.

In Iran, it's legal to have a sex change operation if you have been tested and proven to be a transsexual. It is illegal to have homosexual activities.

There was a transsexual who was interviewed and he(pre operation) claimed that it was society's pressure that was forcing him to undergo the operation. If he was in a different country, he would have rights and he would not have to choose between being a male OR a female. He claimed that he would not touch Allah's creation and be happy with his sexual organs ALTHOUGH, it would be a very big sin "to do it from behind."

One year later, she (post operation) made a living out of being a temporary wife, like many other transsexuals. She had been disowned from her family and she could not work elsewhere as she was still being discriminated. She travels to different places and becomes "a temporary wife for an hour or so and this is legal." [I thought the practice of having temporary wives was frowned upon by the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Correct me if Im wrong.]

A government official writes them a letter giving permission for them to wear women clothings while waiting for the operation. This was to avoid being arrested by the morality police.

I thought the whole episode was pretty interesting, I wished it had gone more in depth. Well just sharing...

Of towels and curtains

I promise that this is my last post for today.

Yesterday, Mr Atheist said I should stop wearing towels on my head and clothes that look like curtains.

Foto Friday

Update: We got snacks, bread and funky slipper socks in the City. My housemate thinks its a good idea to attach bells together with the furry balls already on the sock. Then, she wants to perform a dance for our other housemate. Did I mention that I live with wacky people?

My brothers covered the awrah of my baby Pooh. They gave him a skull cap and used a piece of cloth to make a pair of pants.

I thought only girls did such things but apparently, boys find humor in such things too.

Hijabs and Girls.

For me, the hijab is more than just carrying out a religious duty. Over the years, my hijab has transformed into a safety mechanism. I dont know if others feel the same way but my hijab makes me feel protected. Someone commented that when I wear hijab, my face totally cant be seen when viewed from the side.

I turned and gave him a wide smile while saying "And that's just the way I like it."

Back at home, I am not very close to my extended family. My father was the only university graduate from his side of the family and my mother was the only university graduate on her side too. So you know, sibling rivalry within their families exist. What I am going to tell you next involves only family on my dad's side. My maternal cousins are all much older or much younger. There aren't many that are in my age group, mostly boys. On my dad's side however, there are plenty of female cousins, all within my age group. Naturally, people start comparing.

So brains vs. beauty. I wont say that I am more intelligent than the rest of my female cousins but let's just say academically, I have achieved more than them. I also mentioned in a previous post (I think), that I am the only one to wear hijab. I have now been stereotyped as the hijab wearing, religion abiding girl. No room for mistakes for me. I have to be the perfect muslimah. I don't mind this stereotype because in a way, it helps me stay good (:

However, rivalry exists and since my aunts' children lost out in the brains department, they all want to trump me in the beauty department.

I always wear hijab when they come over to my house or when I go over to their homes. Yes, the man who married your father's sister is NOT mahram. I am going to kick the next person who tells me that he is. My aunts always make a big deal of the fact that I have hijab on. They will say "Oh, take it off. He is your uncle. There is no problem." But I refuse and keep my hijab on.
Sometimes, even when the non mahrams leave, my hijab still stays on because...

1) I like hijab.
2) I put effort into ironing my hijab.
3) Not taking it off just for you, who do you think you are?
4) Bad hair day.
5) I know all you want to do is see how I look without hijab and compare me to your daughters.

I know number 5 happens because it HAS happened. Right infront of me. Aunts commenting about my weight, my hair, my body's stats. Like hungry lionesses pouncing on a baby goat. I was dissected and each part of me reviewed ): One time I took off hijab after they all left and one aunt came back up to grab her purse because she forgot it, she saw my colored hair. (ya ya shush about the colored hair. it was a mistake. i got in major big time trouble with my dad so please, dont start nagging too.)
She went like "OHHHH. You colored your hair!! When did you do it? What color is it?" I just gave her a nervous smile and quickly closed the door.

The next day, okay probably that same night, half the extended family knew I had colored hair and that I am really a bad girl under the hijab. totally. *rolls eyes

Pleaseeeee stop comparing me to your daughters. I can't stand it. We are not even in the same leagues. Too different. No basis for comparison. ): You have to be fair when comparing us. You have to imagine me wearing clothes similar to theirs or imagine them wearing clothes similar to mine. My aunts think my fashion sense sucks because when I was like 15, they sneaked a peek of baggy jeans under my abaya. It's ok aunties, I don't mind being ugly in your eyes. Please stop trying to justify your opinion of the way I look. Really, I don't mind me so you shouldn't too. Be glad that your daughters are beautiful, skinny enough to fit into half a pair of skinny jeans and don't look weird with bleached blond hair...I don't really want to look like that so yeah (:

Anyways, my point is, dont be surprised if you see me wearing hijab among my aunts. They're my mahram yes but man, they wont quit checking me out!!

MORMONS

Yikes, there were loud knocks on the door so I went down to check.

We don't lock our screen door so the minute I opened the door, I saw 2 guys in white shirts and black pants, holding the screen door open.

My first thought: S***, I've been discovered.

They said: Do you have 2 minutes to spare to listen to us?

My second thought: Okay, why not?

They then welcomed themselves into my home. OMYGOSH KILL ME NOW I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO TALK TO ME FROM OUTSIDE.

No, I was not going to slam the door into their faces.

They asked: Whats your name?

I said: Nadia

They said: Wow, thats a wonderful name.

They asked: Do you have any religious background at all?

I said: Yeah, Im Muslim.

They said: Excellent!

Blah blah blah, the works of Jesus Christ being carried out by a living prophet, blah blah blah, native americans, blah blah blah, im from sydney hes from arizona, blah blah blah, no i was not brainwashed...i went in search of the truth on my own (Chill, i never said u were brainwashed...defensive much?) here's a free book for you, blah blah blah, can I just say a quick prayer?

I said: Yeah, go ahead.

And then he went on to say a prayer for me. Lol, I thought they were going to pray for themselves. He said may I be blessed for letting them into my house and that I read their book.

I dont know what I should have done? Maybe I should have just said No when they asked if I had time to spare but err, my mouth works on auto mode. I didnt think.

They were real nice and polite though. No, I'm not going to read The Book Of Mormon. I have no time ): I need to read my Quran.

Do you think it would work if Muslims went on a recruiting drive like this?


ps. Where is my stove + oven? Retravision, you lied to me.

Why I am ):

1) I sleep at odd hours and wake up at even more odd hours.

2) I eat one meal a day.

3) I'm gaining weight (see point above).

4) I cleaned my room a few days back and now all my books are on the floor again.

5) I can't see my bed, too many things on it.

6) I am not Saudi.

7) I am only 21, too young.

8) My friend died, killing herself and her unborn child.

9) My wardrobe is no longer color coded.

10) I have been believing without understanding. Now, the journey towards comprehension starts.

11) I need blender + electric mixer + stove + oven (last 2 coming on Wednesday, inshaAllah).

12) I got trumped by Dina, a girl from Egypt.

13) My family ignored me for MacDs.

14) I have an empty photo frame on my table. It says: Friends, through thick and thin.

I think I don't feel like updating about personal life anymore because that's just one huge mess. Someone convince me otherwise? hah.

Maybe just something useful from now on for everyone.

See y'all when I learn something new that I can share.

XOXO (to the girl readers).

I want to make cheesecake.

So I woke up this morning to wait for the arrival of the carpenter so he can fix our pergola. The carpenter called me yesterday and today at 9am to remind me that he was coming at 10am. I was impressed. I thought, this is one efficient dude.
He came, I opened the door. He looked shocked at my hijab+jumper+PJ combo. I've got the most colorful PJs you can ever imagine. Obviously, the colors didnt go down very well with him.

So he drilled and he hammered, causing the airconditioning panel in my room to fall off. Excellent job mate. After a long period of silence, I decided to check on his progress. The carpenter had disappeared. He fixed the wooden planks and left. He didnt even tell me he was leaving. He also left a mess of wooden splinters everywhere.

Not so efficient after all. I have no idea when he is coming next but hey, Alhamdulillah my 1/2 pergola is now 3/4 pergola (:

Then I went to uni for histo classes.

Oh, my oven and stove are still not replaced. After a barrage of emails, and a few calls, still no progress. Seriously, it's been 3 months since we first informed our agent for the need to replace our non functioning oven and our black smoke producing stove.

Doesn't ANYBODY work around here??!!

Cheesecake in the near future, inshaAllah. Chilled, not baked. This is what my brother and I made last time I was home. Kiwi Lemon cheese cake. I know, we're cool like that. LOL

Wardrobe Malfunction #1

I need a wardrobe makeover. I mean, I don't have to throw away anything...I just need to get something to put on over my clothes.

I hope my abaya arrives.

I've always been a hijabi...okay I exaggerate. I've been one for like 7 years now. I've got long skirts, loose fitting pants and tops that cover my bum. But I am also guilty of wearing short tshirts when I'm wearing skirts.

The skirt is loose but the problem is the tshirt. It shows off the waist.

I gained some weight and I can't fit into those tshirts anymore. They're too tight to be comfortable. Hehe...I am thinking positively about weight gain (:

Okay so my rant today is about why abayas are so expensive. I'm not talking fancy swarovski crystals studded abayas but just some plain ones with a little embroidery...They're way too expensive online and there aren't any places selling cheap abayas where I am staying.

An abaya is a necessity in a hijabi's wardrobe. Why they gotta be so pricey HUH?!


Wardrobe Malfunction #1
Last week, 4 times in the same day, the wind blew my hijab up, covering my face and obscuring my vision. A man chuckled to himself when I finally got my hijab off my face. Highly embarrassing. Alhamdulillah I was not wearing a low cut top.
Question: How many pins does it take to secure your hijab to your top such that it doesn't behave crazily when the wind blows?