Ramadan feasts

So, have you been cooking all day and eating all night?

As students living without awesome moms to cook iftar, we usually cook a larger amount of one dish and eat the same dish for a few days in a row. Since I've been at a sleepover the past 4 days, I only rediscovered my food in the fridge this evening. I had old leftovers for iftar and it made me a little sick. The food wasn't bad, I guess it's just not fun to break your fast with old leftovers.

I am currently indulging in a mug of apple juice and an omelette.

I would fly back home just to have a meal cooked by mom.

Also, being out and about as a hijabi in Ramadan makes you a natural target for "Excuse me sister, what time is Maghrib?" by hungry uni boys who just collected their kebabs from the shop and are counting down the minutes til they can sip some lemonade, smoke half a pack of cigarettes and finish their kebabs.

Conforming

Two nights ago,someone mentioned that I'd score better marks if I started conforming. He was making reference to my attire of abaya during physical examinations of patients. Gee, I didn't realise that a free flowing long dress restricted my ability to examine a patient competently. So maybe I'd start scoring 80/80 instead of the crappy 68-78 range that I've been achieving if I switched to a smart dress shirt and black pants?
Or maybe he was referring to my hijab like my old tutor who basically said I'd fail if I didt remove it while listening to patients' heart sounds? But he couldn't possibly have been talking about hijab! He's Muslim, for goodness sake.

Oh and another brother asked me why I'm always wearing the same black abaya. If you looked close enough, you'd realise they're different but I don't want you looking close enough. If you think I wear the same abaya five times a week, that's fine by me. Also, black is a personal choice because color makes me look fat.

Phew sarcasm limit reached for this week.

- iPhone blogging

Out of touch

I just cooked some rice without rinsing the grains first and everyone who has ever cooked rice knows that you just cannot skip that step.
I am preoccupied with too many other things to focus my mind on the thing that I am currently doing.
There's the research project outline due next week, I need to call my GP and schedule my visits, notes to be printed, a birthday card to make, I have to think of something savoury to bring for tutorial next week etc
Anyways, Ramadhan is coming. Finally, something to look forward to.

Hope everyone will be able to make the most out of this month and come out of it feeling like a better muslim and gunning for your next Ramadhan.

troubled times

so recently my life has been plagued with several bad episodes but nevertheless, i pulled through just to be knocked down again this morning.
this time, it involves Uni. we have this huge research project coming up that carries into 4th year and at the start of the year, I was asked by 2 of my classmates (let's call them A and H) to be part of their group. I agreed.
unfortunately, the 2 of them were under the impression that we were supposed to be working in groups of 4 so recently, they asked a buddy of theirs (IM) to join the group.

this morning, the research project coordinator mentioned that only groups of 3 were allowed and pair work would only be granted for the 'leftover' students who were groupless.

perhaps IM didn't know that I was part of the group but he took that opportunity to reaffirm his group membership by telling H that he, H and A were going to work together. H agreed and I'm like WHOA. Are you guys actually ditching me when I'm seated right here in between the 2 of you??

H felt a little bad but what could he do? He mentioned that ok, we'll kick IM out and take you in but I said no because that won't solve the problem. Someone will still be groupless and even though I'm upset, it's not really IM's fault because H should have mentioned that I was part of the original 3.

So ok, I was feeling a little down and I had hurriedly sent SMSes to everyone I knew in the lecture hall asking if anyone needed a 3rd member. Unfortunately, everyone already filled their 3 spots.
I know that the project coordinator will help to pair me up with someone but I would have liked to work with my friends...

What made me feel worse though was when IM mentioned that he was going to have a piece of brownie at H's house. He then said to me that I should have given H and A brownies so that they would have chosen me instead. I'm like EXCUSE ME?! I baked those brownies and I gave it to them!!

I know this sounds petty and really childish but come on, you took my spot away from me and then you say something like that....anyone would have felt upset. Anyway, if I have to give someone brownies just to make them take me in then I think I can find better friends elsewhere.

I am not enjoying Uni at all right now.

I need a friend...like you wouldn't believe.

Abaya

I've been wearing the abaya on a daily basis for close to a year now. I wear it to Uni, I've worn it on shopping trips, when I watched movies, walked on the sand at the beach, cultured bacteria in the lab, examined 4 different patients in less than 8 minutes each, I've worn the abaya to the market, I've even worn it to sleep when I was too tired to change. I went to work wearing the abaya, been on a fishing boat in an abaya and climbed to the top of a steep hill at Rockingham in an abaya.
My point is that the abaya has not restricted my daily activities in any way. I wear it because it is comfortable. It is worn loose and therefore provides modest coverage. That being said, the abaya is elegant and available in different colors and designs. Modest doesn't mean dull.

This past month has been difficult for me with people telling me to quit wearing the abaya. They tell me I am young so I should be wearing dresses or jeans. Apparently the abaya makes me look old, dull and fat. They think I am insecure about my body and this is why I hide it in the abaya. Some say that abaya is meant only for Arabs.

I never knew so many people could be so wrong about one thing.

I wear the abaya because firstly it is clothing that I feel best covers what needs to be covered (when worn appropriately) on a Muslim woman's body. Secondly it is extremely comfortable. Thirdly, most of my abaya are made from material that does not need ironing and for a busy university student, this is a dream come true.

These are my reasons for wearing the abaya. I know that I can also wear jeans and long tops but I choose not to.

So let them say what they want to. Their words hurt but I know what I want and I have every right to choose what I think is best for myself. After all, it is just a piece of garment and sometimes I wonder if these people have nothing else to fret about.

Wearing the abaya makes me feel happy and it sucks that people who supposedly care about me are trying to take this happiness from me.

- iPhone blogging

I'm back with my family right now.
Exams were terribly difficult and the wait for my results is getting pretty stressful.
other than that, nothing eventful has happened to me.