Tale of two Ramadans

I keep thinking about it, trying to analyze my feelings and figure out why this past Ramadan was literally the best I’ve experienced in 4 years (ie, since we left America).  The only thing I can figure is, the sense of not having any ‘place’ in Egyptian society really effected me more than I realized.  [...]

Natural Medicines from the Sunnah

I’d been planning for a while to write about hijama, and just by chance I came across American Bedu’s blog with the same topic.  She also has a video depicting hijama, which I’ll steal post here, since it is very similar to what I do myself.  There is such a wealth of natural medicine to be found [...]

Inspiring People

I met Um Esa at Markez Fajr.  She had a kind of dry sense of humor which she’d use it in the kitchen during our breaks.  I’d always been shy, but I realized if I wanted friends, I’d have to make some of the first moves.  I found out (as I’d guessed) that she was a Londoner [...]

Ultraconservative Islam on rise in Mideast

I found this article interesting…, I’ll bet the mall they’re talking about is Technology Mall on Makram Albeid.  It’s true that many places don’t close during prayer times, but I find it hard to see why that is such a threatening occurance in a muslim country, it not like the mall has a lot of [...]

The Ugly American?

We took a walk the other day to a new park, one recommended by a sister who lives close-by.  It was just fives minutes away, and we were the only people there, at first.  On our way home, a man watching from the adjoining apartment complex, first stared, then asked, “What, are you guys in [...]

Did we make the right choice?

I will be honest.  I felt a sort of relief to be coming home.  Living in Egypt (or anywhere overseas, imho) can be stressful.  I missed home a lot.  On the other hand, in Egypt, I did feel a sense of ease that my kids were growing around muslims, and in a more Islamic environment than [...]

We plan, and Allah plans…

We’ve made Cairo our home for the past 3.5 yrs, and have lived outside of the States for the past 4yrs.  I’d fully expected to be here for at least another 2yrs, or at least until my two oldest have finished Quran (mashallah, my daughter has 2/3 memorized, and my son 1/2).  However, dh returned [...]

Ramadan Journal and pics

First day, I’m feeling good, I shopped, I prepared.  I had a menu for the entire month.  I burn the food.  Yep, and not once but twice.  So first day of Ramadan we order out from Yemen Al-Sa’eed.  Mandi, a yemen dish which is delicious.  You can order a platter or 1/4 up to one whole lamb.  [...]

Last Night of Ramadan

Tonight is the last night of this blessed month.  For the past few years dh has called me and the kids to sit with him as he finishes Quran, and then make dua.  This year, he did it early, as he was traveling and won’t be with us for Eid.  I don’t manage to finish Quran every year, [...]

Ramadan Commercialized?

A few days before Ramadan, one of the kids teachers’ asked me if I was prepared for Ramadan.  She had been fasting voluntary fasts, reading more Quran.  I got ready to tell her about the kilos of onions I’d sliced and frozen, the samosas we’d prepared, basically all of the food prep that I’d done.  See, [...]