The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

2012-02-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

2012-02-07T23:34:00.003-08:00

Life is one big prisoner's dilemma.

Subjectivity and Objectivity

2012-02-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

How much of a person is who he or she actually is and how much is how we perceive them to be? Perceptions that are either internalized and then reflected outwards to reinforce this image we have of them, or that cloud the way we see them as they actually are.

Am I who I am to you because of how you see me to be or because of how I really am? And vice versa. Are you who you are to me because of how I think you are to be or because of who you truly are? 50/50? 75/25?

Decontextualization at its finest...and most confusing.

dipping my croissants in olive oil

2012-01-19T01:44:00.000-08:00

Some of the tastiest couscous I've ever had was prepared by a French woman in Valenciennes.

One of my go-to places for petits pains aux chocolat and my morning baguette is the corner épicerie managed by an Algerian man.

A movie was just released starring two of France's most talented young actors at the moment: one of French origins, the other of North African origins.

Maybe the diffusion and sharing of food and cultures is the answer to our differences. Opening doors and ears rather than sealing them. To ending this poisonous us/them, theirs/ours discourse.

To what degree does the French (general)system foster creativity?

2011-12-03T08:55:00.001-08:00

Even the title of my post is problématiser--they're getting to me already.

"Foster an entrepreneurial culture by instilling the skills and attitudes needed for creative enterprise."
-Ministerial report on the OECD Innovation Strategy, May 2010

Entrepreneurship? Innovation? Creativity? France?

Omar m'a tuer

2011-07-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

Must see this as soon as possible.

Sexual Violence Against Men

2011-07-20T03:36:00.000-07:00

"In a nutshell, that's exactly what happens," Dolan agrees. "Part of the activism around women's rights is: 'Let's prove that women are as good as men.' But the other side is you should look at the fact that men can be weak and vulnerable."

One of the most powerful articles I have read in a long time: The Rape of Men

I will blog more about this SOON (sooner than later).

Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States...

2011-05-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

"Fox News table, that was not my real birth video...Ask Disney if you don't believe me."

The Revolt of the Masses

2011-04-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

"To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand. This is the sport, the luxury, special to the intellectual man. The gesture characteristic of his tribe consists in looking at the world with eyes wide open in wonder. Everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes. This faculty of wonder is the delight refused to your football "fan", and on the other hand, is the one which leads the intellectual man through life in the perpetual ecstasy of the visionary. His special attribute is the wonder of the eyes."

-José Ortega y Gasset

Jambo Kenya!

2011-03-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Flying to Kenya (Nairobi) tomorrow.

Photo from Google Images

Excited to meet some courageous individuals from conflict areas including CAR, DRC, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan and South Sudan. I want to understand how people who are actually living through violence and war have the courage, the patience, the passion, and the DRIVE to become activists in their areas. Respect.

The Arab Market (Den Haag)

2011-03-19T09:22:00.001-07:00

It's not called the Arab Market, but that's what I call it. I love spending long Saturday mornings walking through the stalls of the outdoor market in Den Haag--the loud Moroccan fish vendors offering entire pails of varied fish and seafood for 5 euros each, the old bearded Turkish men discussing whatever it is they're discussing very intently, the beautiful dark-lashed Arab girls walking in groups browsing through clothes.

It's a completely different world from the larger background of Europe that encompasses it. Un monde chaleureux.

Photo credit to "OneKursat" of Deviantart.

Women's Status in Islam: Line Between Culture and Religion

2011-02-24T04:01:00.000-08:00

By Sarah Alaoui
Staff Writer

Introduction
Before the status of women in Islam can be determined, the religion itself must first be analyzed separately from the cultures and practices in “Islamic” countries—most notably, those in the Middle East. I argue that Islam gives women and men equal human rights spiritually, financially, and socially, thereby making it compatible with the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its emphasis on gender equality. I maintain that because of the persistence of agrarian labor and tribal traditions that created an imbalance and inequality of gender roles, these rights are not protected in many Middle Eastern countries that claim to practice Islam. I present these inequities, which result from the survival of patriarchal traditions, by examining three countries and their breach of women’s rights as protected in Islam and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Afghanistan

The subjugation of women in Afghanistan today cannot be attributed solely to the Taliban’s rule—rather, its roots were planted long before and continue to exist today. Even before the fundamentalist group took control, its past as a patriarchal agrarian society created a legacy of distinct gender roles and “…tribal traditions where men exercise unmitigated power over women,” (Ahmed-Ghosh 1). The structure of Afghan societies—especially in rural areas—is based around strong tribal and ethnic divisions with honor systems playing a major role in the various groups’ customs and their attitudes towards women. These honor codes center primarily around the preservation of their purity and morality. Women are used as pawns that help create and seal alliances between tribes through marriages, which are usually planned without the consent of the brides. In these unions, “…total obedience to the husband and his family is expected, and women are prevented from getting any education,” (Ahmed-Ghosh 2).

The Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, have a complex honor-based society that exemplifies the way tribal traditions have continued to define women’s roles today. Pashtunwali, translated literally as “the way of the Pashtuns” is the foundation of this people’s identity. Violation of any of the various stipulations prescribed by the code places the defier at risk of being shunned by his or her tribe, making adherence the obvious choice. The izzat, or honor of the Pashtun individual, is crucial to their membership in the group—without it, “…he or she is no longer considered a Pashtun, and is not given the rights, protection, and support of the Pashtun community” (Kakar 3). Members of self-sustaining agrarian communities are interdependent, eliminating exile as an option for survival.

The most important pillar of this extensive system is the purdah, often referred to as the symbolic veil separating the men’s sphere from the women’s sphere—a segregation necessary to uphold honor. In agrarian societies of Afghanistan, this is often practiced through the division of labor based on gender. Women are “…left to care for the household while the men are out shepherding the flocks for days and weeks” (Kakar 5). They are expected to remain within their respective sphere and it is common knowledge that consequences arise when these boundaries are crossed. For women, these consequences include getting, “…beaten, accused of dishonor, and even perhaps expelled from the community” (Kakar 5). The purdah and izzat are crucial to the survival of the Afghan system of patriarchy because the honor of the male head of a family is directly dependent on his wife’s virtue. In fact, “it is often said that Pashtun men customarily see women as comprising the essence of the family. If a woman earns a bad reputation, her whole family, which includes the men, is sullied” (Kakar 8). Places where mixing of unmarried or unrelated members of the opposite sex is prevalent are regarded as areas where moral defilement is likely to occur—unfortunately these places often include schools and even hospitals. This explains why such drastic measures are often taken to separate the women of Afghanistan from anything that may bring shame to their families—even if it comes at the expense of their basic human rights.

Though many may confuse the tribal traditions practiced in Islamic countries with the religion of Islam, it is important to note that, “…though the Pashtuns were Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school of law, it was their Pashtun tribal code, Pashtunwali, which governed them before all else,” (Kakar 2). Afghan society is structured around tribal divisions and although its people are practicing Muslims, the religion is ordained through tribal leaders who rarely recognize the line that lies between cultural customs and Islamic laws. They conveniently fail to enforce parts of the religion that could potentially obstruct the continuity of their patriarchal system, and the steps they take to preserve their ways are often in clear violation of not only Islam, but also the universal standards of human rights.

The fact that the first word of the Quran revealed was iqra, which translates to the command, “read” or “learn” in Arabic, is proof enough of the impact that Islam places on the education of its followers. However, there are numerous other places within the scripture and also in the hadiths (words or deeds of the Prophet, peace be upon him) in which the education of both males and females is emphasized. The Prophet (pbuh) used to say, for example, that, “education is obligatory on both Muslim men and women, even if they have to go to China to seek it” (Bhutto). The reiteration of the importance of learning in Islam is in clear opposition to the current practices of the Taliban in Afghanistan today—a group still deeply entrenched in ancient tribal practices. As of 2009, more than 630 schools have been shut down by the Taliban because they have been deemed “un-Islamic” (IRIN). Ironically, it is the closing down of these educational institutions that are against the tenets of Islam and in comparison, the tribal traditions they have carried throughout the years that condone such actions.

With respect to the forced marriages and subservience to men that is expected of women in Afghan tribes, these actions are also condemned in Islam where, “no one – not even her father can force her to marry against her expressed consent. And a woman does not cease to be an individual after marriage” (Bhutto). A woman’s humanity and singularity is acknowledged in Islam and she is not regarded as property to be beaten and abused as is the case in patriarchal Afghan societies. Tribal leaders abuse their absolute power and, by labeling cultural traditions as religious, they manage to maintain their sexist system of hierarchy.

According to the UN Universal Standards of Human Rights, the institutionalized patriarchies of Afghan societies violate several articles, including the document’s core premise that “…the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people.” Women in Afghanistan live in the constant fear that they will bring shame upon their families. They live their lives in fear that they will be punished for simply desiring access to an education or healthcare in a public place alongside their fellow human beings. Afghanistan’s tribal rituals, as demonstrated by the Pashtunwali, are also in clear violation of Article 16 of the Universal Standards, which declares that only marriage between two consenting spouses is humanely permissible. In addition to its transgression of many other standards, the Afghan tradition of segregation—often depriving women of an education altogether—breaches Article 26, which ultimately acknowledges that all human beings have the right to an education.

Iran

Similar to the tribal system in Afghanistan, Iran’s history of patriarchies is framed within a monarchical patrilineal heritage. Males were placed on a much higher scale than women were during Iran’s dynastic era, which contributes to the subordinate place in society that women fill today. As was done in the tribal societies of Afghanistan, where marriage unions were created to facilitate alliances between groups, marriages in Iran were carried out more as eternal business deals than meaningful relationships. According to Sedghi, this system:

…ensured patriarchal domination…and permanent marriage analogous to a commercial transaction, in which the woman, the object of the contractual transaction, is exchanged for the mehr (brideprice). The brideprice specifies saman-e boz or the price for a woman’s sexual organ. The marriage contract approximates a commercial contract in Islamic Law, where saman (price) is exchanged for the mabi (object for sale). Marriage is thus a contract for the legalization of sexual intercourse, not for love… (28)

These transactions were arranged and conducted by the bride’s father and groom without ever receiving her consent. In fact, many of the marriages that took place in Iran involved young nine or ten-year-old girls. Essentially the unions symbolized a transfer of the female’s sexuality to the possession of her new husband—her role was to serve as a sex object and reproductive machine.

From their childhoods and onward, women were taught to be ashamed of their gender. During the late 18th to early 20th centuries, under the rule of the Qajar Dynasty, it was considered a social disgrace to give birth to girls. The consequences of a female birth, “…usually meant disappointment to the father and fear in the mother, who might face abandonment or punishment by her husband or his close relatives or her own father,” (Sedghi 27). During this period of time, it was common for members of the royal family or wealthy landlords to take on as many as 300 wives at a time—some legitimate and some servants that were taken on as concubines. Having many wives maximized the husband’s chances for having male children to carry on his name—this was important for members of royalty especially because of the legacy of their dynasties. This number of spouses, though disproportionate to that found in Iran today, further entrenched a patriarchal system that doted on males and subordinated females to the role of domestic baby-making machines.

Contrary to popular belief, polygamy is not encouraged in Islam and is only allowed under certain conditions:

And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course. (Qur’an 4:3)

During the time of the Prophet (pbuh), it was appropriate to take on more than one wife (but only a maximum of four were permitted) because the wartime conditions during this period left many women widowed and even more orphaned—marriage was seen as an act of charity that helped save and support these women. 300 wives would not be permitted as there would be no feasible way in which the husband can provide equal time and care to each of them—another stipulation to this “luxury” of polygamy. This is another example of the misrepresentation and exploitation of Islam through cultural practices.

Even the way women were forced to dress during the Qajar Dynasty was an indication of their lower status in society simply because of what the various articles of clothing were widely known to symbolize. Women wore a “…three-piece dress consisting of…very loose trousers…that signified their separate world; it assured them space and identity as…the weak and status as…those obedient to men’s will,” (Sedghi 26). This dark, uniform clothing represented their isolation from the world of men and the clearly distinct sphere they were made to live in as part of the male-dominated world that ruled them.

The patriarchal dynasty of Iran during the Qajar and Pahlavi monarchical rule came to a halt with the 1979 Revolution. The series of protests and demonstrations against the rule of the kings united most of Iran’s citizens against the patriarchal structure that had so staunchly defined Iranian families. Women were strongly represented among the protesters and they, “…themselves began recognizing their strength in numbers. An egalitarian spirit prevailed in the streets during this period of the Revolution,” (Fathi 132). This inkling of hope for women remained just that, however, because the traditional Iranian family structure that was entrenched under Iran’s dynastic rule was too engrained in the culture to be overcome by a renewal of ideas—no matter how radical.

Rule under then Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and now Khamenei’s theocracy was similar to the monarchs before them, but now hidden under the pretext of Islamic rule. Soon after coming into power, Khomeini enforced the hijab head covering for all women venturing out into public, and reaffirmed their domestic roles in the household and away from the public sphere by denying them access to political power. He also went so far as to have women arrested who violated certain dress codes. Both Khomeini and Khamenei are known to carry out inegalitarian punishment for things such as adultery, giving women the short end of the stick (Sedghi 202). The theocratic leaders’ rule served the same purpose as that of the monarchs—keep women subservient to men. The former leaders under the umbrella of the Islamic Republic of Iran, simply added a religious spin to their actions and, “in an attempt to ‘Islamicize’ women’s position, they resorted to coercion, passed inegalitarian laws, and mobilized female morality squads or…the gender police, to enforce its codes of propriety” (Sedghi 202).

An oft-publicized and debated subject about Islam is the issue of women’s dress and covering. While it was imposed upon women in Iran, the Quran mentions it as advice directed towards women and not towards men or anyone else to mandate:
“Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty…” (Al-Mu’minun 24:30-31).

Ultimately, it is a Muslim woman’s choice to practice modesty how she sees fit and this decision does not religiously fall within any Ayatollah’s jurisdiction. This freedom is also in accordance with the UN Universal Standards of Human Rights which recognize every individual’s, “…right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference.” Under the scriptures and the human rights document, no entity should have the power to tell any individual how to express themselves—whether it be through imposing the donning of the veil or not.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, the extended family is a crucial part of the country’s society. The way various roles within these families were organized, especially, led up to the norms we see today. Even before Islam arrived in Saudi Arabia in the 7th century, division of labor was divided by gender. Similar to Afghanistan and Iran, “the primary male roles were as providers and protectors of the family, working outside the home. The primary female roles were as nurturers and managers within the home, in which all women in the family tended to band together to influence family decisions,” (Long 36). These various positions in society that the two genders held and traditions of secluding the women away from the public lives of men were entrenched in Arabian society even before its origination of Islam. Included in these customs was the issue of female modesty—this was a common theme prevalent in many civilizations at this time. The, “…virtue of female modesty, including its assocation with women’s apparel in public, is expressed in Genesis 24—65: ‘And Rebekah lifted up her eyes and when she saw Isaac, she asked the servant, ‘Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?’ And the servant replied, ‘That is my master;’ then she took her veil and covered herself” (Long 36).

This atmosphere that placed such a large emphasis on women’s modesty (similar to the honor codes of Afghanistan and the dress of women in traditional Iranian families) set up the backdrop for future violations against women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.

In a society trying desperately to hold on to its beliefs and traditions amidst the oncoming waves of development and progression of women in the public sphere, Islam remains a static, sentimental piece of the world they firmly hold on to. The modest woman as depicted in the Quran symbolizes the antithesis to the Western woman, according to Saudis—the latter is one they do not want existing within their patriarchies. As a result of their attempts to prevent “Western thoughts” from permeating their close-knit, delineated gender roles, they have implemented many laws including mandatory head to toe covering, lax punishments for perpetrators of domestic violence and the banning women from driving. As mentioned before in the examinations of the previous countries, covering is up to the woman and not something that should be mandated by a state or other unaffected individual. Domestic violence, as in other Abrahamic religions, is not condoned and the woman has a right to divorce with her husband providing for her: “[65:7] The rich husband shall provide support in accordance with his means, and the poor shall provide according to the means that GOD bestowed upon him. GOD does not impose on any soul more than He has given it. GOD will provide ease after difficulty.” As for driving, according to the Hadiths, Aisha, the Prophet’s wife (pbuh) rode her own camel while fighting in battles as did his prior wife, Khadijah. Once again, the religion of Islam has been used in a Middle Eastern country as a scapegoat in order to preserve the patriarchal status quo.

Conclusion

It can be simple to blur the line between culture and religion when referring to the Middle East and its various countries’ violations of women’s rights as accorded to them naturally and specified in the UN Universal Standards of Human Rights. However, when one looks at first the examples of Afghanistan, then Iran and Saudi Arabia, it becomes clear that the patriarchal cultures in each of these societies developed from tribalism, patrilineal dynasties, and roles in extended families, outlasted and often outshined the Islamic religion that was practiced in their midst. The bonds of culture and traditions are too strong to take the backseat to religion and are often spread and implemented under its pretext—especially by the dominant male ruling group to justify their patriarchal societies. When one looks at the actual teachings of the Islamic religion, however, it becomes clear how they have been used in these countries to propel their ruling, male-dominated class’s agendas forward and how in reality, they mirror the universal standards of human rights.

Works Cited

Ahmed-Ghosh, Huma. A History of Women in Afghanistan: Lessons Learnt for the Future. Diss. San Diego State University, 2003. Print.

Bhutto, Benazir. “The Prophet Preached Equal Rights; Now the Task Is To Restore Them.” Asiaweek 25 Aug. 1995. Print.

Fathi, Asghar. Women and the Family in Iran. Leiden: Brill, 1985. Print.

“IRIN Asia | AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Forces Students out of Schools into Madrasas | Asia | Afghanistan | Children Education Gender Issues Conflict | Feature.” IRIN ” Humanitarian News and Analysis from Africa, Asia and the Middle East – Updated Daily. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. .

Long, David E. Culture and Customs of Saudi Arabia. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 2005. Print.

Sedghi, Hamideh. Women and Politics in Iran: Veiling, Unveiling, and Reveiling. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2007. Print.

“Tribal Law of Pashtunwali and Women’s Legislative Authority.” Diss. Harvard University. Web. .

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” Welcome to the United Nations: It’s Your World. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. .
“Human Rights Concerns.” Amnesty International USA – Protect Human Rights. Web. 11 Mar. 2010.

Article originally published in Prospect Journal of International Affairs.

World Press Photo of the Year 2010

2011-02-14T15:11:00.000-08:00

World Press Photo Award 2010.

At the age of 14, this young woman, Bibi Aisha, was married off by her family to a Taliban member. After four years of mistreatment by her husband, she decided to flee her home. As a punishment, one of her family members cut her ears and her nose. (The Taliban, however, denied any involvement)

Photo taken by Jodi Bieber.

what about Arabian looking grandmas?

2011-02-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

There's a conundrum for Homeland Security...

Award of the day goes to the Dutch

2011-02-11T04:01:00.000-08:00

"School Muslim headscarf ban, only if education under threat

Wednesday 09 February 2011

Religious schools in the Netherlands may not ban Muslim pupils from wearing headscarves simply if it contradicts their core values, the cabinet said on Tuesday in answer to questions from the anti-Islam PVV.

‘The freedom of education refers primarily to the process of giving education. Special schools can place demands on the participation in that education, if this is necessary to realise their core values,’ home affairs minister Piet Hein Donner and education minister Marja van Bijsterveldt said in a statement.

In addition, the argument that the wearing of headscarves shows a lack of equality between men and women gets equally short-shrift from the ministers. ‘Fashion dictates all sorts of differences between the way men and woman dress,’ the ministers said.

Meanwhile, a Muslim girl at the centre of a row over her headscarf at a Catholic school in Volendam has agreed to cover her head in the assembly hall and in school corridors only, the Telegraaf reports.

© DutchNews.nl

2011-02-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”

-Jack Kerouac

...and that is what drives me.

P.S. NOTE FROM HAGUE :)

This country (and perhaps elsewhere in Europe) must be the only one in which the bike lane is just as big, if not bigger, as the car lane.

Guess what?

2011-02-03T23:20:00.001-08:00

I'm moving to the Hague this Saturday for a 3-month internship...

What I'm excited for: my internship!, farmer's markets, PASTRIES, Amsterdam less than an hour away, networking, being closer to my cousins in France, my best friend from high school in Denmark, my best friend from San Diego in Paris, my friend from Morocco in Belgium.

Lots of exciting things, can't wait! :)

From my 2010 visit to Amsterdam...

Invasion of the Tiger Moms?

2011-02-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

TIME Magazine’s January 31 cover displayed an intimidating image of a young girl practicing violin alongside the looming torso of her mother, arms sternly folded. The headline read: “The Truth About Tiger Moms”—have researchers unraveled new findings on the family dynamics of felines in the wild? Not quite. What the magazine and the rest of the nation have been discussing is Harvard-educated and Yale law professor Amy Chua’s new memoir on tough-love parenting—one that has sparked an ongoing, contentious debate on stricter forms of childrearing and has placed into question Chua’s methods.

In “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”, Chua answers the question that many wonder about: how do Chinese parents, more often than not, manage to raise stereotypically brilliant and successful children? She does so through sharing her own experiences and anecdotes of parenting her two daughters, Louisa and Sophia. In raising her children, Chua enforced a debatable system of discipline to ensure their success that included many things they were not allowed to do such as:

• sleepovers or playdates
• participate in a school play (including complaining about not being in one)
• watch television or play computer games
• choose their own extracurricular activities
• receive any grade less than an A (including not being the top student in every subject, not including gym and drama)
• play any instrument other than the piano or violin

Though Chua is a Chinese mother herself, her use of the label serves as an umbrella term to refer to any parent who expects the best and nothing less from his or her child, but moreover, personally pushes them in order to carry out these expectations. She cites the “Western mother” as a sort of foil to further highlight the differences in parenting that make the Chinese mother stand out. For example, in a study done amongst a roughly equal number of Western American mothers and Chinese immigrant mothers, the majority of the first group felt that “stressing academic success is not good for children” while 0 percent of the latter group felt the same way. Instead, the second group strongly believed that their children’s performance in school was a direct reflection of their parenting and any results below perfection indicated a flaw in their rearing skills. Conversely, Western parents were more concerned with their children’s happiness and self-esteem which they nurtured through signing up their children in sports teams and art classes—activities that Chua more or less considers frivolous. She finds this Western obsession with children’s contentment counterproductive to the ultimate goal of producing academically and professionally successful children. She says, “What Chinese parents understand, is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it,” a statement that has parents flinching throughout America.

Chua’s book has received backlash for being too harsh and advocating parenting methods that place too much pressure on children. A parody website, “Tiger Mom Says” (http://tigermomsays.tumblr.com), has been made to satirize some of the techniques of tiger parenting including: “All work and no play sounds about right to me” or “Do homework, THEN eat”. Sounds severe? The parody is not far off from the real thing. When Chua’s daughter Lulu was seven years old, she could not seem to perfect French composer Jacques Ibert’s “The Little White Donkey” on the piano. Frustrated, but determined for her child to master the instrument, Chua threatened Lulu with, “no lunch, no dinner, no Christmas or Hannukah presents, no birthday parties for two, three, four years” until she could play the piece. After much frenzied yelling and hours of practice, Chua’s daughter finally succeeded. Tiger mom had won the battle. However, is this the only way to “win” with children?

While many parents have deemed Chua’s tactics as callous, the word is subjective. With regards to her hesitation in over-praising children, some psychologists agree that the way parents dole out approval may affect how well a child performs. A study conducted by one Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck, shows that children perform differently based on whether they are praised on their intelligence or their hard work. Her findings show that kids who are complimented on how hard they work were more enthusiastic about taking on even tougher tasks. Similar research published in “Scientific American” about four years ago concluded that parents of successful children praised them more on their effort rather than their actual intelligence—according to the publication, the key to raising smart kids is simply to never tell them that they are. These studies reaffirm Chua’s parenting arguments—that too much praise can possibly detract from the intended outcome of “success”-and that, “parents and teachers can engender a growth mind-set in children by praising them for their effort or persistence rather than for their intelligence,” (Scientific American).

Though I have not read the actual book, I have been following some of the discussions stemming from it, and I have to say that I was raised in a Tiger family. And I thank God every single day that I was—I would not be as motivated or ambitious as I am today without a mother and father who expect nothing less than success. Many kids today are babied and a disproportionate amount of parental attention is placed on their feelings rather than their realistic well-being in this world that doesn’t necessarily care about individual feelings.

What’s your take on tough parenting?
What should the limits be in your opinion? Your experiences as kids/parents?

Lesson on stopping racism from Morgan Freeman

2011-02-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

‎"How are we going to get rid of racism? STOP TALKING ABOUT IT." self-fulfilling prophecy? I think so.

BAN OPPRESSIVE GARMENTS!

2011-01-28T11:06:00.000-08:00

Jajaja below:

On the same subject, there's a book!

Simplified Timeline of Jasmine (Tunisian) Revolution

2011-01-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

For those of you who haven't been following the protests in Tunisia closely (or at all), I offer a simplified timeline below to break down what's going on in the country and surrounding areas...

Some basic facts about Tunisia you'll need to know before you read about why its people had a revolution:

People: About 10.4 million people; speak Arabic and French; Islam is official state religion, but government supports a secular society.

Economy: Profitable tourism industry; agriculture, mostly olive oil and oranges. Unemployment is officially at 14 percent, and jobless rates are much higher among educated youths and in rural areas away from the coast.

Politics: After the French protectorate gained its independence in 1956, Habib Bourguiba became its first president. In 1987, 84-year-old Bourguiba was deemed medically unable to fulfill his presidential duties and was overthrown in a bloodless coup by former interior minister Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. Ben Ali was "re-elected" in 2009 for a fifth term with "89 percent" of the vote (he is known to quell his opposition through the use of force and violence).

Life under Ben Ali: Media is tightly controlled (including Youtube and other video sharing sites. The first independent radio station did not start broadcasting until 2003. Email is monitored, according to some. According to Amnesty International, human rights organizations are harassed by authorities.) Ben Ali lived a disgustingly lavish lifestyle with his family (think: caged tigers, beach homes with elevators, frozen yogurt shipped in from St. Tropez, a first lady that gives exorbitant gifts to family members). And so, the people naturally had reason to be angry...enough to fuel a full-fledged revolution.

The Jasmine Revolution
December 17, 2010:
26-year-old computer-science graduate and fruit vendor Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire after policewoman slaps him and orders him to pack up his street cart in Sidi Bouzid. It was the last straw to add to his list of grievances (including not finding employment after graduation and having to resort to selling fruit to support his seven siblings).

Ben Ali pays Bouazizi a visit in the hospital...the young man died on January 4, 2011 eighteen days after his self-immolation.

"Free Tunis"; Bouazizi becomes the martyr face of the Jasmine Revolution

December 24, 2010:
Protests break out in Sidi Bouzid and spread to Menzel Bouzaiene, Kairouan, Sfax, Ben Guerdane, Sousse. Police fire on demonstrators.

December 27, 2010:
The protests spread to Tunis, the nation's capital. Over 1,000 people take to the streets. The protests are kept afloat via social media (similar to Iran's Green Revolution, the protests were organized through Twitter and Facebook).

December 28, 2010:
Ben Ali condemns protests and warns that those using violence will be punished (as if years under his rule weren't punishment enough...)

January 13, 2011:
66 deaths, if not more, are reported since protests began. Government estimates only 23. President Ben Ali pledges major reforms and says he will not stand for re-election in 2014 (hmmm....)

January 14, 2011:
A state of emergency is declared in the country. Ben Ali dissolves parliament and promises to hold legislative elections within six months. That same evening, he steps off his tainted "throne" and flees to Saudi Arabia.

January 15, 2011:
Speaker of Parliament Foued Mebazaa is sworn in as temporary president and begins discussions with opposition parties on the formation of a new government.

U.S. response? After Ben Ali's fall, Barack Obama and State Department officials voiced their default wishes for fair elections in Tunisia. Media coverage of the revolution, however, was sparse and the administration was nearly silent about the killing of protesters--"aside from voicing its "concern" to the Tunisian ambassador in Washington".

NOW?: "“Our revolution is your revolution,” the military leader, Gen. Rachid Ammar, yelled through a megaphone to more than 1,000 demonstrators in a square near his office, according to several witnesses. “The army will protect the revolution.”

General Ammar was trying to placate protesters who are demanding the dissolution of the interim government because of the continued dominance of officials from Mr. Ben Ali’s old ruling party. His remarks are significant because he is playing an unseen but potentially decisive role in the Tunisian government. Many here hope Tunisia will be the first Arab democracy, rising from the first popular overthrow of an Arab strongman.

(In the final days of Mr. Ben Ali’s rule, Tunisians watched in wonder as the military inexplicably withdrew from positions defending the capital. After Mr. Ben Ali fled the country a day later, Arab newspapers reported that it was General Ammar’s refusal to fire on civilians that led to Mr. Ben Ali’s final exit.)"

So a guy set himself on fire, some people protested, and now Ben Ali's gone. Now what?

Arab activists throughout the MENA area are holding their breath for similar events to unseat other dictators in the region. Arab leaders are bracing themselves for possible riots and protests...Libya, Jordan, Egypt...who's next?

Most recently:

This morning (January 25, 2011), Egyptian protesters took to the streets calling for the ouster of 82-year-old President Hosni Mubarak (has been in power for three decades) and for an end to poverty and widespread unemployment in the biggest manifestation the country has seen in years. Sound familiar? Will these protests produce the same results as the Jasmine Revolution? Stay tuned...

In the meantime, some photos, videos and tweets (the Egyptian government blocked Twitter, but protesters found their way around this) from the action. I have to say I'm happy with the amount of coverage these protests are getting...big difference compared to Tunisia's when it initially began:

*Most images from Google. Egyptian images from Facebook event group for protest.

Pick me up

2011-01-20T16:52:00.000-08:00

Life is uncertain, but never doubt yourself amidst the tumult.

“Oh soul,
you worry too much.
You have seen your own strength.
You have seen your own beauty.
You have seen your golden wings.
Of anything less,
why do you worry?
You are in truth
the soul, of the soul, of the soul.”
-Rumi

Interview with U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag

2011-01-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

My interview with U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag recently published in the UCSD Alumni Magazine...

Melinda Haag, Muir '83, places her Blackberry on the table in front of her so as not to miss her husband's phone call—he's dropping off one of their 12-year-old twin sons at her office after soccer practice. Wearing a gray power suit and black ankle boots, Haag sits back in an armchair inside her panoramic San Francisco office. Haag was sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California by President Obama on August 13, 2010, after she had been approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate on August 5. And she seems naturally at ease with being the first woman to hold the position in 90 years.

As a member of the first class to graduate in the shadow of the newly built Sun God sculpture, Haag fondly remembers her tenure as a Muir student. Her major in Political Science gave her access to the best political thinkers and teachers in the field including Herbert York, who had served as U.S. ambassador to the Comprehensive Test Ban negotiations, and former Berlin judge, Henry Ehrmann. A visiting professor at the time, Ehrmann encouraged his students to question the law because of his own brushes with authority—he had been sent to a concentration camp during World War II for his involvement with the German Social Democrat party. Haag also took a course with Peter Irons who was working on the Japanese internment case of Fred Korematsu. Professor Irons had been researching internment records at the National Archives when he came across unreleased government documents denying that Japanese-Americans were a real threat, thereby debunking any grounds for their internment during World War II. His work helped reverse the criminal convictions of Japanese-Americans who had challenged the curfew and relocation orders including that of Korematsu, whose case had stood for almost 40 years before Irons reopened it.

"I felt really lucky," says Haag, "it was amazing to listen to these men who had actually lived history and not just studied it."

As a Triton, Haag was not only kept busy with classes. She recalls that her duties as a Resident Advisor required frequent visits to the emergency room, tending to freshmen who had had a little too much fun. She also had an assortment of other part-time jobs. When she wasn't serving afternoon tea to the Physics department—at 3 p.m. sharp each day—she worked for a local defense attorney. There, Haag was impressed by 28-year-old attorney Elisabeth Semel, and the way she carried herself in the male-dominated profession. Semel, who is now the director of UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall Death Penalty Clinic, was the main inspiration for the young student's chosen career track.

"I looked up to her because she didn't feel the need to compromise her femininity to be in a man's world," Haag says.

Because of Semel, Haag decided to apply to law school, graduating from the UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law in 1987. Eighteen years later at a Boalt alumni event, Haag ran into Semel, introduced herself, and shared with her that she was the reason why Haag practiced law today. The two women continue to meet occasionally.

After law school, Haag moved to Los Angeles where she worked for four years as the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District tackling narcotics cases in the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). In 1993, she transferred to private practice at the now-defunct San Francisco firm Landels Ripley & Diamond LLP. Six years later, she was recruited to the United States Attorney's Office in San Francisco by then U.S. Attorney Robert Mueller, who is now director of the FBI. There, she prosecuted many cases involving civil rights, the environment and child pornography.

One of Haag's most memorable cases was in 2002 at Pelican Bay State Prison where she successfully prosecuted two California prison guards accused of assaulting inmates. Despite the lack of cooperation from the other guards—they did not want to help convict one of their own—Haag's persistence and dedication paid off, reflecting her passion to fight against violations of the justice system.

In a switch from prosecution to defense, she was recruited by one of her coworkers at the Los Angeles office, Walter F. Brown, to work at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP. The firm manages cases involving fraud, antitrust violations, environmental crimes, health care fraud and other corporate matters.

"I brought in Melinda because I have the highest regard for her skill, experience, judgment and integrity," says Brown. "Based upon her dual experience as both a federal prosecutor and a criminal defense lawyer, I could not imagine anyone who would be better suited."

Haag also worked with the White Collar Criminal Defense and Corporate Investigations Group, a team that represents companies, CEOs and other white-collar players.

"Melinda is highly respected in the San Francisco legal community for achieving excellent results for her clients and for conducting herself with the utmost integrity and high standards," says Jan Little, a partner at San Francisco firm Keker & Van Nest LLP.

Haag's career took a major turn when Senator Barbara Boxer recommended that she serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.

"Melinda has more than two decades of experience handling white-collar crime cases, which will be a tremendous asset to the U.S. Attorney's Office," stated Senator Boxer in a press release.

In her new role, Haag is employed by the U.S. Department of Justice and answers to Attorney General Eric Holder. She represents the United States in civil cases, and defends everything from mail carrier accidents to Fair Housing violations. Haag replaced one of the last Bush appointees, Joe Russoniello, who had headed the office since 2008. While her predecessor was known for taking tough stances on immigration issues and street crime, she is expected to focus more on white- collar crime, environmental issues and civil rights suits. Her office of 126 prosecutors is responsible for enforcing all federal laws, including those pertaining to taxes, sex tourism and other criminal activity.

"I have represented companies, CEOs and CFOs," Haag says. "Now, I defend the United States of America."

The Northern District of California—where 21 percent of the state's population live—is made up of 15 counties and stretches from the Monterey Coast in the south to California's border with Oregon in the north, and from the Pacific Ocean in the west to just short of Sacramento in the east.

"What's important to this district are environmental laws," says Haag. "People in the Bay Area, for example, are concerned about preserving the natural environment that makes this area such an incredible place to live."

Civil rights and crimes pertaining to their violation are also of great importance in Haag's district. However, the district's highest priority is national security—which has remained the main concern of every office under the Department of Justice since September 11th. While Haag is given broad priorities set by the Justice Department, she also has leeway to prioritize issues and cases as she sees fit.

Before facing her daily work tasks, Haag starts her mornings by waking up her sons and ends her nights by catching an episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. When (or rather, if) she has free time, she likes to relax in yoga classes.

As the first woman in 90 years to hold this position—the first was Annette Adams who served from August 5, 1919 to June 20, 1920—Haag is often asked how she feels about the gender issue.

"If anything, being a woman is an advantage," Haag says in response. "The women in law before me have paved the way."

Bon Voyage

2010-12-19T19:36:00.001-08:00

Off to Morocco tomorrow...

Marrakech, 2008

Rainy morning, French breakfast, old friend

2010-12-17T14:15:00.000-08:00

That's how I like to start my days...

Didn't take any this morning, but here's a photo from Lille

Eleven Minutes

2010-12-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

"We all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss."
— Paulo Coelho (one of my favorite Virgos)

2010-12-11T11:23:00.000-08:00

College graduate.

Cleopatra's Guide to Good Governance

2010-12-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

Nothing that impresses me more than a pragmatic, powerful woman:

Interesting piece in the Times on Cleopatra's leadership model

Que nadie sepa mi sufrir/La Foule

2010-12-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

I love the Edith Piaf version of this song "La Foule", but I think I prefer this...

2010-11-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.”

Winston Churchill

Ground Zero Reactions

2010-08-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

My response to Ground Zero snafu, via the wise words of Tariq Ramadan:

"It is urgent to stop blaming the 'society-that-does-not-like-us' or 'islamophobia' or 'racism'...That such phenomena exist cannot be denied, but Muslims must tackle them by getting involved as citizens and by fighting against injustice, racism, discrimination, populist stigmatization discourse, and hypocrisies."

The victim mindset won't help anyone.

Ramadan pt.2: Q&A

2010-08-29T05:28:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading my blog, you know that right about now, it's Ramadan. My friends and coworkers know I'm abstaining from food and drink this month, but with the questions I've been receiving, I feel like I should explain a bit more about what this special time entails. I enjoy when people ask me questions about the when, why, how and other logistics and practices of Ramadan because it's important to enlighten each other. An enlightened community is a peaceful community, and we all know how crucial mutual awareness and understanding are right now in light of the recent events in New York and TIME's cover story "Does America Have a Muslim Problem?"...

Before I get into the various parts of this holy month in which the Qur’ān was revealed, I'm going to answer a few amusing questions that either I or other Muslim friends have been asked about Ramadan:

Q: Can you drink water during Ramadan?
No, you cannot drink anything or eat anything from sunup to sundown.

Q: Aren't you dying?
:) No, I'm perfectly fine, thank you. Just a bit tired, but staying busy helps!

Q: If you swallow your spit, do you break your fast?
Salivation is a natural process, I'm not sure how you would even prevent it from happening. The answer is "no".

Q: Do you break your fast if you brush your teeth?
No. Just make sure you're not a toothpaste fiend and don't swallow any!

But many do not know that Ramadan is not only limited to what goes into or rather, does not go into your mouth:

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct during Siyam, then Allah does not care if he abstains from food and drink (Bukhari, Muslim)

It's also a month centering around practicing self-control, self-betterment, and spiritual introspection. It's also about...

Practicing Patience
What is meant by the month of Patience is the month of Ramadan …so fasting is called patience because it restrains the soul from eating drinking, conjugal relations and sexual desires." (At-Tamheed of Al Haafidh ibn Abdul Barr)

Keeping that Mouth Classy
Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking. Rather, it is also abstaining from ignorant and indecent speech. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say: I am fasting, I am fasting." (Saheeh: Ibn Khuzaymah and al-Haakim, who authenticated it.

Making an effort to read [or even finish!] the Quran
“(It is) the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as a guidance for mankind, clear proofs giving guidance, and the Criterion (for distinguishing right and wrong). So whoever of you witnesses this month, let him fast it.” [2:185]

I've hosted many iftars (breaking of the fast) this Ramadan--it's fun to cook for friends, but it's also rewarding to know that they not only leave full and satisfied, but also that their minds are satisfied, having had their questions on Islam answered. As an American-Muslim, I believe that interfaith iftars are crucial to providing insight into the religion because they serve as the ideal setting for an open dialogue. After all, who doesn't love having a homecooked meal and a good, illuminating conversation? Here's a photo from a BBQ iftar potluck last week:

Crepes with lemon and sugar, mini brownies, hamburger sliders, sweet potato fries...lots of craving going on in this picture, can you tell? :]

For the last few days of Ramadan, I encourage everyone to either:

A. Host an iftar
B. Attend an iftar

Eat, discuss, illuminate.

Enjoy,

Ramadan Mubarak!

2010-08-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Moroccan harira, harcha, and dates

It's that time of year again--when everything feels instantly peaceful and a sudden calming atmosphere envelopes everything...Ramadan.

I made Moroccan lentil soup last night for the first time--came out delicious and I'd call it a successful attempt despite the deep gash in my index finger from the can of chick peas. Also made Moroccan "harsha", a slightly salty crumbly bread made from semolina flour. Delicious with some brie and raspberry jam.

For those who celebrate, I wish you a happy Ramadan. For the non-Muslims, I encourage you to attend an iftar at a Muslim's home--the iftar is the breaking of the fast at sundown. It's a wonderful experience :) I love cooking for my friends during this month.

Summer Hiatus

2010-08-06T14:46:00.001-07:00

Trying to balance all the things I've committed myself to...
Just finishing up a feature piece for work...

Be Back Soon,

Sarah Alaoui

RACE RELATIONS: WHAT FRANCE CAN LEARN FROM THE US

2010-05-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit

By Sarah Alaoui

France is heralded by many as the land of pungent fromage, thin women, and trendsetting haute couture. Francophiles swoon for its rainbow macaroons and eccentric films. While I admit to my weakness for flakey croissants and admiration for the French’s chic, effortless wardrobe, it is worth putting aside the frivolity to seriously question and address the elephant in the room. With an estimated five million Muslims—most of North African origin—in the French Republic grappling with dual identities and a government determined to preserve its country’s homogenous, secular character, the formula is a volcanic disaster waiting to erupt. Sincere and effective steps to ease tensions and alleviate grievances need to be taken now or else France will be well on its way to replicating our own country’s darkest piece of history—economic and social subjugation of an entire people based on racist and xenophobic inclinations.

Background

As is the case with many imperious whims, France changed its mind about the immigrant workers it opened its arms to decades ago at its own convenience. Following the economic boom of World War II, France needed manpower to support its proliferating factories and industries. What better source of cheap labor did it have than its former North African colonies? Doors were opened and immigration restrictions were eased to encourage the entry of thousands of individuals from Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Many of them had zero chance of employment in their home countries and any alternative to the dire poverty and lack of opportunities they experienced there seemed appealing at the time. They did not prepare themselves for the further marginalization they would encounter at the hands of the French government. At least Americans were forthright with the Africans about the role they were to play in society.

Immigration in France became a real problem when the economy began to decline in the 1970s and the immigrants that came in the aftermath of World War II extended their work stays into permanent residence. Expatriates who had originally arrived to work grew accustomed to the better living conditions in Europe and began sending for their families to join them. In fact, immigration surged during that period and the French government was forced to face the question of what to do with the foreign-born people living within their borders—something that was never deliberated because of the assumption that the immigrants were only temporary workers. It never crossed their minds that the workers they’d brought in would ever want to settle down and create families—they believed that these people would continue to toil away in menial jobs until fingers were snapped as the signal to go back to where they came from. If only it were that simple. That kind of wishful thinking is what leads to large groups of ghettoized and unaccounted for people.

The Problem

Not convinced? Take the metro away from the scenic Eiffel Tower and away from the shops of the Champs-Élysées directly into the slums of Paris where North African immigrants and their French-born children are, “…segregated in communities around major cities…and exist in…depressed neighborhoods, reinforcing their alienation from the larger society.” The houses in these areas, called the “HLM” or “habitation à loyer modéré” (rent-controlled housing), are often dilapidated with many people squeezing into single units. Unsurprisingly, these neighborhoods have been the breeding grounds for acts of vandalism, delinquency and other crimes that have stemmed from the residents’ grievances with a system not taking any significant steps to integrate them into French society.

These young men and women born to immigrants are overrepresented in poverty and crime and their unemployment levels are twice as much as their non-Maghrebin (North African) counterparts. The children of the original immigrants are the ones bearing the brunt of the deal because no matter what, they will never be regarded as French—despite having been born in the country. Even though,

“…they speak French fluently and readily absorb French culture does not make them welcome in France…Even those Algerians who are relatively well integrated into French society, and who think of themselves as French or Westernized, sometimes find themselves treated differently from the indigenous French people. Most North Africans feel they are trapped in a hopeless downward spiral of joblessness, racial discrimination, and clashes with the police.”

Embarrassingly, this scenario sounds all too familiar—change the location, and the rebellious cries of North Africans in France start to sound identical to those of African-Americans in 20th century United States. African-American studies professor, Manning Marable illustrates the state of the black ghetto as a pitfall of capitalism:

“The economic relations of the ghetto to white America closely parallel those between third-world nations and the industrially advanced countries. The ghetto also has a relatively low per-capita income and a high birth rate. Its residences are for the most part unskilled.”

The conditions of the black American ghetto unquestionably mirror those of the North African inner city enclaves of France. When examining the two conflicts, it is also worth noting the striking similarities in group uprisings, violence, and government responses that resulted from the creation of both the American and French ghettoes.

Lashing Out

Paris’s 2005 riots were sparked by the death of two teenagers of Tunisian and Malian descent who were electrocuted as they fled the police. The event marked the beginning of three weeks of rioting caused by “…mostly unemployed teenagers from destitute suburban housing projects…” and caused €200 million worth of damage. The rioters burned about 9000 cars and many buildings and schools throughout France were torched and defaced. Though the death of the young men initially ignited the riots, it became a collective outcry denouncing the French government’s failure to integrate its large number of Maghrebin citizens. Then Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy’s labeling of the young troublemakers as “scum” only served to further inflame tensions.

On November 18, 2009, cities across France erupted into celebration, then riots following the Algerian national soccer team’s victory against the Egyptians that qualified them for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. More than 12,000 young people of Algerian descent poured into the streets of Paris with cries of “Vive l’Algerie” and police soon tried to break them up. The youth met them with taunts, stones and fireworks to which the police responded with teargas and beatings with batons. Cars were burned, cops were injured and young North Africans were arrested. How did a simple soccer victory turn into a full-fledged riot reminiscent of the ones that took place in 2005? Looking beneath the surface shows that, “…the anger on show was not just about football…it was [about being] treated as a second-class citizen…to be an Algerian is to be a bicot or melon—racist terms for Muslims [used by French people].”

Once again, change the language and location, and we are transported back to the 1992 riots in South Central Los Angeles following the acquittal of police officers who had brutally beaten African-American Rodney King. 53 individuals were killed, 10,000 were arrested, $1,000,000,000 in damages were incurred and the National Guard, the 7th Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Division were all called in to tame the riots. Though the outset of the violence was attributed to what many deemed as a biased trial of white officers, the rioting that followed prolonged into protests over the lack of jobs and economic opportunities for blacks in the area. How can anyone be surprised that the people in either of the two cases rioted? Of course, the ideal situation would be to have thousands of Tom characters living in the ghettos—a name referring to the caricature that “portrays Black men as faithful, happily submissive servants.” Passive, subservient people that keep their discontent to themselves would be characteristic of the utopia the French government is attempting to create as part of their “integrationist” agenda. Even French interior minister Monsieur Brice Hortefeux would agree with me. The man was rebuked this past fall for certain questionable comments he made at a political event in southwestern France. When he agreed to pose for a photo with a young man of North African descent, a bystander joked about the latter being, “Our little Arab.” Hortefeux responded, “There always has to be one. When there’s one, it’s O.K. It’s when there are a lot of them – thats when there are problems.” One small step for man, one huge leap backwards for France.

The Bigger Picture

It’s been oft-said that “Muslim is the new black”. With the current political backdrop, the terms “Arab” (which is also a term that encompasses North Africans), “Muslim” and “extremist” all seem to be used interchangeably. After September 11th, the global community’s senses heightened to Islam and Muslims. In Europe, a continent that once referred to its North African immigrants as simply “Arabs”, the norm now seems to be grouping them all as “Muslims”. The ironic thing is that most Maghrebins in Europe are not particularly religious in the traditional sense of the word. Only 26 percent pray regularly and less than 23 percent attend prayers at local mosques. Generalizing them all with the sweeping label of “Muslim” serves to further separate the already marginalized minority from European society because of the negative connotations that have been attached to the term. In fact, many Europeans—especially those in government—are taking advantage of the current, pervasive anti-Muslim sentiment to discriminate against North Africans.

Read about women’s sartorial commentator, Nicholas Sarkozy lately? French president Sarkozy thinks he can achieve ranking of renaissance man by dipping his toes into the world of fashion. His frequent comments questioning the intentions of Muslim women wearing the hijab denigrate its purpose. His recent comments that encouraged a ban of the burka on French soil have been taken by many as something that will only further strain relations between North African populations and the “native” French. Eric Besson, the French Immigration Minister, said himself that a ban of the burka would only “create tensions.” Sarkozy champions a secular country, but with so much talk and emphasis placed on whether a woman should wear a headscarf, a niqab, or a burka, how can such a state be achieved amidst such issues at the forefront of politics?I doubt first lady, Carla Bruni, ever gets questioned about her clothing preferences—should she wear a little black dress or a maxi dress, no one really cares. Trying to pass laws about how people should dress with specifications that obviously target followers of a particular religion will undoubtedly wreak havoc—especially in a country like France with a history of persistent xenophobia. Furthermore, attempting to neutralize these laws under the cover of “integrating the immigrants” is not going to work because integration does not equate shedding parts of one’s identity. When feminists wanted equal rights to males in the work force, no one told them they had to seek operations and become male. When African-Americans demanded to be treated the same as whites, no one demanded they shed their dark skin in return (though I’m sure this would’ve satisfied many). Why should the case be any different in France? Is it impossible for one to be French, Arab, and Muslim? Quelle horreur! President Barack Obama put it best, “I will tell you that in the US, our basic attitude is that we’re not going to tell people what to wear.”

Implications

While I focus on France in this piece, because it houses the largest population of Maghrebin immigrants in Western Europe, the problem of integration is one that plagues the entire continent. As a result of the Muslim communities’ high fertility rates and increasing immigration, the National Intelligence Council projects that Europe’s Muslim population will double by 2025. The Maghrebin of Europe are not going anywhere and therefore need to be accommodated for as French citizens and not second class citizens. As Americans, we learned our lesson that African-Americans were not going anywhere and that we needed to do something to make them feel welcome (to say the least), or all hell would break loose. We brought them here, we learned our lesson, and cleaned up our mess by taking steps to care of them and their offspring. In a similar fashion, the workers that were brought over from North Africa to perform France’s dirty work all those long decades ago and their posterity need to be taken care of socially, economically and most importantly, humanely. Liberté, égalité, fraternité for all. Civil Rights Movement part deux, anyone? Quelle horreur!

Published first on PROSPECT

"Just Relax"

2010-05-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

My father's currently in Sicily on a business trip and we've been keeping in touch via email--you know, the occasional email I send him nagging about souvenirs (mostly chocolate). Amidst the food, the "sound of the Mediterranean", and la vita italiana, he ended up not getting much work done...his email to me:

The Sicilians spend 2 hours at lunch, 3 hours for dinner + all the coffee breaks in between. Whenever I ask them about the schedule, they tell me to relax and enjoy Sicily. So, I haven't started my work, my flight to Morocco is wasted, my flight from Morocco to SF is wasted and I am trying to take their advice and relax.

I'll take that as advice for myself and just relax--what's the worst that could happen if nothing gets done? ;)

Italian man on bike, smoking and...relaxing.via Sartorialist, of course

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said:

Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother.

So call your mother today and thank her for everything she does!

Giving a Helping Hand to "Aliens"

2010-05-07T14:42:00.001-07:00

I'm taking a class on immigration this quarter and each lecture stirs up various discussion topics and inspires points from all different sides of the issue--some old ideas, and some novel ones, too. Last lecture, we had a guest speaker come in from an organization that helps facilitate the journey of immigrants trekking on the U.S.-Mexican border. They do this by providing jugs of water, food, blankets, clothes and other necessities to Mexicans making the long, arduous journey across the border.

The presenter, who actually founded the group, discussed some opposition movements he and his fellow volunteers have to go up against including the infamous "Minutemen" who describe themselves as "a multi-ethnic immigration law enforcement advocacy group operating within the law to support enforcement of the law". The individuals who make up groups such as the "Minutemen" are staunch advocates of closing our borders to immigration and go so far as to take it upon themselves to personally protect the "American frontier".

Oftentimes as a political science major, I find that the human stories are buried under theories and definitions and quotes of scholars. There comes a time when you just want to put aside all political policies and concepts and just examine these people on the most basic of levels--the human level. I called up the guest lecturer's organization after class and asked how I can help--the woman called me right back and told me they were leaving the next day for the border at 6 am to help hand out water to migrants coming in. It was too short of notice for me to go, but shortly after, I discussed the group with my friend and the issue of legality came up. I didn't see how helping these people by giving them water could be such a contentious thing. Some may argue that providing illegal immigrants with resources on their way here is promoting their illicit actions and encouraging others back in Mexico to arrive in the same way. However, when people are making the trip over here regardless of borders, fences, or walls, there's a sense of desperation involved--that's not the issue here, though (that needs its own post). The issue at hand is the hundreds of people who DIE from dehydration trying to get here. Is it illegal to offer them some water? Does the status of their citizenship or lack of, even remain relevant when their children are begging for water? That's the question of the day:

DO YOU THINK AIDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH WATER, FOOD, SUPPLIES, ETC...ENCOURAGES FUTURE ILLEGAL MIGRATION? DO YOU THINK THIS HUMANITARIAN AID SHOULD BE ILLEGAL?

Image courtesy of Flickr

U.S. Killing of Innocent Reuters Journalists

2010-04-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Around 12:00 minutes in, you will see a group of people being shot at--amongst them, 2 Reuters journalists, their cameras mistaken for guns.

The Doorman: Part 1

2010-03-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered about the people who surround you daily and exactly how much they may know about you that you don't know they know? That thought sparked the idea for this story...I'll put it up in parts. Enjoy!

The Doorman

There was no particular reason why he did it on that particular day—it was a Wednesday afternoon just like any other. Open door, close door. Sit, read newspaper, get up again to repeat the routine—everyday was the same, so time was irrelevant to him. He never even made it past the headline of the day when he’d have to get up and perform his duties again. He didn’t think about doing it. He just did. He ended Yasmine’s life as she knew it. Even he noticed the change.

There was something about her face and the way she acted around him that made him feel uncomfortable. She wasn’t like the other residents of the building who walked past him and out the door as if they were born with the womb door held open for them. They wouldn’t even look at his face sometimes or even utter a hello—so wrapped up in their own lives and frivolity typical of Casablanca’s middle class. There was Tabbouz, or “fat” in Moroccan, as he labeled him in his head, who would walk out of the door each day with his black smart phone gripped in one hand’s pudgy fingers and a croissant in the other—shredding the buttery bites off with his teeth as he yelled into his phone about some car part or other, the spittle flying everywhere with microscopic bits of pastry amongst the spray of saliva. Then there was Shakouka, or “messy hair” as he identified her because she was constantly raking her fingers through the thick, unruly curls that made up her wiry hair. She was always patting down the individual flyaway hairs that stood up from her wild mane, but to no avail, because they always shot right back up in the humid Casablanca weather.

Happy International Women's Day!

2010-03-09T00:36:00.001-08:00

Arabs in U.S. Census

2010-03-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

I have been so negligent of my blog--please forgive me. I will make up for it very soon, but in the meantime, here's an interesting (and relevant!) read about Arabs and the census:

Newsweek article

Read more about my personal experience with boxes/census here...

Happy Black History Month?

2010-02-26T01:19:00.000-08:00

UPDATE 7:25 PM
NY TIMES Covers UCSD events: HERE

UPDATE 12:15 PM
Haven't gotten any sleep last night--how do you go to bed when you live in a world filled with idiots who think they can hang a noose in a public university's library under the cover of "free speech" and the claim that "it was just a joke"? ARE YOU KIDDING ME, PEOPLE?
The girl who did this turned herself in today via telephone at 9 AM. STAY TUNED--UPDATES/PICTURES/VIDEOS will be up as they come in/I find time to get on a computer to upload them. TO ALL MY READERS: in California, out of state, out of country, PLEASE PLEASE spread the word. Key word: Noose. Key word #2: 21st century.

Peace and Love,
Sarah Alaoui

UPDATE 2/26/10

NOOSE FOUND HANGING IN 7TH FLOOR OF UCSD GEISEL LIBRARY A FEW MINUTES AGO. "REAL PAIN, REAL ACTION"!!! This is COMPLETELY unacceptable, and whoever did this will NOT get away with it.

UPDATE:

Poignant piece on the use of this decontextualized word...

This week/month seems full of disappointments/shockers/tensions/hate, news wise:

Though these students most likely did not mean to be racist intentionally (I hope not), the whole invitation was filled with overt racist stereotypes. Way to represent UCSD--"the smart ones".

It's a disheartening time right now on campus for everyone--more updates later.

EDIT: The thing that gets me most about this whole fiasco is the BSU and other affected students' reaction (full-fledged) to it. It's not about the "Compton Cookout" anymore, but rather the explosion of a culmination of grievances UCSD blacks and other minorities have harbored during their time here. Yes, only 1.3% of our students are African-American, yet their feelings of alienation have never struck me until now that everything seems to be seeping out all at once. Now--when I see my fellow students (Black Student Union) draw up a long list of demands for the Chancellor to address immediately. When I see them crying and yelling for "action now". How was this never brought to light as a campus-wide issue before? Will it take another event like this for other students to come forward with their respective feelings of indignation? How has this hurt always been there without anyone realizing its intensity??

Abercrombie & Fitch pulls a Sarkozy

2010-02-24T20:11:00.000-08:00

From CAIR press release...

Action: Contact Abercrombie & Fitch About Hijab Firing
Calif. Muslim employee fired for refusing to remove scarf in public

(SANTA CLARA, CA, 2/24/10) - The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) is calling on Abercrombie & Fitch customers who value diversity and inclusion to contact the company to express their concerns about a Muslim employee who was fired for refusing to remove her hijab.

CAIR-SFBA announced today that it has filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint against Abercrombie & Fitch on behalf of the Muslim employee.

The Muslim worker reported to CAIR-SFBA that she was hired as a stockroom worker in October of last year at the Hollister outlet in San Mateo, Calif. She says she was told at that time that she could wear her scarf if it was in a color that matched the company's brand identity.

[Hollister is a division of Abercrombie & Fitch. Ohio-based Abercrombie & Fitch operates more than 1100 stores worldwide.]

Recently, a district manager visited the store and noticed that the Muslim employee was wearing a head scarf. The district manager then reportedly initiated a conference call with the company's human resources department during which the Muslim worker was told that scarves and hats are not allowed in the "look" policy. Despite informing company managers that she wears her scarf for religious reasons, the Muslim employee was sent home immediately.

This week, she was told she must remove her scarf during work hours. When she refused to violate her religious beliefs by removing her scarf in public, she was fired.

"This unconscionable and apparently illegal action by company managers violates not only federal civil rights law as it relates to religious accommodation in the workplace, but also violates Abercrombie & Fitchs own stated commitments to diversity, inclusion and ethical business practices," said CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Zahra Billoo. "We urge Abercrombie & Fitch customers who value diversity and inclusion to contact the company to express their concerns about this violation of religious freedom."

She said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing and other terms and conditions of employment. The act also requires employers to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of an employee, unless doing so would create an "undue hardship" for the employer.

In 2008, the EEOC issued new guidelines on accommodating religious beliefs and practices in the workplace. The guidelines offer protection for workers who wear religious attire such as hijab.

Billoo said CAIR's Oklahoma chapter filed a similar complaint against Abercrombie & Fitch in 2008 on behalf of a Muslim applicant in that state who was denied a job because of her hijab. In September of 2009, the EEOC filed a discrimination suit against the company on behalf of the Muslim applicant.

Abercrombie & Fitchs position on "Diversity & Inclusion" states:

"...we are committed to increasing and leveraging the diversity of our associates and management across the organization. Those differences will be supported by a culture of inclusion, so that we better understand our customers, enhance our organizational effectiveness, capitalize on the talents of our workforce and represent the communities in which we do business."

Its corporate "Code of Business Conduct and Ethics" states: "The Company will adhere to its employment policies of non-discrimination as it relates to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or handicap and will ensure compliance with all legal and other regulations governing employment."

Texas plane crash

2010-02-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

So when a white guy deliberately crashes a plane into a building, the action is not considered terrorism?

Nah...poor guy was just terrorized by the IRS.

We are all Individuals

2010-02-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

"Will anyone remember that 17-year-old Angelania Ritchelle, a parentless high school student who wanted to be a fashion model, died of fright two days after the earthquake and ended up in a mass grave on the outskirts of this city?
That is what her cousin Emmanuella Dupoux, 23, her voice thick with emotion, wanted to know. “Angie was a nobody, she died a nobody, she will never have a funeral, she will never have a tombstone,” Ms. Dupoux said. “She is just one of the nameless, faceless victims, and I hate that.”

This part stuck out to me from today's NY Times because this is what I've been mulling over since the tragedy--since all the earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and other "disasters of the moment" that seem to occupy our minds (television screens and other forms of media) for a month or so each time they occur. This time, it's Haiti. The disaster in itself is terrifying--hundreds buried under rubble, an impoverished country now facing the daunting task of starting a full-scale reconstruction, the number of children now orphaned. However, that's not the most terrifying part--what scares me the most about things like this is the lives forgotten. It scares me that these people's lives are only remembered as part of a general number--newspaper articles proclaiming "hundreds, even thousands have perished in Haiti"; gross numbers to shock the audience. A death toll that directly impacts the intensity of attention it gets from the rest of the world as a whole, but inversely influences how each individual will be remembered. The more dead, the less each individual will be remembered--at least to those of us here.

Instead of sending statistics to our media outlets, why can't they put in the extra time (in my utopia) to create a little blurb for each and every person who died--maybe even a picture, why not--and humanize the situation for us a bit more. Angelania Ritchelle, age 17, aspired to be a fashion model. Rest in peace, Angelania. These kinds of details make the disaster even more real for us who are so far away and can prevent it from being the next "disaster of the moment"--one to be talked about and despaired for the time being until Tiger Woods cheats on his wife again or the rap equivalent of Michael Jackson dies.

I don't want to regard the lives lost from this disaster and others like it as just numbers, but as individuals, as peoples who've left behind brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, classmates, etc. I want to hear about the humans--the individuals.

Future not looking so bright...

2010-02-11T01:25:00.000-08:00

I heard the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, speak today. Heightened security because of the disruptive crowd he faced at UCI yesterday.

Embarrassing to humanity as a whole. This is the progress and peace we've achieved in the United States? The tolerance? While I do not condone nor do I condemn (I feel they could've protested a bit more peacefully as was done in UCSD) the actions of the students, I would also like people to pay careful attention to the faces of the pro-Israelis at the end--hateful, mocking, intolerant. "You're failing your exams"--was that a professor? Ridiculous.

Never before have I faced so much tension in one single auditorium--Jews eyeing Muslims, Muslims eyeing Jews. Proud emblems declared each individual's respective stance on this contentious issue--yamacas and kuffiyehs galore. Loud claps followed each pro-Israeli's question while jeers and naive comments were made at the opposing side's questions--same thing occurred on the pro-Palestinian side as well. Not sure if anybody even heard each other speak because everyone was so focused on what would come out of their own mouths.

After the ambassador's speech, civil talks between students from opposing sides were disrupted by others not willing to discuss but interrupting for the pure purpose of interrupting/attention.

It's not looking so great out there. Is there anything beyond black and white? A middle ground, perhaps? As witnessed repeatedly, my generation is not faring any better in discussing these issues than those who came before us.

I look/hear around me and each side is on completely different pages--entirely different novels, in fact. Ambassador said he envisions a united, peaceful Middle East but when will this stop becoming a fantasized ideal and materialize into reality?

Protest I went to a few years back in San Francisco...two sides facing each other

Futile efforts? Are we getting any closer?

Let's get counted in 2020!

2010-02-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

Arab-Americans, check "Other"...

Read more about my experience with boxes here...

Yes, it's a day off, but also...

2010-01-18T17:22:00.000-08:00

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963
US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

It's a day off for everyone in the United States today, but the man behind the holiday is who I'd like to focus on in this post. This quote has helped guide my life in many ways--it not only encompass the Civil Rights Movement and black rights, but the rights of human beings everywhere.

Happy MLK Jr. Day. Tribute to a wonderful man and even better cause.

Home Sweet Home

2010-01-09T23:32:00.000-08:00

Europe, you were fun, but my heart belongs to the good ole US of A.

Finally home after waiting for our lost luggage for 2 hours--JFK=worst airport--goood night!

Peace.

BETTER than resolutions

2010-01-08T02:29:00.000-08:00

I found this list on the Symphonic Discord blog here and fell in love with it--this is what I will strive for and live by in 2010:

Handbook for 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Listening to: Fio Maravilha by Jorge Benjor...does Portugese appeal to anyone else's ears as much as it does mine?
Going home to California tomorrow, bye Europe and I can't wait to post pictures soon.

:)

PS I have about 30 pages left of Lolita...what a book--Humbert!

2010-01-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

School starts today
Im nowhere near San Diego
but still in Lille until next week

My overthinking Virgo mind is trying to get all organized before then but
Ill try not to freak out about all I have to do until Im actually in the country

another one of my resolutions: stop freaking out so much and thinking so much...that was 2.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T03:07:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year everyone; it feels like a blank slate Im loving it
I just arrived in Lille two days ago--this is where my aunt and her family live
My little French cousin is hilarious and theres nothing cuter than hearing kids speak in French

Tomorrow Ill be visiting Amsterdam to implement some of my New Years Resolutions--just kidding haha; but I will be checking out Amsterdam for the first time tomorrow so Im excited to be seeing a new place during this new year

I havent yet sat down and written down my resolutions but one of them is dont knock it till you try it which can be applicable to many things including people; basically dont judge until you try it

I leave you with online sensation Capucine

fyi

2009-12-27T15:34:00.000-08:00

moving to quartier latin asap

ciao

Monarchies are underrated

2009-12-27T01:13:00.000-08:00

Okay after my day yesterday my new dream is to live as a monarch in Versailles Palace and have my portrait painted once a week fight battles with Napoleon every month and go hunting in the backyard every weekend

even though I don t like guns and I dont like Napoleon

but realistically speaking Versailles was GORGEOUS
loved each and every room and the ceilings etc

wish i was a princess

this lack of punctuation is starting to bother the grammar nazi in me

Going to the Louvre today love how ive been to France plenty of times before but havent done any touristy things until this year

Petit Déjeuner

2009-12-25T22:52:00.000-08:00

Woke up at 6:30 today due to jet lag. We were the first people at breakfast downstairs in the hotel. Fresh grapefruit oranges figs pineapples cheese bread squeezed juices scrambled eggs made to order crepes omelettes...I could eat breakfast here all day everyday. Forgive the lack of commas because Im still trying to figure out this keyboard.
Did I mention the best part of the trip yet? Our hotel room has a balcony and guess what I see looming against the building when I look outside?? The Eiffel Tower insert exclamation point here. Its a constant reminder of where Im spending my vacation. Today looks like Versailles day never been there so well see how it goes.

P.S. Funny situation at breakfast today--I was chatting it up with the chef whos Sri Lankan and he was wondering where I learned French. When I mentioned I was Moroccan he got really excited because he had coworkers who were Moroccan as well and when I went back to sit at my table he brought them over later to introduce us. Result? Awkward situation for the Moroccans involved...I think only Maghrebins will find this funny or unusual--the fact that its not exciting for us in general to meet other people of our background...not sure why that is--a bit of a shame in my opinion.

EDIT: 160 Dollars= 76 Euros so depressing...

Vacation time

2009-12-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

C'est le temps des vacances!
Tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen, I have a flight to France. I'm all ready with my hats, scarves and boots. Ready to relax and enjoy the sights. Ready to indulge in fresh bread and pastries all day long :). Books for the plane include: "Lolita", "Are Men Necessary?" because I'm still not done with it, and bien sur, "Le Petit Prince"--all in all, a great mix :)

Bonnes fêtes à tous!

To all my fashion forward followers

2009-12-14T14:51:00.000-08:00

Check out these cute, eco-friendly shoes from Barcelona!

Let me know what you think : )

2009-12-13T23:12:00.000-08:00

Winter break! Phew. Finally, I can breathe--this quarter's sped by so fast, but it was wonderful--each minute was different from last year...good different. Last year, everything seemed brand new, big and stimulating, but this year, I feel more calm and adapted. It's a satisfying feeling. Recent things:

-just finished a 15 page research paper on North African immigrants in Europe: a topic I'm drawn to, so I think I'll continue researching it for my senior thesis next year

-the internship...I write for the alumni magazine, and it's been a wonderful opportunity. I'd say it's definitely an ideal position for me and fits perfectly into my schedule--can't wait to see the magazine come out in a few weeks!

-Arabic...I'll be taking some classes next quarter and I'm excited to see how much I like it.

-Will be going to France in 11 days.

I took this the last time I went to Paris...will surely be 10x colder than SF.

So, lots of stuff going on. Catching up on blogs, but will definitely tend to my own soon.

Happy Break/Holidays : )

Food for Thought

2009-12-05T01:27:00.001-08:00

"If there is one great cause of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, it is the total failure of political institutions in the Arab world. Muslim elites have averted their eyes from this reality. Conferences at Islamic centers would still rather discuss "Islam and the Environment" than examine the dysfunctions of the current regimes. But as the moderate majority looks the other way, Islam is being taken over by a small poisonous element, people who advocate cruel attitudes toward women, education, the economy and modern life in general. I have seen this happen in India, where I grew up. The rich, colorful, pluralistic and easygoing Islam of my youth has turned into a dour, puritanical faith, policed by petty theocrats and religious commissars."

-Fareed Zakaria

2009-12-01T07:30:00.001-08:00

For women who'd like to take over the world...

2009-11-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

Every intellectually curious female (or any female for that matter) should read "Are Men Necessary?: When Sexes Collide" by Pulitzer-winning columnist for The New York Times, Maureen Dowd. I'll eventually review it in detail, but I'm way too excited about it to not at least mention it... : )

Not your typical let's-all-burn-our-bras feminist literature nor is it your chick lit trashy novel--it's the perfect combination of sarcasm, wit and clever logic.

Food for thought from the book so far: the more successful women get, the more picky they are about a mate's success and intellectual capacity while the inverse relationship is true for males--the more successful they get, the more they tend to "marry down".

Brilliant.

TIME article fails

2009-10-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

When I saw the cover of the recent issue of TIME Magazine, "What Women Want Now", I got really excited--it advertised the dichotomy of increasing power and decreasing happiness that American women feel today (Read here). The whole idea of women's power and its correlation to satisfaction or lack thereof intrigues me, so I bought the issue...

Out of the entire feature, there was one tiny half of a column that brushed upon how the increasing responsibilities and equalities women in America are facing today may be the source of our decreasing satisfaction with ourselves and with life. How do you create a whole cover article complete with picture of an intense looking woman then only touch upon the issue on one page? The rest of the pages were filled with typical cliché statistics of the strides we've made since the women's rights movement--good job, TIME. Although I can't see how they can tangibly measure happiness on a countrywide scale, it would still be an interesting subject to try to infiltrate. Graphs depicting the percentage of children in daycares now as compared to the 1960s just don't cut it--if you're going to broadcast a cover story as important as that of power and happiness, it better cover both.

Next time, I'll pass up on the $4.95 and read the issue in the bookstore--fail.

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

"Thorbjorn Jagland, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and a former prime minister of Norway, said the president had already contributed enough to world diplomacy and international understanding to earn the award."
[NY Times]

In what sense? Talking and diplomacy only get us so far...Congratulations to President Obama, but I feel this was a bit premature.

Revenge--on a whole new level

2009-10-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

I can honestly say that little things get to me, but I wouldn't say I'm a vengeful person--the people that affect me, I wouldn't care about enough to use up my energy to "get them back".

Cambodian culture, however, takes the idea of losing pride and taking revenge to a whole new level. "Kum" is the Cambodian definition of revenge and is the equivalent of disproportionate revenge...they don't just get even--they make sure the scales are tipped in their favor.

Cambodians believe people are morally obliged to return a good deed as well as a bad one--historically, the Khmer Rouge use this to carry out their genocide plan. They go to extreme measures such as killing off the person's entire family line so there's no way the family can get revenge--but you never know if some distant distant cousin is still alive...it's a neverending cycle of revenge which led to the death of roughly 2 million people (Khmer Rouge's goal was to completely destroy Lon Nol's supporters in an insane campaign of revenge against the U.S. backed, toppled leader).

Interesting to think about historical violence and genocide through the eyes of anthropology.

Food for thought--what are your thoughts on this?

I didn't abandon this :)

2009-09-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

So, college.
It's been extremely difficult trying to find the time to write on my lovely blog with everything going on this week. My internship is WONDERFUL, I love it--there's always baked goods in the kitchen, and I have my own desk and bulletin board :). Friends are wonderful--everyone this year is trying to crack down on the studying, I also met my twin who is exactly like me and she lives in the same building! Classes are super interesting and the professors are great--even though they're all getting the short end of the stick with budget cuts and all that. I will definitely post soon when I have a tangible something to write about, just wanted to announce that I'm still alive! : )

So, don't stop following! Merci.

Amor y paz,
Sarah Alaoui

San Diego

2009-09-20T21:26:00.001-07:00

time to move tomorrow. packing to do. forgetting will occur. new internship, new column, new classes. new SUPPLIES. things to do before first day Thursday.

Turning Point

2009-09-18T14:56:00.001-07:00

First time in my journalistic career that I feel torn between mind and heart. Covering a story that's doing just that. Put feelings at stake or news?

More details later...

Have we made progress in race relations in America?

2009-09-15T22:45:00.001-07:00

The first entry in my Ethnic Studies notebook from spring quarter warns in large, capital letters: CHANGE TA. If I’d heeded my own advice during that first week, I could have spared myself the following weeks of mental hell that ultimately resulted in a minor blow to my GPA.

The first time I walked into A’s (name shortened, because as far as I’m concerned, she still has the power to further lower my grade) class, a short, curvy and pretty Latina with the Che desktop background, I was excited. I’m all about Che Guevara and everyone knows how much I love learning about other cultures and the history of this country’s immigrants. I was ready to engage in conversations with my fellow classmates about our rich history and contributions to the U.S. I walked in confident, with my best friend Brittany, a Mexican-American who was never too keen about her background. She was visiting me in San Diego and I dragged her to that class in particular, hoping that we would both learn something that would change her views about her Hispanic heritage.

Let’s just say that by the end of the hour, I felt sorry for every white student in the class (about three kids) and was feeling slightly depressed about the race situation in America—in one class, I’d been brainwashed slash blackmailed (with my grade) into thinking that “the white man is the source of all our problems”. Seriously? What is this, the 1960s? As a minority student myself, I’d always been horrified about the history of our country—as I’ve mentioned in some of my other posts, the struggle of African-Americans, in particular, has always fascinated me. On the other hand, I’ve always looked at things in a mostly glass half full manner—without optimism, I don’t think we could have progressed at all. If Martin Luther King Jr. had beaten himself over his situation rather than doing something about it, or if Malcolm X hadn’t been compelled to lead his black brothers, we would not be where we are today. Why yes, A, you’re right—just because we elected a black president and just because the Civil Rights movement happened, doesn’t mean we’re all equal now. But, I’d say it’s a start…in fact, I’d say I’m pretty darn proud of where we’re headed.

In addition to writing “America” as “AmeriKKKa” and directing her positive comments exclusively to her three favorite students in the front row: the racially confused “Indiana”, a white sycophant (and fan of the hippie headband, a trend I will forever condemn) who enjoyed glaring at me over the rims of her glasses whenever I spoke (when she wasn’t making her own comments dripping with political correctness), the Mexican-American girl who always wore a Pueblo dress and ethnic jewelry to class (by the way, I’ve seen you wearing Seven Jeans and a Tiffany's necklace at the dining hall. Caught red-handed.) and lamented about the loss of her Mexican name after coming to this country, and a Mexican-American boy who always had something negative to say to add to A’s fervor. They were her shining stars—they never dared say something positive about racial progress (in fact, to them and to A, “progress” was nonexistent).

The professor wasn’t any better. She ignored all white hands (no, I’m not pulling the race card, I couldn’t believe it myself!) and either scoffed or laughed sarcastically at Obama’s presidency being a step forward. After a while of shaking my head at their racist comments geared mainly towards whites (but according to them, they are not considered racist because there’s no such thing as “reverse racism”), I’d had enough of being passive. I wasn’t paying what I was paying for college to sit in class and be force-fed what I conceived to be garbage (everyone is allowed an opinion, and I wasn’t being allowed to cultivate my own without my grade being in jeopardy). I raised my hand and commented that I didn’t think it was fair to ignore all the steps of progress we’d made so far—didn’t they count for something? Needless to say, my comments were ignored by A, and she went on to break her chalk against the board while emphasizing her repetitive points that “we are in an endless power struggle. The white man will always be on top, everywhere, wherever you go”. Yikes. I did not want to provoke her anymore (I wanted the chalk breaking to stay in the vicinity of the board and nowhere near my face). Instead, I cringed whenever my white friend, Kristina raised her hand and her comments were brushed off, and took to scribbling furious notes in my journal. Notes of how I personally thought we could advance ourselves as minorities in the United States. I’d had enough of the Filipino kid in the corner shaking his head at my comments. Enough of the other Asian kid who sat next to me in lecture yelling “You go sister!” to every racist comment my professor made. What kind of messed up class was this? Didn’t the UC screen teachers before hiring them to brainwash the masses?

When it comes to minorities in the U.S. and equality, I lean more towards Booker T. Washington’s views. He was the one who believed that in order for the black man to get ahead in racist America, he had to focus on bettering himself and educating himself first—not blame his situation on others. Sure, this is easy for me to say, and I probably would have had a tough time living by his words back then, but I deeply feel that his words are a good rule of thumb for many circumstances. Washington once said, “The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race.” This is great advice for all people of color today. As I jotted down in my journal back in my Ethnic Studies class, “It’s become the norm for non-whites to fall into the mindset that white people are the source of all their troubles. We just fall into another rut by blaming the white man. Instead, those who have a passion for helping minorities progress should be the ones responsible for furthering our cause and improving our situation through things like education. Getting ahead in higher education is a huge step for us, and we need to keep this up…etc, etc. White man blocking us, white man blah blah…”

Yes, towards the end, I got sick of it all. The point is, how are we supposed to create a positive change when we can’t even think positively ourselves? I also took a wonderful African-American studies class fall quarter with a black professor and white TA who both had amazing things to say. The ethnic studies class just didn’t do it for me—I can’t appreciate a class, TA, or professor that makes me hate my peers for past historical events beyond their control or tries to engrain the idea that change isn’t possible. As Washington would say, “I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.”

Amor y paz, acceptance and change,

Sarah Alaoui

I leave you with one of my favorite songs EVER. This is dedicated to YOU, Angelica (pronounced AnHelica). Feel the power. Feel the change.

UPDATE:
Good read: Obama alleges that his opposition is not fueled by race issues.

Food for Thought

2009-09-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

"If God wanted us to ask questions, he would have made us men."

-Brick Lane, by Monica Ali

how frustrating.

Maid in Morocco

2009-09-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

“Here you go, akhti Sarah,” she said, while carefully pouring the lukewarm water from the bronze kettle. I watched as it slowly dribbled over my outstretched hands, and splashed into the small plastic tub she carried in her other hand while waiting for the cue to hand me the hand towel draped over her shoulder.

“Safi, shoukran,” I thanked her and quickly removed my hands, not wanting to take up anymore of her time and wanting to be rid of my uneasy feeling of being catered to by a woman not much older than I. She came back a few minutes later carrying a straw tray of piping hot bread that she’d carried back from the neighborhood oven and set it down on the table next to the steaming herbed chicken and pickled lemon tagine. Behind her trailed her small daughter, Naima, carrying a bottle of Fanta—more like clutching it to her small body, so as not to drop it and be reprimanded by her mother.

Amongst my photographs of crowded souks and souvenirs of hand-woven, colorful baskets lugged back on the plane home, my memories of vacations spent in Morocco are littered with images of maids. In Bouznika, a beachside haven where the elite of the country spend les vacances, we spent several days relaxing with some family friends who had arrived with four maids in tow. Each time I’d visit my grandparents’ house, there’d be a different maid than the last time I’d come—all had either left voluntarily or been dismissed. I’d sit around during the hottest hours of the afternoon—Moroccan summers yield temperatures of around 110 degrees—trying to keep cool and catching trails of the adults’ conversations. The latest gossip would be recounted, tales of whose diabetes was worse and whose blood pressure was higher would be recounted as if the person with the more tragic medical history would be offered a prize later, and of course, woeful stories about “how hard it is to find a good maid nowadays”.

With their conversation drawing to a lulled buzz in the back of my mind, I spent hours contemplating the situation. These women and children are born into an unfortunate (to say the least) position in a country whose rich are separated from the realities of their country’s economy and developing status by elaborate walls and a language they insist on speaking—one that was left over from their history as subjects of imperialism. In addition to expensive villas and numerous trips overseas, the upper class of Morocco like to flaunt their wealth through their accumulation of maids.

These poverty-stricken, uneducated women come from villages on the outskirts of Moroccan cities and have no choice but to provide for their families and children by taking jobs as maids for the country’s most ostentatious citizens. The stigma of poverty they are branded with at birth is further emphasized by this symbolic occupation—maids are to be seen and not heard. They work behind-the-scenes—similar to the house elves in J.K. Rowling’s famous wizarding series.

There are many families in Morocco who attempt to provide a home and not just a workplace for their maids. My grandmother has always made sure her maids’ children received an education alongside her own children and grandchildren—during the time her mother worked in my grandmother’s house, Naima went to the same school as my cousin. Unfortunately, it is safe to say that most people in the country do not provide the same earnest care to their maids.

Eleven-year-old Zainab Shtet is currently experiencing the aftermath of possibly one of the worst ordeals any human can have to endure—bruised, burned, starved all under the hand of her “masters”. The daughter of a desperately impoverished father, Zainab had no other hopes for bettering her future but to offer herself as a maid. The sad irony here, is that her boss was none other than a judge and his family. She had to cater to the needs of the richest and most powerful citizens of Moroccan society including a so-called representative of the law. How can justice ever be brought to this little girl when her perpetrator and arbiter are one—especially in a country where the barriers of law topple down with the hands of money.

As an aficionado of African-American history, Zainab’s story not only shocked me, but it also provided me with a mirror of our own past. We cannot change the current economic structure of Morocco—we cannot widen the gap between the rich and the poor overnight. We can, however, promote the importance of education and make sure each and every child is provided with an education and not forced with the burden of work—especially not one where he or she has to serve an entire family hand and foot.

It will take time and effort, but as a Moroccan-American, I do not feel comfortable with myself knowing I have not made any attempts to better the situation of poor, young maids in Morocco. In an entrenched political system, change has to come slowly and over the course of many years. However, by spreading Zainab’s story and seeking solace in the power of awareness, I know that eventually, as it has in our own country, “A Change is Gonna Come”.

Zainab...spread the word of her story.

I wrote an email

2009-09-04T22:19:00.001-07:00

to Noam Chomsky and he replied 10 hours later.
I feel like a 10-year-old who just met the Jonas Brothers.

Noam Chomsky
to me

show details 8:57 AM (15 hours ago)

Many thanks for the generous and encouraging words. I have a feeling that if we can find a way to break through the many barriers imposed by power and privilege, we may find that we really are the majority. Hard task, but essential.

Noam Chomsky
- Hide quoted text -

----- Original Message -----
From: Sarah Alaoui (by way of Noam Chomsky )
To: Noam Chomsky
Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 10:55 AM
Subject: Imperial Ambitions. Thoughts from a young Arab-American on your words.

Hello Mr. Chomsky,

I'd like to start this off by saying that I am not one to defile books by highlighting, underlining or the like. I like my books to stay spotless. However, I just finished reading "Imperial Ambitions" in which you were interviewed, and my copy is now a flurry of underlined lines, circled words and boxed paragraphs. All of your answers spoke to me--throughout the whole book, I found myself nodding in agreement or talking to myself wondering why we are the minority. I hope you get this email and are able to respond--if not, I just want you to know how brave you are for your thoughts and in voicing them. You're a brilliant man.

Best,
Sarah Alaoui

I know this isn't a fashion blog

2009-09-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

The only two shows I'm faithful to are Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl. TV bores me and besides the cooking shows at the gym or the occasional "trash TV" with my roommate, I don't normally sit in front of the television intentionally. Because of college this year, I got behind on GA and GG, but I finally caught up this summer. I'm a little bitter about the season finale of Grey's Anatomy so I don't really feel like talking about it right now, but Gossip Girl I can talk about because I haven't reached any surprising climaxes yet (don't give anything away or you're officially banned from my blog ;). Anyways, the point of this post is to name a fashion icon for myself this year. I don't usually do this. I don't follow the latest fashion trends, I don't care what shoes Kim Kardashian's wearing or what hairstyle Lauren Conrad's rocking. My mom calls my style classic (to her, boring)--I get it from my dad who thought that buying clothes from Banana Republic for a 9-year-old was okay (if he'd had his way back then, I'd be sporting business suits to school). Anyways, the style stuck, and since then, I've been drawn to timeless looks. You know, Jackie O, Queen Rania, but for now I present to you, Blair Waldorf:

The headbands, the blazers, the tights, the mischievous smile. I don't care that I go to school amongst Rainbow sandals, sundresses and hippie headbands (an especially irritating trend). I'm bringing out that Banana trench coat from the back of my San Diego closet and finding somewhere to wear it.

Now I just need a Dorota.

Sweet Life

2009-08-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

I was born with my mother’s eyes and my father’s mouth, my mother’s sensitivity and my father’s stubborn nature. I was also blessed with my father’s sweet tooth, a genetic history of diabetes that has plagued many members of my family (including my grandfather whose prosthetic leg is the result of his lifelong battle with an unrelenting affinity towards sweets) and an Arab family who loves to cook and feed me ("koul, koul!").

When I stay in my grandparents’ house in Morocco, I am spoiled with kisses from more aunts and great-aunts than I can count on both hands and a daily abundance of…sugar. Breakfast includes Moroccan pancakes soaked—er, drizzled—in honey, a plethora of cookies with almonds and jam prepared in every way possible and of course, Moroccan mint tea. The tea, which is served after almost every meal is the biggest perpetrator because it is served with generous amounts of sugar cubes— “Let her drink it, she doesn’t need to be worrying about sugar at this age!” I don’t refuse the aforementioned food—how could I, that would just be rude. Let’s be honest, though, I don’t fare any better in the United States. Brownies and cookies are my downfall, not to mention my newfound comfort food discovered during finals week in college— self-serve frozen yogurt with any and every topping imaginable (cheesecake bites, anyone?).

With my family’s medical history and a long list of future goals, including the chance to interview Fidel Castro before he dies (don’t ask), I couldn’t afford to keep up this sweet diet. Going completely cold turkey, however, could potentially be as shocking to my system as sugar is. I came to a compromise by occasionally incorporating Splenda and other artificial sweeteners into my diet. If I was craving soda, I’d pop open a Diet Coke. If I wanted cookies, I’d Google a recipe that contained sugar substitutes. However the term “artificial” also scared me. While an excess of sugar definitely has a detrimental impact on the body, are the alternatives any better? I decided to do my research and find out.

Searches on the safety of artificial sweeteners came up with a litany of results examining the sugar substitutes’ relation to cancer, weight gain and an increase of headaches. Before any conclusions can be drawn, one needs to distinguish between the different categories of sweeteners. Expert Cynthia Haines (Health Central) breaks them down:

“Acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One): Acesulfame K is found in many food products and can be used in baked goods. Its safety is backed by a multitude of studies, according to the FDA.

Saccharin (Sweet 'N Low, Sugar Twin): Saccharin was close to being banned in 1977 due to rat studies linking it to bladder cancer. The National Cancer Institute and the FDA have since concluded that its use is not a major risk for bladder cancer in humans (because the rats during the study were given a dangerously high amount of the product, indicating that such a large consumption may potentially be harmful).

Aspartame (Nutra-Sweet, Equal): The American Medical Association and the FDA have both concluded that aspartame is safe in moderation. One exception: People with a medical condition called phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid it. These people cannot metabolize part of aspartame, allowing it to accumulate in the body to dangerous levels.

Sucralose (Splenda): Sucralose is sugar chemically altered into the non-caloric sucralose. Splenda can be substituted for sugar in baking and cooking.

Neotame: Neotame is a recently approved artificial sweetener made by the same company that produces NutraSweet (aspartame). Products containing neotame are not required to carry the PKU warning as it is chemically different from aspartame and therefore does not have the same issue described above.”

According to this data and other complementary information found on Associated Content, sucralose (Splenda) seems to be the safest sweetener based on the fact that test participants have not indicated any negative side effects from having consumed the product. It has been approved in an increasing number of countries for consumption, further emphasizing its apparent safety.

It is also important to note that while artificial sweeteners do not raise blood sugar levels, products that contain them also include carbohydrates and proteins that could affect levels.

At this point, although some people think there might be a correlation between certain side effects and artificial sweetener, there is not enough proof to draw a concrete causation. Because the effects of these products have not been tested long enough, it is best to use these products in moderation.

Because of the availability of these alternative sweeteners, my family and I are able to modify our favorite recipes and still continue to live the sweet life.

A little Moroccan village in the middle of nowhere that we visited last year...staple=tea! Ali's been drinking it since he was a baby.

[Anyone have any yummy sugar-free recipes?]

How to Prevent Tummy Aches

2009-08-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

My dad called me yesterday on his way home from soccer and asked me if I wanted anything from In n' Out to break my fast (for Ramadan). It was about 15 minutes before sundown--and also the time when my hunger is at its peak during my fast. All thoughts and goals of eating healthy fly out the window. Yes, I could think of lots of things I wanted from In n' Out...

Animal fries!

And of course, a milkshake to down all that cheesy goodness down.

An hour later, I was experiencing major food coma. My family always sets the table for Ramadan iftars (breaking of the fast) about a half hour before time and by the time it's sundown, I'm sitting at the table feeling like a Pilgrim at the first Thanksgiving, anxious for the clock to tell me it's 7:48 or whichever time, accordingly--faced with a plethora of food and I'm adamant that I can finish it all. Needless to say, I never do. The downside, though, is that I end up sampling all the food and at the end it sits in my stomach in one big mix--food that should never be eaten together lies there in a mélange I never want to think about again. French fries, half a milkshake, and some paella later, I don't want to look at food ever again.

Unlike many other people who fast, I don't wake up for suhoor (morning right before the sun rises and the fast starts) to eat a little or drink water (sleep>food), so I take full advantage of iftar. If I'm only going to be eating once a day, I'm going to be eating everything, or so I think.

To get to the point, I don't want anymore tummy aches. Sarah, you will eat again tomorrow--just because there's all that food in front of you now doesn't mean you have to consume it all. Fasting definitely puts you in a different state of mind, soul and body...amazing. Really makes you think about world hunger from a 3-dimensional perspective--literally.

To solve my stomach ache problems, I will look to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It never fails to amaze me how Islam answers everything--even questions regarding my stomach ache (well, mine and everyone else's). Let's look at what he had to say (peace be upon him):

“The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls, to keep him going. If he must do that (fill his stomach), then let him fill one third with food, one third with drink and one third with air.”

Word. What precise advice. This is meant to draw our focus away from food and allows us to concentrate on other aspects of this holy month--soul searching, for example. I will remember that equation from now on and remember to never mix French fries with seafood.

Peace.

I pretty much look like this... ;)

Missing Fall

2009-08-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

I've had a very long summer...June to the end of September, and I'm about ready to go back now. I'm ready for a crowded lecture hall and small sections with awkward TAs and not having enough time in between classes and after classes. Towards the end of my first year of college, I realized how much I truly missed my family and my home here in the Bay Area, so while most of my friends are starting to move back to SD, I'm slowly milking my time here until the very last possible moment that I am required to go back.

To add on to the random post, the goals:

1. Not rush: the first two weeks of college are Rush meaning trying out for sororities/fraternities, etc. I almost succumbed to my friends' urgings to join, but ultimately, I decided that it's just not me--I'd be lying to myself if I thought I could handle being bossed around by and trying to impress a bunch of girls for a quarter. Sorry, girls :].

2. Limit my procrastination--> no more 3 am essays. During finals week, it makes sense, but the rest of the time, not so much.

3. Never miss yoga

I've missed my class so much this summer and next year, I vow to attend it every week. It helps my back and ups my mood.

4. Rekindle my friendship with my roommate. Being friends with someone is so much different than living with them and spending thousands of minutes together--everyone learns this the hard way.

5. Wake up early each day. I was never a morning person until San Diego when I'd wake up naturally early (why can't it be the same at home??) and I'd have time to make and eat breakfast and even get some pleasure reading done. It would be awesome if I can take advantage of the morning next year and move my gym regiment to this time.

6. Only eat out on special occasions. Self-explanitory (money & weight).

7. Hang out at the International House! I'm especially excited for this.

8. Build long-lasting relationships with professors. It's quite difficult to do this with the quarter system we have at UCSD--oftentimes, you don't get the same professor again...

Now on to another random thing...my room in SD. One day, my lovely friend Lilya came over and we (she) made a "dream wall" for me. My bed's in a corner of my room against a wall and that wall is where she posted lots of "dreamy" pictures--things that will make me smile/think at night and in the morning. The whole process was extremely therapeutic and I love her for doing it:

This is a picture of the unfinished project...

Isn't it pretty? The other thing I have hung up on my walls is this collage I made (I'm proud of it because usually I'm not this creative) that's above my bed:

"Keep it Classy"...great advice for college, everyone.

The point is, I'm thinking I want to take them all down. I want something that more represents myself--magazine cutouts and collages are more Lilya's thing than mine, and as gorgeous as her work on the wall is (her dorm room is amazingly decorated as well), I want something else. Perhaps a travel wall? Writing wall? Ooh, writing dream wall? Where are all my creative souls out there?

P.S. Last random thing, I don't think I ever mentioned in my blog that I have a little brother. Ali is 7 years old and the biggest nerd I know. He's read most of the Harry Potter books in about a month and was reading the Star Wars trilogy today when he asked me what "resist" meant. I explained it through the sentence: "I really want another cookie, but I resist." Later on, I told him he had to eat his lunch because he had the flu and needed energy for soccer. His response? "Sarah, I resist!"

: )

Ramadan Kareem!

2009-08-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of the month of Ramadan--I can already feel the change in the air, at least in my own household, while the rest of my neighborhood goes on. I love this feeling--where my life "stops" so I can take the time to reflect on my own self as well as the plight of those around the world for a whole month, while everyone else continues to live their lives. You know how scientists use air bubbles to determine temperatures at certain periods of time in history? That's how I feel during Ramadan--this is my own air bubble in which I can stop, and reflect (sans my two best friends, food and drink ;). The next couple of pictures feature Muslims from all over the world. Happy Ramadan, everyone.

Mumbai, courtesy of Flickr.

Hungary, courtesy of National Geographic.

Indonesia, courtesy of The New York Times.

Iranian women pray with Iraqi women in Iraq, courtesy of Modest and Beautiful.

On the brinks

2009-08-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

"Of course, now I wonder where I had gotten the idea that for you to participate in a gathering, the other people had to really, really want you to be there and that anything short of rabid enthusiasm on their part meant you'd be a nuisance. Where had I gotten the idea that being a nuisance was that big a deal? Sometimes now I think of all the opportunities I didn't take...and of how refusal became a habit for me..."

-Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Has anyone read this book? This paragraph jumped out at me and I could relate, though I'm not sure why or how yet--not enough to articulate it anyways. Does anyone else feel a connection to this? Explain...

Organizing!

2009-08-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

I'm already getting stressed thinking about next year in terms of organization. I've been thinking about getting an iPhone to help me with that, but I like my Pearl too much and the touchscreen/bulkiness of the former ruins it for me. Plus, my parents are always having glitches with theirs. Also, I'm into the whole writing stuff down, remember? With an internship next year, the school paper, other writing things, 5 classes, and finding Sarah time, how do I stay organized?? Right now, I usually keep what I have to do in the "Notes" section of my Blackberry, or jot random stuff down in a notebook, or put it in my laptop calendar (which I rarely use) or on my gmail "task" widget thing (so handy, by the way). I can't have my life spilling over in so many directions--HELP! Any ideas for how to stay organized/keep your stuff together in ONE place? I'm thinking of something along the lines of a portable agenda contraption...
Etsy links to cute little planners also welcome :)

Something that makes organizing fun, and that I know I WILL use. Help greatly appreciated, thank you.

Chez Sarah

2009-08-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

J. from Ninja Newsflash tagged me in this fun little activity to get to know more about fellow bloggers...

"If you were going to allow us to spend a night at your home, we'd like to know the following:
1. What books are on your favorite shelf?
2. What DVDs are on your favorite shelf?
3. What are your two favorite cookbooks?
4. Select 1-3 recipes you will cook for your special guests.
5. What will we be drinking that's available?
Feel free to add pictures/descriptions of anything else you want. I think we'll be able to learn a lot about each other simply by seeing what we like to read, eat, drink, etc.."

1. As much as I hate this question, because I have this slight (fine, large) OCD thing where I can't list things like favorite books or favorite music (movies are fine, because only a very few make my favorite list) because of a great fear that I will have forgotten one and it will come back to haunt me...somehow. But because it is one of the questions, I will disclose a few favorites if you all promise not to hold it against me if I later remember more...

It's not like everyone hasn't read this book, right? I don't care, the moments I spent locked in my cousin's room in France on vacation reading this book and following the triumphant, but at times, tearful (in my eyes) journeys of Mariam and Laila have automatically deemed this book one of my favorites. Also, my best friend (she's my person...yes, we are Grey's Anatomy nerds and if you understood that reference, you are super cool in my book) is Afghan and that somehow makes the story closer to my heart, don't ask me how. Also, I don't usually write to authors unless I am extremely impressed by books, and Khaled Hosseini was one of the recipients of my fan email (please write back Khaled! thank you.)--he's also a UCSD alum, go Tritons!

Ever since my sixth grade teacher started crying while reading "Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry" to my class, I became enthralled with black history. Actually, ever since the American Girl's "Addy" series, which was a series that drew tears from me to the point that my mom threatened that she wouldn't let me check them out anymore since I got so emotional (along with "A Little Princess" and the Goosebumps books). "Native Son" is one of my favorite books, but also represents my fascination with African-American history and black people's role and position in the United States. I'd go through phases where all I read were books about slavery (Toni Morisson is another one of my favorite talents) and my dad would walk by and jokingly ask, "What are you reading? Another book about black people?" It's a subject that's always amazed me, and continues to do so--I received an A+ in Black History during my first year of college...guess books do pay off : ).

It's amazing how we try to find something that mirrors ourselves while growing up. Anything that we feel personally connected to entices us. I remember when I first read this book freshman year of high school, even the cover of the girl with the thick, dark eyebrows felt familiar to me. This book also represents my love for Latin culture, and how Hispanic people are the closest to Arabs in many cultural quirks including humor. My family laughs and relates just as much to "George Lopez" as his intended audience probably does.

That's all for the books, for now, but I still have this nagging feeling I've forgotten some really important book--I warned you!

2. DVDs...I'm actually not a huge movie fan, so this category is pretty special because any movie included in this list is one I adore. I will include one.

Let me tell you a little story about this. My best friend in Morocco (when I went to school there as a small child) was Houda. Coming back to visit, I always see her--the first time was awkward because after about 8 years of separation, who knew if we'd still be considered "best friends"? We quickly bonded over Harry Potter, sun tans, and fun jewelry--we'd also both grown up into well-rounded, intelligent young women if I may say so myself ;). Anyways, last winter when I was at Houda's house in Marrakech, we were looking for something to do after having updated each other on life, and she suggested we watch a movie. She told me she had a movie I'd love: "Love Me if You Dare" or "Jeux d'Enfants"...I was a bit skeptical, because like I said, I'm not a huge movie buff, and having to politely sit through a long, not-so-great movie didn't sound like a fun thing to me. Well...I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! Houda would ask me questions at times or make a comment, and I'd be like "huh"--I was in a spell. Since then, I've watched it about a hundred more times and made everyone else watch it too. It's nice to know that some best friends do endure time and distance : ).

3. Favorite cookbooks? I don't use cookbooks, I usually google a quick recipe if I'm craving something, or go to my wonderful chef of a mother. I always call her from college asking for ways to spice up rice or advice on how to make sweet potato fries. My roommate loved her pad thai--she makes anything and everything. Mami always comes up with the perfect complementary dishes for any affair--people rave about our dinner parties for months after.

Homemade éclair anyone?

4. What a demanding guest! Haha, just kidding, let's see...with my mother's help, I would make chicken caesar salad, roast chicken stuffed with vermicelli and shrimp, and tiramisu for dessert. If none of that entices you, I guess we could eat out, but REALLY?

5. I love love Pellegrino. I also love pomegranate tea. Recently, I was drinking some sparkling water and some of the fizziness was gone from it--what did I do? I mixed part water, part tea for a delicious concoction. I will share that with my guests.

I now tag: 1.Zek, 2. Loca, 3. Mounia, 4. Jacque, and 5. Sarah

Enjoy!

: )

Squabbles over a Burqini??

2009-08-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

Imagine this scene, one in which a woman sits on the edge of a swimming pool, teased by the cooling breeze wafting off the surface of the water. She occupies herself by reading a French novel, glancing up every now and then to make sure her young ones are not floating off into the deep end, or splashing chlorine into each other’s eyes. She looks longingly at the inviting depths of the cool water and observes the scene in front of her: many mothers like herself, escaping the hot day by enjoying dips in the pool with their children and fellow neighbors. They are all clad in bikinis and one-piece suits and other revealing bathing suits our character (though she is very real, as you will see) would not feel comfortable donning because of her chosen religious beliefs—ones that encourage her to embrace and practice modesty in daily life.

The previous day, she’d attempted to use the facilities but was stopped by swimming pool staff because her long-sleeved, head-to-toe outfit (though made of Lycra and other synthetic material like most other bathing suits) was deemed “inappropriate” and potentially “unsanitary”. What a bunch of hokum, right? Unfortunately my wild imagination (though I was blessed with one) did not invent this scenario. A Parisian swimming pool recently banned a woman dressed in a “burqini”(Read full article here), the ingenious solution to many Muslim women’s struggle to find a modest enough bathing suit that allows them the convenience of cooling off in a public swimming pool on a sweltering summer day—because everyone should be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of summer, right?

Apparently, France doesn’t think so. Earlier this month, President Nicolas Sarkozy stated that, “…the burka - a garment covering women from head to toe - reduced them to servitude and undermined their dignity, “ (BBC). Excuse me? Who are you to tell me that my choosing to wear a burka, or any other type of clothing for that matter is a deduction that I am oppressed or enslaved? This is similar to the argument that women who choose to wear revealing clothing are responsible for the possible consequence of sexual harassment—however, I don’t see anybody banning mini skirts or tight jeans. While I agree with his personal views regarding the burqa (it is not a religious thing, it is a cultural thing popular in places like Afghanistan and North Western Pakistan), I don’t believe he should use them to impose a law on his people and prevent those who want to wear the burqa for personal reasons, whatever they may be, from doing so. I would like to point out that the Parisian woman, CAROLE, is a convert and her new religion is something she CHOSE for herself. Monsieur Président, with all due respect, I do not feel that it is in your best interest to comment on the clothing of your citizens—it is not a sartorial position that you hold. If you wanted to head down that path, perhaps you should have taken on your wife’s career. It is not only discriminatory of you (choosing to base an entire speech on burkas…why not focus on low rise jeans, or tube tops for a change?) to voice your personal biases by attempting to make them French law, but it is also of misogynist nature—feeling the need to infringe upon a woman’s choice. Should you actually prove that these are not choices, but they are garments imposed on these women, I stand with you every step of the way to ensure these women's "freedom". Similar to how some people believe that abortion is a woman’s choice, I believe the same rule applies to religion and practice of that religion.

On a similar tangent, since when were dress codes enforced on such a wide scale? Some people are choosing to bring the 80s back and some people want to bring modesty back—nothing wrong with that.

Let’s imagine another scene. This time, a group of mothers and young girls are splashing around in a swimming pool—some are practicing their backstrokes in the lane area. It is 90 degrees outside, but they do not feel the heat effects because they are taking advantage of the cool water. They are wearing brightly colored long leggings and long- sleeved Lycra tops because they want to feel comfortable in applying their religion, one that promotes modesty, in their daily activities—hence the non-traditional bathing suits. I didn’t make this one up either, folks, it’s common in the wonderful US of A. In fact, I was at my local gym last week, and saw a whole family of hijabis enjoying the swimming pool without anyone around paying them any attention—it made me smile. Our waters are just as sanitary as they were before people started swimming dressed in long bathing suits—France, you can even come check.

France, your act is over. You present yourself as a liberal, freethinking place. However, liberalism is a multi-faceted thing, mes amis, not something that is only displayed through allowing questionable content on TV during daylight hours. While freedom of the media is wonderful and all, ensuring your citizens’ sense of comfort and equality is just as great. You cannot expect me to stand by and believe that this is not an act of discrimination. You say everyone is “free and equal” (remember liberté, égalité,fraternité?)in your country, yet you create rules that target certain groups. This entire situation reminds me of black Americans during the antebellum period—they were often disenfranchised because of sneaky laws such as the poll tax and reading tests that were knowingly implemented to do just that. It’s the equivalent of saying, “Sure, you’re free now. You just can’t vote.” In the French case, it would be “Sure, your passport says you’re French like us, but you can’t wear that oppressive thing if you want your status to last.” Whoever said “Muslim is the new black” was right. Americans today are not proud of this past history, and you, France, do not want your legacy to include (along with smelly cheese and superiority to Americans) modern day discrimination.

I personally do not wear any religious (or cultural) covering, but as a Muslim who stands in support of her sisters, and as a citizen of the world, I ask this of everyone: how are we going to advance towards human solidarity and successful discourse if we carp over the silliest things such as bathing suits?

I am a burqini, hear me roar.

Spoken Word

2009-08-09T22:58:00.000-07:00

Look for this article in the next issue of Parlé Magazine:

I was never a fan of poetry. Rhyming didn’t entice me nor did lengthy sonnets we had to ruminate and write about in school. I wasn’t a self-proclaimed poetry buff until I discovered Saul Williams, the name that started my long-term relationship with the art of spoken word. After that first Youtube video of Shihan performing Saul’s “This Type Love”, I was hooked. This wasn’t poetry the way I used to define poetry—this was connections being made and minds exercised and entertained as the Def Poetry Jam artists sang and cried and sent off their messages in bouts of ceaseless undulance that moved me along with their waves. I grew accustomed to hearing Mos Def’s characteristic voice introducing the artists on screen as my eyes remained entranced, as well as my ears. I’d await the artist to come on stage (on Youtube) in anxious, childlike (or Sarah-like, for those who know me) impatience, waiting to see which emotion the performance would evoke: laughter, melancholy, familiarity, or a mélange of the three or more. I’d wait with pen and paper handy, ready to write down lines that struck a familiar chord in me, or ones to recycle and present to friends as makeshift gifts of consolation for whichever issues they were dealing with at the time—letting them know that they weren’t alone in their struggles and that their feelings were neither naïve nor unfounded because others were experiencing them too, so much in fact, that they took those fears and anxieties and professions of joy on stage to share with others.

Spoken word is as much about how the words are delivered as it is about the actual content. Every eye shift, hand movement, and tone of words adds or sometimes takes away from the meaning of the piece. Saul’s low voice, chanting the lines to “Gypsy Girl”, growing more frantic as it approaches the climax, then calming down again to a monotonic lull still gets me every time. Every single time, it leaves me speechless with the only word managing to escape, a breathless “wow”. I can’t picture the story being told any other way. But who knows? Saul’s words can be taken and performed by someone else in a different way to provide a different meaning to Gypsy Girl’s tale—perhaps turning it into one of happiness. I remember taking “This Type Love” for an English assignment and modifying the words to express the relationship and treatment that Latino immigrants ideally wish to receive from their new country’s government. My performance changed the tone, content and meaning of the words from detailing the little quirks that create a loving relationship based on the same level to telling the story of a long-term servile connection between a hard worker and his country that’s not as affectionate as the former.

From Shaheen’s video, I moved on to names I knew: Common, Talib and even Kanye took his turn on the Def Jam stage. I still think “Bittersweet” sounds better without the music. Then I moved on to unfamiliar names—what undiscovered talent. Those women. Those strong, powerful, beautiful women, brave on stage, opened up about their fears, their voices lilting as they talked about their need to be coveted based on what their minds entailed and not what their bodies detailed. Their voices sometimes breaking as they relived experiences through the unrelenting time machine of the mind, but always building up to a stronger finish as they recounted their dreams, goals and aspirations—their legacy to women everywhere based on hard-learned lessons.

Anyone with a passion (this is key) and a message can deliver a successful spoken word performance. This medium is not limited to Lauryn Hill wannabes or afro-donning poets, or as Cedric the Entertainer’s poem for Def Poetry Jam describes, “…another cliché…you know, the dreadlock hair and the Erykah Badu Musiq Soulchild headwrap wearin’ brother that’s…gonna tell me way too much about…how the white man keep keepin’ a brotha down.” It is an art form that unites every color, nationality, neighborhood, and I’ve heard pieces covering every single cause from the use of the word “nigger” (Julian Curry’s “Niggers, Niggas and Niggaz”) to the abasement of cat calling as a way to get a woman’s attention (Amalia Ortiz’s “Cat Calls”).

Poetry is words while spoken word is real—the two are thought of as synonymous but I believe the latter enhances the former. Spoken word brings the words and stories to life and paints a picture with sounds and tones and people. It provides a stage for all poets, both young and old, to project their strifes and their passions regarding everything from Palestinian tragedy to Somalian identity to individual tragedy in trying to establish a comfortable, fitting identity. It’s a universal method of breathing out issues and struggles or as artist J.Ivy puts it, “…my pops died and it’s hard dealing with it, I need to write…they done stole my hoodie, I need to write,” (Def Poetry Jam, “I Need to Write”).

Still my favorite piece...

Sarcancook Part 2

2009-08-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

I was reading my usual blogs today and when I got to one of my favorite food blogs, "Bread Plus Butter", I noticed the recipe of the day was Eggplant Patties. I was excited because my favorite vegetable is eggplant and I felt like cooking something today. Results:

Light, healthy, and delicious--perfect for a summer dinner.

The pictures aren't as clear as I would've liked because they were taken on my Mac's photobooth (I left my camera charger in San Diego : (. They don't do the recipe justice, but trust me on it : ).

We had these eggplant patties (they taste somewhat like veggie burgers, but not as heavy) with a mango blueberry smoothie that I made from ingredients around the house. It was delicious. The recipe for the eggplant patties and other great, easy recipes (perfect for college students!) can be found on the Bread + Butter Blog here.

Bon Appetit!

Hoba Hoba Spirit

2009-08-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

I recently interviewed the musical group Hoba Hoba Spirit for a Moroccan American publication, and this was my favorite part:

Sarah Alaoui: Who are you talking about in "Femme Actuelle"? The new independent generation of Moroccan women?
Reda from Hoba Hoba: After we record a song, it does not belong to us anymore, you have the entire freedom to analyse it the way you want, we will not provide any explanation.

I loved that answer. They release their bird (song/lyrics) and whoever catches it (listens to it) has the power to interpret it however he or she wants. "It does not belong to us anymore...". Brilliant.

If you love world music, French music, African music, or just wonderful music in general, look up Hoba Hoba Spirit (no need to understand the words, just wonderful feel good sounds):

Click here for their website.

Or here for their Myspace.

2009-08-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

I cannot stand vulgarity. In any form, shape, use or substance. I could be reading something of great interest but once I hit a word or sentence that is crude or lacks the finesse that should be used by anyone who's trying to express a point or earn the respect and attention of an audience, I will wince reflexively and most likely stop reading. I am not naive nor am I a prude but I strongly believe that if one cannot present one's point eloquently without using certain words or coarse images, then...well, frankly, that defeats the point of eloquence in my eyes. Take advantage of the versatility and resources that the English language offers and create words and messages that tempt the reader in--not traumatize them with your misuse of the beauty that is words.

Cheers.

Las Canciones de Maria Elena

2009-08-04T01:04:00.000-07:00

My goal for a while now has been to learn Spanish. If I had to choose, I'd say it's my favorite language--it sounds so dramatic and beautiful in the way that it just rolls off of people's tongues no matter what tone of voice they take on. So while in the past, I'd learn a bit of Spanish that would get me through my Mexican summer vacation (la cuenta, por favor?, etc...) then leave my words somewhere on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta where I'd try haggling with the buyers, or in the hotel's restaurant where I'd ask them "donde esta el flan?", this summer, I'm trying to preserve what little of the language I have learned and add on to my repertoire of words. We're not going to Mexico this summer because my mother still thinks there's a huge outbreak of swine flu (so do all the other tourists, so if you're looking to vacation further south, check the prices on Mexico packages...super cheap this year), but I don't need that as an excuse to develop my Spanish skills. Just the other day, I was working and a woman came in and started asking me questions regarding the clothes in Spanish and I couldn't understand her. Knowing Spanish in California is a good thing to know.

So how am I doing it? I was doing podcasts for a while, but I figured I don't need a whole half hour to learn when to say "Hola" and when it's appropriate to use "usted" or "tu", so I'm using songs and movies and shows subtitled in Spanish. It's been a much more stimulating learning experience than the travel books and podcasts I'd used in the past. Instead of googling "watch free movies" now I just type "ver peliculas gratis" and I get instant access to Gossip Girl episodes subtitled in Spanish as well as my favorite Gael Garcia Bernal y Diego Luna peliculas. Wonderful.

I have a whole playlist devoted to my Spanish songs (how do I not have any Spanish in me??) entitled "Las Canciones de Maria Elena" in honor of my favorite Vicky Cristina Barcelona character. It includes tons of Celia Cruz (how I would have loved to meet her! Azucar!)--one of my favorites is "La Negra Tiene Tumbao". My mom always laughs at me because I practice my salsa while doing the dishes :]. I also love Ibrahim Ferrer (and the rest of the Buena Vista Social Club), Jarabe de Palo, Manu Chao of course, and MACACO. I memorized the lyrics to their song "Mama Tierra" which is a wonderful dedication to the environment:

Click here to watch the beautiful National Geographic video for this song...

Si la miras como a tu mamá
Quizás nos cambie la mirada,
Y actuemos como el que defiende a los suyos

If you see her like your mother
Perhaps our gaze will change
And let us act like the one who defends his own

Que lindo...

A picture of street soccer in Cuba I found on flickr (Modest and Jill)...

I love scenes of kids playing street soccer.

And on that note, buenas noches a todos.

Lighten things up a bit...

2009-07-31T22:46:00.000-07:00

I've been bombarding you all with lots of articles and words lately, so I decided to add some color and pictures for today's post : ]. It will be a simple, fun post. I found this survey here and thought I'd do it:

Would you rather...?:
1. Be 4”1' or be 7”9'?

I'd rather be 4"1' because it seems like 7"9' would be lonely. Towering over the world sounds unexciting and I also have a fear of heights so being that tall wouldn't help at all. Being 4"1' would feel like everything's new and exciting--like being at college for the first time.
2. Live without music or live without TV?

Live without TV for sure. I don't even watch it anymore, but music is something that I always have on during most of the day--on my laptop, in the car, at work, etc.
3. Have a beautiful house and ugly car or have an ugly house and beautiful car?
Beautiful house and ugly car of course...I don't care what people think of my car, but I do care what my house looks like. Also, I'd be spending the most time in the house and I'd want it to be gorgegous : ).
4. Live in Antarctica or live in Death Valley?

Antartica because I like warm clothes better than breezy clothes. Meaning, I like fall/winter fashion much better than summer fashion, and I'd assume that in Antartica, there wouldn't be a need for any of the latter.
5. Have three eyes or have webbed feet?

I'd rather have three eyes because webbed feet would make it difficult to walk. I like to maintain a brisk pace in my life. Also, having three eyes would allow me to see another dimension of the world.
6. Find true love or find a million dollars?

True love. We don't need a million dollars, but everyone needs to be surrounded by true love. People who love them for who they are.
7. Always have to say everything on your mind or never speak again?

I'm a very talkative person, and can't imagine never being able to speak again. Also, I'm pretty good at getting myself out of awkward situations, therefore anything I'd be required to say, I can work around it if it wasn't the best thing to say.
8. Be gossiped about or never be talked about at all?

I hate drama. That's all.
9. Have x-ray vision or have bionic hearing?

Have x-ray vision. Because I used to sit inches from the TV when I played my Nintendo 64 in elementary school and I used to read books late at night with a mini flashlight, I've deteriorated my eyesight significantly. I don't want to hear everything, but I'd love to see everything (without contacts!).
10. Be able to hear any conversation or be able to take back anything you say?

Why would I want to hear any conversation? I don't consider myself nosy, but I do consider myself rash sometimes. I'd love to be able to take certain things back.
11. End hunger or end hatred?

End hatred. This would hopefully lead to an influx of selfless compassion which would naturally lead to ending hunger. We've come up with technologies to end hunger (if people could just be compassionate/organized enough to effectively use them), but no one has come up with anything to solve the societal handicap of hatred.
12. Be stranded on an island alone or be stranded with someone you hate?

I'd want to be stranded on an island with someone I hate. I like being with people and if I was by myself somewhere for a very long time, I'd get lonely and probably start talking to myself which is frightening in itself. Also, there's probably a silly reason for me to hate the person, so I'd try to talk it through. I don't think I hate anyone in real life. Strongly annoyed by or dislike doesn't count.
13. Have more money or be more attractive?

Have more money. Being attractive is temporary and only gets you so far.
14. Have one wish granted today or have ten wishes granted in ten years' time?

The wishes I have all have to do with my future anyways, therefore I'd choose to have them all granted in the future. I'm thankful to say I have nothing to wish for in the moment. Not much, anyways.
15. Get free chocolate for one year or get free potatoes forever?

I don't eat potatoes very much, and I have the world's biggest sweet tooth. So, chocolate please. If it has raspberries or almonds, I'd be way happier too : ).
16. Have a mansion in the middle of nowhere or have an apartment with ten friends?

Apartment with 10 friends! I never liked places that were in the middle of nowhere--I've always been a city girl. Plus, friends always make the environment much more fun. Friends and family make a tiny apartment a home.
17. Be nervous but excited or be relaxed but bored?

Nervous and excited. I dislike the term "bored".
18. Know it all or have it all?

Have it all. If I knew it all, then I would actually be bored. But since I dislike that term...I choose to have it all.
19. Surf the internet or surf the ocean?

Internet. Although I'd like to learn how to surf--it's a shame I don't know how by now, going to school by the ocean and all. Goal for next quarter!
20. Have an ugly, loyal dog or a have a prize-winning, snobby cat?

I'm shallow, so I choose a cat. I don't like dogs or cats (yes, yes, I'm a callous human for not appreciating the joy that animals are, blah blah. I'm just not an animal person. Deal.), but I'd rather have a cute pet than an ugly pet.
21. Be saved by Superman or meet Winnie the Pooh?

Be saved by Superman...how many people can say they've experienced that?
22. Not be able to use your phone or not be able to use your computer?

Not be able to use my computer. I've had my cellphone service be down before and it wasn't very fun. I felt disconnected from the world...literally.
23. Live in a tree or live underground?

Live in a tree. Only if I had a treehouse though. The ground sounds dirty...and claustrophobic.
24. Meet an alien visiting earth or travel to outer space?

Meet an alien visiting Earth...I'm not that adventurous. That's where I cross the line. Imagine being stuck in outer space, yikes.
25. Be forgotten or be hatefully remembered?

This is a tough one. I'd probably choose the latter because there's bound to be someone out there who wouldn't hate me--I mean I'm sure even Hitler had his followers. But I'd hate to be completely forgotten. How depressing.

Now on to the pictures. I want to share with you my favorite women figures--not role models or people I look up to or anything, just favorite women in general. These ladies are all ones I feel represent class and "different" beauty. I'm not into mainstream Jessica Alba or Megan Fox or Eva Longoria. The following are females who I personally think are gorgeous:

Can we all take a minute to appreciate the beauty that is Penelope? Seriously...she's my favorite. This picture is from Volver, an excellent, eerie movie. She was also in one of my favorite Woody Allen movies, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, as "Maria Elena", the temperemental, eccentric ex-wife of Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). Maria Elena, according to my friends, is my alter ego. I'm honored : )

Salma Hayek. Gorgeous and natural.

Soad Hosni, RIP, is one of my favorite Egyptian actresses. One of my favorite guilty pleasures is watching black and white Egyptian movies with my dad. Hers are my favorite.

Marion Cotillard. Mostly because "La Môme" was one of the most amazing realistic transformations I've ever seen an actress/actor go through (up there with Jamie Foxx's performance in "Ray"). Also, "Jeux d'Enfants" is my favorite movie of all time.

That's all for now. : )

Who are some of your favorite non-mainstream beauties? (male or female)

Couscous and other memories

2009-07-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here eating some of my mother's hearty Moroccan couscous and thinking about all the things I used to hate as a child that I now love. The wishes of children and the wishes of their parents are almost always at polar ends but they seem to converge the older the child gets. My experience is not any different...

1) I was born in the United States and roughly three years later, my family decided to move to Morocco. Actually, only my mom and I moved there while my father stayed in New York/California to work. This probably explains the strong bond I have with my mother and why sometimes people think we're sisters (when I was younger, we did almost everything together). The point is, during this time in Morocco, I went to a private school where I learned Arabic as well as French. Moving back to the United States at age 7, I was fluent in both those languages and the only words of English I knew were polite terms (thank yous and pleases) as well as things like "ice cream" and "cookie", the latter was apparently one of the first words I spoke as a baby. In my attempts to learn English and assimilate into my new school, I had my mom pack me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and made friends with girls who had "yellow" and "orange" hair. I also refused to speak to my parents in French because it wasn't a part of my plan to integrate into American society--they were trying to make sure I didn't lose my other languages. This probably explains why today, I can understand everything in French, but I struggle at times to find the right words to respond with. I wish I could go back to my childhood self right now and force her to practice speaking with her parents.

I secretly couldn't give up reading Tintin though. ;)

2) COUSCOUS. Oh how I disliked couscous and many other Moroccan foods. People who know I'm Moroccan always bring up couscous, "So, like, can you make couscous? I went to this exotic Moroccan restaurant once...". Anyways, no, I can't make couscous, but I've grown to love it. I don't know what I was thinking when I made myself sandwiches or ate cereal instead of having couscous with my family--there's nothing like homecooked meals. Also, the funny thing is that in college, couscous has become my best friend. My parents would call and ask what I had for lunch and dinner and would laugh in disbelief when I said couscous. Although my version takes only about 5 minutes to make, I promised myself I will learn how to make the real kind, À la marocaine.

Eating couscous with friends in Bouznika Beach, Morocco (2008); it's served from one dish that everyone eats from, makes for sharing.

3) Speaking of food, I want to talk about cooking. My mom's always tried to get me into the kitchen with her to learn the art of cooking, but I vowed to never learn because that would mean falling into the rut of the "typical Arab woman" and that's not what I wanted to be. I don't know where I got these ideas as a child/pre-teen, but these are just memories verbatim. Back to cooking: seriously Sarah??? Looking back now, I will say that my chosen road of feminism was ~~slightly~~ very skewed, and today I don't know how to cook very many dishes to show for it. If anything, not knowing how to cook is not a sign of my feminism, but more a sign of my stubborness. I will change that this summer. I will be the best chef in college come September.

Need enthusiasm to cook? THINK GIADA.

4) Tennis lessons. From elementary school all throughout middle school, I had private tennis lessons, group tennis lessons, and I even went to tennis camps (my mom's reasoning was this: "when you grow older and your coworkers invite you to play tennis, don't you want to know how?"). You'd think I was a pro by now. Unfortunately, I was never too ecstatic about them, and my current skills are far from pro, but I'd like to get back into the sport.

This could've been me...frankly, I'm glad it's not because have you SEEN the muscles on this woman?

5) Expanding my reading repertoire. Because I was a total bookworm slash nerd (I still am) and everyone who knew me or my parents were aware of this fact, I would receive giftcards to bookstores for all holidays and birthdays. I guess people thought, "Hey, she works in a library, that must be all she's interested in". But I enjoyed those giftcards, thank you friends and family. The point is I'd choose to spend the cards on the latest Babysitter's Club book or a Norman Rockwell calendar or a cute bookmark or something. There are many Babysitter's Club books and many cute bookmarks, so my gift cards were quickly used up. One time, though, my dad (who always encourages me to expand my reading and knowledge and all that good stuff) convinced me to spend my $100 BN gift card on a book of Renaissance painters and another with the complete works of Khalil Gibran. I think I was in the 6th grade. Needless to say, those books grew dustier...and dustier and we never saw them again. That is, until this year, when I wanted to expand my knowledge and look for that old Khalil Gibran book I'd spent a ton of money on when I was much younger. I am now happy to say that it is my bedside book in college and I always read a poem or two from the great writer if I can't sleep at night. Thank you, Baba.

6) On being the best hostess. I will not be the first to publicize the importance of guests and treatment of guests in Arab culture (treating guests well is also very crucial in Islam). Before I talk about how my family treats guests, let's talk about a typical experience of going over to a friend's house. When I visit friends' homes, in terms of food, I'm usually told to "help yourself to anything in the fridge", prepared a sandwich and a soda (back in elementary school), or no mention of food is made (if it is, it is in the form of going out to eat). I'm not using this example to publicize to everyone that I expect to be served when I come over--I don't. I just want to compare what most people I know do to what my family does and how I have come to appreciate the latter, growing up.

Everytime I have a friend come over, my mother (love you ♥) brings out her trays, our cups and plates for guests (even though it's just my friends...), and a plethora of food. I remember once in high school, Molly came over (note: Molly lives around the corner and she's been over plenty of times) and my mom made us dinner. ~~She ordered us a pizza and gave us some soda~~. My mother first brought out a cheese plate (yes. a cheese plate) with brie, camembert, gouda, etc (we were expecting her to whip out a bottle of wine after that). Then came the salad with smoked salmon and homemade balsamic vinegar/olive oil dressing. Then came the main dish which I don't remember. Then came a tray of cookies and a fruit plate. Let me just say that food is always a big memory that my friends have of coming over. Also, I can't ask my friends if they're hungry or thirsty. Because then they'll say no, of course. I have to fix up a tray of snacks, fruit and drinks or whatever else comes to my parents' mind and bring it to my friends, "...and then of course they will eat..." (Parents, page of my life: all).

I used to get really annoyed when I was younger when my parents would make me serve my friends and sometimes there would even be tearful fits. But now, I know my friends appreciate it and I appreciate my parents for instilling this in me. It feels good to be on the other end as well. Now in my college apartment when people come over, I always make sure to not ask--I just serve.

What's the point of this post? To prevent regrets. To induce more cohesive relationships between children and their parents...it could be to your advantage.

To all my 5-year-old followers: practice your French, practice your serve, make couscous, read The Prophet and always make sure you're the perfect hostess.

Cheers,
Sarah

Un Entretien Avec Stephen Clarke

2009-07-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Remember the time I was talking about not understanding the American obsession with the French? If you don't remember, refresh yourself here. I also mentioned a book I'd recently read that illustrated the love affair with the French beautifully, A Year in the Merde. It's a book, "...for a whole new generation of readers who can never quite decide whether they love — or love to hate — the French," (Powell's Books).

I enjoyed the book so much--it's not often that you find a book that will literally make you laugh out loud--that I decided to contact the author for an interview. I present to you...

Stephen Clarke

Click here to learn more about the books and the man behind them.

Sarah Alaoui: What is the general opinion of the British regarding the French?
Stephen Clarke: It's a secret love affair. Whenever the UK press gets excited about the European Union they blame it on the French ("did you know that our farmers are starving to death while Europe funds the dog food for French truffle hunters?" type of thing). But in the same newspaper you'll have pages of French holidays, French property, French wines etc etc. We hate France's opportunist politicians (but then so do the French) and we adore their lifestyle.

SA: How do you, Stephen Clarke, conceive Americans' infatuation with the French?
SC: Do they have one? In my experience, a large slice of the population thinks that the French are fighting for Al Qaeda. Americans who know France love its sophistication, and probably even enjoy the masochistic thrill of getting served by a waiter or waitress who can be grumpy instead of introducing themselves and inquiring about your wellbeing.

SA: In "A Year In the Merde", the main character Paul West, decides in the end that he can't part with the cafes and lifestyle he'd grown accustomed to in France. Which country do you, yourself prefer?
SC: I live in France for the lifestyle. Whatever the French say about art, philosophy, politics and sex, what interests them most of all is making sure that they have a comfortable lifestyle. Good food, good wine, nice long weekends, lots of holidays, even good water. The rest is up to you, and that's the way I like it (uh huh uh huh).

SA: Why did you decide to bring Paul West to the U.S. in the third novel, Merde Happens?
SC: Merde Happens is a road trip across the USA with his French girlfriend. I liked the idea of exploring the French love-hate relationship with America - they want to hate it for the fast food and "imperialist" politics but they just love it really. Give a French person a diner menu and their mouth starts watering ten times more than in the chicest French restaurant. Same goes for Hollywood movies, which France's chattering classes hate but everyone else flocks to see. They are totally schizophrenic about the USA and it's very funny.

SA: Jake, the American character in the books, the one who helps Paul order coffee the right way stuck out for me. Is he a symbol of international percepetion of America? (unfashionable, untidy, you-fill-in-the-blanks...)
SC: Not at all - Jake is just a chaotic bloke who writes awful poetry and has screwed-up ideas about France, women and life in general, and whose English has become so corrupted that you have to be bilingual to understand him. He happens to be American but he could be a Brit, an Aussie, anything. I am very fond of Jake, and lots of readers write to me to tell me the same.

SA: Did any French readers contact you because they were offended by your book?
No, not at all - they love my books. The only trouble I heard about was a bookseller in the Dordogne who had his books confiscated by some gendarmes because on the English editions the cover features the word "merde" written in the colours of the French flag - they thought it was insulting. But their senior officer apparently told them not to be silly and gave the books back.

SA: Does all your writing have a humorous light or do you try to write seriously sometimes?
I cannot write seriously for more than one sentence, which is why I'm ending this answer now. Damn, see what I mean?.

SA: I think "A Year in the Merde" would make a terrific movie--do you have any plans of getting it onto the big screen?
I have huge plans, immense plans, of course, but these things need producers and megabucks, so my plans count for zilch. However, someone is "interested" as they say in the business, and if I'm typing these answers rather slowly it's because I have all my fingers crossed. As well as my toes and (I think) kidneys. We shall see.

I would like to extend my gratitude once again to Stephen Clarke for allowing me to interview him. If you have not already checked out his books, do so now--they're hilarious.

Current State of Employment

2009-07-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

The main goal of this post is purely a narcisstic, self-indulgent one...as are most things done in my life (har har har). I'm trying to make myself feel better. After about a month of job hunting, I managed to find a few not-so-optimal jobs. The first, asking people to support children's charities on the street, lasted a day (orientation) because frankly, I cannot support a summer spent harassing people on the street although it did pay quite a lot of money. I left. Then, I found a job at a retail store...one I am currently working at. The pay is horrible. Point blank. However, judging how desperate I was pre-finding a job this summer and the current economical environment, I've decided to refrain from being ungrateful and embrace this job (mostly out of fear of jinxing it). Even though the hours are horrible and the salary is only enough to indulge my food palate and not sufficient to support the more frivolous desires I have...I will not complain.

In the process of trying to make myself feel better, I want to ask myself why I want a job in the first place. The truth is, I don't need a job. Long shopping lists aside (I don't really need another Longchamp bag after all), there is no dire need for me to make money--only a want, shamelessly fueled by online window-shopping (browser shopping?). Unlike many of my friends, I don't have to support myself. I don't have to pay for college by myself and I don't have to pay for rent or things like car expenses. I should be grateful and spend a summer indulging in natural things. Another issue with this whole not finding a job thing is my worry deep down that this is a reflection on myself. Could my current state of unemployment (kind of) be a foreshadow into the future? Will I be job-less post graduation? No, no, no. That's not how it works. Watch and learn:

Guess which famous bad boy started out as a paper boy?

That's right, Diddy's job as a 12-year-old boy involved delivering papers. (Not really him in above picture, btw, : )

Who does this describe: "Bitter, poor, and lonely, young...moved between boardinghouses and hostels, earning a MEAGER living painting postcards..."

Thought I'd throw in villains to the lot as well...Hitler amassed millions from Mein Kampf after his measly start and died wealthy.

Other...

Tommy Hilfiger sold his jeans from the trunk of his car because no one wanted to carry them in their stores.

Stephen King was a janitor before becoming a best-selling author.

Sassy Beyonce started out sweeping hair in her mother's salon.

Colin Powell worked in a baby furniture store.

Bill Cosby sold produce, shone shoes and was a stock boy at a supermarket.

I feel much better.

Now for some quotes of wisdom...

"Two rules of success in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know."
-Anonymous

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."
-VINCE LOMBARDI

"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."
-Sir Winston Churchill

"Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished."
-Confucius

No creative title needed, I JUST REALLY DISLIKE SUMMER SCHOOL

2009-07-19T19:03:00.001-07:00

Let me start this off by saying I love school. I always have and always (hopefully) will. I love learning, I always find my mouth halfway open in awe during lectures while sitting in the front rows amongst the many empty seats. I love eloquent professors and try to like boring professors by reading beforehand to at least be able to contribute a question and decipher their monotones. I'm the kid in middle school who never understood why my peers complained about homework and were always rambling about some TGIF acronym (I've now come to appreciate it as my workload's grown heavier). I'm the one who shops for school supplies during summer and has two sets of supplies for school: the borrowing set for those annoying kids who never have pencils or binder paper, consisting of 0.7 lead pencils, medium point pens, and wide ruled paper, and the set that's all mine--the one I have fits over if I lose any member of it--consisting of 0.5 and only 0.5 lead pencils, only fine point pens, and only college ruled paper. Yeah, yeah, I'm OCD with my school supplies, but I can't learn without having them in order...I get disoriented and can't focus.If your occupation is my summer school professor, please stop reading here. Thank you. Now that I've completely established the fact that I'm a school-crazy nerd, I want to move on to my next point: I completely loathe summer school.

This was the first summer in my life that I decided to take a summer course, and I'm taking it online. Most of my friends take summer school, and I just never really did it--it wasn't a priority for me. My dad told me it might be a good idea to get some classes out of the way, so I signed up for Bakersfield Community College online classes...the only one that was still open for registration by the time I made my decision. I decided to take an American politics course to finish off one of my last undergraduate political science requirements. The textbook for the class was nowhere to be found on Google books and the teacher specified in her syllabus that she wants our every comment in the course to be cited from the textbook, so I had no choice but to purchase it online from the community college website--I couldn't even save money and buy it off of Amazon because this textbook, mind you, was especially made for this online course. Long story short, the textbook for this class cost more than the actual course, and I'm trying really hard not to leave thumbprints or anything on it so it can go right back where it came from at the end of the month.

Why do I despise summer school? I despise busy work. In an actual school setting, I wouldn't mind busy work so much because I'd be able to use my fine point pens and practice new kinds of handwriting, but this entire course and its busy work takes place in front of a computer screen. Also, each piece of busy work is worth 10 points which could mean the difference between a B and an A. Aside from the annoying busy work is the annoying platform in which this busy work takes place. When I first read the syllabus, I was excited because it said that our weekly work would take place on a discussion board. I love discussions and discussing things with people. Reality? I've always considered myself more of a moderate than a liberal, but my classmates in the discussion board make me feel like Jon Stewart. Every comment they type makes me look like a far left fanatic. One of my classmates was talking about how she doesn't believe everyone has earned the right to healthcare because: "well my neighbor dropped out of high school and therefore lost the chance to get a job as well as the right to healthcare. My husband on the other hand had the responsibility to stay in school, get a job, and that's why we have healthcare! (insert triumphant clap here)." SERIOUSLY?! I find myself constantly looking at these people's location to make sure they're not from some other state or country...but sadly, they're all from California...maybe the difference between my side of Cali and theirs is just that vast? Who knows. Oh yeah, most of my classmates are in their 30s and older so I guess I wouldn't have that much in common with them when it comes to opinions in the first place.

We could have tons of awesome discussions with the questions the teacher provides (who did all her higher education online...something I thought was impressive, if not dull, but hey, people have to do what they have to do to get educated) but no, people just give their required three sentence answers and sign off. How DULL! I guess I feel slightly gypped out of my higher education. If only UCSD knew how *difficult* the courses they choose to offer transfer credit for exactly are. But I guess I shouldn't be complaining...easy A, right? To end my tirade, I will re-emphasize that summer school is horrible. I will keep my learning to my interactive, real, live classroom. With real, interactive classmates and not robots. Never again.

Liven up, online classmates. Don't make me throw my laptop in frustration.

All Boxed In

2009-07-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not white. I'm not black. I'm not Asian. I'm not Hispanic.

*groan*. Is this going to be one of those cliché articles discussing the multiracial citizen's struggle to check a race box? Well, not exactly. It's not about a mixed citizen, and it's not really cliché because it becomes relevant again every ten years when we have to fill out the U.S. Census, and roughly every four years when applying to schools, and every time one fills out a job application, or a survey (but remember, it's just for "statistical purposes"...please.) or pretty much for almost every single piece of paperwork we have to fill out. Cliché? I think not.

Before I begin my writing rampage, firing my missiles of information and experiences at you regarding the futility of the current race box system, I want to provide you with some background facts.

I come from a Moroccan family and throughout my life, I've had trouble checking the boxes to indicate my "race". In elementary school, I think I checked the "white" box which is interesting to me now--I think it was because at that point in my life, I thought Moroccans were the only types of people in the world and I fit into the category of lighter skinned Moroccans (I'd spent some years living in Morocco as a child and the environment there is not as heterogenous as California). As a 6-year-old when I met my father's Egyptian friend, the first thing I said to him was, "Hey, you speak like they do on TV!," referring to the Egyptian soap operas that are always playing on the dish. I'm glad to say I've come a long way from elementary school and my world has broadened to include people of all kinds of races, faiths, and ethnicities--I now am fully aware that those actors on TV also exist in real life!

As I grew older and became aware of social structure and society in the United States, I began to realize that yes, although I am light skinned for being Moroccan, there's a whole world of people that are much lighter than me, and they are the true "whites". That's also when I learned that Italians, Greeks, Armenians and even Persians are considered white. Just when I was starting to feel comfortable that others shared my olive skin and feel I could relate to them (there aren't very many Moroccans my age where I live), they were whisked away by a category that indicated a whole different world I could never relate to.

Because "white" does not only embody a color. What the term "white" means in the United States today is something that transcends any skin color. White means the suburbs and white means affluence and white means picket fences. Some people may argue then, that I do fit into the white category based on my definition of the term. But white also means no questions asked ever, no extra security checks at the airport or in that same category, no mispronunciations of my last name or being told it's a "cool" name as a precursor for the question of where I'm from. Being white means being untouchable in this country.

In middle school, high school, and now in college, I've started alternating between the "African/Black" box and the "Other" box. During the cutthroat period of college applications, my friends would ask, "Hey Sarah, can't you apply as African-American? SO unfair." I'm sorry, but I don't want to get accepted into college and be tossed into the gossip conversations of "well, she just got in because she's African-American...well, technically, she is". There was one university application--the name doesn't come to mind, right now--but they had a box for "White/North African". That one made me especially mad. Those are two completely different worlds, because as far as I'm concerned, in places like Europe, for example, "White" and "North African" represent completely different worlds. "Other", it was, for college applications at least. Sometimes, there's a "Middle Eastern" box, but I don't check that either. I don't consider myself Middle Eastern, I consider myself Arab. That's a whole other conversation, however. The last job I applied for, I checked off "African" crossing my fingers that my black manager wouldn't comment on it. Awkward. Also, I can't forget the comments from black peers, "You're African? Nawww, no way!". YES WAY, I'm Arab, I'm African, I'm not white, I'm not black. Here we go again...

Let's cut straight to the point. That $300 billion that will be redistributed to local and state governments and communities should reflect the accurate amount of Arabs in the United States. Arabs, please crawl out of your "white" and "other" boxes now, and make sure our numbers are reflected accordingly in the 2010 census. Let's get our own box.

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."
- Stephen Hawking

Sarcancook.

2009-07-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

Coolest observation of the day: Dad pushing a stroller while riding a skateboard. Superdad.

I'm sitting here and it's about 100 degrees outside or at least it feels like it, and these things are keeping me cool:

KoolAid popsicles...at 20 calories/5 grams of sugar per pop, they're worth it.

I made crepes this weekend--haven't made them in a while but they turned out pretty delicious. Even Chef Mami approved.

Tips for making crepes:

1) The pan is pretty important. It can't be too big (or you get weird shaped crepes), and it can't be too deep because the edges get too thin. The pan I used was too deep but I managed to work around it by putting enough batter where the crepe was even throughout.

2) Butter. Don't overdo it with the butter. Butter+super hot pan don't mix because then the butter starts to burn and you put your batter in it and the batter gets brown...all in all, not a good scenario.

3) Make the batter a few hours ahead of cooking the crepes. I never used to do this, but I noticed a huge difference in taste when you do.

4) Share the crepes.

I'm not a huge fan of savory crepes and always make mine sweet. In the last picture, I filled them with strawberry jam topped with powdered sugar. I also love filling them with un peu de miel or honey, yum yum.

Cheers.

Feels like summer

2009-07-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

11-4, spent the day in the city with my mom [andbrother], by the time we got on the train to go home we were half asleep. I don't need cardio, I just need SF streets--that seems to do the trick. Especially with 5 pounds of Thai food sitting in your stomach...weights for your abs. Now I'm just feeling groggy and sniffly (weirdest feeling to have in July) and not really wanting to get up.

I had dinner with the girls last night--haven't seen them all in so long. Lauren and I still have that friendly competitive relationship, she told us all about Pennsylvania and its homogenous people and weather (white and white). My tan, blonde California best friend is now Pennsylvania pale with darker hair. I love how everyone changed, it seems like for the better. Juliya especially seems a lot more grownup and works full time. Natalie and I still need to have our heels and trench coats city day :].

I've been reading tons this summer and totally enjoying it--I haven't finished a book for pleasure in God knows how long...the last book I read was this:

Details everything from les conneries et bien sur les frimeuses of the French that we either love or love to hate. Brilliant. I never understood Americans' fascination of the French culture and this book completely satirizes it (from a British perspective). I have nothing against French culture, but I take it for granted coming from a French colonized country and can't fathom why Americans place the French on a pedestal. For example, all a French guy has to do is say he's French or buy a girl cheese and American girls will flock around trying to absorb as much culture as they can before the next French guy comes along...oh la la.

No words can describe how perfectly this scene epitomizes/illustrates my point. SCORE. Start watching at 2:30 to see French man swoop [NYC Prep...new show I've started to watch].

Enough about the French...I found the perfect white dress today-->decided to venture into Banana Republic regardless of them not rehiring me and look around. The girl manager wasn't there, phew, there's something about girls in retail that makes me nauseous...they're all so...I don't know how to describe it. There's just a lot of tension between females working in retail. I saw Leana, my little Banana Republic coworker sister, she's so adorable.

Trying to learn piano before I buy my guitar. So far I can play the introduction to Green Light by John Legend and the introduction to All My Life by KC and JoJo. I can also play Day and Night by Kid Cudi, but no claps necessary because it's all of four different keys. My favorite tutorials on youtube are the ones where they teach you using one finger only--put more up! Great for struggling beginners like me, haha.

The Casio keyboard I found in my house...didn't even know we owned one. Score.

Will have new DJ Saucy mix up soon, venturing into Euro/Techno land, we'll see how that turns out. Just got the new TIME in the mail with Sarah Palin on the cover...for anyone who has that issue, check out her toes...curled up, she looks nervous. You can always tell what a person feels by their toes...even though I hate people's feet. Can't wait to read it.

Also, I realized I left my camera charger back in San Diego, how annoying. Guess I have to buy one from Amazon or something.

Updates

2009-07-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

-no longer a vegetarian...can't fight my natural instincts to love meat.
-EMPLOYED...8 hour days in San Francisco canvassing for a children's charity...I always thought they were shady but I did my research and this one seems pretty legit though I will quit at first sign of shady-ness.
-reading few books at once, all very good. Loving Fidel.
-uninspired blog-wise.

Amor y paz,
Sarah

Living Vicariously Through Others...An American Obsession?

2009-07-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson, Kim Kardashian, Amber Rose, Kanye West, The Carters...his glove, her backside, her swag, his swag, their cash. Before I begin my little rant here, I want to start with a disclaimer. I am not completely freeing myself of these 'faults'--of course I'm guilty of these things at times. Why are we so fascinated by what others have and what others look like instead of focusing on bettering ourselves? Instead of admiring their fame, their women, their riches, why can't we just take them at face value and respect their art? They're artists, period. Okay, okay, I've talked about Pharrell's style and his accomplishments numerous times but I'm not trying to emulate the guy. Point is, many around us are trying to become these people...goal in life? "Get as rich as Kanye", "Get Kim's breasts"...why can't we aspire to progress in our own goals pertaining to our own lives and bodies? Why do we use these people as examples and templates for our own lives and selves? Please do not set yourselves against such unrealistic standards--you do not know the whole story. Read Kim's website--why do people worship her? Literally, preteens (and 20 something year olds) are sitting in front of their computer screens dying to meet this girl--who is she?
Inarticulate, inadequate, but I wanted to get it out there, incomplete, perhaps a little editing later, but straight up, maybe someone out there knows what's up verbatim.

Plan it out

2009-07-01T15:12:00.001-07:00

This is ridiculous...it's already July, aka my summer is flying by. You know when it's finals week and you want to do everything but be in front of your computer/studying those books? You think about the gym, your family, eating...everything but studying. Well, when you're finally done studying, you never get around to any of those plans...funny how the world works. It's funny how I've been putting off going out a lot until I get a job--my mom's been telling me to go out and do something but I refuse until I get a call back...my mind's just stubborn like that. I refuse to go out until I get a job--that's when summer officially starts in my eyes. We'll see where I end up working...

BUT, job or no job, I decided it's about time to start doing all those things I'd been planning on doing while stuck in front of my fruit fly books during finals week. So, as a result, this weekend will be pretty busy--hanging out with some friends from San Diego as well as my girls from the Bayyyy. Oh yeah, I'm also a vegetarian again, mostly to lose weight faster, but I'm starting to think that the reason I lost so much weight being a vegetarian that one year in high school was because I was doing cross-country at the same time. Haha, people reading this blog who don't know me must think I'm 300 pounds or something--I'm not one to talk about my weight on a constant basis, but the college chub really fazed me. But regardless, on the veggie note, I want to discover some good salad places in the city...yum yum. : ]

I failed Ferragamo

2009-06-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was in Menlo Park and decided to browse through a thrift store in their downtown. I walk in and head straight for shoes. I find nothing. I head back to the same section and scan the shelves a little more closely. Tons of white shoes...blah. I've never been a fan of white shoes (including heels and sneakers)--the only pairs I own are Banana Republic flats and random flip flops. Aha. A pair of light gold canvas sneaker-like shoes catch my eye--I pick them up. They're kind of spotted gold or maybe that's just the gold thread poking through with gold laces and a mini white heel. I looked at the brand...Salvatore Ferragamo. I've always been a fan of his heels--can't go wrong with Italian shoes, my dad always says.

Well, I sit down and unlace the shoes, then try to get them on my 9-9+ feet...they look perfect against my skin, they'd look beautiful with a dress except...my heel pokes out. FAIL. They were only $30 too : (. I guess Salvatore and I will have to be reunited in some other store (soon?).

Speaking of shoes, everyone who knows me in the Bay Area knows that I was a shoe fanatic..."kicks" in particular. Since middle school, I would collect colors and materials and styles--I liked looking at Adidas and wearing Nike. I bought them locally. I bought them internationally. I loved the smell of fresh leather, fresh canvas, fresh shoelaces and would fix the laces over and over until they were just right. I'd go to store closings and stock up, I'd drag my non-sneaker fiend friends with me to shoe stores in corners of the city and Berkeley. I wrote articles about sneakers, I interviewed people about sneakers, I befriended coworkers based on sneakers. Basically, I was a sneaker freak.

Moving to San Diego, I couldn't take all of them with me...I took a few pairs of Jordans and some Vans, but I can tell you that they sat in my closet the whole year collecting dust (back in my sneaker collecting days, dust anywhere near my sneakers was sacrilegious and unheard of). My footwear mostly consisted of sandals and flip flops--I think the only time I wore sneakers were to The Pack concert because that was appropriate...the high top Vans I bought from France a few winters ago...they were beautiful and it was a good night.

My mom's been mentioning my sneakers to me every so often--she keeps bringing up the space they're taking in my closet and suggesting I sell them on craigslist...CRAIGSLIST??!!. My ruling? It's too soon...can't part with them just yet :].

A closet cleanup is in order...

College Detox

2009-06-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

I gained 10 pounds in college.

The year started off well with excited trips to Trader Joe's with my roommate and sometimes with Ali, buying lots of fruits and vegetables and whole wheat bread and everything that was supposed to be healthy for you. I laughed at the freshman 15 stories.

Enter finals week...Burger King at UCSD is open late nights and the value menu is just another excuse to procrastinate and take a fresh (greasy) breath from Geisel Library's packed eight floors. After that first quarter, I stepped off the plane in San Francisco with chubbier cheeks than usual--my parents noticed, and one of my mother's friends even commented on the weight...thanks.

Anyways, point is, now it's summer and I'm back full time in my mother's home...my mother, the health nut. My body, once filled with California fries, pounds of frozen yogurt (and toppings), Subway (which I've always hated, but just sounds so convenient when it's 10 steps away from my apartment and there are "no" groceries in the house), In n Out, Rubio's...well you get the picture...is now being detoxed and boy do I feel better. I'm now being spoiled with homemade sweet potato fries, smoothies with microgreens, spinach, and tons of fruit to mask the formers' tastes, grilled veggie sandwiches, and whatever else it takes to get me back to my healthy, pre-college days.

Tangible things I miss in San Diego: frozen yogurt (Norcal doesn't compare in this one area) and the yoga classes...yoga teachers are a hit or miss and Natasha in San Diego was definitely amazing.

...Yesterday I went to dinner with an old friend. Friends since 7th grade, haven't been the same since first semester of senior year of high school. We went to a local Thai place, food was bland. Conversation was beautiful and every sentence was pretty much unfinished because we could translate each other's thoughts out loud with an interruption of "I know!" or "Exactly". Just like when we first met. We talked about our first year of college...she went to Boston, I went to San Diego. Yet, our experiences mirrored each other pretty well--we've both reached a point where mainstream has become mundane and it phased out by first quarter of the year. Those freshman girls all lined up to buy the Audrey Hepburn posters? You know the ones...with the cigarette in the cigarette holder in Audrey Hepburn's mouth with the bun and the sunglasses and the long gown. We'd both started watching the movie, wondering what the hype was about--nothing. The same girls with the UO flats, mod glasses and leggings. Unspoken understanding. I'm very picky with the people I befriend, no fronts necessary and no pretentiousness intended, and I'm glad we maintained the connection.

Polaroid extinct

2009-06-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

I bought a Polaroid instant camera at a thrift store the other day, but today I was looking for film online and because of its scarcity (Polaroid stopped producing the film) it is being sold at around $30 for a pack with about 10 pictures on sites like ebay...costs more than the price of the camera itself.
Thank goodness for a new website, though, that is working to preserve this fun form of photography by selling film and other Polaroid products online for decent enough prices:
Polapremium