I remember back in the early 2000s, when I was still in high school, I got an invitation in the mail from a sister in my community.  I knew her birthday wasn’t for a few months, and that she wasn’t graduating, or getting married.  So I was confused about what the invitation was for.  As I opened it and read through, my eyebrow started to go up.  It seemed she was having a party because she had decided to start wearing hijab full-time.  For hijab??–that’s strange, I thought, putting the invitation down and moving along.

That was then, this is now.  Since that first invitation to a hijab party, I’ve seen these types of get togethers increase in their popularity.  Every year now I’ve been invited to small gatherings of sisters celebrating a milestone in their sister-in-Islam’s life: wearing hijab.  I’ve grown more and more accustom to the idea of these parties, so I’ve stopped raising my eyebrows at each invitation.  But last summer, my parents received an invitation to one of these parties, and that was when my eyebrows went back up again.

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Craving #3– Tuna Melt Sandwich (with Fries, please)

Thank you, Osman, for telling me that you ate an amazing tuna melt sandwich. Because of you, I have now been craving said sandwich since… 10:30AM cst. I’m thinking about just bypassing the restaurant you mentioned, Nookies Restaurant, and making my own at home. I did see some bread, shredded cheese, and tuna in the house. I know it won’t be the same, but my last two cravings haven’t come into fruition yet, so I want atleast *one* of my cravings to be satisfied.

Craving #1– Mrs. Field’s Cookies-and-Milk-Shake

Back in the fall of 2006, two perfect mates finally became one.  Cookies and Milk were married together into the Cookies-and-Milk-Shake to be sold at Mrs. Fields stores across the nation. What a blessed union.  I want some so bad right now.  For my two cookies I usually pick the standard semi-sweet chocolate chip and the M&M sugar cookie.  I’m formulating and plotting and scheming up a way so that I can get some today after I break my fast, insha’Allah.

Craving #2– Arab food

Living in Michigan I took Arab food for granted.  There were times when I’d have to eat it, rolling my eyes and begrudgingly because I was so sick of humus, rice, meat, and salad.  But now, 300 miles away from Dearborn, I think my eyes have stopped rolling and started tearing because I WANT SOME STINKING ARAB FOOD.  I don’t care if it’s a shawarma, or rice and kafta, or chicken fatoush salad, or humus and bread.  I just want something.  Ammi… abbu… Fati… if you’re reading, PLEASE next time I come to Michigan let’s have some Arab food PLEASE!!

When will this year end?

Such were the thoughts running through my mind on my drive home from work.  I cannot wait until this first year at a new school is done.  I am waiting for the day when I can no longer be “the new teacher.”

I was the new teacher all last year.  I spent so much time trying to get my curriculum together and keep things neat and organized for next year.  I don’t know why I did that because I knew from the start I would be leaving the school at the end of the year and moving.  I worked so hard to adjust, learn the rules, learn names, and find my way around.  It was all in vain, bummer.

Now I’m AGAIN the new teacher, and I’m having the same troubles.  Writing curriculums, planning lessons for the first time, writing new quizzes and tests, learning students names, and figuring out what works for them for discipline.

That’s the hardest part.  I had to start from scratch and figure out all over again how in the world to get some respect from a classroom full of 14 yr olds.  It’s sooo hard, and everyday is a battle.  I come home worn out and downright depressed at times thinking about my students and how I have to manage them.

But I guess, they can win the battles, because insha’Allah I will win the war.  If I can make it through the year, and next year not be the “new teacher” who is still adjusting, then I consider myself victorious.  It may seem extreme that I’m using a war analogy, but foreals, if you were teaching, you’d understand.  Standing in the front of the class is like standing at the front lines.

Today’s kaana was EXCELLENT.  If you’re reading this while you’re fasting, I’m sorry.  But don’t worry, there aren’t any pictures.

The old husband and I got in our car at 6:45pm and headed North on 294 towards Skokie to visit my brother and sister-in-law and join them for iftar.  My brother’s been in Illinois since January, but his wife just moved here this past weekend.  So this was the first time, after much anticipation, that my husband and I got to go hang out with my brother and his wife, not in Michigan, but here in Illinois.

I was really looking forward to something to hit the spot after a long day of work (see post below) and man, did my bhabi deliver!  The moment we got off the elevator at their new apartment the hallway was filled with the smell of what I could quickly, easily, and lovingly identify as Chinese chicken.

Hunno had prepared egg rolls, hot and sour soup, Chinese chicken, and white rice.  The egg rolls were perfectly fried (thanks to Ahsan, her brother) and the hot and sour soup was legit– we’re talking wood ear mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, and other things of hot and sour soup nature.  The “appetizers” alone were so good that some of us were stuffed after those.  For those people, they missed out on truly enjoying Chinese chicken.

Chinese chicken. *sigh* Wa ma adraka ma Chinese chicken?  Since 2004 my bhabi has been impressing my family with a very simple, yet delicious, Chinese chicken stir fry dish.  It includes chicken (of course), bell peppers, green onions, and a lot of salty, brothy, saucy… sauce!  It’s peppery, squishy, firm, crispy, slippery, and wonderful on top of white rice.  It is just what you’re looking for in terms of a hot meal after a long day of work.

So for you, Hunno, hats off for a meal well made and welcome to the Chi!  I look forward to more delectable meals shared between the two of us, insha’Allah.