Now just some pictures :D
Yes! Lailee is part of the PITT family too!
-C-
The Mind Is Where The Body Isn't
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Meow in Jersey
Wee! Tomorrow my day will end in the afternoon! On Thursday I usually have a Politics class at 4 pm, but tomorrow, since it's the first day of the G20 Summit, classes starting from 4 will be canceled because they're afraid if there will not be enough buses to take students home and they're concern over the students' safety since there is a big probability that protests are going to be held, starting from tomorrow. The situation is kinda scary right now, with notices around campus reminding us to bring our ID at all times during this time. Plus police officers in a uniform of green t-shirts have been seen around campus with some on bicycles. Pitt shuttles are seen more on campus to help student get home, etc. In fact, for tomorrow, my Literature class will also end early for all classes held at the Cathedral of Learning MUST end by 12 pm. So yeah, just giving a an idea of how it is right now. The atmosphere is one of excitement, but the thought of going to the wrong place at the wrong time is just at the back of my mind.
Now just some pictures :D
Yes! Lailee is part of the PITT family too!
-C-
Now just some pictures :D
Yes! Lailee is part of the PITT family too!
-C-
Monday, September 21, 2009
Raya
Wow. I made it. 29 days of fasting, not just away from home, but also away in another country.
Wow. I made it. Sometimes we only ate bread, sometimes cereal, and then there were also days when we did not wake up at all for sahur. And I continued fasting as usual.
Wow. I made it. Most days I cooked. Other days he cooked. Once in a blue moon we ate out. There was no ayam percik or roti boom, but alhamdulillah, we were able to break fast nonetheless.
And yes, yesterday was Raya and it was a new experience. No big breakfast with rendang and lemang. No posing for pictures. No nothing. Just a simple morning breakfast of french toast with a bit of rendang. Then went for the Solat Raya at Schenley Park (Yes, it's at a park). After that we were treated to real rendang by Salim and Kak Yati who were graceful to entertain us at their house.
Simple, yet that's what Raya's all about. Celebrating a month of fasting and of being grateful for all that I have :)
On another note...I have a new baby! Well, okay, WE have a new baby! Her name is Lailee, which means "My Night" in Arabic. Look at her color and you'll understand why.
That's my baby! She's only been with us for three days but I know her so well already! She's very manja. She can' be left alone. Wherever we are, there she'll be. Most of the time she's quiet except at night. She's a very clever girl. We only need to show her litter box once and she knows where to find it. I love her :D
-C-
Wow. I made it. Sometimes we only ate bread, sometimes cereal, and then there were also days when we did not wake up at all for sahur. And I continued fasting as usual.
Wow. I made it. Most days I cooked. Other days he cooked. Once in a blue moon we ate out. There was no ayam percik or roti boom, but alhamdulillah, we were able to break fast nonetheless.
And yes, yesterday was Raya and it was a new experience. No big breakfast with rendang and lemang. No posing for pictures. No nothing. Just a simple morning breakfast of french toast with a bit of rendang. Then went for the Solat Raya at Schenley Park (Yes, it's at a park). After that we were treated to real rendang by Salim and Kak Yati who were graceful to entertain us at their house.
Simple, yet that's what Raya's all about. Celebrating a month of fasting and of being grateful for all that I have :)
On another note...I have a new baby! Well, okay, WE have a new baby! Her name is Lailee, which means "My Night" in Arabic. Look at her color and you'll understand why.
That's my baby! She's only been with us for three days but I know her so well already! She's very manja. She can' be left alone. Wherever we are, there she'll be. Most of the time she's quiet except at night. She's a very clever girl. We only need to show her litter box once and she knows where to find it. I love her :D
-C-
Monday, September 14, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Shoot
We had an interesting day today. Had the luxury to wake up late as it was a Saturday but not too late because we have like tons more reading to do. So anyway, around 12pm we took the bus to Forbes, more specifically to Salim's house. All of us were supposed to gather there and leave together to Mt Washington for our photo shoot of the day. What photo shoot? RAYA! So yeah, it was a relief when Shazwan told us Salim offered a place in his car. Imagine us wearing our baju kurungs and baju melayus in the bus! Well, Rassyid and I did exactly that from our house. :P Anyway, once all have arrived at Salim's house on Forbes, we drove off to Mt Washington, about 20 minutes from Shadyside.
When we arrived, I understand why Shazwan chose that location as it has the most beautiful view of Pittsburgh. Almost all Budaya members were there and we took pictures! Lots and lots of pictures :)
After that Salim sent us home but since we're already in the mood of 'jalan2', we changed our clothes and walked our way to the East Side. We just wanted to browse around a pet shop there.... But we were disappointed to find out that they're sold out of cats! :( Still in our semangat spirit of jalan2, we took the bus to Murray Ave to another pet store. And again, we were disappointed this time that we just missed it for like, 45 minutes since it's been close. Looking at the schedule thinking we have some time to kill, we walk around Squirrel Hill where the many Asian restaurants are located. Dugaan... When we were finally tired, we decided to just wait at the Bus Stop nearby.
While waiting....guess who we meet? CLAIRE! I know Claire's in Pittsburgh, obviously, and we did semi-plan to meet up one day. But of all the time and places, we met in Squirrel Hill. I was talking to Rassyid when an Asian girl stopped and turned, and asked, "Is that you Syaza?" My God Claire looks different. She looked pretty :) So we talked awhile and not long after our bus arrived.
But we did not get the chance to relax as we have to get out again after we've done our Asr prayers! Where to next? William Pitt Union, where the Muslim Society Association was holding an Iftar, especially to promote Ramadhan to Non-Muslims. It was nice to meet all the other Muslims in the Pitt community and learn of the different culture practiced during Ramadhan in their home-country. And Rassyid was happy to get a free copy of an English translation of the Holy Book.
It was funny that we being the firsts to leave, were the last to get a ride home. We were as usual, waiting for our bus of 71A in front of Union but since it's Saturday night, the bus is less reliable (which we found out later by Kak Yati). While waiting, there's this man sitting next to us and he turned his radio's volume way up and it was fun when he started dancing to Thriller. He wanted all of us to join him but it was too cold... All those American spontaneity that I saw in movies are real!
Anyway, after waiting for almost 40 minutes, Kak Yati and Salim came to our rescue and offered to take us home - just when our bus arrived! But of course we'd rather them send us by car. So here I am, tired, but nonetheless happy with the day :)
-C-
p/s: For more pictures, go to my flickr... :)
When we arrived, I understand why Shazwan chose that location as it has the most beautiful view of Pittsburgh. Almost all Budaya members were there and we took pictures! Lots and lots of pictures :)
After that Salim sent us home but since we're already in the mood of 'jalan2', we changed our clothes and walked our way to the East Side. We just wanted to browse around a pet shop there.... But we were disappointed to find out that they're sold out of cats! :( Still in our semangat spirit of jalan2, we took the bus to Murray Ave to another pet store. And again, we were disappointed this time that we just missed it for like, 45 minutes since it's been close. Looking at the schedule thinking we have some time to kill, we walk around Squirrel Hill where the many Asian restaurants are located. Dugaan... When we were finally tired, we decided to just wait at the Bus Stop nearby.
While waiting....guess who we meet? CLAIRE! I know Claire's in Pittsburgh, obviously, and we did semi-plan to meet up one day. But of all the time and places, we met in Squirrel Hill. I was talking to Rassyid when an Asian girl stopped and turned, and asked, "Is that you Syaza?" My God Claire looks different. She looked pretty :) So we talked awhile and not long after our bus arrived.
But we did not get the chance to relax as we have to get out again after we've done our Asr prayers! Where to next? William Pitt Union, where the Muslim Society Association was holding an Iftar, especially to promote Ramadhan to Non-Muslims. It was nice to meet all the other Muslims in the Pitt community and learn of the different culture practiced during Ramadhan in their home-country. And Rassyid was happy to get a free copy of an English translation of the Holy Book.
It was funny that we being the firsts to leave, were the last to get a ride home. We were as usual, waiting for our bus of 71A in front of Union but since it's Saturday night, the bus is less reliable (which we found out later by Kak Yati). While waiting, there's this man sitting next to us and he turned his radio's volume way up and it was fun when he started dancing to Thriller. He wanted all of us to join him but it was too cold... All those American spontaneity that I saw in movies are real!
Anyway, after waiting for almost 40 minutes, Kak Yati and Salim came to our rescue and offered to take us home - just when our bus arrived! But of course we'd rather them send us by car. So here I am, tired, but nonetheless happy with the day :)
-C-
p/s: For more pictures, go to my flickr... :)
G20
I know I made the right choice by choosing Pittsburgh. Yeah, White House won't be like five blocks away compared to the other university on our list. But it's still a good place for political science students this year since the G20 Summit will be held in a few weeks time right here in Pittsburgh. I may have sign up for 'activities' that I can't disclose here...and I'm excited!
-C-
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