Hey Hawa
Something like that did happen to me. Well I was on my break at work and this older woman was telling this younger guy that she is going to go to an islamic wedding. The older woman says that it'll be interesting because she has never been to one. The younger guy replys by saying they don't drink alcohal so what kind of a wedding is that going to be. And he said it in a way like he was superior or something. And I just sat there. I didn't know if i should reply or not. And then later on in my head im like i should have said this or that but obviously the moment had passed. But you would think that anyone would just stand up but then when the moment comes you're just so stunned that people would say such racial comments and blank.
And i think you should post some of your poem on the blog i would love to read them
Heyy Sabs I'm riggght here!
I haven't had anything to talk about for a while and laziness over the weekend probably contributed to that a little. I'm stoked. I feel like my life has gone up and down in the last couple of weeks and finally finally I'm some kind of a path. (More details Saturday). I've been in this period of transition and thinking about relationships as well, healthy ones and not so healthy ones, ending some then regretting it, and cultivating others. See what I mean about being everywhere?
I've been writing more, just poetry, finishing chapters of my book so at least I'm getting something from all this confusion.
So why am I here? Well... here's the thing... Someone said something at work the other day that made me upset and I completely clammed up, I couldn't respond and if that situation had been anywhere else I would have.
We were talking about that recent debactle down in Abbotsford and how that teenage boy got run down (on purpose) by another driver. And she said something along the lines of "Well if 'they' can't behave in our country we should just kick them out, and send our guys to prison."
Yeah... I stopped talking to her for the rest of the day just because I didn't know how to deal with it, and I just saw it as an elephant in the room. I'm sure she had no idea (or maybe she did...) why I was suddenly so cold.
My question: what would you have said or done, or how would you have reacted? I guess I just want to hear what you think. Was it even that offensive?
OH and sabs!
I forgot to write after I read your entry about the courier! I read it so many times, it was touching and it made me really appreciate (really appreciate not just saying that) my role within GoGirls and all of you. I don't know what life would have been like without GoGirls. And Breakfast TV was great! I'll share more with everyone on Saturday... can't wait!
Where is everyone?!? I am guessing lost in the demanding world of school and work. I suggest for all y'all to relax, take a chill pill. Well, I went skiing for the very first time on Friday. I came home with really bad bruises. Besides all the blue it was sooooo much fun. I think it is something we all shoud do together. It really tests your patience. Well I better get back to my demanding world. Hope to hear from someone soon.
well, all of you know that i gave an interview for the Courier newspaper. I sounded like a child but besides that it allowed me to really sink in the many amazing things I have done with the GoGirls: the photo exhibit, the awesome research on Intersectionality and having such a big role as co-researchers, having our own session at the Urban Youth Forum and recently the Feminist Happy Hour. So that rakes in so many achievements that in some way has contirbuted to the community. There is absolutely nothing I could be more proud of. I have a diary and in it I have wrote all the things i want to do atleast once in my life and in comparison to what i have actually done all those things seem so stupid (you guys don't want to know). I never imagined any of the things that I have done and don't think I can imagine the things still left to do. Andrea always told us that we are "a big deal" that we are known and want to be known. I guess we don't realize the affect we have. In a way I think we take GoGirls for granted and don't realize what it has done for every single one of us.
So when the interviewer asked me where I would be if I didn't have the GGs. I seriously didn't know how to answer that. I wouldn't be the open minded person I am today, I wouldn't be the critical thinker I am today, I wouldn't be the self-fulfilled person I am today. Simply, I wouldn't be me. I would be lost. So when the reporter asked me that, I was speechless. It's like asking a mother what she would do if she didn't have her children. There is no way of answering.
I LOVE being a GoGirl and I will ALWAYS be a GoGirl!
Another thing I would like to add to my list of achievments is to be an Andrea to another girl like Sabiha.
Besides all that, Hawa I don't think making peace with people before you leave for your journey is selling yourself out. I think it is actually a good idea. It just means that you want to come to even grounds with people you other wise are not. That doesn't mean you have to change your position of where you stand or take back what you have said. It just simply means to make peace. I think that making peace with people, situations and even yourself is a movment to self satisfaction. To be happy with who and what you are.
now, now don't shower me with praise i know I am wise. LOL!
O YAH!!! "[SAB] IS BACK. BACK AGAIN. [SAB] IS BACK TELL A FRIEND." IN THE WISE AND SIMPLE WORDS OF SLIM SHADY. LOL. I DON'T EVEN LIKE HIM. But anyways nothing is really on my mind, so now that im bak it won't be too long before i blog again.
Hey everyone,
so it is super late and instead of sleeping like what normal people do about this time, I find myself awake and searching for a solution to the most basic of all problems. Or most basic for me at the moment anyway.
I'm struggling with this re-creation of myself... and how it drastically affects the relationships I have around me. The ball-busting Hawa that told you what was what seems to be taking flight under the Hawa that just wants to make peace with everyone before she takes off to parts unknown, but I'm not feeling satisfied. I'm feeling a little less than the person I always am just to satisfy this need I have to have everyone comfortable before I leave, and the need is unjustified because why SHOULD everyone be subjected to a different me? I made a pledge to myself to be true to the person that I am, but I'm twisting it so it only fits for while I'm travelling, what does that matter though really?? I'm walking around being half of what I am so that when I'm abroad I'm 100% real.
I hate to admit it but I'm selling out and I'm going to admit what at this point very few people have realized. Giving away the possessions I hold that so clearly express me (or so I thought) is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. And that automatically makes me question the confidence and self-worth I usually give myself. Have I spent all this time happy with the way I am because of the way I looked???????
Giving away the clothing that you use to define yourself makes you question who you are. Without the object giving you meaning by its blatant ability to make people go "WOW there goes _____" you feel a little berefit. How do you give away the things that you know you don't need and still retain a little bit of you in the process?????????
I'm learning here.. I know it... but it doesn't feel like learning yet. It feels a great deal confusing and makes me feel a little empty....
I hate to say it sabs but I got a little lucky in the way I was raised, my mom pretty much did it herself and therefore I got a lot more exposure to the "canadian" culture than I did to the Somalian one. So even when I go visit my dad's side of the family I don't pay attention to this honour system. But its there nonetheless and I see it mostly in my cousins, I dont know if this makes me qualified to comment about it though because I don't truly UNDERSTAND it. fair?
I'm all down for discussing gender roles though.... when am I not? hahah.
I think that as a society... western world, eastern world, global world, women turn their back on women. And yes that is a huge generalization. But seriously lets think about it, we are quicker to shut down our women allies then we are the men. I'm guilty of it! I don't understand it... but I don't it mostly subconciously... maybe its that competition thing... but that just leads us back to who/what are we competing for? And thats a whole other can of worms...
any thoughts?
