Why do you fast?

Ramadan 2010 and Why You Should Care

Happy Ramadan everyone! 

Welcome to the first official post of “My Ramadan Project”. I’m still figuring out how I want to work this special component of my blog and the type of information I would like to include. So… please bear with me as I finagle my way through the process. I’m sure at some times it will be incredibly organized, thought out, and well researched while at others it may be more sporadic, opinionated, with thoughts floating from every which direction. Anyway, my goal here, as mentioned in my blog from August 6^th, is to raise awareness about Islam and Muslims as well as show a positive perspective and clear up some misconceptions about the religion and the people who practice it. As such, I’ve decided to start with some basics.

from theramadanblog.blogspot.com

I remember two years ago, a girl in the leadership class I was TAing for, handed out invitations to join the Cornell Muslim community in celebrating Ramadan. After sharing the information with some of my lovely friends it was decided that we would join in. Kristin, Elizabeth, and I woke up before sunrise, zipped on over to West Campus and joined Muslims and non-Muslims in eating our first before-sunrise Ramadan meal. The three of us had intentions to return at sunset for iftar (the breaking of the fast) but ended up staying at our cozy little house and were joined by our Muslim friend Z to celebrate together. Sharing in my friend’s experience as well as what many Muslims experience throughout a 30-day period was my main reason for partaking in the event… but I can’t honestly say I learned anything about the Ramdan itself. So…

What is Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon. Thus, Ramadan falls on a different day every year. It is believed to be the time that the Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Mohammed. Nowadays, the month of Ramadan is often spent in reflection fasting from sunrise to sunset, taking the time to pray five times each day (particularly if one does not do this regularly throughout the year), and renewing one’s commitment towards God.

Scanning article after article, it has become clear that Ramadan 2010 is earlier than it has been in years, which is proving to be a little difficult for some people. Think about it… you’re fasting from sunup to sundown and since it’s summer, it’s hotter and the hours the sun is out are longer. It sounds like a potential health risk to me and is also a concern for the Muslim community. In today’s Huffington Post, one article addressing the matter, “Ramadan Today: Chicago Muslims Brace for an Especially Difficult Holy Month,” suggests that Muslims ensure that their pre-dawn meal be nutritious and full of liquids, and that they take power naps during the day to remain energized. Of course, this is one way to attend to potential health concerns… but there are of course others. Egypt, apparently, is turning back time a la Daylight Savings style, so that the fast will end an hour earlier. The length of fasting will remain the same, but I am a little confused about how this works since I was under the impression that fasting was based upon the rising and falling of the sun rather than man-made time. Thoughts? Anyone?

On another note, other articles that have been popping up periodically have to do with people’s intentions for Ramadan. One such article that caught my eye was “Muslims Take Pains to Abstain From Anger During Ramadan” in August 9th's Chicago Tribune. I find it incredibly commendable that people are working on incorporating this into their daily lives, especially at a time when they are fasting. I know I tend to be grumpiest when I am hungry, so learning to mitigate anger when I am so vulnerable to falling into its clutches is something that I perhaps too will try this Ramadan. (Who says I can’t use this time for reflection and spirituality as well?)

From http://www.zeeburgnieuws.nl/nieuws/mb_un_sep_2007.html

It is important for all people to learn about Islam. In our global community of what the U.S. Census Bureau estimates to be over 6,800,000,000 people, approximately 23% of those people, in Pew Forum estimates, are Muslim. That’s almost 1 out of every 4 people. 


Think about it. That’s a quarter of our world right there. Shouldn’t it be a priority for us to bridge the gap of understanding? Shouldn’t we take the time and effort to learn more about other religions so that we can better understand one another? Shouldn’t we be gaining a basic understanding of Islam? Schools incorporate Christian and Jewish holidays into their calendars… shouldn’t Muslim holidays be accepted as well? (Actually, I should mention that one New Jersey school district is adding two new Muslim Holidays to its calendar: Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, as well as the Hindu holiday of Diwali, which I think is a great step towards creating a more global understanding and undertone of respect for other cultures/religions). Ramadan can be a time not only of introspection for Muslims everywhere, but also a time for non-Muslims to reflect on what we can do to learn more about Islam and Muslims, and to stand in solidarity with a growing world population.

So I urge you, my readers, to take part in this project, ask questions, leave comments, and let me know how you think we can work to build a better understanding between Muslims and Non-Muslims.


Sources: 


FAQ for Muslims. retrieved from http://www.ramadan.com.au/faq.
(August 10, 2010). N.J. School District to Observe Muslim Holidays. Courier-Post. Retrieved from http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100810/NEWS02/100810019/N.J.-school-district-to-observe-Muslim-holidays.


(August 11, 2010). Ramadan Starts Today: Chicago Muslims Brace for an Especially Difficult Holy Month. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/ramadan-starts-today-chic_n_678812.html.


Brachear, Manya A. (August 09, 2010). Muslims Take Pains to Abstain from Anger during Ramadan: Parents Learn to Control Temper While Fasting. Chicago Tribune.  Retrieved from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-08-09/news/ct-met-scream-free-ramadan-20100809_1_ramadan-sheikh-kifah-mustapha-control-temper.


Bryant, Christa Case. (August 11, 2010). Ramadan 2010 USA: From Miami to Mecca, how 1.6 Billion Muslims Celebrate. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0811/Ramadan-2010-USA-From-Miami-to-Mecca-how-1.6-billion-Muslims-celebrate


Lunde, Paul. (2002). Islam: Faith, Culture, History. New York, DK Publishing Inc. 


Nelson, Soraya Sarhaddi. (August 11, 2010). In Egypt, Turning Back the Clock. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129105207&ft=1&f=1009.


Pew Research Center. (October 2009). Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population. Washington, D.C.: Miller, Tracy (Ed.).


U.S. Census Bureau. (August 11, 2010). US & World Population Clocks.  Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html.

My Ramadan Project- A Response to "Burn A Qur'an Day"

photo from: http://www.topnews.in/slight-injuries-mecca-hotel-fire-248616

I first fell in love with Islam in my 10^th grade world religions class. Everything about it sounded so familiar to me, so beautiful, so compatible with my own beliefs that I thought to myself if I ever have to convert to another religion, it will be Islam. 

Perhaps I should declare at this point, that I am a pseudo-Catholic, lover of all religions. I believe that all faiths have their own validity, and more often than not, people are just on different paths to the same goal.

Earlier this week, scanning across the pages of the PeaceJam website for work, I found that my buddy Brad had posted an article about “Burn a Qur'an Day.” On September 11th,, the Dove Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL is planning on burning Qur'ans  to commemorate those who died during 9/11 and stand against the "evils" of Islam. Having several Muslim friends, and believing that it is imperative that we respect one another's faiths, I am completely shocked and outraged that people are planning on desecrating something so holy. 

These past few days, I have spent some time researching the church. It is apparent that contacting them to express my disagreement will only give them the attention they so clearly seek and further fuel the flames of hatred. However, this does seem like the perfect opportunity to show others a more positive perspective and clear up some misconceptions about Muslims and Islam.

August 11^th is the first day of Ramadan, a 30-day period when Muslims fast, spend more time reflecting on their religion, and refocusing their commitment to God, much like the Christian Lent or Jewish Yom Kippur. Throughout this time I will be fasting, reading the Qur'an, and learning more about Islam as a means of standing in solidarity with my Muslim sisters and brothers. Every Wednesday and Friday, myself and a few guest bloggers will be writing about Islam, the hijab, the role of women in Islam, terrorism, conversion, and other topics relevant to a religion I feel is too often misunderstood and is in reality one of great beauty and integrity.


If you have any questions about this project or have any questions about Muslims and Islam, please leave a comment and myself or one of my guest bloggers will address them. 

Lessons from the Land of Gelato, Da Vinci, and My Mother's Very Young Childhood

Exactly a year ago, on August 5^th, I set off on a two-week solo adventure to Italy, the land of my mother’s birth. I had been there twice before with my family, but never alone. It seemed fitting to journey there again in a time of transition. I had just graduated college and knew that with my new job as a VISTA, it would be unlikely that I would have the opportunity to travel outside of the country in the foreseeable future. So with my trusty suitcase “big blue” packed, self-made itinerary in hand, and plenty of money in my bank account I set off through Rome, Cinque Terre, and Milano only to find myself learning several lessons along the way.

     

 1. It’s important to take risks. I’ll be honest; one of the main reasons I set off to Italy was to see a boy in Roma. I’m a Márquez, which means by default, my emotions often run off with me while my rationality hangs out in the foyer until I return. Even though nothing ever really developed between the said boy and I, I do not even regret for an instant heading to Italy on a whim. The time I spent with my final college crush allowed me to view the country in a new way, experience the nightlife, and enticed me to return to a country I came into the world knowing in my soul.

2.   When you find yourself in situations where the words you speak are not understood… then you’ve got to find other ways to communicate. After leaving Roma, I took a train to La Spezia. Having no idea where I to find my seat, I walked through the train cars toting along “big blue,” finding people who knew what they were doing and pointing to my ticket with a few scattered Italian words thrown in. They were able to point me in the right direction until I got to my 6-person cubicle. When I got there, a kind man saw me with my suitcase, stood up, and placed it effortlessly above the seats for me. After sitting down and peering out the windows at the passing countryside, he took out a pack of gum, looked at me and gestured for me to take a piece. This was all done in silence, but the gesture of kindness was understood. You don’t always need words to communicate. 

3.  If you’ve got enough determination, you can accomplish anything. Upon reaching Cinque Terre, I set out to hike from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. The only problem was, I only had my $10-falling-apart “Jesus sandals,”I was out of shape, and I knew the journey would take six hours of hiking up and down rocky terrain, stairs, hills, and cliff-like edges. I was going to hike it though, even if my shoes or I fell apart in the process. So the next day, my newly found friends and I woke up at daybreak and walked the entire route, stopping to swim and snack along the way. It was tricky in some spots with my shoes and lack of breath, but I would do it every day if I lived in Cinque Terre. The view of the Mediterranean, the fresh produce and rich vegetation growing on the hills, the brightly painted homes, the colorful murals, and the lapping of waves against the rocks sung to my soul.

4.  It’s fun to travel alone. Traveling solo allowed me to move at my own pace, head out the door at sunrise raring to go, meet new people, and take the time to reflect on my life and my journeys. I suggest that everyone take a solo trip at some point in his or her life, just to see what it is like, since it is such a different experience.  

5. With a Little Effort, You Can Meet a Lot of Great People. After staying with my very social guy friend in Roma, a person who chats with everyone and truly listens to them, I was able to pick up on some of his acquaintance-snagging skills and decided to take them with me. In Manarola and Milano, I made a concerted effort to talk to the people in my hostels, introduce myself, and find out more about them. As such, I was able to make some phenomenal travel buddies like Ingrid from Australia, Andy from Austria, and Marlene from Costa Rica/LA. It didn't stop there though. When I returned to Connecticut, a place where I knew almost no one, a place where I would be spending my nest year as a VISTA, I determinedly stepped into a coffee shop, chatted with the barista, and we've been friends ever sense. 

Taking The Time...

Hello all you lovely people,

Please take the time to go over to Kind Over Matter and check out my blog post on taking the time to build a broader world community. Plus, you should follow their blog, it's pretty freakin' awesome and focuses on... KINDNESS and homemade wonderful things.

Peace & Love,

Camila

I Can't Cook Noodles like William Chen- but by God I'll Try

Oh. My. Goodness.

Thursday, I was walking to the bank and I decided that I would drop into this little Asian Market to grab something to eat since it was right there, in my way, and I’d never previously been inside. As soon as I entered, I started salivating, thinking of all the cooking options this place has in store for me. All the possibilities of what I can cook flitter around my brain and I can’t stop my heart from beating like a hummingbird’s wings in utter unquenchable excitement. Gahhhh.

I should announce now that I am a self-professed foodie, an aficionado of a good recipe, animal-shaped cookie cutters, random and unnecessary cooking supplies, the conglomeration of carefully selected spices, and aromas wafting through the kitchen. Fortunately, I have (with the exception of this year) always lived with and been surrounded by people who love food as much as I do. My father and sister will call me periodically and carefully go over their menus of the evening describing in great detail exactly what they will be cooking, what it will taste like, and all the ingredients that they will be using. My aunt Teresa was a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has her own cooking blog. My grandmothers, and paternal great-grandmother and aunts always ensure that I am never hungry, always sending me away from their homes with a goodie bag. My last two years of college were spent in “The Oreo House”, already a declaration of our love to edible things. The kitchen was always occupied by someone chopping vegetables… or stirring funfetti batter… or eating around the kitchen table with pots of rice and beans. Several times we attempted the old booze and dancing shindig in our lovely house, but eventually we just reverted to hosting potlucks and dinner parties. This is something that remains indescribably beautiful to me… people cooking together, sharing meals, and learning from one another.

Jehhal, Amanda & I cooking '07.

Mia, Elizabeth, me, Amanda, & Jehhal around the kitchen table '07.

Elizabeth and I sharing a meal with Kerone, Chin, & Jhaniel '08.

Oreo House Potluck during Cornell's 2009 graduation.

In “The Oreo House”, Elizabeth was the Dominican Queen cooking up her beans, rice, and platanos. Kristin was the creator of American/Pakistani fusion food. I was the bearer of tamales, enchiladas, and tortillas… compliments of being a Nuevo Mexicana. And Will…Will was the connoisseur of Asian food… especially noodles.

The week before last, Will sent me this Asian noodle recipe (since I had mentioned that I had been craving some form of Asian noodles) and I knew, as soon as I entered the Market, that I absolutely had to try his dish that night.

William Chen’s Noodle Salad Recipe (in it’s original form)

It's a noodle salad, you'll need tomato, apple, peach, plum, avocado, (all ripe) chicken breast, and japanese syle noodle (shirasagi no hana maruudon), Ken's steakhouse brand asain sesame w/ ginger soy, and bbq sauce and olive oil dice up the fruit and avocado, without skin, put it into a large bowl and mix it around, boil the noodles, strain, and cool with cold water, mix it in with the fruit, put a little bit of olive oil in it, maybe some balsamic vinegar and mix, now in a pan use some olive oil set it on high and put your diced chicken breast in and mix, put in your bbq first, mix and let the sauce flaver seep into the chicken and let the chick cook but not to the point where it's rubbery, then add the ginger soy, mix and put into the noodles, mix quickly and if done right it should all still be pretty cold, oh! you can also add in some salad greens in the mix +scallions

I should note at this time that my friend Geoff was coming over to hang out and he can be a picky eater, so I had to ensure that my cooking up a noodle dish wouldn’t be a problem. He said it was fine, just as long as it didn’t have meat, so I simply took out the chicken Will suggested and viola. William Chen Vegetarian Noodle Salad.

Later that evening, after work, I hurriedly traversed over to my community garden plot, picked some tomatoes, scallions, and a bell pepper before hopping over to my newly found treasure to grab the remaining items… which turned out to be… difficult.

I stood with my grocery basket staring at the sauces for about 10 minutes looking for “Ken’s steakhouse brand Asian sesame with ginger soy” before giving up, calling Will at work, and pleading with him to “pleasestayonthephoneit’sanemergencyidon’tknowwhatkindofsauce togetfortheasiannoodles” and eventually finding out that teriyaki sauce might work nicely. So, I got a teriyaki sauce and a ginger dressing before heading on to get the other supplies and picking out some beautiful vegetarian pot stickers from the freezer.

Yay!

Ingredients for the picnic!

Ingredients, including tomatoes, scallions and a bell pepper from the garden.

That’s when I set to work, going home with my ingredients, chopping up the veggies and fruit (which I thought was kind of odd for a noodle salad- but I trust Will, so fruit it is), boiling the noodles, throwing everything together with some teriyaki and ginger sauces and topping it off with some sesame seeds. Then I steamed the frozen pot stickers and lo and behold, Geoff and I had a lovely picnic in Elizabeth Park, compliments of Will’s expertise in delightful noodle dishes.

Geoff with the pot stickers & noodles that we carried to the park.

Revised Recipe

Ingredients:

1 plum

½ apple

½ avacado

1 small bell pepper

5 scallions

1 tomato (or 8 baby tomatoes)

Japanese Style Noodles (approximately 1 small bag)

1 Tbsp olive oil

½ Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 ½ C. ginger dressing

½ C. Teriyaki Sauce

½ cup sesame seeds

Directions:

1) Chop up fruit and vegetables and throw them into a medium sized bowl.

2) Boil Japanese style noodles until cooked, strain, and run cold water on them until the noodles are cool.

3) Put the noodles into the bowl with the fruit and vegetables.

4) In a small bowl mix together olive oil, vinegar, ginger dressing, and teriyaki sauce. Pour over noodles.

5) Mix noodle salad.

6) Put sesame seeds in salad.

7) Mix well before serving.