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I hate it when you ask me how I’m doing but can’t be bother to answer the same question I ask you.
I hate it when you ask me how I’m doing but can’t be bother to answer the same question I ask you.
Faith, like shoes, need to be polished each time. For someone like me, who easily gets bored and forgetful, polishing my faith is a must. I do that by attending Islamic study at the mosque or via Skype. Honestly I don’t attend it regularly, but when I do attend, it means that I really want to.
Recently, I have been caught up with a lot of things that I put this as my secondary activity. It’s bad, I can tell you, because I constantly need a fuel and it’s running out. I suddenly remember, "hey, why not start watching YouTube videos?!" I hadn’t watched them for a little while, so I guess it’s the best time to do it again.
So I’ve been watching a lot of videos related to Islam by many people like Hamza Yusuf, Nouman Ali Khan, and Yusha Evans. I can’t be thankful enough, I’ve been learning so many things from them. To be honest, I find it more effective to listen/watch these videos because when I lost my concentration, I could replay again the parts that I missed. Somehow, it’s hard for me to focus when it comes to religious studies, including those that I attend at the mosque. Watching them on YouTube is a much better approach for me. I can listen to them over and over again, take some notes and make some summaries. I can’t be happier :). I should make this a once- or twice-a-week thing for me.
During my self-study (which was not limited to only YouTube videos, but also blogs, for example the one owned by Suhaib Webb), I found this article about English translations of the Qur’an. I was really surprised to learn that there are two variations of the English translations: the Saudi-endorsed & —financed and the non-Saudi-endorsed. It turned out, there were quite a bit of differences in both translations. The former has some political sentiments inserted (anti-Jews and anti-Christians), as can be seen in the following example.
The last two ayats from Surah Al-Fatihah is supposedly translated as:
Guide us to the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
But in the Saudi-endorsed translation, it is translated as:
Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).
There’s NO mention of "such as the Jews" or "such as the Christians" in the original Arabic version!!! So this is misleading!
I wasn’t very happy upon learning it, to be honest. How can the Saudi government do this to the noble Qur’an?! They’re doing it for the sake of their own political agenda!!! I still have to go to the Haram Mosque and see the translation myself and prove that they added something that they shouldn’t have added. But still, I was upset. So I did my own research, exploring different translations, and decided to purchase myself the English translation of the Qur’an by Muhammad Asad, titled The Message of the Qur’an. I just need to make sure I wouldn’t bring this to Saudi Arabia, because this book was banned there hahaha. Yet another reason to put an end to my Saudi residence permit *sigh*.
Alhamdulillah, I passed my last and only course!!!! WOHOOOOO!!!! I was so happy. Thank you ya Allah. You’re always there when I need You ♥
My last course EVER! Will I be going to school again?! I’m sure I’m going to miss it. If I had the chance to do it, I would probably choose Pedagogy or Social Work 🙂
I’m tired. Physically and emotionally. My brain is tired. It’s hard to breathe too.
I feel like sleeping the whole week. What’s up with me?! Ya Allah, I need a boost. I need to take a break from everything surrounding me.
I was reading my old post about my experience working in Saudi Arabia and suddenly I remember the conversations that I had with my Saudi clients:
Client: Where are you from?
Me: Indonesia
Client: Really?! I thought you’re a Filipino!
Me: No, Sir. I’m 100% Indonesian.
Client: Wow! How come your English is so good? Where did you learn that from?
(I was asked with this question for so many times. They just couldn’t believe that I was an Indonesian. Damn I was offended!)
—
Client (on the phone, talking to his boss in Arabic): Yes, I am standing with a young woman now… Filipino, Malaysian, or whatever… She is handling everything.
Me: zzzzzzzz….
(He really thought I couldn’t understand Arabic! And what’s with the assumptions?!)
—
Client: Wow, you’re definitely the first Indonesian woman that I encounter working in an office.
Me: (smiling, but wanting to give him a slap to the reality, seriously)
—
Client: You have done a really great job! I’m satisfied with your work and all your help. We should have a coffee or tea later.
(I knew his intention and this was something that could not be done in Saudi Arabia! I could be arrested by the religious police and accused of khalwa!)
Me: Sorry, sir. I’ve got no time for that.
—
Client: Are you married?
Me: (extremely annoyed) Sir, I believe in professionalism. Can we put all the private questions to a side, please?!
(I felt like saying: it’s NONE of your business! Hehehe)
Mom: Have you been talking to that guy?
Me: Which guy? *pretending to be stupid*
Mom: You know… XX?
Me: Oohh.. THAT guy! Nope.
Mom: Why? He’s a nice guy, you know.
Me: Mom, I don’t know him, okay? *getting grumpy*
Mom: But you can chat over the internet, right?!
Me: *silent*
Mom: Or maybe you’re trying to hide your relationship again… like you did last time with YY?
Me: Hey, Mom! Do you know that I’m going to Egypt at the end of this year with Asti and one other friend?!
—
A usual conversation between mother and daughter that is hard to avoid. Every phone conversation is the same. I’m going crazy. HEEEELP!
Brené Brown wrote:
Sometimes the toughest part of embracing vulnerability is recognizing vulnerability. There are so many secondary emotions that spring to the surface and grab our focus. I wrote this in my journal this morning as a little reminder to look deeper, be mindful, and practice self-compassion. I don’t want to shut myself off from vulnerability because I don’t want to miss out on what it brings to my life: love, creativity, joy, authenticity, courage, and hope (just to name a few).
So, here is my own version of recognizing vulnerability….
Vulnerability is…
Vulnerability feels like…
The list is expanding… One thing I notice about this list is that most of them have to do with exposing myself, being transparent, and allowing myself to be really seen. Obviously I have a lot of "work" to do 😀
I didn’t plan to go anywhere today as I had to do my take-home exam. But then at the end of the day, I realized I didn’t have any foods left in the fridge, so I decided to do my last-minute grocery shopping.
On my way to the supermarket, just a few meters away from my house, I saw a huge bear-shaped balloon placed in front of a house. The bear balloon was so big!!! It’s twice higher than the entrance door! Then there were also many pink decorative balloons in front of the door, with a VERY BIG sign:
HOERA! EEN DOCHTER!!!
In English, it translates to: Hurray! It’s a girl!
Somehow it made me laugh! I could definitely understand the happiness of an arrival of a new baby, but to put a big sign and many huge balloons in front of your house, located on a busy street?! Hahaha. I didn’t know what to say. Ok, the street isn’t as busy as the city center, of course. But there are many people passing by, as the red light district is located just few meters away.
Suddenly, I felt like going to that house to congratulate the parents. LOL. I wanted to take a picture of the house, but there were just too many people there and I didn’t want to attract attention hahaha.
Thank God I went out of my cage.
LOL for this comment on YouTube:
Rockheads all over the world, listen!
The world is changing! The tallest player in the NBA is Asian!
And the chick with the highest pitched voice is Justin Bieber!
No one listens to metal anymore! Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’ video currently has over 500,000,000 views! What the f*ck! Everybody unite on July 1st and watch Breaking Benjamin. Refresh your page 5 times to give it 5 more views! Thumb this up so it gets noticed! And copy + paste to all rock vids of your choice!
Oh Justin Bieber. I don’t know any of your songs (except ‘Baby’ since somebody pointed that one out when I was in the mall), but I pity you, seriously. Most of the comments on YouTube have some sentiments toward you. Yet, that is your “home”. You were “born” there. Hahaha.
* Such a waste of time posting this, right? 😛
OH MY GOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some people just can’t LEAVE ME ALONE!
When I said NO, it’s a NO. It’s not going to change after YEARS or even centuries. It will never be! And this person, this specific scary person, shows up again. For God’s sake, GET A LIFE!!!!!
This world is full of scary and wicked people! *____*
*Sorry, I just feel like throwing everything out. I hope all the crazy people read this. Grrrrrrr.