Eid Time

The good thing about spending Eid in Ottawa is I get to be with family and friends.

It’s definitely a more complete Eid, as far as being with loved ones is concerned.

The bad thing is Eid in Ottawa is hardly ever on the same day for everyone.

For as long as I’ve been here, Eid has seldom been celebrated on the same day by all the Muslims in this city.

If it were the country we were talking about, I might have been able to understand, because moon sightings can vary depending on geographic locations, but how is it that people in the same city celebrate Eid on different days?

I’ve never quite understood this, and to be honest it seems rather silly.

In my understanding, everyone celebrates Eid here today, whereas Canadian Pakistanis celebrate it tomorrow.

I’m not sure whether there are people of other origins who are also celebrating tomorrow, but it’s possible.

Why the division though?

Isn’t Eid supposed to be a time to celebrate together, and share happiness and good wishes?

Although Islam doesn’t permit segregations, Muslims have nonetheless separated themselves into countless groups, but do we also need to be separated on Eid?

Isn’t this a day of unity and togetherness, when we forget any (self-created) differences, and put it all aside?

Just like Islam doesn’t allow for segregation, I’m reasonably sure it doesn’t condone celebrating the same event in the same place on separate days either. That would defeat the purpose, if I dare say so.

Why this isn’t obvious to everyone is something I will probably never understand.

If we can’t come to an agreement about one day, how will we ever come to any sort of consensus on issues that threaten to differentiate and divide?

Perhaps this is a question that will remain unanswered for a long time.

Whether today or tomorrow, here’s hoping your Eid is blessed, and one which includes everyone, and not just those you hold near and dear.

More later,

xx

Lost and Finally Found

For a few days now, I have been putting some (relatively) serious thought into what to do with my blog.
Before you burst into a happy dance, let me assure you that I am not thinking of deleting it.
I've been thinking about what I write on my blog and why.
I started it initially because I wanted to have a kind of "portfolio". Something to make it a bit easier for those I submit my work to, so they can decide if they might like to have me write for them.
As I wrote more articles for DesiVibe though, as well as just wrote more in general, I began to realize what I enjoyed writing most.
I became more certain that I didn't want to go into journalism, or any kind of field where I'd be restricted to writing only neutral or factual type pieces.
I love voicing my opinions, being creative, and asking for my readers' opinions as well. I really do enjoy knowing what others think, not just about my writing but about different issues in general.
World events are always important of course, but I found that I gravitate more towards more subjective topics like observations on the world around us, and issues that define and concern certain groups of people perhaps. I guess that would be included in the realm of personal, anecdotal, and even cultural discussion type writing.
Some time ago, I decided to change my blog's direction, and write about what it's like to be shuffling confusedly between Ottawa and Dubai, among "other stuff".
Unfortunately, I forgot the former part of my blog description, and got caught up in the "other stuff".
I'd remember periodically that I was also supposed to be writing about my experiences, which is when you'd get the more personal type blog posts, but overall I believe I failed to do justice to what I had set out to do.
Lest I get sidetracked again, I've gone and made some changes to my blog description and how I'm going to approach topics now.
I'm too much of a wanderer though, and don't like to confine myself, so there will still be a mish mash of things on my blog. That'll probably help prevent things from getting too serious or monotonous, which is always good, right?
So what can you expect from this blog?
You can expect the honest and candid thoughts, experiences, and situations, a 20 something, Canadian Desi girl finds herself in as she lives in two totally different parts of the world. 
The first is a part of the contemporary Western world, and the second, the modern Arab world of today. There is a third too, my homeland, which I visit for a few days every now and then.
I understand and respect all three cultures, even though I don't agree completely with everything in any of them. I am aware of the advantages and pitfalls of each place, and maybe that's what makes it difficult to decide which one truly comes out on tops. 
Until I navigate my way around in my head some more, and write up my next post, why don't you be so kind as to visit the link to my latest article and leave your comments on the website?
It would be much appreciated. 
And if you know someone like the character I've described in my piece, do let me know how you've been dealing with them. Maybe we can exchange some valuable tips.
Till next time then,
xx


Link: http://www.desivibe.com/special-feature/679-the-human-leech

In Ottawa - Here, There, or Everywhere?

One thing has become very clear to me after this particular trip, and my subsequent return flight to Ottawa.
Sometimes, the only way we can decide where we truly want to be, is by being somewhere else.
For the last three years, I have been torn between what seem like opposite ends of the earth.
The U.A.E, where I spent my childhood and most of my teenage years, or Ottawa, where I went to university, completed my undergrad, and got to experience things not everyone is lucky enough to have a chance to experience.
My first job was in Ottawa, (never mind that it was a terrible experience and probably did a fair amount of psychological damage).
Similarly, my first internship was in Dubai, a much better experience, even though I probably should have had more to do.
Ottawa has always been about a lot of firsts, good and bad, and for the first time I realized, that the same is going to be true about Dubai, if I choose to make that my home.
I'm not entirely sure why it took me years to be able to decide where I want to stay put, at least for a good chunk of time now.
This trip made me realize that I'm tired of being a ping pong ball. 
I don't want to just up and leave every few months.
I don't want to feel like I belong in two different places with totally different lifestyles all the time.
I don't want to pack, unpack, and have to get used to just having arrived in another place every few months.
But most of all, I don't want to feel that I don't really belong anywhere anymore, even though I have two places to call home.
So which am I going to leave, and which will I embrace?
I'd tell you now, but that would take the fun out of it.
All in due time, I assure you. Till then, keep guessing, and keep reading!
xOxOxO

MizzPinkx - DesiVibe - Bye Bye Furniture Boy

Perhaps it’s true that the things you try to avoid the most are the ones that follow you everywhere.

A very nice aunty I like, (no sarcasm intended, she really is nice and I really do like her), had suggested that my parents “take a look” at someone in her extended family who she thought would be a good “match” for me.

Only, she hadn’t actually seen the potential match in years, or maybe even ever, I’m not sure. That didn’t seem to deter her from recommending him though, and from telling my mom that he was very “handsome”.

Not to be judgmental, but most of the time I’ve heard an aunty call someone handsome, they aren’t really handsome. Tall, perhaps. Dark, maybe, but not handsome. Hardly ever handsome.

For the rest of the article go to the Special Feature section at DesiVibe.com or click on the following: http://www.desivibe.com/special-feature/394-bye-bye-furniture-boy


Tell me what you think by leaving your comments on the website!

MizzPinkx Greetings - Lucky?

You know those people whose plans and schemes always end up backfiring in the most blow-up-in-your-face kind of way?
And those people who are never in the right place at the right time, usually through no fault of their own but because of fate, or destiny, or luck, or whatever it is that causes things like that.
I seem to fit into that unfortunate category.
The place I first worked at closed down a few months later, and the place I interned at last summer might be heading the same way.
Naturally, it has occurred to me that maybe I have something to do with these unfavorable happenings.
But perhaps things are going to change now.
A few days ago I went to a mall here in Ottawa with my mom, only to find it closed.
It was only one in the afternoon, so that made no sense at all.
The lights were off, but I could see people inside. My mom and I decided to take a chance and go in anyway. We saw lots of people, some sitting, and many milling around in a dark mall with all the stores closed.
On inquiry, we found out the power in the area was out, and no one knew when it might be back.
I told my mom it was useless, and we should just head back, even though I felt thoroughly irritated. My mom convinced me to wait for a few minutes, and just as I agreed and began to walk towards a table, all the lights came on.
I couldn’t help but beam from ear to ear because we were the only ones who had just entered the mall at the time and lo and behold!
We started walking towards a still motionless escalator, which people were walking up, when I suggested using the stairs in case it started working and going the wrong way.
My mom pooh-poohed my idea so I decided to use the escalator anyway, and as soon as I stepped onto it, it started working. And in the right direction too.
Maybe I’m not unlucky after all. Or maybe whatever it was has now left me alone and my luck is going to get better. Maybe this was some sort of a sign of things to come.
Or maybe it was all just in my head, and I am in fact lucky, as my mom says, (even though I’m sure the last part is just to make me feel better).
Whatever the case, I guess I’ll find out sooner or later.
Till then, take care, and good luck to all with everything all through the upcoming year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
xOxOxO

MizzPinkx Thought Bubbles - On Housework and Staying Positive

One of my pet peeves is doing housework.
I know it sounds lazy and spoilt, but it’s something you get quite used to when living in Gulf countries. House help, whether full or part time, is available readily and easily, and doesn’t involve breaking the bank.
I honestly don't know anyone there who does all their housework themselves.
Cooking, a bit of cleaning, picking up things, sure, but not full on, top to bottom, cleaning the entire house, kind of work.
And when I do have to do it, it leaves me feeling vaguely irritated and annoyed for the rest of the day afterwards. Now that I’m back in Ottawa, I’m finding it particularly hard to break out of my previous luxury filled habits. Not that I have significantly better habits when I’m here, but you know what I mean.
Then again, maybe I just need to remain positive about the whole thing, and hope that one day, I’ll be one of those people who like doing housework. Or more realistically, at least be able to do it without getting into a foul mood.
After all, if a 107 year old woman can set her sights on getting married for a 23rd time (see post below) and start over again, why can’t I just learn to clean a bathroom without getting ticked off?
Which reminds me, I have a suitcase to unpack.
More later, take care, and keep reading!
xOxOxO
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