Back from Trip
I’m totally exhausted. I don’t know why I can’t ever seem to maintain healthy sleep lengths on a trip, maybe I feel like I’ll miss something if I sleep too much?
We visited Detroit and a few nearby cities where hubby’s family lives. That was great. Lots of delicious food!
Being so extremely absent-minded and stupid, I left two important items in Detroit — my “regular” glasses and my notebook (which contains… everything). If you saw me at ISNA, I was undoubtedly wearing my sunglasses. Thankfully both of my glasses are prescription so my backup wasn’t bad, but it probably made me even weirder to people I talked to.
The sessions and lectures were really good. The whole experience was great. The only downside I would mention from the whole thing would be CHILDREN.
Almost everywhere I went, I was met with the powdery(?) smell of babies. In the lectures, it was common to be seated next to a crying, complaining or mischievous child. Too many times, my husband and I noticed a child ripping up paper or other things and leaving them on the ground. The parents never bothered to pick up their mess. There was a lot of “mess” at ISNA. I wonder if convention centers always encounter this much mess, or only when Muslims come to town?
I saw a few of the “famous” people, Aminah Assilmi, Zaid Shakir, Ingrid Mattson, Suhaib Webb, guy from Native Deen, Hesham Hassaballa and for some strange reason: Morgan Spurlock. I felt like I wanted to congratulate Dr. Mattson in real life, but I didn’t approach any of these people. I’m sure they had enough people stopping their paths as they walked around.
I also got to meet two people I like and admire: Yasmine and “Izzy Mo“.
We stayed at “the other Hyatt” but we had to catch the shuttle at the “main Hyatt” where I observed what Eteraz described as the “Club Hyatt” meat market. A lot of fashion and tight clothes, brown boys thinking they’re the ish, etc… Kind of funny for my old, married self. On the other hand, there were a few devastatingly handsome maulvis there too, furiously avoiding the gaze of all the scantily-clad ladies.
In ending, I leave you with the best toy EVER. Hijabman’s pig. Who, oddly, thanks the very Muslims who consider him repulsive. I wore him around on my bag all weekend.
Thank you for not eating me…wonderful. What about touching it?
Thats funny. I am with you about the children. Although I have two little ones myself, I find that the way people from many “Muslim” countries deal with their children is crazy. They basically let their children run riot everywhere. It bugs me to no end.
My wife would tell you that Arab children are the worst. Maybe it is the German in me but I think kids should behave and more often seen than heard. Maybe they need to do more at these things for children? Have a seperate area just for children?
Salaams,…
Aww… I wish I knew you would be at ISNA. I met Izzy too this weekend. *sigh* I bought a shirt from hijabman as well.
Ciao,
UmmHamza
Abu Muhammad: Yeah I touched him, too! :-P
Abu Sinan: Heh, I thought I would have a few hateful messages about the kids thing, but it’s true. I also have German ancestors, and now that I think about it, they thought the same way about kids: “seen and not heard”! (but my parents didn’t, thankfully.) The people with children don’t think they should have to put the kids into babysitting while they go to lectures and they wouldn’t want someone to tell them “Hey, your kid is annoying the hell out of me, would you tape his mouth closed, please?” :-P I’m terrible.
Umm Hamza: Sorry we missed each other, maybe another year?
Thank me, please, as hubster and I put our son in the childcare during the main session on Saturday night. I can’t think of anything more boring for a three year old to do than to listen to a translation of a Khatami speech.
THANK YOU! I always wondered if parents really thought their children would somehow magically behave and sit attentively for 3 hours without anything to do! That’s why they make up their own games of “let’s crawl under these people’s legs” and others.
I was (am?) a child and I am not anti-child. I also know I was probably frequently annoying (I have video proof) as a kid. (My parents assure me I was rarely ‘allowed’ be annoying in public.) But I still think parents have a responsibility to others around them whether in a lecture, a restaurant or anywhere else.
It’s kind of like my opinions of smokers: they shouldn’t be allowed to smoke anywhere in/near a public building or gathering. But like other sorts of personal responsibility, there is no way you can ask these things of people, apparently.
A big, honest THANK YOU to all parents who are responsible.
Salaam alaikum,
Oh, I’m checking in so late. It was so cool meeting you. And don’t worry, I thought your shades rocked!