Prep & Read

Alright, yes I'm still In London. Though London's weather and the commencing dark season (October-March) certainly has me wishing otherwise. So yes, do pray with me that I'll find a good job soon, so I can keep to schedule and head to Cairo late March.

Hint: A good job at this point refers to the non-call-centre-non-market-research-freelance-underpaid-knock-on-your-door-for-charity-what's-it-face-kind. Ideally, vaguely related to my field of study and/or involving some project coordination/ administration capacity. Chances are in 2weeks from today I'll have to lower my expectations and take up a less enticing however bill-paying option. Maybe I should just follow my gut feeling, complete my TEFL and head over now?

Anways, whilst I play adult some more, here's an interesting read to sweeten the wait. God bless

Ahlan...

Egypt / Lebanon Montage from Khalid Mohtaseb on Vimeo.

Stumbled across this... (thanks Samer)                                       

                                                                                                       

                                                                                                            جميلة جدا. مشالله

Mysterious Paths

Well...

Who would have thought? Guess what, I got in! Not the MSc in Middle East Politics but the MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies Program. My major, and field of my dissertation - God willing - will be 'Modern Trends in Islam' (with Dr Katherine Zebiri).
Not the way I originally planned but it's amazing how it all turned out. I'm actually really excited about the slight change in focus (I'm already dreaming of that Phd afterwards). Alright, now I've decided to stay on course with Cairo, so I've submitted a request to defer my offer until the next academic year. So it's still going to Cairo first then back to SOAS come Fall'10.

Alhamdulillah ya Rabb! Inshallah it'll all work out, fingers crossed ;)

Swapping

So...

Life has spoken, hasn't it? I didn't get into the Masters program at SOAS. Well, officially I'm still waiting for a decision on my application, but seeing how lectures start today, it's time to start packing. Swapping books, London weather and libraries against the sun and noise of le Caire. God, I can't wait! Strange, I should be more upset, and in a way I am but I can't help feeling torn.
Torn between the excitement of finally making it, getting closer to the city that has captivated my imagination for about half a decade and the sadness of leaving behind SOAS, at least for a year. SOAS, my university, the community of truly amazing and inspiring people, that come together in their desire to explore, to expand their knowledge and understanding of the world within and around, to grow as individuals and to simply celebrate the diversity that makes this place so remarkable. I think I'm homesick, and I haven't actually left...

"To God We belong, and to Him is our return" (2:156)

Travel-Study-Travel-Study-question mark

I finally seem to have found peace with my decision. MSc Middle East Politics or le Caire? seemed like Sophie's Choice, rather than two options available, both wonderful and enticing. After I prayed Fajr on Friday I felt at at home with my choice for SOAS, even if it means delaying le Caire.
Now, it's waiting for the acceptence/rejection letter. Khair inshallah.
---
Man banda-ye qur'ānam, agar jān dāram
man khāk-e rah-e muhammad-e mukhtāram
gar naql konad joz īn kas az goftāram
bēzāram azō waz-īn sokhan bēzāram.

I am the servant of the Qur'an as long as I have life.
I am the dust on the path of Muhammad, the Chosen One.
If anyone quotes anything except this from my sayings,
I am quit of him and outraged by these words.

[Quatrain No. 1173, translated by Ibrahim Gamard and Ravan Farhadi in "The Quatrains of Rumi", an unpublished manuscript]

Make your intellect a sacrifice in the presence of Muhammad, and say, "God is sufficient for me, since God is enough for satisfying me. [Dīwān]

Le Caire

Right, so yes as the title suggests, this blog is dedicated to my upcoming (inshallah!) travel to and 6 months-or-so stay in Cairo. Amazingly beautiful, noisy, dirty, wonderfully exuberant Cairo. Can't wait, it's gonna be something. Stay put.

peace