approaching month 9

so, i wanted to update this week with some reflections of a few things that have happened recently and other just every-day type of things that take place here. recently, i went to spend the night with a friend and during my stay we went next door to visit a woman that had just returned from the Hajj (Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca--part of the 5 pillars). since she has returned she is now deemed a Hajja as she has completed the Hajj. while at her home we were served dates and some interesting water. it was actually served in this little glasses that had Mecca printed on them and even had a little handle on them. picture a souvenir shot glass from Mecca...in it was this special water that they actually drink while there, but then bring back home with them to share with visitors and family. below is a photo i found online when doing a bit more research on the water and below the photo is some more info about this magical water...Muslims believe that the water of the Zamzam Well is divinely blessed. It is believed to satisfy both hunger and thirst, and to cure illness. Pilgrims make every effort to drink of this water during their pilgrimage. The water is served to the public through coolers stationed throughout the al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina. Pilgrims also fill water canisters from special taps, to take home as gifts for relatives and friends, and some of them also dip their pilgrimage clothes, ihram, in the water. The ihram are then preserved to serve as burial clothes when the pilgrim dies; thus he or she will go to the grave touched by the Zamzam water.
As the Muslim population of the world has grown, and air travel has made the Hajj more accessible to them, the Hajj has become increasingly crowded. There can be up to 3.5 million pilgrims performing the Hajj. Even though it is believed that the Zamzam well will never run dry, the Saudi Geological Survey has set up a Zamzam Studies and Research Centre, which is charged with keeping the Zamzam water both hygienic and plentiful.
Islamic history states that Zamzam Well was revealed to Hajar, the wife of Abraham (Ibrahim) and mother of Ismael,[2] around the year 2000 BC. According to Islamic tradition, she was desperately seeking water for her infant son, but could find none, as Mecca is located in a hot dry valley with few other sources of water. Muslim traditions say that Hajar ran seven times back and forth in the scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwah, looking for water. God then sent the angel Jibril (Gabriel) who touched the ground with the tip of his wing and caused the spring to appear. On finding the spring, Hajar confined the pool of water with sand and stones. Other versions of the story say that the water just suddenly appeared at the feet of Ishmael, or that the angel Jibril scraped the ground with his heel or brushed it with the tip of his wing and the Zamzam appeared.[3]
The name of the well comes from the phrase Zomë Zomë, meaning ‘stop flowing’, a command repeated by Hajar during her attempt to contain the spring water.[1]
According to Islamic tradition, Abraham rebuilt the Bait-ul-Allah (House of Allah) at the site of the well, a building which had been originally constructed by Adam, and today is called the Kaaba, a building towards which all Muslims around the world face in prayer, five times each day. The Zamzam well is located approximately 20 meters east of the Kaaba.[1] All italicized info copied directly from wikipedia.org.
I just thought this was interesting. The doorframe of the Hajja's home had palm branches also from Mecca hanging from it. The actual Hajja was not home when we visited as she was at the mosque for prayer (and i would assume sharing with folks there about her Hajj experience).

Then we had Ashura the first week of January here:
For centuries the Jewish people have observed Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, with fasting and ritual. According to hadith, the tradition of the Jews of the time of Muhammad was that on this day, the 10th of Tishri, God delivered Moses and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his forces; so Moses observed it as a fast out of gratitude. This date has also been commemorated as the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, life and death, heaven and hell, the Pen and the Tablet; the deliverance of Abraham from the fire; and the reuniting of Jacob and Joseph.
In the early days of the Qur'anic revelation, Muhammad ordered that the corresponding date in the Muslim calendar — the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura (Arabic for "tenth") — be observed by Muslims with a day-long fast. Although it was eventually superceded by the month-long fast of Ramadan, the Prophet continued to fast on Ashura, and recommended that Muslims do so, saying "I seek from God that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year."
Ashura is mainly observed by women and children. Here, the practice of mourning the death of an old year and celebrating the birth of the new year predated Islam; the extension of the practice into an Islamic context likely began in Shi'i communities that existed there between the 9th-12th centuries, and was perpetuated by the Sherifs, the descendants of the Prophet. Though the custom of mourning persists, it no longer has a specific focus. For the occasion, women make special raisin and nut sweets called krishlat, couscous made with the preserved tail of a sacrificial ram, and special fritters, flat cakes and porridges, eggs and poultry dishes. Also there are some pranks that get played on this day similiar to those on Halloween. There is egg, water, and tomato throwing at people even!
Just more interesting information about come of the celebrations known and acknowledged here. Italicized information from http://www.superluminal.com/cookbook/essay_ashura.html

on to much different topics...

above is yet another feast of ham! my roomie always seems to manage finding it at different places. this came from our Wal*Mart-esque store. We had quite the Sunday dinner on a Wednesday night:)speaking of the Wal*Mart-esque store...i was walking there the other day in search for raspberries and just thought this view was fabulous. it has been raining a lot this winter, which has been a blessing yet troublesome at times with flooding. i have even heard that some crops may ruin cause there has been too much rain. yikes! well, you can see how full the river is here. this week it has happened to get colder, yet i think we are in for some sunshine! yeah!
birthdays are just so fun to celebrate! recently our program director's wife celebrated 39! i made the ultimate brownie on the left from scratch (i am really getting into this whole from scratch thing) and my roomie made a great dark chocolate cake with funfetti icing imported from the States! it was a fun night ending with some Wii playing to help work off some of the sugar highs we had all gotten.
i actually captured this shot this morning! i was going out to check laundry and had been hearing some serious honking. well, the green bus was stuck. it just couldn't make the turn! there was an empty trailer in the way, so these guys from the auto repair shop had to come out and move it. and of course there was agruing to go along with it! you can see the congestion it caused. exciting times in our 'hood!

i was so delighted to receive a package on Saturday (making good with our package delivery guy has its rewards now!) morning from some dear Arka friends. in it was some taco and ranch seasoning packets and a recipe for some amazing taco soup. i was quickly inspired to make the soup and found myself cooking it up and now enjoying it with cheese, our version of sour cream, and/or homemade chips. yummy!

so, i can't hardly believe it has been almost 9 months since flying here back in April! time is flying and i am thankful for each every opportunity that have had thus far. sometimes i have to pinch myself. know that i love you and think of you often as i have encountered so many reminders of friends and family like you.

hope you have a great day and thanks again for all of your support, love, and for staying in touch:)