Wow-zers...

I didn’t realize that I’d slack off on updating this blog so much once things got crazy, but I’m gonna try as HARD as I can to make sure I update as often as possible --- even if there isn’t much happening in my life besides reading 300,000 pages a night. Ok, that’s pushing it – I know, but seriously, classes haven’t started yet, and I’ve already read more than I did at UVA! Yes, this is definitely gonna be a wild year.

I’m sitting in my sphere chair that I bought at Target on Thursday night – its been my equivalent of a security blanket over the last week! Definately my favorite piece of furniture … the fact that its my ONLY piece of furniture doesn’t matter!!!

Pittsburgh so far has been fine. Yes, fine is the best I can do! I can’t help missing DC, but I’m really gonna have to get over that!!! Pitt’s definitely not DC, but it’s a pretty nice place – the University area is REALLY pretty, and I can definitely see myself taking a nice long walk taking pics of everything!! Its really hilly, worse than Charlottesville, but only just! I live essentially on the side of a hill in North Oakland, which is actually a nice area – there are a couple of really nice neighborhoods around, and the best part is that its only two blocks from the Islamic Center, alhamdullilah. It’s a short walk to campus, I’ve made it in 10 minutes --- its all downhill which makes it A LOT easier, of course coming back up is a pain, but its good exercise, and considering that I haven’t been getting a lot of that – it’s a very good thing!

My room overlooks the main street that ALL the traffic runs on, I know this because I hear EVERY single one of them! This is where being on a hill isn’t a good thing coz the buses have to raise their engines so much to get to the top that I barely have a moments peace. At that time I close the [single paned] windows, and draw my black out curtains that muffle the “city noises” enough for me to get to sleep. The fact that my windows open outward is probably the ONLY reason that I discovered that I have a pretty fabulous view of a part of Oakland – not quite the cathedral [which I can see as soon as I exit the building, and all the way to school], but at sunrise it is pretty spectacular.

Classes so far have been pretty good - very engaging, so far I don't hate 'em and I'm not COMPLETELY intimidated by the fact that I know just about nothing. Yet. Lets see how this rolls. Will keep you updated. Mo's comin this weekend w/a car load of my stuff from the VA; bhabi may come as well, that'll be fun; the DC-muslimah crew is headed to ISNA, bummed that I can't make it, but there's always next year!

And for all of you that are waiting for pics, I’m working on it … slowly but surely, they will come ...

Returning stateside ...

I'm back, yes I am! Apologies for the lack of posting, the last two weeks at home were VERY hectic. Alhamdullilah the reception went off without a hitch, or at least without any catastrophical hitches! We headed to Cochin for two days [absolutely gorgeous], and upon our return I packed up and moved out. I know, this isn't much of a description, but fo shizzle I will be back up and running soon.

I arrived in Pitt on Sunday, after a brief stop in DC to pick up a couple of things and make an appearance at Aly and Nabeel's legal farewell - met my roommate and her family - such awesome people - and have been trying to settle in for the past couple of days. Went to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game last night which was AWESOME - I've never been to a baseball game before, and I'll say one thing, the PNC Stadium is breathtaking!

Am trying to prep myself for the beginning of law school, but my mind has been buzzing with too many things.

Abrupt ending to this post is courtesy the munchkins. Gotta jet. later.

Doin that reception thing ...

Wow, what a week!

Monday: Mo and bhabi arrive - all the fam comes over to recieve them. It was an insanely crazy morning coz I was decorating and running around, as was mom, finally put the finishing touches on things and jumped into the car, raced to the airport. Well, raced is a bit of an exxageration since we hit mad traffic. Brought the couple home, and did the whole washing of the feet thing [before the bride enters her new house, one of her in-laws washes her feet, and gives her something sweet]. By far the coolest part was this - we gave two goats as sadaka to the mosque, and before we did - they had to be raised in front of the couple. I have pics of someone lifting the goat in front of Mo and Bhabi -- its great. This was bhabis intro to the family, and she hit it off great with everyone! Especially lil ishaan who absolutely loves her!

Wednesday night bhabi's fam arrived, and in true ali mohammed bangalore fashion there were many open arms to recieve them. It really took us back coz the airport was quiet, there were about 10 or 12 of us recieving them, and it was a clear and cool evening with a gentle breeze -- i wish i had a movie camera to film the caravan - we had seven cars. It was awesome!

Its so nice to have bhabi's family here - its really giving us all an opportunity to get to know them, and hang out with them. Its a little surreal coz we've been planning for this for so long, and now its actually happening!

Thursday was a VERY long day, especially since I didn't actually get to bed until 3.30 am on Wednesday night. I promised Bajaj that I'd go with her to city market to shoot in the am, and I needed flowers. So, I got up at 5am on Thursday morning and headed out, did some shooting with Bajaj [boy that girl attracts a crowd with her cool camera!], got home and started decorating with boojan and Ritu, it was SO haphazard and disorganized! But alhamdullilah, it worked out really well and I think everyone enjoyed the afternoon! It was a gorgeous afternoon --- sunny and warm! Bajaj came over and helped me out by taking pics, inshaAllah I'll put those up!

After the mehendi we headed to the Only Place for the dinner that mama was hosting, WOW it was AWESOME. It was really the coolest coz it was like a reunion for alot of us - everywhere I turned I saw someone that I hadn't seen in years. Alhamdullilah, this reception has been a great excuse for people to come down. So, there was alot of screeching and hugging going on! Hehe - you never thought you'd see me screech and hug :)

Aight, peoples are over, I need to shower and be presentable - gotta jet.

And here we go ...

I'm really REALLY bushed. Here are highlights of whats been up -

--- Sara Khala and Akbar Mamu are Amma's brother, Yunus [Janni Mama]'s children. They arrived on Thursday evening from England, in rather dramatic circumstance since they were flying through Mumbai [still reeling from floods] and there was still an incredible backlog of airlines. They were bumped off their connecting flight from Muscat without their knowledge and they were none too happy about it! Anyhoo, alhamdullilah, they arrived safely - after chatting a little we all passed out, they stayed with us - the next day was spent basically at home, Mohammed Mama joined us for lunch. They spent a few days with us and are now with Haroon Mama. Although they've come for the reception primarily, they are also on a sort of a quest to learn more about the Ali Mohammeds. I'm pleased that I'm not the only one thats more than a little curious. Unfortunately, stories passed through generations are limited and if we don't work on finding out now, its going to be infinately more difficult in the years to come.

--- I've discovered a gold mine for flowers. Its the city market! City Market is the wholesale market where fresh flowers are to be found - DIRT CHEAP! Lord, the other day, I got 10 orchids for Rs. 80, or app. $1.75. Long stem roses, Rs. 25 - $0.50. Its absolutely amazing. I took Akbar mamu there this morning and we got some cool pics in addition to the roses, he was very amused by the whole scene - I think he rather enjoyed himself! :) I know I did :)

--- Bangalore does have one touristy thing to do -- Bangalore Walks - its a three hour walking tour of Bangalore, or at least the tiny part of the city that has a semblence of the Victorian Bangalore! It was awesome! I loved it - so much info, so many lil' tid bits of info - I'm planning on packing Mo, Bhabi [desi term for sister in law] and Boojan off on it before they leave!

--- Mo and bhabi [desi term for sister in law] arrive tomorrow. There is much excitement, Shal and I spent most of the day making potlis of Jordanian Almonds. The lighting guys came and set up the lights - OMG it looks AWESOME! I have pics that I will share inshaAllah as SOON as I get a second!!! I have a lot of pics from my trip and I do want to share them!

--- I got my PITT schedule, and the nervousness has returned!!!! Also have homework assignments for my first class-- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

Ok, eyes are SERIOUSLY closing, will do more posting lata' ... Ciao

a trip to city ...

A lil' bit of history - Bangalore, back when 'dem British peoples were around, was divided into "Bangalore City" and "Bangalore Cantonment". The Britishers and their workers [bussed in from Tamil Nadu no less] lived in the Cantonment, along with most of non-natives [such as the Ali Mohammeds], and the natives lived in the City area.
Mom and I went to City to buy bandhini for the mehendi next week ... sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into - I've taken responsibility for decorating. Will keep you posted on how things roll :)
Anyhoo, saw some interesting people in City - here's a look :)

A Bangalore Sunset ...

Viveknagar, Bangalore - On a thursday evening - the church in the back is the Infant Jesus church, which is a very popular on thursdays. I'm not sure what the significance of Thursday is, but alot of of people, non-christians included, visit and light cnadles there. Anyhoo - thought this was a great pic of a bangalore sunset.

FANOOS ... rolls to die for ... or at least to roll over and beg for! :)

Yes. They're that good. I've been dreaming of these FOR MONTHS. I don't know why it too me 5 weeks to actually get to Johnson Market though!!! Now, this place isn't a swanky joint by ANY stretch of the imagination. It started out as a little hole in the wall [I actually think this place is where the term originated], and there'd be about 6 guys over the grill, and three guys making rumali rotis, the owner, a rather large man, was placed prominantly at a back grill [on a step up] and oversaw everything. That place was steaming. There would be crowds of people, sometimes you'd have to wait about 15 minutes just to get your order in - which basically meant you yelled to the dude right in front whether you wanted a reg, jumbo, mumbo, rambo or shambo roll [the smallest started w/one long kabab, and got progressively bigger!] in mutton, beef or chicken, and he either yelled down his assembly line, or to the grill guys. And the kababs would come, hot off the grill, one guy slid them off the skewer, one pulled out the rumali, a third dumped a handful of onions on it, and a fourth rolled it up.
I used to stop by at Fanoos on my way back from plays [the only place that was open at 10.30pm!!], run up the street from Sagari's house whenever we felt Fanoos pangs, and of course everyone waited for sports day at school because we knew that they Fanoos guy would be there. I'm tellin you, this stuff is absolutely addictive -- just the smell of the kababs makes you want to jump out of the car and run towards the grill.
NOW, the hole in the wall has expanded into a series of holes in the wall [one for seekh rolls, one for chicken rolls and kababs, one for shawarma, one for chinese], and the owner has a little desk behind the cash register from where he sits bundled up, still overseeing the running of the entire business. The crowds haven't decreased, they've just spread out ... but the rolls are still amazing.

Notes on the first pic: Thats Naina - notice the two rolls in her hands :-), and the chicken on the skewers in the background. Yes, the ones with the eggs. Love it. :-)

A lil' bit o' this, an' a lil' bit' o' that ...

Ahhh, we're in the home stretch, and, as Kamran says [and mom's most intrigued by!], "things are hotting up!" ... random things that are worth writing about

Monsoons: I'm sure everyone's heard about the devastating flooding in Mumbai - wow, the pics are just incredible. I haven't been able to pay complete attention to the news, as I've been running about a bit, but the stories tell a frightening tale. Shalina was in Mumbai at the time, and got stuck in the pouring rain - the poor kid walked for four hours, in waist deep water [not entirely sanitary either, might I add] in the pitch dark, and I believe it was still pourin, with her handbag on her head to ensure that her cell phone didn't get soaked. Four hours. WOW. She was with a friend, who was slightly shorter than she is, and at times, the friend was walking thrgouh water that was up to her chest. alhamdullilah they arrived safely at the their destination.
Its amzing though, when I heard, I was sitting in Blr wondering why she ventured out in such treacherous conditions. Mama explained that she in effect had NO idea what was going on, and how bad it would become as she continued walking since there was no electricity [therefore no news to warn her] and the phone lines were all jammed [hence no one could call to warn her]. A note on Bangalore weather, as a result of the Mumbai rain ... its been absolutely amazing weather down here -- its been raining some, but not alot [last week we had heavy rain, but thats gone], however, its been absolutely pleasant -- temperature in the mid-to-high 60's, amazing breeze. aaah, I love it :) wish we had a little more sun though.

On another note, I learned that in the three years that I've been away, my friends have morphed into shop-a-holics. Jay invited me over to her house for dinner, her mom cooked us some amazing Bengali food. Oh so good. It only took me forever to get there, since I was s'posed to pick up Bajaj and Jay at 8pm, and I ended up picking the two of them up from two DIFFERENT malls at 9.15pm! But it was a great evening coz I got to see Jay's engagement pics, and Anusha [she's a pilot for Air Deccan] joined us in uniform - and we were of course thrilled to bits!!!!! Needless to say, many pics were taken, and are being uploaded to Ofoto as we speak. :-)