We are celebrating Al Eid. I was very said that the Ramadan is finishing, but my husband tried to tell me how many nice things are ahead of us. It was really strange. Even my husband’s father was telling us today, how all people in Tunis seem sad about the end of Ramadan.
We spend beautiful day. It was sunshine and we spend some time on our balcony. My husband brought cages with all our birds and we talked and talked. One can just wonder how of beautiful moments and days person can spend in Iraq. I saw some news on Al Jazeera about celebrating Al Eid in Palestine. I tried to contact one journalist in Iraq, but for a moment I have no message back. I am thinking about “A Star from Mosul” and I remember her in my prayers. Soon I want to write my analyses about my “chat” but I am afraid it may be not the best idea wanting to “chat” about Ramadan. It may be that this subject is simply too private. Than again, is it not nice to talk about religion with people who share it? I am trying to follow by now three blogs---http://www.astarfrommosul.blogspot.com; http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/cairo; http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/iraq --- and I am hoping one person may write me anytime back.
It is so hard for people live together and respect each other? May someone be afraid to write about religion? May be people tired of it all? In the late afternoon I went with my husband shopping. I am slowly getting use to going out in hijab. It is very strange experience for me. While visiting in Tunis it seemed natural to me, even Tunis is not full of women wearing hijab, but here in Prague hijab bring more attention to you than anything else. The reaction of some people is so bizarre.

Few days went by. The celebration is finished and we are back to everyday life. School seems bit shorter with bites of apple and sips of water.
I have also great news. I did get in touch with one journalist from Baghdad. She wrote me few things about Al Eid and Ramadan in Iraq. I am very glad.

I am still thinking how great it will be if I can exchange at least few words with Star from Mosul. I will keep trying even after the paper is submitted. I want to know more, understand.

Last week of Ramadan

Ramadan is finishing in just four days and I am starting to get worried. I wish Ramadan would be longer. I know it may sound funny, but perhaps since it is my first Ramadan I feel very strong things and I am wondering how will I return to “normal” life afterwards. On the other hand I believe that this experience will bring changes to my “normal” life as well. Since I got married during Ramadan, I have a husband to share my life with. It is something I would never hope for, especially due to my past experience with marriage. The feeling that I will pray next to my husband every morning is one which brings so many nice things to my heart.

Today I prayed for Najma…. I get to read more in her blog. Even it may seem strange I feel every time closer to her. I do not know her and I am sure there are so many people in our world which should get my sympathy. The fact is that the way she writes and maybe also thinks is close to my way of thinking. I do really consider a lot how hard Najma works for school. Thinking about the conditions she is studying in, or just wondering how she will live after finishing her school makes me have more respect for her.

Nevertheless let me say-write I do not really understand why some people just cannot help them self and need to be unkind in their comments. Why? Does Najma ever accuse one for the condition she must try to do best of her life? I just must ask again-why? Why is the anger between people?

Yesterday while browsing some more blogs I find three more which interest me. One is very raw---in the good sense. The name is angry wife from Iraq. This woman has my sympathies. Unfortunately the writer is not located in Middle East and thus is for my project unsuitable. The second blog is from woman journalist from Egypt. In some way the writing of woman is closer to me. Maybe woman are less radical in their views and opinions. The name of this blog is Middle East Diary. We can read an article about visiting Ramadan tent in posh cartier of Cairo---this article is not by the author of this blog; it is written by another person, while the author of blog was away. Last blog is from than teacher now journalist working in Iraq. She does not directly writes about Ramadan, but she mention in one of her entries, that many people in Iraq are not fasting.
As I read and search more, I am more and more interested about the way how people in Middle East, in uncertain life situation spend their Ramadan. I imagine that Ramadan in Egypt may be quite peaceful, but perhaps in another parts of Middle East people find hard peace and thus also peace in their hearts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJQ7UIqr1kk

Why....

Hi….

I decided to build this blog so I can communicate with blogers form “Middle East”. I am a student of Communication and Mass Media on University of New York in Prague. This semester I am taking course “History of Middle East”. Even this course is not really Communication and Mass Media course I wanted to take it. Lately I started to follow television channel Al Jazeira. I must say I do really enjoy having another view on world events than just from “Western” medias. I started also to think about possibility of working for this or similar television channel in the future. Another reason which possibly influenced me while choosing this course was fact that I took last semester course “American Government and Poltics”. We had numerous discussions regarding American behaviour namely in relationship to “Middle East”. The last reason is private. I was married eight years to Turkish man and now I got married again, this time to man coming from Tunis. There is no question that spending time with Muslims makes me wonder about many things.

First assignment for History of Middle East course is to follow for close to one month blogs of people living in “Middle East”.
While searching for some interesting blogs I came over blog “A Star from Mosul”. It is apparently blog of a girl studying on university in Mosul, Iraq. When I first opened this blog I saw beautiful entry about beginning of Ramadan. This girl living, as I believe in middle of terrible war, was writing about the beginning of Ramadan. This blog has enormously kind voice. I can see any anger or so.

I would like over the following few weeks establish contact with Najma-the author of “Star of Mosul” and possibly search for some another blogs “close to my heart”.

Here is my first letter to Najma.

Dear Najma. Beginning of this week I first saw your blog. I understand that you live in middle of war. I do like a lot your entry about beginning of Ramadan. Me I am also fasting this year. It is my first Ramadan ever. While married to my new husband I felt that I really want to have this “experience”, let’s say open my self to Islam; even I am coming from atheistic family. In Czech Republic is usual being atheist.
Now almost at the end of Ramadan I feel so well and so much more in peace.
Today I opened your blog again. Reading your new entry about injury of your cousin and his decision to continue fasting and stay without medicine as he can. I feel that there is no way how to express my reaction with words.
I am thinking every day more about the happenings in the World and their reasons.

I would like to chat bit with you and so understand more how you and your family lives and what you think. Of course you may not have extra time for this or you may wonder who am I to ask you some questions, but maybe it may be interesting also for you to have contact with another student from other part of world.

Of course I wonder a lot what exactly has driven you to write your blog. In your entry from September 4th ( “Now What”) you are writing that this idea may not be accepted by your society.

Since we both do our Ramadan I would like to compare our experiences. For me Ramadan is perhaps much different. Also I believe the difference is only on the practical side. The spiritual part may be similar for all who share Ramadan.
I go to school as any other part of year. In Czech Republic is not obviously so hot weather as in Iraq, but still fasting and being all day in school with another student who are not Muslim is bit challenging. On the other hand when my school finishes my husband picks me up and we can go to one of the markets to choose something special to cook for our meal at evening. It is beautiful moments--browsing the streets, choosing our vegetable for couscous. I believe that that is something you cannot do—walk in the streets and smile.

Last thing I would like to ask you is about your school. How can you actually go to school? Is there any special regime concerning the Ramadan and most important the dangers situation in Iraq?

Najma, I do not know if you get any chance to respond me, but I wish you all the best. I try to feel with you, your family and your friends.

With lots of respect Anna-the rose from Prague.