Two new great blogs coming near you!!

A few weeks ago, my sister's family came to visit. Spending time with them is ordinarily great; but this time it was even more special since we were able to spend some alone time with my niece Natasha who just turned 13 and my nephew Nolan who is 11. It was just for a couple of days, but full of great memories and moments that I will cherish at least until I see them again. Watching them interact with my kids was amazing. Bella and Alec have only two cousins, but WOW they make the experience so great that even with a small family, my kids should feel lucky...

Even now, Alec (who just turned 3) asks about his cousin Nolan, wondering why he cannot play with him more. (we will need to visit them soon)

A few great things happened during their visit and I will name just a few:

-My niece babysat Isabella and Alec with Nolan's help so we all went out to see Namesake (they were great and handled their cousins very well, even during crying and missing of mommy and daddy)

-I was amazed at the talents, both musical, creative and kindness of these two kids (check out the Easter video two blog entries down...)

-Both Nolan & Tasha attended our Spiritual Cafe (our monthly devotional with 10-20 college aged kids with music, dessert and coffee and conversation about the readings which was based on the theme: Justice) They both sat through the entire event, and had a good time chatting with the friends. I think they even enjoyed it!

-We talked about writing, life and cool new games on the Internet where you can actually help save an island from a tsunami (serious games...a great site for kids)

-After talking about journals, reflections and computers, we discussed my blog, and you know what? They both decided to create their own.

So without further delay, check out Nolan's blog at wrestlingeinstein.blogspot.com and Natasha's blog at: tripl3threatbebe.blogspot.com. ENJOY

90 letter in 90 days

I watched Namesake as planned and I was very moved.

I forgot that as a child growing up in America fighting my parent's culture alongside my sister, that my parents had a very real struggle themselves. This film highlighted that view for me, with subtleties that sunk in in ways I never expected.

Seeing the transition of a young woman who lives in a fun-loving lifestyle, full of warmth, a close knit family, music, colors and warm weather as a backdrop, flies over to an unknown city (NY) but still considered a "better place" was a shock. The images of the departure from her family at the airport was a new idea to me; never had I even thought of the moment my parent's had left their home; and now I was dying to remember or find out and sense their feelings on the day they walked onto the plan towards a new life.

The arrival to a cold snowy NY seemed so barren despite the opportunities it promised. I wonder, whether the students/workers/families who travelled here ever realized that there was a huge cost to living in this lonely country. Yes, opportunities would be available; but was the overall long term return on investment truly understood? (For my Mom and Dad, I still don't know from their perspective that is.)

Amazing how so many immigrants decided to take the plunge, whether from India, Pakistan, China, Africa or from anywhere elsewhere, what a tough experience it must have been for them all.

Obviously, times have changed and the Internet, communications, phone calls or even skype are minutes away. But back then? None of this was easy, accessible or possible. I spoke to my step-Dad this weekend, and he told me when he studied in England, that he wrote 90 letters in 90 days because he missed his family. 90 letter in 90 days.

So as I reflect on this new understanding, I want to see the film again, but this time with my Mom in law who also experienced the "transition" experience. She moved from the Netherlands to New Zealand with her child and husband in the early 70's leaving her home presumably for always. She did eventually go back to Europe, as did my husband, but the journey back was not easy, nor was it as cozy as it was when they had left. The time was gone; and adjustment even back home was difficult.

Until now, I thought I had always understood her experience, since I too have moved from US to Europe; but again in this modern day, our days are easier than those before us.

So in short, I am pretty thankful that I watched the film; and even though not all of it was exactly relevant, parts will stay with me for a long time.

Easter 2007

Namesake the reality

I am looking forward to seeing the film "Namesake" next Friday with my sister and our husbands where we will watch a film that will probably remind us what it was like to be growing up in a Pakistani type household in suburban America. Many kids of my generation (1st generation American's of parents from somewhere else) experience the duality of living in one culture; but having roots to another very different foreign lifestyle; one where bringing the roots (parental culture) into ones own (American kid culture) daily life is daunting and not always welcomed.

As a girl who was not a White American (should White be capitalized i wonder?) I was often questioning why I was given such a difficult task; of not already fitting in or feeling like one of the crowd. At least that lasted until high school when we moved from a small suburb of Buffalo NY to NJ. NJ is different on SO MANY levels that the culture shock of what priorities existed overshadowed my insecurity of what I looked like. Big hair and cliques aside, I sought any retreat from the group culture as essential to my survival; and instead found contentment in seeking to be different and to be friends with many rather than few (also the same time when I was introduced to the Baha'i Faith and its worldwide, non prejudiced perspective became utterly refreshing).

Anyway, years later; as law school, career, motherhood, more career and grass roots in human interest govern my life; I find that the differences in each of us should be treasured since the human canvas is stunning with the varying hues of personalities, cultures, beliefs and ideas that merge into a larger human family. I realize that now; and when I look back to see my shyness or hesitancy in sharing my "roots" with anyone; I realize I could have taken a different perspective and maybe even appreciate what my parents shared with me with more value, respect and honor.

Lessons learned. Maybe once I see the film it will reiterate just that.