It hurts. As my Muslim friends share their perspectives and emotions, I’ve realized how much the events of New Zealand have affected them personally. To think that mosques-- places meant to serve as sanctuaries and safe spaces-- were subject to brutal terrorism is painful. To think that “Salam”-- a greeting meaning “peace”-- was returned with … Continue reading On New Zealand, and on “Us”
It’s second semester of senior year, and probably the most defining feature of this school year has been APPLICATIONS. Tons and tons of applications. From long personal essays, to short supplements, to interviews, and creative pieces, each application has taken reflection, deep thought, and constant attention to detail. However, when I was invited to apply … Continue reading Getting Creative with Scholarship Apps — Or should I say “Raps”?
As Saif Nabeel’s “Galb Thani” plays on repeat, I make my third round on the small greenbelt behind my house. Alright, listening to slow Iraqi music and taking long solitary walks in the neighborhood is probably not your idea of a workout, but it’s definitely better than what I usually do: sit at my desk, … Continue reading Solitary Strolls…
Walking into the Raindrop Turkish House, it felt nice to smell the aroma of Turkish food and the chatter of voices, my familiar Monday evening surroundings. It wasn’t a Monday, however. And the purpose of my visit was different. A few weeks ago, I spent a memorable evening at the Interfaith Action of Central Texas’ … Continue reading A Hearty Meal and a Heartening Conversation
As I sit down to write this post on a warm Austin afternoon, the waves of nostalgia surrounding the past weekend feel bittersweet. A few days spent in my favorite US city, Washington DC, for the 2019 NSLI-Y Alumni Representative Workshop passed far too quickly. I could dedicate this post to the various things I … Continue reading A New Year and New Friends: 2019 NSLI-Y Alumni Representative Workshop
“Hi Shraddha! I just want to call you to personally congratulate you for....” Even now, it’s hard for me to believe that the phone call wasn't a trick my mind was playing on me. But as I look at the hard copy letter that arrived in the mail a few days ago, I am relieved. … Continue reading Miracles Happen…
Happy International Education Week!! For the NSLI-Y International Education Week 2018 challenge, alumni are asked to respond to the question: What have you learned about the world from language study? Rather writing a blogpost like I did last time, this year I did something different: a video! In six different languages! So, without further ado, … Continue reading Language Learning: A Window to the World (Six-Language Video!)
Last week, the topic was digital terrorism, where we discussed cybersecurity in the Middle East. And before that, we talked about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the late Saudi journalist who was killed in the Saudi embassy in Turkey. No, this isn’t a Middle Eastern politics class. Rather, it’s my Arabic class! Learning Arabic with … Continue reading Learning Arabic through Immersion… in my School’s Cafeteria
A bite of “börek.” A sip of “çay.” Öğretmen Tuba writes Present Continuous conjugations on the board, and we students take notes, attentive and intrigued. That’s right! Ben Türkçe öğreniyorum! I am learning Turkish! My love for Turkish started with Zawaj Maslaha. At 8:00 PM sharp in Amman, Jordan, families tune in to MBC1 to … Continue reading A Turkish Delight…
[VIDEO BELOW] Wow! I never thought senior year would be this busy! In the midst of IB requirements such as my Extended Essay and Internal Assessments, tons of tests and quizzes for my classes, college applications, my internship, and other commitments, I really have not had time to write on my blog or even breathe, … Continue reading Life and Language Updates… in Arabic!
