I hate FRANCE! & First day of school

I wish I had a Burkini, I swam in my cloths!





Let me get this out of the way
I hate France and the way they treat Muslims, I went to my Yahoo homepage today and what do I see?
'Burquinis' banned from pool
A Muslim woman's head-to-toe swimsuit sparks a new controversy in France.
Officials cite hygiene issues
my first response is "Oh my Bleeping Word! are they serious?" I was so mad and then jerk face in the article makes such a stupid remark that I almost vomited in disgust:
Emerainville Mayor Alan Kelyor said he could not understand why the woman would want to swim in head-to-toe clothes.

"We are going back in civilization," he said by telephone. Women have fought for decades for equal rights with men, he said. "Now we are putting them back in burqas and veils."

BACK IN CIVILIZATION? since when is being naked so 'modern' since when is being forced to swim in your underwear or not at all freedom or a right? I am not oppressed and I don't want to show my body to the world because it belongs to me! It is my right as a woman to respect myself and my personal freedom.
screw your health care France! I may die on the floor of a hospital here in the U.S. due to a lack of health insurance but at least I will be wearing my Hijab ya punks.


Now, on to the good stuff
I taught my first class ever today and I must say I rocked it!





we took pics and I got to teach the children how to greet their fellow Muslims and all. I loved it, I felt like a mom! Kindergarten is a strange new world for these kids and there were tears, and all of them were from the boys, My girls were so with it!

Highlight of my day/year: I drew a T chart on the board, (we were voting on what color fish to get for our class pet) anyway, little Ali raises his hand and says "That's Haram!" May Allah Bless him, he thought it was a CROSS ! I ran over and hugged him and said I am sooooo happy you know that, he is only 5! wow, I almost teared up. It is going to be a great year.

Working at an Islamic school

I have started my new job!!! class is not yet in session but we have been doing professional development and getting the classrooms ready... Ill post pics of my classroom soon. Well it is so strange working in an all Islamic environment, I mean when i hear the principal over the intercom calling us to prayer I still get shocked!
The Good:

1. So much diversity!! The principal is from Taiwan, married to an American.There are two American teachers including myself, one Mexican, a few Palestinians and several Lebanese.
2. It really feels like a family, so far everyone has been so kind and helpful.
3. EVERYONE WEARS HIJAB!! for once in my life I am not the only one and I don't have to worry about seeing any cracks... in the public school system, I have seen my share!
4. Eid Holidays! NO SCHOOL!! And we get out an hour during Ramadan. YAY
5. I feel like I will learn so much working at an Islamic school.

The Bad:

1. To be perfectly honest... the pay really Sucks, I make half of what I would be making in the public school system and most of the teachers have husbands who make a lot of money so they don't really need it.
2. It can get Catty!!! so many women in one place... need I say more?
3. Cliques, just when I though high school was over... all the Palestinians go out for coffee and don't invite any of the rest of us :(
4. NO MONEY.. for supplies, field trips, anything.
5. I have an assistant who so wants my job... she has been there for seven years almost and thinks she owns the place..grrrrr... Its My Classroom!!!

I am soooooo tired...working is hard!!

So what do you all think of private Islamic schools? Are they a good Idea or do they stifle children by not allowing them to be in a real world environment?

Im Back!! and Home School anyone? :(

Salaams out there!

I have been MIA for a few days due to my Mango trip, but I am back and I am 85% cleared up. Hooray.

As most of you know I recently took on a job at a private Islamic school. the principal sent me an article about Muslim parents who choose to home school. read here
Honestly, I read the article and I still have my negative feelings about the whole home schooling thing, while some parents can teach their children and actually have them learn I do not think that most have the training to do it effectively. The 'sensitive' child in the article probably could have benefited from being exposed to other children. Maybe it's tough love on my part but kids need to experience building their own personalities away from mummy!
Its like extreme sMothering, children need to be around other children to socialize and to be able to relate to people who are different from them.
Anyone agree?

(this just reminded me of a book review I need to write!) Stay tuned

Updates

I have been super busy

• I got the JOB!!!!! (I don't start for a while though)


• I am looking for a new apartment!!! (Husband wants to remain living in this one bedroom slum... but I am sooooo over it)


• I ate fresh mango again and well.... I am paying for it ( I thought I was only allergic to the skin of the fruit...thanks wikipedia!)

I'll post a pic of my new classroom when it is all fixed up, I am so excited!

I'll post a pic of my new apartment... once I find one :D

I will not be posting a pic of my Mango Face... It is not a pretty picture, and lets just say those Hollywood celebs with their collagen lip injections got nothing on me!

Oh... and I need some one and two piece hijabs (nice quality) for my new job anyone know where I can find them cheap online that ship to the US?