conversations with mamass

I've been here for 21 months now. there are times when i feel like i've learned all i could possibly learn, and nothing can really shock me anymore. and then i have a conversation that's like a slap in the face and i realize.....there's so much i dont know.

This conversation followed lunch at my friend mamass' house about a month ago.

Setup: We started talking about Islam, the Coran, and what exactly is in there about the infamous veil. Warning, this conversation is very paraphrased.

Me: Well, you know it doesn't actually say in the Coran "Women must wear a veil."

Mamass: Yes it does. And also we can't wear perfume out of the house.

Me: Um, ok. Why not?

Mamass: Because the men. If they see our hair or smell perfume they will WANT us. It is uncontrollable. Muslim men are not like American men.

Me: Yeah, i dont really get that. I mean, on the inside, all men are the same. So what is the big difference between Muslim men and all the others out there.

Mamass: Well, you know, Muslim men are cut. You know, down there (points to crotch region)

Me: (blank stare as i try to figure out what she is trying to say. could she really think that only Muslim men are circumcised??) Ummm.....well, actually you know that American men are also circumcised.

Mamass: No they aren't. Only Muslim men are circumcised.

Me: (more blank stare. is she really gonna argue with me on this?) Um, actually, yes they are. You know Abraham (she does), circumcision started way back then. It started with the Jews. Even way back them before there was Islam, men were circumcised.

Mamass: (look of confusion on her face) Really?? Everyone here says that only Muslim men are circumcised.

Me: I swear to god! Almost all American men are circumcised.

Mamass: ALL American men?

Me: Well, not ALL. I would say like 95 out of 100. (yes i pulled this statistic from no where, just go with it)

Mamass. Oh, thats like nothing. not like muslim men.

Me: (defeated) Ok.

my life, in a nutshell

So i've started having "women's cafe" at my youth center. women come, we eat, we talk, we dance. and sometimes it gets pretty serious. The last one was especially exciting.

an exerpt:

woman 1: so how do people pray in america?

me: well, people do all kinds of things because we have all kinds of people and religions in america. (i can usually get away with an answer like this and avoid any other uncomfortable questions)

woman 2: well, how do YOU pray?

me: (SHIT! hesitation as i think about how to handle this. finally i think, what the hell!) well, i don't.

w1 & w2: (confused and frightened stares)

w1: teresa, do you know where you will go when you die if you dont pray?

me: (trying not to laugh) well yes. down there (pointing down)

w1: teresa, do you know what's down there!!!

me: (again with the holding in of laughter) yes, of course!

w1: you're not scared?

me: nope

w1: really?

me: yep

w1: well i'm scared for you!

me: really, you dont need to be scared for me, i'm not scared.

w3: (to the other women) you know, there are a lot of really bad people who pray, praying isnt everything. people kill and steal and pray.

me: (thank you woman 3!) do you know that my president prays?

women: yes

me: and where do you think he's going when he dies? (sorry president, i'm just trying to prove a point here)

women: (pointing down) he's going to hell!!!!

me: well see. he prays and you think he's going down there. i think that if i'm a good person and i do good things, something good will happen to me when i die.

woman 4: teresa, i think that you will go to heaven because you are good and you teach us.

me: thanks!

(end of conversation about religion.........thank god! ;) )