Yemeni & Traditional Indian Women

"Although outside Muslim countries women are ostensibly free to wear what they please and go where they wish, the truth is that if women do not conform to particular norms of dress, weight, behavior, and location, they risk being harassed and even harmed. We don't see the boundaries on women in our own culture, because we have grown up with them. That's just the way things are. The same is true in Yemen; most women are not particularly aware that staying inside and wearing a veil are repressive; that's just the way things are and to try to change things is expensive, dangerous, and impossible. Better to find ways within the boundaries to achieve a measure of freedom and contentment." (Worthless Women by Anne Pyburn)

This is exactly the same that is true in India, at least in Banaras where I used to live.

Running commentary on babies

So I decided there are a bunch of things that I can really talk to anyone about until I actually have a baby of my own (if that happens which I hope it does one day). This is going to be a running commentary of my thoughts. Maybe none of these things will happen, maybe all of them will. What's more important is that I write them down.

When I'm pregnant I would like to
- have Cam read Chinese to the baby (even while in the womb), doesn't matter what he's reading
- read to the baby (even while in the womb), doesn't matter what language
- Massage your abdomen and talk to the baby as if it were already out of the womb
- listen to a lot of different kinds of music: rock & roll, classical, jazz, anything really (again even while in the womb)

Halloween

A witch, a ghost, a baby, Data from star trek, a hooters waitress, a wolf.... What were you for Halloween this year? I was a woman in a wedding. Because I literally was in a wedding this year. This one was extremely different from my own. Aside from being a Jewish wedding all of the first dances were choreographed, which I personally didn't much care for. All of the music was from a swing band which was nice but mostly entertaining for the elderly more so than for those the bride and groom's age. We did get to dance a bunch though! I'm not sure if this last difference is due to the fact that our wedding was nondenominational or what but all of the vows and readings were read or repeated and written by someone else, not the bride or groom. I was a huppa (spelling?) holder which was interesting cause we just stood in front of everyone with our hands on this thing and smiled. I was trying really hard not to cry because Margo's mom was bawling right in front of me. It only partially worked. At the reception I knew some of the adults from having baby-sat their children so we got to talk. Cam was there until just after dinner when he left with Will and Brandon to go to Franklin St.

Last year Cam wore a suit with a mohawk. This year he wore a suit with a different hairstyle and carried a cigar. He went with two Chinese people and a Japanese person who were in their regular clothes. In order to get to Franklin St they had to park a ways away and walk there. After a couple hours of hanging out there one of the Japanese realized she didn't have her ID and they left. What I've always learned is "when in Rome do as the Romans do". So when it's required to take your ID places I do it, when it's not I don't. But for some reason Asians seem to think they're still in their countries so why should they do it our way. (please note this idea was started by not bringing her ID but that's not my only example)