Friends, I was in Sharjah, U.A.E. last week. And I enjoyed my time so much there that I barely missed my normal Thanksgiving servings of pumpkin pie.

I was in town for the Sharjah International Book Fair. It was a wonderful maze of book stalls in Arabic and English, with every type of book imaginable on display. Paradise, really. The book fair also boasted an excellent collection of authors that I was honored to meet, including Yahia Labibidi and Michael Rothenberg, the creator of the 100 Thousand Poets for Change movement.

Other fair goers and I were privileged to witness poetry nights at the Book Fair, hearing poems from Lababidi, Rothenberg, and local talent. Pictured right is a snapshot of the fair–I love the pop of that orange carpet!

The organizers of the fair were generous enough to set up a lecture for me at the American University of Sharjah. Yusra, a fellow  I Speak for Myself contributor, flew in to help me represent the book and we met for the first time despite working together for years at Muslimah Media Watch. We discussed MMW, multi-culturalism, and the need for more women’s voices in mainstream media.

The crowd was a wonderful one, full of bright young Emirati minds who asked wonderful and intelligent questions–I definitely enjoyed my time at the university!

The American University of Sharjah's main building, where our lecture was located.

My time in Sharjah was blessed for a host of other reasons, as well. I was lucky to connect with several colleagues who are located in the area, and enjoyed some beautiful sunshine–a really wonderful change from rainy Oregon winter. And everyone–everyone–was incredibly kind and welcoming. Hospitality is a prominent facet of Middle Eastern cultures, and I definitely felt it!

Another reason I enjoyed myself so much is because, for the first time, I was in the religious majority. The Emirates is a predominantly Muslim country, even if the majority of its inhabitants are made up of expatriates and domestic workers from non-Muslim-majority countries. So I experienced new perks: I was awoken every morning by the beautiful call to prayer from the Al Noor mosque down the street from my hotel and enjoyed a (beef) pepperoni pizza at Pizza Hut! These things seem so little, but I enjoyed them immensely.

I can’t express all the gratitude I feel toward everyone I met in Sharjah. A “thank you” doesn’t seem enough–I enjoyed my time so much there, and hope I feel the Gulf’s sun on my face again soon.

I participated in a panel at George Fox Seminary in Portland last Friday. The panel was titled, “Who Am I? Who are you? A Muslim perspective on the role of faith in identity formation,” and consisted of Andy Campbell as the facilitator, Maria Ebrahimji, Muna Idow, Manar Alattar, and myself. We discussed our personal faith journeys, media issues, and women’s issues for an Evangelical Christian audience.

I always love to hear how many similarities there are between faiths. I spoke with Loren Kerns, the Director for the Ministry Doctorate Program at George Fox, and we discussed all kinds of similarities between the American Muslim and Christian communities.

On the panel, from left: Andy Campbell, Maria Ebrahimji, Muna Idow, myself, and Manar Alattar. Photo credit: Loren Kerns.

Talking with Evangelical feminists was especially rewarding! I spoke with a few women my age after the panel who shared similar concerns and struggles with faith, feminism, and our place in all of these. It always feels nice to find the people who understand my issues because they have the same ones!

I really enjoyed my time at George Fox Seminary and look forward to doing more interfaith work in the future. Thank you to everyone at the seminary who opened their space and their hearts to us!

I’m excited to announce that fellow contributor Yusra Tekbali and I will be promoting I Speak for Myself at the Sharjah International Book Fair!

This event has been around almost as long as I’ve been alive, starting in 1982 in Sharjah, U.A.E. The website says:

This 10-day annual event now draws a total of over 800 publishers showcasing books from nearly 42 nations, and attracts over 400,000 visitors.

The primary aim is to promote reading, mainly to the younger generation by making quality books available to them at affordable prices.

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be joining my I Speak for Myself editor Maria Ebrahimji, Manager of Community Education and Peace Building programs at the Office of Equity and Human Rights with the City of Portland Muna Idow, and graduate student Manar Alattar to speak at George Fox Evangelical Seminary  next Friday, November 11, 2011.

We’ll be discussing the role of faith in identity formation, and will be looking at media perception of Muslims, the role of women in Islam, and sharing our own personal faith journeys.

You can find out more information here and read a press release here.  Registration is required, so register today!

Even though I’ve stepped down as editor, I’ll always be my baby’s biggest fan!

Today is the relaunch date for Muslimah Media Watch! The site is now hosted at Patheos.com–check out the new (but familiar) homepage here. I’m really excited to see what’s in store!

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been nominated for the Women’s Media Center’s 2011 Social Media Awards! I’m on a long list of social media-savvy ladies that include my colleagues Latoya Peterson, Mona Eltahawy, and Lisa Stone. I’m in great company!

A nomination is flattering enough, but I’d be happy if you’d cast your vote for me! You can vote here. The winner will be announced at the Women’s Media Center benefit on November 30th.

I’m excited to be holding two consecutive readings at Chemeketa Community College! If you’re in the area on October 25, please come check me out!

They’ve created a beautiful flyer, too:

Hope to see you there!