Please don’t tell people about this project. I have lied so much just to get laughed by people because of a mere project. So PLEASE don’t tell anybody!
Wow. I have lots to tell!!! Some major freak outs from my friends, teachers talk about it, and kids with their maws gaping open, eyes boring into me.
Ok first, starting off with my day. I was a bit late this morning. I was in my dad’s Prius, its tires screeching as my dad drifted to the bus stop half a mile away. Time was a-tickin’ – it was 7:34, the bus leaves at 7:35. I screamed and braced myself, my dad steered the speedy car into a gap where I tried to offer my cheek for his kiss, but withdrew because the bus was about to leave. I ran, with my yellow bag bouncing behind me, and finally made it to the rumbling bus’s doors. The bus driver, a heavyset blonde woman, was the poor individual who my brother and I devilishly concocted a name for her – Buttholina. Anyways, I couldn’t see her first reaction through the reflective glass and the bright school bus yellow chrome. But I climbed up the steps only to be introduced to six pairs of disbelieving eyes staring back at me. I quickly sat down as the bus lurched forward and started off on its adventure over thousands of the bumps that reside in the middle of the road.
Looking up from futile attempts to contact my best friend, Tali, the greeters smiled a little bit too friendly at me and tried to give me flyers. I smiled and shook my head and continued to the gym, where I would drop off my lacrosse stuff. Inside the lobby of the gym, there are ALWAYS idiotic freshmen and sophomores who push each other and play lacrosse right in the lobby. Mostly the boys are idiotic. But anyways, the boys, especially, laughed and pointed at me. But me, having been prejudiced all my life, I just ignored them and dropped off my bag and proceeded to text Tali. Once she had told me that she was near the stairs, I walked through throngs of freshmen and saw Tali. She looked around and immediately laughed at the strange object on my head. She knew that I had something but had no idea that I had actually “converted” to Islam. I have lied to my best friend about my religious affiliation. That’s how serious I am about this project. Anyways, she kept saying, “I don’t know if you’re serious or not!” Since I am the jokester type. And she’s the perfect, defenseless victim to practice my tricks on. She kept repeating that again and again and she wanted to show me to Brittney, who is in my Creative Writing class and knows what’s going on with the week long project. Tali and I walked over, arm in arm. Brittney laughed out loud, while all other my friends – Matt, Max, Jason, and many more stared at my new appearance. Boys, boys, boys… They’re always immature when it comes to surprise!!! Max said it was cool and his face was all funny. Matt walked away, I couldn’t see his face expression, and Tali pulled me away when I tried to look for Jason. Grr!
I entered my English class, I felt a rush of interested eyes upon me. I quickly made my seat and smiled to the Persian girl next to me. We watched a movie and my good friend tapped me on the shoulder. Her name was Tracy. We had an interesting conversation about Islam and it’s policies, etc. etc. I admit, I used the element of confusion to make my “conversion” look on purpose and not hastily as it had been. When the period ended with no really surprise, my teacher, Mr. Brunkhorst came up to me and asked whether if this ‘burqa’ was for a project. I corrected him, ‘hijab’ and it was for my personal reasons. Mr. Brunkhorst gave a quiet ‘Oh!’ and conversed a little bit. I left the classroom, I talked to Tracy once again before leaving for Sociology.
I walked to Sociology room, I glanced at the spot where Brittney, Max, Jason, me, and sometimes Tommy hang out before the bell rings. There was no one, and I casually entered the room and deposited my heavy bag and took out food to eat during class. (I always eat! I’m an early bird – wake up early, eat early, sleep early.) I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I wasn’t sure if it was my own imagination or my hijab. I turned around to see Max with a concerned face. He beckoned me out of the room and asked, “Where?” I repeated again, “Where? What do you mean?” Max looked at his hand and hit himself in the head. “When?” He corrected. “Oh, last Saturday,” Max questioned the validity of that statement. I quickly added, “A couple of weeks before I have been looking at Islam as a prospective religion and now have made my change.” Max allowed that comment get by… Thank God! Or Allah, should I say, now that I am a Muslim? Anyways, I told him about all the customs that Muslim women have to follow – avoid touching men that is not blood related, no hugging, etc. etc. Max, at that moment, just broke down laughing out of disbelief at my radical change. He tried to stop it with his hands, but was unsuccessful. I laughed along with him, mostly out of appall that he was laughing at me for my imaginary conversion.
Now here comes the tension. A girl, whose name I won’t mention, came up to me and asked if I was becoming a nun. Again, I explained the reason for the black fabric. I knew that she hated Muslims because of a chat a year ago. I braced myself. She asked if I was serious. Again, I said yes. Then her face evolved from puzzled to disgusted. Her eyebrows were arched menacingly and her eyes were wide at a potential terrorist. She started to step forward, passing me. I quickly waved goodbye. She returned the wave. That was my first extreme reaction that was negatively sanctioned by the hijab. Back to Max, who was still agape in horror. The bell, unfortunately, rang. I waved bye to everyone in the troupe and walked to my class. Upon entering my class, I quickly remembered that I had forgotten to drink water. I was so thirsty, I asked the sub to go to the bathroom (It’s easier than to tell that I’m going to get water). Anyways. I saw Max and Brittney. I waved again to them. Max screamed out, “LIES, LIES!” It turns out that Brittney had told him about the project. I gave Brittney my best death stare. Brittney shrugged her shoulders and promised that it wouldn’t happen again. Max kept saying, “THANK GOD! THANK GOD! THANK GOD!” And then I made him lock his lips and throw away the key.
Later, he said that he didn’t hate Muslims, he was just so surprised at my change and the foreign object residing on my head. Yeah, right.
Lunch and 3rd period was uneventful, just what you would expect from students gawking at a hijab covered girl. Also, whenever I pass one of my peers in Creative Writing, we give each other an acknowledging smile, understanding without any communication. I love it!
Acting, fourth period, was also uneventful. The guest artist merely said, “You have a pretty hat.” And we talked about the hajib, but nothing, NOTHING about Islam had popped up in our conversation. It was an unique talk, without ever mentioning my “conversion” and Islam.
Next up, was lacrosse practice. I abandoned my hijab and settled for a full black long sleeved shirt and sweatpants. I walked to my lacrosse practice. As I turned the corner, apparently someone had told them that I was Muslim, and tens of curious eyes peered back at me. I smiled and waved at them. They waved back. One girl screamed if I was going to be hot. I replied if I did, I would just take off my long sleeve because I didn’t want to suffer from heatstroke, etc. And so practice went on. I was surprisingly not hot at all. Mostly just sweaty from the suffocation of my skin from air. But when a breeze blew through my pants leg, it felt heavenly, without the burden of the sun’s glaring rays.
There were also interesting conversations on Facebook. There was one girl who contacted me and we talked about my Islamic religion and her spirituality. It was nice to know her more since we are the kind of people who just recognizes each other, but don’t KNOW each other. Also I had a conversation with Jason. He was very open and understanding. It was very nice talking to him about our religion. And I lied SO much to both of them, I felt so bad. I hope that they would not be mad at me afterwards, like I have wasted their time talking about a religion that I hadn’t actually converted to. But I hope, hope, HOPE that they treat this whole week of a lie as a great, big prank. Sigh. Hope isn’t the best to rely on.
Based on my observations, the people that reacted the most were my closest friends, Tali and Max. There were people who reacted, but more curiously and interestingly. They usually bombard me with questions that I successfully answered without any hesitations… Yes! Another observation is that people ALWAYS say if I am hot in my long sleeved shirt and jeans. I, as a joke, always reply, “Oh yes, I’m smokin’ hot!” That would always break the awkward tension that exists. Overall, I haven’t gotten any negative responses except one. The rest is just downright humiliating and odd. There was also religious talk that involved my beliefs. I always successfully use the 5 pillars of Islam – faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and charity. I used the concept of guidance to explain why I went to Islam, not Christianity or Judaism. The 5 pillars of Islam gave me some outlines on how to live life. Most people just nodded, their jaws open. I hoped desperately for a fly buzzing into their open mouths, but it didn’t happen. Bummer.
People who already know – My family, my interpreters, students from Creative Writing, Max, Shea, and Patrick. (Max, you’re lucky. Count your blessings.)