You Can't Make Mistakes.

Well folks, it is Sunday morning, I am feeling a bit under the weather, and now — I suppose — is as good a time as any to write my first blog entry.

Initially my goal in creating this site was to have a place where I could write about my experiences in the coming year while studying in Alexandria, Egypt. However, I think that this space will give me a forum for discussing developments in my research and professional activities as well as a way to keep family and friends updated.

In the past, I have maintained a blog as a journal. I found that it was always helpful for me to process my thoughts, but as well it helped to keep me on track because I would discuss the projects that I was working on. Hopefully, this will allow me to do the same thing.

Currently, I am working on the following projects:

• Thesis research: I am investigating a Sufi (Islamic Mystic) order based in New York City,¹ the head of which is a woman named Shaykha Fariha Fatima al-Jerrahi. This order is very progressive and utilizes an inclusive theology that has been extracted from older Sufi sources. My project is called Innovation without Bida‘: The Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order and will be completed over the course of the next year as I finish up my research.
• Kalamazoo Pride: I am the currently the Finance Coordinator and Web Designer for this progressive non-profit organization in Kalamazoo, MI. We are currently working on planning the first annual Kalamazoo Pride event, which will take place on 9 June, 2007. We are interested in community-building and the integration of the GLBT population into the community at large.
• My Arabic Story: I am currently working as he English language editor for My Arabic Story, a non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We translate Arabic folk tales and stories into English and French, perform puppet shows and tell stories at festivals and in classrooms, libraries, and anywhere else we can. I will be performing a story at the Carassauga Festival in Missauga, ON, in late may.

Well, I hope that you all will enjoy my musings, commentary, stories, and updates. You can add this blog to your news aggregator/web browser using the rss link in the sidebar.

John