Kamon Achen?

Although Muslim Communities do their best to teach Islam and how to live a pious life to the best of their abilities. They often don't take enough time to establish a good understanding about controversial / taboo topics. This leaves misinformed people who then push their culture and own ideals making it seem like that's what Islam teaches. It often goes so far that unbelievable things happen which could've been prevented with basic education. So here's a list of things I truly believe should be taught more nowadays: 1. Discuss Racism, Colorism, Classism and why it's wrong Islam doesn't teach us to divided each other by race, ethnicity, skin color, social class, etc, yet somehow so many Muslims have it engraved in their head that they are better than people that are different from them. It gets to the point where you can't become friends with people of a certain race or marry a Muslim that's a different ethnicity. It's ridiculous and it teaching the ...

Let's get right into this... 1. Fried Potato  Otherwise known as Aloo Bhaji. Made with thinly sliced red potatoes which is then fried in oil and spices Pairs well with Roti Doesn't stink up the whole house when you cook it. 2. Mashed Eggplant Otherwise Known as Begun Bhortha. Eggplant just shines in Bengali food, if you have Beguni during Ramadan, you'll know how good it is.  It is made with Eggplant which has been marinated in spices and then fried in oil. After the eggplant is cooked, it is then mashed with onions and chilies. Pairs great with Roti.  Can also be made with steamed or baked Eggplant for a healthier alternative to frying them.  3. Egg Pastry? Otherwise known as Mughlai. Simple recipe Comfort food Seasoned Egg covered in flour dough. Pairs well when dipped in Ketchup or Hot Sauce. Can be modified to have eggs and vegetables inside as well. 4. Chapra What would be the English equivalent? apparently a Bengali struggle food but I don't care it's deliciou...

What is it like to live as a female in Bangladesh? I can't speak from experience, I grew up in the United States and I've only visited Bangladesh twice in my life. The experience of going to Bangladesh was a complete culture shock. The differences between my life and theirs was so apparent. Where I live, I am allowed to do many things freely. I don't think about doing those things too much because it's a norm.  Women aren't as pushed as men to pursue an education. The norm is that they'll get married and become occupied with household chores anyways. Instead of pushing education, they spend more time grooming their daughters into "the perfect wife". Forced marriages also occur a lot, meaning women are handed away to men they don't like or know. Oftentimes these females are minors and the men they are married off to are at least 10 years older. Another norm in the village is that men typically don't marry women their age, they usually are much y...

I'm not a parent, but growing up with strict immigrant parents as well as friends with similar home environments to mine I realized how damaging our parents behaviors could be without realizing it. So I wanted to make a list and elaborate on what I mean by those behaviors.  1. Placing your child's worth in how well they do in school  I believe it's 100% necessary to be involved with your child in their education and encourage them to do well in school. With that being said don't get angry when they don't do well in school and instead try to help them (not everyone learns the same and may need more help than others) . I know many kids only receive love from their parents when they make big academic achievements, so as a result they tie their self-worth to how many A's they get. It's beyond toxic, kids should know their parents will love them regardless of their grades or their major.  2. Caring about how your child appears to others too much I know this may s...

When you are looking for colleges to apply to/attend , you want to make sure you find the right fit for you. Considering you will spend the next four years of your life there, you want to make sure it's not a choice you'll regret. Here's a list of things to consider which I figured out as a junior recently while  exploring colleges...hope they help! These things are in no particular order and they vary from person to person.  1. Location  Whether you want to commute or dorm, you should consider the location of the college you will attend. Even if you don't really mind either, you should consider whether you'd like to be closer to a city or would feel more comfortable in a rural setting.  2. Major What you want to study is obviously so important. Even if you are unsure of the path you want to take, explore majors and see what you might be interested in. Make sure the colleges you are applying to have those majors and you will be so relieved to know that at least ...

Due to the recent events I wanted to make a post about how we should try to combat racism in our Asian communities. It would be wrong to pretend it doesn't exist. This may be a very all over the place post mainly because I don't know who to address. I was going to talk specifically about how to educate our parents and the older generations, but I realized that the younger generation may need to become self-aware as well.   I think I've talked about this in a blog post before but growing up in a Desi household in America has caused a lot of inner conflicts. Beliefs and opinions of two different cultures clash and you're left wondering what wrong and what's right. South East Asians, at least in my experience, are very good at being subtly racist.  Have you ever been told to try a skin lightening cream? Told to stay out of the sun or you'll turn "kalo"? Seen people say stuff like "she's too dark to get married" or "you're pretty for...

Create and Maintain Healthy Habits. They will help you feel better and make you more productive. Here's my list of habits/ changes you can try to make with me. Habit #1 Go to sleep at a reasonable time and wake up early.  It could be difficult to maintain a good sleep schedule because nowadays people are so busy with work and school. Regardless, when you find the days when you can get the extra hours of sleep, go to sleep early and wake up early. For my Muslims, it can be hard to wake up for Fajr because the sun isn't even up, but it's definitely a good way to start your day with a clear mind and good intentions.  Habit #2 Limit your Screen Time. Tech: Phones, Laptops, TVs, etc. With all the technology that we use in our everyday lives we tend to forget the negative impact they have on our brains. Excessive Screen Time has been linked with anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings. I'm not telling you to throw your phone away, but instead of using your phone ...