This is the home that Sanaa built.

This is the air mattress that lay in the home that Sanaa built.

This is the glorious bed that replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.

These are the tools that made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress that lay in the home that Sanaa built.

These are the never-ending instructions that guided the tools
That made the glorious bed that replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.

This is the crumpled toe, a result of a mishap in the instructions
That guided the tools that made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.

I am the maiden all forlorn
Who dropped a headboard, causing a crumpled toe,
A result of a mishap in the instructions that guided the tools
That made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.

This is the nightstand, all shiny and new
That pleased the maiden all forlorn
Who dropped a headboard, causing a crumpled toe
A result of a mishap in the instructions that guided the tools
That made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.

This is the dresser all cute and squat
That was built with the nightstand
That pleased the maiden all forlorn
Who dropped a headboard, causing a crumpled toe
A result of a mishap in the instructions that guided the tools
That made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.


This is the microwave that "crowed" in the morn
That accompanied the dresser all cute and squat
That was built with the nightstand
That pleased the maiden all forlorn
Who dropped a headboard, causing a crumpled toe
A result of a mishap in the instructions that guided the tools
That made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.

This is the food, warm and delicious
That was heated by the microwave that "crowed" in the morn
That accompanied the dresser all cute and squat
That was built with the nightstand
That pleased the maiden all forlorn
Who dropped a headboard, causing a crumpled toe
A result of a mishap in the instructions that guided the tools
That made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.


I feel content and productive and appreciative of the little things
Like the food, warm and delicious
That was heated by the microwave that "crowed" in the morn
That accompanied the dresser all cute and squat
That was built with the nightstand
That pleased the maiden all forlorn
Who dropped a headboard, causing a crumpled toe
A result of a mishap in the instructions that guided the tools
That made the glorious bed
That replaced the air mattress
That lay in the home that Sanaa built.

Happy International Women's Day! And to commemorate this beautiful day of warm weather and awesome women, here are some pictures from the EMILY's List 30th Anniversary!

What an amazing two days. From informative panels about a variety of topics such as feminism and the media, the 2016 elections, and redistricting, to seeing some inspirational women politicians talk not only about their work but also their path to success--I was in awe. According to staff and members who have been coming to these events year after year, this was the best conference/gala ever organized by EMILY's List! I feel so lucky to have been a part of it. Plus, we were all over the news! Here are some links, from TIME to MSNBC to one of my personal favorites, Jezebel.com (I HIGHLY recommend watching Boston City Councillor Ayanna Pressley's speech--it moved me to tears).

After that whirlwind of a two days, the rest of the week went by pretty quickly with one snow day and a two-hour delay on Friday. Let's just say DC isn't as prepared as I assumed it would be when it comes to snow. No complaints here though! Time away from work has been filled with furniture research and fun home shopping! Going to World Market yesterday was a struggle because I wanted to buy ALL THE THINGS. Seriously, World Market knows what I like. Slowly but surely, my little studio is feeling more like a home--my kitchen is well-stocked, I've bought some colorful decoration pieces and rugs, and I have furniture coming in this week! I cannot wait to sleep on a real bed; this air mattress is not the greatest, but I only have to hold out a few days more!

I'll sign off quickly with this picture of the entrance to DC's Chinatown! I did a little exploring in the area today, and I had to fight the temptation to go to each bakery and restaurant to sample goodies. 

After breaking the fast we pray as a family. To me there's nothing as peaceful or gratifying than praying side by side with my family. Being with the people who love me most and only wish the best for me is such a nice feeling, especially during Ramadan.

Following prayer, we eat dinner. In my house meals can get pretty diverse what with the Pakistani and American influences. One day we may have a traditional curry with naan, the next day pasta, and on a night like tonight, a fusion of both cultures: pizza topped with curried chicken. I cannot even describe how amazing it tastes.  Too. good.

Sharing is caring, so tonight I want to share a special recipe of mine for a dish that I'll be making for the family at an upcoming Iftar/dinner. It falls into the category of American, but like all the other home-cooked dishes at my house, it's got a few Pakistani kicks and it's fantastic! Try it for yourself!

Shepherd's Pie


Ingredients

• 2 cups ground chicken (you can also use ground beef or skip the meat and go vegetarian!)
  
• Optional: 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 large onion, chopped
  
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
  
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
  
• Optional (recommended for veggie Shepherd's Pie): 1 cup cooked/canned lentils, 3/4 cup frozen corn kernels, 1/2-1 cup chopped green beans)
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
  
• 1-1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (I just mix 1 cup boiled water and a Maggi chicken bouillon cube)
  
• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  
• For the adventurous: red chili powder/For the mundane: Paprika (both to taste)
• 1 Pillsbury Deep Dish Pie Crust or 2 Pillsbury Regular Pie Crusts
• 2 cups mashed potatoes (I use Instant Garlic Mashed Potatoes)

Recipe

1. In a medium skillet cook the ground chicken. For best taste cook with optional garlic and ginger.
2. In a large skillet saute onion and celery in 1 tablespoon butter until soft/tender. Add vegetables and remaining butter. Cook about 2-3 minutes longer.
3. Stir in flour and curry powder til blended. Gradually add broth and milk. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Add chicken, parsley, salt and pepper. Be sure to taste the mixture at this point and add more curry powder/parsley/salt/pepper/red chili powder or paprika to taste. 
4. Transfer mixture to pie plate(s). Top with mashed potatoes so that mixture is covered. Sprinkle top with red chili powder or paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.

Everyone I've cooked Shepherd's Pie for has absolutely loved it! Enjoy and Happy Ramadan!


Sanaa

Yesterday I received an email informing me that I had not gotten the position at the Wilson Center for which I had interviewed a few weeks ago. Those weeks of waiting were filled with obsessive phone checks every five minutes and crazy theories to explain the delayed response; however, as I read that email, I didn't feel the familiar rush of anxiety mixed with tingling excitement. For the first time in a while, I felt at peace. Isn't that a funny feeling to have in the face of rejection? After weeks of waiting and imagining myself already with the job, there I was, reading the email and thinking, "Okay. What's next?"

To be honest, ever since that interview I've dropped the ball on sending out more applications. I was very caught up in the fantasy of working at the Wilson Center, one of the Top 10 think tanks in the country. After all, I had spent a few hours there on my trip to DC in June, having a blast talking to the Vice President (a fellow alum from WashU) and taking an inside look at the institution. A part of me didn't want to send out more resumes because I felt that would be admitting defeat before hearing an answer. Why pour my heart and soul into yet another cover letter when there's a small chance that the Center will want me? That, my friends, is but one of the many frustrations of job hunting.

Yesterday I also had an informational interview over the phone with an individual who works at an amazing NGO in DC. He's one of the contacts I made after my networking trip there and just like everyone else I've talked to on this job-searching journey, he was incredibly helpful, genuine, and easy to talk to. The compliments that he gave me on my resume and speaking were intimidating in a way--this guy, not too much older than us, with a full-time position at an impressive activist organization looks forward to what a person like ME will be up to in the future! Talking to him reminded me that there are people who believe in my potential, and most importantly, I believe in what I can offer the world. One little rejection is not enough to make me give up.

During our conversation yesterday my contact pulled up some notes he had made during a career development meeting he had led for interns at the organization. He was nice enough to share them with me, and I'd like to pay it forward because they truly are valuable tips, both for job hunting and living well.

• Ask questions. Don't be timid or shy! Searching for a job is about getting out of your comfort zone, and asking questions is a great first step toward learning more about prospective career paths and making connections. In general people love talking about what they do for a living; it's what they do every day, so they are experts. Seek out individuals who are doing things that you have a genuine interest in, and set up an informal informational meeting over the phone, via Skype, or in person! Sitting at home and sending out one application after another can get pretty dull. Why not talk to someone who can answer your questions and may have a valuable contact or open position info up his/her sleeve?
• Be positive! After sending out several applications and not even hearing back from organizations, it can be tempting to huddle under the covers and give up. NO. That will get you nowhere. Have a fresh, positive attitude! Ask yourself, "What can I do to make this application better?" rather than being a Negative Nancy. I hate Negative Nancys. But it's hypocritical of me to say the word hate in this part of the post, isn't it?
• Keep opening doors. Once it's seemed like you've exhausted all the possibilities while searching for jobs online, you may think that your search is over. The search is never over! We are fresh out of college and looking for our first real jobs. Who says you're looking for a career? Don't be afraid to search a bit outside of your area of direct interest. Spending one year in a position that gives you more office experience, people skills, writing opportunities, etc. does not hurt your chances of moving on to the next big thing. For example, I would be crazy to focus my search only on nonprofits and think tanks that only relate to Latin American issues. There is plenty of fair game in other areas such as human rights, gender issues, international governance, and more!
• Be you. Employers have seen your resume, and they don't want to see it verbatim in your cover letter and interview. Be true to yourself, and show the world your personality. Add some color to your cover letter. Write about that time you got lost in a foreign country and what you learned from the experience that is applicable to the job you want. Reading boring cover letters and talking to boring robots who call themselves people is boring. Hence the repetition of boring. Make a connection with whoever is reading that cover letter or interviewing you. If they feel they know a part of the real you, you have a better chance at the job.
• Don't get too comfy post-graduation. We're all guilty of spending lazy summer days doing absolutely nothing. No more school, no more homework, right? Does the growth and learning just stop there then? Keep an active mind! Do the things that you never had the time to do: learn a new language or skill, research that cool topic from a class that didn't spend enough time on the subject, or write whatever comes to your mind. YouTube and Netflix are fine companions, but setting your own goals and being proactive is a great warm up for everything that's to come in the workplace. 

I'm excited about the final tip because I already know what I want to do! I am going to start writing short essays related to interesting current and/or historical events going on in Latin America. I'm going to be diverse with the range of issues and countries that I choose to tackle. This is a way for me to learn about other countries and self-discipline with deadlines and good research. I hope to write my first piece by the 23rd, and I've decided that it will relate to Brazil, the World Cup, and conflicts within and around slums in Rio de Janeiro. Here's to being positive and moving forward!

Sanaa