4/30/2019
by Omaima
"Have you ever had any friends from different religions or backgrounds?" that was one of the questions I was asked during the interview for SUSI and my answer was a sad "no". I didn't think much of it then because I was scared to death about the whole thing but when I got back home, I thought to myself: why don't I have friends who are different from me instead of founding every friendship on a checklist of commonalities that I have with a person? As a matter of fact, I even thought it'd make less qualified for the scholarship because, after all, I was applying for the Religious Pluralism program and possibly going to one of the most diverse countries in the world, the United States. Little did I know that all was about to change.
My name is Omaima, a Muslim Egyptian student of Al-Azhar University and this is how it all began. On the first day in Washington, I remember being terrified waiting for my roommate to arrive, the door opening in slow motion and the most dramatic soundtrack you could imagine playing in my head. Then, she entered; the first lifelong friend I've made there, Zeynab. Once we started talking, I had the weirdest feeling that we've met before. She just felt so familiar to me and she was really easy to talk to; we just clicked. I can't express my gratitude for every time I had her as a roommate as she has been a "sista" to me right by my side whenever I need her ever since. From that moment onward, each time I had a new roommate, it was getting exciting rather than intimidating.
It's very difficult to choose a favorite moment from this whole experience as I enjoyed the sessions- well, most of them- and the site visits. However, my favorite moments were the close conversations I got to have like that night at Pendle Hill, a favorite place of mine. Baraa, Maria, Zeynab and I had a conversation on the differences between Shi'a and Sunni, between Muslims and Christians and many other things. I was fascinated by the fact that no fighting or shouting took place in that conversation; it was just a group of people discussing their ideas and expressing their opinions but on top of all, we were truly listening to one another without jumping to conclusions. Another unforgettable moment is the conversation Maria, Zeynab and I had at our room in Washington. This conversation was more intimate and we shared some of the things that we hadn't talked about before. I have to admit that both of them were trying their best and never running out of ways to keep me awake but all through the drowsiness I still managed to remember this moment and I will cherish it forever. Honestly, the list could go on and on because each moment with these wonderful people was a blessing.
Fast forward to our last night together: in the midst of crying my eyes out, I couldn't help but wonder: how am I going to wake up one morning without seeing Zeynab and us being late for everything? How am I not going to go across the hall to Maria's room where she would welcome me with the most radiant smile and endless enthusiasm? How would I spend my day without meeting Baraa; laughing and talking together about the most random things? How would I bear another day without the company of Mahmoud, laughing at the jokes that he and John made and enjoying their incredible singing skills? Who would tell us more than we need about "his majesty" and the royal family? How am I not going to see Jana, Christelle and Aseel? Getting to know these people didn't just break stereotypes and help me know more about their backgrounds and religions but it also helped me discover a whole new side of me I didn't even know existed. If someone said to me eight months ago: "You would be travelling to another country on your own and doing zip lining and white water rafting", I'd have probably said: "Wrong Number!" Nevertheless, I was able to survive with the help and support of these extraordinary people on every step of the way, even the smallest things like doing the bottle-flip challenge.
I'd like to share one of the major takeaways I've had from this experience, beside all the new information I learnt. I found that the key to pluralism isn't in seeing past the differences but in recognizing, highlighting and celebrating them and appreciating what distinguishes every individual from the other along with respecting the boundaries that every person has set for themselves and not trying to change others to our own liking. The fact is every person should treasure their individual identity without feeling the need to justify or apologize for their set of moral values or principles and in doing so we create diversity.
Allow me to end this article with a few words to my dear friends: I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I last saw you but I'm grateful for the small utopia we've created together and I'm thankful for the light you filled me with. For as long as I live, you will have a special place in my heart and I will always remember.
