The Love Tour – Day 1, UC Santa Cruz

Last updated on: November 3, 2014 at 11:19 am by Posted by The Editors

The Love Tour – Day 1, UC Santa Cruz 2014-11-03T11:19:06-07:00 Posted by The Editors

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

(Winter in California. Yep, truly blessed!)

Welcome to the diary of our two-week national book tour odyssey!

DAY ONE of the LOVE TOUR

About halfway from San Francisco to UC Santa Cruz I had a realization. After my shower that morning, I’d forgotten to put on deodorant. “OMG, Nur!” I started as I related my tale of horror.

Nura was driving but the fear on her face was clear. I thought it was because she’d been wondering what that smell was in the close confines of the car, but it was another, more nefarious reason – she too had forgotten to wear deodorant that morning!

We might be shattering myths about Muslim women with our book, but today we were going to verify every stereotype about stinky South Asians out there. This called for an emergency CVS pitstop as soon as we reached Santa Cruz. Situation rectified and travel deodorants slipped into purses, we were now ready to take on the world.

The redwood-laden and blossom-strewn UC Santa Cruz campus was beautiful and our lovely host Professor Sylvia Chan-Malik escorted us to our first reading at her class: Islam, Race & Gender in America. Her class asked great questions and seemed genuinely interested in Muslim women’s lives. Just being there made me nostalgic for my (long-gone) college days.

Second stop: Pearl of the Ocean for an awesome Sri Lankan lunch. –> Not as good as Nura’s mom makes, but still pretty tasty.

Third stop: An open forum with the UC community at which we were asked really hard questions by professors and Islamic shayukh that made our heads hurt. (Note: Study up on pedagogy and various isms for next university reading.)

Suggestion came up to mail a copy of the book to every library AND every imam in the US. Excellent idea – and if anyone out there would like to fund this venture, please let us know 😉

Fourth stop: Betty’s Burgers for some rockin’ barebacked burger action. That means bunless, y’all. (Between Nur & I, we could eat a horse every day so be prepared for the travel diary to occasionally read like a food odyssey too. And if you have recommendations for our upcoming stops, let us know!)

Tomorrow, our first reading in the city where the book was born – San Francisco!

The Love Tour

Previous Post

February 8, 2012

Valentine's Day - with a Muslim twist!

Next Post

February 9, 2012 Will you be my Valentine?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Brown Girl Dreaming Editors Flirting with Fate and other Disasters of an Intersectional Muslimah Food, Love, & Memories Friday Love Halal Since 22 Integrity of Heart Life After Death Literary Mama Literature Love Inshallah Podcast Love InshAllah writers Media My Infidel Husband Not Without Love Poetry Monday Radical Love Reflections & Readings Reviews of Love InshAllah Salaam Love Writers Sex & The Ummah Single in the City Spotlight Story & Chai Book Club The Geekologist The Love Tour The Male Gaze Things I Wish I'd Known Thoughts of a Wasat Girl Uncategorized Your Sunny Side Up Your voices

Select a Month May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Jesus" name mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Anointed one Messiah Savior God saves