America's Gypsy

The Perfect Man for ME....

2011-01-31T07:50:00.000-08:00

How Do I Recycle a Broken Mirror? (1800Recycling.com - Answers Ep. 20)

2011-01-29T11:35:00.000-08:00

How Do I Recycle My Cosmetic Products? (1800Recycling.com - Answers Ep. 17)

2011-01-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

How Do I Recycle Plastic Utensils? (1800Recycling.com Answers - Ep. 11)

2011-01-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

The Blizzard Got Us to the Emirates Palace

2010-12-29T06:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day in Oklahoma... my mom and I are in our nightgowns watching the news cover the blizzard that hit the North East.

I am supposed to fly to NYC the next day which is right into the eye of the storm ...on my way to the United Arab Emirites... but- all of the airports are closed in NYC!

I have been planning this trip with my best girlfriend Joslyn for months... where we Jet Set our way from NYC to Oklahoma then Abu Dhabi to Goa, India and ending in Dubai before I return to NYC.
Joslyn and I travel so well together because we both have a joie de vivre for culture and craziness! Thank God for Dr. Joe (Joslyn's Dad) is all I have to say. He and Joslyn were up till the wee hours of the morning re-routing our trip to the UAE via Chicago instead of the NYC.
So off we went...Gypsy Style!

A nice 6 hour layover in the VIP lounge...where I spent my time practicing yoga on the floor before helping myself to the wine at the free mini bar. We boarded the plane, had some more wine, some Emirati food and watched Eat, Pray Love (Again bc I LOVE that movie) as we flew across the world.

Landing in Abu Dhabi, I was greeted by Sheiks and shishas...and a nice warm breeze. Abu Dhabi (“Father of the Gazelle” in Arabic) is the capital and the second largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast and is filled with expensive hotels, developing high rises and expats.

This is a Gold ATM...where you can buy gold pendants and coins by just a swipe of the credit card! I was tempted... but was already wearing my gold bling necklace my mom gave me.

Midnight (UAE time ),only a few hours after we arrived from the airport, Joslyn and I got all dressed up and headed over to the Emirates Palace: the 7 star palace hotel that is the hub for Royality and all the wealthy people from around the world.

Joslyn's boyfriend is the manager at one of the fancy shpancy restaurants there and he invited us to join him for drinks. He is such a sweet heart!

In Abu Dhabi, you can only drink in a hotel because of the Islamic Law. So...to the hotel we went!

This is a 12 MILLION dollar Christmas Tree in the middle of the Emirates Palace. It is decorated with gold and jewels...beautiful but an absolute waste of money, in my opinion!

After a few bottles of champagne... we headed to Etoiles, the hot night club inside the palace. It was just like any other posh night club any where in the world; filled with women in tight dresses and high heels, predator men with bling bling and all american hip hop and pop music. Luckily they played some Arabic music and Joslyn and I ruled the dance floor, as always...yalla yalla!

This is the Emirati Michael Jackson breaking it down in the club. And to the right we have ex-pats grooving to The Electric Slide! LOL

Coming home at 3 am... it was a nice welcome to the UAE! Ahlan Wa Sahlan (Welcome in Arabic)

Tonight Joslyn and I are headed to Goa, India where we will welcome in the New Year... basking in the Bhav!

I have no idea where we are staying or who we are meeting...it is going to be revealed to us when we meet with Joslyn's friends friends.... but I know that it will be a wild and crazy and amazing next few days!Happy New Year Everyone! I affirm that 2011 will be all of OUR best Year EVER!!!
Health Wealth and LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE!!!!

How do I Recycle Plastic Bags? (1800Recycling.com Answers Ep. 1)

2010-11-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

Estrella Morente - Tangos del cerro

2010-11-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

Turkish Gypsy Dance

2010-10-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

Get Shaktified

2010-10-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Navaratri! Durga Ma!

the Hindu festival of Navratri: The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.

It is 9 consecutive nights dedicated to Devi, the Goddess. To Shakti, the feminine principle of strength.

"The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar. Being the oldest religion in the world, Hinduism has numerous belief systems.

In Hinduism the adherents believe in one omnipresent Deity but may worship Her/Him in any of the numerous manifestations that are prevalent all over India. Navaratri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti [Energy or Power].

First three days
The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.
[edit] Second three days
The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.
[edit] Final three days
The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratri

"What is Shakti? When you look within for inspiration, solace, guidance, it is Shakti that gives answer and Shakti that acts through you. It is the wisdom of your great-great-great-grandmother, encoded in your bones, the wisdom of the all-Mother that rises through each of us. Shakti does not only exist in women, but it is through women that it flows. It is our essential foundation, and it is that which goads us to change.
Shakti is not chosen, and we cannot control it. It the flood, the rush of endorphins, the giddy laugh, the flash of insight, the swirl of energy through the cosmos. We ride it like a wave. Sometimes it washes over us and knocks us off our feet. It is the effervesce of life.
Shakti is a Sanskrit word, but Shakti is beyond religion, race or nation. While the Hindu calendar recognizes Navratri, we are Hindus living the wheel of America's seasons. In Euro-American folk and Pagan traditions, these seasons are significant: Autumn is the time to enjoy the harvest, to prepare for the quiet wild of winter. As we enter autumn, the air grows crisp, the days grow brief, and we grow introspective. As the days darken, the leaves brighten. We see the colors of the Goddess: gold, orange, red. As Hindu Americans light flickering oil lamps to each aspect of the Goddess, the season blazes a tribute. This month of October, this season of autumn and Navratri, Hindu American Seva Charities is encouraging women to take the time to find, explore and express Shakti. You don't have to be Hindu to take part in ShaktiSeva service to the feminine principle, whatever that means to you. Talk the talk. Walk the walk. Reach out. Create. Heal. Celebrate in a way that is meaningful to you. Nine nights in a row, observe a ritual: it may be traditional, invented or a combination of the two. Call a friend. Light a candle. Help someone...or, ask for help.

Just as you already know what Shakti is, you know, deep inside, who you are.
This autumn, tend the light that glows within.
" http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/10/honor_women_honor_devi_the_hindu_goddess.html

to create a Durga Pooja on this festival of music and dance..."Take a fresh silver or bronze or copper or earthen pot and fill it (upto its neck) with holy water place Pancha pallavas (five types of sacred leaves) or mango leaves. Kalash is decorated with haldi (turmeric powder), chandan (sandalwood powder) and kumkum (vermillion powder). Keep a coconut on the Kalash and cover it with a blouse piece. The coconut is also decorated with chandan paste."

Jai Mata Ji!
Durga Ma!
You are beautiful!

On the Road with America's Gypsy

2010-09-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hula Lovin'

2010-09-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Idylwild

2010-09-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

The sweet gardener Chilo in Palm Desert

Road Runners are everywhere in the desert! so cute and so much like the cartoon :)

Driving from Palm Desert to Idylwild is delicious! It takes about an hour and its just you, the road, the mountains and the divine! amazing drive!

California Highway 74

...Nestled in the San Jacinto mountains

Gopala! Jai Cows!!! Its good to be a vegetarian :) these sweet cows are our friends!

amazing sunsets!

nature...cacti...colors...divinity in our homeland!

Cresent Moon! Chandrama

America's Gypsy loves Southern California! Nature at its finest :)

Bhakti Fest 2010

2010-09-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

Bhakti Fest ROCKS! A 4 day festival in the desert of Joshua Tree...about 2 hours from LA!
Created by Sridar Silberfein, this is the 2nd year of this celebration and so far its been so much fun!
http://bhaktifest.com/

Bhakti means Devotion in Sanskrit...so its a 4-day ‘Devotion’ fest filled with Yoga, Chanting, Dancing, Music, Lectures, workshops and so much celebration!

America's Gypsy rocked out to the Bhav in the Desert of Joshua Tree in Southern California!

the best dates in America come from Southern California! delicious!!!!

...delicious organic food!!

This is Howard Wills doing some healing. POWERFUL! www.howardwills.co

Gypsies Unite!!

...amazing rocking Kirtan music- like Joey Lugassy, Krishna Das, MoMo Loudiyi, Shyam Das...

I am a sucker for Chivalry :) Thanks Damien for helping me set up my tent!

camping under the stars! amazing!

lush and historic Joshua Tree- about an hour and a half from LA. Humans have occupied the area for at least 5,000 years. The first group being the Pinto Culture...

The Joshua tree, the parks namesake, is a member of the Agave family and American Indians recognized the flora and fauna of the land for its useful properties: tough leaves made into baskets and sandals, and flower buds and roasted seeds made a healthy addition to the diet.
And now a bunch of happy hippies dance and sing on this ancient earth! Hari Om!

didgeridoo!!!

So many wonderful people! You were so sweet Seth...thank you for being my angel at Bhakti Fest1

Vapor Brothers!!! oh yeah :) http://www.vaporbrothers.com/

hope to see you there next year!!

Jesus, Holy Sex and Women

2010-08-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Judaism. Karma and Women.

2010-08-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Internal Feast of Ramadan

2010-08-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Ramadan Mubarak! (a blessed Ramadan) or
Ramadan Kareem! (a generous Ramadan)

For one month out of the year and from sun up to sun down, Muslims commit to not eat or drink, to give up certain indulgences like alcohol or smoking and to not make love (only during the day, remember! ;) and its all in celebration of Allah ( one man's "Allah" is another man's "God"...same thing)

"God gives us 11 months out of the year, so I think I can give him one" said Ahmed, the Jordanian bodega chef where I buy my hummus and pickles.

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and the most sacred of the twelve months. The name Ramadan derives from the Arabic word for 'intense heat' and 'sun-scorched ground'. Which is pretty timely for this summers extreme heat waves around the globe.

There are other significant and magical reasons Muslims celebrate Ramadan.
Some say it scorches out evil like the sun scorches the earth and also just as heat shapes and influences all matter — so does Ramadan shape and influence the believer (the believer of God- one God, remember?)

The first day of Ramadan- which is today August 11th is said to be the first day the Qu'ran (the Holy Book of Islam) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him).
"The month of Ramadan is that in which the Koran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days... (sura 2.185, known as The Cow) "

Ramadan is also meant to encourage Muslims to feel and empathize with those who are poor, hungry and homeless and entices all to help the less fortunate and to give to charity.

Pretty Sweet!

There are many historic, spiritual and practical levels of the Ramadan fast which include:

refraining from the physical senses (performed with the mouth/stomach/sexual organs)
restraining oneself from saying, hearing and looking at negative things
renewing one's devotion to God

Before the sun rises, most Muslim's have a nice meal called
suhoor . Suhoor typically tends to be heavy and is highly regarded by Islamic traditions to benefit of the blessings and avoid crankiness or weakness caused by the fast.

When I was in the Middle East, breakfast was the absolute best meal of the day...consisting of eggs, cheese, dates, pita, mankoushe (lebanese pizza), tea, coffee, juice, fruits and more...

And as soon as the sun sets, its time for iftar, the evening meal often eaten communally.
To break the fast, one eats soft moist and sweet dates. Delicious!

Many of the attributes in celebrating Ramadan remind me of Lent in the Christian Faith, representing the 40 days Christ was in the desert before teaching his sermons.

So with my adoration of cultural traditions, I am going to create my own celebration of Ramadan, to deepen my devotion to the Almight, to appreciate my senses, to go with in and to experience going with out... so I am giving up food for one day of the week until Sept. 9th, when Ramadan is over.
This will be my participation in the holy month of Ramadan. Mash'allah! (Arabic phrase used to show joy and praise)

What things come to mind that you could give up for a month and do you think you could fast during the day for one month...a pretty dificult task but millions do it every year and for hundreds of years?

Isn't it interesting to see how others celebrate the divine? I sure think so!

My Body

2010-08-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

He first faught with her and then faught for her in 'The Goodbye Girl'

2010-08-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

Besides the fabulous-ness of being al fresco in Bryant park on a warm summer night amidst friends, wine and Uno...
The Goodbye Girl is stands alone as one of my favorite movies of all time!

As an actress, a woman, a narotic and mother (even though I do not have children yet...) I could connect to this film in so many ways.

Written as a play by Neil Simon and shot in Manhattan in 1977...its about the ups and downs of struggling actors in Manhattan who fall into each others laps...first of misery and then of love.

Starring Richard Dreyfus (who won an oscar for the role...and was the youngest man to win the Oscar at that time) and Marsha Mason (who was a powerhouse of an real woman and married to Neil Simon)...it was so well acted, written, choreographed and plotted that I laughed out loud countless times, shed a tear more than twice and related to all characters in the film.

hello! 30 something actors trying to make it in the big city with a heart of gold but no one to share it with...UNTIL...

The Until part is the best. As a woman, Dreyfus was a silly stallion...making the woman laugh and put up her guns all in one breath (as all of us women like to do!)
He first faught with her and then faught for her!!
and every woman wants a man to fight for her...fight to break down the fear barriers we put up simply to survive in this world!

I feel this movie should be seen by everyone...bc its story is sure lived by everyone in that tulmultous and fabulous time of our youth :)

World Cup Winning Pizza

2010-08-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

Milos Estiatorio

2010-08-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

I give Milos Estiatorio on 125 W 55th Street the Gypsy Seal of Approval! Delicious fresh colorful healthy food and fabulous sexy cultural atmosphere! Next stop...Greece! OPA!

Just Another Day at the Nude Beach

2010-07-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

At 10 am I woke up and thought..."Hey, I want to go to the beach today"! My commercial shoot got postponed for the following week so I didn't have any plans for the day or night...it was a hot sunny summer day in Manhattan...why not get out of town and go to the beach??

Manhattan I know...but the outskirts...I don't. So I did quick research online and found out that Sandy Hook Beach is the best beach and its a fun fast ferry ride away.

So I jumped in a cab...spoke Arabic and talked politics with the Egyptian cabbie on my way over to the East Side to get on the Sea Ferry...heading to the Jerzey shore :)

There was already a line of people ready to board and we all gathered on the boat decks and took off to sea.

Arriving at Sandy Hook: which is actually a very historic part of Jersey...old Army barracks that surround the oldest lighthouse in the country.

But I wasn't here for history, I was here for the beach.

There were 2 buses that were being loaded up by people from the ferry. I asked some guys next to me..."Which bus goes to the beach"? They said, "Both". So I just got on the green bus instead of the yellow. Little did I know...that bus dropped me off at a 'special' beach.

We all walked along the boardwalk toward the sea and slowly but surely I started to see less and less color and more and more skin! After having 2 smiling men holding hands prance by me giggling...I realized I was in the heart of a nude beach!

So being America's Gypsy...I had to fit in...
so off went my top (and that's it!)

At least I didn't get any tan lines :)

A few hours passed and I knew I had to head back to the bus that takes me to the ferry...but I remembered that the ferry only takes cash and I only had 3 dollar bills left!
I searched everywhere on the beach for an ATM but not such luck. So I asked someone who sold beer on the boardwalk and they said I have to go to the other beach to get to an ATM. "Ok, how can I get there?" He said..." uh...walk or get a ride...its a few miles thataway"

So...being the Gypsy...I walked to the street, stuck out my thumb and waved down the state trooper. With my Oklahoma accent I asked if they could drive me to the other beach? They said, "But of course ma'am. But we need to check in your purse to make sure you don't have any weapons." They searched me and found that I was safe and loaded me in the back of the squad car.

I arrived at the "other' beach and got my money, met a nice young man who offered to buy me a few drinks and we had a fabulous time at the beach bar talking about spirit, traveling, life and love.

The sun was setting and my bus was arriving ready to take me back to the ferry to head back to NYC!

Making friends, getting tan and seeing naked people...talk about a perfect day!

I give Sandy Hook beach in Jersey the GYPSY seal of approval!

l'chaim to Sandy Hook!

So go out and explore what is around your city today...you never know what 'jewels' you will find...no pun intended!

Morocco and The Middle East

2010-06-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

over 10 years ago, I remember when I wanted to go on a service trip to other parts of the world and Morocco was one of my main choices. My father was adamant about me going anywhere but there. I could go to Brazil or India, but not Morocco. Why? Because ignorant people associated it with the middle east and terrorism or because the cous cous might make me gain even more weight? I let it drop and let my dear father remain with his own thoughts. But I, myself, the cultural lover, could not understand where his prejudices came from.

A few months later I met a Moroccan man who invited me, as a guest, to his country of Morocco. I was thrilled to go! But I had to get past the dragon of my father first. So I sat him down for lunch and talked to him about all the money I have been earning and how I want to go on a trip. Now I can go anywhere I want if I pay for it, correct? He said, well honey, you are a grown woman I can not stop you from making you own decisions with your own money. As long as you would be safem you can ho where you want. Then I said, great dad! I am leaving for Morocco next week! What? He screamed. I explained the situation to him and he talked on the phone with Mr. K and all was set in motion for my first trip to the east.

Every fear of middle eastern terrorists was wrong. It is not in the middle east. It is N Africa. Morocco has its completely own system, cusine, language and history unlike any place…….oh Morocco

But I noticed that many people feared the prejudices of others. They hated being categorized as the Middle East and they loved distinguishing themselves from other N African countries surrounding them. The Moroccan’s knew there history and are so proud of where they come from, what they have been through and what they have created. Since they were not inhabited by the Ottoman Empire, their cuisine is not the traditional dishes of the middle east and their Arabic is mixed with French and different cultural slang....its so beautiful and unique.

The people are darker but a deep clay color with big beautiful, piercing eyes and their music comes from the Gods; both the Jewish interpretation and Sunni. I left Morrocco with a feeling of piece with in my heart. A beautiful and mystical country with roots that go far beyond any land I have yet to step on.

Luckily I was on my way to Eygypt, so my feet soon touched even more ancient land. People had many predjudices about Egypt but not as many as the upper part of the middle east. But to tell you the truth, I felt the least safe in Egypt then I did an any other arab country. The loudness of the cars and the the heavy pollution and suffocating looks of the men and desperate looks of the people consumed the long nights along the nile and the walks along the pyramids. Egypt seems to have forgotten their roots of divinity and are selling out the Saudi crowd of mass consumption and forced Islamic traditions. But as a first time observer and a young woman from Oklahoma, what do I know? I just walked the streets with an open mind and heart and left the country knowing more then when I came. At least I was in good company.

But when I stepped foot into the land of Lebanon, everything changed. It was not an easy process getting there. The predjucies and stereotypical fears that laced my journey were not comforting nor inspiring to my soul. Everyone from my father and mother to the bartender at the Drake Hotel in Chicago…when they found out where I was going all they could say was, "Have you seen , 'Not with out my Daghter'? "Yes" I snipped back, I am very well aware of the Oscar winning performance Sally Field put on! But look how they treat their women and the car bombs….your parents are letting you go?

My parents, once again, had no choice because I already made my decision and I already swiped my credit card for the ticket. I consulted many of my middle eastern friends about the safety and they assured me all will be fine. There was a stand still in the elections of the Lebanese president so the country was being run byt the army, but as my Lebanese friend said, “when all is silent in Lebanon, that is the time to worry. There will always be something going on, so go over there and just watch your back but enjoy the beauties of that amazing country”. And that is exactly what I did.

To prove predjucies wrong, you have to go through the valley of fear and come back stonger and more alive then when you came! We have to listen to peoples fears and worries so that we can understand the root of their confusion and bring them back a gift from the holy land of experience that has turned into wisdom. CNN can not give you wisdom, Michael More can not give you wisdom…talk to the taxi cab drivers from Pakistan, now they have some wisdom! Go to the people from that country and ask their opinion. Then compare if their fears are similar to yours, if so, then you can keep your fears but you can not own them yet...not until you touch the earth of that land, or at least the hand of someone from that land.
And I assure you, after spending a week in the country of people whom you fear, you will come back with more stories of generocity, survival and humor then tears!

The Heart of Hezbollah

2010-06-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Heart of Hezbollah

Taking a trip to the middle east the day after the election was postponed and the military took over the city did not scare me. Walking through the streets of parliament at night with the tents of shiite families protesting, did not make me fear for my life. It did not scare me to eat meat in the fields with Arabic only speaking men while Israeli helicopters loomed over head. What scared me is the feeling of judgements people had while hearing about my trip to Lebanon.

According to some people, my Muslim boyfriend at the time would soon lock me in the house and make me subordinate to him. I even tried to explain how I had the chance to sit with the real people of the villages of south Lebanon and I got to hold their babies and wash my hands in their water and how they are real people who simply want to be safe, warm and happy.

I will never forget one of the women looked at me and said, only a few, not many , only a few are like that. How can a woman say that? Does she really believe that every family that lives in every home in the south of Lebanon are militant, fanatic muslims wanting to start a jihad because they hate the jews and prefer car bombs to baklava? Racist ridiculousness!

The predjucices of the world like this are what keeps up underwater from the truth. The truth is what the sages and scholars have been telling us for centuries. We are all one. But some people are brown and some are light. Some where yamaka’s and some where burka’s. Some chant to Allah and some to Krishna. Every chant, every bite of bread, every hug and every tear all come from the same source, that is the source of the soul. Our souls chose the body, the city, state, mother and father. Our souls know that we are here on this earth for a reason and the only reason is to live the potential of creating harmony with in ourselves so that we can see the world with the harmony of compassion and love. To have compassion for others and to love others is our only purpose. All the rest is up to us to discover and create and we can move mountains with the possibilities with in us. But until we see the world as ourselves, living breathing souls that are on a daily mission of keeping our bodies alive through food and warmth, we will constantly be in the caves of segregation and illimination of the truth and the truth is that we are all one, we are all on this earth together striving for love and harmony.

Ana Berry for Oprah!

2010-06-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

What a day...
Open Casting call for Oprah's OWN network...
headed to Jersey at 5 am (thanks Mario for taking me)
and waiting in line in the sun...with the number 812.
Finally I got to be seen, in a group of other "visionaries" at 4pm
I spoke about my concept of America's Gypsy as a traditional talk show...showcasing a different culture each week...everyone laughed, smiled and applauded!!

now Home
here I am
feeling good, alive, and excited for the future.
AG is ME and AG is WE
now
waiting for the call back phone call tonight :)
Que Sera Sera

vote here!!!
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=1754&promo_id=1

This is why I do this

2010-05-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

Having over an hour in the Denver airport to wait until my departure...I, of course, was meandering in and out of the stores seeing what silly items they had to sell.

One store in particular caught my eye, not for what was inside it or what it was called, but by the beautiful woman working behind the counter. She had medium brown skin, big dark eyes, a huge smile and a brillant bright green burka around her head. In the land of Cowboys, Indians and Rockies...she definitely stuck out.

So being who I am, I went right up to her and said. "Asalamaolecom" . She smiled and "Wa alaolecomasalam" me back. "How do you know how to greet me" she asked. And I said my usual in a twisted tongue way ( bc I never really know what to say ) " Well, bc its what I do. So tell me, where are you from...Africa?"

"Ethiopia" she said. And that. of course sparked my interest. "Salam! and Ama-say-ka-nan-do" I said with a giggle...which basically means hello and thank you"
She was so impressed with my Amharic and asked how I know so much about her culture.
Again, all I can say is "bc this is what I do. This is what I love...I LOVE YOU! I love where you are from. Ethiopia...what a magnificant country...the history, the food, the honey wine, the injara bread, the bright beautiful colors, the jazz and the people...gorgeous goreous people"
She was beeming with a smile and was almost speechless but asked, "My goodness (or ya allah- oh my god) how many times have you been to Ethiopia?
I said, "Never! But I go to Little Ethiopia any chance I get"

We started talking about the large Ethiopian communities in LA, Michigan, DC, Denver and NY...and I was sharing stories about how I would take my mom to an Ethiopian restaurant and she kept asking for a fork and they kept showing her the injara bread and how to use that as a fork...so funny!
...and the great music and jazz of Ethiopia.

And then I asked her about being Muslim in Denver and if she ever got any problems. "Yes of course" she said "I have many people come up to me and say mean things, and I keep telling them that in the Holy Qu'ran it says that we are not even supposed to kill a bug. The Muslims out there killing are not us and they are not following Islam"

I could tell this hit her in a deep place, as it did me as well.

This is the story I want to tell.
This woman's story of coming from Ethiopia, through Kenya to Denver.

Raising a family here and keeping her scarf on and her ethnic name tag clear so that everyone can see it.

Proud to be a Muslim from East Africa in Mid America. I am proud of who she is!

Her name was Zewditu: named after the Empress Zewditu. And to me, she is a queen.

This show, this concept of America's Gypsy..is for YOU, Zewditu!
Ama say Ka nan do ! Salam Salam Salam
Subhan'Allah