#wadoods

It's no secret I was in Sydney these past few months. And I actually have been to the Lindt cafe many a times while I was there. Needless to say the whole hostage situation was not only saddening but just plain scary for me, as I watched in unfold on CNN.

I started to think "Oh no, now they are going to go crazy on Muslims all over again." Living in a post 9/11 era, usually that's what many Muslims think, when something like this happen. The only thing we want to say is "don't worry not all of us are like that." Many a times the complete opposite happens, and most of us stay quiet, not because we agree, but simply because we are afraid to speak out. 

What the people of Sydney have proven with their actions were not only incredible but so inspiring. Personally, I knew there is a large population of Muslims in Sydney, and they are very proud to be Muslim. The twitter campaign that followed in helping Muslims safely travel in the city was awe-inspiring. 

Seven days until I catch my 6:00 AM flight to Washington, DC from Dallas, Texas, and I've been packing all week long. I never realized how hard it is to pack your entire life into a suitcase for an entire semester. It's officially starting to feel like an Archer semester. Moving to Capitol Hill with forty other strangers and living with about sixteen of them under one roof should prove to be an interesting journey! Currently I've been preoccupied with making lists for packing, buying, unpacking, and all sorts of lists that are supposed to make my move more efficient. Moving out of the house for the first time and that too to a complete different world is a bit overwhelming, but I'm pretty sure this will prove to be one of the most memorable semesters in my undergraduate experience.