Beautiful graduations and the Art of Tea.

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful

2 March 2015

Today is the 62^nd day of the Gregorian calendar. It has been more than 90 days that we started to look for a new home for us and a new home for iLABS and we are still trying. I realised yesterday that there are so many more people who are looking for accommodation, I speak to property agents and its dry out there. Many people have divided up their homes to rent out separate entrances just to make ends meet. It’s tough.

IPSA class of 2015

But not someone to be disheartened easily, I have been hard at work. Busy with the young leaders and of course celebrating with the students that were on the course last year – yep it was IPSAs graduation for 2014 at the Kelvin Grove.

On Saturday our class was delightful, my head was a bit whoozy of the night before. When we got to the gates of the MJC, the students were waiting for the gate to open. U Rasheed was sick so we had to wait a bit. Hope inshaAllah you get better soon!

Friday evening was wonderful seeing the 2014 students coming in for their Higher Education Certificates. The students with their pretty white dresses and twirly scarves. Some of them are studying at UCT; some at Stellenbosch and UWC; some  at CPUT; at Northlink; and the Madinah Institute and many have stayed to complete their BA in Theology at IPSA. One of students laughed and said, “Should have paid more attention last year A Yasmine, we’re busy with Durkheim and Max Weber and theories I have to get my mind around.” I made a mental note to buy him a copy of Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.

Yesterday we walked on the fleamarket looking at beautiful crockery, vases and bird cages. The bird cage had potential – a scrub with a steel brush, a lick of paint but a bit too expensive. My son rummaged around the leather stall convinced he will find pieces of leather to buy to make an elegant quiver. My daughter found a copy of Homer's Odyssey for her collection and Foucault’s Pendulum – by Eco for her Dad. All I wanted was a Florentine from Rosa’s bakery. And there stood Abu with two beautiful porcelain cups.

The first morning bus passes by and the cats are strutting up and down along the passage mewing for a snack. I get up to look outside and realise the Wolverine has snuck outside but I know that when I tap a saucer on the floor he will come running. I am still worried that our cats cannot hold their own with Stalker Cat next door. I breath in deeply the night is still the air is warm and calm and the wind is at rest. I fill the kettle and put it on gas while I feed the cats a snack.

I go through some of the pics I took and have to re-adjust the exposure and one of the students of 2015 sent me a picture she took, shukran Yusrah, but the resolution is too bitty. I have so many things going through my head and I remember today I have meetings. As I put the kettle on the gas and wait for the whistle, I remember a quote from Yutang in the Art of Living: “There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.”

 

 

So I take out the  tea kettle and warm it thoroughly. I rinse the teabags in hot water to release the flavour in the leaves and continue to pour water. I close the lid and wrap a cloth around the kettle and place it on the tray. I rinse out the two new cups and place them alongside. I warm some milk and place sugar and honey and teaspoons on the tray cloth - that was this morning.

Late this afternoon I came home lekker tired - constructive meetings with my supervisor and Adult Ed Masters research group at UCT. On my way to have tea with my supervisor I run into Aqeela, one of the 2014 IPSA students. Hugs and introductions later I said this is my lecturer and supervisor and Aqeela says this is my lecturer, meaning me. It was a good feeling I was on my way out and she was on her way to her tutorial!

We rushed home to water the garden what with the heat and a quick supper and of course a wonderful cup of tea.

plant food, kick off your shoes and brew a good pot of tea.

 

Yasmine