The University Baha'is
This morning I dragged my sorry underslept body from bed and went to a Baha'i brunch.

Oh, just to go in chronological order, last night I went shopping with my girls and then we went to a frat party where you had to wear all white to be admitted. Would of been fun if I had been in the mood. I only know one brother from Sigma Nu so I couldn't really network my way through the crowd. Instead I finished off a double vodka shot and a Rum and Coke and I sat on a stoop talking to Hami until Katie in all her tipsy glory dragged me back in, where I proceeded to not dance and not enjoy myself until she finally threw in the towel and took me to Tom's. So we talked for an hour over french fries and chocolate milk shakes, about relationships, our friends, everything. She's probably the closest friend, next to Palmer, of course, that I have here. I'm blessed to have someone I can at least sort of rely on in this lonely city. For what it's worth.

So, yes, this morning I went to a Baha'i brunch. And it was awkward, to say the least, since I was virtually the only non-baha'i there, but they were as accomodating as they could be. More than accomodating, actually. The secretary and I talked for a long time about Psychology since she is also majoring in that, and I spoke briefly with a girl named Sonya, a freshman here who has already made herself at home with these people. The best part was the very long talk I had with a woman named Stephanie, who does not go to Columbia, was just visiting the Nancy, the president of the club. She was amazing, she listened to all my concerns, she actually pulled a Baha'i prayer book and something called The Seven Valleys out of her purse and told me to keep them. She was all around wonderful to me. She also sent me an essay her brother wrote on why the Baha'i faith is not a cult for me to show to my roommates. I gave her the link to my new blog too. I have a feeling she'll be understanding of all my concerns because she says it took her eight years to convert to the faith. Eight years! So, that actually really made me more at ease.

I did tell them a little about Mana, but not much. They all shared their sympathies, but admitted that death is an unusual way to learn about the faith. But only one girl was even partially Persian, and she said she might cook some Persian food sometime. That would be nice. Oh, and Sonya, the Freshman, and I might be putting together a weekly study circle, that another girl, the half-persian who is also a Barnard alum would tutor, although they asked if I could bring some friends to it, and honestly, my friends will want nothing to do with this, so that just isn't going to happen. But there were also NYU Baha'is there and we might network the study circle with them. Too soon to tell.

I'm writing all of this from the library where I *should* be catching up on my work. But anyway, this is all very exciting and confusing and disorienting for me all at once. I felt really out of place, yet something still felt right. How can you feel both things at the same time? I don't know.

My studies call to me. I don't know where all this will head. But I have a good feeling about it.