Super awesome book!

Happy Friday!

So the professor I work for, Professor Said, shares his suite with other professors, including Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, an amazing, really nice man who was the Pakistani Ambassador to the US and now teaches at AU.  He was also on Jon Stewart's show: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/06/akbar-ahmed-on-jon-stewar_n_673465.html.  You should all see the clip!!!!!!!  It's not that long.  Basically, he's a really awesome guy who is working to create understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.  His latest book is called "Journey into America: the Challenge of Islam."  He and his team of American University students and research assistants spent a year visiting 100 mosques in 75 different cities in order to understand what it means to not just be Muslim in America, but also American, in general. 

It looks like a super super cool book and so if anyone asks, that's what I want for Christmas.  Then I will get him to sign it for me.  He's really nice.  And funny.  He'll often come over and see what I'm up to.  Today I was working on unpacking the last boxes that go in the storage room and organizing the files.  He wandered over, saw what I was up to and said that he and his staff would have to kidnap me someday to help them organize stuff.  =D  He also wanted me to come into his office so that he could give me a baggie of cut apples because "They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away."  And he'll often invite me for soup when he gets soup cravings and insists that his two office managers accompany him to get soup.  =D  ("Come Jonathan, come Frankie.  Let's get soup.")  When I politely decline, he'll want to make sure that I dodn't want them to pick some up for me.  

So anywho, that's the news from the office.  I spent an enjoyable 40 minutes or so after work (I had to return a mug to the office after my classes ended) chatting with Jonathan and Frankie, his office managers/schedulers/assistants.  Not sure of their official titles.  They're nice guys though.  And it's so funny and cute to see their relationship with the Ambassador.  

Sunday Ambassador Ahmed will be giving a talk about his book and project at a church by the National Cathedral.  If I manage to get the details (aka find out WHICH of the many churches it is) then I am going.  I'm excited.  

Hope you all have a great weekend!  3 more days until I head to Portland for Thanksgiving!!!!  Yaaaaaay!

Love, Kaia (^_^)