Being a non-Muslim teacher at an Islamic School is a very interesting and exciting experience, but it is a bit of culture-shock, too. Different cultures/religions do things in a very different way, which is an lesson I’m learning through experience: mostly good, some bad.
Haraam is an Arabic word I’ve come to know the meaning of now. It means “forbidden”. So pretty much everyone knows that pork is haraam to Muslims, but did you know that anything made from gelatin — like marshmallows and gummy bears — is also haraam? I didn’t, at least not until I offered mini-marshmallows as a treat to a student. She didn’t say anything to me, but I got a note from her mother the next day, clearing up the whole gelatin issue (to be honest, I didn’t even know marshmallows had gelatin in them).
Alcohol is also haraam, but thankfully that’s not an issue that comes up often in a school setting (even though the school I work at does go all the way up to grade 12). I do try to keep my personal love affair with red wine mostly on the QT out of respect (not that it would ever have been a topic for discussion in the classroom: I’m talking about the staffroom!)
All the amazing staff and families I’ve met at this school are the nicest, warmest, kindest and most welcoming people. They’re polite, considerate and respectful. And yet as much as it seems so similar to my own world, it’s like there’s a slight shift and some things are completely different. In this school, for instance, girls and boys don’t date each other. So that’s really nice, in the sense that you don’t have the super-couples draped all over each other in the hallways like at most public junior high schools. Then again, one of my grade nine students is engaged (or so she says) to the son of a friend of the family back in their home country.
And then there are the awkward moments when the kids ask: “are you a Christian?” Because, really, what is the right answer to that question? I was raised Christian, and I celebrate Christian holidays with the ritual roasting of a turkey, exchanging of costly gifts and massive consumption of chocolate. But as for religious beliefs, I’m an atheist. So when the students ask, I simply say, “I was raised a Christian and I celebrate Christian holidays”. Simple. Straightforward. Honest (for the most part).
Thing is, it didn’t stop there. They pressed on: “but do you believe in God?” I must say, it takes a lot to put me off balance, but that question did it. It’s a religious school, and they know I’m not Muslim. So that’s fine. But it’s still a religious school. Is there a right or wrong answer to this question? I don’t believe in God, but should I tell my students at a religious school that I don’t? So I mumbled and fumbled and just told them it was personal and I didn’t in any way think that their beliefs were wrong.
And the bell rang.
Thank God (yes, the one I don’t believe in).
It must be okay with the administration that you’re a non-Muslim and an atheist, since they hired you. I’d be upfront and say that you’re not a Christian but you believe in respecting everyone’s beliefs and upholding everyone’s right to their beliefs.
these last few posts are truly fascinating! I love reading about different cultures, religions, and beliefs…I would love to read a post about how/why you lost any beliefs you once had and now consider yourself an atheist
Wow. Just wow. I don’t know if I could do it. I would hope to be all non-judgy and tolerant but I think I would struggle in ANY religious environment. You are a bigger person than I am!