Nadia L. Hohn
  • Home
  • About me
    • Short Bio
    • Long Bio
  • Books
    • The Antiracist Kitchen
    • Getting Us to Grandma's
    • Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter
    • A Likkle Miss Lou
    • Malaika's Costume >
      • Le costume de Malaika
    • Malaika, Carnival Queen
    • Malaika’s Surprise >
      • La surprise de Malaika
    • Malaika's Winter Carnival >
      • Le carnaval de Malaika
    • Patty Dreams
    • Sankofa Media
    • Sankofa Music
  • Blog
  • Teachers
    • A Likkle Miss Lou
    • 10 Ways to Teach Malaika's Costume and other books
    • Malaika, Carnival Queen Resources
    • Malaika's Costume STEAM Lesson
    • Le carnaval de Malaika
    • Malaika's Costume worksheet K to Gr 2
  • Kids
    • A Likkle Miss Lou
    • Carnival Peacock Headpiece
    • Malaika's Costume Carnival Bookmark
    • Malaika's Costume Colo(u)ring Page
  • Visits
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Contact

Throwback... Ramadan Write-In

4/4/2023

1 Comment

 
Picture
Looking back...

#RamadanWriteIn

Being a writer/storyteller is an identity that never leaves you, as you age and even move locations in the world.

During #Ramadan in 2017, I was living in #Dubai and teaching at an international private school.  This was my second school after my first contract at a school in #AbuDhabi was terminated unjustly, six months after my move to the #UnitedArabEmirates.  

Reclaiming a sense of community and growing in my writing practice was important to me.  Having participated in a twice weekly writing workshop in Abu Dhabi, I decided to recreate a special writing group with Black women writers I met while in the UAE.  These were current and former teaching colleagues, a parent from the first school, and a friend.

The UAE is a Muslim country in which Ramadan is characterized by shorter work days, a slower pace to life, a pause from certain activities, and different eating habits.  Whether you are Muslim or not, this religious practice impacts everyone.  I knew Christian friends who were fasting during this time, alongside Muslim colleagues.  The church I attended was organizing an iftar to welcome Muslims.  Cultural organizations, like the Trinidadian association of the UAE, held iftars, too.

I decided to use this time to start this four week group called, The Ramadan Write-In.  We met weekly and workshopped pieces.  I am happy to say that most of the women were either self-published or became so after this workshop. 

A highlight of our time was having a special guest.  I saw on Facebook that Kwame Alexander was participating in the  Sharjah Children's Festival which is not too far from Dubai.  I reached out to him.  I hadn't seen Kwame in a few years and I hoped he would remember me.  He did.  We all had a lovely dinner at Miss Lilly's Restaurant in Dubai.

Thank you all who participated and gave me great memories in UAE.
1 Comment
custom case study writing service link
7/6/2024 05:54:46 am

This passage really resonates with the power of community and finding your tribe, especially when you're far from home. It's inspiring how you turned a challenging experience (losing your first job) into a chance to connect with other Black women writers in Dubai. The Ramadan Write-In sounds like such a wonderful initiative, and it's fantastic that it helped some of the women get their work published. The Kwame Alexander dinner is the icing on the cake – what a great memory!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Nadia L. Hohn

    Write or die chick.

    Archives

    January 2025
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    April 2024
    January 2024
    October 2023
    September 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright (c) 2015-2024 - All Rights Reserved - Nadia L. Hohn
Proudly powered by Weebly