My name is Dina and I was born in Baton Rouge,Louisiana. Though I was born in the United States ,I was mostly raised in Kuala Lumpur, or Malaysia ,because My parents are from There. My parents went to Louisiana State University and after graduating they decided to approach back to Malaysia as it was the 1980's recession. about 21 years later, I decided to move back to the US in 2008 to Pursue my dream of being a pastry chef. I went to culinary school in San Diego, or California. I Had my hijab when I first got to California. For a while I wore it like a normal hijab until I start seeing people staring at me. Few months later I decided to tie my hijab like bandana,disguising it so I would blend in. But still people stare at me, maybe because they reflect I contain cancer, or because most cancer patients wear it like that after chemo. So I decided to take it off. Show my hair and really blend it. You would never guess that I am a Muslim. I am an Asian and I don't look like Arab or Persian. From the conversation that you contain with me you would never know that I believe in Allah. I contain an American accent. And I look pretty much American. But still,there's that inferiority of being a Muslim post 9/11. You reflect I can get a job as a pastry chef whether I went to the interview wearing my hijab? Even though the job said they can't discriminate you,base on your religious views/beliefs/sexual orientation and gender? I reflect not, and they just don't fabricate (to make up, invent) it obvious (that they're not hiring you because of that) . For the longest time I never discuss my religious views. Unless I'm really comfortable with that person. Dating wasn't easy too. People would be like 'see ya never' when they know my what my religion is. I may not be wearing my hijab anymore. But I still believe in the values of being a Muslim. So it's tough to find a non Muslim guy to be ok with that. I enact want to raise my kids in Islam. But in the United States,it's not easy. I broke up with my ex fiancée ( who is a white guy ) because of that. Islam is not a tainted religion. Don't get it mixed up with Muslim and Islam. Islam is perfect. Muslims are not. They are extremist in every religion. Just because of a few tainted seeds the whole world should not hate Islam. And most people who hate Islam don't even know a Muslim personally. Don't hate what you don't know. Learn and understand. Knowledge is power.
Source: ireport.com