New roomate, old friend

So I'm living in Davis for three months. My apartmentmate is one Matt Rathbun (see above subject heading).

It's odd with old friends, because although much is the same, obviously some things are not, but more than that, there is an element of uncertainty, the perception or fear of things being different.

Not that this is really a big problem, and generally whatever changes there are in routine, habit or even personality, we just leave unspoken and acclimate.

The other day I was making wudu' (a ritual washing before prayer) in the bathroom sink and matt came in and started talking to me. So he's talking to me, and I'm not done, and for a moment I hesitate and think... maybe I should just wait till he leaves... but then I figure, what's the big deal, so I stick my feet into the sink and start to wash them.

A flicker of surprise and the briefest of pauses, then Matt keeps on talking.

I go pray, etc, and now Matt knows that for whatever reason I occasionally need to stick my feet in the sink before I pray.

This got me thinking... what if I just started doing all sortsa weird stuff. How much of it could I get him to believe is part of Islam.

Like... every time before I pray, I could jump up and down in a circle seven times. Or do yoga stretches. Or... like, immediately after praying I might dash out to the kitchen and frantically cut myself a slice of cheddar cheese and then wave it in the air funnily before eating half then throwing the other half away, all while looking very somber and dignified.

And when people say, "Oh... I didn't know Muslims... did.... that..."
I could say, "Not all of them do." And then look very cross. "Islam's not a monolith you know, there's a lot of diversity."