As salaam aleikum everybody- Thanks, Hafise, for promoting me to citizen rank so I can post a hello to everybody!*g* I have been fascinated with Islamic culture since I was a teenager. My particular attraction is the Saracen period in Al Andalus. I even studied Arabic for two semesters, but did not get much further than learning the alphabet and some basic vocabulary. I am very happy to be here and shall start jumping in when I am back from a short LR trip this week. Salams to everybody till then! :-)