Process Plan Proposal 

I.  Description Of Person

The person that I am planning on having a dialogue with is a Turkish, female who is also Muslim.  The most visible difference between this person and I is her scarf, I don’t know the name of it, that she wears on her head each day.  I know this is a religious custom and hope to learn more about it.  Our less visible difference would be our cultural background.  She has lived in the U.S. for about five years with her husband and daughter but was raised in Turkey.  I do not know a great deal about this country and I also do not know a great deal about the Muslim faith.  I assume that life in the U.S. is not very easy for her or her people right now.  I believe that some extremist ideology by a few has made it even more challenging for her to continue her faith in our country.

I chose this person because I think that overt religious ideology is a practice that I have philosophical differences with.  I think it will challenge me to accept her choices and try to understand her religious and cultural choices.  Some of the biggest struggles that I face in my interactions with people are on a religious level.  I hope to broaden my understanding and tolerance through this experience.

II.   Description of Observation Activity

I have already checked out and watched a video, I am Sufi, I am Muslim, from the library and I have a book titled A Matter of Honour:  Experiences of Turkish Women Immigrants that I have started reading.

      III.    Description of Investigation Activity

I am planning to read two journal articles for my investigation activity.  The first article I found in the Journal of Popular Culture, Spring 2000, Vol. 33 Issue 4, p.25.  It is titled Social commentary and political action:  The headscarf as popular culture and symbol of political confrontation in modern turkey.  The second article I found in the Professional School Counseling Journal, Feb. 1999, Vol. 2 Issue 3, p.183.  It is titled Counseling Muslim children in school settings.  I hope this article will help me to develop a more sensitive approach to children who are Muslim...

IV.      Description of Personal Dialogue Setting

I am planning to attend a pot luck / “Bible study”, her words not mine – I would have thought it would be a Koran study, and gathering of Muslim, Turkish women with this person.  We will then, soon after have a personal dialogue.  I plan to use the questions provided as a basis for my dialogue and also I am wondering how she feels her headscarf might affect her future employment.

V.         Timeline of Activities

1.  I will see this person every Monday and we have agreed to set aside ½ hour each week to have dialogue.

2.  Presently reading the book, I have already watched the film and I will be attending a pot luck this evening.

3.  I have the two articles in my possession and plan to read them after I finish the book.

4.  Our official personal dialogue will occur the Thursday during Spring Break.  We will be meeting for lunch and conversation.