Lol..It's a terrible idea to be a part of any Akhtar celebration when away from watan. All day I myself tried to be in state of denial by thinking that there is no Akhtar today. The reason being the countless memories associated with this day. I wish if it were just for the reason of God that we celebrate Akhtar..for if it were the case I would have been the part of the global, unfied Muslim community. But it turns out that it is nothing for me, but just a shared memory (the thought that you have beautifully expressed in words below). Hence worked tirelessly in my lab and went to attend my classes like a faithful to keep the thoughts of this day away from me.It did not work at all,the day turned out to be pretty awful except when I attended Rosh Hashanah gathering..was dragged to it by a Jew friend after she realized how miserable I have been all day,lol...