Grocers and consumer product companies are considering ways to adapt their goods to Muslim rules, which forbid among other things, gelatin and pig fat, which is often used in cosmetics and cleaning products. Retailers are looking into providing more conservative skirts, even during the summer months, and mainstream advertisers are planning to place some commercials on the satellite channels that Muslims often watch.

Marketing to Muslims carries some risks. But advertising executives, used to dividing American consumers into every sort of category, say that ignoring this group — estimated to be about five million to eight million people, and growing fast — would be like missing the Hispanic market in the 1990s.

I think it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing Abercrombie jilbabs and Rocawear thobes.

I miss my family and friends. I miss ranch dressing. I miss rednecks. I miss turkey sandwiches. I miss unlimited night and weekend minutes from Cingular. I miss spicy food. I miss real college campuses. I miss the incessant Muslim bashing. I miss corn dogs. I miss ISNA conventions. I miss seeing guys thugged out in hip-hop gear. I miss driving while listening to my favorite music. I miss seeing Starbucks on every block. I miss Pat Robertson. I miss lowriders. I miss short shorts that say “hotty” on the back. I miss prank calling the Waffle House. I miss Indian restaurants. I miss WASPs. Okay, I think you get the idea.

Despite all this, I’m not homesick yet. Everyday is a new experience for me, and unless everything gets old and annoying, I look forward to seeing what the next day brings. On top of this, I’ve made a few really cool friends, so I don’t feel as lonely as I did for the first few weeks, when I felt the most homesick.

I really, really miss ranch dressing.