Ramadan

Ramadan is the month of fasting practiced by Muslims in order to teach patience, sacrifice, and humility. It started on September 1^st this year, it changes every year depending on the Islamic calendar. There is a man that walks around town at 4 am banging something together, it sounds like pots, and chanting in Arabic, kind of like a wake up call so you don’t forget to eat before the sunrises. Then, after an entire day of not eating or drinking, people can break the fast at sunset or 7 pm by drinking water first then eating dinner a little after that. At the end of Ramadan, there is a big celebration called Eid, when people prepare lots of food for a feast.

We’re still being served lunch at the Peace Corps site but it is a lot quieter since none of our teachers and most of our staff are fasting. There are a few volunteers who are fasting for different reasons, both religious and for the experience to share with their host families. I haven’t tried yet but I think I’m going to try for at least one day either sometime next week or after I go back to Aguie. It will be really hard though, especially not drinking water for an entire day. People are noticeably tired and take more naps during the day now but they are so pleased when you break fast with them or if you say “Barka da shan ruwa,” which means “congratulations on drinking water.”