So Ramadan is in full-swing and I'm still trying to find my place... or at least something to do with my time.
For those of you who don't know, Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This means that for about 22 days, Muslims all over the world fast and then break the fast with suppers prepared for the family and sometimes visitors. There are rituals, first come dates, and then sweets, and then a meal, and I'm sure some other steps I'm too naive to notice but those are the basics. And then you stay up late, maybe go for a walk, maybe nap a bit, and then (at least in the village) most people get up early to drink some water and have another breakfast before another day of fasting. Fasting (sun-up to sun-down, all foods, liquids-including water, cigarettes, romance of all kinds) is viewed as cleansing of the soul and healthy for the body... Most people sleep more during the day than they usually do and are awake longer at night.
Seeing as I don't want to destroy my metabolism and want to maintain a semi-regular sleep schedule, I'm not fasting, and as a non-Muslim, no one expects me to. People did invite me to the breakfast at first, but since I was running around the country with my mom for the first week of Ramadan, they have now forgotten to. Almost all stores are closed during the day (this includes restaurants even in Amman), and I feel inappropriate wandering around at night by myself, so I've basically spent the past three days in my house working out, except for a 2 hour hunt for drinking water I went on earlier today (wandered all the way to the next village and hoofed it back with only 3 liters because I couldn't carry any more comfortably).
In most Peace Corps Volunteers' experiences, Ramadan has been a good time for bonding with the community, going on vacation, or developing a new hobby... Seeing as all my potential travel buddies are tied up for the rest of the month and I just broke a string on my new viola, I guess it's time for me to go visit! And work on my massive to-do list....
For those of you who don't know, Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This means that for about 22 days, Muslims all over the world fast and then break the fast with suppers prepared for the family and sometimes visitors. There are rituals, first come dates, and then sweets, and then a meal, and I'm sure some other steps I'm too naive to notice but those are the basics. And then you stay up late, maybe go for a walk, maybe nap a bit, and then (at least in the village) most people get up early to drink some water and have another breakfast before another day of fasting. Fasting (sun-up to sun-down, all foods, liquids-including water, cigarettes, romance of all kinds) is viewed as cleansing of the soul and healthy for the body... Most people sleep more during the day than they usually do and are awake longer at night.
Seeing as I don't want to destroy my metabolism and want to maintain a semi-regular sleep schedule, I'm not fasting, and as a non-Muslim, no one expects me to. People did invite me to the breakfast at first, but since I was running around the country with my mom for the first week of Ramadan, they have now forgotten to. Almost all stores are closed during the day (this includes restaurants even in Amman), and I feel inappropriate wandering around at night by myself, so I've basically spent the past three days in my house working out, except for a 2 hour hunt for drinking water I went on earlier today (wandered all the way to the next village and hoofed it back with only 3 liters because I couldn't carry any more comfortably).
In most Peace Corps Volunteers' experiences, Ramadan has been a good time for bonding with the community, going on vacation, or developing a new hobby... Seeing as all my potential travel buddies are tied up for the rest of the month and I just broke a string on my new viola, I guess it's time for me to go visit! And work on my massive to-do list....
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