Ramadan fast and feast

My host mom started talking about Ramadan (sungkaroo) a month before it started so I had an understanding or prediction on how the month will be. From other volunteers and PC staff I heard recommendations to travel during Ramadan month, because it is difficult to eat in secret, people are restive and irascible. My host dad complained about Ramadan month being very expensive, because better food is served to keep everyone healthy and strong. Also leftovers that are not consumed the same day are usually thrown away, because if inability to reserve it. My host mom told me that fasting is hard. Well, I wanted to try it on my own.

So on the first day I got up before the sun is up and had my breakfast. I do not eat breakfast with my family because they get up around 4 am, have breakfast and then go back to sleep. Getting up early and then going back to sleep with stuffed stomach sounded like a torture to me. On my way to work in the morning I observed uneasiness and rushing in the market. I get off the gelli gelli at Brikama car park which is located adjacent to the market and my way to work winds through it. All the food stands that serve the breakfast sandwiches and drinks were gone/closed.  My co-worker who is a Christian went to look for bread for breakfast and only after visiting several bitiks she was able to locate it. People, fasting Muslims, do not put anything in their mouth from the sunrise (Morning Prayer – Subaa) to sunset (Dusk Prayer – Fitiroo). Well, I am cheating a bit and drink water during the day, to have enough fluids in the body. Even though it is the first fasting day, most of my co-workers looked exhausted and tired. The usual activities like brewing ataaya and having communal breakfast which takes a good chunk of work time were ceased. I, myself, felt the rush of impatience and irritability throughout the day. I don’t think I have ever really fasted excluding the time when I was sick so it does not count. I noticed that fasting together with the community is easier like having a silent support for the cause. In addition, I realize that I use the food frequently as a way to get rid of (eat) the destructive emotions such as a bad mood, frustration, anger, sadness, anxiety. A belief that it would solve the problem is so naïve and illogical - on the contrary, I just endorse it.

At the Dusk Prayer the fast was broken with the sweet tea and a light meal (fried fish with peas and bread) which filled my stomach to the top. Even the eating seemed different. People ate with vigor and in silence. Well, of course, we were deprived of food all day. After the meal people relaxed – fast is done for today and one can take it easy until the following day.

Also my host brothers caught or killed the bush rat (or just rat) today and cooked it with tomato paste (dish is called pepper soup) for the dinner. I was hesitant to try after seeing it with skin, then skinned and partitioned but the curiosity won. It tasted like a chicken – meat very tender.

My family served another meal, a dinner, at 10 pm, but I did not have available space in my stomach to try it. So another twenty nine days to go. I am aiming for five now and after that we will seeJ

….got five days under my fasting belt, one regular day, and will see later.(August 7^th)

….got another four days of foodless and waterless fasting. It gets easier with the time. Took three day break. (August 15^th)