Showing posts with label ramadan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ramadan. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

So long, Ramadan

Now, it's time to party. Ramadan is over. That means Egyptian life goes back to normal. I have no idea what normal means, but I have a feeling life gets a little easier. I'm looking forward to restaurants being open during the day and the ability to buy the random necessary things for life at 4:00 p.m. instead of 1 a.m. The library will be open pass 2 p.m., so hopefully, I'll find a nice place to study than my room. But, one plus about Ramadan was the gym was never crowded. Just me and the personal trainer almost every time. 

Let me rewind and give you some background information. Egypt goes nocturnal during Ramadan (many of my Egyptian hall mates would sleep from sunrise to sunset everyday). Everybody fasts throughout the day and the day doesn't really start until iftaar at sunset. Stores are open until 2 a.m. everyday, but you won't find any store open between 4 and 6. 

This means dinner almost ready!
Sunset in Cairo (that's the Nile)
This is not the Great Lighthouse, but it's a cool picture.

 

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Gift from God


During Ramadan, everyone in Egypt (except for me) fasts during the day. That means no food and no water from sunrise to sundown. The moment the sun sets everyone and I mean 98% of the population eats the Iftar -- the meal breaking the fast. The beautiful thing about Ramadan is it brings everyone together since everyone bonds over their fast and their Iftar.

Where is the other 2%? They're late! So, we went out in the street and handed dates to cars passing by. My Muslim friend explained to me that breaking the fast with a date at the moment Iftar begins is like receiving a gift from God. And furthermore, giving a random person a date to break the fast is like receiving two gifts from God.