Thirty Days

Government schools finished May 8, but some private schools continued through June.  Thankfully, the school Karis and Caleb attended ended on May 31^st. 

The 30 days of Ramadan started the night of May 16^th,



and since kids were still going to school, things got a little tricky.  Some schools started going half-days because kids and teachers are too tired from being up all night.  Karis and Caleb’s school didn’t change anything, but the teenagers who were fasting made the cafeteria very empty.  Karis and Caleb felt bad eating in front of their friends, so they skipped lunch and were always hungry when they came home.

Some kids don’t fast.  And some adults don’t fast.  In fact, some restaurants are open during the day during Ramadan, but since it’s illegal to eat in public, the restaurants have to put up large curtains in front of their windows so the patrons can’t be seen.

There’s always a way around every rule ;)  As I've said before, there is a section of town where people of different religions live, and those restaurants remain open all through Ramadan, and they don’t put up curtains.

Food is always an interesting topic during Ramadan. 

One of our favorite restaurants stopped functioning completely during Ramadan. The owners gutted it and re-modeled.  Doug and I went to try a new restaurant one night, and there was a sign on the door that said they would be closed for the whole month of Ramadan. 

Other restaurants we tried that night were all buffet for about $25.  I think they know women get tired of cooking tons of food each night, so they offer a nice solution, and people take them up on the offer.

We can't decide if restaurants are losing money during these 30 days or keeping their income about the same because their patrons at night double.

Even a beauty shop that I have gone to twice gutted and re-modeled the interior during Ramadan.  I guess they figure if most people are sleeping during the day, why stay open for non-appointments.

Shopping at the mall at night during Ramadan should be an Olympic sport. 

We were trying to get some short-sleeved shirts to wear when we left the country for our conference, and it was crazy. 

Black Friday crazy.  

Here’s Doug standing in line, waiting to pay.

 

During Ramadan, I love the peacefulness of the city in the early mornings and from 7pm to about 8pm.  Everything is so quiet.  Everyone is home with their families, and it feels like a great time to just let out a sigh.

However, this occurred at 2am one morning.

 

A soccer ball from a game on the street came over our wall and hit our kitchen window. 

It woke me, and I didn’t want kids climbing over our walls to get their soccer ball, so I went out and threw it back so they could continue their game. 

Sigh!