Ramadan

So I got this off a random website, but it will save me the trouble of a bad explanation, and apart from the Arabic terms all of this holds true in Senegal.

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The Meaning of Ramadan **

What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is a month in the Islamic calendar that has been specifically designated for greater religious adherence and reflection. People are most familiar with the fasting that takes place during the month. And that is certainly an important aspect of it. Just as important is greater religious adherence and greater goodwill towards other men and women.

Why do you fast?
It is an example set by prophet Muhammad and an obligation commuted upon by all observant Muslims. The meaning behind it is to strengthen one's self-discipline as well as remind people of the experience of those less fortunate than themselves.

Before sunrise you have a meal called "Sahoor." From dawn to sunset one is to abstain from eating food and drinking water.

At sunset you break your fast traditionally with a date and water. You pray and then you have a full meal, called "Iftaar," and it starts all over again the next morning.

When did Ramadan start this year?
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar and so in a geographic area Ramadan does not start until the new moon is officially sighted. Different places have different visibility so it could vary a day or so.

Tell me about Iftaar?
The Iftaar is the evening meal that breaks the fast. It is usually a time of congregating with friends and family - inviting folks to your house or going over to someone else's house. It is a time of increased friendship and brotherhood.

The meals vary - anything goes.

We stop and remember our friends. You receive a lot of invitations from people you haven't seen in a long time. It revives the feeling of spirit in the Muslim community. It brings people together.

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Senegal is a country where things are either on or off, (especially the electricity)- at least from one tubab's perception- so there's little volume control- and during Ramadan, things are off. The night life dies, people are generally tired and a bit irritable, the economy goes down because people aren't buying as much food and work is long and difficult, (I have no statistical proof of this) ect. In any case, I decided to join the party.

Three reasons for fasting: First, I admired the idea behind it and personally lack discipline. Second, I felt more connected to the people here throughout my day. Third, I definitely scored points with the fam. Breaking fast together was truly enjoyable. Fourth, I'm either slightly masochistic, or crazy, or both....

I'll be very honest since I am a person with little shame, and for your amusement...

The first day I fasted, I decided that it would be suicide to not drink water, because I sweat like a fat guy in a jogging suit here. It started out a great day. Being Saturday, I went to the beach in the morning and chilled in my room by the fan most of the day. Now there was a soccer match between the tubbies and the Africans on campus that afternoon. I had been drinking a lot of water, when I arrived at school, and suddenly I didn't feel so good.

Then, I vomited. But what's a little vomit anyways, huh? Besides, it was just water. I felt great otherwise and kept drinking water as I suited up for the soccer game. The girls played first, and to our amazement the lady-babs actually won. Now for the guys match, some of the tubbies were a bit overcompetative. I mean the school probably shouldn't have racialized the match in the first place, but whatever. It was obvious we were going to loose, and I'm a smoker so I didn't take the whole thing too seriously. I played 20 minutes, horribly, and left the field- no biggie...

But I could not hold down an ounce of water though I was incredibly thirsty. I got a ride home from our program director and explained the situation along the way. He said, "Just drink some tea and you'll be alright". I made him pull over to vomit again.

So I get back to the "Sack" (this is what we call our neighborhood, Sacre Couer III), drink some coffee, lay down. But I'm still dying of thirst and cannot hold down water. Finally I figured it out- it must have been those old Boy Scout tips for dehydration (yes I was a boyscout-shut up). I mixed salt in my water, and finally could drink again. If someone can explain this phenomenon, I'd be delighted...

Phewwwww.... and that was just the first day. I decided that only drinking water was not the way to go, so I said "Ok, I'll drink a coke or something." This worked, but my host mother explained that this was not fasting, especially since I continued to smoke. I explained that I was working up to it in stages. Whatever, it was clear I wasn't getting any brownie points going at it half-assed.

You get irritable fasting in the heat. One day I took a cab to the post office, but the driver and I were not communicating well and started arguing. I needed a cigarette, and had not curved the habit yet. We pulled up to the post office and he said, "There's the post office," and pointing to a vendor, "there's a cigarette!". Implied was-"now get the f*ck out of my cab". We both laughed and shook hands- "c'est pas grave".

One day I came home and host mom asked me if I had fasted. I said, "Yeah, I only had two cigarettes!" She said, "For Ramadan, we don't eat, we don't drink, and we don't smoke" - point. Then she left the kitchen.

I went to Gambia for 10 days- travellers are not expected to fast.

There was one week left of Ramadan, so I eased back into Dakar over the weekend and decided I'd try again Monday. Here people chew on sticks they call "sochu" to alleviate hunger during the fast. I bought a sochu everyday and this helped with smoking tremendously. The tubbies asked me if it cleaned my teeth or what it tasted like. All I said was, "It's a stick!". And indeed sometimes a sochu is just a sochu...

So at the end of the day I had 4 successful days of fasting, and Ramadan ended on Friday. Boss lady fasted too without any preparation- killa'! Now the clubs are bouncing again, and life is back to normal.