Ramadan Kareem everyone! (beautiful Ramadan). We are now 12 days into Ramadan, the holy month of Islam - a time of fasting and reading the Qu'ran. During Ramadan, Muslims don't eat or drink anything, smoke, have sexual relations, or listen to music during the daylight hours - which here is about 4:30am - 6:35pm. Because of this restaurants and many shops are closed down during the day. To celebrate Ramadan, Chris, me, and some good friends of ours went to an Iftar dinner, which is basically a huge dinner you have when you break the fast.
Here is a picture of the Kingdom Tower on our way to the dinner. Because I wanted to be true to the spirit of Ramadan, I actually did the fast as well, not eating or drinking during the daylight hours. I have to say that Ramadan has messed up my whole schedule. I have been going to bed around 4:30am and waking up at 1:00pm for nearly a week! On the day I did the fast I ate my dinner at 4:00am and then went to bed. I had to wake up at 11:30am because I needed to head to school one last time to take care of some stuff. I was definitely thirsty in the hot Saudi sun. It usually is 115-118 degrees here.
Here are our good friends who treated us to the Ramadan Iftar dinner. It is quite a huge event. This particular one took place in a hotel and fed probably around 1,500-2,000 people on this night. Not only do Muslims fast during this month but they are also supposed to read the entire Qu'ran. Families usually divide the Qu'ran up into 30 sections and read one a day. I get the feeling it is quite a happy holiday, although I'm sure you at home are probably thinking this would be really difficult.
Here are some really fancy shrimp cups with cocktail sauce. They had quite a huge supply and variety of food at this dinner. It was a very fun event. One of my favorite experiences in Riyadh. We have this cool Indian man who works at a little store nearby. I was buying candy a week ago for my students so they could have it at night. I told him it was to help my students come during Ramadan. He told me he loved Ramadan because in India his teachers would always beat him and the other students, but not during Ramadan! He said during Ramadan "We were free!"
Here are some nice desserts. Very very good. One time the subject of fasting came up in class. I told my students I might do the Ramadan fast for a few days and they got very excited about that. I told them that other religions fast sometimes also and told them of some ways that different people do it. I told them one group fasts only one day a month but they don't eat or drink for 24 hours. They thought that was too difficult. I feel like it would be easier than 30 days, but of course this is something they are very used to.
More excellent desserts. The one on the bottom right is called Um Ali (which means mother of Ali). It was probably one of my favorites. It is like a bread pudding kind of thing. I must say that driving has been a much nicer experience here during Ramadan. Usually the roads are pretty dangerous. When I started a year ago it was awful! But then the Kingdom put road cameras on the streets and things got noticeably better after that - it made a HUGE difference. My students have already gotten some tickets from them. But during Ramadan people are usually at home during the day so driving has been a breeze!
Here is the fruit table. These pictures don't really do it justice though. There were food tables everywhere! Of course it looks even better after a day of fasting.
They had these cool colored lamps all over the place. We dished up our food and then waited until the call to prayer at about 6:35-37. That was our signal that it was okay to eat. When you end your fast you do what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did. He started with just a few dates and some water so he could get used to food again. Then you start your meal slowly. So that is exactly what I did as well. I ate 3 dates, had some water, and then slowly ate my food.
They had traditional Saudi, Indian, and Italian food. Probably a lot of others as well that I didn't notice. There was a lot of seafood as well. This was quite the event. It is like a big party.
Here is some traditional Saudi stuff. Don't know exactly what it is.
Here we are after the dinner. It was a great night. I can't believe I only have a few days left! Everyone tells me I will have reverse culture shock when I get home to the US. I'm happy I got to be in Saudi Arabia during some of Ramadan.
Here is a picture of the Kingdom Tower on our way to the dinner. Because I wanted to be true to the spirit of Ramadan, I actually did the fast as well, not eating or drinking during the daylight hours. I have to say that Ramadan has messed up my whole schedule. I have been going to bed around 4:30am and waking up at 1:00pm for nearly a week! On the day I did the fast I ate my dinner at 4:00am and then went to bed. I had to wake up at 11:30am because I needed to head to school one last time to take care of some stuff. I was definitely thirsty in the hot Saudi sun. It usually is 115-118 degrees here.
Here are our good friends who treated us to the Ramadan Iftar dinner. It is quite a huge event. This particular one took place in a hotel and fed probably around 1,500-2,000 people on this night. Not only do Muslims fast during this month but they are also supposed to read the entire Qu'ran. Families usually divide the Qu'ran up into 30 sections and read one a day. I get the feeling it is quite a happy holiday, although I'm sure you at home are probably thinking this would be really difficult.
Here are some really fancy shrimp cups with cocktail sauce. They had quite a huge supply and variety of food at this dinner. It was a very fun event. One of my favorite experiences in Riyadh. We have this cool Indian man who works at a little store nearby. I was buying candy a week ago for my students so they could have it at night. I told him it was to help my students come during Ramadan. He told me he loved Ramadan because in India his teachers would always beat him and the other students, but not during Ramadan! He said during Ramadan "We were free!"
Here are some nice desserts. Very very good. One time the subject of fasting came up in class. I told my students I might do the Ramadan fast for a few days and they got very excited about that. I told them that other religions fast sometimes also and told them of some ways that different people do it. I told them one group fasts only one day a month but they don't eat or drink for 24 hours. They thought that was too difficult. I feel like it would be easier than 30 days, but of course this is something they are very used to.
More excellent desserts. The one on the bottom right is called Um Ali (which means mother of Ali). It was probably one of my favorites. It is like a bread pudding kind of thing. I must say that driving has been a much nicer experience here during Ramadan. Usually the roads are pretty dangerous. When I started a year ago it was awful! But then the Kingdom put road cameras on the streets and things got noticeably better after that - it made a HUGE difference. My students have already gotten some tickets from them. But during Ramadan people are usually at home during the day so driving has been a breeze!
Here is the fruit table. These pictures don't really do it justice though. There were food tables everywhere! Of course it looks even better after a day of fasting.
They had these cool colored lamps all over the place. We dished up our food and then waited until the call to prayer at about 6:35-37. That was our signal that it was okay to eat. When you end your fast you do what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did. He started with just a few dates and some water so he could get used to food again. Then you start your meal slowly. So that is exactly what I did as well. I ate 3 dates, had some water, and then slowly ate my food.
They had traditional Saudi, Indian, and Italian food. Probably a lot of others as well that I didn't notice. There was a lot of seafood as well. This was quite the event. It is like a big party.
Here is some traditional Saudi stuff. Don't know exactly what it is.
Here we are after the dinner. It was a great night. I can't believe I only have a few days left! Everyone tells me I will have reverse culture shock when I get home to the US. I'm happy I got to be in Saudi Arabia during some of Ramadan.
We're glad to hear that you guys are well. Have a safe trip to spain. Try and let us know that you're alive if you get a chance, you two! We're grateful you've had the experience but will be glad to get you and Christopher home. mama Toone
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