The surprises of Ramadan....

People have warned me about certain changes in Ramadan, but I must say, have omitted to explain to me the most important ones!!!!!!!

It is now the 5th day of Ramadan, and I have not gotten down to trying out the whole thing yet - shame on me. I still think the reasoning behind Ramadan is not really right. And people should not fast to feel like the poor, as they say they do, but people should help out the poor and give them money and food all year round, not only during Ramadan!!! Its cool to not be able to drink and eat during the day, to understand the world's suffering, but on the other hand, doesn't it make the poor feel worse, if after sunset you are at home eating your heart out and the poor still don't have food to eat????? (though now, the new version I got is that people fast so all Muslims feel the same way and there is solidarity)

Anyway still have another 3 weeks of interviewing and observing to figure all this out. Regarding the changes, there are several, but the most shocking ones are the ones at work:

Girls getting Veiled. I never thought that it would be such a big deal when a girl gets veiled, and I didn't think that I would look at the girl any different, but now, that it has happened I do. One colleague and one student got veiled in Ramadan (apparently it is something many girls do). They were both really nice outgoing people, with whom I always felt very comfortable around. Though as soon as I saw them veiled I could not stop staring at them. They had a different feel, maybe a more holy feel. I don't know if I feel bad for them, cause they have had to do this to themselves, and they are now imprisoned under their veil, or I feel happy for them, cause they feel purified and closer to God!!! I still cannot help staring at them though!!!!

Girls wearing Alabeja. This is the female version of a Galabeja. That is the long shapeless dress. During Ramadan the girls are meant to be less tempting, especially during the fasting hours. So some of the girls at work are wearing this shapeless black dress. This was another shock!!! The girls who are usually wearing these tight mega colorful clothes are now walking around in black nightdresses!!!! I was also told that only the veiled women should wear this, as they should cover themselves completely!! Though once again, note the irony!! Most girl decide to change and take it off after the iftar, that is after the fasting is over!!!

The good change of Ramadan is the fact that I get to go home for 3hrs between 4 and 7. The fuck up is that my hours suck!! from 10am-4pm then 7pm-10.30pm, mega foreigner employee exploitation I get to cook something good for myself (though I seem to have lost much of my appetite in Egypt and cannot get myself to cook anything that's not peanut butter sandwich, fried toast, or cereal - if you can call that cooking) , and best of all I get to see sunset from my balcony and a quiet, car-less corniche!! I also get to walk it to and from work, which is so relaxing and beautiful as it is a nice and quiet walk on the corniche.

Another change is the laid back ness. During the day almost everything is closed, the few people who work do little, and the rest are sleeping or at home watching TV. After iftar, people start going out, though they are not as active!! After having filled up their stomach they are up to nothing, and just sit and smoke sheesha or chat or listen to music or continue watching TV!! What a life!!!!

If I will follow Ramadan one day this month??? Good question. As I don't really see the true sense of fasting yet I don't think I will do it for any special case. If I do try it out, it will be simply out of curiosity to know what it would feel like to do fasting for one day!!! Till now I am just on the rule that no food or drink while I am out of the house, which means from 10 till 4.30. Which is still not bad for a beginner!! Though I must admit I did not keep to it strictly!! Cause after a 3hr class continuously talking I had to take some water!!!!

Next weekend AIESEC in Egypt will be having its newies conference, which I am dying to go to. Unfortunately work did not give me the day off to attend the whole thing, but if I manage I will get there for the last 2 days!!! It will be interesting to see an AIESEC conference in the middle of such a holy month such as Ramadan!!! Maybe there will be my chance to try out the whole ado!