Sunday, August 15, 2010

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan is a time to get together with family, socialize, meditate, etc... but I want to use it as an opportunity to really experience Egypt. So I convinced my parents there is noway i can leave Cairo without experiencing Ramadan here.

So today is the first day of Ramadan, there are decorations up and something tells me people are going to be even more nice than they already are and definitely more hungrier, so would that mean grumpier instead? shoot- although that could just be part of my imagination. The clocks went back an hour last night which means that people can break their fast a little earlier in the evening. Im very confused by this because when i asked they said so people can break their fast earlier-it’s all just a mind game, no? we break our fasts according to sunset not a certain time. Anyway, just imagine Cairo’s heat, working outdoors, and fasting. My gosh, this has got to be the worst time of year to have Ramadan. As for me, i’m extremely fortunate to have A/C in the apartment, sleep until the late afternoon and wake up a couple hours before iftar. Ah the easy way out. For me, fasting today isn’t any more different than last week. it actually doesn’t make a huge amount of difference at all because I am so used to not really having food in the fridge and forced to eat once a day anyway. Alhamdulilah.

Unfortunately, many are forced to start their day very early in the morning, forced to work outdoors in Cairo's strong heat, to make just about enough money to feed their families. I feel a lot of sympathy for them. The construction workers, the garbage men, the taxi drivers,and the beggars. This is why I will be starting to packing up food for them. A couple of friends and I are going to gather during the weekends to pack up food and pass around for the poor. Inshallah.

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