Well.. it is coming up to that time of the year again: The Holy month of Ramadan.
I was in Oman when I first came to understand what Ramadan was: the name of the holiest of all the months in the Muslim, lunar calendar. Sort of like the Christian December - special. Ramadan is the ninth month though.. like September, which is also very special, being my birthday month and all (yes.. and yours too dad). But it wasn't a birth that made the month Holy, it is believed that this was the month when the Holy Quran was 'sent down'.
Being on the lunar calendar makes it a little short.. like all the months that follow the moon instead of the actual time it takes our planet to get around the sun. It changes by eleven days each year. So.. my first Ramadan hit in late October, which meant 'Id-al-Fitr' was in November.
That first Id holiday I went to see Jackie in the Emirates. It was before she took off to Bulgaria. A lifetime ago.
While I am looking forward to the Id holiday at the end of August, it is still a long way off: this year will be the 27th of August. It will mark the date that God will have decided our future for another year and the celebration begins. I am not sure what I will do on the holiday, but we'll be back to work on my birthday.. which is rather exciting. I have not had a lot of birthdays the last ten or so years, where I am in a place where people have actually even met me: where I can tell someone, anyone, it is my birthday and I will be needing a cake.
But I am also looking forward to Ramadan.
It is always a peaceful time. A time when most of the population will be a little dehydrated, a little hungry.. a little tired: a little, slow. It is a time when they try and behave especially well, which is nice.
It has been crazy at school this last month.. they try to get so much in after the holiday and before Ramadan begins. Last week it was sports day.. this week it's exams.
It was quiet for me this week though. While everyone has been bustling about I was only able to get into a classroom on Monday. Today and Tuesday the kids were writing exam after exam: they didn't need me. Which was ok.. I had a workshop to prepare for (Using games in the classroom!.. I do have fun), and present, as well as more paperwork.
You know how I love paperwork. They have changed it again: got the teachers keeping track of things as well. I still haven't got the computer thing figured out and they are making more hard copy work..It is all very confusing.. of course. Paperwork always is to me. And the teachers turn to me to help them.. ya.. right!
I will do what I can.
Two more days and then Vas and I will head into KL for a night.. stay at the Shaw.. enjoy the pool. Try and get my camera fixed. When we return it will be August.. and I can wear my new clothes.
I didn't mention my new clothes did I!? The best thing about Ramadan is that I had to buy new clothes! I can't get away with my Capri's and light blouses, I need to cover-up in a more substantial fashion. Now while I could have done this with the Malay get-ups, I just haven't seen many that I like. However, I did find British India a few months back. Couldn't justify it then, but I can now. I got three new tops and a pair of pants.. all linen.. all substantial.. all decent, when Wendy was visiting a couple of weeks ago.
We did have fun!
Covering up means that I too will be slowing down.. searching out rooms with air-conditioning. Making books. Working only school hours, as teachers will not be able to come to workshops outside of normal class time.
They don't shorten the day, but the expectations are a little lower. The cafeteria will be closed. I will not be allowed to eat or drink at school. Won't hurt me.. a good time to cut back a bit, lose those extra pounds that are holding on to my tummy so tightly.
Ramadan is sort of cool. A slower time. A time to take stock of things. I am not in the Middle East though. In Malaysia the Chinese and Indians are also Malaysians. They have their own culture and traditions which do not include Islam. It will be interesting to see how it all works, as Muslims do make up the majority and all my schools are Muslim.
But most of the businesses are run by the Chinese.
And the majority of the work is done by the Indians. It will be good to see what 'Ramadan' looks like in Malaysia.
I sure hope Vas will be able to buy his beer!
I was in Oman when I first came to understand what Ramadan was: the name of the holiest of all the months in the Muslim, lunar calendar. Sort of like the Christian December - special. Ramadan is the ninth month though.. like September, which is also very special, being my birthday month and all (yes.. and yours too dad). But it wasn't a birth that made the month Holy, it is believed that this was the month when the Holy Quran was 'sent down'.
Being on the lunar calendar makes it a little short.. like all the months that follow the moon instead of the actual time it takes our planet to get around the sun. It changes by eleven days each year. So.. my first Ramadan hit in late October, which meant 'Id-al-Fitr' was in November.
That first Id holiday I went to see Jackie in the Emirates. It was before she took off to Bulgaria. A lifetime ago.
While I am looking forward to the Id holiday at the end of August, it is still a long way off: this year will be the 27th of August. It will mark the date that God will have decided our future for another year and the celebration begins. I am not sure what I will do on the holiday, but we'll be back to work on my birthday.. which is rather exciting. I have not had a lot of birthdays the last ten or so years, where I am in a place where people have actually even met me: where I can tell someone, anyone, it is my birthday and I will be needing a cake.
But I am also looking forward to Ramadan.
It is always a peaceful time. A time when most of the population will be a little dehydrated, a little hungry.. a little tired: a little, slow. It is a time when they try and behave especially well, which is nice.
It has been crazy at school this last month.. they try to get so much in after the holiday and before Ramadan begins. Last week it was sports day.. this week it's exams.
It was quiet for me this week though. While everyone has been bustling about I was only able to get into a classroom on Monday. Today and Tuesday the kids were writing exam after exam: they didn't need me. Which was ok.. I had a workshop to prepare for (Using games in the classroom!.. I do have fun), and present, as well as more paperwork.
You know how I love paperwork. They have changed it again: got the teachers keeping track of things as well. I still haven't got the computer thing figured out and they are making more hard copy work..It is all very confusing.. of course. Paperwork always is to me. And the teachers turn to me to help them.. ya.. right!
I will do what I can.
Two more days and then Vas and I will head into KL for a night.. stay at the Shaw.. enjoy the pool. Try and get my camera fixed. When we return it will be August.. and I can wear my new clothes.
I didn't mention my new clothes did I!? The best thing about Ramadan is that I had to buy new clothes! I can't get away with my Capri's and light blouses, I need to cover-up in a more substantial fashion. Now while I could have done this with the Malay get-ups, I just haven't seen many that I like. However, I did find British India a few months back. Couldn't justify it then, but I can now. I got three new tops and a pair of pants.. all linen.. all substantial.. all decent, when Wendy was visiting a couple of weeks ago.
We did have fun!
Covering up means that I too will be slowing down.. searching out rooms with air-conditioning. Making books. Working only school hours, as teachers will not be able to come to workshops outside of normal class time.
They don't shorten the day, but the expectations are a little lower. The cafeteria will be closed. I will not be allowed to eat or drink at school. Won't hurt me.. a good time to cut back a bit, lose those extra pounds that are holding on to my tummy so tightly.
Ramadan is sort of cool. A slower time. A time to take stock of things. I am not in the Middle East though. In Malaysia the Chinese and Indians are also Malaysians. They have their own culture and traditions which do not include Islam. It will be interesting to see how it all works, as Muslims do make up the majority and all my schools are Muslim.
But most of the businesses are run by the Chinese.
And the majority of the work is done by the Indians. It will be good to see what 'Ramadan' looks like in Malaysia.
I sure hope Vas will be able to buy his beer!
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