A picture from a Kuwait mosque (courtesy of google images. I am not allowed to enter a mosque (Christian woman and all) without a host.
This is how we will begin our school year: Ramadan. We have a seperate schedule: school runs from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
A feature of the Hejira calendar is the holy month of Ramadan which according to the lunar cycle should run for 28 days. During this period Muslims are required to fast by day, however they make up for this by partying all night, and Ramadan can be thought of as a month of Christmases.
The fasting is taken very seriously and in public places, which includes offices, even non-Muslims must abide by Islam which means no eating drinking or smoking (although due to a Sept. 1995 law all public smoking is now illegal) during daylight hours, although for the expat a room is normally set aside for meals, hidden from normal view. Yes we will have a seperate room at our school. I've been instructed to "duck down under my desk and grab a drink of water in the three minutes between classes".
So this would be enough to make a person want to drink right--but NO, read on:
When attending meetings, or any social gathering, it is considered discourteous to refuse tea (chai) when offered.As Kuwait is an Islamic state, the importation, production and sale of alcohol is prohibited. (But it still happens) and it is considered discourteous to show the soles of one’s feet.
A feature of the Hejira calendar is the holy month of Ramadan which according to the lunar cycle should run for 28 days. During this period Muslims are required to fast by day, however they make up for this by partying all night, and Ramadan can be thought of as a month of Christmases.
The fasting is taken very seriously and in public places, which includes offices, even non-Muslims must abide by Islam which means no eating drinking or smoking (although due to a Sept. 1995 law all public smoking is now illegal) during daylight hours, although for the expat a room is normally set aside for meals, hidden from normal view. Yes we will have a seperate room at our school. I've been instructed to "duck down under my desk and grab a drink of water in the three minutes between classes".
So this would be enough to make a person want to drink right--but NO, read on:
When attending meetings, or any social gathering, it is considered discourteous to refuse tea (chai) when offered.As Kuwait is an Islamic state, the importation, production and sale of alcohol is prohibited. (But it still happens) and it is considered discourteous to show the soles of one’s feet.
1 comment:
Auntie,
this would be particularily impossible for me since I eat at my desk every morning, banana & slimfast, while catching up on life in Kuwait...you've become part of my routine! Pleasure having breakfast with you!
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