Ramadan

Most of the Muslim world started the observation of Ramadan on September 13 this year. I've discovered that during the month of Ramadan celebrations, life changes drastically here in Riyadh. Everyone is fasting (or at least pretending to fast) during the daylight hours from sunrise to sunset. So whenever they can, they sleep or take it easy during the day. When the sun goes down, they break their fast with water and some dates, then go to prayer. After that, the city comes alive. Many families have big meals or parties. Stores are open until 1 or 2 am and the streets are crowded with shoppers. There are Ramadan sales in every shop.

My students have been coming to school exhausted, and seem surprised that we are having class. Here in the HPE department, we don't do strenuous exercise during these weeks of fasting, but continue to hold classes for continuity's sake. We have 3 weeks of school and then a 2-week vacation coming up. Ramadan is early this year, and since school just started, it makes it difficult. We'll do more theory than practical PE, with emphasis on nutrition.

This week was also the University's faculty party. My husband was sent the following email:

Invitation to a Ramadan Dinner
PSU would like to invite all faculty to a Ramadan dinner on
Tuesday the 25th of September at 9.30pm
The evening’s entertainment will include: competitions, cultural activities and sports activities, the highlight of which is a game of football between a faculty and a student team. Finally, a delicious dinner will be served under a full moon and a starlit sky.
We hope that you will attend and enjoy this annual PSU calendar event!
A bus will be available to pick up faculty from the DQ.

At first I was confused, because the email I got wasn't as detailed, and the date was different. I soon realized that there was a men's party and a separate women's party. I teased DH that it wouldn't be as romantic under the moon and stars without the women!

So Monday night we had our party. I must say I was less than impressed. Women faculty arrived promptly at 9:00 PM when the shuttle delivered us, dressed to the nines. Many were wearing their native costumes. There were colorful saris from India, gold-threaded embroidery on flowing robes, the traditional Saudi thawb. And the jewelry was fabulous! Tables were loaded with covered dishes containing the native Middle Eastern foods. But we were not to eat or begin the program until the arrival of the Women's Dean and Assistant Dean. We waited and waited, famished with hunger. The Westerners became worried that something might have happened to detain the Dean. But we were told not to worry, that this was common during Ramadan. A party set for 9 PM might not get started until much, much later. It was difficult to remember that customs were different, and not to construe this behavior as rude. But the Dean did not show up until 11:30. (I was hoping to go home by 11!) We had a short poetry reading by several students, the Dean welcomed us there, and then we ate. There was a tattoo parlor off to one side where we could go and get our palms or hands tattooed with henna. One of the Architecture faculty, a new arrival from Canada, got her ankle and the side of her leg tattooed. (It seems that this is a rather scandalous place to get henna'ed.) Those of us from the DQ were so tired, we left around 1:00, the soonest we could get away.

I don't know how these people do it, partying all night long, every night all month long, and going to work the next day. They are tired and fasting, and irritable. Stay off the roads! It's dangerous out there.