Ramadhan

Apologies for the lack of writing. I have gotten to the point where things seem relatively normal and somewhat unexciting to me, but then I realize that the things I have been doing are in no way your everyday American activities. I havebeen spending most of my time volunteering. Rahmania Foundation (Lenna and Pak's organization that I have been connected with) is very philanthropic and one of their main programs is to bring dinner to needy children in the region to break the fast for Ramadhan, going to a different location every night.
For those of you who are unaware, Ramadan is the holy moth in Islam where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset (about 5:30am until 6pm) EVERYDAY for one month. Children and old people generally partake in this as well. This grand fasting leads to two things: really loud noises at 5 am as everyone gets in their last meal before the morning prayer, and a wonderful celebration to break the fast in the evening (this is known as Ifthaar).


       


                                                                                                                                   For the past few nights I have been attending the Ifthaar programs put on by Rahmania Foundation. The evening usually unfolds like this: We head to a mosque where there are between 200 and 500 little kids crammed into a room the size of a small classroom. Lenna leads a program, sort of like an elementary school assembly, where we play games with the kids, and she gives prizes to those who can best recite suras from al-Qur'an. After we essentially finish stalling the kids, it is time for the mad rush to get them all food in time. In addition to a large dinner we also give them each 20,000 Indonesian Rupiah, which is about 2 dollars. This is usually my job, and every single kid comes me to and gives me "salam" (a Muslim greeting of respect where they either kiss my hand or touch it to their forehead) in return for an envelope with the money, so they are able to buy a toy or something. After this mad rush, we head into the mosque or school room where Lenna and I typically break the fast with the teachers of the area. Everyone sits waiting and waiting until the second the call to prayer starts and then it is at last ok to eat.






I am not fasting, although I almost did it one day- I made it from 7am until 6pm! I can go without eating, but it is just too hot here to not drink all day. I don't know how everyone can do that here. Fasting for a month takes so much discipline.


I have really enjoyed spending time with the kids, they are all so sweet and adorable. Some of them are orphans and others have to walk miles to get to our programs, that it just breaks my heart. The other night we were near Bogor and one of the kids arrived late because his house was so far away. He was sobbing because he was so afraid that he wouldn't be able to eat since he was late. Seeing things like that really puts things in to perspective, and I am happy that I have been able to at least give my time to help out and give back.










                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         On a more entertaining note, I will leave you with a crazy experience I had recently. For the program in Bogor, Pak thought it would be a good idea to spend the day there since it is about an hour away, and there were other guests in town from Singapore. We stopped at a plant nursery and as we were about to leave, the owner suggested we try a fish massage...??? Pak and the other ladies insisted, so we headed to this pond/spa aread for a fish pedicure. Essentially you stick your legs in this pond and dozens of little fish instantly come up and nibble on your legs and feet, apparently eating all of the dead skin cells off. Gross and weird, but after I got used to it (and got over the whole concept), it was kind of cool. Neat experience at least. I wish I had my camera cord so I could upload photos. I will be sure to add them once I get back.

"relaxing" at the fish spa

Today is the Indonesian Independence Day, and I was expecting some big festival comparative to the 4th of July.  However, they really don't do anything besides get off of work and hang Indonesian Flags everywhere.  I have been asking everyone for weeks if there would be an celebrations- perhaps a parade or fireworks and no one really seemed to have any idea. So, I pretty much took that as a no... and turns out, I am right.  However, it is believed that festivities are not taking place since it is during Ramadhan this year, and it's pretty hard to have a celebration when you can't eat or drink.  The way I see it, this country pretty much shuts down for an entire month.. unfortunate for the non-Muslims.
Hope everyone is enjoying the heatwave back home. From what I've been hearing it's about the same temperature as here, but remember that in Indonesia it is socially unacceptable to wear shorts...
Be back in a week!