My Ramadan Journal--Kuwaiti Women Version!

[Scrappydoo]

[font="Georgia"][size="2"][color="#4b0082"]My buddy Tyler explained it so well, I won't repeat a long explanation of WHY we fast during Ramadan. This is my sixth Ramadan, I reverted to Islam during my first, so I don't count it because I didn't fast the whole month. I am a little worried about being able to complete it this year, we have very long days and it's extremely hot outside. I fasted a few days this month and it was extremely difficult, ma shALLAH.

My husband is out of town for medical treatment, which means I am don't really want to spend evenings out at fancy buffets nor with in-laws but we'll see how the month goes. Today, the official "day before," I spent the day running errands (when I can carry water in public.) First stop, shisha shop! I walked there from my house with the intention of getting a few new flavors to try but they were sadly low on inventory so I just left without buying anything. I still have AF Chocolate, Banana, Watermelon, Berry and Apricot and GL Raspberry Cream and Sweet Peach, so I am really good to go. Then I went to the grocery store and stocked up on fruits and veggies, thinking this would be a good way to stay hydrated. Lastly I went to Taco Bell and met two friends for our last "in public" daytime meal in a month.

I got a ride home, put away groceries, cleaned the house and took a nap. My game plan is to pray Taraweeh, then stay up and smoke shisha until about midnight, then try to catch a few hours of sleep. I set my alarm for 2:45, I have to stop eating and pray at 3:36. It is a long day of fasting, I can't break it until 18:42.

I am supposed to read 1/30th of the Holy Quran every day, but because women have "periods of rest" during the month, I push myself to read 2. SO, this is the end of the first day, just preparing myself. I am smoking GL Raspberry Cream, it's ok--nothing to write home about. [/color][/size][/font]

[Scrappydoo]

[font="Georgia"][size="2"][color="#4b0082"]First night:
SO I pray Taraweeh about midnight and since I'm not very tired, I decide to stay up til after morning meal/prayers. I start making brown rice for my suhoor and realize my stove top is not working. Earlier in the day I heard a pop and the electricity went out, I needed to flip the switch on my circuit breaker but I didn't realize what it was. Here in Kuwait, we don't have conventional ovens with a stovetop, usually we just have a stove top built into the countertops. Mine is cheaper and just laid on top. SO I try my hotplate from my shisha room and it can't get the water boiling either, it is just too small. I blow my cork and drag them both out to the trash and call my husband. He says, "take it easy, you can go get a new one early in the morning and march on."

NOW in Kuwait, we have THE stupidest people in retail. When you settle for cheap labor, you get what you pay for. I go to the electronics store and they are lazy and braindead. They just sit there and watch me ask for prices. I know it's the first day of Ramadan, this is not an excuse to ignore customers! I realize my arabic isn't the best and their english isn't the best. Also, if they can get away with overcharging you and pocketing the difference, they will do it in a heartbeat. Grrr. ANYWAY I select the stove I want, arrange to have it delivered, pick out a coil burner hotplate for my shisha room and am back in business. Why does everything die at once? I am broke, I don't know what the hell I would do if my fridge now died. (ssshhhh, don't give it any ideas.)

ALLAH swt is the best of planners. You can have your life all planned out, as I did this month and then he can take it away or change it. Good lesson to remember. I was thinking all last night, "dammit, if I knew I was going to lose my stove, I would have bought more food I can microwave or eat cold." Oh well, I have a new cooktop, I have a better hotplate for the shisha room and in shALLAH, now I can stay home and concentrate on Ramadan again. I really hated to run out and spend money I don't have on new appliances in 110 degree weather heat when I can't even take a sip of water, but that's the way the ball bounces.

[/color][/size][/font] Edited August 1, 2011 by Scrappydoo

[Tyler]

Wow thats rough! Hopefully the rest of the day went better for you! I beleive you've broken fast by now, it's only 4:21 here and we dont get iftar until 8:53!! Such a loooong day! What did you have for your first Iftar?

[Scrappydoo]

[quote name='Tyler' timestamp='1312230082' post='518192']
Wow thats rough! Hopefully the rest of the day went better for you! I beleive you've broken fast by now, it's only 4:21 here and we dont get iftar until 8:53!! Such a loooong day! What did you have for your first Iftar?
[/quote]


Well, I said I wasn't going to do this much but I went over to my Mother-in-laws and she'd made a bunch of Persian food! So I had that amazing lamb stew with eggplants and tomatoes, sambousa and that stretchy Iranian bread. yeah, I know I am a vegetarian 99% of the time but damn....it was good!

[Scrappydoo]

[font="Georgia"][size="3"][color="#006400"]So far this has been a lot easier than I thought. When it's time to break the fast, yeah, I am hungry, but even yesterday after running around in town in the heat, I was ok. I have read almost 3 Juz of the Holy Quran and find myself pausing to think "WOW!" or wipe a tear, so much of it touches home. I have decided to only smoke shisha every other night, which will save me from having to run out and buy more and let me devote odd numbered nights to Taraweeh and Quran reading. I am also trying to turn off the tv more and read. I have three books, one is on the Prophet's (PBUH) wives and their lifes, one is called "Important Lessons for Muslim Women" and is a collection of Hadeeth on the "technicalities" of Islam for women and the last is a book of prayers to be said certain time of the day, which I am trying to memorize. It is now 4:07, which means I have almost 3 hours to go. Tonight I have just planned to make a simple soup and cheese sandwhich. Later, I will snack on cut veggies and apricots. For my suhoor meal, I am making brown rice. I don't want Ramadan to be about the food, that is not Ramadan. I know some people who spend more time and effort and money on lavish meals and should be spending that time and money on charity and good works. I love my mother-in-law but this is one reason I can't go to her house every night. I will not judge them but it almost seems like they see Ramadan as the old pagan "Festival of Night," partying all night and sleeping all day. A lot of Arabs are this way, my neighbors are Syrian, Egyptian, Lebanese and have similiar all-night noisy parties. ONLY GOD knows what is in their heart and intentions, but for me, to stay on track, I have to stay away from this and just keep it simple.[/color][/size][/font]

[Scrappydoo]

[font="Georgia"][size="2"][color="#000080"]As I begin the third night, I start making comparisons between the US and Kuwait. In the US, I worked full time, just went about my business without saying much to anyone and my immediate supervisor would let me spend my lunch break in her office to take a short nap. Everyone was relatively supportive, not completely understanding but I think they saw me in a new light. It was DEFINITELY a lot more difficult, so I feel like US Muslims are probably getting more rewards, as they are striving harder.

Here in Kuwait, the whole city shuts down. It reminds me of that old Taco Bell commercial where the man is running around NYC, "where did everybody go?" and the whole city is empty. It is kind of freaky to see places that never shut down the rest of the year, like convenience stores all boarded up. The grocery store is always open and many hotels serve meals in banquet rooms for non Muslims. Other than that, you can see Tumbleweeds blowing down the street like an old abandoned cow town. If you do find an open store, the clerk is usually fast asleep at the counter. Then at night, it's crazy. Like Christmas in the states, many retailers make a huge percentage of their sales during this holiday so there are Ramadan cookies and Ramadan tshirts and Ramadan sunglasses. Kids get Easter Bunny-like Ramadan bunny animals holding baskets of candy. Some of the finer restaurants put up Iftar tents and lay out lavish buffets, shisha in little gauzy tents on the beach with music and snacks all night long. People are out cruising every night and the single men seem more than ever determined to get a lucky one-night stand on these nights. Sometimes in this country I feel like Jane Goodall watching the chimps.

I learned a little secret about fasting today from one of my friends. She eats long grain brown rice with a little butter and cinnamon sugar for her suhoor meal. She says it's packed with fiber and a little fat so it stays with you a long time, the cinnamon helps balance your blood sugar. It is only day two and this year is different because I am not working but it seems to be a great idea. I didn't feel "starving" all day, just a little hungry and the end came earlier than I expected. I'll try again tomorrow! Mostly I miss my caffiene and am thirsty but ma shALLAH, so far this year has been ok.

I was able to pray Taraweeh and catch up to the 4th Juz of the Holy Quran so I feel a little ahead of myself. I feel guilty that I am not working, like I'm not trying as hard as other people.[/color][/size][/font]

[Tyler]

This is my first time fasting without having class or work to do during the day. I tutor a little bit in the day time but the students are also Muslim so we usually do about 1 hour of work in the 2 hour session lol. But it really hasn't been that bad. The hardest part for me is the meal prep. None of my Muslim friends know how to cook since they grew up with maids doing everything for them so I've taken on the role of house cook. Right now I just finished making kabsa for 14 people. Yes. 14. It does give me a way to pass the time though, as I really do enjoy cooking even when it is not Ramadan. But cutting veggies and making rice and cutting meat for that many people is tiring, even when you can eat....so I usually do all the prep and stuff early then do the final heating up right before iftar. It does suck having to run around town during the day time in the heat that usually is between 95-115 in the day time [heat index] and seeing so many resteraunts and people eating and drinking!


For me though, not drinking is the hardest part. I always have some kind of drink with me from the time I wake up til the time I go to sleep. Usually it's water or tea or coke zero....but anything would be amazing right now lol!

Anyways, I'm going to go finish Sura 2 (I'm making up my own juz7at!)

[Scrappydoo]

[quote name='Tyler' timestamp='1312328277' post='518383']
This is my first time fasting without having class or work to do during the day. I tutor a little bit in the day time but the students are also Muslim so we usually do about 1 hour of work in the 2 hour session lol. But it really hasn't been that bad. The hardest part for me is the meal prep. None of my Muslim friends know how to cook since they grew up with maids doing everything for them so I've taken on the role of house cook. Right now I just finished making kabsa for 14 people. Yes. 14. It does give me a way to pass the time though, as I really do enjoy cooking even when it is not Ramadan. But cutting veggies and making rice and cutting meat for that many people is tiring, even when you can eat....so I usually do all the prep and stuff early then do the final heating up right before iftar. It does suck having to run around town during the day time in the heat that usually is between 95-115 in the day time [heat index] and seeing so many resteraunts and people eating and drinking!


For me though, not drinking is the hardest part. I always have some kind of drink with me from the time I wake up til the time I go to sleep. Usually it's water or tea or coke zero....but anything would be amazing right now lol!

Anyways, I'm going to go finish Sura 2 (I'm making up my own juz7at!)
[/quote]

WOW, I can't imagine cooking for 14 people everyday while I'm fasting, you're like superman! The maids. LOL! Snoots. Here in Kuwait, from most families I've seen, the maids do everything BUT cook. I have heard several Kuwaitis say "I want food from my mom's hand, I won't eat food from the dada's hand." Abdullah's mom cooks every day but she has the maid to clean up after. They don't let them touch the food. I feel sorry for these kids who know the maid more than they know their own mom, even her nationality and cooking. My bet is that these kids are familiar with Indian and Philopino food more than their own native land.

Yeah, at least here the restaurants are closed and if you're caught eating or drinking in public you'll sit in jail til EID and pay 100 kd fine. I always have water or tea with me as well, it is almost like my hand has nothing to do! HA!

My body goes thru this stage.....first, feeling too full and heartburny: then I start missing my caffiene, then thirsty, then hungry, then painfully hungry, then tired, at which time I take a nap, I wake up feeling dried up and depleted, to anticipating the break and start cooking, washing dishes, preparing my shisha pipe.

I am not sure I EVEN LIKE not working this year, previous years the day went by faster and I felt like I earned it more.

[Scrappydoo]

[font="Georgia"][size="2"][color="#2f4f4f"]OK, today is really hard. I mean, REALLLLLLY really hard. Last night, after I broke my fast I was so exhausted I fell asleep until about 10 pm, then I felt rushed to complete my prayers and Taraweeh and catch up the Quran because I wanted to get more sleep. I just fell behind on everything. This morning, I was up early to cook some rice as I had in the last few days and drink some water and tea. I have to get up at 2:45 to stop eating by 3:30. By 8 am, I was dying. Like seriously the most pain and acid reflux, my body was BEGGING for food. This happens sometimes when you're fasting and all you can do is deal with it. What makes me feel like crying is the knowledge that there are tiny children all over the world suffering the same pain and it is not their choice and they might or might not get food today.

I feel ready to give up at 10:00 and know that I still have more than 8 1/2 hours to go. I keep watching the clock, this is the longest day. Finally I am able to fall asleep just long enough to get back up to pray. I decided to make some sambousa, so just handling food early doesn't help. Now I am down to 1 3/4 hours left and it feels doable but surely this has been the most difficult day of fasting I've had in a while. I like the part of the Holy Quran I'm reading today, it is about the birth of Jesus (PBUH) and Mariam's childhood and I think these are stories all former Christians enjoy. [/color][/size][/font]

[Tyler]

Wow, good for you for staying strong! I love Surah 3 personally, not because of the "Christian" familiarity but because of the messages it sends to those who struggle but never lose faith, it is so comforting.

[Scrappydoo]

[quote name='Tyler' timestamp='1312400989' post='518500']
Wow, good for you for staying strong! I love Surah 3 personally, not because of the "Christian" familiarity but because of the messages it sends to those who struggle but never lose faith, it is so comforting.
[/quote]


It really is! I prayed Isha and smoked a bowl of watermelon and couldnt' keep my eyes open past 10 pm. I woke up at 3 am and it felt like I slept about 20 minutes. I am not hungry this morning, have about 10 minutes before I have to stop so just concentrating on getting enough water which makes me feel like I swish when I walk! HA! I am keeping a list of the Quran quotes that catch my spirit to go back on reflect on later, I am also going to try to memorize AL ALAQ by the end of the month. Not sure if i can, Tajweed is not my strong suit!

[Scrappydoo]

[font="Georgia"][size="2"][color="#4b0082"][b]I don't have very much to post today. I have been sleeping good and fasting makes me feel lean and mean! I broke my fast with sambousa and a cucumber and olive salad. Tonight is Taraweeh night, tomorrow is Friday (crap tv) so my game plan is to catch up on all my reading then. Except for working out everyday, I plan to not leave the house nor spend money until this month is over. CAN I DO IT?[/b][/color][/size][/font]

[Scrappydoo]

I am not doing this anymore. NO WAY AM I going to lay out any vulnerabilities to be attacked by sharks on this forum. I should just leave, all the drama is too much.

[ChicagoRSX]

??? Did a reply get deleted that I missed? I didn't see anyone attack you. As I read, I thought only Tyler had responded. I'm kinda confused.

[Scrappydoo]

[quote name='ChicagoRSX' timestamp='1312606160' post='518960']
??? Did a reply get deleted that I missed? I didn't see anyone attack you. As I read, I thought only Tyler had responded. I'm kinda confused.
[/quote]

It is a "forum" wide thing. This is not the place for anyone to have an independent thought or opinion.

[ChicagoRSX]

Well my opinion is you should continue with it. Just ignore the close minded people.

[Bonkerz]

What a nice read! Here in the UK Fajr beginning time is about 3:20 and we break fast at about 8:55

[Scrappydoo]

[quote name='Bonkerz' timestamp='1312738963' post='519119']
What a nice read! Here in the UK Fajr beginning time is about 3:20 and we break fast at about 8:55
[/quote]

Thanks! WOW, that day is two hours longer than ours and I thought ours was hell! Nice to meet you Bonkerz!

[Scrappydoo]

[quote name='ChicagoRSX' timestamp='1312727402' post='519103']
Well my opinion is you should continue with it. Just ignore the close minded people.
[/quote]


You're right! You know one side effect of fasting is I get really emotional! I don't know why. Reading the Holy Quran today I cried my eyes out. SO beautiful and like certain parts are written for me.

[Scrappydoo]

[font="Georgia"][size="2"][color="#000080"]OK, onward and upward.

Day 7, we've lasted a week! My congratulations to every who has survived this far, it's not easy. I promised my MIL and family that I would make them a classic American dinner, so I went over there at 3 pm and started cooking. On the menu: Roasted Turkey, herbed stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green bean casserole and salad with pumpkin pie and apple pie with ice cream for desert. In 110 degree heat, it wasn't easy "slaving over the stove" all afternoon but they loved it!

For some reason, when I'm fasting I get really emotional. Reading the Holy Quran today had me in tears. The Quran is so beautiful in parts, just really drive home some points and life makes sense. Today at my MIL, watching all these hungry fasting people enjoying their dinner made me cry again!

I have been allowing myself to not sleep during the day and turkey dinner made me pass out! LOL! I missed Taraweeh at the Mosque, so I'll stay up late and do it at home, which is preferable for women anyway.
Looking at the calendar, it feels like we have a long time to go and immediately after EID we all start back to school. I am loooking forward to returning to "normal" but I hope the good habits stay with me. I have a bad habit of lagging on my prayers when I'm working and busy, which is a sorry excuse. In shALLAH this year will be better.[/color][/size][/font]

[Bonkerz]

[quote name='Scrappydoo' timestamp='1312739692' post='519122']
[quote name='Bonkerz' timestamp='1312738963' post='519119']
What a nice read! Here in the UK Fajr beginning time is about 3:20 and we break fast at about 8:55
[/quote]

Thanks! WOW, that day is two hours longer than ours and I thought ours was hell! Nice to meet you Bonkerz!
[/quote]

Haha, nice to meet you to And to be honest they are easier than expected

[Scrappydoo]

[quote name='Bonkerz' timestamp='1312741105' post='519128']
[quote name='Scrappydoo' timestamp='1312739692' post='519122']
[quote name='Bonkerz' timestamp='1312738963' post='519119']
What a nice read! Here in the UK Fajr beginning time is about 3:20 and we break fast at about 8:55
[/quote]

Thanks! WOW, that day is two hours longer than ours and I thought ours was hell! Nice to meet you Bonkerz!
[/quote]

Haha, nice to meet you to And to be honest they are easier than expected
[/quote]

Yes, al humdillilah. I was really afraid for this year, but so far, not as bad as I'd feared! I only had one really painful day!

[Tyler]

[quote name='Scrappydoo' timestamp='1312741008' post='519126']
[font="Georgia"][size="2"][color="#000080"]OK, onward and upward.

Day 7, we've lasted a week! My congratulations to every who has survived this far, it's not easy. I promised my MIL and family that I would make them a classic American dinner, so I went over there at 3 pm and started cooking. On the menu: Roasted Turkey, herbed stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green bean casserole and salad with pumpkin pie and apple pie with ice cream for desert. In 110 degree heat, it wasn't easy "slaving over the stove" all afternoon but they loved it!

For some reason, when I'm fasting I get really emotional. Reading the Holy Quran today had me in tears. The Quran is so beautiful in parts, just really drive home some points and life makes sense. Today at my MIL, watching all these hungry fasting people enjoying their dinner made me cry again!

I have been allowing myself to not sleep during the day and turkey dinner made me pass out! LOL! I missed Taraweeh at the Mosque, so I'll stay up late and do it at home, which is preferable for women anyway.
Looking at the calendar, it feels like we have a long time to go and immediately after EID we all start back to school. I am loooking forward to returning to "normal" but I hope the good habits stay with me. I have a bad habit of lagging on my prayers when I'm working and busy, which is a sorry excuse. In shALLAH this year will be better.[/color][/size][/font]
[/quote]

I hope you used halal marshmellows because normal ones are made with pig gelatin!

[Kapten Kanel]

[quote name='ChicagoRSX' timestamp='1312727402' post='519103']
Well my opinion is you should continue with it. [b]Just ignore the close minded people.[/b]
[/quote]

Yes, because trying to discuss something is close minded. Think before you post, and dont talk about something you had no part of. The whole thing is over, so im not sure why scrappy decided to post this -

[quote name='Scrappydoo' timestamp='1312739786' post='519124']
[quote name='ChicagoRSX' timestamp='1312727402' post='519103']
Well my opinion is you should continue with it. Just ignore the close minded people.
[/quote]

[b]You're right! [/b]
[/quote]

Thanks again.

[ChicagoRSX]

[quote name='Kapten Kanel' timestamp='1312752431' post='519153']
[quote name='ChicagoRSX' timestamp='1312727402' post='519103']
Well my opinion is you should continue with it. [b]Just ignore the close minded people.[/b]
[/quote]

Yes, because trying to discuss something is close minded. Think before you post, and dont talk about something you had no part of.

[quote name='Scrappydoo' timestamp='1312739786' post='519124']
[quote name='ChicagoRSX' timestamp='1312727402' post='519103']
Well my opinion is you should continue with it. Just ignore the close minded people.
[/quote]

[b]You're right! [/b]
[/quote]

Thanks again.
[/quote]



As you so eloquently pointed out I had no part of whatever transpired here, I was merely trying to encourage Scrappy to continue on with her documenting her ramadan. From her posts it made it seem that she encountered some people who were being jerks to her. Nothing more, nothing less. So not sure why you seem to be taking exception here. But still thanks for the "advice". Edited August 8, 2011 by ChicagoRSX