Fasting for a Month

     The beginning of July a month of fasting observed by the majority of locals here.  This practice  is taught by their belief system.  It is a testimony to their faith, regarded as beneficial for health, and helps one to better identify with those in need.  This month is also a time of spiritual renewal.  Increased focus is given to their regular daily practices, along with the addition of nightly addresses at their place of gathering. 

     In general life carries on as normal, though the overall pace of life seems to slow down.  People are less likely to do much during this time, so the neighbor kids aren’t outside as much and friends are less available for get togethers during the day. 

The majority of our friends and neighbors will wake up before dawn, around 4 am to eat as the fast for each day begins at sun-up.  Every morning, sometimes as early as 2:30am, our complex security guard walks around banging on a symbol, a bell, or even sometimes on our gate, the whole time yelling, ‘breakfast.’  Our friends and neighbors then abstain from food and drink until sunset, usually about 6:15pm (the official time is printed in the paper daily as it changes from day to day).  Typically the fast is broken with a very sweet fruit soup, like a liquid version of fruit salad.  Then a large meal is eaten. 

     Many allowances are given to those fasting.  Some absence from school is excused for kids partaking in the fast (yes school is in session, actually the new school year began about the same time).  There are also exceptions for certain people, such as children, women who are pregnant or menstruating, and the sick.  Many offices and stores shorten their business hours.  Our internet has been out for a whole week.  In the past problems seem to be resolved within a day of our reporting them,  this time it took a week of daily calling and three office visits. 

     Many small restaurants or food stalls are closed during the day, opening in the evening for the ‘break the fast.’  A visible sign of the current fast at larger restaurants are the curtains that are put up to keep customers from public view.  I, Erin, am still unsure if this is to protect the customers from awkwardness or those passing by from temptation. 
     Though there is a slower pace during the day, most places are extremely more busy at the ‘break fast’ time.  We tried to eat at Pizza Hut last week with a friend from out of town.  We arrived maybe 5:45p and there weren’t any available tables.  We were even denied when we asked to order take away.  Then we went home and tried to order delivery, the delivery line wouldn’t even answer the phone. 

The next day we ordered pizza to be delivered, an hour prior to the ‘break fast’ this time.  I am capable enough in language to be able to order at a restaurant, go shopping, and give directions.  Over the phone has always been more difficult for me to truly hear and understand.  Never the less I still use the phone.  So I ordered pizza.  Compounding the difficulty of hearing the person on the other line was the use of English throughout the conversation.  I have the hardest time understanding people that try to use English as I’m listening for local language words I already know, then on top of that the English words are spoken with a very thick accent.  After at least 10 minutes on the phone, I just consented to the order that was repeated back to me.  I thought we were going to get two large stuffed crust pizzas with some combination of pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, and sausage.  Well, we received two large stuffed crusted pizzas, each with pepperoni, mushrooms and sausage.  One also had green peppers.  The additional topping we (especially me since I did the ordering) were not expecting were potatoes.  Then the most disappointing aspect was the use of Thousand Island dressing instead of tomato sauce.  I have seen the menu and the unusual toppings that are offered (including corn, potatoes, and tuna fish), but the sauce was a new one.  We ate the pizza, but with some disappointment.  Next time I’ll let John order ;)