Today marked the celebration of the end of Ramadam - and Tristan and I met a group of Western friends at a restaurant for Breakfast to celebrate.
For a Western expat in Kuwait Ramadam is not an easy experience to navigate. While it is Ramadam we are subject to laws which will not let us eat in public. Tristans' work explained this was because Kuwait is tolerant to other cultures. As a result of this law Kuwait completely shuts down. Every form of entertainment is shut from sunrise to sunset. Movies would not start until 9, shops open from 6.30 - 8.00 and the only thing open during the day is the super market.
Although the temperature has dropped, making it possible to walk outside during the day, that was even something we could not do because we could not drink water.
This all may sound selfish, but suddenly your life just stops!
You are stuck in your home, the is your only friend and the resulting cabin fever makes tensions high.
Work helped elevate the boredom. We had to 'sneak' away to designated areas to have something to eat while Muslim colleagues are fatigued and hungry (making me feel like a dirty ferret!). What amazed me was some of the Arab colleagues who would stay up to 3 or 4 in the morning and still come to work.
As an outsider being in a Islamic country where Ramadam is practised, you feel isolated from the experience. Although it is still an interesting one. But, I'm glad its over!
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