Job Discussion Forums

[kuberkat]

SO what's your take on Ramadhan?

[kaw]

Although I won't be doing so this year as I'll be on holiday and was also away last year I did fast for the whole of Ramadan the year before - and wore an abaya and hijab. The students seemed to appreciate it and I had lots of invites to go and eat with them at iftah.
Now I'm in Bahrain, things aren't the same - though I did go out with my abaya on today and have only had 2 cigarettes since 1pm........nd have not had a single cappucino (but thats only cause Costa was closed).

[kuberkat]

Real tough for a smoker! Good on you, kaw.

[veiledsentiments]

Hey Kaw... by iftah, I presume you mean Iftar?

It sounds like a very good time to finally break that smelly and expensive smoking hobby... (of course for the rest of the year too many of them are puffing away all around you...)

VS

[ckhl]

I don't really get this. If you're not a Muslim, why would you be fasting? Cultural sensitiity? To "get into the culture"? I can undestand if you're using it as a pretext to lose weight or quit smoking..

[nomadykaty]

Some people may be fasting due to the logistics of where they teach. Where I work, they've closed down the staff cafeteria, taken away all the amenities and even locked the refrigerator. They say it was an accident and everything will be open tomorrow (inshallah).

And there's nothing wrong with being "cultural sensitive."

[dmb]

Kaw, did you fast in the local way? Stuff yourself at midnight to make up for the lack of eating during the day.

[veiledsentiments]

Everywhere that I worked they tended to lock up the food sources. At HCT, they closed the lunch room sales, but the faculty lounge stayed open and even the female students used it for the times when they were not fasting.

At the places that closed the facilities, we were still allowed to use our offices and students were aware that they should knock before entering as the teachers were not fasting. It was never a problem and never have I heard of them pretending that it was an accident??

There were usually a few teachers who shared the experience with the students... nothing wrong with that, but my digestive system would never have tolerated it. I need my beauty rest and can't sleep with a full stomach. But, I bet Kaw got to share some interesting Iftars.

VS

[kuberkat]

Hmmm, yes, why would anyone want to fast if they are not obligated, anyway? I have a great deal to say on this subject, but will refrain from boring you with the details on this (rare) occasion. Suffice it to say that foregoing food and drink is only a symbol. In my case there is a good reason why I feel a (liquid- being an infidel and all) fast and mental introspection will benefit me. (If you really want a blow-by-blow account , PM me for my blog address.)

Losing weight, however, is NOT a typical spinoff of this kind of fast. With no food taken in the day, the metabolism grinds to a screeching halt. When this is followed by excessive feasting, as it often is despite the warnings of religious leaders and doctors, digestion is an iffy process. And for those who go to sleep on a full stomach this is even worse. No wonder so many students are zombies for a month. This also makes any health or benefits questionable.

[kaw]

Why did I fast? Um..........something to do with the old saying - when in Rome.......at least it gave me more of an understanding of what my students were going through.
Dmb - certainly didn't stuff myself at midnight to make up for it - though probably smoked more than I usually would have done.
I might have another go this year - despite being on holiday - doesn't do any harm and will hopefully give me the willpower to give up smoking. Fingers crossed.
Vs - thanks for the spelling correction - never was one of my strong points.

[dmb]

[sw]

I'm sure that there are many Muslims in the ME that undertake the fast in a serious and religious way. However, anyone who has taught in the ME knows that what happens is far from fasting. My experience with students/trainees (post secondary - 18 to 30 +) in Saudi, Bahrain, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi is that the fast is sleeping time and an excuse to avoid all work (not that they need the fast to avoid work!). It is an all night party of excessive consumption of food and, save Saudi, alcohol. They consume vast quantities of food in the morning and come to class in a comatose state and it's the teacher's responsibility to keep them awake. The shorter hours only add to the problem of getting them to do anything.
This would be fine if the teachers were allowed to enjoy the same holiday attitude, but (in my experience) administrators patrol the hallways like storm troopers (between their office naps) looking for sleeping students and any excuse to chastise teachers. I don't mean to sound so negative, it's actually comical and just one of the adventures of teaching in the ME.

[veiledsentiments]

[kuberkat]

SW, perhaps I should mention that I am from a family of hard-core fasters (mystics, not dogmatics!) who were appalled to hear that the fast is actually broken every evening. Considering how many people even get up fora pre-dawn snack as well, I do sometimes wonder what the big deal is about basically skipping lunch. Although going without liquid can be an issue.

The bottom line of the fast, though, is really about less tangible things: living with greater integrity and awareness and consideration. And these are things that can benefit anyone. The trick is to keep the focus on that: in reality "fasting" can lead to extreme excesses when that perspective is lost. Insha'Allah that won't be happening to our eager young students .

[sw]

Well said, Kuberkat.