I know I do nothing poorly. I mean, when there is
nothing to do I am not at my best. Another meaning of the first sentence is
that I do everything well but that’s not what I want to say today.
Ramadan, for non-fasting Christians, is 28 days of
NOTHING. Remember: During Ramadan, for Muslims who observe the fast, there is
no taking into the body of anything (i.e. food, smoke, drink, injections, etc.) during the time the sun is
up. After sunset (just about) anything
goes.
I can get my own breakfast. It’s just instant coffee
and bread. (Why, living on the island that gave coffee its name, do we only use
instant coffee???) I offered to take care of lunch myself but the mother of my
host family said that she had to get lunch for the 5 year old granddaughter
living with us, (young children do not fast) she could just as easily get lunch
for me. I eat dinner when the family eats their breaking of the fast
(breakfast) meal just after the call to evening prayer. The usual way for them
to break their fasts is to start with something very very sweet, like dates in
warm sweetened coconut milk. I tried that but found that I couldn’t eat the
main meal after having desert first. So I have the meals covered which you
would think would be the most difficult part of the month. It isn’t.
The schools take a three week vacation. Anyone who
can, saves up vacation days to go back to their home village to spend Ramadan
with their greater families. In short, no one works. This leaves me with
nothing to do.
Knowing that I do nothing poorly, I came up with a
plan. Last year I read all 7 Harry Potter books. This year, I decided to read
the 4 books of the Lord of the Ring including The Hobbit. I did that. I also read a WWII novel, a mystery and have
only one more of the 7 Narnia books to finish either today or tomorrow. During this Ramadan I have seen the 3 Hobbit
movies and have the 3 Lord of the Ring movies yet to see. (Thank you Brandon,
the new PCV in Sumedang (20 minutes away) for giving me the movies.)
You might think I do nothing but read 24-7. I have
to admit the drum players who walk around at 3:00 a.m. to ensure people wake up
for the last meal of the night have woken me every night but, I usually sleep
regular hours. (I did get out of bed one night and go outside to see who these
people were who roam the streets making noise in the middle of the night. As I
thought, they are miscreant youth getting away with religiously acceptable
mischief.) I have also gone 8 hours
south of Cimalaka for 4 days at a beach and spent three days getting to and
from Bandung (3 hours away) to go to the dentist. I’ve also done a 9 square
inch needlepoint project. I spent two days helping my host family make cookies
and snacks for the visitors they will have during the Eid (feast).
I try not to have nothing to do.
wow! Mr Jay indeed you keep busy. I need a nap just reading about your activities. Thanks for your updates.
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