The more I research Ramadan for this blog, the more I realize how little I actually know about Islam. My original purpose was to just report things as a Westerner might see them, but now I feel like I should know a little background. As usual, when learning something new, I'll start (and probably stay) at the pre-school level. I'm going to go get some of these videos and see how Kermit the Muslim learns to fast and maybe I can shed some new insights.Today is Friday and it is the start of the weekend.
A year ago, the sheik decreed that the weekend would now be changed from Thurs/Fri to Fri/Sat.
The first "new" weekend was the day we landed in Abu Dhabi, so I have never experienced the "old" way.
It was done to get the UAE more in sync with the rest of the business world.
Friday is the day for going to church, brunch, reading the Friday papers, clipping coupons ( like our Sunday). Saturday is just like our Saturday back home...shopping, go to the movies, get a haircut. Then Sunday is like our Monday and it is the hardest to get used to. Husbands go to work and ex-pat wives play mahjong and get their nails done while their maids clean the house.
That means Monday is like our Tues. and Tues. is our "hump" day. Confusing....yes...
Like everything in the Middle East, no one is on the same page. Some countries do Thur/Fri, some do only Fri and some do Fri/Sat. Even more confusing...yes.
Welcome to the Middle East.
2 comments:
I understand that muslims like to sit on the floor during ramadan so their knees will press into their belly to make them feel full. I prefer to sit at the table & eat a pizza to cure my hinger pains!
I also want you to post pics of the Arab version of "Friends"! Haha. I think Dad needs adopt Islam so that he decrease his stress levels... he could just call his boss and say "sorry, I have to pray all day... I won't be able to get the 100,000 gallons of oil out of the ground today."
-Christie
Post a Comment