Ramadan: Year 2

For my faithful readers out there, you might remember 2013 Kim was not a huge fan of Ramadan.  In my defense, I was hungry.  Last year I had a certain expectation: to be fed.  Sure, I was fed, but one small bowl of white rice and maggi at 10 am split between me and 5 children isn't going to tide me over all day.

This year I had no such delusions.  While, I didn't go as far as purchasing that gas stove that would be so useful, I have been eating.  Aside from the bread I can buy in village every day, and the fruit I can get in Kolda, my beautiful, wonderful, generous mother sent me an amazing care package that has gotten me through this week and I am trying to make last another 2 weeks. It's not that the amount of food in the package is insufficient, it's just that I get very bored sitting around waiting for people to want to move again that my stomach inevitably fakes a rumble and gives me an excuse to munch on those white cheddar Cheese-Its I love so much.

But what's an average Ramadan day? As per usual, I leave my hut at 8:00am on the dot.  I wait around to see if I'll be served breakfast.  Sometimes they've already eaten, sometimes there's no leftover rice, and always I have to guess.  I don't love eating rice for breakfast to begin with, so for the past couple days I've just been eating in my room.  A baguette from the day before and some honey, maybe an apple and a granola bar, breakfast changes.  Then, inevitably, once I'm done Ramatou will barge into my room with a big bowl of rice and 4 kids trailing behind her, triumphantly announcing breakfast, and I have to stomach a spoonful or two of rice for politeness sake.

Once breakfast is eaten I'll try and do some socializing.  "Try" being the key word.  What actually happens is I wander semi-aimlessly around my village looking for people to talk to.  I've been semi-successful.  Everyone's tired, even in the morning, and don't talk much and automatically gravitate to a place they can lie down.  When this happens I go home and try and con Soso and Oumou into hanging out with me, and this always turns into Oumou making my hold Aissatou while she does something.  I wouldn't mind this as much if she peed on my less.  Once relieved of Aissatou, I seek shelter in my room.  I'll read, listen to a podcast, and at some point make myself a beautiful lunch (yesterday I ate 5 chocolate chip cookies and I cup of powdered milk. Score.).

So yes, I'm eating.  But there's something missing again this year: people.  I miss my friends, I miss conversations not formed around fasting (and my lack thereof), I miss working, and I miss drinking tea. T-minus 2 weeks until I get my village back! In the meantime, book recommendations are welcome.

Jam tan,
Kim