Anybody who has been through an orientation about living abroad knows this graph, I first encountered it when I studied abroad in Jordan during college. It's a line that depicts a typical emotional experience during one's time in the foreign country. First the line inclines sharply with the excitement of living in a fresh environment. But after a while the line takes a nosedive, which is steeper and longer than the thrill of the arrival. Then after an extended period the graph rebounds back to its original position. These past weeks have been that rollercoaster for me. This last one has had some highs but the fasting has worn me down physically and mentally. Ramadan is definitively the most challenging thing I have ever attempted in terms of discipline and this past week was no different. Like me, I am sure you have attended iftars at restaurants around the city. It's a great time to meet friends over a large meal. But time after time I have been disappointed with the selection at these restaurants. It doesn't matter what type of restaurant it is they all serve the same iftar, which usually consists of kebab, soup, a macaroni dish etc. I have been disappointed on numerous occasions to find that I won't be able to eat from the menu but their buffet. The only saving grace is that all of these restaurants serve my new favorite drink, karkade (hibiscus juice) and it's not because of my high blood pressure which the drink is reported to help alleviate. But please excuse that rant, I think I am just tired from a lack of energy. I have noticed my energy levels dip significantly. I've tried to keep a normal life, which includes going to the gym. But I've all but given up on that for the month since I don't usually have enough energy to make it through the first half hour. But maybe that is the point. Maybe I shouldn't try to maintain a normal life and surrender to the change that Ramadan brings. In trying to keep with that spirit, I spent the night in Khan El-Khalili for sohour. And for the people who haven't been there, I highly recommend taking the trip. The first nice thing about it is the absence of the busloads of tourists that clog the streets. The Khan reverts back to a local market later on at night. The second thing I recommend is sitting down and enjoying a meal of foul, eggs and yogurt at one of the local cafes. Next venture off into the labyrinth of dark and light to explore the night side of the market. The renovation of certain areas with the addition of the lights, which illuminate the high walls of local mosques, is a nice touch. Finally find another café in a back alley and enjoy a shisha with the regulars. Usually when they find out that I've been fasting, my drinks are free for the rest of the night. As Ramadan winds down, I am excited to enter my final week. Just as the first week was full of excitement, I figure the last week and the anticipation for Eid Al-fitr will be similar. With lailat al qadr around the corner, I might even try to stay up all night to reap its benefits. But I must remember that this next week is the fourth quarter. I've caught myself on several occasions going to the refrigerator for a bite to eat or a glass of water during fasting hours. It's easy to fall into complacency and make a mistake. So for now I am going to buckle down and finish this Ramadan strong because failure is not an option.
