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Showing posts from September, 2013

19 Sept - Ramadan in Peonga

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I’ve been in Benin for a bit more than a year now.   That means, that I’m experiencing holidays and seasons for the second time.   Last year, when I went for my two week post visit, my community (and all Muslim communities around the world) was fasting for Ramadan.   It was the end of the fast, and my host mother wasn’t fasting so it didn’t really impact my life much.   I ate and drank throughout the day as usual.   This year, however, I was in village for pretty much the entire fast.   I knew I wasn’t going to fast for the entire month, but I learned that children learn how to fast by doing one or two days at a time.   Early on during Ramadan (which lasted this year from July 9-August 7), I asked Nafisa (the 10-year-old) if she was fasting.   “Not today,” she said.   “But I am going to fast tomorrow.”   So I decided I’d try it the next day too. Some background for those not all that familiar with Islam and with how Ramadan works: fasting for a month doesn’t mean you