Ramadhan

Its now the seventh day of Ramadhan, the month in which everyday all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk.  The month ends with Hari-Raya, which is the biggest celebration in their calendar. I have heard it is really amazing and I am disappointed that our flight date means we miss it. The aim of Ramadhan is for muslims to experience feeling thirsty and hungry so they can sympathise with those who do not have food and drink.

At 4.30am they wake up and take their 'Sahur' (breakfast). This is rice with meat or fish - yes at 4.30am!! They must not eat once the morning prayer call has finished. Then during the day they cannot intake anything...eat...drink...smoke etc...until their 'Buka Puasa' (breaking fast) at around 7.15pm. Before they dig into a meal, they eat dates and drink milk- which has some religous connotation but Im not sure the exact meaning.

For the first two days of Ramadhan I tried to 'Puasa' (fast). Not eating was really easy - you just get so thirsty!! Now I am doing my own version...7.30am - 7.30pm without food, and I am allowed to drink because I dont think my body is used to coping in the heat without water. For those of you who think I am going to come home stick thin..you are wrong - we eat so much in the evening it basically makes us for 2 lunches and dinner put together! I am fasting because I want to join in with everyone at school, and it is the most satisfying feeling breaking fast in the evening.

Every night during Ramadhan there are huge markets selling traditional foods for people to take home when they break their fast (if they cant be bothered to cook!) They are so colourful and have a great atmosphere. I go most days and try different things every time. I am seriously going to miss Malay food - its soooo good and super cheap.

You do not have to fast if you are ill, pregnant, or on your period. The days lost must be made up for at another point in the year though. Some pregnant women still choose to fast though...theyre crazy!

Here is a photo I took at the Pasar Ramadhan in Parit Sulong. The lady in green is our head of English who took us.

I am already beginning to get into going home mode... Next week is our last week at school, and I have made a list of all the places I want to go to nearby for the last time. I feel ready to leave school but Malaysia has become so much like home now. I am making most of the sunny weather and the freedom I have before I come home in three weeks time.



Birthday in the tropics

Yesterday was my 19th birthday! I had a really good day. After arriving at school a little late (treated myself to an extra half an hour in bed) I joined the teachers for a Malay style rice breakfast. They then surprised me with a big cake and present - so sweet of them. I opened a very nice handful of cards that had been arriving over the last few days, I was very touched that people still remembered my birthday and I havent been forgotten! Fiona's parents (who are here visiting) then took us to the pool nearby, (a 50m outdoor) which in the sunlight was so beautiful. Swimming was great as I could burn off all the cake I had eaten that morning...(which was alot...) In the evening I went out for a meal - so all in all it was a very good one!

I remember my 18th birthday and have been thinking just how great a year I have had since then! Starting off with a long summer holiday, then doing work experience in London, and then travelling to Malaysia. It probably will have been one of the most free years of my life...no exams..no debt!

It is pouring with rain here today - the parits are full of water now. Thankfully Fiona had an umbrella so we could make it into school vaguely dry!

Thank you for all the birthday wishes :-)

Bye bye Mum and Naomi :(

Life at home is super quiet after Mum and Naomi left to go back to England yesterday. All my washing is clean and the house very tidy also (thanks Mum). I was also treated to some luxuries from home that I have been missing, such as: a box of Mum's flapjacks, Marmite, Branflakes, and lots of clothes. I really enjoyed having them to stay, showing them the school and introducing them to all my students and friends. The students were all amazed at how tall Naomi is, and lots of them decided they fancied her!

We had a lovely weekend in Melaka which is 2 hours north of Batu Pahat. It's great for shopping, sightseeing and also relaxing - so we had a bit of everything. We stayed in a lovely hotel which had a pool and gym. Melaka is on the backpacker trail so you always see alot of white people, which is nice but also strange - you would never see any (other than us!) around the school area.

Last night Fiona and I played badminton against some of the female staff...a sort of inter-department competition. It was so much fun, and great to play a more competitive sport (cycling and running can get boring sometimes). I could see that inside they were actually really competitive, although they tried to hide it!! I hadnt yet seen any Malay women exercising so it was great to play with them - they even suggested playing weekly friendly matches.

Tonight we are going bowling with some teachers, and Fiona's parents will arrive tomorrow. Sorry this is going to be a short post - the bells just gone and I have class!