10 days and counting...

Today is August 11^th, which means my 10^th day of fasting.  No water or food from sunup (about 330am) until sundown (about 730pm).  It also means 10 days of lfdur (break-fast) with various families in my community… Its been really interesting to see peoples reactions when I tell them I’m fasting.  Tonight I thought I’d write up some of the various… situations that fasting has resulted in.  Read and enjoy (and comment!)

Tonight I was chatting with Caity on the phone.  Shes also fasting, so we have phone dates at night after breakfast to help each other stay awake and also just to catch up.  We were talking about how on the first day of fast we both had a moment where we asked ourselves if we could brush our teeth.  I seriously sat in front of the mirror for about 10 minutes wondering if I was technically ‘allowed’ to do this.  I mean, I’m not eating the toothpase, right?  But what if a little accidently goes down my throat?  Then am I not technically fasting?  I think it quite interesting that both of us thought twice about brushing even though neither of us are fasting for religious reasons.  I guess that’s just what happens when you’ve been in country for 16 months. 

Can you brush your teeth during the fasting hours of ramadan?

Answer: yes because tooth paste is not something you consume (fasting or not you spit it out). Of course you should be careful with the water and make sure you don't swallow any. But if you do swallow by accident then it does not break your fast. Allah swt says : And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally.) (Al-Ahzab 33: 5)The Prophet saws also said : "My nation shall not be held accountable for the mistakes they do unintentionally, out of forgetfulness, and under duress." (Reported by Ibn Majah) And Allah swt knows best

My second major fasting dilemma was if I should take my inhailer.  I mean, technically I’m not supposed to eat anything, right?  So should I be breathing things in either?  In the end I decided I’d just do it…. I guess I’d rather ‘breakfast’ and be able to breathe than risk an asthma attack in the mountains of Morocco.

If I have asthma, can I still use my puffer when I’m fasting?



Yes, you can still use your puffer during Ramadan without breaking your fast. This is because it is simply compressed air that you are inhaling into your lungs.

On my first day of fasting I decided (like the rest of my village) to take it easy and hang out in my house.  Us PCVs spend a lot of time sharing and watching variously downloaded tv shows and movies.  One of my new favorites has become Parenthood.  So I sit down, with my fan blowing on me to settle in and watch a few episodes.  Its only about 12 by now, so I have about 7 more hours ahead of me.  Well, well… guess what episode I’m on?  That’s right… the Thanksgiving one.  Being here in Morocco any show about or featuring food is hard to watch, since cravings for things such as bacon, cheese, alcohol and other delicious foods we take for granted in America are quite common.  But sitting through that episode, without my morning cup of coffee and knowing I wouldn’t be able to each for another 7 hours-  well, that, my friends, was rough.    

Many people in my community ask if I’m fasting, since its very public knowledge that I didn’t last year.  One of my favorite, and perhaps most hilarious moments thus far has been when an old man in my Souk asked if I was fasting.  I told him yes, and then he called me a liar.  After a few rounds of “no, I’m not lying” he pointed out that I was wearing chapstick.  Well, yes, I am- of course. Its hot outside, I’m thirsty and I always wear chapstick, I explained.  (Side note, I had no idea what the word for chapstick might be so I kept calling it medicine for lips).  So while I’m trying to defend myself to this man about my medicine for lips he continues to call me a liar.  Finally after about 10 minutes of me  explaining I don’t in-fact eat the stuff, I give up and tell him fine- I’m not fasting.  He kindly smiled and me and said goodbye.  You win that round, old man.

Can I wear lip gloss in Ramadan?



Yes, you can wear lip gloss to moisten your lips when you are fasting, as long as you do not swallow it. 


Lots of other things have happened in the last 10 days including getting a free half kilo of bananas from my vegetable guy because he was so happy I was fasting, almost passing out because of standing up too fast, lots of hours of saying “yes, Ramadan is hard” to various friends and explaing to people that just because I’m fasting I’m not becoming a Muslim.  Overall, its been a tough but interesting experience…. Lets see what the next 19-20 days have in store!

Ps.  While looking up the few questions I had I found this interesting website that had a lot of answers to the questions I had about Ramadan…. Check it out if you're interested!

Adventures in Fasting... Happy Ramadan!

So this is my second of everything in country.  Just celebrated my second 4^th of July, about to celebrate my second Thanksgiving and this is my second Ramadan.  (Go HERE to check out my blog from last year to learn more about Ramadan).  I didn’t fast last year, since I did a bit of traveling in Spain and just honestly didn’t want to.  But I decided I wanted to try and fast this year.  What does that mean you ask?  That means no food or water during sunlight hours which is from the first call to prayer at 3am until the 4^th call to prayer at about 730pm—yes, 16 hours.  And this Ramadan is in August, with the longest and hottest days.  Great time to give it a go, huh?

I’m now on day 3 of fasting.  I wasn’t so much worried about not eating during the day, I could survive being hungry a few hours but the water was the part I was most worried about.  And now that I’ve actually been fasting I think both suck- equally. 

Fasting is intended to educate the Muslim in spirituality, humility and patience. It is a time to cleanse the soul, focus attention on God, and put into practice selflessness.” http://www.whatisramadan.com  

Its only been 3 days now but I think it will be good for me. 

The hardest part so far has been how lethargic I feel during the day after about 4 (when I’m reaaaally hungry and thirsty) and also after breaking fast.  The first night I went to my landlords and yesterday I went to my friends house to break fast.  Its fun being with others who are equally as hungry and thirsty as me but the food they eat has a LOT of sugar.  I mean its great, don’t get me wrong, but after being hungry all day I’ve been craving some strange things.  So what I’ve been doing is breaking fast with families (eating the askeef (white creamy soup), bread, dates, figs and tea) and then going home and preparing a real dinner of some sort (lots of chicken, yummy!)    Language is also very hard when I’m hungry or tired so it’s been interesting attempting conversations right before break fast.

Today will be my first day of walking to souk (assuming this rain slows down) so we’ll see how I do with that.  Its about a 20-30 minute walk each way and I have to talk to some people about work so this will be my first of many challenges this Ramadan since the last few days have been spent in my house or in my dowar trying to adjust my body to no food or water.

I’ll try to post another update soon about fasting.  Ramadan Kareem everyone!