Maghrib was not as dignified as I planned

Guest Post By Daniel, the fasting newbie

Just after my first post here I got a phone call from a colleague, she asked me if I wanted to work for her and since it's Ramadan I could not say no : ) so I had to run home prepare iftaar (pineapple and apple salad). I poured a big glas of cold water got my cigaretts out and sat watching the sun set behind the mountains. I said thanks and started eating. Dont know if eating is the correct word... I attacked my plate with a fury not seen since I picked up a smoke after being without for 2 weeks. I ate and drank fast and then I had 2 smokes before I had to run to work. I started at 1900 so there was time to eat before work today, a luxury I won't have the rest of the week.

My colleagues were quite supportive of my decision to fast for a month, but most of them thought it was weird as I'm not a Muslim. I tried to explain that I believe in God and that there is only one God so it does not matter if you call him/her "God "Allah" or "Jehova" its still the same God and that I was curious about Islam.

I worked for 4hrs and had a lot of water while working. After work I went to a friend's house for dinner around 2300 and when I came home from that I had a light snack (more fruit and veg) bedtime was around 0200 so I missed fajr as I was sleeping. I promised myself that I would wake up and go eat breakfast but I was in a deep sleep (but I think I drank some water from my bed) so today is going to be hard as I have not even had breakfast. But no one said it would be easy to fast for the first time.

Two of the girls I live with had a big night out last night so they were quite slow this morning. We went to do some shopping. My trolley was filled with fruits and veg and slow carbs for morning and fast carbs for night and some nice beef. The girls got egg, meat, mayonaise, white bread and so on... a nice fried Australian brecky. I was a bit hungry but I still helped them to cook. And I sat there watching them eating about 2 days worth of calories and drinking cold juice and milk. When they lit there smokes I had to leave for a while but I think I handeld the temptation quite well : )

I spend alot of my thirsty hours thinking about my spiritual journey and I'm thinking back about the journey I did when I was in my late teens (I went to England then). In my young ignorant years I experimented with drugs and sin and now still young but a bit wiser I experiment with religon and culture.

Day 2 of my first fast is coming to its end and I will soon go home and prepare a nice feast for me and my friends, as I'm really having a day off today. Two courses of couscous, one vegetarian and one with beef will be on the menu both served with cold sauses and flat bread. Fresh fruit and milk for dessert. And plenty of cold water and tobaco through the meal.

I hope you all enjoy your days and don't forget to tip your waiters tonight as they won't be able to eat until you leave the restaurant...