Ramadan

Right now, Muslims are in the middle of observing Ramadan, a month long period of fasting. They wake up very early in the morning to cook and eat a large meal, then fast during the day until 6:00. This is when the party starts for them, and they feast! This also means that the mosques go CRAZY during this month! They still project the call to prayer over loud speakers 5 times a day, but it's even louder right now. The most devout Muslims take this time to pray 5 times every day. It's convicting to think that they spend so much time in prayer to a god that isn't personal. . .  It's a good reminder for us to do the same, but unfortunately more often than not, I get annoyed at the sound instead of inspired to pray. . .

Here's a little  video clip from several nights ago outside our balcony. We hear this mainly from 6:00 pm -9:00pm. 

Don't feel like you have to listen to it all. . .just keep in mind that you'd have to replay it approximately 180 times in order to hear it as long as we do every night. . .I did the math.

The end of Ramadan (about two weeks away) is celebrated with the Idul Fitri holiday. We've heard that the city of Jakarta is basically empty during this time, because it's 10 days designed for Muslims to travel back to where they're from to visit their families. It's a time of forgiveness. While all of the staff at our school are Christians, the custodial crew is not because they are contracted through an Indonesian company. This means that out of courtesy, we try not to eat or drink in front of them when possible (excluding the school's lunchtime of course). Something we learned in chapel today, is that the Idul Fitri compares to our 'holiday season' in the states in that it's a time of giving. So, as teachers, we are pooling money together to make gift baskets for the custodial staff. I thought this was a great idea by our principal because it shows that although we are not observing their time of fasting, we still respect and appreciate them, and all that they do for us.

Well, that's all for tonight. . . as I have been putting off my lesson planning for too long now. . .
Oops, never mind. . .time for a skyping with my Dad :)