UPFRON T / STUDEN T V IEW
LEFT Dubai’s skyline BELOW LEFT Ramadan is a time of hospitality RIGHT An Iftar meal
breakfast with plenty of water for the day ahead. Eating a heavy breakfast does not sustain you for the whole day, especially later in the day. Instead, I make sure that I get the vitamins and nutrients that I would have gained on a normal day. We also finish school a lot earlier, around 1:30pm - this is two and a half hours earlier than usual, and means I have more time to rest, recuperate and visit with family. Iftar (the evening meal) usually happens after sunset (Maghrib prayer) and we start with a date and a cup of water.
How we deal with temptations and cravings
A
t the start of Ramadan, you feel really tempted to munch on a packet of crisps! To make these cravings easier to resist, the schools have separate eating and drinking areas. There are rules that ban drinking water while you walk around in public, for example. This really helps me to
simply forget about hunger and my thirst, especially on the first week of Ramadan, when even the sight of food can send me spinning! However, by the end of the week, I find myself more strong-willed and less tempted. When Ramadan ends, I usually eat more healthily than I did beforehand, I know that I do not need those chocolates anymore. Often, the school will host a communal Iftar meal.
When the school bell goes…
B
y the end of the school day, I love to go out as much as I do sleeping. I find that a few weeks into Ramadan, I love seeing new places, especially, those that offer a great iftar meal. Ramadan is the month I can truly spend time with my family and friends since exam week has passed. Though the thought of restricting my food intake may seem harsh and tough, Ramadan is a month of relaxation and serenity, in complete juxtaposition with the strenuous months ahead of it.
“Ramadan is a time to bring yourself closer spiritually to Allah” Is that the new moon?
R
amadan is one of our favourite months, yet what I really look forward to is Eid–Al Fitr. It begins with the first sighting of the new moon. Eid traditionally starts with prayers in the mosque. It is a time for families to come together and celebrate the end of a long though enjoyable month. It’s a lovely time just to relax and have fun with your loved ones. And it leads onto the summer holidays!
Ramadan is not just skipping meals...
A
s I mentioned before, Ramadan is a time to bring yourself closer spiritually to Allah . It is not just a month where you stop eating. I find myself reflecting more on my actions and generally being a nicer person during this month as well.
H A N N A H D UA L E Year 10 student at Repton School Dubai. agirlspenandpaperblog.wordpress.com 2017
AE_Emirates02_Ramadam.indd 21
|
E D U C AT I O N E M I R AT E S
|
21
31/05/2017 17:36