Ramadan Kareem - 2016

It's our 6th Ramadan in the sandbox - wow! Well, actually, I'll be in the US for most of it, but I still think it counts as number 6. For those who don't know, Ramadan is a special month of the Islamic calendar and the month where all Muslims are required to fast (no eating, drinking or smoking) from sunrise to sunset. It's a very holy time where many try to read the Quaran (holy book) from beginning to end and work to keep their thoughts positive and calm. It's a time of family gatherings, generosity, reflection and prayer. Today marks the first day of Ramadan and the traditional greeting for this is Ramadan Kareem.

For us non-Muslims living in the region, it means all the restaurants are closed during the day and we also cannot eat, drink or smoke in public. Each year, they publish a list of places that serve breakfast and lunch for non-Muslims. They are usually in hotels or tucked away places and always curtained off or with frosted windows. At work, the 12th floor cafeteria is open with frosted windows and door and that's the only place you can eat or drink during the day. No coffee or water at your desk, which always takes a few days to get used to.

At the end of the day, the fast is broken with an Iftar, which starts with a few dates and some milk or juice to break the fast, then evening prayer and then a feast. The hotels go wild with their Iftars and they end up as lavish as the brunches, but without the booze!