October has been a rather uneventful month. I returned to Ka�di from the States and slowly got back into the swing of things here. Compared to the US, life is definitely crawling at a snail's pace. Of course, that is naturally the case here, but life is almost at a standstill now because we are in the midst of the monthlong Ramadan holiday.
Abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset for 30 straight days certainly takes a toll on one's body, especially when temperatures are still blazing well over the 100 degree mark. During this time, life as I know it completely changes even though I, myself, am not fasting. My office is virtually empty, most stores have limited hours of service, and my thrice-weekly lunches with various families have been temporarily suspended. I really don't mind the first two, but I do miss Mauritanian lunches. Despite my usual rantings about the horrible food here, the traiditonal lunch of spicy fish and rice with vegetables is something I actually crave. But, then again, I suppose it is the least I can do given the significant sacrifices my families and friends are making to demonstrate their commitment to their religion. And in just 2 weeks I will join them in celebrating the end of another Ramadan, complete with the sacrifice of a sheep, lots of food, and dancing.
This just reminds me that this is my last Ramadan in Mauritania. It's such a bittersweet moment. I wouldn't exactly say that things here are a walk in the park, but I'm used to how things work now. Despite the difficulties of living and working here, I will definitely miss it when I leave. I will especially have a hard time leaving the 3 families I have adopted. What started out as a purely financial arrangement (money exchanged for food or housing) has turned into a very special connection. They take great care of me and are so protective when someone tries to take advantage of me. Our ongoing discussions of politics, corruption, racism, culture, and music have taught me so much about the world. It really is amazing to see just how much my life has changed in this short amount of time. Despite all the harassment, the poverty, death, and disease, the heat, the scorpion stings, and the unending frustrations, this has truly been a life-altering experience for me. One that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world
Until next time,
Janine
