I know, I know exactly what are you thinking...You who know me, you must be laughing your socks off (Stole cujem te ovde), in disbelief that your friend will lay it all out here in followin weeks. I do not promise much excitement, it will be my way to communicate to all of you on what's going on while I'm not with you. Those who don't know might be saying "another lame blog about some boring shit", it will get better. In fact, I really don't give a shayze, so thanks to steer away.
So, I'll focus my time to present some things I observed, shite that happened, people met, places I've seen, maybe some political rants and definitly some music reviews.
Elem...
It is Ramadan! I have to admit, I don't know much about islamic traditions , and I'm trying to find out more about it, but local guys do not know much either, so I often got different explanations, often vague. What is certain, if you fast, that means no food, no water, no smokes, from time you wake up, till exactly 6:oo pm, sundown...Story is in short, that during the day you refrain from eating and other stuff so that after 6pm you can provide for those less fortunate who have nothing to eat. In reality, everyone eats like nuts after sun sets down, so everyone eats more on average than usual...Point got lost due to course of time...Oh well...
Most off muslims around here are really motivated to follow the fasting tradition, I suspect more than they do it home, and are ready to impose that on everyone, which is kinda pissing me off to tell you the truth. I'll just continue living everyday as I usually do, I said to myself, I do not feel like starving and working at the same time, I like my 12:00 lebanese wraps more than anything.
So September 1st came, coming to work sleepy as usual, going blindly straight to cafeteria to make me some coffee, usual black cup, 2 spoons of nescafe, 50% water 50% milk, and some hazelnut syrup...perfect mix, always hits the spot...Reaching for the cup, collegue of my whispers: "Hey, u know, u can't bring that in, people are fasting u know, have some respect, u know..." WTF? So what, they fast, let them fast, why does that concern me? It is their business in the end, not mine...Apparently, that is considered rude and illegal in some way, which I don't get. Noone knows exact rules to obey, but everybody is shit scared! Ramadan changes the whole way of living here, and you clearly get to see how living in islamic country feels like. For a month of September, this is what happens: no smoking on a public place, no drinking on a public space, no eating, restaurants are closed, clubs are shut down, taxis are impossible to find, no one is working, business is just dead, people are fainting in the streets, sleeping at work, completely without energy, starving...
I'm looking at the bright side...I smoke less, do not drink coffee as much, do not eat as much, it is good to detoxicate a bit from all that fine Lebanese cuisine I love. Hm, this could be a good thing after all. In reality, I just became frustrated, no energy, no motivation, I think I started looking like those guys...Man, you can't take my smokes from me, or I'll start biting. Finally, my fellow smokers and I snuckout to the parking lot, hiding behind the surveillance camera, smoking cigs like joints in the hood. Beats smoking in designated area, tent directly under the sun, smells like microwaved ashtray. Screw that...
But it is not as bad as it could be...Dubai being one of more liberal emirates in UAE, is more flexible when it comes to enforcing the rules. People tell me: "Shhhh! this is nothing like Saudi Arabia. I heard that if you smell of smokes, neighbour or colleague can report you and you will be fined for sure, prison maybe, something no doubt..." Other Emirates are similar apparently. Damn, Dubai is OK now after all...
After work I hit the gym as usual and after some treadmill, sweating like crazy, thirsty as a camel, I come to water fountain, to only see its been taken away. WTFx2!!! I ask the building administration dude..."Hey its Ramadan, don't you know?"
Damn, this September calls for a getaway trip...
