1er jour du Ramadan/ First Day of Ramadan

Vendredi 4 octobre 2005, premier jour du Ramadan.
Tout le monde discutait hier pour savoir si Ramadan allait commencer aujourd’hui ou non. Tout depend de la position de la lune. Ramadan est vraiment un temps spécial. Le rythme est différent. La journée de travail commence plus tard et nous avons fini à 15h parce qu’il faut se lever avant le lever du soleil, c’est-à-dire avant 4h du matin, pour déjeuner et pour prier. J’ai décidé aussi de jeûner, au moins un temps ; pour vivre au même rythme que tout le monde. Enfin aujourd’hui j’ai triché puisque j’ai bu. Comment pourrais-je survivre sans mon café ? Après le travail, je suis allée marcher dans les rues, tout le monde se pressait entre 15h et 16h pour acheter de la nourriture avant que les magasins ne ferment, spécialement les kataryes, sorte de petites crêpes délicieuses. Le repas était prévu à 17h27 exactement, cette fois le calcul est fait par rapport au coucher du soleil. Entre lever et coucher du soleil, pas de nourriture, pas d’eau mais aussi pas de cigarettes pour les fumeurs. La famille palestinienne que je connais tres bien a ramallah était presque tous la pour manger ensemble, chose très rare pour eux. Ramadan est aussi un temps pour la famille, où il faut plus prier, lire et faire attention aux autres.
Je me suis aussi rendue au checkpoint de Qalandia ; les personnes passaient à pied par contre en voiture, les files d’attentes étaient impressionnantes. Certains palestiniens ne seront pas chez eux à 17h27.


ENGLISH.
Friday, 4th of October 2005, first day of Ramadan/
Everybody was arguing yesterday to know if Ramadan would start today or not. All depends on the position of the almighty moon. Ramadan is a very special time. The rhythm is different, as well as the whole atmosphere. The working day starts earlier and finishes at 3pm; because if you follow Ramadan you are supposed to wake up before the sunrise (meaning before 4am) to have breakfast and to pray. I have also decided to fast, at least for some time, to have the same rhythm as everybody else. Well I have to say I cheated as I was drinking. But how can I survive without my cups of coffee. After work I have walked in the streets of Ramallah. The streets were full of people who hurried up to buy food between the shops closed. Especially they were buying the kafaryes, kind of small delicious pancakes. The authorized dinner was scheduled at 5.27 pm; according this time to the position of the almighty sun. Between the sunrise and the sunset, no food, no drinks and even no cigarettes for the smokers.
I went to a Palestinian family that has become my friends for the dinner. It was so nice to share that moment with them and almost everybody was there and sit together, which is extremely rare. Ramadan is also the time for the family; during which people have to pray more, to read and to devote more attention to others.
I also went to Qalandia checkpoint to see if there was no problem. The people that were passing the checkpoint by walking were fine. But the traffic jam for the cars that were waiting to be checked by the soldiers was impressive. For sure some Palestinians will not be at home for their 5.27 pm dinner.