“Eid Mubarak” is how Muslims greet each other today.  The greeting means “Blessed Festival”.  It’s a way of saying “Happy Eid” at the time of the Islamic Eid Holidays.

Since it’s my first experience of Ramadan in a Muslim country, I need to list a few things which are new to me:

(1)  Even non-Muslims are expected to shun from eating/drinking in public places.  I don’t know what will happen if you don’t follow but I personally just like to give my respect to the environment where I am in.  It never hurt respecting.  I was never too hungry or too thirsty in a public place, anyway.

(2)  Inside the offices, the observance of fasting, for non-Muslims, is dependent on the Management and the people you are working with.  If they let you, you can always eat and drink.  In the office where I am in, the Managing Director himself told us (non-Muslims) that we could eat.  And although, we are free to do so, we still do this with respect.  We try to hide whenever possible and we try to do it quickly and in minimal amounts.

(3)  Office hours is shortened during Ramadan.  On regular days, we work from 7am-7pm (with a 2-hour lunch break).  During Ramadan though, we work from 8am-2pm.  That’s a lot of free time to eat (at home), sleep and do everything else we want to do.

Today, the Muslims rejoice for the fact that their month-long of fasting is over.  It must be a relief for them.  It must feel like freedom.  Emancipation.

But then, it’s quite sad, for me.  Guess you know why…. I will have to work again from 7-7.

“Eid Mubarak” to the Muslims!