Ramadan ... your last week is upon us.

As I did in India, I am now counting the days to the end of the holy month and the celebration of Eid. Alas, it isn't the same here as it is in India. The Arabs call the Eid as the day of the Feast. They prepare their delicacies and they eat them in the afternoon of the first of the ensuing month after Ramadan (which is, by the way, Shawwal). In India, we prepare shirkhurma, a payasam-like dish with milk, dry fruit, dates and vermicelli, all cooked in pure ghee. A drink that I miss here in Saudi Arabia, although I did make it last year, and perhaps will make it this year as well. Let's see.

After the departure for vacation of my colleague Dr. Yasser, I am alone here in the department of Pediatrics. This means that I am continuously on-call, and cannot leave the village until a substitute is provided in my place. So far, it's not been a problem, since it's only been about 7 days since he left. However, as the days pass, I am surely going to miss a break. As employees of the MOH, we are entitled to 2 days' break every fortnight, but I would like to save my break until my need to go to Riyadh, which would be in the third week of September. 

So far, Ramadan hasn't thrown up many surprises. The fasts have been long, yes, as Maghrib is only after seven p.m. However, most of the time, we live in an air-conditioned environment, so thirst isn't a big problem. Hunger, sometimes, is. My being a diabetic has led me to a snack/mini-meal every three to four hours, and that creates a major hassle, especially when I am home in the afternoon and about 5-6 feet away from a well-stocked larder and a well-stocked refrigerator. 

For iftaar, I usually eat a dinner-like meal, though I did have stuff like samosas, sandwiches, burgers, etc. on those days when I could manage to cobble together the stuff, or buy it from the one and only snack shop in the village - this one is at the end of the village, next to the garden. It is managed by Yemeni cooks and assistants. Besides the usual fare of sandwiches, tea, coffee, "tamiya" and fruit juices, they make samosas in Ramadan. The entire group of Yemeni guys who work there are great to chat with. They are humble, friendly and cooperative. 

A few days ago, I was invited to iftaar with Dr. Emaam Sayed at his home. He had also invited Drs. Mohammad, Ehab and Ahmed Ouf. The food prepared for the occasion by his wife was great. There was Molokhia (which I finished an entire plate of, drinking it like a soup), foul (beans), rice, a beef kofta curry (that I avoided, as I have left eating beef since many years), salad, juices and other miscellaneous stuff, besides samosas and large pieces of chicken (roasted). I enjoyed small portions of all the items. This is the second consecutive year that Dr. Emaam has invited me to break fast with him and some friends, and I really appreciate it. 

I have just finished compiling the first issue of the Hospital newsletter, and submitted the same to the Medical Director, Dr. Ahmed Ouf. This being the first issue, the first page is full of congratulatory messages and an editorial by me. The second page will see short interviews by a doctor, a nurse and an administrator. This time, we have featured Dr. Moataz (our Egyptian anesthetist), RN sister Nouf (the Saudi in-charge Nurse) and Mr. Abdullah Qatthani (the admin in charge of house-keeping services in the hospital). On page three, we have a clinical case, a radiological quiz scenario and a small How-to section where we plan to explore the needs of the expatriate staff in the hospital. Finally, on the last page, we have put in place a section for jokes, classified advertisements and a feedback section. As the executive editor of the newsletter, I feel very possessive of my baby, but also excited to see it reach the end of a long gestation period and expect a normal, healthy delivery of the baby in this month.

That brings me to the end of this contribution. Do let me know through comments as to how you found it. Thank you.

Saturday, 28th July, 2012: Invitation accepted

I was today invited for the iftaari at the home of a close friend of mine, Mr. Salman Otaibe, who works in the hospital's pharmacy. The invitation came out of the blue, in the sense that I had never expected such a great gesture from a Saudi person. This is not because I do not consider them nice; in fact, they are very helpful people in many ways. I have quite often received bounties from them that I never thought I would. For example, many a times, Saudi gentlemen and even adolescents stop their cars to give me a lift when I am on my way to the hospital. Another example I can give is my home's landlord, who has accommodated me without any fuss after my friend Dr. Shahid left for India last month. 


Thus, it was with a touch of humility and a sense of being accepted among the Saudis that I accepted the invitation. To be honest, I first thought Salman was pulling my leg. I asked him whether his parents or others at home had been informed and whether my presence would be welcome. He assured me it would be, and also informed me that he was inviting his own colleague Mr. Mohamed, and the physiotherapist at our hospital, Mr. Ahmed Obety (whom I also consider as a friend) ... along with me. I was worried about whether I was expected to honour them with a particular attire or something like that, and he laughed and said any dress would do. 

The sitting room with a large chandelier

The large sufraa laid out with varied fare

He came to pick me up at half past six in the evening. Taking me to his house which is located in a more distant part of Al Muwayh which is known as the "Mukhattat", he chatted with me about his family and other similar stuff. Entering his house's compound, I was led to the main house, where I was taken first into the sitting room or the Majlis. After a little while, Salman took me inside to the dining hall, where a sufraa (a large plastic sheet) was already laid out with a large variety of snacks, bowls of dates, and a large tray with jars of water, sweet-lime juice and other drinks. Here are some pictures of the setting I was welcomed into. Gradually, his family members began to trickle in. The first of these was his younger brother; then, two more of his younger brothers walked in, followed by his other guests Mr. Mohamed and Mr. Ahmed. About five minutes before the actual time of the Maghrib azaan, which is also the time to break the fast, the elders came in, including his father, his uncle and his eldest brother. 

Mr Salman Otaibe with the iftaar items ready for consumption

When the sound of the azaan in the adjoining mosque broke the small talk that was taking place, the gathering took helpings of the fresh dates and broke their fasts. Salman's father was effusive in his manner and exhorted me repeatedly to eat, and to eat well. I was touched. The entire group was then busy eating snacks like samosas, "bhajias", "pizza-like slices", 

The ornate ceiling of the dining room

fruit, chicken pattice, and so on. Salman himself was the serving host, and he busied himself filling glasses of water and juice for each of the nine other persons sitting in our gathering. 


Presently, it was time to end the eating and go for the namaaz. We all got up, and walked to the adjoining mosque where we all joined the gathering for the Maghrib prayers.


This accomplished, we returned to Salman's house for the next course of food, viz. a formal dinner. The previous fare was not removed, but we were served bread, shorba (soup), baked vegetables, and a brinjal curry, along with generous and repetitive helpings of black tea.

From L->R, Salman, his uncle, his elder brother and his father

Salman, the serving host for all

Two of Salman's brothers

L->R, Salman's father, Salman's fourth brother, Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Mohamed

The entire experience was, for me, unique in more ways than one; it was, at the same time, an honour to be invited into a Saudi's home, and, an opportunity to see the culture of Saudis in relation to the customs of Ramadan and iftaar. I am attaching a few more pictures of the evening with the entire gathering assembled around the sufraa.


Do comment on this entry and oblige.


Thanks.