So today's the last day of Ramadhan.
I had a hard time surviving days of fasting, partly because I was away from home, and partly because of weak health.
There was abnormal spurt of work at the office, too, because the office spearheaded/oversaw the month-long activities at the ARMM compound. During the latter part of the month, I had a hard time in finding joy in the late nights and overtime. Maybe because I was missing home a little too much.
Suhor and iftar in Cotabato City were different than what I was used to at home in Marawi City. I self-pitied a few times while eating as I would compare the food, the time of eating, and the companions.
At home, at 5:30 pm, the table would already be laid out with food, sometimes humble, sometimes aplenty. My siblings and I would then be already seated at the round table, gamely waiting for the call of prayer.
In Cotabato City, we could not even hear the call of prayer at the dining table area. The rice would be cooked after the call of prayer because my housemates usually eat dinner after 7pm, usually at 8pm. They break the fast usually with lugaw or bread. I was used to breaking the fast with a full dinner.
I am not going to miss the late nights either. More often, we had to stay at the Ramadhan trade fair almost until midnight, with nothing to do but wait. All part of the job.
So as I say goodbye to Ramadhan, I say goodbye to late nights and self-pity. Although I have learned to love this job and the people that I work with, it feels good to say goodbye to certain aspects of my experiences.
Goodbye, Ramadhan, and I hope to experience you again next year. Thank you for making me remember yet again the value of family and religion.
Happy eid!
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