Ramadan was quickly coming to a close and everybody was quite happy about it, the westerners especially. For us, the transition from the western culture to a middle east one was quite difficult. New language, New customs, New Food (Which I actually preferred). On top of the new changes, the first day of Ramadan occurred only two days after we arrived. So not only did the westerners arrive with an initial culture shock, but soon afterwards, we were not able to eat in public during day time for a full month!!! It was quite a transition. Being a former fat thrower (ok, maybe former thrower, but current fat kid), I enjoy my food, so it was quite difficult.
During the last few days of Ramadan, some of the Muslim students challenged me to fast for one day. This means nothing will travel between my mouth and stomach from sun up to sun down. No food, no water, no nothing. Fortunately, there was light at the end of the tunnel. The Masdar company (Where I go to school) was throwing a huge iftar as a thank you and good luck to the new school year. As you might remember, an Iftar is the large meal breaking the fast after sundown. It’s a massive buffet of local and regional food. So, it worked out well that I would be fasting during the day, and then reward myself at night with a large buffet which I earned. Well let me tell you, this buffet was a double edged sword.
Before I get to the buffet, let me explain what it is like to not eat or drink anything for a full day. It’s not as hard as you would imagine, at least for the food part. But it is very difficult to not drink any water for 14 hours. I mean, its water. It’s the most basic thing that we need in our bodies. I brushed my teeth in the morning and I had to remind myself not to swallow any water. Very difficult to do. As far as keeping away from food, it wasn’t too bad. I had to keep myself busy all day with reading to not focus on my empty stomach. Honestly, it’s not as hard as you would think. I challenge you to try it.
So, this iftar was amazing. There were many rows of dried fruit, food, drinks and deserts. There was some great flat bread and hummus. Naturally I loaded up on just about everything went back from seconds and a large plate of deserts. Man, I made a terrible mistake……….
(Fat Kid Fuel)
Not eating or drinking for a full day does some odd things to your stomach. Since nothing has been down there for a while, it shrinks, and shrinks fast. I would say it was half the size it normally would be. All of a sudden, I loaded up of food, juices, etc, and it started to expand the crap out of my stomach. Simply put, I was putting in way to much volume. In no less than a half hour of eating, I feel terribly sick. I’m not talking Halloween full sick. I’m not talking Thanksgiving feasting till you are full and make yourself throw up sick (Jon Hart, fess up). This is a whole new level of stomach pain. Not only did I feel like I would throw up at any time, my stomach felt like it was literally tearing itself apart from the inside. I was nearly about to pass out in the middle of a large dining hall in one of the most expensive hotels in the work (Emirates Palace). It was being a fat kid once again, and it was terribly painful.
After a few hours, things started to settle down and I felt better. The last thing to feel the wrath of that iftar would be the toilet (Pictures Not Included)…………………….
Until Next Time.
