Day 43-44: Yom Kippur, Update

Because I haven't not updated my blog since I returned from my trip, I will post one just giving a general overview of what has been going on this week. We returned from our trip and had Monday off to recover. It's nice to be back in Yoff for a few reasons, such as having the ability to take showers regularly, sleep in a bed that you're almost sure doesnt have fleas or bed bugs, and just in general, feeling at home. However, I definitely miss my home in Medina Kouta, where I lived for three nights.

Since we have been back in Yoff, we've been having classes like we used to have, although not as many language courses. We are now 8 or 9 days in to Ramadan, and in a country that is 94% Muslim, you really become part of the holiday, even if you aren't fasting (which I have elected not to.) I’ve definitely lost some weight so far, which is a little disappointing, and even disturbing. However, I’m trying to eat as much as I can at each meal…

On Wednesday night, we had a Kol Nidre service at Alexa’s house. I have never been very religious but I thought I would just go with the few other kids to see Alexa’s house and do some Jewish stuff…so yeah. “Kol Nidre” for all of you non-Jews is the start of fasting for Yom Kippur. So we went to Alexa’s sat down, and read from a prayer book, and sang some songs. It was actually quite a nice little service. In the middle of our reading, the mosque about 100 feet down the street began blaring the call for evening prayer. For anyone who’s familiar with Judaism, let me provide you with this description: 4 girls and 1 guy sitting on a porch, in a circle, with a candle in the middle, singing “Oh sey shalom” while at the same time, a loud voice is chanting verses from the Koran on a giant loud speaker. The candle in the middle of us was kind of symbolic: it was like we were the tiny Jewish flame in the midst of the giant Muslim circle…definitely quite memorable. Maybe being in such an environment where Islam is so heavily felt is contributing to the fact that I feel more Jewish than I ever did…