Lebaran is Past; Normal Life Resumes

[drbruce]

Yesterday was Lebaran – the end of the fasting month. Some expat once explained it as Christmas without Jesus – not quite right, but close enough I suppose for those that don’t really get the previous month.

So, we all got up for morning prayers (the family from around the country are all assembled here in our house) and drove in various vehicles to the field where the mass prayers take place in Singaraja. Prayers went on uneventfully. It’s amazing how much of laid-back thing that is here compared to other countries with Muslim majorities. Guys were sitting around smoking before prayers began which is not exactly up to par as once you do wudzu - ritual cleaning before prayers – you’re not allowed to get dirty again. But, that’s all part of the more relaxed Islam here.

So after prayers, we returned to the house. The kids went to the cemetery where their grandparents are buried, and my wife made breakfast for me. Before I had finished breakfast, the kids returned. 10 children ranging from 18 to 3 filed past, all sneaking a look at me and then hurrying to the back house whispering and giggling. I knew what that was about, but I studiously ignored them and finished up my omlet.

A small head peaked around the corner from the beach house to check on my status. I smiled, it a cigarette and took a sip of coffee. Another head popped up a few minutes later while I continued to have a leisurely smoke.

Another head popped around the corner and some more giggling followed. I finished my coffee and gave my wife the sign. She called the children in who slowly and patiently lined up at my chair. Out came my roll of new banknotes. And one by one, the children collected their Eid money, kissed my hand and ran off to the back of the house.

And so another Ramadhan finished and another Eid began.

[Jimbo]

Nice story Bruce and conveys in part the gentleness that is true Islam. On site here was a guy from Palestine. Hefasted for the whole month of Ramadan but when Eid came he had no one to share it with. He is a snior manager here and he came to my office to talk some business.

I wished him Eid Mubarak and the look on his face was one of sadness. In the whole month of Ramadan he had no one to break the Iftar fast with and now had no one to celebrate Eid with. We talked a long time about the importance of family during the month and the eid festival and once again it brought back to me the good of Islam that many in the west do not see.

Although I am a confimed christian the inherent goodness in all religions is plain to see. If only they were not abused by Men.

[Roy]

You already know Doc, that one of the things I like and appreciate most about you, is that like me, we are both immersed in a culture and religion that has nothing in common with that which we both learned about as kids, coming from very similar backgrounds in the US.

For you, it’s Islam. For me, it’s Bali Hindu. And for each of us, it’s our choice of wives that is most behind this reality.

How we “handle” this, and the result of those decisions we make that impacts our lives, as expats, is of far more interest to me, and I suspect, of far more interest to any reader of this forum, than the minutia and object inaccuracies so often encountered here.

Our sharing of our lives has NOTHING to do with “opinion.” It is, rather, factual observations...and indeed, they are factual observations that are not encountered anywhere else.

The why of why that is...the idea that an opinion expressed by someone who has NEVER been to Bali, lived here, breathed her air here for many years, and has found their “niche” is to be regarded as “equal” to the opinion of someone who has not lived here for even a day, and has never found their “niche” escapes my understanding.

Selamat Doc. Well done, and a great post.