Ramadan (9/22)

As I wrote before, this entire month has been Ramadan, the holy month where Muslims fast every day dawn to dusk. I normally come home from the recharge stand about 5pm, otherwise the mosquitoes have a Guillermo buffet. But the last few nights have been the anticipated end of Ramadan. It's based on the lunar calendar so it finishes when we can again see the moon. 3 nights ago I stayed till late; waited. Nothing. We would have one more day.

2 nights ago, prepped with my mosquito repellent I waited again. Before long there were cheers, shrieks, and yells from kids down the street. More kids started yelling. I looked up and saw nothing but clouds. I asked Felicia (Bubu's wife) and she replied "It seems they have seen it."

Soon a loud bass-filled explosion went off in the direction near the center of my town. I looked and saw nothing. Then another. It sounded exactly like the barrel/cannon noise that the large fireworks make when shot into the air, but nothing was shooting up. I asked again and she told me they were shooting guns. They didn't sound like any guns I had ever heard, but then again I'm not exactly a card carrying NRA member. "What kind of guns?" "Oh, it's just the local ones."

As someone passed on their bike she pointed; it straight-up looked like a civil war musket. The shots got louder and closer. Across the street an explosion went off in a urinal and dust flew out the sides and top. Since they're old style guns they can pack the gunpowder separate without the bullet. So at least no one will get shot...

The mood was high and people were in a very cheerful mood. Kids were skipping around dancing and the spot across the street blared music. It was a very festive moment.
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Yesterday was the first day in a month that my neighbors could eat during the daylight hours. Everyone was in their "Sunday Best" (to put it in familiar terms...) and people were rocking outfits they had been saving all year, or bought just for that day. Bubu fell into the latter category.

They were like little kids at a candy store; all eating and sharing and telling jokes. I'd greet them "Ni ti yumpaale" (Neeh teeh yoom-PAH-ley, and our new year?). After we chatted some time I departed to greet other groups of happy northerners. Every time I left with the same phrase

"Naawune pahimi ti yuma"
(Nah-WOO-neh PAH-hee-mee tee YOOH-mah)
God give us another year