Today I fasted

My alarm woke me up at 2.00 am this morning and not because I had a flight. I woke up to eat and drink as much as I could before 3.00 am so that I could go the rest of the day without consuming anything, including water.

I’m in Afghanistan and its Ramadan. Everybody here is fasting. The work day is shortened during Ramadan and all my colleagues go home at 2.00 pm to rest since they’re tired from not eating. It’s also 37 degrees.

Fasting is supposed to teach you self-control and self discipline as you forfeit water and food even though you’re bloody thirsty and hungry. It also gives an insight into the tragedy of hunger and a chance to feel what it is like for those poor people in the world who do not have enough to eat or drink. I thought to myself “when in Rome”.

So I finally dragged myself out of bed at about 2.10 to join our security guards for the morning meal, the Sahar. Unfortunately they hadn’t produced anything particularly wonderful since it was just another Sahar, but I happily washed down some cold rice and stale bread with some apple Fanta and yoghurt. I also drank about 2 litres of water.

02.50 – the mosque next door cried out “Allah Akhbar, Allah Akhbar” as a sign to the community that it was time to stop consuming. All Afghans fast and so almost everyone is awake at 2.50 am to get that last sip of water to get them through the day. I felt quite full and hydrated as I lay down to go back to sleep.

05.00 I didn’t sleep particularly well in the second half of the night from all the food (not to mention the sugar from the Fanta) and I kept dream worrying about how difficult it would be to not drink all day. I also woke up a couple of times to go to the loo.

06.40 My regular alarm went off and I felt quite good. I didn’t immediately need a drink like I usually do in the morning (because I drank 2 liters at 2am) so I was off to a good start.

10.15 (I am writing this live now) I check the clock for the umpteenth time and time is moving very slowly. It feels like about 2 pm. I keep instinctively reaching for my glass only to realise its not there, and I’m not supposed to be drinking. I’m not in pain or even that desperate for a drink but it’s more the thought of endless hours ahead which is worrying me. My throat doesn’t feel dry, per se, but the general neck area feels slightly tight.

My colleagues were excited when I tell them that I’m fasting and, according to one, it only gets “better” in the afternoon.

12.00 Definitely feeling the thirst now. I feel light headed and unable to concentrate (or type) as well as usual.

14.04 My Afghan colleagues are now going home and most of them will catch some sleep in the afternoon. I think that sounds like a good idea. I’m pretty hungry, pretty thirsty, but I think I’m going to make it.

18.00 I just woke up from a quick nap and, as recommended, I spent the last few hours relaxing in a nice air-conditioned bedroom. Funnily enough, I felt much better earlier in the office when I was busy and had less time to think about not eating or drinking. Only 1.5 hours to go.

19.27 Iftar Time!!!! The mosques next door ring out Allah Akhbar once again, at exactly the time set by the ministry of religious affairs. The dinner doesn’t start right away, however, as, for Sunnis at least, they have to pray before eating. So at 7:27 it’s dates and water time, then everybody heads off to pray before returning about 10 minutes later for the main meal. Shias don’t have to do that prayer, though, so there were a few people remaining in the room with us infidels, munching dates and drinking fruit juice.

Dinner was the classic pilau and kebab, with yoghurt and fruit. Not bad at all.

20.35 I’m back in the shack. I’m quite pleased that I managed to do it. I ate nothing for 17 hours and drank nothing for 16.5 and it was easier than expected actually. Many of my colleagues congratulated me on my one day fast but I couldn’t help thinking that they do it for 30 days a year.

I read on the internet that fasting releases endorphins and I actually felt quite good all day, except for when I was lying on bed doing nothing. I even got my computer out and started working for a bit just before the Iftar, just to keep busy.

I did a bit of googling on fasting in general, and I think it’s something that I would do again. However, I think no water is a bit much. I don’t think there’s any benefit and possibly it’s quite bad for you.