The end of the ninth month

With the Muslim ninth month of Ramadan drawing to a close, the excitement is almost palpable. Restaurants and cafes that have been closed since before I arrived are finally opening up. Workman are scrubbing floors, accepting shipments of food, and cleaning in preparation for the post-Ramadan opening in a few short days. The grocery store was selling couscous again (a non-Ramadan food), and it looked like they were trying to move the last of the holiday cookies as a close-out.

This year, the Muslim calendar almost exactly lines up with the Gregorian one. Ramadan will give way to the tenth month of the year on or around October 1. There will be a two-day celebration, and classes will, I am ASSURED, begin in earnest the following week.

Today is Monday and I didn't have any students. Yet again. Tomorrow classes won't meet because there *may* be a holiday on Wednesday. The newly acquired day off tomorrow actually gives me the opportunity to change out the butagaz tank in the kitchen (the one connected to my "Bunsen burners"), which gave up the ghost this morning right before my coffee boiled. At least I had the warm milk to drink.

A day off tomorrow also gives me time to digest some of the specifications about the Muslim calendar that I learned today. For example, in Morocco they don't designate a religious holiday beforehand (Muslims in France do, mind you) -- they wait to see what the moon will do, and then let the leaders decide. In my year-long class, I may have 15 sessions with students during the first semester, but then again, I may have 14. I'll have 13 sessions the second semester, if not less. We don't make up time lost due to religious holidays but I will be able to make up time if I can’t be around for a class.

In short, if my butane tank goes dead this time next month, I'll be able to leave my apartment and get a coffee at any number of cafes in the street down below; they’re all closed right now, of course. But, I’ve seen the signs… and it’s looking good!