nedelja, 27. julij 2014

Ramadan is here


Prvič po letu 1980 se je Ramadan letos začel 29. julija in bo trajal cel mesec. V tem času se muslimani postijo od sončnega vzhoda do zahoda, pri čemer se vzdržijo vseh slabih navad. Datum začetka ramadana se spreminja letno, glede na postavitev mlaja. Začetek in konec ramadana pa se razglasi dan prej. 

V tem času je potrebno paziti, da imamo pokrita ramena, kolena, srednji del telesa med prsmi in pasom (dekleta, moderni crop topi v tem mesecu odpadejo) ter prsa. Velja tako za ženske kot za moške.

Muslimanom voščimo »Ramadan Kareem«, pri čemer »kareem« pomeni radodaren ali blagoslovljen, torej: blagoslovljen ramadan.

Dobrodelnost v tem času ne pozna meja. Vsi zabojniki, kjer zbirajo oblačila in obutev so napolnjeni in hkrati tudi škatle v katerih zbirajo denar. 

V znak spoštovanja glasbo poslušamo potiho, na javnih prostorih ne jemo, pijemo, žvečimo žvečilnega gumija ali kadimo. Vse to v tem času velja kot žaljivo in kaznivo, za kar lahko prejmemo globo ali opomin policije. Če želimo jesti ali piti v dnevnih urah je to potrebno storiti v zaprtih prostorih ali v za to določenih zagrnjenih javnih prostorih.

V tem času se tudi ne spuščamo v konflikte ali preklinjamo, saj je ramadan mesec miru in spokojnosti.

Skoraj vse restavracije so čez dan zaprte, kar pomeni, da se lahko na večerjo odpraviš šele po 19. uri ko se konča postenje. Da vem kdaj točno nastopi konec postenja uporabljam app Ramadan Times.


V času Iftarja (»prekinitev postenja«; prvi obrok s katerim muslimani prekinejo postenje takoj po sončnem zahodu) je v restavracijah potrebno rezervirati mizo. Tradicionalno Iftar začnejo z datlji, suhimi marelicami in kozarcem zelo sladkega soka, čemur sledijo veliki obroki v krogu svojih družin in prijateljev. 

Pred sončnim vzhodom imajo obrok, ki ga imenujejo Suhoor.

Po 29ih ali 30ih dneh od začetka ramadana ter postavitve mlaja nastopi Eid al-Fitr, ki označuje konec ramadana.

Postenje ni priporočljivo za bolne ljudi, nosečnice ali otroke, ki še niso v puberteti. Za njih veljajo enaka pravila kot za ostale ljudi, ki se ne postijo. Vendar pa v mnogih družinah otroci sodelujejo pri postenju.


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The first time since 1980 this year Ramadan began on 29 July and will last as usual for a one month. During this time Muslims are fasting from sunrise to sunset. They are abstaining from all negative behaviours. Starting dates of Ramadan vary annually according to the new moon. The beginning and end of Ramadan is declared the day before.

In the meantime make sure that you have covered shoulders, elbows, middle part of the body between the chest and waist (girls, do not wear modern crop tops during this month), and chest. Applies to both women and men.

During this time greetings to Muslims with "Ramadan Kareem", where "kareem" means generous and blessed, and what the total means that we wish them a blessed Ramadan.

Charity at that time knows no bounds. All containers which gather clothes are filled to the top and also boxes where they gather money.

As a sign of respect we have to listen music quietly, not eat, drink, chew gum or smoke in public places. All of this at this time is regarded as offensive and you can receive a fine or a reprimand from the police. If you want to eat or drink during daylight hours this must be done indoors or in designated public places.

During this time does not descend into conflict or swearing because Ramadan is a month of peace and tranquility.

Almost all of the restaurants are closed during the day, which means that you can go on a dinner only after 7 PM. Before that prior booking is required because all the restaurants are fully booked during iftar. Iftar literally means "to break the fast" and represents the first meal after sunset. Traditionally they start Iftar with dates, dried apricots and a glass of very sweet juice, followed by large meals with family and friends.

Before sunrise they have meal named Suhoor.

After 29 or 30 days from the start of Ramadan and upon the sighting of the new moon Eid al-Fitr signals is the end of Ramadan.

Fasting is not recommended for sick people, pregnant women, or children who are not yet in puberty. There are the same rules for them like for the other people who are also not fasting. However, in many families children also participating in the fasting.

sobota, 19. julij 2014

One year an expat and counting…


Od meseca aprila do julija ni bila napisana nobena objava. Zakaj? Enostavno ni bil pravi čas pa tudi volje ni bilo ravno prave. Hkrati pa je minilo 1 leto (v bistvu že skoraj leto in pol) odkar sva šla novim zmagam naproti. Jure bi rekel "IZZIVI"! :) Naj bo še tako težko, v vsaki stvari najde izziv in zraven se mu smeje do ušes. Na nov kontinent, v novo državo in kulturo.

1. MATEMATIČNE SPOSOBNOSTI
...so se bistveno okrepile (vsaj, če govorim zase. Jure je tako ali tako rojen matematik). Na začetku sva seveda vsako ceno iz dirhamov pretvorila v €. Sedaj pa večkrat ugotovim, da tudi drugod po tujini cene skoraj raje pretvoriva v dirhame kot v €.

2. HRANA
Skoraj ni obiska trgovine brez, da bi kupila (vsaj) 200 g humusa. In ker zadnje čase precej težko najdem res dober humus, ga najraje pripravim sama. 
Hkrati pa nama je postala arabska hrana precej blizu (seveda, če izvzamemo jagnjetino, ki mi že od nekdaj nekako ne gre v slast). In, da ne govorim o shawarmi. Tisti tapravi. Na žalost se je moje telo odločilo, da take hrane več ne bo "sprejemalo", zato lahko v nadalje o shawarmi samo še sanjam :/

3. TUJCI
Potrebno je zavedanje, da živiva v tuji državi in ne obratno. V resnici sva še dandanes na nek način turista in hkrati domačina, zato le redko mine kakšen dan, da naju ne preseneti kaj novega.

4. VROČINA
Zanimivo kako se privadiš na 50°C in 80% vlage v ozračju. Tako se ob vseh vremenskih napovedi v Sloveniji, ko se začnejo temperature dvigati tam proti 30°C in ko je v zraku že totalna panika, nasmejim od srca :) Sončna očala pa so seveda postala del vsakdana. 

5. OSEBNA RAST
Hočeš nočeš, spoznaš toliko novih stvari, ljudi in vsak dan se naučiš kaj novega. In to je tisto kar te naredi močnejšega in boljšega. (Jure bi še dodal: "...in bolj pripravljenega na nove izzive")

6. ŽIVLJENJE DOMA TEČE DALJE
… brez naju. Sama tega še dandanes nekako ne morem sprejeti. Rojstne dneve praznujemo preko skypa/mailov/smsov, doma se med prijatelji sklepajo nove zveze, poroke, rojstva in na žalost tudi smrti. 
Življenje ne čaka na naju.

Tako kot ima tujina veliko prednosti hkrati pridejo tudi slabosti. Vedno pravim, da je povsod tako kakor si sam narediš. In, če si narediš lepo potem ne moreš pričakovati nič drugega :) 
Toda kljub vsemu mislim, da se Slovenci resnično ne zavedamo iz kako čudovite dežele prihajamo. Skok v gozd, hribe, gore, na vrtu nam rastejo najlepše rože, na vrtu najboljša solata, svež zrak, 4 letni časi ... Za marsikoga samo malenkost, za nekoga drugega vse. In to je nekaj na kar pogosto pozabljamo.

In za vse tiste, ki naju sprašujete do kdaj še nameravava ostati v Dubaju? Dokler bo za naju Dubaj… (saj veste) izziv ;)


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From April to July there was no new post on our blog. Why? It was just not the right time or motivation. At the same time it has been 1 year (in fact almost a year and a half) since we moved to Dubai for new challenges (as would Jure say). No matter how difficult things are he always find challenges in them and at the same time he is smiling from ear to ear. So we went on a new continent, a new country and culture.

1. MATH SKILLS
... have been considerably strengthened (at least if I speak for myself. Jure was anyhow born as mathematician). At the beginning we were constantly converting every price from dirhams into €. But now if we are overseas convert prices in dirhams rather than €.

2. FOOD
There is almost no shopping without (at least) 200 g of humus. And since lately is quite difficult to find a really good hummus I prefer to prepare it by myself.
At the same time we became quite close to Arab cuisine (except for the lamb on which I do not put relish). And a shawarma. The real one. Unfortunately my body decided that such food will no longer be "accepting" so from now on I can just dream about it :/

3. FOREIGNERS
It is necessary to note that we live in a foreign country and not vice versa. In fact even today we are in some way tourists and locals at the same time. And rarely a day goes by that there does not surprise us with something new.

4. HEAT
Interestingly how you get used to the almost 50°C and 80% humidity in the air. And when I watch the weather forecasts in Slovenia, when temperatures begin to rise there to 30°C and when is total panic in the air I laugh my head off :) 
Sunglasses are become part of everyday life.

5. PERSONAL GROWTH
Like it or not you getting to know so many new things, people and every day you learn something new what makes you stronger and better. Jure would add: "... and more prepared to face new challenges".

6. AT HOME LIFE GOES ON
... without us. For me this is really difficult to accept. We are celebrating birthdays through skype/emails/messages; some of the friends enter into a new relationships, marriages, births and unfortunately even deaths. Life is not waiting for us.

Living abroad has a lot of advantages as well as disadvantages. I always say that everywhere is like that like you do it by yourself. And if you do well then you cannot expect anything than just beautiful :)
Nevertheless I think that Slovenians do not really realize from how beautiful country we come. We can jump into the woods, hills, mountains, sea, in the garden we grow the most beautiful flowers, the best salad, fresh air, four seasons ... For many people just everyday things for someone else everything. This is something what we often forget.

And for all of those who are asking us until when we're up to stay in Dubai? As long as Dubai will be ... (you know what) challenge for us ;) Only sky is the limit!