Ramadan in Saudi: 1980s
Ramadan was
a special event and atmosphere of Saudi Arabia changed. The people stayed up till long time at the
night, 1-2 AM. The offices were from 10 AM -2PM and schools were similar time.
The ifar was at around 6 PM (I think). The temperature was hot, you could feel
as if your hand was burning in the heat of 40 degrees centigrade. This was
Jeddah of the 1980s.
A place to
be in with security, optimism and ‘no strings “attached friends.
Lot of well
off jobs expats usually stayed in compounds or apartments. The office was paying for it.
Some of the
compounds were:
·
Saudi
City- where staff of Saudi airlines lived and worked. These guys had football play
grounds where you could play football at night, with flood lights. They had 6+
plus TV channels. , whereas Saudi TV was channel 1(“Qana 1 “ and Channel
2(“Qana thania”)
Swimming
Pool-Saudia
This was a
special since rules and dress code did not apply here. In 1980s it was just for
airline staff. (FREE).
·
Bin
Ladin Compound.
Anyway
that’s for another post.
The feeling
in Ramadan was drinking 7UP or Pepsi Cola.
You could feel fasting ‘when you go the shop.
Foods in
Iftar youngsters (Join GUME, a FB group for people who GREW UP in Middle East
from 1980s-2000)
·
Shorba-kind
of soup
·
Pudding
·
Dates
·
Juices-Lassi-made
of yoghurt. Simply placing yoghurt into a blender and add a glass of water with
sugar. Start the blender-for a minute or two.
·
Fruit
juice-Watermelon
·
Fruits
·
Shwarma
·
Roast
chicken
·
Soda-Shaani ,Pepsi,7up,Mirinda,Vimto
The whole
table was full of iftar.
Iftar
parties were not a trend but having iftar with your family. The iftar table was
somewhat like above.
Drinks were
really especial since it was HOT.
Figure 1Shani
drink
After prayer there was a part 2. You continued with iftar as well as sitcoms:
·
Punky Brewster
·
Full House
·
Silver Spoons
·
ALF
·
Cosby
Show
Having iftar with your parents and siblings was great
experience in the 1980s.
By SAME EXPATS
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