DUBAI // Newlywed Yara Elbanna says this Ramadan she will miss the family get-togethers in her home country.
But the 35-year-old Syrian also said she is looking forward to learning about the UAE’s traditions.
“This country is beautiful, and after several years visiting as a tourist, my husband and I moved here to start a new life together,” she said.
“But this month is going to be a challenge for me as I will be spending it away from my family back home and the large crowd of friends and family who visit.”
In the past, Ms Elbanna and her sister would return from work and have a short nap before starting to prepare the iftar meal.
“I am going to miss sharing my workday’s news and gossip as we prepare for iftar, as well as having my noisy nieces and nephew chasing and playing with our cats while waiting for iftar time,” she said.
“After iftar, I would take my nieces to the supermarket and buy them some treats if they did their prayers and had fasted that day.”
Ms Elbanna is hoping that she can focus on charitable deeds.
“In Ramadan, people are giving and at work we usually do campaigns to raise money or to collect food for other needy families, I am hoping to find some groups here that I can join to help others in this holy month.”
However, she has noticed an aspect of Ramadan traditions in the UAE that she is not keen on, considering the humanitarian situation in her home country.
“The one thing I dislike in the holy month is that some families cook large amounts of food and end up eating a small portion of it, while the excess usually ends up in the trash,” said Ms Elbanna.
“I hope that people would cook quantities that are enough, and if there are leftovers they will donate it to the poor and needy.”
As well as doing her bit for charity, she hopes to spend considerable time in prayer.
“The holy month for me is a spiritual time. It allows me to come closer to God. I could finish reading the Holy Quran a few times and devote the majority of my time in praying,” she said.
Since she is still adapting to married life, most of her time is spent reading and enjoying the break after being in full-time employment for more than 10 years.
“I am thinking of starting to hunt for a job in the medical sector, now that I am happily settled here. I think after Ramadan it would be an appropriate time to start searching,” she said.
tzriqat@thenational.ae