It seems that although Ramadan working hours do not change for many foreign embassies , the shorter work day at ministries and other government bodies has taken some getting used to if the work is to be done.

Several diplomats in Kuwait said that they found that it was not so difficult to accommodate such changes for the duration of the holy month, and those who were experiencing Ramadan for the first time were trying to balance work with late-night events.

Polish Ambassador to Kuwait, Janusz Szwedo, said that throughout Ramadan, the embassy maintained its regular working hours. "We were informed at the beginning of Ramadan of the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry's special hours for this month, but nevertheless, we have no problem at all contacting the officials we need and getting our work done," he said.

However, he noted that at this time of year coinciding with the end of the summer makes work usually less demanding.

As foreigners, we have to make adjustments to our daily lives; we have to set out to malls a little later during the weekends because they open late or postpone our meals until after sunset if we choose to eat out. However, this is just one way through which we express our respect for Islam and Muslims," he said.

Ambassador Szwedo, moreover, said that he found the 'ghabqas' (late night gatherings during Ramadan) to be a "unique experience" in this part of the region, noting that even in such Arab countries as Libya and Syria he found there to be no such tradition.

Although attending such events meant that he had to stay up well past midnight, the ambassador said that it was a beautiful experience and a way through which to participate with Kuwaitis in their celebration of Ramadan traditions. He said that fasting during such a hot season, no doubt, required "patience and endurance" on the part of Muslims and this called for an expression of "admiration.

The ambassador noted how, in the 1970s while serving in Iraq, Ramadan fell in August and that even back then, fasting under such harsh weather conditions was not considered easy.

Economic Researcher at the Japanese Embassy, Yuki Kadoya, said that the ministries closed "too early" during Ramadan, which was why she often had to postpone her inquiries to the next day. "But this is not so bad because I can make an excuse for my delayed work!

She noted that working hours at the embassy did not change during Ramadan, and that sometimes when she finished work at around 7 pm, she went to shopping malls "to enjoy silence" before people start flocking in after Iftar.

Kadoya said she thought Kuwait would be noisier than usual during Ramadan, but that "it turned out that Ramadan did not make Kuwait at night change so much. Some people chat over tea or coffee as usual, while others walk or run for exercise, like me.

Although she never experienced Ramadan in any other country, she said that a co-worker who had worked in Syria had told her that "Damascus at night is livelier than in Kuwait during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Second Secretary at the Japanese Embassy, Takehito Inaba, said that he did not think that Ramadan was "too inconvenient" for working, noting that the ability to make appointments with officials during Ramadan underwent the same procedures as on regular days. However, he said that he found some Kuwaitis "less willing" to make proceedings during Ramadan, perhaps because of the short working hours.

Inaba noted that as it was not customary for him to take part in social
activities at night, he had not participated in evening events particular to Ramadan.

As for the US Embassy's Press Attache, Nicole Nucelli, she said, "Our
ability to get work done is not hindered by Ramadan. Our contacts continue to be very responsive in getting back to us and we have made an effort to call them in the late morning as we know that many of them are fasting and are understandably very tired by late afternoon.

She noted that although she continued to work during regular business hours, in the evenings she had the opportunity to attend diwaniyas and ghabqas and that she "thoroughly enjoyed this experience."

Kuwaittimes