My first real Ramadan as a non-Muslim

Being a Malaysian who loves my country, who loves our food, our culture and our heritage, I thought I knew what it meant to be a Malaysian. After all, how different could we be? We go to the same schools (I went to an SRK and SMK Convent Klang - 11 years in a girls school) and we speak the same languages (I speak fluent Malay) but it wasn’t until I fasted one Ramadan along with my Muslim Malaysians did I truly know how separated we are culturally, that I really don’t know much at all and there is another aspect of being a Malaysian that I never knew, but I guess it’s never too late to get to know each other.

*disclaimer- this article expresses my personal opinion, has some elements of racism, that could offend some people- please read at your own discretion.

What I loved most about fasting is the spirit of the community, a lot of people encouraged me and pushed me to complete the full fasting month. Even strangers who got to know about this started messaging me daily. If it hadn’t been for their encouragement, I guess I wouldn’t have made it. I believe it is also through these long-suffering moments that one is able to foster a really genuine kindred spirit amongst family and friends. I haven’t felt more loved from friends and strangers than I have in the month of Ramadan.

Discipline is the one thing I learned that I lack in life during fasting. I felt excruciatingly thirsty everyday about 5.30pm onwards. We break fast circa 7.20pm. After you break fast is when you drink up but you never seem to…