The world changes during the month of Ramadan. Early mornings turn into late late nights. I was lucky to have shorter working hours at my job in KSA. To eat or drink water at work I needed to go on the roof of the building or the “non-Muslim rest area.” No coffee shops or meals out for a month. It felt hard and restrictive at first, but I got used to the feeling of hiding to eat. It’s the first year in many years that I haven’t attempted to fast along with my friends and family.
Towards the end of Ramadan, when many Muslims pray all through the night, work stopped and it was time for a change. My husband is currently in the US, so I decided to take Ilya to Armenia. It’s less than a three-hour flight from Dubai. My hope was to let Ilya enjoy some cool weather and nature. I also hoped to enjoy a sip of water or a “Khachapuri” pastry in the gleaming hours of sunlight.
Ilya developed a horrible fever that lasted for one week before the start of vacation. I was going to cancel the trip. But a round of antibiotics helped him recover, and we took off.
Our first 2 days were spent in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Our first outing was to a vegetable shop near our apartment. I bought fresh strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers. The produce was fantastic.
I remember feeling overwhelmed the first two days of the trip. Ilya had many tantrums and I felt a huge sense of responsibility because I was alone in a foreign place with a young, vulnerable child. It was terrifying. I tried to keep an open and creative mind. We tried using a stroller, I wore him on my back, and I also tried to let him walk. I wanted to see which was the best method for keeping him calm and safe while out and about.
I decided that the best method was to travel slowly. We went to parks, we took short walks in the neighborhood, we attempted supermarket trips, and I relaxed on the balcony while he napped at home. This is how we were able to make it work.
musafira 