Last night as I was doing my hw I heard three consecutive explosions outside, and immediately everyone in the city started cheering - it was the official announcement of the start of Ramadan. It is based on the moon phase, so it is announced when the moon appears. We luckily got a lecture about Islam, so we are not totally clueless. They pray 5 times a day, facing Mecca. You can pray anywhere, and the times are flexible, but you are supposed to pray 5 times a day. Men are allowed to pray in the mosques, and are supposed to do so if they are near one, and required to go to a mosque on Friday. Women are allowed to enter some mosques in a partitioned area, but most just pray at home. During Ramadan everyone
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