First-time faster in UAE says seeing her friends eat is the hardest part

Watching her friends at school eat in front of her, while she was fasting, was the biggest challenge for 10-year-old Amira Bellahouel. 
The Algerian girl started fasting during last year's Ramadan. And despite finding it hard to fight hunger in the first few days, she incredibly managed to fast throughout the month.
"My first days of fasting were really tough. The hunger and thirst were unbearable, but I managed," said the Grade 5 student of Choueifat International School in Abu Dhabi.
"My biggest challenge was mostly at school because many of my friends were not fasting. I always found it hard to hold onto my fast, especially when they had their breakfast in front of me."
Bellahouel said she's now fine with fasting. In fact, it keeps her focused in class because she can't think about food.
Every morning, she gets up before dawn to eat Suhoor with her family at their Khalifa City home.
"My favourite food for Suhoor is milk and muesli," she said.
"Maqouda, an Algerian local food, is something we always have in our Iftar meals."
Bellahouel, who has two brothers and two sisters, spoke about the values of Ramadan with passion. "For me, Ramadan means giving and sharing good things with friends at school. The holy month is about reading the holy Quran, supplications and performing the night prayers," she said.
"I am so keen on performing Salat Taweelah and I have been going to the mosque with my parents since the beginning of Ramadan to pray."
Her mother, Hannan, said the little girl's commitment to fasting and her love of learning about Islam make her proud.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
(Seeing the little ones remain sincere as they fight hunger pangs is an endearing sight. Watch this space every Wednesday during the holy month as the kiddos take us through their fasting routine.)