All the fuss

For five months now i have been preparing and being warned about Ramadan!!!! According to all the other teachers I worked with last year, Ramadan is a very traumatic time for the internationals here.
For those of you not familiar with Ramadan:
It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, sexual conduct, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset [1] Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramaḍān is a time to fast for the sake of Allah, and to offer more prayer than usual. Muslims also believed through good actions, they get rewarded seventy times as much as they normally can achieve. During Ramaḍān, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

My first experience with Ramadan was in Indonesia in 1998. I arrived in Java about half way through the month and was completely overwhelmed by it. I had never even heard of Ramadan until then and didn't know what was going on. All i knew was the people were very cranky but I wasn't actually sure why. And then I went to the next island over, Bali and it couldn't have been more opposite. and I figured out why, that the people on Java were just hungry but the Balinese were eating all day long and more cheerful. My theory was proven when I went back to Java three weeks later and the general personality had changed dramatically.
Last year i was assured that the bad mood of the people truely defeated the spiritual purpose of Ramadan. Which assume is much like how at Christmas time at home I get stressed out and start counting my pennies more since i need to spend more even though i know i should be focusing on many other things like giving and family time.

I have also been warned that this Ramadan is one of the hardest ones because this year it is taking place at the end of the summer. The actual date of when Ramadan starts is based on the Islamic calendar and the sightings of the moon. Last year it was further into the fall. Back in 1998 it was in February.
School was suppose to have started over a week ago but the ministry of education keeps pushing the start of school back trying to help make it easier with Ramadan. Even the children fast here starting around 2nd or 3rd grade. The have pushed the beginning of school back to the first of September. There are rumors that it might be pushed all the way back to the end of Ramadan because of a fear of Swine flu. I think the Palestinian ministry of education was a bit thrown off when at the beginning of summer the surrounding Arab countries announced that the school year wouldn't start until the end of Ramadan.
The major issue this year isn't food, but during Ramadan you don't drink. We live in the desert and it is hot... I don't know how the kids are going to do it not even drinking during the day. Which is why the school day starts late and ends early.
People get up around 4:30 am to eat and pray for the day and then go back to sleep until around 7:45 or 8. School starts at 8:30 and gets out at 1:30. Everyone goes home to take a nap until around 6:30 when the drummer comes to tell them to eat.
As internationals no one expects us to fast. We are encouraged to but are pushed to fast. (teased a little, but that's to be expected) However culturally it would be very disrespectful for us to eat or drink in front of anyone. The school kitchen is tucked away and we have been informed that if we want to eat or drink anything to go there and close the door.
I have also been told that the first two weeks are the hardest and don't expect anyone to be thinking straight or functioning well.
I have heard rumors about a guy who goes around with a drum in the morning to wake people up for prayer and early breakfast and then comes around at the end of the day to remind them to eat.
I am sure i will have a lot more to tell everyone as it gets under way. I am trying to prepare, but I am not sure what i should do to prepare for it.
I know all of the sharwma stands will be closed but i was told the little shops should be open. Hopefully I won't have a problem finding my water and coke zero even if I have to hide to drink it.