The month of Ramadan has arrived, and its excitement can be felt all over the country. There is no exception for boarding school children like the Writer, or perhaps readers who are reading this article now.
Reflecting on experience, the various aspects of the month of Ramadan are not always easy for boarding house children to endure. Lots of exciting things, but also lots of challenges!
In this month of Ramadan, the author has the opportunity to experience the month of Ramadan again as a boarding house student. Not only his own experience, the author managed to capture something interesting from fellow boarding house children.
Maybe you've heard about the 5 stages of grief? Yup! The stage of sadness begins with denial, namely the rejection phase, then feeling anger or anger, to bargaining, namely trying to compromise, depression or protracted sadness, and finally acceptance, namely the acceptance stage.
Believe it or not, there is something called '5 Stages of Ramadan for Boarding School Children', you know! If explained, something like this:
Fase Denial
At the start, the boarding house children did not believe that this holy month full of blessings would begin.
“Wow, is it Ramadan again?”, “It feels like it was just yesterday that we were breaking fast.”
Maybe not only boarding school children, everyone can experience it too. But what's unique is that boarding house friends definitely understand the question, “What will you do at dawn?”
“Can you wake up for dawn? Buy or cook at the boarding house?”, “Are you sure you can wake up for sahur?”, “Wouldn't it be a hassle to have your own meal at the boarding house?”
Everyone in the writer's boarding house answered in unison, “No!”, “Sahur in the boarding house is easy, really. No hassle!” and various other answers.
This denial phase begins with a row of groceries ready to be cooked in the kitchen, filling the boarding house refrigerator. Until that time, the boarding house's refrigerator was full. For those who can't cook, ready to order delivery from 2 am. Everyone is eager to prove that boarding house children don't have difficulty eating breakfast!
As a result, at 2 am, there were already rows of delivery motorbikes queuing to deliver food in front of the boarding house gate, there were around 5 motorbikes going back and forth.
About breaking the fast? Can open together with friends. College friends, work friends, boarding house friends, and other friends. It just feels like fun, what makes it difficult to spend Ramadan as a boarding house student?
Fase Anger
The second stage is anger, or anger. You know? Is the month of Ramadan angry? You have to be patient, bro!
But this cannot be avoided, feeling irritated because you have to cook early in the morning, feeling sleepy when opening your cell phone for delivery, orders that don't come even though you're about to go to bed, even late at dawn.
Plus you have to go to class or work in the morning, even though you're sleepy because you haven't had time to sleep and are busy preparing for sahur. All of these things really affect the mood of boarding school children.
Not to mention traffic jams during fast breaking hours. Meanwhile, I haven't bought takjil at all. So, be patient and be patient over and over again, even if you end up in a bad mood. But still, you have to be patient. Ended up being quiet and contemplating a lot.
Fase Bargaining
At the acceptance stage, the boarding house children, especially the writer and his boarding house friends, have begun to accept that this is the bittersweetness of experiencing Ramadan as boarding house children. So what needs to be done is adaptation. Find the best way to compromise with yourself regarding sahur, fasting and breaking the fast.
Everyone starts to have their own pattern. There are those who can still cook, even if they only fry eggs or nuggets. There are those who consistently order from 2 in the morning so they don't get rushed. There are also those who choose to eat a large dinner and not eat dawn, because they know it will be difficult to wake up.
Everyone has started to find their own sahur habits. Compromise with himself.
Depression
Sadness suddenly appeared. Why? Miss family. Homesick. Mother's phone ringing, messages from friends in my hometown, alumni group notifications that keep ringing inviting us to break fast together, even though we can't go home because we still have to go to the boarding house.
It feels very sad, when you walk alone after buying takjil and then open it yourself in your boarding room. Of course you remember your family at home. Of course there are friends, but it's impossible to break fast together every day. Apart from saving costs, schedules do not always match.
Fase Acceptance
Time passed, and all of this began to be accepted by the author, the author's boarding house friends, and perhaps all readers who were also boarding school children. Yes, it can't be helped, right?
You still have to board, and the month of Ramadan continues. Everything must be accepted with grace. This holy month full of goodness teaches everyone many things. The experience of sahur, fasting, breaking the fast, worshiping in a boarding house, far from home, is a valuable lesson for boarding house children.
Find your own way to wake up and have sahur on time, carry out your fast with enthusiasm while carrying out your responsibilities, break your fast with friends or alone. We try to do everything with sincerity and a steadfast heart.
Allyoo Ri