Indonesia during Ramadan

The daily visibility of Islam has increased dramatically with the start of Ramadan. The television is constantly showing advertisements with motifs that attempt to encourage piety, such as women in jilbabs, banners have sprouted up along the streets of Yogya promoting a variety of Muslim events, the Quranic classes held near my homestay are audible even at night now, there are daily berbeka puasa (breaking fast) get togethers with friends, and even the call to prayer seems to be playing a little more frequently. This is all despite the fact that I am living with a devoutly Catholic woman. Most of my language teachers, however, are fasting and I can see their fatigue by our afternoon classes and am careful not to snack in front of them. I am enjoying how Ramadan already seems to be bringing out a general good will in the community, drawing people together over their shared faith and the challenging but extremely meaningful act of fasting.