In order to integrate better into Lebanese society, a Polish soldier who is a member of the United Nations peacekeepers force in that country has decided to take her beret off, and put a headscarf on.

“Out of respect for the environment I work in, I feel I need to try to integrate myself” during Ramadan, said 37-year-old Wyszomirska who has been stationed in the country for four months.

“And since my contingent is deployed in a Muslim area, I have decided to wear the hijab,” the Muslim veil, over military fatigues, the mother of a little girl told AFP.

She chose a scarf in the same color as the beret she used to wear, blue. Wyszomirska works as a translator for the 200-member Polish contingent of UNIFIL. Her work ‘brings her into direct contact with the people who live in Shiite-majority villages across the Marjayoun region.’

Her deployment to Southern Lebanon is not her first encounter with traditional, urban Arabic culture.  “When I was studying Middle Eastern languages at Jagiellonski university back home we also learned about the customs, traditions, history and geography of the countries we might end up working in — places like Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Kuwait,” she said.

Wearing the veil would help her “break the ice” more easily with locals, she hoped. Today she said it has payed off.

“At first relations were lukewarm, especially since we don’t come from a rich country with things to offer the people,” she said. “All we can offer them is respect and a smile. But since I started wearing the veil, people have been more welcoming with me and also with my colleagues. This has opened more doors and opportunities to strike up friendships.”

“They began inviting us into their homes for coffee or sweets. And when we pass by the children smile and wave at us,” she said.

Unlike what some may suspect, her superior welcomed her decision to wear a headscarf during the Moslem holy month of Ramadan. Moslems do Ramadan - fasting from sunrise to sunset, for a period of 30 consecutive days - to celebrate / thank God for sending the Koran, Islam’s Holy Book, to the Prophet Mohammed and to commemorate the battle at Badr. They additionally fast to show God their gratefulness for all they have been given and it is used as a tool to improve one’s self control and understanding of how difficult life is for the poor.

Moslems often pray many times throughout the day during Ramadan, and read the holy book.

Her superior told her to educate her fellow soldiers about Ramadan, and about what it means to Moslems.

Another woman in the peacekeepers force said she would not wear the headscarf. “It would change my look completely, and that’s not something I want,” she said.