MARJAYOUN, Lebanon, Sept 12--A Catholic peacekeeping soldier from Poland deployed in Lebanon has opted for Islamic attire instead of UN peacekeeper's beret to show respect to the Muslims during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Sylvia Monika Wyszomirska, 37, who has been stationed in the country for four months, said: "Out of respect for the environment I work in, I feel I need to try to integrate myself."

"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.

Wyszomirska chose a veil in the same light shade of blue used for the berets worn by members of the 13,000-strong United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which keeps the peace along the tense Lebanon-Israel border.

A native of Krakow, Wyszomirska works as a translator for the 200-member Polish contingent of UNIFIL, and her job brings her into direct contact with the people who live in villages across the Marjayoun region.

Her deployment to southern Lebanon is not Wyszomirska's first encounter with Muslim tradition.

She has also been to Kuwait and Iraq and worked in Syria as well to perfect her Arabic.

"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.

Wyszomirska's decision to wear the veil during Ramadan has helped to break the ice with local villagers, both for her personally and for her colleagues in the Polish contingent.

"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.

Wyszomirska said that wearing the veil was "a gesture from the heart -- it was not imposed on me."

Her superior welcomed the idea that she dons the veil during the holy month.

"He also suggested to me that I explain Ramadan customs to the other soldiers so they can respect the traditions and refrain from eating and drinking in public during fasting" between dawn and dusk, she said.