Ramadhan Away From Home
With Ramadhan underway, many new Muslim students struggle to celebrate the festivity while adjusting to a new environment and being away from their family for the first time. If you’re missing home, don’t worry! PPI is here to recommend several ways to ensure your first Ramadhan abroad is comfortable:
1. Connect with a Muslim community The biggest change for students is the missing community and common goal families provide during fasting. Try to find friends or Muslim student groups who are fasting as well! That way going through fasting feels more motivating and easier with people helping each other out! Luckily, Monash has their very own Islamic community! Find out more here.
2. Maintain a Good Ramadan Schedule Finding a Ramadan routine, especially without your family, is a tough task. It’s even tougher when you have to balance your class schedule and you feel like you’re not doing a good job growing in Allah. That’s why it’s important to plan beforehand: what time you will wake up for Suhoor, when Iftar begins, and even when you sleep. It’s best to get at least 8 hours of sleep each day to get enough energy for fasting! It’s important to not let yourself get too exhausted during the day to make fasting easier.
3. Focus on Mental Health Oftentimes, we focus so heavily on our routines and tasks that we forget to take things slow. Adapting to a new environment can be difficult for anyone, especially for international Muslims who’ve just moved into university. In PPI, we always remind our members to not put heavy pressure on themselves with how many tasks they have to manage. That goes the same for you new students too! Even while balancing the Ramadhan lifestyle and new adjustments, remember to always check your mental health and talk to someone if you face any struggles!
Hopefully these tips will help you get through the month of Ramadhan while you’re away from your parents and give you opportunities to connect with new friends and deepen your appreciation for the festivity! PPI wishes you a wonderful Ramadhan and an enjoyable first semester in Monash University!
1. Connect with a Muslim community The biggest change for students is the missing community and common goal families provide during fasting. Try to find friends or Muslim student groups who are fasting as well! That way going through fasting feels more motivating and easier with people helping each other out! Luckily, Monash has their very own Islamic community! Find out more here.
2. Maintain a Good Ramadan Schedule Finding a Ramadan routine, especially without your family, is a tough task. It’s even tougher when you have to balance your class schedule and you feel like you’re not doing a good job growing in Allah. That’s why it’s important to plan beforehand: what time you will wake up for Suhoor, when Iftar begins, and even when you sleep. It’s best to get at least 8 hours of sleep each day to get enough energy for fasting! It’s important to not let yourself get too exhausted during the day to make fasting easier.
3. Focus on Mental Health Oftentimes, we focus so heavily on our routines and tasks that we forget to take things slow. Adapting to a new environment can be difficult for anyone, especially for international Muslims who’ve just moved into university. In PPI, we always remind our members to not put heavy pressure on themselves with how many tasks they have to manage. That goes the same for you new students too! Even while balancing the Ramadhan lifestyle and new adjustments, remember to always check your mental health and talk to someone if you face any struggles!
Hopefully these tips will help you get through the month of Ramadhan while you’re away from your parents and give you opportunities to connect with new friends and deepen your appreciation for the festivity! PPI wishes you a wonderful Ramadhan and an enjoyable first semester in Monash University!