Are you a Muslim student planning to study abroad at a university?
While you must be excited about living independently and studying abroad, it may also be somewhat nerve-wracking to find yourself a minority in your new home.
With limited access to Halal food and religious facilities, dealing with culture shock, and learning to live with homesickness among other challenges, you should be mentally and physically prepared for the troubles in advance.
Here are some tips that can help you as a Muslim student planning to study abroad:
1- Check If the University Supports Muslim Students
Before finalizing your decision about taking admission in a certain university of your preference, you should check whether the organization offers support to Muslim students or not. Also, it’s best to go through their established rules and regulations to ensure you won’t find any problem adjusting to their culture later on.
2- Get Ready to Wear Hijab With Confidence
This is of crucial importance for female Muslim students since they may find themselves in awkward situations when people ask about their hijabs. So, prepare yourself to deal with that without getting defensive and invest in some easy-to-carry hijabs that you can conveniently put on when you need to step out in a hurry.
3- Seek Out and Engage With Other Muslim Students
It is vital to seek out other students from the Muslim community and interact with them to enhance the feeling of belongingness. This way, you’ll always have others around to celebrate your religious occasions, including Ramadan and Eid, and not feel lonely during festive seasons.
4- Don’t Limit Your Social Circle As Well
While it is important to have some close Muslim friends around, it’s just as essential not to restrict yourself to the people of your community only. Limiting your social circle will create problems for you in the long run and pose you as a closed-off person to the rest of the students.
5- Learn to Handle Awkward Situations With Politeness
Wearing a hijab, not shaking hands or hugging a person of the opposite sex, and not consuming alcohol are some of the Muslim practices that non-Muslims might find unusual. Some Muslim students find it challenging to handle such situations, especially when put on the spot in public settings.
That said, it is only awkward if you make it that way. The best way to deal with such occurrences is to politely apologize to the other person and explain the reason behind your actions. Surely, they will understand your belief and also respect it.
6- Master Your Cooking Skills
Access to Halal food is not as readily available when you’re living abroad, that too under a limited student budget. This makes it essential for Muslim students to master their skills in the kitchen before leaving their hometown and learn to make their traditional foods using the given ingredients.
7- Get Ready to Protect Yourself Mentally and Emotionally
Lastly, Muslim students must realize that some students from other communities may deliver harsh words to them, projecting their insufferable thoughts about Muslims.
Therefore, you should be mentally and emotionally strong enough to protect yourself when a situation like this arises. Moreover, instead of fighting or talking back to the abuser, which may lead to physical violence, it’s better to stay calm at the moment and report to the higher authorities afterward.
Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity for Muslim students as they explore a new world full of great opportunities. So, make the best of it by following the tips mentioned in this article that will help you turn the promise of a bright future into a reality.
