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A Day in the Life of a 蜜桃视频-Edinburgh Dual Degree Student in the UK

Farisah Shabrina Mujahidah is one of our students, currently studying at the University of Edinburgh, UK, as part of 蜜桃视频-Edinburgh master鈥檚 dual degree program. As an Indonesian Muslim, Farisah鈥檚 days in the UK is a blend of balancing academic rigor, cultural adaptation, and maintaining her religious practices. Each day is filled with learning, self-discovery, and a profound connection to her faith, as she navigates the vibrant but different world of Scotland. 

5:00 AM 鈥� The Morning Call and a Taste of Home

I woke up 15 minutes before my alarm. I usually join the morning prayer at the Central Mosque, and the call to prayer (adhan) was at 5:41. Living in Edinburgh, where Muslims are a minority, it's rare to hear the call to prayer. So, getting to the mosque early to hear the real-time adhan felt like a comforting piece of home, helping ease some of the homesickness I feel for the overlapping adhan I used to take for granted in Indonesia.

7:30 AM 鈥� A Walk Through History

Before classes, I often walk around Holyrood Park. I鈥檝e been here countless times, but the view from Salisbury Crags always has a way of healing me. From the top, I could see Princess Street Garden, a place once known for its witch-dunking practices. It鈥檚 wild to think that Scotland had the highest number of witch trials in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries.

From there, I caught a glimpse of the sea near the Ocean Terminal and there was Nando鈥檚 restaurant. I can walk through here to campus while enjoying the beautiful Victorian and Gothic architecture of the city. What鈥檚 not to like?

9:00-11:30 AM 鈥� Representing Indonesia

In my 'Nations and Nationalism' class, I had a presentation today. Our professor asked us to present our national anthems. I hadn鈥檛 realized I鈥檇 have to stand in front of my classmates to explain about 鈥業ndonesia Raya鈥�, our anthem.

Since Benedict Anderson鈥檚 鈥淚magined Communities鈥� is one of our essential readings, I鈥檝e become the unofficial spokesperson for Indonesia鈥檚 nationalism in this course. It made it easier for me to explain how the Youth Pledge (Sumpah Pemuda) became the foundation of Indonesia as a nation, and how Wage Supratman composed the anthem in 1924. It was all part of Indonesia鈥檚 collective dream of not just gaining freedom but becoming truly sovereign, as Soekarno, our founding father, once defined it.

11:30 AM 鈥� 5:00 PM 鈥� Academic Grind and Reflections

This is when the real work begins. After class, I grabbed a vegan lunch from Greggs and ate it at the park before heading to the library. I spent hours there, switching between the quiet study area and the caf茅, trying to stay focused. The caf茅 has a lovely spot for bird-watching and people-watching, which helps break up the monotony of studying. I usually go to the mosque for Dhuhr (noon) and Asr (afternoon) prayers, then head back to the library for more studying.

5:00-7:00 PM 鈥� Finding Sisterhood Far from Home

In the evening, I had a sister鈥檚 meetup at Dar Al-Arqam Mosque. I was invited by a lovely Scottish sister who had recently converted to Islam. We connected over our shared excitement for Islam and spent time discussing about Islamic religious topics such as tawakkul (trusting in Allah鈥檚 plan).

The sister鈥檚 meetup is a beautiful gathering of Muslim women from all walks of life鈥攖eachers, students, mothers, and business owners. It鈥檚 so different from Indonesia, where Muslims are a majority. Here, our bond as an ummah (community) feels even more precious, perhaps because it鈥檚 born out of a shared experience of being a minority, a kind of kindness and resilience that鈥檚 unique to this setting.

7:00-9:30 PM 鈥� A Moment of Reflection

After the meetup, I finally enjoyed the rendang (beef dish) I had saved for dinner. I changed into my daster (home-dress) and spent some time going over my notes for tomorrow鈥檚 class. As the night grew late, I lay in bed reflecting on my day. Scotland鈥檚 history of witch-dunking is a far cry from the kind and resilient women I鈥檝e met here. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the importance of tawakkul and feeling grateful for this experience, even when it鈥檚 challenging.

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