A Day in the Life of a UIII-Edinburgh Dual Degree Student in UK

Farisah Shabrina Mujahidah is one of our students, currently studying at the University of Edinburgh, UK, as part of UIII-Edinburgh master’s dual degree program. As an Indonesian Muslim, Farisah’s 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 – 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 – A Walk Through History

Before classes, I often walk around Holyrood Park. I’ve 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’s 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’s restaurant. I can walk through here to campus while enjoying the beautiful Victorian and Gothic architecture of the city. What’s not to like?

9:00-11:30 AM – Representing Indonesia

In my Nations and Nationalism class, I had a presentation today. Our professor asked us to present our national anthems. I hadn’t realized I’d have to stand in front of my classmates to explain about ‘Indonesia Raya’, our anthem.

Since Benedict Anderson’s “Imagined Communities” is one of our essential readings, I’ve become the unofficial spokesperson for Indonesia’s 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’s collective dream of not just gaining freedom but becoming truly sovereign, as Soekarno, our founding father, once defined it.

11:30 AM – 5:00 PM – 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 café, trying to stay focused. The café 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 – Finding Sisterhood Far from Home

In the evening, I had a sister’s 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’s plan).

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

7:00-9:30 PM – 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’s class. As the night grew late, I lay in bed reflecting on my day. Scotland’s history of witch-dunking is a far cry from the kind and resilient women I’ve met here. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the importance of tawakkul and feeling grateful for this experience, even when it’s challenging.

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