Being a PhD student at Lancaster University Management School means that my weeks are often a mix of research, teaching, work, and finding time to enjoy life outside of academia. This week felt extra special, since not only it was the last week of term but also the last week of Ramadan, the month of Fasting for Muslims.

After spending the first two weeks of Ramadan in Egypt with my family, coming back to Lancaster felt a little bittersweet. It meant getting back to my studies, which I really enjoy, while also adjusting to spending the rest of Ramadan away from home once again.

The week has been a busy one. Academically, as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I delivered my final workshop for the research methods module to second-year undergraduate students at LUMS to help them develop their research skills. I have also been going to office to attend supervision meetings and to work on my ethics application which is a key step in my PhD journey.

Alongside my studies, I had an Academic Writing Zone mentoring appointment, where I supported a student with their essay writing. I really enjoy these sessions, as they allow me to connect with students in a different setting and contribute to their learning beyond the classroom.

On the social side, Ramadan in Lancaster is slightly different from Ramadan at home, but it still has its own sense of warmth. Although I missed the Islamic Society’s iftar earlier this month, this week I was able to enjoy two different iftar outings, one with a friend and another with a lecturer from my department. That made me feel I have my own community here in Lancaster. In the evenings, I also made sure to dedicate time for the moments of reflection that I especially value during Ramadan.

Over the weekend, I have a shift for my part-time job which I was able to secure after attending the university job fair. I usually keep Sundays for rest, recharging, and doing my grocery shopping for the week ahead. Yet, with Eid Al-Fitr falling on this weekend, I have planned to get together with some friends after attending the Eid prayer in the prayer rooms on campus and the celebration in the Chaplaincy Centre afterwards.

Even though times like Ramadan and Eid can make me feel homesick, they also remind me of how grateful I am to be pursuing my studies and building a sense of community in the UK within and beyond university life.

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