Bringing Ramadan to Texas
As a Fulbright scholar from Lebanon studying at Texas State University, I had the opportunity to create the first Ramadan event on my campus. During my time at Texas State, I became involved in my school’s International Office, and when I noticed there was no an event for the holy month of Ramadan, I was inspired to create one. So I began the process of coordinating with the International Office, the professor affiliated with the Muslim Student Association, and the manager of San Marcos Masjid, a local mosque. It took four months, but we were able to successfully secure funding, a venue, speakers, food, and decorations.
I am still proud of how successful our Ramadan dinner was. We had an unexpected number of participants even though it was during a semester break, and some people drove for over an hour to attend. Seeing everyone come together to help us prepare and then walk to the masjid (mosque) made me emotional. There were Muslims and non-Muslims, local and international students, and we were able to exchange ideas and learn from our different cultures and beliefs. Muslims are found all around the world, and Ramadan is an opportunity to learn about the various traditions surrounding this holy month in different Muslim communities.
Seeing people from all different backgrounds enjoying traditional Lebanese Ramadan food was breathtaking. Together, we ate lentil soup, fattoush, grape leaves, falafel, kabab, dates, and other Mediterranean cuisine. I am so grateful to have been a part of this day. During the event, I was able to meet people interested in my religion and home country, and together we were able to have a cultural exchange. At the dinner, I expressed my culture through my clothing and shared my story about living as a Lebanese person in Texas. Those who attended now know more about Lebanon and Islam and understand how Muslims fast and pray during Ramadan. We invited attendees to perform Maghrib Salah, or the Islamic sunset prayer, with us, and they were enthusiastic about participating. We also listened to two speakers, the manager of the San Marcos Masjid and the Executive Director of Austin Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
After the event, we asked people to provide their feedback through surveys. Their responses were delightful and many thanked us for putting on the event for the community. Because we received so much positive feedback, the school’s international office decided to make the Ramadan dinner an annual event, and I am happy to know that this tradition will continue at Texas State.
All of this was possible because of my Fulbright experience. This past year I had the opportunity to attend academic events that allowed me to meet people from all over the world and become more confident in sharing my story and cultural background with others. These experiences inspired me to create an event for Ramadan. The opportunities I have had as a Fulbright student have helped me to feel confident in sharing my culture and expanded my understanding of other cultures as well.
Kamar is a second-year Fulbright student earning her MA in Anthropology at Texas State University. She is from Lebanon.
