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http://www.world-federation.org/Regions/Articles/A+personal+experience++Mombasa+to+Allentown.htmhttp://www.world-federation.org/Education/Articles/A+personal+experience++Mombasa+to+Allentown.htmA
personal experience Mombasa to Allentown
By Aunali Khaku A member of the Student Support Network
(SSN)Introduction
Aunali Khaku is a recipient of the 2002 Brilliant Student Award.
The Awards foracademically brilliant students was launched by The
World Federation of Careers,Education & Training Advisory Board
in conjunction with the Africa FederationEducation Board. Aunali
who is a member of the Student Support Network (SSN) is avaluable
contributor to the group. SSN aims to provide Services to
worldwidestudents in higher Education. SSN has currently 120
students in its database andstill growing. The students are
actively exchanging information on their careers,events at their
towns, housing information on the SSN discussion group. We
alreadyarranged CETAB representative to visit students at Cambridge
and further pre-
arranged visits are planned for Students at other Universities.
For furtherinformation on SSN please email
[email protected].
I hail from Mombasa, Kenya and am currently studying for an
undergraduate degree(Pre-Med) at Moravian college in Bethlehem,
USA. Bethlehem, itself, is a smallcity when compared to New York
but quite large when compared against Nairobi. Thecollege is
average in size, comprising two campuses (each a mile apart) and
with astudent population of around 1400.
My family immigrated to the USA about six months ago and we
currently live inAllentown (approx. half an hour's drive from
Bethlehem). The area is very pleasantand the people are friendly. I
have always wanted to study Medicine and wasdirected towards the UK
market primarily because my college was linked to the UK
system of education. As it turns out, my family was very lucky
and we were able toobtain the green card. Hence the reason, I am
studying in America.
This is both fortunate for me as well as problematic. Fortunate,
because I am ableto stay with my family whilst I study therefore I
have their total support.Problematic, because US guidelines insist
that I have an undergraduate degreebefore doing medicine. This was
further complicated by the fact that theundergraduate degree had to
be in subjects that involved the Arts more than theSciences which
is what I had undertaken during my A Levels.The first two weeks at
University were literally HELL!! I'm sure mostinternational
students go through the same. I was used to life in a small
"Khoja"dominated Muslim town like Mombasa and having fit into a
non-Khoja (and non-
Muslim) western dominated environment was very daunting for me.
This coupled withthe fact that I did not know anyone made me a
little reluctant to become friendswith other people in my class. I
therefore ended up feeling lonely and isolated.To top it all off I
was finding the use of so many electronic gadgets an everdaunting
experience.
For instance, in my electronics course each member of the class
was assigned apersonal workstation which housed a computer, an
oscilloscope, a functiongenerator, a digital complex power supply
and multimeters. I had never heard ofthese things before, nor knew
their function. I was also finding it difficult todo wudhoo for
salaat. I am sure most of the youths, like me, have felt like
they
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were too embarrassed to do such things in public, especially
when you know thereis no active presence in the college and knowing
what people felt following theevents of 9/11. In Moravian there is
neither a prayer area nor any Muslimorganization and so I would
have to look for an empty room in order to perform mysalaat.
However, by the grace of Allah I am slowly, but surely,
beginning to settle down.I have met several Sunni Muslims with whom
I go for Jumah prayers with every
Friday and I have also made friends with the non-Muslims in my
immediateenvironment. My Sunni brothers and I are currently trying
to get an Islamicorganization together to facilitate prayers and
other Islamic education functions.Please pray that we can achieve
this dream.
I have also met members of the Shia community in my college and
I'm saddened towrite that they are not true to the Muslim faith as
they undertake a daily ritualof drink, clubbing and no hijaab. They
have a complete lack of interest orawareness of their Islamic
duties and this really annoys me. However, I contentmyself in the
knowledge that Allah has protected me as I turned to him in my
hourof need and did not rely on becoming a "Westerner" to protect
myself.
As they say ''Islam is the fastest spreading religion in America
DESPITE the
Muslims".
It's amazing, but there are also non-Muslims who really know the
truth and try tostand up for it. For instance there is a professor
here who has been to Israel andhas seen all the injustices and
atrocities being undertaken by the government. Hetries so hard to
spread the truth. There is also a Jewish professor in my collegewho
teaches Islam (strange eh!!) and who is somewhat sympathetic
towards Muslims -not that he loves us or helps us, but he knows
what Islam really Is all about.I truly feel that in order for us
Muslim youths to make our stay in the west anyfruitful, we have to
be ambassadors for Islam. To do that we must understand andbelieve
in Islam with full conviction and confidence and be ready with
theknowledge to defend it in any way. We also have to get actively
involved withother Muslim sects and their activities (even if they
are Sunni). The best way of
spreading Islam, without even opening our mouths, is to portray
an immaculatebehavior, doing all the wajibaats and avoiding haraam
acts, be kind, honest,truthful and helpful to all and never getting
into a situation where onecompromise one's 'deen'. However, I would
not advocate the use of force orviolence against a
non-believer.
I have also found solace in reading some good books. Ones that I
would recommend,personally, are:
"A young Muslims guide to the modern world" by Seyyed Hossein
Nasr, and"Vision of Islam", by William Chittick, (Available in most
libraries).
They really should be read by all of us as they will make one
appreciate our
religion and feel more confident to practice it without
intimidation!
Of course we should try to read the Quran daily especially with
the meaning sothat we can appreciate its meanings and truths. I,
personally, have found that itoffers the best consolation and
advice at all times.
Sometimes, when I have the time I listen to the Quran online on
:jannah.org/quran,duas on duas.org and tafseers on Al-islam.org,
and these have really helped meespecially when I am feeling down
Try it and see how great it works!
I still miss Mombasa a lot, and sometimes I just feel like going
back! After all
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it's my birthplace and a town where I grew up!. The familiar
streets of Kibokoni,the mosque, familiar faces, my afternoon naps,
the sound of Adhan (even if it isover the loudspeakers); in fact,
everything about Mombasa and especially how closeeverything is
here, I have to travel for a minimum of an hour everyday and
thereare no good bus routes so a lot of walking is needed if one
doesn't have a car.But, this is natural and to succeed one needs to
persevere (not that I have achoice anyway!)
In conclusion, let me say that living in the West, whilst
striving for aneducation, can be a both a stressful and
enlightening experience. We have to openourselves up and avoid
being shy. We should make the most of the resourcesavailable in the
western worlds - not only to gain knowledge or earn our rizk,
butalso to spread the message of Islam.
For those who wish to contact me and find out more about my
college or myexperiences, please email me at:
[email protected]
With Salaams and DuasAunali Khaku
