by Puti Ceniza Akbar
If there is one moment when being far from home feels especially heavy, it is during a special holiday.
As a Muslim who grew up in Indonesia – home to the largest Muslim population in the world, where around 90% of people are Muslim- Ramadan has always been deeply communal for me. It is not just about fasting; it is about togetherness. When I was little, my mom would wake me up around 3 AM for sahoor, a full meal before the fast begins. There would always be rice and homemade Indonesian dishes. Throughout the month, we would gather for iftar, breaking our fast together with friends, classmates, colleagues, and neighbors. It was a time of reunion. Every night, we would go to the mosque for taraweeh prayers. If I was diligent enough, this would happen for all 29–30 days of Ramadan, and we would return home around 9:30 or 10 PM—tired, but full in a different way.
Moving to the United States, especially to Houghton, has been a very different experience. This year, I am grateful that the Muslim Students Association organized iftar gatherings three times a week, with different menus each time from Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Pakista, Jordan, etc. But my family and I did not attend a single one. Living in Hancock, with the snow, the cold, and the distance- we always found reasons not to go. As a result, our mosque visits this Ramadan have been zero. That is not something I am proud of. And yet, I feel happy seeing the Muslim community here continue these traditions and create space for connection each Ramadan.
This is my fourth Ramadan in the U.S., and each year I feel something growing in me: a desire to share what Ramadan and Eid really mean with the broader community. But it is not always easy. As someone who wears a hijab and volunteers in many local organizations, I often feel a quiet hesitation when it comes to sharing my faith. I worry about being misunderstood.
Islam is often associated in the West media with terrorism, war, and violence. I understand where those perceptions come from—but that is not the full picture. Islam is not the Middle East. In fact, only about 20% of Muslims in the world are Arab; the majority live in countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and beyond. And yes, sometimes the actions of Muslims themselves can contribute to misunderstanding. Culture, behavior, and personal choices are often mistaken as religion, which can be difficult—even for me.
That is why this year felt different. I received an unexpected invitation from the Keweenaw Storytelling Center. Rebecca Glotfelty generously offered the space to host a community iftar and even create a Ramadan display. She said something that stayed with me: “If we can do it for Christmas and other holidays, why not Ramadan?” I was honestly amazed. I had never imagined this opportunity would come without me even asking for it.
Still, I felt nervous. The event was in Calumet—a community that feels different from Houghton or Hancock, where I am more familiar with people. I worried: What if people think I am trying to convert them (LOL)? What if I preach too much? What if no one comes to the Iftar? What if I cannot provide the food?? I knew I could not cook for 40 people, and definitely not Middle Eastern dishes that people might expect, so I reached out to friends in the community.
But… this is also the beauty of Ramadan and community.
All of my friends from the Muslim community (who, by coincidence, are all Jordanian) were willing to help. One has a newborn. One has two little kids and is a busy graduate student. One is an associate professor with four children. When I think about it now, I feel like I was actually the one who had more time compared to them 😅 (but cooking for a crowd… not really my strength!). And still -they showed up, through food, through care, through generosity, and through faith. I am so grateful…!
Last night – on the last day of Ramadan- friends from Hancock and Calumet showed up. The space felt warm and welcoming- a BIG shout out to Rebecca and the volunteers at the Storytelling Center. The food was incredible, prepared by Suha, Salma, and Koloud from the Jordanian community: Chicken Ouzi, Mansaf, Esh al-Saraya, Fattoush, Baba Ganoush, etc.
And people listened. They truly listened to the presentation that I made and we played Islamic BINGO! If you’d like to read the presentation that I made, you can access it in here.
Last night reminded me of something important: even in uncertain times (in the US and in the world), even with fears and misunderstandings, there is still openness. There is still curiosity. There is still kindness.
I feel deeply grateful to be part of this community. Thank you, Keweenaw, for your warmth, your generosity, and your willingness to learn something new. Special thank you to Keweenaw Community Foundation, as this program is part of the Wellness Café grant received by EBLP. This is really what Wellness Café is about; making connections, building bridges, and bringing people together through multicultural understanding 💛
Eid Mubarak!
Elaine Bacon Literacy Program 