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Before this year, I had never celebrated Ramadan away from home. I couldn’t even imagine the month without a bustling house, familiar kitchen smells before sunset and conversations during suhoor — the pre-dawn meal to prepare for the day of fasting ahead. I was nervous about the absence of all the rhythms that made Ramadan feel like Ramadan. But over the past month, I found some of that feeling here at Íøºì±¬ÁÏ in ways I didn’t expect.

The spirit was present from the dining hall’s very first iftar. Walking in, I was pleasantly surprised by the festive atmosphere, especially at the Baraka-halal station. The quintessential Ramadan decor of stars and crescents hung over a range of special dishes, which felt thoughtful and intentional. Until that moment, I had assumed the only place I would see those symbols would be in the Ramadan care package my mother had sent. The meal had been organized by Dining Services Manager Erdim Yilmaz, who used recipes from his own family to create a Turkish-inspired iftar.

For many Muslim students, including me, it was exciting to see Turkish food represented. On campus, halal food often leans toward South Asian cuisine like Pakistani or Indian dishes, which many of us grew up with and love. But Muslim communities exist all over the world, and seeing another culture’s tradition reflected in the food reminded me how diverse those traditions are — making the meal even more meaningful during a month centered around unity. The baklava was easily the highlight of the night. Flaky, sweet and rich with syrup, it was the perfect end to a long day of fasting. Sitting around the table with my fellow Muslim friends, playing the Adhaan from our phones and sharing that first bite, was the first moment campus truly began to feel like a second home.

Dining Services also made another thoughtful addition with the Ramadan Room, which remained stocked throughout the month with foods that students could take back to their dorms for suhoor. Offerings included dates, yogurt, nuts and fresh fruit, all of which are easy to eat early in the morning. There were also culturally comforting items like Pakistani chana chaat and strawberry lassi. Having access to these foods made a real difference. When it’s sunrise, and you’re still half-asleep, it helps to know you’re waking up to something that reminds you of home.

Another meaningful moment during the month was the iftar arranged by Dining Services and hosted by President Danielle Holley at her home — a generous and thoughtful gesture that allowed all Muslim students to gather and break our fast together. The meal included lentil soup, puff puffs, fresh fruit, shish kebab, and even ice cream — perfect for breaking fast after a long day. More than anything, it was the atmosphere that made the evening special. Sitting together, talking and sharing food in a warm space created the kind of community that Ramadan is really about.

Mount Holyoke’s Muslim Student Association also helped build this sense of community by organizing additional catered iftars and Eid celebrations on campus, where we could all come together after long days of classes and fasting to share a meal and celebrate. For many of us living away from our families, these moments helped recreate the spirit of Ramadan.

Something else I learned in conversation with Dining Services is that Erdim has been advocating for halal dining options to continue beyond the month of Ramadan. While not all meat on campus is halal, ingredient lists are available so students can know what they are eating. Alternatives like turkey bacon and fresh-caught fish provide halal-friendly options.

Knowing that there are people thinking about these details makes all the difference. While they may seem small, the message they send is loud — Muslim students are being considered and supported.

Ramadan is seen as a time of gratitude and community. This year, observing it at Mount Holyoke showed me that these things can exist even far from home. From the efforts of Dining Services to those of the Muslim Student Association, I found pieces of Ramadan that we’ll all remember long after the month has ended. It may have been my first Ramadan away from home, but it reminded me that community can take shape in many forms — even in a dining hall filled with friends, sharing a baklava or puff puff after sunset.