Bruneians studying abroad find themselves feeling a little homesick as they are unable to return home to celebrate Hari Raya with their loved ones, especially those away from family during the festive season for the first time. Some are unable to travel to the Sultanate due to the high airline fare or study commitment.

Even though they miss the Hari Raya atmosphere back home including the home-cooked food, having fellow students from Brunei helps keep them in good spirits.

Abdul Hakamul Adly bin Samsudin, following the Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions at University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney shared that after living in Sydney for half a year, he has got used to a lot of things such as university life, the city and even the unpredictable weather.

However, preparing for Hari Raya away from home was a whole new experience as back in Brunei, preparations for Hari Raya was something that happened naturally with his family taking care of everything, streets glowing with decorations and the excitement in the air.

“Here though, if I want Hari Raya to feel special, I had to make the effort myself. One of the first things was to sort out where to pray. Alhamdullilah, UNSW hosted an Aidilfitri prayer on campus, which made things much easier.”

Abdul Hakamul Adly said he was happy to know that he didn’t have to travel far.

He said he was surrounded by other students who were also celebrating away from home.

“Knowing there was a community here made a big difference.”

Speaking of the preparation of food, Abdul Hakamul Adly said it was a somewhat an issue as he is not a good cook.

He said back home, he used to help with small tasks while his family prepared traditional dishes like ketupat and satay. “While in Sydney, it was a responsibility”

He said he headed to a halal grocery store to grab ingredients despite knowing his cooking was not close to what he’ll get at home.

“But since Aidilfitri only comes once a year, I prepared a few dishes and also enjoyed dishes prepared by other Bruneians in Sydney.”

Speaking about the Hari Raya outfit, he said back in Brunei, he would wear a brand-new cara melayu.

However in Sydney, he didn’t have a new one and he was not aware of people who knew how to stitch one. However, Abdul Hakamul Adly said he did bring some cara melayu outfits from Brunei, which he wore for Hari Raya.

After the Hari Raya prayer, he visited friends for open houses.

“Just like in Brunei, going from house to house, eating amazing food and catching up with everyone is a huge part of the celebration,” he said adding that he was glad that some friends organised open houses, which was a perfect way to keep the tradition alive.

“I might not have my family here, I might not be the best cook and I didn’t have a new baju melayu. But I have a community, new experiences and a chance to create my own version of Hari Raya in a new place. And that’s something to be truly grateful for.”

Meanwhile Siti Nurazizi binti Haji Marali who is studying Masters of Curating & Cultural Leadership also at UNSW, has been there for about seven months. This is her first time celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri alone, away from home and family.

“I have to admit that it is quite lonely to celebrate Raya without familiar faces, especially in a place where there are significantly fewer people with the same culture as yours. The only reason why I’m not coming back home to Brunei for Raya this year is because of financial limitations in purchasing flight tickets, so I knew I had to improvise to bring the ‘Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ experience to Australia!”

One way for her to do this was by keeping in touch with members of the Bruneians Around Sydney Society since they banded together to bring a taste of home while another was to spread the culture around.

She said all local and international friends at UNSW and Australia are always keen to learn more about the Bruneian culture.

Siti Nurazizi added, “They made plans for me to recreate the concept of open houses and feasting on Malay dishes, especially beef rendang, which was a great opportunity for me to introduce Bruneian foods.

“Celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri like this is a different experience. While it does make me appreciate the times I celebrated Raya with family back home in the past, it also taught me that life should be about adapting to new experiences and meeting new people.

”It’s a very heartwarming experience to share your culture, especially with people who look beyond each other’s differences and focus on caring for one another and ensuring you feel less homesick.

This enriches my life, as it makes my Raya this year more of a personalised experience,” said Siti. – Lyna Mohamad

International students of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) experienced the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at the residence of the Assistant Rector (Student Affairs and Alumni) of UNISSA Dr Hjh Lilly Suzana binti Haji Shamsu.

Approximately 35 students from Africa and Middle Eastern and other Asian countries experienced the warmth and joy, while immersing themselves in the rich traditions of Aidilfitri in Brunei Darussalam, enjoying the hospitality extended by the UNISSA leadership.

The students were treated to an array of traditional festive delicacies and engaged in meaningful conversations with the assistant rector. The initiative reflects UNISSA’s commitment to ensuring that international students feel at home, even when they are miles away from their families.

The initiative reflects as a platform for strengthening bonds among students and fostering a deeper understanding of Bruneian culture and Islamic traditions.

The attendees expressed gratitude for the warm reception and the opportunity to celebrate Aidilfitri in a welcoming and familial environment.

UNISSA said it continues to support and engage with its international student community through various initiatives, reinforcing its dedication to academic excellence and cultural inclusivity. – James Kon