Religion and Spirituality

• • How do you plan to practice your own religious tradition while abroad?

• • Is religious practice/observance a consideration for you as you consider study away?

• • It may be helpful for you to consider your own observance practices as you think about:

    • • travel during holy days/seasons
    • • availability to a community of spiritual/religious practice
    • • privacy of living/housing arrangements
    • • diet and culture of the country to which you are traveling
    • • relationships with other students

• • Are you coming from a religious or spiritual tradition?

    • • If so: How do you navigate this experience at Macalester?
        How will you live out your own observance in a new environment and context? Can you articulate your religious needs and the ways you can be flexible with them in a new environment?
    • • If not: What experiences have you already had encountering religious traditions and practitioners?  How comfortable was that for you? What tools would you like to engage to learn about these traditions and people?

• • Will you be encountering a new religious or spiritual tradition during your time away?

    • • What do you anticipate in this experience?
    • • What questions do you have about what it may be like to experience this tradition?

• • How can you learn about what customs, practices, dress, food ways, etc. are culturally appropriate for the place or family with whom you will be staying? Consider these questions before packing your bags!

    • • Read online about the traditions and place
    • • Ask your program leaders or host family
    • • Meet up with peers who have studied there

• • Did you identify with a religion/faith/spiritual tradition before studying away?

    • • If so, how did you live out your own observance in a new environment and context? What did you learn?
    • • What were some challenges, joys, or growth moments of this experience?
    • • Did your experience of your tradition or its practice change in any way while you were away?

• • Did you encounter your own religious tradition while away? What was this experience like?

• • Did you witness, experience, or engage a new religious or faith tradition during your time away?  What was it like?

• • Whether or not you already had a tradition, how did you navigate this new religious tradition? What were some joys and/or challenges of this experience?  What surprised you?

International Humanist and Ethical Union: IHEU is the world union of over a hundred Humanist, rationalist, secular, ethical culture, atheist and freethought organizations in more than 40 countries

Secular Web: List of international secular student organizations

World Buddhist Directory: Searchable directory of Buddhist centers around the world

Church Finder: Directory of international church listings

Hindu Temple Finder – Directory of Hindu temples around the world, with downloadable app

• Federation of Student Islamic Societies – For Muslim students studying in the UK
• Halal Trip – Prayer direction & in-flight prayer times
• Islamic Finder: Directory of prayer times, Islamic organizations, and mosques worldwide
• Salatomatic – Find a mosque near you!
• Zabihah: Directory of halal restaurants and stores worldwide

• European Union of Jewish Students – listing of Jewish student organizations in Europe
• KAHAL: Resources for Jewish students studying away, including information on how to keep Kosher