Struggling to Connect: A Revert's Journey to Finding Muslim Friends in Australia
Assalamu alaikum, hope everyone's doing well. I'm a 20-year-old revert currently in uni here in Australia, where the Muslim community makes up only about 3% of the population. Honestly, it feels nearly impossible to meet Muslims around my age to build friendships with. Many mosques in my city are very culturally specific-like an Indonesian mosque or a Malaysian one-which I think is great for those communities to have a space where they feel at home. But as a white revert, I often feel out of place in these settings. I've also faced some hurtful experiences, like people not returning my salams, speaking in languages I don't understand around me, or even being excluded from praying with others because of my background. I've checked out Muslim clubs at my uni and nearby campuses, but it's the same issue: everyone sticks to their own cultural groups, and I end up feeling left out. On the rare occasion I do find someone to talk to, new challenges pop up. Some get too involved in my personal life, ask intrusive questions about my reversion, or even spread misinformation, assuming I don't know better just because I'm a revert. Plus, I'm careful about who I befriend-I avoid those who badmouth other sects, criticize different cultures, or, especially, speak negatively about women (which seems too common here). So, any advice? Should I just endure this isolation until I finish uni and, inshaAllah, move to a Muslim-majority country? I'd really appreciate some guidance.