'Britainistan'
Ohio Wesleyan Students Explore the 'Literary and Religious Narratives of British Muslims'
Name: Gracie Johnson '27
Hometown: Bedford, Ohio
High School: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
Majors: Art and English for Educators
Name: Jaime Riechmann '27
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
High School: Westridge School for Girls
Majors: Classical Studies, Religious Studies, and Philosophy
OWU Connection Experience: Travel-Learning Course (TLC) exploring "Britainistan: Literary and Religious Narratives of British Muslims" and culminating with a 12-day trip to London, England
Johnson and Riechmann traveled to the United Kingdom with fellow OWU students Emily Clausing '25 of Portsmouth, Ohio; Bailey Davis '28 of Fairport Harbor, Ohio; Caleb Gunn '27 of Galion, Ohio; Charlie Holbrooks '28 of Perry, Ohio; Tomorick Hutto '28 of Augusta, Georgia; Abigail Kallay '27 of Painesville, Ohio; Evan Large '27 of Toledo, Ohio; Colby Sprague '27 of Lancaster, Ohio; and Lake June Turner '27 of Marion, Ohio.
Faculty members Nancy Comorau, Ph.D., associate professor of English, and Susan Gunasti, Ph.D., professor of Philosophy & Religion, co-taught the class and led the two-week travel component after classes concluded in May.
Being able to grow my knowledge of literature, especially in connection with religion, was something that was greatly meaningful to me.
Why This Opportunity?
Johnson: "I chose this opportunity to learn more about post-colonial literature and to learn more about other religions. Being able to grow my knowledge of literature, especially in connection with religion, was something that was greatly meaningful to me."
Riechmann: "I wanted to go on this TLC because I am interested in different perspectives on religion, and I was also excited to learn more about Islam and the Islamic experience of an immigrant. I was also interested in how this experience was portrayed through art and literature. This course really made me grateful for attending a liberal arts school because it combined many of my interests into one course."
Favorite Moments
Johnson: "Exploring mosques and seeing all of the history that each space has, especially when it comes to the community that it was in.
Riechmann: "I think my favorite experience was watching the play 'Insane Asylum Seekers,' which was a play about a second-generation Iraqi immigrant living in England and his struggles with mental health. Not only was it a beautifully done production, but it also gave me a raw and unfiltered insight into how British Muslims live."
Lessons Learned
Johnson: "The most prominent thing that I gained from this trip was seeing how important religion is to people. Reading novels about religion and people is one thing, but seeing things for yourself and talking with people who hold positions within religious spaces gives much more knowledge."
Riechmann: "While in London, the lessons we learned in the classroom started to make sense to me. For example, we talked a lot about how British Muslims moved from their country of origin because of economic distress caused by British invasion and division of the Indian subcontinent, and when we went to the mosques, most of them were built in the 1990s/2000s and were funded by the community.
"I also saw themes like family, and religious observance come to life while we were there. I also loved learning about Islam as a Religious Studies major. This experience … helped me narrow down my focus in Religious Studies and what I might want to do in terms of an honors project if I were to do it on a religious topic."
Campus Involvements
Johnson: "I play on the OWU rugby team, am the current co-president of the Student Led Art Movement, and work for the Ross Art Museum."
Riechmann: "I am Women's Rugby Club president, and I live in the Interfaith House."
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
Johnson: "The campus size and involvement allowed for me to be engaged with my professors and be involved with programming."
Riechmann: "I chose to attend Ohio Wesleyan because of the opportunities available to travel, the liberal arts education, and the small class sizes."
My Plans After Graduation
Johnson: "To teach at the high school level. OWU has allowed me to work with students around these ages and gain experience with volunteering to help prepare myself for my future goals."
Riechmann: "I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Classics. OWU is helping me reach these goals by giving me an OWU Connection grant for a study abroad program for an archeological dig. … I am also being supported by the Classics professor, Dr. (Hank) Blume, in my reading, writing, and studies in Classics."