The spirit of Ramadan can be found in unusual places: We all associate Ramadan with the joy and relief of breaking our fast with family and friends, large gatherings and post-iftar excursions. But what’s it like to spend the holy month far from your community or in a non-traditional environment? British publication Emel takes a look at Ramadan celebrations at upmarket Eton College, where the month of reflection is also a chance to encourage interfaith dialogue with students of different faiths, at Wormwood Scrubs prison, where prisoners help with the careful preparation and allocation of food, and at the New Muslim Project, where converts to Islam are given guidance on how to observe Ramadan and tips on where to meet with other Muslims. Meanwhile, Good Morning America tells the story of how the Islamic Center at New York University provides a sense of community to lonely people of different backgrounds, including young Muslims spending Ramadan far from home.

Applying Ramadan values to extreme environments: The Atlantic asks how it is possible to fast in Sweden, Norway or Finland during the periods when the sun doesn’t set (put simply, the countries are given the choice between corresponding their fast to the closest Islamic country or fasting with Mecca). And The New York Times recounts the dilemma of Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, Malaysia’s first astronaut, who faced the challenge of how to observe Ramadan in outer space.