The future in a BBQ Party

Classes will start in a couple of days. In the meantime Youssef takes care of the red-tape, paper work and so forth,  in the university administration Office. He meets other grad students. He´s eager to find out who will be taking classes with him. He promptly accepts an invitation to a Barbecue Party, as part of the “welcome activities” for incoming students. He is afraid he will not fit in. Will there be any other student from the Middle East? Will people think he is a radical, a Fundamentalist?

Did he do the right thing going to study International Relations in the US? How does this moment fit into his future? Only God knows. At the same time he believes the future walks hand in hand with him. We plant the future in the present, says Youseff to himself as he walks towards it. His future. Something inside says it is about to happen. The future in a BBQ Party.

This is not America

Youssef arrived in DC around dinner time. He was picked up by two Grad students, one typical american and the other a british fellow. They were a bit uneasy at first. On the way to the university campus they stopped at a pizza place.

Youssef was amazed at the atmosphere, the people, the laughter, the free spirit, the music in the background was great. As soon as they stepped in the song being played was “This is not America”, by the Pat Metheny band, which he particularly liked. The coincidence was quite interesting, he thought. He was in America, at last.