The world upside down

A whole lot is happening and the world is turning upside down.

A Leaf of Hope

It didn´t take long and Youseff learned about Mary´s interest to create an NGO to help orphans in the Middle East. Studying International Relations was part of that plan. She wanted to see how governments interacted and resolved conflicts involving children. She was a born visionary and, at the same time, had an amazing gift to interact with children.  Youseff decided to start calling her using a nickname:  Dove. He said she reminded him of the dove presented in the Genesis account of the flood, described in the Old Testament Scriptures. That tiny dove had taken in its peak a leaf of hope to Noah, indicating that the waters were finally going down. Mary, now Dove, was like that. A courageous and selfless person who always had a word of hope to impart to others, particularly children, even in the midst of great tragedy. Youseff loved Mary even more.

Nothing but a miracle

Youseff and Mary started a relationship that would lead them from visions of a life of bliss, a nest of love for them and their children, to adventures and dangers never imagined and to a sudden and painful rupture that would break their heart to pieces, leaving both of them distanced from one another, disoriented, lost. Even so their destiny was bound to create a movement that would spark life and hope to future generations in a region of the world that, for centuries, has seen only conflict and hate. Nothing but a miracle would make that happen. But they don´t know that yet, after all, they have just met.

Her name is Mary

“No, thanks, I´m fine. By the way, my name is Mary, and, who are you? Where do you come from?” Youseff went blank for a few seconds. The conversation went on. They talked about world affairs, issues they both wanted to study about and find the solutions for. He found out she had great interest for the region in the world he came from.  He was particularly struck when he learned about her plans to devote her life to orphans in the Middle East. He simply could not imagine he would meet someone with that type of ideal in life. Someone who would want to inspire life to little, abandoned ones. That was how he met Mary. And that Mary would make all the difference in his life.

An unthinkable invitation

It didn´t take long and Youseff was pulled into the group, as students, professors and some administrative staff happily interacted with one another. The overseas students were kind of overdressed for the occasion. Some even wore ties. The grilled chicken and potato salad were simply great. He had never tasted anything like that. As he slowly moved around trying to find a place to sit down, he heard a female voice coming in his direction. It sounded like a whisper. One of his new class mates, as he would soon find out, was inviting him to sit next to her. That type of invitation would be unthinkable in the culture where he came from. He knew he was in a different place though and was not bothered by that. He timidly accepted and said: “Thanks! It is very nice of you to invite me to sit with you. My name is Youseff.” As he said that and made himself comfortable he noticed she didn´t reply. Impressed by the graciousness of her presence he looked straight into her beautiful blue eyes and said: “Is everything ok? Can I get you anything?” She smiled at him. And that was it.

A personal spring: the spark

The Incoming Students BBQ Party has already started, but that is not a problem for Youseff, a Middle Eastern. Life flows and is not tied to a watch. As he walks by the bookstore, at the Student Union, a magazine cover grabs his attention. It´s about the Arab Spring, now turning into the Arab Winter.

His excitement for being at the place he dreamed about for so long is being disturbed by recent news. It is impossible not to be worried about his family. Will they be safe staying where they are at? Even though his father would do everything possible to protect the family, it was natural for him to be concerned, being the older brother. He remembered the contingency plans to have the family evacuated to a neighbor country, in case something more drastic happened. His childhood memories included those long hours playing hide-and-seek inside those tunnels dug by his father and uncles, forming a complex labyrinth, leading to well disguised entrances, or exits, in a family farm near the border with that other Arab country. Only family members had access to that tunnel, which was accessed through a fake cabinet filled with homemade fruit jam jars, in the basement of their home. That spacious and cozy area, with a large rustic table and chairs, referred to as the “dungeon”, was normally used for family time.

Youseff though, remembered that his father sometimes used the privacy provided by the “dungeon” to hold more private meetings with close relatives and friends. Business stuff, as he used to say, making sure the children were kept away from it.  After a short walk being entertained by these memories, he finally arrived at the place where the reception party was being held. He was suddenly struck by a different vision and sensation. Great live music was being played by a professional band. Something he had never experienced before.

Different nationalities and accents together. Concerned and highly motivated people sharing the same food and enjoying one another, making jokes and laughing, yet respecting the differences. It was as if they formed a family, bonded by the same ideals and dreams. There was a different spirit, entirely different than that shown in the news. Two different worlds.  The future in a BBQ party. He knew he was in the right place, at the right time. He was about the enter his personal Spring

When was the last time you had this feeling? Did you ever feel the same way, at one point, in your life?

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.