Were we to consider why each of them died, and how - what would happen to us, the living? The world goes on whether we choose for it to do so or in defiance of us. And I, like millions of mankind, walk and move, generally by force of habit, in a long caravan that ascends and descends, encamps, and then proceeds on its way. Life in this caravan is not all together bad. You no doubt are aware of this. The going may be hard day by day, the wilderness sweeping out before us like shoreless seas; we pour with sweat, our throats are parched with thirst and we reach the frontier beyond which we think we cannot go. The sun sets, the air grows cool, and millions of stars twinkle in the sky. We eat and drink and the singer of the caravan breaks into song. Some of us pray in a group behind the Sheikh, others form ourselves into circles to dance and sing and clap. Above us the sky is warm and compassionate. Sometimes we travel by night for as long as we have a mind to, and when the white thread is distinguished from the black we say, “When dawn breaks the travelers are thankful that they have journeyed by night.” If occasionally we are deceived by a mirage, and if our heads, feverish from the action of heat and thirst, sometimes bubble with ideas devoid of any basis of validity, no harm is done. The spectres of night dissolve with the dawn, the fever of day is cooled by the night breeze. Is there any alternative?”
Passage from “Season of Migration to the North” by Tayeb Salih. Trying to finish this sucker by tonight.
My geography of the Middle East and Northern Africa class just might be my favorite class. But I love all my classes so much. My FIG met with Saudi Arabian students the other night, and the entire experience captivated me. At one point I did the hokey pokey with my group, and the Saudi students busted out into their national anthem. All of them were male, because they are very protective of their women. At one point, when I discussing cultural customs with one of the guys, he said something very interesting his culture and religion. Nobody brought up the newly passed piece of legislation that now allows women to vote. Also interesting.
Anywhoo, back to reading. Today I have no classes which means getting shit done, as well as an adventure in the evening. We’re all taking our bikes and exploring the mysterious land of Eugene ;)
