Maryam said to me, "you fall in love so easily."
I laughed and told her "yeah, I do"
"Problematic, eh?" she said.
"Always it is," I replied.
Love has always been so subjective and multidimensional for me, I guess it is for everyone. We love different people differently, at the same time or in different moments, but the fact that we love, remains common. The above conversation started when I was telling Maryam, dearly about my old flatmate from Berlin who I met and felt instant endearment for him after few conversations that we had. The moment was such that you help but simply feel love.
It was Palolem beach, Goa, I was walking back with Christoph to the beach hut where we were staying. We were walking back with our flipflops in hand, talking about the receding water from the shore and trying to find the scientific term for this. I cannot remember what lead to the conversation started but I asked him what subjects he will teach ones he finishes his studies to be a teacher.
He said history. I asked further if he thought history could be taught neutrally.
He replied, "of course not."
"But how can you have a perspective when you are teaching history, it will be like imposing your perspective on the students." I retorted
"You have to have a perspective, it is impossible to teach without it," he said.
I questioned him, "then what about facts, you cannot have an opinion about historical facts at least."
"Why not, you think facts are not distorted or facts not coloured with perspective. Some say that world war started on this particular date but some claim that the war had begun much before that. It always depend who is writing history."
After a long time I felt I had no answer or argument. I was outwitted.
I deviated the topic, and asked how will he then follow the given structure and history text which are taught in school and they probably will be from a perspective other than his own.
"Well there will be a course structure but I can still make the students think more and read more," he said while we kept walking on the sand. "I can relate the history texts with current situations, talk about similar issues or conflicts which exists today. Like while teaching Jewish history or the genocide I can talk about how things are today, what issues exists in Palestine. Ask the students to read about it. There are always a way."
I nodded in agreement. We kept on walking while I looked at him in awe and wanted to hug him and say "thank you," thank you for thinking like this. The inappropriateness of the action or may be the distance between us stopped me from doing this.
To carry on conversation I told him that history is my favorite subject but no one really care about studying it seriously these days. I always feel people cannot understand anything about the politics and the issues today if they do not understand the past. He said that students are often disinterested but you can always teach in a way to make it interesting.
He was right. I looked at him and felt after a long time I was listening to someone who was talking about something what I always thought but hardly hear anyone say it other than Freya. I thanked him again in my head for thinking the way he did. By the time we reached out hut, I was already awestruck by him. Basically, a conversation I haven't had with anyone in ages made me feel that I have an attachment with him. It was refreshing to hear someone talk about harmony while everyone around me is just extreme and speak of hatred.
Love is so diverse and always easy to happen anywhere and in any situation, probably all you need is a good conversation. So Maryam, now you know, what goes in my head goes to my heart as well.
I laughed and told her "yeah, I do"
"Problematic, eh?" she said.
"Always it is," I replied.
Love has always been so subjective and multidimensional for me, I guess it is for everyone. We love different people differently, at the same time or in different moments, but the fact that we love, remains common. The above conversation started when I was telling Maryam, dearly about my old flatmate from Berlin who I met and felt instant endearment for him after few conversations that we had. The moment was such that you help but simply feel love.
It was Palolem beach, Goa, I was walking back with Christoph to the beach hut where we were staying. We were walking back with our flipflops in hand, talking about the receding water from the shore and trying to find the scientific term for this. I cannot remember what lead to the conversation started but I asked him what subjects he will teach ones he finishes his studies to be a teacher.
He said history. I asked further if he thought history could be taught neutrally.
He replied, "of course not."
"But how can you have a perspective when you are teaching history, it will be like imposing your perspective on the students." I retorted
"You have to have a perspective, it is impossible to teach without it," he said.
I questioned him, "then what about facts, you cannot have an opinion about historical facts at least."
"Why not, you think facts are not distorted or facts not coloured with perspective. Some say that world war started on this particular date but some claim that the war had begun much before that. It always depend who is writing history."
After a long time I felt I had no answer or argument. I was outwitted.
I deviated the topic, and asked how will he then follow the given structure and history text which are taught in school and they probably will be from a perspective other than his own.
"Well there will be a course structure but I can still make the students think more and read more," he said while we kept walking on the sand. "I can relate the history texts with current situations, talk about similar issues or conflicts which exists today. Like while teaching Jewish history or the genocide I can talk about how things are today, what issues exists in Palestine. Ask the students to read about it. There are always a way."
I nodded in agreement. We kept on walking while I looked at him in awe and wanted to hug him and say "thank you," thank you for thinking like this. The inappropriateness of the action or may be the distance between us stopped me from doing this.
To carry on conversation I told him that history is my favorite subject but no one really care about studying it seriously these days. I always feel people cannot understand anything about the politics and the issues today if they do not understand the past. He said that students are often disinterested but you can always teach in a way to make it interesting.
He was right. I looked at him and felt after a long time I was listening to someone who was talking about something what I always thought but hardly hear anyone say it other than Freya. I thanked him again in my head for thinking the way he did. By the time we reached out hut, I was already awestruck by him. Basically, a conversation I haven't had with anyone in ages made me feel that I have an attachment with him. It was refreshing to hear someone talk about harmony while everyone around me is just extreme and speak of hatred.
Love is so diverse and always easy to happen anywhere and in any situation, probably all you need is a good conversation. So Maryam, now you know, what goes in my head goes to my heart as well.
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