Parallels and Paradoxes

This was my favorite reading that we have done so far in class.  I really enjoyed this style of writing; it was extremely personal and it really made me felt like I knew Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said.  While I was reading a few parts really stuck out to me.

Ana Guzelimian posed the question at the beginning of chapter 1, “Where do you feel home?”.  Since our last assignment was to explain what makes you you and we have spent a good portion of class discussing why Jerusalem feels like home to so many people I was immediately drawn in.  Daniel Barenboim explained that not Jerusalem, but the “idea of Jerusalem” makes him feel at home.  He expressed that “due to the lack of tolerance shown by some of the extreme populations of Jerusalem” the spirituality, intellectuality, and cultural curiosity has disappeared.  This brought me back to the idea that maybe the current situation of sharing Jerusalem destroys the elements that people are drawn to.  It was upsetting to read that an Israeli citizen did not feel like the current reality of Jerusalem could be considered home.  Also in response to this question Barenboim expressed that he is “not a person that cares much for possessions” and that he feels at home “when in the company of very close friends” such as Edward.  I can relate to this idea; like I expressed in my last journal entry, what makes me me  are the people in my life. 

I also found Edward’s description that “my feeling of being at home somewhere is really a feeling of transition, as everything in life….I am happiest when I can be at peace with the idea of fluidity. And I’m unhappy when I cannot really let myself go and give myself over completely to the idea that things change, evolve, and not necessarily for the best.”  This quote really resonated with me.  It is really interesting that what comforts Edward is the idea that things are constantly changing; people are often very uncomfortable with change.  I think this point of view is interesting and it is something I have experienced but never consciously thought about before.  I agree that I am happiest when I feel confident and ready to tackle the next stage even though it may take me out of my comfort zone.  When I am dreading the future because it is unknown I do not feel happy.  After being accepted to study at to Hebrew University for the semester I started to second guess whether or not this was a good idea.  I realized that I was very happy at OSU and may or may not be in Jerusalem.  This really began to bother me….how was I supposed to trade the known for the unknown?  After thinking about it for a while I realized that I applied for this program for a reason, and I needed to become comfortable with the fact that going to Israel for 6 months was an unwritten tale.  However I also realized that I was ready for this mystery.  My attitude changed and I was prepared to deal with the next 6 months of my life would be transitional and changing; I couldn’t have smiled more during these 6 months.