A Glasgow Graduate from Syria – Summer 2016

This isn’t a story as such but a sharing of a pleasant and thought provoking event.
Today I met my friend Issi for a little catch up before the holidays. I’m a bit nosy and having had many years of close ties with the University of Glasgow – as a mature, more mature and getting-on-a-bit student – I find it hard to hold back from asking questions, when I see someone in the West End dressed in a kilt, clutching a scroll and accompanied by well dressed companions.
Just such a group sat beside us in Smug Cafe in Great George Street. They needed some extra chairs so we had a bit of shuffling around and then I asked the kiltie if he’d just graduated. Of course, he had, as B.Sc. in Astrophysics. He didn’t say but he must have gained a very good degree as he’s now heading off to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to study for a doctorate.
In June in Glasgow West End you can meet any number of groups brought together to celebrate graduations. These people had traveled from Newcastle and Sweden to celebrate their brother’s achievement – the beautiful little girl was shy and sweet. She’d been born in Glasgow. It was a pleasure to meet Husni and his family from Syria.
Sharing this snapshot of happiness was poignant and uplifting,
There’s turmoil in our country with all the recent chicanery, odious political bullying, xenophobia and economic uncertainty that we’ve been experiencing – it’s nothing compared to Syria.
Pat Byrne, 28 June, 2016.
This section: Seasonal Stories and Poems by Glasgow Writers, Writing
Filed under: Seasonal Stories and Poems by Glasgow Writers, Writing
Related Pages
- Poetry by Maryam Raza
- A Scottish Soldier Foresees His Death by Frankie Gault
- Mary Irvine’s Blog: Interview with debut author Evelyne Lawrie
- A Letter to Prophet Muhammad ( pbuh) – Rizwan Akhtar
- An Evening With Louise Welsh – The Second Cut
- A Valentine’s Day Poem by Rizwan Akhtar
- Home Grown In Glasgow – a poem for International Women’s Day by Ruby McCann
- The Carrbridge Rose – Brian Whittingham
- On the West Highland Line – Linda Jackson
- Poetry for Valentine’s Day by Donna Campbell
- Poetry for Valentine’s Day by Finola Scott
- Flash Fiction for Valentine’s Day – Leela Soma
- Ruby McCann – Glasgow Writer
- a serenade for Lahore’s Rain – Rizwan Akhtar
- Twelve Days of Christmas – Leela Soma
- Shaking Hands With Christmas – Brian Whittingham
- To Move On – short story by Samina Chaudry
- The Angel Beds by Michael Crossan
- The Fortune Teller by Pat Byrne
- Hopes and Fears by James Connarty
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.