Ayoub Kdimy, University of Mississippi
Fulbright Joint Supervision grantee, 2020/2021
“To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi”
William Faulkner. An American writer and a Nobel Prize laureate from Oxford Mississippi.
Who would have thought of such a profound quote?
Though this quote may not make sense for some of you dear readers, if you are living somewhere faraway or even if you haven’t heard of such place like Mississippi. But I personally found this quote carrying such a profound meaning that can resonate with anyone living in other parts of the world. I found a very helpful interpretation by Taylor Davenport in a blog that will help get a sense of that quote:
“Indeed! If you want to get closer to understanding the world, you first have to understand what’s right in front of you. Before you try to understand the world, try to understand a place like Mississippi. Try to understand the complicated web of hospitality and hate, generosity and poverty, thoughtfulness and ignorance, good will and discrimination. If you can understand that, then move on to the world.” https://www.theodysseyonline.com/to-understand-the-world
Mississippi has a very deep history with a blend of facts and experiences that might be puzzling to understand how such place can have two different facets of some specific matters like the one mentioned in the perspective of the blogger, but still very enriching to grasp more of the differences in the world we are living in if we make some good reflections.
Speaking of William Faulkner, I have had the opportunity and privilege to play on an old classical piano that was bought long time ago from an auction made on couple of items that were at William Faulkner’s house. This piano was bought by Bill and Crystal MacKenzie and put in the library room at the International Guest House, a beautiful place with a very good community just ten minutes away from downtown.
Speaking of music and arts, Mississippi is renowned as the “Birthplace of America’s Music”. After all, Mississippi is credited for producing the “King of Rock and Roll,” the “Father of Country Music,” and the “King of the Blues.” Mississippi has literally shaped the course of modern music with its contributions to blues, jazz, rock, country and gospel with so many talented musicians and singers that you may find more of their names In the link below as stated by Sandra M. Buckley in the article “Mississippi — behind the evolution & revolution of America’s music” http://www.todayinmississippi.com/featured_article/article/6499.
Meeting Morgan Freeman far away from Hollywood!
Who would have thought to meet this iconic and brilliant narrator, actor and director just three weeks after my arrival?! While I was on my way to meet some friends for a Friday night supper in one of the restaurants uptown, I randomly met Morgan Freeman while parking his car in one of the little tiny streets few blocks away from the square at Oxford. It was a pleasant experience to see one of the famous Hollywood actors we usually see on TV screens but this time it was through his car’s window and exchange salutes from a little distance with precautions due to the pandemic restrictions.
As I spoke a little bit about Oxford and the charm of this town, I wouldn’t miss mentioning how magnificent the campus of the University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” is, it is considered as one of the most beautiful campuses in the US, not only a botanical view, but an artistic and esthetic sense that words cannot describe how beautiful and amazingly the green spaces and flowers are kept. It would be difficult to choose one picture from so many places to represent the beauty of this picture but I would like to share this one below I personally find fascinating!
It is quite interesting to discover and learn couple of new things with such amazing experiences just few weeks after my arrival to this picturesque town and campus of Ole miss within the Fulbright exchange program. Not only that but also meeting and connecting with many people, Americans and international students from different cultures and backgrounds, which is a big addition to this first two months of my stay here at Oxford. I am honored and humbled to be part of the Fulbright community with its enriching program both culturally and educationally.
