On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the Society, in collaboration with Pan Atlantic University’s (PAU) Book club, hosted a session of AIFA Book Club for students at Pan Atlantic University. The book club session held in PAU’s art Museum had in attendance 50 students and discussed the book, “Missing out” by Leila Aboulela.
Missing out is a story focused on a Sudanese couple that migrated to London. The story highlights Faith, the effects of migration, and adaptability skills, amongst others.
The book club session kicked off with icebreakers to get the students familiarized with themselves. After that, they took turns reading the 9-page story, followed by discussions, each sharing their views and opinions.
Different thoughts and opinions were formed while reading the book. In response to the question on the lessons from the story, a student stated that Samra and Majdy both have different personality traits. While one quickly adapted to the new life in London, the other held on to her beliefs and the life she had been accustomed to back in Sudan.
Another student asserted that Majdy did not help Samra transition into her new life in London. She posited that things would have taken a different turn if Majdy had helped Samra gradually ease into the new cultural system. She also pointed out that Samra was reluctant to adapt to changes and believed the couple should have come to a compromise on their individual preferences.
In response to the abovementioned point, a student expressed the need for intending couples to discuss differences, ambitions, and dreams to avoid dissatisfaction and unfulfilled dreams.
Similarly, a student thinks Majdy made London what he says it should be for Samra and not what Samra had wanted for herself. “She kept emphasizing prayers and calling his attention to the things she missed at home. If he had tried to incorporate a bit of her Sudanese lifestyle into their London lifestyle, she would have been a bit more comfortable.”
Another student emphasised the individuality of Samra and Majdy. She mentioned that everyone was right in their own description of a great home, which does not mean either party is missing out on anything.
While most of the students focused on character differences, a student shifted the spotlight of the discussion to Majdy’s mindset about Africa. He mentioned that Majdy still has a colonised mindset, sees other Africans as lazy, and idolizes the whites making them seem like better humans than Africans. He asserted that Majdy’s mindset affected his view of Africans, hence, his quick adaptation to life in London.
The book club session came to a wrap with some advice from one of the students who stated that between Majdy and Samra, no one’s idea of home is superior to the other. “A home is what you make out of it.”
The session ended on an optimistic note, with participants expressing their delight in partaking in the session and looking forward to more exciting sessions of AIFA Book Clubs.
