Words Across Places and Times by Alnoor Alnoor

As a child, the sky held mysteries beyond comprehension. With age, the girl next door became one too, along with the perplexing reasons behind laughter, anger, and the fine line between right and wrong. What wasn’t a mystery? Nearly nothing.

In the big house in Khartoum, Sudan, books, magazines, and newspapers overflowed every corner. Reading, writing, and religion had been taught in clay houses resembling modern preschools. By the first grade, communication with a father took the form of written requests and complaints—each one met with careful consideration and pride.

Propelled by the relentless ticking of time, a six-year ocean was crossed, where the father awaited on the other side. Simple messages had transformed into contemplations, now expressed in either English, Arabic, or both.  The responses they earned? Even greater pride and attention.

Knowledge is power, or so it is said. But how much knowledge is ever enough? The answers to questions only seemed to breed new ones. A relentless search unfolded, triggering a cascade of thoughts to be jotted down. Writing became both a release and a compass, navigating between questions unanswered and topics unending—a heavy load, much like a familiar tune that lingers in the mind.

Celebrity status holds no allure. The joy lies in sharing words with humanity—answers hard-won and questions left in their wake. Is this not a legitimate aspiration?

Travel is a book of its own—eye-opening, enlightening, and brimming with joy. Adopting a new identity and calling another country home brought challenges but also immense rewards. Bilingualism became a superpower, offering the ability to view both sides of the coin at once. It provided new answers, fresh questions, and deeper perspectives. No one holds the monopoly on truth, after all.

       When used well, knowledge bridges cultural gaps, fostering awareness and appreciation. Good books, in their quiet wisdom, become antidotes to ignorance, challenging the assumptions of those who claim absolute truths.

Written by Alnoor Alnoor