Studium Generale hosted a special May 4th Remembrance Day service to commend the efforts of TU Delft staff and students during World War II, and to launch a commemorative book, ‘Op herhaling’ (‘In Remembrance’), honoring the 200 people from Delft who lost their lives in the war.
Delen
In addition to speeches by Rector Fokkema and others, TU Delft student Tarek Ghobar spoke about his experiences growing up in war-torn Lebanon.
Tarek Ghobar spent much of his childhood living in Israeli-occupied Lebanon, and in Saudi Arabia during the First Gulf War. During his speech, Ghobar spoke candidly about growing up in a war zone: “Numerous times I had to interrupt my play to hide from the raining bullets or to witness families mourning lost loved ones. After a while, war becomes a lifestyle for people, a normal routine in which they just have to learn to live around.”
Living with his parents in Saudi Arabia for nine months of the year, Ghobar would return to Lebanon every summer to visit his other family members. “This was no summer luxury . you know, when spend the summer in some exotic place. The idea was to just to go and be with your family. And you never knew what was going to happen.”
Apart from the immediate danger, Ghobar describes the logistical nightmares of living in Lebanon at this time: “You weren’t allowed to travel freely. And for fear of suicide bombers or resistance attacks, you couldn’t drive by yourself in a car. You always had to have somebody with you. If they saw one person in a car, they’d immediately shoot. No questions asked.”
Ghobar spoke openly about his family members directly involved in the war: “I had family and friends involved in the fighting, but luckily not in the deaths. One of my grandfathers though was blinded when a mine exploded. And his brother was killed trying to save him from that landmine, so it was a very real thing.”
Ghobar is used to being away from home and family. He has previously studied in Norway and Canada, and is now completing his Aerospace Engineering degree at TU Delft. “I plan to finish my BSc next year and then work for a couple years, as I need to help my family back in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. I wouldn’t mind getting a job in Holland, but I don’t want to settle here long-term. I’d really love to go back to Lebanon and be around my family and culture.”
Ghobar is passionate about education and its importance in avoiding and resolving conflicts: “The most important thing is to listen, to be aware, and to be educated about others before making any judgments. In Lebanon, Holland or any other country, the message is the same, free the people from oppression, free them from occupation, but most importantly, free them from ignorance.”
Tarek Ghobar (Photo: Sam Rentmeester/FMAX)
Tarek Ghobar spent much of his childhood living in Israeli-occupied Lebanon, and in Saudi Arabia during the First Gulf War. During his speech, Ghobar spoke candidly about growing up in a war zone: “Numerous times I had to interrupt my play to hide from the raining bullets or to witness families mourning lost loved ones. After a while, war becomes a lifestyle for people, a normal routine in which they just have to learn to live around.”
Living with his parents in Saudi Arabia for nine months of the year, Ghobar would return to Lebanon every summer to visit his other family members. “This was no summer luxury . you know, when spend the summer in some exotic place. The idea was to just to go and be with your family. And you never knew what was going to happen.”
Apart from the immediate danger, Ghobar describes the logistical nightmares of living in Lebanon at this time: “You weren’t allowed to travel freely. And for fear of suicide bombers or resistance attacks, you couldn’t drive by yourself in a car. You always had to have somebody with you. If they saw one person in a car, they’d immediately shoot. No questions asked.”
Ghobar spoke openly about his family members directly involved in the war: “I had family and friends involved in the fighting, but luckily not in the deaths. One of my grandfathers though was blinded when a mine exploded. And his brother was killed trying to save him from that landmine, so it was a very real thing.”
Ghobar is used to being away from home and family. He has previously studied in Norway and Canada, and is now completing his Aerospace Engineering degree at TU Delft. “I plan to finish my BSc next year and then work for a couple years, as I need to help my family back in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. I wouldn’t mind getting a job in Holland, but I don’t want to settle here long-term. I’d really love to go back to Lebanon and be around my family and culture.”
Ghobar is passionate about education and its importance in avoiding and resolving conflicts: “The most important thing is to listen, to be aware, and to be educated about others before making any judgments. In Lebanon, Holland or any other country, the message is the same, free the people from oppression, free them from occupation, but most importantly, free them from ignorance.”
Tarek Ghobar (Photo: Sam Rentmeester/FMAX)
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