Plagued by farsickness

Afew days ago, I received a letter from a 13-year-old student based in Dubai, who, just like most of us, is wondering about how the future is going to unfold after Covid-19 releases us from its claustrophobic grip. Would we remember the time that was? Would we be defined by our apprehensions? How are we going to embrace change, and vice versa? These are existential questions and I don’t think any of us have answers for any of them, neither right now nor in the near future. Opinions, yes, but no answers.

This train of thought brings me to a profound German word I came across recently – Fernweh. Simply explained, it means farsickness or yearning for a place that you have never visited.

To me, fernweh is a metaphor for my current state of mind. It succinctly describes my insatiable urge to fast forward all our lives into a future where Covid-19 and its horrifying impact is diluted by positivity. A time when terms such as social distancing, quarantine and self-isolation will not exist. People will come together to celebrate and to grieve, to hope not fear, and most importantly compassion and empathy will define us and our attitude.

Since this future is an unknown destination, I am told my sentiments can be better summarised by the word Nargish Khambatta, principal of GEMS Modern Academy, mentioned in her interview in last week’s Friday Lite. The word is Coddiwomple.

This is no fancy foreign word, but an English word that means travelling towards a vague destination.

That makes me think, aren’t we all coddiwompling through life? I admit, I have been, Covid-19 notwithstanding.