Like It Is

My James Joyce class is the most enjoyable in my schedule, owing both to the interesting subject matter and the teaching skills of Professor Begam. Some people to whom I've talked about him strongly disliked the man, for both his perceived arrogance and for his daily use of polystyrene cups. I do wish he'd conserve cups, but I like him anyway. If he is arrogant he's smart enough and knowledgeable enough to get away with it, but really he always seems to have a twinkle in his eye that invites us to smile with him and not to be offended when he finds humor. Prof. Begam also says some delightful things. Today he was just tinge annoyed to find that his classroom full of Christian-raised students had no idea why the passion of Christ is called 'the passion.' He rolled his eyes and said, "very well, once again the Jew will teach you about Christianity." At another moment during the course of the lecture/discussion, he said that "if you're in the gasworks in ninetieth century Ireland and you have consumption...you're going to die!" Laughing he added, "That is the unhappy, sad truth."