“I always loved the milk in the UK. Maybe you are grown [up] here, you take it for granted. But milk in the UK is amazing. In June when you wear coat, it’s because there is good milk then. There is good milk all year.

In summer in the Middle East, the milk is not that tasty. It’s mainly in spring when it’s really, really nice. This could be why our type of cheese has been invented, this halloumi, where the Bedouin used to make it in spring and preserve it in water and salt, a lot of salt, and leave it for winter.”

Razan Alsous came from Damascus in Syria and resettled in the UK. The quote above are her words from a recent radio interview, telling of her experience to start from scratch a cheese-making business here; something she had never done before.

What struck me as I listened was how Razan appreciated something which I just take for granted: she was telling the UK listeners how amazing our milk is all year round. Not just for the spring months, but every month we have good milk. Do we? Is anyone noticing and appreciating this?! It is so normal for us to have good milk every month that we don’t see it for the treasure that it is. Yet when I hear from someone who comes from a different climate and context, it enriches my understanding of my own situation.

There is a lot of talk in society these days about how separated we are becoming from those who think/behave/judge/believe/understand differently from ourselves. We might feel miles away from understanding an older or younger generation; our ethics might be nothing like those with whom we share the bus; our beliefs or our politics might vary hugely from our neighbours. But listening to a different point of view might enrich us rather than demolish us. It might enlarge our appreciation, even if we disagree.

How might we do this? A first courageous step might be to see through another’s eyes: ‘I’m curious: why is it that you think this/ prioritise that/ value the other/ …..?’ The courtesy of listening, of letting another be heard, could be far more fruitful than we expect.

Such curious conversations might help in a conflicted world.

Louise Corke