Monday, August 12, 2013

People Talking


I’ve now been living in a hostel for a month, and I love it. I think it helps I have my own room to escape to when I need to do work or just need some space, but as a whole I love living in a place with so many people always passing through. I’ve realized I really love people. Not that I ever thought I didn’t like people, but I could sit and listen to people talk all day. So many fascinating stories and perspectives and histories. I love hearing and seeing how people respond differently to the same things. I love hearing and seeing what different things cause people to respond in the same way.  I love hearing and seeing what’s important to one person versus another.

It amazes me how two people can see the same thing, and have such a different vision, interpretation and understanding of what they’re looking at. There are so many examples of this everyday, no matter where in the world you are, but it’s easy to tell here just because so many people have done the same things and gone to the same places. I have done none of these things and gone to none of these places, so I have no idea what they are really like as everyone has different opinions on them. Some people hate the things other people love. Some people love things other people hate. This amazes me, and always makes me wonder how we can form cooperation and understanding on some of the more controversial subjects facing our world.

You also learn a lot about yourself based on who talks to you and what their first impressions of you are—or at least you learn what people think of you. I’ve learned I look like someone who loves beer and pot. I’ve also learned that no one thinks I’m American, and I apparently have a different accent. Even Americans have told me this. I’m going to start counting how often I hear this.  

I’ve also learned some pretty cool things though that I hope are a reflection of who I am, or at least who I will be one day. I seem to attract people who are respectful and understanding and have a deep love for life. People talk to me who are trying to figure out how to tackle the world’s problems, but don’t want to overstep cultural boundaries or force their “western” ways on anyone else. People ask to eat with me who have a love and affinity for the people they meet and the places they travel. I hope that I can remember these people and emulate them throughout my own journeys.

There have been a few people I’ve met at breakfast, then spent all day talking and exploring with to realize we never exchanged names, or if we did, we exchanged them at the end of the night. Sometimes when you click with someone, and you start sharing life stories, and then creating your own stories together, you forget that you don’t know that person’s name. You feel as if you’ve known them your whole life. I like that—I like knowing people from different backgrounds can connect so quickly, yet so genuinely.

Maybe someday I’ll run a hostel and spend all day everyday talking to different people.