What would a destination be without the people you meet along the way? Since I often travel alone, I feel very priviliged to constantly be meeting new people. People who make me see things differently, through their eyes if I’m lucky.
Last week when I went to Paris, I met a man who had fought in the Serbian war. A two hour plane journey next to him made me realise lots of things I’d never even thought about before. Mainly about a war I’ve read about but never understood. But also about how living a war makes you need facts, history and justice in the same way as you need food to survive and keep the faith.
My neighbour on the plane speaks Russian, Arab and English and filters the news from three main parts of the world. I’ve felt ever so slightly handicapped listening to the Western version of the news ever since.
Moral of the story? Always talk to strangers!
My kids are really good at it, and maybe it’s a childish thing to do, but I do believe that as we get older we tend to shut people out in a way that is unthinkable to a child. There’s a saying “A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met”, and here are some shots of my kids proving this to be true.
My son and Bader playing Rock-Paper-Scissors in Azemmour, Morocco
The women behind the veils are scary at first, but a few giggles later the fear is gone. High Atlas, Morocco
Our friends in Ait Benhaddou live in a mud hut and it's great to catch up after ten years.
My son was four when we went to Cuba, and was immediately included in the game of street baseball. Viñales, Cuba.
Bonding is always beautiful. Ouarzazate, Morocco
Beach Boys, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.
Holli
April 29, 2010 at 6:44 pm
What a great blog – ad some excellent photos! I agree about always talking to strangers – that’s how they become friends! And I think it’s a great idea to get your kids out there in the world as well.
As a Canadian living in Ghana, I am all for learning everything you can about new cultures.
I think your blog is great and I’ve linked it over on my Ramblings as well!!!
Steve
May 2, 2010 at 9:45 pm
This is a great blog. I really like this article because it goes along with the message that I try to get out to people. There are a lot of people out there that really are afraid to talk to others especially if they are really different from them. Those are the people you should talk to. I noticed an improvement in my life once I started talking to strangers.
photito
May 3, 2010 at 6:31 am
Guys, thanks for your comments. Here’s to hoping we bump into each other one day as strangers and start talking! X
Monica
June 12, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Hi there. Nice post and some beautiful pics! Your kids are lovely and I love the idea that they will be ambassadors of sorts for their peers as they get older because you chose to expose them to many cultures as they were growing up. Wonderful!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and telling me about your post.