The Angel Gabriel (London, UK)
Location: Walking through terminal at Sharjah Airport, UAE on return flight from Qatar
Who: Fellow Arab passenger in traditional head dress (From Yemen I think)
What: Brief conversation
Quick summary:
After a short introduction, where of course he thought I was from a country other than the USA (Might not "true Americans" look like the native "Indians" I thought... Oh...I guess that is a minor detail and doesn't matter) he started to go on about how we are all the same. He started talking about the Angel Gabriel and Islam.
I first asked if he traveled much. He quickly stated Europe and America among other places. We didn't go into details. I would have asked him what he actually saw, not just where he went. I then politely asked what he thought about other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and countless other religions which have existed over time. He seemed very welcoming of my questions. He then stated with much confidence, the answer is in the KORAN. Before we could discuss further we had to go separate ways. Where have I heard that line before...all the answers are in the _______. Say...have you ever read Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard? It's only a thousand pages+ or so.
I guess I knew this a long time ago - but I had to get it first hand. Encountering attitudes such as this more and more with people from different corners of the earth at different economic levels is revealing to say the least. People see what they WANT TO SEE. I guess I should just go with the flow. Anything to make a buck. Capitalism rules. The TRUTH DOES NOT MATTER. Somebody tell me otherwise. The TRUTH is only what you can convince someone of. Maybe the TRUTH is too complicated.
Yes, I am Phillipino. Yes, I am Japanese. Yes, I am Thai. Yes, I am Singaporean. Yes, I am Indonesian. Yes, I am Nepalese.
No, I am not American, my English just sounds very good. Yes, I am whatever you want me to be. Maybe, soon I can be "more" Chinese when more Chinese start traveling abroad.
In London
I'm staying at a friend's home in the London area. A fellow traveller I met in Australia. Australia is a great place to meet other young or young at heart travellers. There are a few other countries I can think of, but I met the most in Australia.
My only caveat would be that it is possible to get so caught up meeting other travellers that one doesn't see the local culture as much. My friend also enjoys studying the local people / culture from a psychological standpoint and how it relates to where and how people live.
On the flight from Dubai to London I finally felt I was getting closer to home, having arrived in Western Europe. To be sure, my anxiety level of not missing a flight or being delayed (And leaving an area) is going down. I first felt a little anxiety about missing a flight in Kathmandu, Nepal. Then again in India. A little bit in Dubai, but no that much as Dubai is so easy to travel in.
But, England is very fascinatingly different than the US. No doubt, tons of books have been written about this difference, so I won't reinvent the wheel. But, I still need to get home for a while. My final confirmation of this was feeling out of place in a McDonald's in Dubai, pondering over what a McArabia is. For my fellow Americans who might think it is horrifying to eat at a McDonald's while traveling - I'll say two things - one can only eat so many kebabs, koftas, and shwarmas, and try traveling for a long period of time!
Who: Fellow Arab passenger in traditional head dress (From Yemen I think)
What: Brief conversation
Quick summary:
After a short introduction, where of course he thought I was from a country other than the USA (Might not "true Americans" look like the native "Indians" I thought... Oh...I guess that is a minor detail and doesn't matter) he started to go on about how we are all the same. He started talking about the Angel Gabriel and Islam.
I first asked if he traveled much. He quickly stated Europe and America among other places. We didn't go into details. I would have asked him what he actually saw, not just where he went. I then politely asked what he thought about other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and countless other religions which have existed over time. He seemed very welcoming of my questions. He then stated with much confidence, the answer is in the KORAN. Before we could discuss further we had to go separate ways. Where have I heard that line before...all the answers are in the _______. Say...have you ever read Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard? It's only a thousand pages+ or so.
I guess I knew this a long time ago - but I had to get it first hand. Encountering attitudes such as this more and more with people from different corners of the earth at different economic levels is revealing to say the least. People see what they WANT TO SEE. I guess I should just go with the flow. Anything to make a buck. Capitalism rules. The TRUTH DOES NOT MATTER. Somebody tell me otherwise. The TRUTH is only what you can convince someone of. Maybe the TRUTH is too complicated.
Yes, I am Phillipino. Yes, I am Japanese. Yes, I am Thai. Yes, I am Singaporean. Yes, I am Indonesian. Yes, I am Nepalese.
No, I am not American, my English just sounds very good. Yes, I am whatever you want me to be. Maybe, soon I can be "more" Chinese when more Chinese start traveling abroad.
In London
I'm staying at a friend's home in the London area. A fellow traveller I met in Australia. Australia is a great place to meet other young or young at heart travellers. There are a few other countries I can think of, but I met the most in Australia.
My only caveat would be that it is possible to get so caught up meeting other travellers that one doesn't see the local culture as much. My friend also enjoys studying the local people / culture from a psychological standpoint and how it relates to where and how people live.
On the flight from Dubai to London I finally felt I was getting closer to home, having arrived in Western Europe. To be sure, my anxiety level of not missing a flight or being delayed (And leaving an area) is going down. I first felt a little anxiety about missing a flight in Kathmandu, Nepal. Then again in India. A little bit in Dubai, but no that much as Dubai is so easy to travel in.
But, England is very fascinatingly different than the US. No doubt, tons of books have been written about this difference, so I won't reinvent the wheel. But, I still need to get home for a while. My final confirmation of this was feeling out of place in a McDonald's in Dubai, pondering over what a McArabia is. For my fellow Americans who might think it is horrifying to eat at a McDonald's while traveling - I'll say two things - one can only eat so many kebabs, koftas, and shwarmas, and try traveling for a long period of time!
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