Hello Steemians!
I’ve hated writing for as long as I can remember. I hated those essay that teachers require after the Christmas Vacation, asking what gifts you receive from the holidays.
I didn’t know it then, but those love-hate relationship I have with sentences and paragraphs are the start of what I adore doing now. Writing.
I have my own journal, a physical notebook. And after I found out about steemit, I started documenting my days through my stories. The blog below is just an example. An original story that I would like to share with you.
Hope you like it!
As I was sitting at a coffee shop, I was thinking of random things out of nowhere. I was thinking of my Mom this time, of how she would be happy to be here with me. I was thinking of all the things she used to tell me when I was little, about this world of ours and its people. Then this story came into my mind…
There was one time when I was a kid, probably I was about 8 years old back then: An old man approached me and gave me a candy. He touched my head and was petting me like a dog. “Cute little girl, sino’ng kasama mo?” (Cute little girl, who are you with?)
He seemed nice, and his smile looked genuine. So I took the candy from him.
I didn’t notice my mom hasting towards us from afar. Upon reaching me, she was so angry and lectured that I should never talk to strangers.
I get that, parents will do anything to protect their child. And if I will be in her position, I might do the same.
As we went home, she told me and my siblings about what happened. It feels like I am the superstar in her story and it’s not a good thing.
Well, at least I have a candy ;)
That made an impression on me. I would always try my best to be on my own, and not ask others for help. Because they are strangers, aren’t they?
And now, as I am headed to my Hotel after a coffee date with myself, part of me is hoping no one else will be in the room.
Sometimes it gets awkward, and most of the time I just don’t know what to talk about.
I opened the door, and there is a girl on the bunk bed, below mine.
“Oh hi! Vanessa…”, she introduced herself reaching her hand to me.
“Mary, nice to meet you”, I shook her hand.
“Where are you from?”, she asked.
“Philippines. And you?”
“I am from Australia. Have you met Sophie?”
“No, I’ve been alone here the whole day. Where is she?”
“Not sure, but she is a french girl. You will probably meet her tonight”.
We started talking about anything. The places she visited in Vientiane, and where she suggested I go to.
She’s a nurse too!
It’s pretty cool to get to know someone of the same profession. We got to talk about how far from ideal is the way we practice in the Philippines. And of course, the salary. She makes $1100 AUD per week. If you're a nurse in the Philippines, it’s $200 AUD per month.
Such a far gap!
Then I realized…. I was talking to a stranger.
I just met her no longer than 30 minutes ago, and it felt like I’ve known her for ages!
Would my mom get angry if she found out?
I rewind the scenario in my head.
If I didn’t talk to her (a stranger), I would walk pass her with her hand hanging, and her introduction vanishing into thin air.
If I didn’t answer her questions, I won’t know new things. Like how Australia is almost as big as the whole Southeast Asia; and how some parts of their country snows and others don’t.
If I didn’t talk to her, my night would be boring.
...and my wandering mind got distracted when the door opened.
That’s my chance to go to my bed without sidetracking Vanessa’s story. They talked to each other for a second, and I was able to make it on top.
“Hello”, I said with a smile.
“Hi, I am Sophie. When did you arrive?”, she asked.
“Today. Where did you go today?”
“Oh, I did this weaving and dyeing of a scarf”. She took something out of her bag and showed it. She looks so proud, and I must say she had the right to be. It was a beautiful work of art.
We then just talked about things that popped up randomly from our minds. Like our languages, on how we can converse in one major language and get to understand each other. Of the places we’ve visited and where we are going next.
We decided to continue our talk at the hotel lobby and get a few beers.
Suddenly, I thought back on what my mom said, how talking to strangers is a bad idea. Although now, I'm even adding beer into the equation, she’ll probably freak out!
While they smoke their cigarettes, the spotlight was on me. The Philippines for them is a strange place they knew nothing about. They were very interested and started to ask tons of things about it.
“Does everyone in the Philippines speak English like you?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Is it your first language?” Sophie asked.
“No, it’s my third language,” I answered.
“What?!!! It is your third language and everyone in the Philippines can talk this kind of English? That is impressive!” she exclaimed!
“Yeah, I think so. It's because English is being taught in school starting from Kindergarten. The other two languages I know aren’t internationally known though. We have Tagalog which almost everyone in the country could understand, and I have my own dialect called Kapampangan. It’s like close to Spanish.”
“That is still awesome! People in Europe don't speak much English, and obviously, here in Southeast Asia”, she added.
The conversation made sense. Suddenly, I became proud of the Philippines. Not just because of the language proficiency, but also more on a list of tourist places I can lists down for them that doesn't seem to end.
Although they haven’t been in the Philippines before, both of them agreed that all Filipinos they've met are awesome!
It’s past midnight, we decided to go up and get ready to sleep.
The two strangers a while ago are now my ‘friends’.
Traveling solo gave me a chance to meet wonderful souls. With my not listening to the “don’t talk to strangers” mantra, I was able to make friends from all parts of the World. Friends who love the same things as I do. Traveling, and getting out of our comfort zones.
Not talking to strangers might be a good advice for kids. But it would be a terrible idea for adults.
Images taken using Xiaomi Redmi 4x
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