Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Side Stories part 2: A world without strangers
Or one less stranger, at least.
I am not sure what it is with our group that we're some sort of stranger magnet. We've been in numerous trips together, and aside from taking home wonderful memories, we are sure to make new friends- WHEREVER.
For instance, last year in Boracay, we met Mark and Jerome while we were all fighting our fear of jumping off the highest cliff at Ariel's Point. The bond we made that afternoon overflowed throughout the evening and the morning after. Our only regret was not getting their numbers. Aside from them, we also met Jesus and Peter. And I'm not talking about some religious enlightenment here. We met a guy who freakishly looked like Jesus, so we called him that. While, well, this other guy was always with 'Jesus', so we named him 'Peter'. I'm pretty sure we asked for their names but their accents got in the way. We never figured out their real names.
I can keep on recalling instances of getting to know strangers. Van drivers in Camiguin, water rafting guides in CDO, Uncle-owner of Lemon Pie House, Ben in Cambodia... the list can go on and on. Of course, Vietnam was no exception.
Meet Rachel Turner.
An entire day isn’t enough to hear all her exciting stories. While we were having dinner, though, I was distracted by one question. I wanted to ask her how she felt about being in Cu Chi (a town affected by the Vietnam war), hearing horrible stories and knowing that she belongs in the country that was on the other side of it. Not wanting to be impolite, I kept on dodging the question. In the end, I told myself, this girl had been everywhere. She’s probably the most open-minded person I’ve come across in my life! So I gave in to my curiosity and asked her.
She plans to visit the Philippines next year, and it would be amazing to share with her what our country can offer. By the way, if we find ourselves in Papua New Guinea, we'll surely send pictures to Rachel. She said it's one of the best places on Earth!
I am not sure what it is with our group that we're some sort of stranger magnet. We've been in numerous trips together, and aside from taking home wonderful memories, we are sure to make new friends- WHEREVER.
For instance, last year in Boracay, we met Mark and Jerome while we were all fighting our fear of jumping off the highest cliff at Ariel's Point. The bond we made that afternoon overflowed throughout the evening and the morning after. Our only regret was not getting their numbers. Aside from them, we also met Jesus and Peter. And I'm not talking about some religious enlightenment here. We met a guy who freakishly looked like Jesus, so we called him that. While, well, this other guy was always with 'Jesus', so we named him 'Peter'. I'm pretty sure we asked for their names but their accents got in the way. We never figured out their real names.
 |
| I told you. We met Jesus. |
I can keep on recalling instances of getting to know strangers. Van drivers in Camiguin, water rafting guides in CDO, Uncle-owner of Lemon Pie House, Ben in Cambodia... the list can go on and on. Of course, Vietnam was no exception.
Meet Rachel Turner.
We were set to have our war tour that morning when we found her in the hotel lobby. Actually, she found us in the hotel lobby and noticed that one of us was using an iPhone. She asked if she can borrow the sim card to activate hers. What seemed like the beginning of a 5-minute encounter turned into an all-day affair.
If you think Eat, Pray, Love is something that happens only
in movies, perhaps you are right. Because Rachel also left home to
travel all over the world for 6 months non-stop (for the 3rd year
now), but she didn’t go through all the divorce/I want to find myself drama.
She just wanted to get to know the world. She didn’t need a life-altering event
to start her journey.
Neither do we.
 |
| Girls having fun on top of a military tank. |
An entire day isn’t enough to hear all her exciting stories. While we were having dinner, though, I was distracted by one question. I wanted to ask her how she felt about being in Cu Chi (a town affected by the Vietnam war), hearing horrible stories and knowing that she belongs in the country that was on the other side of it. Not wanting to be impolite, I kept on dodging the question. In the end, I told myself, this girl had been everywhere. She’s probably the most open-minded person I’ve come across in my life! So I gave in to my curiosity and asked her.
 |
| We invited her to our favorite Pho place for dinner. She seemed to be enjoying herself. :) |
Her answer proved me right.
She told us that it was a painful part of history and both
sides sure have reasons. She never hesitated taking that tour, and similar
others around the world, because she was sure no one would take it against her.
Everywhere, she said, people had been so kind to her.
I admire how she didn’t sugarcoat her experiences. We were a
bunch of wide-eyed (feeling) teenagers, listening to her in awe. We would believe
everything she says! But she was quick to inject reality into her narratives.
She mentioned that it can get lonely, sometimes, and adjusting to a new
environment is never easy. And, of course, it would have been more wonderful if
she had already met the love of her life and do all the traveling together.
 |
| Last stop before we head back to the hotel to pick up our luggage. Then, it's goodbye Saigon. :( |
She plans to visit the Philippines next year, and it would be amazing to share with her what our country can offer. By the way, if we find ourselves in Papua New Guinea, we'll surely send pictures to Rachel. She said it's one of the best places on Earth!
One of the first rules our parents ever set is no talking to
strangers. Um, mom, dad, I sort of broke that a hundred times. Please don’t
ground me. ;)
# posted by Liana : 9:55 PM
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