Lesson II: Close Encounter

Lesson: There are more strangers than friends in this world...What can you learn from them?

Yesterday, my friends and I headed down to Port Zayed for a small photo shoot. When we arrived, we saw a man fishing in front of a massive fishing ship…what could be more inspiring than the little guy competing with large industries? We approached him hoping he would allow us to photograph him and after some exchanged hand gestures (he did not speak a word of English or Arabic) he agreed to pose for us. We weren’t looking for these staged ‘tourist’ images but we could not explain to him that we wanted him to continue fishing as he was. Offering me his fishing line he insisted on our participation.

There was something very refreshing about this encounter; none of us ever felt uncomfortable, we were having too much fun learning from this stranger. The images we captured were candid, genuine and what I believe to be a statement of positive cross-cultural interaction.

I was taken completely out of my element; I found myself fishing during the hottest time of day, halfway around the world from where I was born and raised, with a stranger who I couldn’t verbally communicate with. I realized I am an alien in a country that is not my own. We are all human and we are all capable of being kind to one another regardless of the obstacles we face through difference.

How can you ever meet anyone if you never interact with strangers? Don’t be afraid of people; take the time to notice the similarities and differences you have with everyone around you. For terror to survive we are meant to feel distant, incompatible and alone. We are none of these. You will never learn anything from people who are exactly like you.