Saturday
Oct242009
Home? From Asia.
Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 7:53AM by Vincent Skeltis
"Oh, no thank you."
"No, no thanks."
"Nope."
"No!"
These are the statements I'm hearing while under uneasy sleep,
now, back in New York. Always aware of my obsession with the word "no,"
my understanding of it's most powerful delivery when used came in handy often while traveling.
I can be scary.
For as long as I can remember I used the word "no" in a context that was distancing.
When I really needed something like my family, love or trust, work, and keeping close friends close, I practiced saying "no."
Always to my detriment.
"No, I don't need a taxi, a moto, a tuk-tuk, any smoke, ping-pong, another loaf of bread, another swim in clear water, another bus ride, another scarf or shitty cotton t-shirt, a tailored suit for a "great price", another game of pool, or can of Singh, another thirsty hooker, or another hit of Yabba. I certainly don't need to see another digital camera pointed at a temple, or hear another story about why the English hate the Euro, either.
Traveling through an impoverished country can bear many lessons, and despite the ever present heist, the often scam and the marking of any tourist, the doing is done as a family. So much love and respect to those I met along the way, and to those I found again from once familiar places.
"No, no thanks."
"Nope."
"No!"
These are the statements I'm hearing while under uneasy sleep,
now, back in New York. Always aware of my obsession with the word "no,"
my understanding of it's most powerful delivery when used came in handy often while traveling.
I can be scary.
For as long as I can remember I used the word "no" in a context that was distancing.
When I really needed something like my family, love or trust, work, and keeping close friends close, I practiced saying "no."
Always to my detriment.
"No, I don't need a taxi, a moto, a tuk-tuk, any smoke, ping-pong, another loaf of bread, another swim in clear water, another bus ride, another scarf or shitty cotton t-shirt, a tailored suit for a "great price", another game of pool, or can of Singh, another thirsty hooker, or another hit of Yabba. I certainly don't need to see another digital camera pointed at a temple, or hear another story about why the English hate the Euro, either.
Traveling through an impoverished country can bear many lessons, and despite the ever present heist, the often scam and the marking of any tourist, the doing is done as a family. So much love and respect to those I met along the way, and to those I found again from once familiar places.
Reader Comments (2)
I'm not sure how this was even achieved, but I think it's quite funny. Thanks for commenting?
there's always room for another ping-pong. let's not be foolish