Travelers

Staying in hostels, one inevitably meets fellow travelers. That was to be expected as otherwise the accommodation would be too expensive or unprofitable for the host. First encounters usually go like that: Hi, I'm Reinhard. [Raising eyebrows]. You can call me Ryan. Oh nice, I'm Kamal. [Raising eyebrows]. It means Lotus flower in Hindi. Ah, cool. What are you doing Kamal? Well, I did a Bachelor in Creative Writing with two minors in Gender Studies and Spiritual Anthropology. But then, I decided that I wanted to do something more applied and after spending two years in a Kibbutz I started a Master in International Commercial Affairs and Public Health Policy, but I never finished because it is too applied, lots of math, you know. Right now, I am teaching Swahili as a seventh language to children with two ears in Brooklyn. But only part-time because I want to still have enough time to knit ponchos. What are you doing? I am chemist. Ah.... okay... that's cool I guess... Yep, it is. Mmmmh... [awkward silence] Wanna have a thorough discussion about Buddhism? I'd love to!

Here are the Top 3 sentences that can be mentioned in any context and make you blend in with fellow travelers instantaneously:

• Sometimes, you have to close one door in order to open another one.
  
• It is not important where you're coming from, but where you're going to.
  
• I'm more into independent stuff, you know.

Here are some pictures from La Ciudad de México:

Mexico City

Right now, I am in Oaxaca which is really cool.