Language

He handed me tea and said, "I love to talk with people. I want to talk with as many people as I can. I moved here from Baghdad, and I knew that I would need to be able to communicate.”

I understood the need. One of the reasons why I felt comfortable spending time around the mainly Syrian part of Istanbul was while I couldn't fully communicate in Arabic, it was easier to use than my practically nonexistent knowledge of Turkish.

Sharing a language adds more flavor to interactions, it brings common ground and a sense of shared identity. Communication through whatever method brings symbols to our notions of our lived experience. We strive for connection, to hope and trust that we understand the expressions and words that have been placed to meaning. However, it is nice to disappear sometimes. To be in the presence of people, but to be silent. To know that humanity is shared, as well as the experience of being alone in it.