The weirdo on the ferry

(sorry if some of my posts are not showing up right away; our internet in the country has been spotty, so I’ve been writing blog posts to be queued up)

On the ferry from Morroco to Spain the other day, there was a young guy standing in line behind us. He was a Caucasian kid, but his skin was darker than most Latinos, probably from time spent in the sun. He was wearing robes that were maybe made of linen, and his bag was some kind of hand knit back pack. His clothes and hands were dirty. He spoke perfect English with an American accent, and sticking out of his backpack were two half-torn baguettes, looking a little stale. Occasional wafts of pungent but not repulsive body odor lingered in the air wherever he walked. He wasn’t poor; he’d had enough money to pay for the 67€ each way ferry ride.

As he stood there rolling a joint of some kind, he said to the lady in line in front of him, “hey would you like some bread?” His eyes were curious and friendly, and he made and held direct eye contact with me and others, even after you looked away. The lady ignored him, and I looked away.

On the crowded boat, we had chosen a seat, and he approached us asking if he could sit next to us. Someone was already there, we truthfully told him no, and he moved somewhere else.

I realized that his presence was making a lot of people, myself included, uncomfortable, and I was quick to label him a weirdo. But after some reflection, I asked myself, who am I to be so judgmental about this happy-go-lucky and polite guy, freely offering his own food to others, and enjoying his ferry ride to another continent? I’ll bet he has a really interesting story to tell about how he got here.

Isn’t this what many others must think of us, as we ride around in sweaty, stinky Spandex cycling clothes and walk into local cafes to order coffees in bad Spanish? And yet, most of the people in these places are welcoming to us, even if they may look a bit curious or surprised.

I feel like I missed an opportunity, and next time I met someone like this, I will welcome him and ask his story.