The 5000 Project

I wake up in another town, another country – nihow, salam, priviet; how much does it cost, please show me on the calculator. Poruski Niet, I do not understand. Adjust the timezone, check the exchange rate, ignore the taxi drivers, Ignore the hawkers, Ignore the beggers; the art of looking forward, adapting to ignore the human sensory instinct, “Hey Hey, Mister”, “Taxi”, “Motorbike”, Ignore the beeping horns, Ignore the desperation. Do you have dorm accommodation? Do you have anything cheaper? Skula sum, Khe-lee pool – That is too expensive, Walk away, “Wait Mister Mister – $5”, Walk back. Find a way out, must keep moving, too expensive. Yes I am travelling alone, No I am not married, I am happy to walk, No the town is not far it is only 2km. No I do not want additional salad and additional rice that costs more than the main meal,  No we do not want to pay together please split the bill.. Please stop shouting at me – please stop dragging me to your taxi, please let go of my bag. Thankyou for the free ride, but I do not wish to be taken outside of the town to your friend’s expensive hotel in the middle of nowhere. No, I do not wish to partake in a tea ceremony. No I do not believe in allah, No I do not believe in god, I will repeat myself if you do not understand. Yes… Kangaroo, australia, Robota? I worked in computers back home, Yes Australia is good but it is very expensive, No I can’t take you to Australia. No I am not Iranian, that is not my passport photo; that is my iran visa, please turn to the first page of the passport. Tashakor, XieXie, Merci, Spaciba – Thankyou so much for your help, without people like you in this world, travelling would be much more difficult. I’m not sure why you are still speaking with me, it is quite clear that we have established that I do not understand your language and you do not understand mine. Yes I like your country a lot, No I do not think your neighbouring country is full of thieves and murderers.