A city of strangers

Don't look at me...asshole!!! People on the subway get really disturbed when someone else look at them for more than a few seconds...and it's probably the same with me most mornings. Thank god for Metro, we have something to stare at for the 20+ minutes in a crowed subway... And if someone say something...freaks. Don't talk to someone you don't know. It's a rule in the city. The city of strangers. Cause here, we don't care about others, we care about ourselves, and maybe a handful of family members and friends. But don't think I'm gonna take time to talk to a stranger...no way.

It's funny, cause as soon as we travel and leave this city or this country, the rules changes. We become openminded, outgoing, positive and contact seeking. We have left our safe little world and now we're ready to meet new people and do exciting things. But back home again we have a clear message... Stay away from me!

One guy came up to me when I was sitting outside a museum this summer... He just started talking and I did get annoyed, cause I was writing in my journal. Fine...say what you need to say and leave, I thought. But friendly as I can be, I did have a small conversation with him, and before I knew it we were chatting away for 30 minutes or so... Nice guy from Italy, but confused over the Swedish attitude to be "left alone". It might be that way in Sweden, but honestly, I think it's that way in cities... You don't really chat away with strangers in New York either, or Rome(well maybe if they could speak English!).

So, I live in a city of strangers, and there's no wonder I feel so alone at times. Yes, there's lots of stuff going on here, exciting, fun, and happening things...but I rarely run into people on the street that knows my name. I'm just another person walking the streets, without history, without a soul... In my hometown, I just have to walk a few blocks to see a few people I know, grew up with, worked with... I'm someone. And sometimes, that's exactly who I want to be.