I have been longing for traveling to unfamiliar places. It had been over 1.5 years since the last time I had such travels, and I was becoming increasingly desperate to refresh my perspectives – a reminder that the world is a much bigger place than the “comfortable international bubble” where I settled in The Hague. I desired a humbling reminder that my constant thinking about work performance and work relationships is just a tiny and particular subject I chose to spend my energy with, until I look up and allow myself to realize that the world is full of different life stories and unique struggles.
Arriving in Tunis and getting to the old town was a rather smooth process. The warm air (19 degrees Celcius in the evening) felt great and the cheerful vibe of the people was exciting. But the wild and sometimes reckless driving style, the lack of safety belt in the back seat, and the almost total language barrier were making me feel “alive” in the quite opposite sense in The Hague, and honestly, I was happy to be back in such experience again.
After checking in to a hostel, I was happy to explore the old town a bit, but soon I realized that the neighborhood was poorly lit – some streets were totally dark. And it was not a good experience to hear the footsteps of the guys walking towards you, but not be able to see anyone. So I turned back and resorted to a street sandwich stand, and I was not too frustrated to let her decide what I eat. So goes the first day of 9.
@ Medina, Tunis, Tunisia, December 25, 2022
