Simply Human



What is American? In the US we are all a mixture of many nationalities so it is difficult to pick out someone who looks distinctly American. I had time to think about this on a recent train ride to Austria.

Train Station in Salzburg, Austria


Unlike other means of mass transport (buses, airplanes), train cabins are a breed of their own. You see, when you ride an airplane or a bus, everyone is facing one direction, generally forward. In a train cabin, you are facing the person sitting in front of you. In route from Prague to Salzburg, I had the opportunity to observe the 4 other people in my cabin. First, to my front right is my girlfriend, Alyson, who like me, is having her first unguided excursion by train. We both are young Americans in a country where speaking English is not exactly the same as speaking ‘American’. Our backpacks are stuffed with every small convenience we could manage for our 4 day trek into Austria and Italy but at the moment the only thing I want is an ice cold Dr. Pepper. To my direct front is a small blond haired woman, who until the latest neck breaking, track changing curve, was sound asleep, head back and mouth wide open. Her eyes are a rich brown, deep and intensely dark reminiscent of my younger sister. She seems sweet, smiling at me when our eyes meet. Her nationality is unknown but interestingly, everyone in my cabin looks ‘American’. This includes the man sitting practically on my left shoulder. A larger man much like me, he has a military like short haircut with a scraggly beard. His vest and pants match this macho outdoorsman theme which adds to his ‘American’ look. With a smile I see the front cover of the book he is reading: “Rambo” only all the other words are in Czech.  This leads me to believe, perhaps this ‘American’ looking man in not so ‘American’ after all.

Finally, to the gruff looking man to my left front. This man, in his mid-50’s has sat with a solemn look of his face, reading a book of unknown title and origin. His face is dark from the sun with a large nose and silver hair. He would look very distinguished if not for his old tennis shoes, faded jeans and stretched V-neck tee. Instead, he looks down right frightening and also very, you’ve got it, ‘American’.  It was not until this man, after a half hour of reading finally found a page that led him to laughter. A smile came across his face and a giggle out of his stomach as if a clown was jumping around in our cabin. It was in this instance that his gruffness was removed and I realized that the question of ‘American-or-not’ was not the thought I should have had. In the end, everyone in my cabin is simply human. A connection we all share; beyond all national boarders, languages or beliefs. Sitting in that train cabin facing a smiling blond woman, being squished by a heavy set Rambo, I realized it’s good to be human.

Julliet's Balcony, Verona, Italy

We arrived in Salzburg,  Venice, and Verona and enjoyed site seeing and each other’s company. We learned so much about people while being so closely together in our train/ bus rides. For me, I have something from this trip much more than any trinkets or pictures; I have a fresh outlook on people. Some good. Some bad. Always human.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

-Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)