There has been this page on Facebook that a lot of friends share or like the posts on that page. That page is called Humans of New York. The idea is kind of the style of The Sartorialist but with a story that comes with the person in the frame. Each one of them has a unique story in their own lives and it is pretty compelling. Even without hearing them give their story you can almost imagine what that would sound like. Each of their stories range from the hilarious to the inspirational to sometimes the grey areas in life. I suspect that most of my friends who share these posts tend to be one the inspirational side but I much prefer all the other stories that are shown in the page.
I was just looking back at all the photos that I have taken during my trip to the States and reflecting on my trip in New York has shown me why I love that Facebook page. Looking back at the conversations that I have with strangers while I was out (mostly) looking for food and drinks, each one of them has a story to tell. I remember clearly that while I was at a bar that a friend urged me to go because it was a particularly unique way to get into the bar, I just randomly talked to this dapper looking old man just having orange juice. In a really must-be-in-the-know kind of cocktail bar which strikes me as odd. Later I found out that he is a photographer and contributer to the New York Times and has written a few books. He told me that he has been sober for over 10 years but he still likes going to bars because of the atmosphere but of course he never orders any alcohol. He then gave me a crash course in all things Manhattan and some of his travels for stories or ideas for books that he would like to write and some local history in journalism in New York. We talked for hours and was a very interesting person. I remember that I got back to the apartment that I was staying in at around 3 am and the bar was literally next door from the apartment. I also kinda fixed his computer at the bar as well which was not bad considering that I was half tipsy. Another fun fact about this guy which I thought was somewhat amazing was that he was still using an AOL email account as his main point of contact. Wow.
And this is just one of the people that I ended up striking conversations with while at this amazing city. Though I was there for a week I didn't get to fill all of the days with encounters like these but even just one is an experience already. But each one of them has a unique story about them that is just great to listen to them. And this Facebook page was definitely a reflection of what I experienced while I was there. On hindsight, had I went with someone or a group of people to New York, chances are that I won't be able to experience this part of New York, the locals living life in this great city. I (or rather, we) would have been so busy trying to explore the geographical parts of the city and the must have experiences in and around the island that we would have missed this entirely different side of the city, the people.
The ironic thing about some of these amazing encounters with strangers there is that I am more honest in front of them that I do with most of my friends. I guess it is because that I know that it is unlikely that I will meet them again and whatever secrets or things I tell them is not likely to come back to me in one way or another. Maybe bars are the place is the right atmosphere to be completely transparent and not be judged. So many movies depict this and I can see why this is such a cliche but that is just because it is true. Conversations late at night at the bar, laughing and listening, though usually it is always a guy and a girl and somehow eventually makes out or something ridiculous like that. Much to the disappointment of my readers, that sort of thing did not happen while I was there. Because I am such a square and I am not that interesting of a person. Point being is that moderate amounts of alcohol does things to you apart from the physiological effects of alcohol, social interaction becomes very different in a non-drunk way.
I wonder if there is that kind of character in the people of Melbourne. As in, if there is a Humans of Melbourne Facebook page, would the stories and the people be as captivating and unique as the New York page? I suspect not, we are probably too much of a hipster bunch. Still, I would like to see someone try.
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