‘And what do you do?’
I think about this. I am asked this question a lot on my trip. Either because they are bad conversationalists asking the standard boring question or because they are really curious as to how I can be travelling for months on end.
‘I don’t do anything anymore,’ I usually say. Then I qualify this by saying what I used to do. By qualify I mean justify and explain, which I hate myself for doing, as if my present state is wrong.
‘So what are you going to do?’
I look at them.
‘What does it matter? A business card doesn’t define a person. It’s not what you do but how you do it that is the question.’
That's what I feel like saying. Or
‘What does it matter? Whatever I do, children will be starving in Africa.’
Or
‘What does it matter? I’ll doubtless have to smother any sense of purpose and do whatever it takes to pay the bills.’
But I usually just say ‘I don’t know’ and change the topic to a standard boring conversation about the weather.
In the States the first question you are asked is your name and it's often followed up with 'what do you do?'.
ReplyDeleteNot just in the States, I think it's just about everywhere except the utopian nation in my mind...
ReplyDeleteHi Sebarstian,
ReplyDeleteZanita gave me your blog address -we met only once at some local gay bar in Earls Court - if anyone is reading this comment, it was just a point of reference and can confirm that both Seb and I were duped into going there by Zanita who claimed it used to be a gay bar before it was refurbished. It turned out that it was still a gay hangout. Anyway, I'm not a homophobe, I generally dislike everyone.
I like your blog - you have a witty sense of humour and wondered whether you have listened to the late comedian Bill Hicks who expressed very similar sentiment.
We talked very briefly of my experience in Costa Rica but not sure if you recall our conversation but hope you have a good time.
Keep writing and I'll continue reading. When (if) you get back to London, it would be nice to meet for a drink with your sis.
p.s. Nick is my Christian name, you might remember me as 'Zed'
ReplyDeleteThanks, Zed, even I'm confused by your explanation...
ReplyDeleteBill Hicks is -and always will be- the Man.
hehehem, so true, I think I confused myself as I was trying to introduce myself. I'm curious, Zanita tells me you've read a lot of literature as long as she remembers. There's an author I would really recommend in case you've never heard of her called Karen Horney who was a neo-freudian psychoanalyst. If you have the time, pick up one of her books, they're all very good. I'll explain why I mentioned her some day soon.
ReplyDelete