Turning Conflicts Into Friendships

Houston Taught Me Diplomacy

Houston was a lesson in diplomacy and listening, but it was also fun.

I arrived in Houston early morning from New Orleans and found one of the best 24 hour places I’ve ever seen anywhere in Katz’s. I found it about an hour walking in the city at about 6 o clock in the morning. I had an amazing little breakfast and went there twice, coming in and going out of the city. It’s a wonderful little spot if you’re looking for some great food all night.

I worked until the morning until I ran into Josh, my couchsurfer. Couchsurfing is a great way to meet people and a great way to sleep through. Some nights I had concrete, but others I had this. The most interesting thing about Houston as a traveller is the transit system. It’s the most honor bound system I’ve ever seen. Good driver’s overall. I got to ride it to the city.

I met Josh walking to his house. Josh seemed like a cool dude, and led me to where I’ll be sleeping. We didn’t talk much that day as I was exhausted travelling and slept.

The next two days we hung out. I got to meet one of his friends, Rafi on the second night. I nearly drove Rafi out of the house, as I made a comment to him about going for his goals and his happiness, and he got really taken back. He thought I was going for some agenda or trying to take him for a ride. He was defensive.

I wasn’t trying to do anything harmful, but I realized I struck a nerve, so I sat back and listened to him. Rafi is proud of the fact he’s doing what he’s doing to take care of his family, and it gives him a sense of pride, and that’s more important to him than anything he may suffer.

From that understanding, we worked it out. I just went through an experience on facebook where someone lashed out at me for saying nice things about the US in this time. He was a friend, and what he said about me, hurt. He just judged me and that was it. There was no discussion, no understanding, just a judgment. This was the opposite. Rafi and I don’t agree on everything, but we do listen to each other, and that’s the important part. I love open discussions like this.

The next day, I visited a Houston Hindu Temple. Once the shoes were off, we went into the main temple. I gotta say, it was beautiful. Going inside the temple and witnessing the stories of the Bhagavad Gita. There was a vegetarian buffet and I partook of that, and enjoyed the experience of the place.

Josh, Rafi and myself continued to talk about world eents. It’s another eye opening thing about the world. It’s amazing how the world views us, and it’s not the lens we have cultivated for ourselves. Listening to people looking the world in a way I kind of see, but in their own interpretation is incredible. It’s a new world, and no government is trusted anymore, and that for now, is a good thing.

After Josh and I talked about his life, and fear. Fear is something we all understand. We all have things we need to move into and sometimes we feel that lump in the back of our throats. More than once on this trip I wondered what would happen next, and have those moments of doubts and fears. I kept going forward anyway, and Josh, if you’re reading this, I hope you’re doing well with your fears. I’m rooting for you.

My last day in the city I got to play commander. I always enjoy commander and Houston was the tenth city I got to do it in. Outside of Vancouver, Washington, every experience I had playing has been fun. It’s amazing to see how in some ways the game is the same everywhere, and others with how casual the game can be. All in all, I’ve loved every game I’ve played. Houston was no exception.

After Commander, I went to Katz’s for food again, and then boarded the Greyhound. Oklahoma City was next. A friend of mine I wanted to meet for a long time awaited me, and I was getting close to the last sidequest. All in all, I enjoyed houston. It was a pleasant city, and it was a nice stop to the next step. Can’t complain about it, but I don’t think I got a chance to really see the best parts of it.

Oklahoma, here I come.