Night Bus Conversations
He was short cut, muscular and elegantly dressed. She had long blond hair, a pink skirt and high-heeled. A macho man and a bimbo you may think, but that's not where I wanted to get. I wanted to get inside the bus back home to Uppsala, because it was rather cold this November night.
I stood next behind them in the line and I also made sure to take the seat next behind them in the bus. I like to listen to other people talk without having to take part in the discussion myself. It gives me an opportunity to better reflect what I hear and think for myself.
Especially discussions with people who meet each other for the first time are interesting.
She asks and listens while he tells about his work with criminal kids in the suburb, and of a new school system that he's taking part in developing. He himself has no education, but since he has such strong will and many ideas he's been promoted to higher and higher positions.
When he explains how the government earns 200.000 Swedish crowns for each kid he gets on track it may sound boastful, but I am glad to hear it, and I believe that it's good deeds he performs.
He says that one shouldn't jump to conclusions about these kids, many of them have serious problems and behave very badly - but that's not because of the colour of their skin or their race!
And I think that I shouldn't jump to conclusions about him. Just because he dresses and acts in a certain way doesn't mean he disregards people who are different.
Last time I went with the night bus it was the other way around for my part. Then I sat next to a girl who I'd only met at a night-club once before. I easily get awkward in a situation like that. When I sometimes tend to poke fun at each and everyone, I feel a bit extra silly when I turn into an object for others to poke fun at. Suits me, I thought, when I realized that it wasn't even enough to keep ones voice down - most people in the sleepy, calm and crowded bus would listen and hear it anyway.
When the bus reached the final stop and it was time to leave a man came up to us and thanked for the teaching in philosophy.
But I didn't thank these people for the teaching in rehabilitation of criminal children. Instead I took my bike and trampled home to my place.
