Well Weathered

Why do people continue to bump into me? It’s a matter of proximity and depth perception, and how each of us moves through space, literally. Strangely, wherever I travel, no matter how much space there is between me and someone else, that person will eventually alter his/her trajectory and slam into me. Perhaps their internal biological, global positioning systems have malfunctioned. Genetics, upbringing, role-modeling, occupation, social niche, population density, people being late for something and other cultural aspects must certainly play an important part in this bizarre occurrence of space-relations breakdown. I use New York City, one of the world’s largest and most densely populated metropolitan areas in the world, as my comparison, where the bumping game doesn’t seem to happen to me. There’s an unwritten code that you move to one side when cruising down a sidewalk, you wait at a bus stop with a least a meter between you and the next person, you leave at least one body length between you and the fellow standing in front of you in line, and park benches -forget about it. Don’t even think about sitting next to me (Perhaps that’s why many people have labeled New Yorkers as ´cold´). Getting accustomed to the closeness of others when traveling in foreign lands was, and is, an interesting process. Step on my feet, knock me to one side, give me a bump, and then walk away without even saying ´sorry´ or even acknowledging my existence. Close encounters of the rudest kind? Congestion, traffic jams, overpopulation and everyone being in a rush are all attributes of city living and are the perfect catalysts for putting someone on a collision course. I’ve discovered that in some cultures, it’s appropriate to just keep walking after a ´hit and run.´ Initially, when I stopped, turned and gave a menacing look to the assailant, they would look back at me as if I had done something wrong. Taking into account the rapid growth of urban areas, and how the suburbs are transforming into cities themselves, it appears as though the bump and grind is becoming more commonplace. I still find the exchange a bit uncomfortable, however.