i do not possess stunning intelligence, sparkling wit, irrascible charm, nor exude a sense of debonairæ.

but in spite of my inadequacies, i do know one thing, and that is that i know i travel to expand my horizons; and this is not merely to realize how different and vast and wide and wild and wonderful is.

for in expanding my horizons, in travelling far and abroad, i realize, fundamentally, how similar human beings are, no matter how different they may appear outwardly, in appearance, characteristics, even subtle nuances and tics. psychologically, we possess an incredibly similar make-up. similar intellect, conversations, passions, can be found where we are - if only we search hard enough.

so i do not sigh and curse what a god-forsaken country i live in, how uninteresting the people are, how i long, as the days pass, to be in another land, beautiful cities and landscapes. for beauty can be found in the mundaneness of everyday life - and everyday life exists everywhere.