“Everyone here is so friendly,” people from big cities say when they visit Guyana. It always confused me why this was of any note. I wondered if they didn’t expect Guyanese to be friendly, but when I ended up at an underground train station in London, I finally understood. The passengers gazed ahead, their faces stony, so I could not discern their emotions. When my suitcase accidentally hit someone’s foot and I apologised, there was no acknowledgement. I was no longer in Georgetown.
There is a greater sense of urgency in London. People have places to be and do not slow down. The underground felt like a maze. The train stops were all very similar and trains ran constantly. Fortunately, my friend Nickose Layne and I received help when we asked for directions. So, perhaps while not as friendly as the people in Georgetown, they were helpful. After a few hours of figuring out the underground, we finally made it out. Cold air brushed my face.
