Annette Wilson’s Post

* The Art of Talking to Strangers * I was last-month’s-years old when I realised that most people sit in the back seat of taxis. Oops. Was in Barcelona on a project. Typically I use public transport to gain a more honest sense of the place I'm in, grounding both me and the work I can produce- but tight logistics mean sometimes I need to whiz around town in taxis. On my 3rd trip of the job, a pattern became evident: every time I climbed into the passenger seat, the driver needed a sec to move things off the chair. A phone, a drink bottle, a bag. Finally, I turned to the driver sitting to my left. Is it not normal to sit in the front? “No…hardly anyone does that. But you’ve booked the taxi, so you can technically sit wherever you want.” Scenes from films and TV shows flicked through my mind and I realised I was, indeed, the anomaly. But the amount of absolutely wonderful conversations I've had with drivers- strangers turned momentary friends- in the space of 10-45 minutes, all around the world, while sitting in the front seat, has been completely worth this twilight-zone realisation. Like the driver in Vienna last week, whose uncle convinced him the US was the place to be. He left his Polish village and went to Vienna to wait for his visa- but when the process dragged on, he found work as a taxi driver. Eventually he realised he’d already created a good life, so why leave to search for what he’d already found? 45 years later he was driving me across the city, no GPS needed, every shortcut taken. A master of his profession. Or the young driver from Iran. I sat in the back seat for once and found a €20 note. “Oh, here’s €20,” I said, handing it forward. “Why didn’t you keep it!?”. “I don’t know- didn’t think about it!” 10 minutes later we were talking about his girlfriend’s mental health and what he learned supporting her through it. A real heart-to-heart. At the end he helped me with my bags and I joked about already giving him a tip. “But we can split it? €10 each?”. I laughed and said no, but appreciated the offer. Sweet. And then there was Brussels last weekend, where a Belgian family squeezed in beside me at the packed frites shop. 4 small blonde kids, 2 parents, an Oma. The kids were loud (in French!) and hungry. The Dad looked at me and apologised- I suppose for disturbing my peace. I laughed, said I loved it, and smiled at the kids as they stared curiously at me. Eventually I worked up the courage to ask if I could take a few photos- I’d email them the pictures too. The mother, Elodi, looked confused. “Of what?”. “Of you!” I said. “this chaotic, fries-filled absolute madness!’. They laughed and agreed. A lovely, fleeting interaction turned out to be the highlight of my day. All this to say: Try sitting in the front seat. Or just look up. Who’s in front of you? Engage. Low-commitment fleeting crossovers can be colourful, insightful, and surprisingly fulfilling. And interactions with strangers can become the seasoning of your day ♡