I Love London

Yesterday evening on a bus I eavesdropped two passengers speaking about living in London and Londoners in particular. I could see from their accents that they weren't British.

"Look at them. They are so unfriendly. They sit so close and ignore one another. Some of them look so lonely," one said.

"Not all of them are unfriendly," the other said. "Sometimes if you speak to them they are quite polite."

"Yes, but some of them just ignore you. If someone is nice I'm nice back. If someone is rude, I'm gong to be rude as well."

And so they continued until it was time to get off.

While I was listening to their conversation I had my eyes closed. I certainly wasn't in the mood to speak to anyone. That's what I love about London: I don't have to speak to people if I don't feel like it. I can lose myself in my thoughts or in the silence without being distracted.

When I first moved to London from Sierra Leone, I felt like I had come home. I was sick of living in a place where people expect you to be a certain way. In London, I could be truly free to be myself. I can choose to be anonymous or not; sociable or not.

As regards Londoners being unfriendly, it depends on one's perception. I always find people are nice when I chat to them. Many times all it takes is a smile. There's no need to get into heavy conversation. Besides, we are always communing in the silence anyway.

I would recommend anyone who is on the "spiritual path" to live in a city like London, which helps you to cultivate and be in peace.

I love London.
I love Londoners.

Enocia