Shallow or Unengaged? (Máncora, Perú)

So I just had another goodbye with my good friend Sebastian. In the end we really bonded well. I never thought I'd have an 18 year old friend that I could just talk to with on such a frank level. He told me tonight that he enjoyed my company because we were able to talk openly and not at a shallow level, unlike many of the conversations he has with other travelers. I agree on some level that travel talk is shallow and can get real tiresome. However, I'm inclined to believe that everyone has a story, everyone has a deeper side to themselves than what is shown at face level. Perhaps it's just a matter of engaging them properly, being open yourself and thus allow others to open up as well.

Back in Quito I had made some terrible misjudgments about my friend Steph when she started as a new volunteer. One day I decided to try and understand where she's coming from and we ended up having a wonderful conversation about life. I was ashamed to have made such horrible assumptions about her that were clearly wrong. In the end, we too became close pals. As I've said before, people always surprise me, and I'm glad to always be on my toes. Once again, it's the unknowing.

Well, Ive been blessed once more to have made another great friend.

Tomorrow I will escape this trap... I WILL leave Mancora, I WILL leave Mancora...