Of interactions and misconceptions………

The best thing about interaction is that it clears away a lot of misunderstanding and gives a newer, fresher perspective.
So those of us, who have been fortunate enough to travel, would agree with me that just the experience of traveling to a foreign land and meeting new people is an experience better than reading countless books about a particular place.
In this day and age where everything is becoming more impersonal, and the virtual world, is almost with lightening speed taking over the real world, it is so refreshing just to interact with people and listen to their point of view, answer their queries and just simply putting it talking to each other with an open mind.


Everything Egypt

Egypt is one place that stirs up some very exciting images to ones mind, and I must say that it lives up to its reputation, where you see an amalgamation of civilizations, and trust me, one should visit Egypt at least once just for the experience of this beautiful country.
I traveled there for a conference about ‘Freedom of Expression in the digital age’, organized by United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and International Center for Journalists. Needless to say, it was an experience that I shall not forget in a long time.
Journalists, in any part of the world have a very different way of looking at things, they might not be the true representations of any one country but they are crucial in bringing about a change in society. They are very colourful which is what makes them so interesting! So take approximately forty or so journalists from all over the world and make them sit in one room, and there you have it……………the most fascinating and interesting discussions, that ‘normal people’ could only dream about, or probably have read about!


Interactions at the workshop

Why did I rant and rave about journalists being so interesting? well at the risk of sounding pompous, I am one of them, and if you ask me, I would not trade this job for anything! So when the sessions started, I noticed that journalists from the same countries usually sat together. It is obviously, human nature, not to be able to get out of the comfort zone, but as the day progressed, in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, I noticed, that after the first session, over a cup of coffee, people were intermingling with each other.
Since I consider myself a mutant ………….(you know there is a mutant gene in all journalists) because I am never satisfied with what I have done, I always want to do more, and driven by immense curiosity, I was so happy to say that I was among my brethren, we were a community of people driven by a thirst of knowledge and I should reiterate that this quality is what sets our community (journalists) apart.
Over a cup of coffee, political stance of the governments was discussed, religion, social issues, you named it ad it was talked about. Just being there was an enriching experience!
Needless to say that I learned a lot, not only by the excellent trainings given to us on different methodologies and using new tools and polishing your skills, but just by interaction with these wonderful people, and it warmed my heart to see that I am part of a community of people who share so much more than just writings…………..being a journalist………..I wouldn’t want it any other way………..:)