July 09

The other day, a friend and I went to the Mall of America.
We ended up at a kiosk ran by a Nepali man, so I talked to him.
But he was shy, and awkward,
and wonderful.

He said that America was "okay."
But I bet he misses that place. I bet he misses the
tea,
smiles,
and the fact that everyone is family.

I bet he feels lonely here sometimes,
and I am sure he wishes people would invite him over to sit with them
more often.
I wonder if it bothers him when he thinks about how that damn mall has more money in it then he could ever dream up.
I am sure he wishes sometimes, that he could just be back there.
He maybe loves this place, and the opportunities to dream,
the freedom,
and the fact that the government isn't a complete mess.

But maybe,
every once in awhile,
he wishes he could be back in that place
where the rice is plentiful,
and friendships rule the day.