We sat across from a local couple on the train this morning. We nodded at one another but didn’t say anything. About 45 minutes into the ride, a staff member came to distribute bottled water and a local newspaper. He gave each of us a bottle of water, but only gave the newspaper to the couple across from us. The husband opened up the front page and turned it to face Kenric. We all had a good laugh. His wife laughed especially hard.

It was a very nice gesture on his part and it reminds me humor, like kindness, often needs no words. In this instance, it was one and the same. In countries that do not get too many visitors and fewer people speak English, it is very comforting when a local makes a friendly gesture. They spent about an hour in the restaurant car. We didn’t interact anymore other than waving goodbye when they got off about two hours before we did.