Sometimes Difficult

Not only was it stiflingly hot outside today, but I had little luck with surveys. To be fair, the people that did answer my questions were, for the most part, very interesting. That being said, I was only able to get three today. One Frenchman, one man originally from Senegal, and another man who sought asylum in France from Sudan.

The man from Sudan was particularly affecting for some reason. He didn't speak French very well, so I conducted the survey in English and spent some time to talk to him afterward about how he go to France from Sudan. At some point during the survey questions, he stated that he would never want to go back to Sudan, that it was not an option at all. Having arrived in France on his own, he sought asylum and was fortunate enough to receive papers that guarantee he will not be deported back to Sudan. He and his friend both had only elementary school level education...one with visible scars from something or another.

At any rate, it affected me more than I thought it could. Probably because of Dave Eggers' book that I read not so long ago, "What is the What?" I wouldn't dare to draw connections between these men and the man in the book, but I at least was reminded that stories like what you see in What is the What are entirely real. These men did not wait in a refugee camp, they came to France on their own accord. I can only imagine how and what kind of resources that required.

But, the most affecting (negatively, unfortunately) was the next man I asked to take my survey. I proceeded with my regular spiel, ending with the fact that I am an American researcher. He responded that he didn't like Americans, and therefore would be unwilling to take my survey. I couldn't just let that one go, and assured him that the survey had nothing to do with the United States, but rather was for an individual researcher. He proceeded to repeat that he didn't like Americans and revealed the reason. He doesn't like them because they are fighting wars against Arabs. Presumably he meant Iraq, but he mentioned Afghanistan too. I didn't mention that Afghans are not Arabs, but I got the message; it was Muslims he meant. I responded that I didn't agree necessarily with the actions of my government, to which he retorted that he didn't like Americans regardless, nor did he like the English, nor did he like Jews. Particularly not Jews. Despite my best efforts to get him to take my survey despite my American-ness, he was unwilling. I left by saying simply, "I'm sorry." Honestly, he really irritated me. So much so that I had to leave the neighborhood. I'll return tomorrow morning for the market, and maybe I'll see him again. This time I may try to argue with him some more, but perhaps it would be better if I left the man alone. Regardless, I still can't decide if his attitude stems solely from anger, but it's ironic that he would refuse to take a survey that sought to ascertain his views regarding something relevant to his life. In other words, on some level, I'm on his side.