September 9, 2016 - 21:20
Jack is my schoolmate and one of my best friends in high school. We met each other in senior year. After simply chatting with each other, we found that we’re both from Pudong new district in Shanghai. (Shanghai is a large city, there are more than ten districts in Shanghai, and Shanghai is so big that even we all say Shanghainese, the dialect may sound different in different districts). And soon we found out the we live in the same neighborhood, and we found that we have so many things in common. We soon become close friends.
And just after we found that our home is only 1 mile away from each other, we talked to each other more. I found out that his best friend is my middle school classmate, and his another friend’s girlfriend went to the same primary school as I did. And when conversations went deeper, we found that we both like Agatha Christie’s novel, we listen to the same band, and both of us like to spend our time in the same library (There’s a large chance that maybe we already met each other long time ago.)
The development of this relationship makes me believe that one way to determine if two individuals can build special connection with each other is geography. That is to say, check if the two people are from the same place, and they do, they are much more likely to have connection with each other than with other people.
“I read your story, Rachel. Sorry for saying so, but I think you’re too narrow-minded about build relationships with others. It seems that your strategy to decide whether or not to become a friend of another people is based on geography. You and Jack had such a close relationship just because you two lived in the same neighborhood? I don’t think so. Even an alien and a human being can build king of a romantic relationship in Bloodchild. For those who are in the same species, there’s nothing easier to do than to make connection between each other.” Butler made a comment on my story.
“First of all, I’d like to address that, what I said is geography is only one of the many ways to determine people’s connection.
Also, I have some different views on ‘For those who are in the same species, there’s nothing easier to do than to make connection between each other.’ Although we are in the same species, individuals have so many differences. There is a popular saying in China on the internet recently, ‘The difference between two human beings is larger than that between a human being and a pig.’ Of course it is just a joke, but it’s no doubt that, the background, worldview and values can be very different between two individuals.
T’Gatoi and Gan can develop such a relationship between each other because they live together, both of their daily life happen in the same place, and that’s why they can build such a connection between each other.
What’s more, T’Gatoi and Gan have lived together since Gan was born, though in different species, they share similar life experience. That is to say, they have such a special connection because they have the same living environment. Oh, but you’re right, maybe I should change the word geography to more specific ‘living environment’, otherwise it maybe a little confusing.” I said.
“Same living environment? Um…This term is much more acceptable than just geography. It makes sense in some way. But with the development of technology, I’m sure there must still be something deeper than‘living environment’. Remember Gan’s brother Qui? Though he shares the same living environment with T’Gatoi as well, Qui always holds an hostility toward the alien. You know why’s that Rachel?” Butler asked.
“Because their life experiences are totally different?” I answered.
“Right. Qui lives with their mom and does not always spend time with T’Gatoi. But Gan always hangs out with T’Gatio and did lots of thing with T’Gatoi. But what can be influenced by life experience?” Butler asked
“Now I have new thoughts of this idea. Thanks for the inspiration you give me. Maybe ‘something deeper’ than geography or living environment or even life experience, is the way they view this world. That, I guess, in a more abstract way, is just what we usually called worldview and values. When two people view that world in the same or similar way, they are more likely to contact with each other, to develop friendship or start other relationships.
Living in the same place and sharing same living environment is actually not one of the ways that make people few connected or attached to each other, it’s actually a way that makes two people develop similar worldview. And similar worldview is the way that make two individuals build stronger relationships with each other. Nice to talk with you, Butler.”
Works Cited
Butler, E.Octavia. Bloodchild and Other sotries.