One notable aspect of this travel series was the diversity of the destinations I visited, each vastly distinct from the others.
I was intrigued not only by the contrasting characteristics of these countries but also by what might be shared among them.
For if something is present in Russia, Japan, Nigeria, Iraq, and Greenland, then it likely exists universally. Thus, my travels provided a window into the human experience.
While I discovered some predictable elements in all five places like football, graffiti, TV, and mobile phones, the more compelling revelation was the remarkable likeness shared by all people beneath the facade of culture. This concept is particularly evident in the following video.1
At the start of this series, I mentioned my plan to pose a specific question to numerous individuals in each country: “Imagine you had a genie like Aladdin who granted you three wishes, what would you wish for?”
I aimed to uncover the desires people harbor in different parts of the world.
Here are the responses I received:
The posts:
Russia
Japan
Nigeria2
Iraq
Greenland
And another time, North Korea
Please pardon my amateur filming and editing skills. I’m not an expert.↩
Following the Nigeria post, a reader initiated a fundraising campaign to aid Femi (the individual who hosted me while I was there and had to forgo college after his father’s passing to support his large family) in sustaining his family and affording university education. WBW readers collectively contributed over $1,000, which is being sent to Femi this week—you can spot Femi at 3:22, 3:58, and 5:08 in the video).↩