The EX Souldja

Hello friends!

I have met some truly amazing characters on my travels.

This dude in Ha Noi has to be one of my favorites.

During a workshop I had my students wander around solo with their assignment while I stayed in one area to wait on their return.

I find that if I am not wandering but keeping to a place inevitably someone will always try to engage me – maybe it’s my energy or bearing or maybe it’s just my hair but it always happens. It happens because I want it to. I don’t even need to say anything.

This evening this dude comes up to me and starts to ask me questions. “What are you doing in Ha Noi?”, “Where are you from?”,etc,etc.

I ask the same questions, of course, but what is not truly known to the other person is that I want an image from them. Badly!

I ask a lot more then the standard questions – I am probing for a reaction to see what is truly under their skin. Questions like, “What do you do?” “You’re a ex soldier,huh, “Have you ever been shot?”, “Did you lose your eye in a battle?”. Easy questions, yeah?

Once I get the gist of a person I go back to softer general chat. This method mostly works. If I can get them talking about themselves for a few minutes that’s when they start to get really relaxed and comfortable with me.

I didn’t ask to see his bullet wounds or for him to take out his fake eye—but for some reason, he did.

And I made the shot.

He seemed surprised. He looked at me like, “WTF?” But in just a few minutes, I’d built enough rapport that he let it happen.

He didn’t ask to see the photo or request a copy.

He just asked if I wanted to go find some women with him. Like a wingman.

I politely declined.

Have you met any interesting characters in your travels?

I would love to hear your stories!

All the best
Anthony