The Guy at the Window
Behind the Photo: Haugesundsgata Street | My time in Stavanger, Norway 🇳🇴
29 December 2023
Constants | Constants give familiarity and “safety” at times. Some of you who have visited will know that I’ve mentioned “The Guy at the Window” before. I don’t know him. He doesn’t know me. He lives a few windows to my right, and he’s almost always there. Whenever I return from an overseas trip late at night, I see him by the window, either playing poker or scrolling through Facebook. Once, after ending my volunteering at 3 am, I still saw him by the window. He’s definitely a stranger to me, but it almost feels comforting to see him each time I walk past that window.
It’s strange how someone I don’t even know can become a sort of anchor in my life. Not seeing him feels odd, as if something is wrong, like something is missing. His reliable presence, in a weird way, reassures me that some things stay constant. I hope he doesn’t find this post and thinks I’m a creep, haha.
Author’s Note: About a year ago, I parted ways with the city of Stavanger and the country of Norway after spending nearly half a year there alone, and I headed to the United States for my student exchange. I left behind countless memorable moments and penned several reflections based on photos on my travel account. Now that I’m back home in Singapore and have some time to spare, I hope to continue documenting and reflecting on the other stories and feelings I experienced throughout my life so far, capturing each moment as best as I can :)
