reflection of the train station in Zagreb, Croatia

The world changes – the view of a picture changes

reflection of the train station in Zagreb, Croatia
Carlotta Reinhardt ‘22, Diploma
Croatia

The world changes – the view of a picture changes.

Summer 2018. A lovely day, I spend some time in Zagreb, all by myself coming from a small Croatian town by the sea, going to Northern Italy (I didn’t know where exactly yet). Before I started exploring the city, I took some time and sat down on a fountain in front of the main train station where I enjoyed the view, especially the reflection of the train station on the shiny stone that was warmed up by the sun.

It was the first time that I went on such a trip all by myself. It was a moment when the world felt small and gigantic, when me being at this place felt so normal and so special – all at the same time.

This photo was taken during my Interrail trip through Europe. Interrail is a perfect way to collect global impressions. The interrail ticket is basically a train ticket that is valid for a couple of weeks where you can take almost all trains in many different European countries. It was very simple, I went without knowing the exact destinations, without knowing whom I would meet, which countries I would see, which impressions I would come back home with.

I went to places I have never been before, I listened to people talking in foreign languages, ate local food. But most importantly: I met people, locals and other travelers and we were able to talk to each other because everyone knew at least a little bit of English. The beauty of traveling alone is that there is almost no way you will not meet others and get into conversations: On the train, in the streets, in hostels, or in restaurants.

And all I had to do to get to all of these wonderful places, collect these memories, these global impressions, was take some trains. So simple, so peaceful, so close.

This photo in Zagreb, for me, symbolized a change of perspective. It shows a moment of resting and reflection. It represents how close countries are together to be able to go there by train. It represents simplicity and inspiration. And my camera was there to capture this moment.

Looking at this picture today is different from when I looked at it just after I took it. It is different because it was taken before this pandemic which made it much harder to have any of these simple, authentic, direct global impressions. It is different because I know that no person in this picture is wearing a mask and it was so easy to connect through a smile. This photo was also taken before we had a war in Europe. It was a time when the bullet holes in Croatian houses (from a war in the area just before I was born) were nothing more than relics of a past when there were wars in Europe. It is not as simple, not as peaceful in Europe anymore, but still so close.

For me, pictures that capture moments of my personal global encounters are so valuable. I think about how peaceful and simple traveling can be, reflect on how many similarities I have with the people I met, change perspective for a moment, to think about what I can do to contribute to a peaceful world.

We are responsible for not looking away, to change our perspective. We are responsible to see other people, to be open to people, cultures, experiences, and realities. Not everyone sees the world the same way. Some people might only see the blue train because in their home countries trains are always red and white, some people might only be thinking about the people in the background and where they are headed. In their reality, with their background, they don’t even recognize the color of the train and wouldn’t even think about it. Others might analyze how all the aspects you see in the picture come together from a technical point of view. We need all of these perspectives. And we need an exchange to get closer to seeing the full, the global picture and to understand each other and see each other for who we are. This is what it means to be a global citizen for me.

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