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Real existential adventure, a train trip is a unique sociological experience. For the purposes of this piece of paper, I had to travel in 2nd class (because in first class the analysis would hardly have been as representative and plausible!). The picture is quite striking a priori: a woman who has three places for a single ticket; this old man who tells "stories to sleep seated" without worrying about your desire to listen to him; these little children sitting on their mother's legs who innocently sing a nasty popular song; this panther-like girl who is reading a novel that she pretends to devour; these young brothers or friends who shout their fancy stories right behind you; a lady who tastes a traditional dish with a rather creepy smell ; sassy police who come every 3 hours asking for your ID; that sweet voice on the intercom that wakes you up every time the train stops; street vendors who bathe your ears with their dubious quality products; and this guy who watches everything that happens looks surprised .... Train trips in Africa are as unpredictable as life. From the outset, we can never know in advance where we will be seated and once installed in our wagon, we also can not determine with whom we will share our seat. Yes, spirited journeys are steeped in more or less sympathetic strangers of various origins who each carry a particular story. But whether they are black or white, young or old, men or women or even children, whether they smell good or give off a most unbearable smell ... well, we are forced - sometimes without plausible alternative - to accommodate ourselves with their presence, at least throughout the journey. Some obviously choose to stay in their bubble and avoid any external contact likely to create a certain proximity with their table neighbors. The most usual approach is that of a monad, which would consist in curling up on his phone, his tablet or in a book chosen appropriately until Morpheus takes us in his arms. In real life, they would probably be called "Snobbish". Others, on the other hand, opt for a relative sympathy, even engaging in some superficial or deep conversations with their neighbors, thus revealing a part of their variegated personality. Between sharing a treat, a few bursts of laughter or sly smiles, a discussion of burning news and small more or less indiscreet remarks ... a bond is created, the scope of which can be measured up to the interests of parties involved. But ultimately and no matter how long it may take, we all drop our guard and "others" find out who we really are. Suffice to say that it is not always a happy and glorious picture that hides behind our wall of happiness, self-sufficiency, fearlessness, insurance ... In most cases, we can discover a tormented being by psycho-social problems. But if we hold on until the train arrives at its final destination, we can hope that life can continue its course and that another equally interesting and humanizing experience confirms the moment (obviously, without all the hunted that we had to rub with before ...). Such is life, real life I guess !