To the boy who smiled at me on the street. Petra, Jordan
Dear young man,
We met for only a few seconds in December 2024. At that point, I had been traveling across Europe, from Portugal through the East, eventually crossing into Turkey. I had decided to traverse Jordan for ten days before heading to India to spend New Year’s with friends.
I arrived knowing very little; my only real goal was to see the ancient Nabatean ruins of Petra. But once I touched down, I fell in love with the land and the culture. Jordan became the reason I returned to the Middle East in 2025 to spend six months immersing myself in the culture and spirit of Oman, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Morocco.
Before I reached you, I had seen the Citadel in Amman and the ruins of Jerash which are so exquisite that they are called the “Pompeii of the Middle East”. I had floated into the sunset in the Dead Sea and stood atop Mount Nebo, looking out at the Promised Land. I had even climbed the red rocks of Wadi Rum and sand boarded in one of the most beautiful deserts. I took an early morning minibus to Petra, saving the “wonder” for last. It was a chilly, cloudy December morning, and even on the bus, I felt the hospitality of the conductor who shared his home-cooked meal with me.
After dropping my bags at the hostel, I walked toward the city center, and that’s when I saw you.
You were perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old. Our eyes met, and I smiled. You didn’t look away. Instead, you placed your hand over your heart, bowed your head slightly, and gave me the most genuine smile I have ever received.
In that moment, my heart felt an immediate warmth. I broke into the biggest smile possible. I have never felt so welcomed by a stranger in a matter of seconds. Your small gesture had such a profound impact on me that it changed my entire worldview. It is the reason I came back to this part of the world to explore the humanity and everyday life of the region, from the Gulf countries into the North African region.
There are so many assumptions about the Middle East—that it’s dangerous, or that the differences in religion and language are too vast to bridge. But we often forget that we are all human. Innately, we want the same things: love, comfort, happiness, and safety.
With one smile, you reminded me that our differences are beautiful and that acceptance is simple, even in a regrettably biased world that we live in.
I hope with all my heart that you are doing well. I will always pray that you are safe and enveloped in all the love this world has to give.
With love,
Mia
© Dear Dhuniya 2026