Miguel shared with me an episode which I think superbly describes the essence of his job.
One day, he went to one of the archaeologists and, pointing at the label describing a scene of an artefact, he had to correct the scientist: that was not a tuber that the figure was holding in his hand, it was a human head. The drawing was not perfectly clear, but Miguel had no doubts. He had seen those same traits in others places, and studied them for hours; to be able to transfer them onto his white papers using his pencil, he had only his eyes, his utter focus, and time.
The archaeologist was invited to compare that piece with others, and eventually was convinced by Miguel’s arguments and proofs; he told the museum to change the label on the glass showcase.
The time Miguel had spent on observations and the level of skill he had developed allowed him to discover details that could pass unnoticed, or be mistaken – like with the archaeologist’s tuber.
This episode talks to me about our role as tourists, and mine as a travel writer. To understand a culture, we need to watch from a close range, closer than we are used to doing most of the time, and for a moment we have to hold our breath to become completely immersed in the fine detail. I love that feeling of the unknown. It is stillness within movement. You are observing, and you are in the object. Only when you are still can you really listen, I believe.