Countrymen Quote by Haile Gebrselassie
“I have seen things few of my countrymen have. The first time I went on an aeroplane I couldn't work out how the lavatories worked up in the sky.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Sports Illustrated, 2012
He describes an unfamiliar experience that highlighted the novelty of early air travel for him.
In simple terms: He was puzzled by airplane bathrooms.
Key Takeaway
Embrace curiosity when encountering new technology.
Themes
travel
technology
curiosity
Mood
confused
inquisitive
Type
personal anecdote
reflective
When to use this quote
- first flight
- air travel
- learning new systems
Key Concepts
cultural adaptation
novelty
learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you react to unfamiliar modern conveniences?
- What steps help you understand new technology?
A Different Perspective
His confusion may reflect broader gaps in public knowledge about aviation.
![“It is apparent to me that the possibilities of the aeroplane, which two or three years ago were thought to hold the solution to the [flying machine] problem, have been exhausted, and that we must turn elsewhere.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2d5/thomas-a-edison-866_aeroplanes_it-is-apparent-to-me-that-the-possibilit_1009237.jpg)
![“[Grew up in Hawaii] that gave [Barack Obama] a kind of optimism, an ability to see things, you know, and frankly, an ability to trust, you know, in his fellow, you know, white countrymen in a way that I, for instance, you know, and the vast majority of black people I know never really could.” quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/feb/ta-nehisi-coates-733_ability_grew-up-in-hawaii-that-gave-barack-obama_75931.jpg)
