Might be a little shallow but some are really deep. I love when I encounter someone or a group of people randomly and I suddenly realize how much in common do we have. And when that happens a meaningful connection shows up to create a strong temporary friendship. You talk to these new friends like you have always known them, sharing not just experiences but also your heart. And this is one of the big rewards that travel has to offer.
Three weeks ago, I met a group of volunteers who were visiting Iași for a weekend getaway. We started talking about life and personal goals in the hostel lounge, and we ended up going out all together and spending a lovely Sunday walking around the city. Last Saturday, we decided to have some drinks in Bucharest, and we all felt very comfortable, like real friends laughing at stupid things.
It’s weird because sometimes it takes forever to build friendships at home or in a normal context. But abroad, when you are alone and a bit out of place, it’s somehow easier to run wild. With a beer in our hands we said goodbye to Laia, a young Catalan girl who by the time I write these lines will be wandering somewhere in Asia. I liked her because she was full of life and super excited about exploring the world.
Probably we will never see each other or the relationship will cool down but it’s fabulous to have these casual meetings. I guess it’s like a volcano in these cases (stupid comparison, I know, but I can’t do better). It gets really warm, with a lot of pressure and, at some point, erupts ending the process. After that, calm comes back and things return to normal.
When traveling, you meet someone, you really connect, you share everything you have lived and you take, finally, different paths. This is life and sometimes it’s hard to accept. It took ages for me to get used to the farewells in New Zealand. But eventually I understood how all this temporary friendships thing works.
It’s really nice to meet good people, especially when they are honest and excited about life. Thank you, Emilio, Laia, Maite and Katerina for the hours we spent together and I wish you all the best for the future.