Throughout my life, I have been very fortunate to have the option to travel. I've loved discovering new places, but most of all, I've loved talking to new people. If there is one thing I've learned, everyone has their own story to tell.
For some reason (based on my own experiences), I have had the best conversations with people while in an airport or on a plane.
Whether it's waiting in the (sometimes) very long airport security line, having a drink at a pub before the flight, or sitting beside a person on the plane, you never know what you may learn.
Last summer I had to opportunity to fly to Europe which meant is was my first time traveling outside of the United States. To add more fun to the the situation, I was by myself and had to switch gates for a connecting flight. Luckily, I just happened to sit next to a young lady in her late twenties who was going to the same gate. However, I didn't know this information until after we started up a conversation. She was originally from Poland, but moved to the U.S. to work in Portland, Oregon. Coming back from visiting her family in her native country, she expressed to me that she missed them, but she loves her friends and job in Portland and doesn't plan on moving back to Poland anytime soon. She also hates flying, so when we landed in Washington D.C. and had a fire truck greet us due to some "engine difficulties", that didn't reassure the young lady with her fear.
She taught me that it's perfectly fine to be scared to move away from family, but it's crucial to have the life that you've "always dreamed of."
After that flight, I sat by another young lady and her husband. Since this flight was flying me directly to Belgium, I was "stuck" with these two individuals for seven hours. Regardless of the situation, they quickly became my favorite plane conversation yet. I had the window seat so the conversation started off as if I needed to use the restroom, I shouldn't "hesitate to ask" them to move. The small talk soon turned into an in-depth conversation. Because I didn't know these two individuals all that well, I told them I was visiting family in Belgium and the young lady explained to me that her and her husband were flying back to Africa for the third time to help build schools. She talked to me about how rewarding it was to "give back" and how it is always important to "pay it forward." Even though I do believe all of her advice is significant, the one bit of information I'll never forget was when she expressed to me that since this is my first time flying out of the U.S., I would be bit by the "travel bug." At first I was confused as to what she was talking about, but then she discussed the phrase more in-depth explaining that once I experience a new place, I will never want to stop traveling and seeing the world.
She was right. I have now been to France, Turkey, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and England.
The final airport conversation that left an impact on me was a little over a week ago. I was sitting at an Irish pub trying to pass some-time before I had to board my connecting flight. With my Wi-Fi not working properly, I ordered a drink and sat at the bar. Within a few minutes a male and female couple in their mid-sixties grabbed two chairs next to me. The woman being very friendly, asked what beer I was drinking because it looked "summery." Again with the small talk, she asked me where I was traveling to, so once I responded, I asked her the same question. She took a deep breath and replied with "Rome." I figured the conversation would stop there since she looked "uneasy" when answering my question. Instead I just smiled at her and then she opened her mouth to further the discussion. She confessed to me that her and her husband booked the trip two weeks ago after a doctors appointment where she was diagnosed with cancer. Taken a little off guard with the news ( I had only met this lady three minutes prior to our conversation), I expressed how sorry I was to hear about her health. She then went on to tell me that because life is so uncertain, she wants to cross everything off her bucket list while she is still on this earth. Trying to hold back my own tears, I kept listening to the "full of life" lady talk about what she was looking forward to experience in Rome and how she wanted to take lots of pictures so she could show her grandchildren.
Even though I know I am still "processing" this conversation, I do realize I should never take my life for granted and to travel to see as many places as I can, while I am healthy.
For me, airport talk has become more valuable than what I ever intended it to be. Next time you are waiting for your flight, keep in mind this article, put down your phone and don't be afraid to talk to the person next to you. It may benefit you more than you think.
