“Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver but the other’s gold; a circle is round it never ends, that’s how long I’m gonna be your friend.”
Here is a funny thing that happens when you strike out on adventure. You open yourself up to the possibility that something great is around the corner, and whether you are aware of it or not, you open up yourself to people you may not normally even consider talking to while among friends and a comfortable atmosphere. In the 21st century we are lucky to have this thing called Facebook, which allows us to follow parts of people’s lives who we may not regularly see. These include people who may have just been our greatest allies for a few hours or a brief week or two. They are the people who may contact you, or whom you may message, once every few months or so because a thought crosses one of your minds and one is reminded of the other; suddenly, a whole slew of fond but brief memories rush your brain waves and you find yourself smiling bemused. I need to take a moment to thank those people in my life who are my only witnesses that some of the most magical moments I did or did not capture on camera actually did in fact happen.
I don’t know what I would have done without you that night I was hurting and needed to share love woes about a boy you would never meet while we sat on a bench in front of a dock set in the Mediterranean off of Alicante. I hope that Italian boy with the beautiful eyes finally had some sense to fall for you too. I think of you and him and am reminded that even in Europe being young and in love is a tough life and whatever language you speak it is something we all have to deal with. In case you were wondering, I’m reminded of you every time I think a guy has nice arms.
Thank you for agreeing to drink chilled wine on the beach with me after the women in the liquor store was nice enough to open the bottle, because we both hadn’t packed bottle openers in our luggage. I won’t forget that day because it introduced me to one of my favorite artists and you offered me the chance to go to one of the most fun concerts I have ever attended. That night was unbelievable and running around Madrid with you while we “taxihopped” our way through some unforgettable experiences will forever live in my memory. You became one of my favorite travel partners and I’m so glad we traveled the streets of many different Spanish cities together.
You were many years my senior, but I’m so grateful to all of you who shard stories of your respective travels over miniscule cups of coffee and the sweetest of treats. It was an experience learning how to bachata with all of you and I hope one day I will inspire a young girl to see as much of the world as possible until she can no longer walk like you all did for me. You taught me to highlight the things I really want to experience because I unfortunately can’t see it all. You have a life time of stories about museums and artwork to remind me that I should always leave a bit of time to expect the unexpected. I’m so grateful for all of my foreign mommies and grandparents!
To the friends I made who drove me to different cities in exchange for gas money, thank you for sharing inside secrets about your homes. You made me feel a little less like a tourist because I didn’t always have to go by the guide books. The same goes for my friends that I made in the hostels where I stayed. Thanks for inviting me to partake in your dinners in the hostel kitchen, where I learned about all of your exciting backpacking experiences and diverse backgrounds. We may have talked for two hours, but I still remember the grand conversations about politics and personal goals or changes you all wanted to see in your lives. Te doy gracias to these friends that barely even knowing me sat with me in front of beautiful ocean and mountain views, or even napped alongside me on vibrant hillsides on warm afternoons. Thank you for letting me lead you around Paris in an effort to see as much of it as I could in one day.
Planes, trains, cars…and buses. I rode them all and I didn’t ride them alone. It was so much fun to get to know people on the group tours that took me to other Spanish cities. Thank you for being patient with my Spanish speaking abilities, and telling me about your home country and all the things you love about it. Even though we were scattered throughout Madrid, and had different reasons for visiting this one particular city, the day of sightseeing was much improved by having new friends along to sample Spanish cuisine in the cities that were famous for it, and viewing breathtaking architecture. These experiences united us for just a little while in person, but I am glad I got to experience those things with you.
To the friends that sidled up next to me at the bar so I wasn’t a loner, you reminded me how friendly people can be and it was exciting to find out how much we had in common or to share recent events and random life stories with someone who only half an hour earlier had been a stranger. Thanks for dancing with me to American 80’s music as if we’d known each other for years and sharing your McDonalds fries on chilly walks home. Each time I was reminded that I don’t automatically have to distrust strangers, because there are genuinely great people out there who may be looking for fun times with new people, just like me.
You all remind me what a great thing it can be to risk being yourself with people, and I’m indebted to you for contributing to the overwhelming excitement that characterized the majority of my adventures. I have restored my faith in chance encounters, and I will always believe that certain people come into our lives for a reason. I still find myself missing all of your smiles and wishing I could know more about what you are doing now. I hope one day I can accept your open invitations to visit you in your countries or wherever you may call home in the future. If you’re ever in the vicinity I hope you’ll come knocking on my door!
