We pass each other every day, wave, nod, move on. What if those quiet encounters are part of what holds the fabric of community together precisely because they don’t require more than that?
Having just hit 100 days living in Europe (today!!), this really resonated. The familiar strangers that make up my world these days are what make what can sometimes be a lonely experience feel a lot less lonely. Smiling at the same cashier at the market almost daily, sharing a "Hallo!" with someone in my apartment building, even a brief, shared glance with someone on the tram acknowledging frustration, annoyance, or delight at overheard conversations — all of these moments make this new-to-me city feel more and more like home every day.
My experience also, as a Canadian in Europe for the last 3 months and now getting myself set up in a town in northern Spain. I make it a point to greet the locals and be visible in the market, make a stop at the same cafe almost every day. Even during stays of only a few days, I try to have at least one real conversation with a local every day. It matters to me, and maybe to them. On a side note I just encountered people who were "familiar" strangers from my life in Mexico, 10 years ago. Now we are in the same place in Spain... a totally unexpected way to perhaps a new friendship.
Having just hit 100 days living in Europe (today!!), this really resonated. The familiar strangers that make up my world these days are what make what can sometimes be a lonely experience feel a lot less lonely. Smiling at the same cashier at the market almost daily, sharing a "Hallo!" with someone in my apartment building, even a brief, shared glance with someone on the tram acknowledging frustration, annoyance, or delight at overheard conversations — all of these moments make this new-to-me city feel more and more like home every day.
My experience also, as a Canadian in Europe for the last 3 months and now getting myself set up in a town in northern Spain. I make it a point to greet the locals and be visible in the market, make a stop at the same cafe almost every day. Even during stays of only a few days, I try to have at least one real conversation with a local every day. It matters to me, and maybe to them. On a side note I just encountered people who were "familiar" strangers from my life in Mexico, 10 years ago. Now we are in the same place in Spain... a totally unexpected way to perhaps a new friendship.
love this sentiment
Family means more than money. Money is less Important when You have no family. Everyone struggles but hallo