Year Abroad Tips: Planning a Work Placement

So you're about to start planning your Year Abroad and you're totally freaking out because it seems like a mammoth task or maybe you're all cool and serene. Whatever. This is a little blog about work placements, how to get them, what to prepare for and what to do if things go wrong. 

1) Do something you enjoy. No seriously. If you don't enjoy at least part of what you're doing you are going to be seriously miserable, because doing a work placement means that most of your time abroad will be spent, well, working. I knew that I wanted to work in a theatre so that's where I started looking. You also need to consider whether you are prepared to work for free. Remember that paid internships will be extremely competitive and you will be up against some pretty competent native speakers. I decided that gaining experience was more important to me than earning money and I managed to do get by with my Erasmus Grant and student loan. There were a few disasters but I'll talk about those later on.

2) Once you've decided on the general working environment you're interested in, make a list of cities/places that appeal to you. I had three potentials for my first Germany placement: Düsseldorf, Leipzig or Rostock. I then made a list of all the theatres that were in those cities and sent out an email and CV to each of them. When I was applying for a job in Italy, things got a bit desperate and I started looking for anything that was available. This might happen to you, but roll with it.

3) Make sure you have a CV that is appropriate to the country you are applying to work in. Germans, for example, have completely different expectations for CVs and Cover Letters than England. Your university should prepare you for this, but do make time to go and see an academic tutor to make sure everything is as accurate as possible. I also advise adjusting your Cover Letter for each place you apply for so that you are really clear about why you want to work for that particularly company/institution.

3) When preparing for the interview, make a list of phrases in case you get tongue-tied. Also write a few key sentences explaining why you want to work with that particular company (so do your research!) Try not to panic, because that will only make it harder to speak in another language. Speak slowly, clearly and concentrate on what your interviewer is asking/saying to you.

If you manage to get a work placement CONGRATULATIONS. That's a massive achievement! Here are a few tips to help you get off to a good start.

1) CHECK THE DRESS CODE. Do this before you board the plane or pack your suitcase. I stupidly forgot and turned up with a suitcase full of jackets, skirts and smart trousers, when in fact everyone was wearing jeans *face palm*  So to avoid extra costs and embarrassment, send your employer a quick, polite email to clarify what is appropriate.

2) Turn up on your first day with all the necessary ERASMUS forms so that you can complete them and get them signed. Try to send them back as soon as possible. This will alleviate any University admin stress and will allow you to concentrate on enjoying your work placement. If you're not being paid for your work, make sure you are absolutely clear on your working hours.

3) BE BOLD. You will be nervous. I spent my first day at the theatre cowering behind a corner whilst everyone chatted and greeted one another, but as soon as I made a step towards the crowd, someone came and said hello and that's when the fun started. So be nervous but DON'T BE AFRAID. If there are other interns GO AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH THEM, they may not seem like your type of people to begin with, but after a few lunchtime chats and drinks after work you will find your language skills significantly improving. Friendship takes work and when I look back on my experience I am so glad that I made the effort to invest time into the other interns I was working with because they are now some of my most precious friends.

4) ASK FOR HELP. If you don't understand something just say. There is nothing worse than sitting at your desk trying to look busy when in fact you have no idea what you're supposed to be doing. Avoid wasting your time and take the chance to learn a new word or phrase. Most people will be sympathetic to your position and will respect your honesty. 

My Cheap and Cheerful Berlin Guide

With the interrailing season upon us and the next bunch of year abroadies about to set off on their adventures, I thought it would make sense to write a post about the MISSABLE and the UNMISSABLE parts of Berlin. Unfortunately I haven't made it to many of the museums or usual tourists hotspots, so I can't offer any wisdom on those, but I can give you some helpful tips and point you in the direction of good coffee and the true 'Berliner Vibe'.

First Things First:

1. Wear good shoes. Berlin is massive and you will find yourself walking miles and miles between attractions and Ubhan stops.
2. That said, if you want to get somewhere quickly DO use the Ubahn. What might look close by on the map, is probably a twenty minute walk away, plus the Germans have an annoying habit of sticking up roadworks and building sites in the most unexpected places. 
3. Make sure you have cash on hand. Most places don't take card and if they do it's usually only EC cards (the German debit card) so don't get caught out. I have on so many occasions and it's super annoying. 
4. If you're going in the Summer, take a bottle of water with you. Berlin gets very hot in the summer months and doesn't really do air conditioning. For some reason, bottled water is more expensive than beer, so to save time, money and energy, carry one with you.

Walks:

If you're doing Berlin on a budget but still want to get a historical impression of the city then here are two walks that aren't too long and really show off the most famous landmarks.

1. Get the train to the Hauptbahnhof and leave on the Starbucks side of the station. Walk over Washingtonplatz towards the Spree river. You'll eventually come the Reichstag, then the Bradenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Humbolt University and if you keep walking down the street you'll come to the Cathedral and Alexanderplatz. In the Summer this is best done in the early morning or early evening, otherwise it gets a bit hot and crowded. Plus the light is gorgeous! It takes about an hour to an hour and a half, but it's well worth it.
2. If you want to explore the former East Berlin without paying a penny, then get off at Alexanderplatz and walk straight down Karl-Marx allee. You'll get a good idea of the communist architecture as well as pass the Karl Marx bookshop that was used in the film The Lives of Others. Turn off at Warschauer Strasse and if you fancy a break, grab a drink at the kooky Michelberger Hotel before heading down to the East Gallery to look at the wall and the famous murals.

Food:

1. If you're looking for a general restaurant area then I recommend getting off at Eberswalder Strasse (U2) , Rosenthaler Platz (U9) or Moritiz Platz (U9) if you wander around those areas you're bound to find something wonderful to eat.
2. For a cheap authentic Bratwurst you can do no better than a €1.50 job from one of the street vendors at Alexanderplatz.
3. Berlin is also famous for it's Donor and Falafel. My particular favourites are on Oranienstrasse or around Kottbusser Tor (U9) in Kreuzberg. The more Turkish on the menu, the better the falafel. 
4. Henne is like the vintage Nando's of Berlin. It boasts an impressive clientele including President Kennedy. It's sits just off Moritz Platz (U8) and serves half a chicken with a choice of potato salad or sauerkraut.
5. If you find yourself on the West Side or in one of the tourist areas and are reluctant to pop in to Mcdonalds or Burger King, allow me to recommend Vapiano. It's a healthy fast food Italian restaurant that is very popular among Germans and is very reasonably priced. For the Gluten-free among you, their salads are delicious! The one on Potsdamerplatz is particularly nice.

Drink:

1. The Prater Biergarten on Kastanienallee is very cool and authentic. Grab a beer, sit on one of the benches and feel like a REAL German. (nearest Ubahn Station Eberswalderstrasse)
2. There's a great, seemingly nameless bar opposite the Gethsemane Church near Schönhauserallee. They have tiny little chairs and benches out the front, one tiny menu, which is handwritten in a black moleskine and serve the most delicious cocktails for €5. Try the Hugo-Rouge and watch the sunset over the street.
3. If you're in the centre then Mein Haus Am See on Rosenthalerstrasse is another great bar, with mismatched furniture and a great choice of drinks. It can get very busy but the atmosphere is great.
4. One of my favourite bars in the city and the one which I take pretty much everyone too, is Luzia on Oranienstrasse. It has large windows, with padded window sills so you can sit and dangle your legs into the street, a piano, wall art, comfy sofas and lots and lots of candles. It can get busy, but is well worth a visit for a glass of Riesling and a great night with friends. 
5. Another option is to buy beer from the supermarket or a Späti (newsagents) and sit in a park with friends. This is definitely the cheapest option, with a bottle of Berliner Pilsner costing roughly 50 cents. 
6. If you're looking for a good cup coffee, then please by all means read through my Best Coffee in Berlin posts. However, if you're short of time then Bonanza Coffee Heroes and Five Elephant Coffee are a must for Flat Whites, Cappuccinos and Filter, whereas St.Oberholz wins on the iced coffee front. 

The Unmissable:

1. Fleamarket Mauerpark  This is the biggest flea market in the city and takes place on Sundays from 7am-5pm. It strikes a great balance between vintage furniture, second hand clothes, handmade items and excellent food. There is also a lot of live music, with local artists busking between the different stalls and in the afternoon be sure to head to the Bearpit to watch or perhaps participate in the Karaoke party!
2. Open Air Cinema There are lots of these that pop up all over the city. I went to the one in Kreuzberg to see Creatures of the Southern Wild and it was fantastic. For €5 you get to sit in a comfy deckchair and watch a film on a huge outdoor screen. There's also beer, popcorn and bratwurst for sale. Most of the films are shown in their original language with subtitles - so you're sure to find something you can watch!
3. The Wall there are lots of 'wall bits' to choose from, but whatever you do, you can't leave Berlin without having visited one of them. It helps you understand a little bit why Berlin is like it is and there's nothing more powerful than coming face to face with with history.
4. Brunch Sunday morning turns Berlin into Brunch city. My particular favourites were Cafe Rix (for €8 all you can eat) the vegan brunch at Cafe Vux (€9 for all you can eat and you won't even notice it's vegan - I promise!) and the blueberry pancakes at Cafe Tassenkuchen (if you ring up the day before, you can even get them gluten-free!)
5. Garage this amazing second hand store at Nollendorf Platz is absolutely incredible. High quality vintage clothes for a reasonable price. They also sell clothes by the kilo. Pretty much all the clothes I bought whilst living in Berlin were from here!
6. Lakes when the city gets too much, then definitely head out to one of the lakes surrounding Berlin. I lived next to Plotzensee, which was absolutely gorgeous to swim in. But if you fancy something more impressive, then Tegelsee and Wannsee are just a 20 minute train ride away. So grab your swimmers, a yummy picnic and enjoy a day of relaxation. 
7. Photo Booths Keep your eyes peeled for the tiny retro photo booths, where you can get a strip of black and white pictures for €2. So much fun. 

The End

One thing I've learnt over the years is how TERRIBLE I am at finishing things. This goes for all areas of my life, including this moment right now where I am sitting on a mattress in the middle of my old room, with a half packed suitcase, a half finished translation and crap strewn all over the floor. Naturally, instead of completing a task I'm distracting myself and writing a blog. One day I will get the hang of it. The last couple of weeks of my year abroad have left me with very little brain power. I definitely underestimated the mental strain this year was going to entail, especially with all my moving around, language swapping, home swapping, job swapping, decision making, friendship making and having to chase Bristol up with admin stuff that they had forgotten about, miscalculated and got completely wrong. Ergo I haven't been able to think straight since the beginning of August. All my energy is going into getting through the last few hours, making sure I've packed everything and getting myself to the airport without exploding into a teary, stressed-out mess. 

The end is always a difficult time. You want to control it  so that everything sums up nicely. You want to say goodbye to everyone perfectly, take the perfect pictures, have the perfect meal, wear the perfect outfit and say the perfect things. You want to wake up serene, calmly pick up your bag, walk out the door and leave, looking a little bit like movie star at the end of the film. And it never really works out how you want it to. My last few hours in Bristol were spent frantically peeling bluetack off my walls, drinking mug after mug of coffee and feeling slightly queasy at the thought of telling my Mum that I'd somehow acquired an extra bicycle and a piano, that would somehow have to fit in the car. My last day in Düsseldorf was also spent in a manic frenzy of packing, being locked into my apartment, realising that I had no food left, feeling faint with hunger, meeting my friends later than I wanted to and getting the wrong bus home. My last night in Florence was spent alone with a bottle of sparkling wine and Gilmore Girls, before yet another frenzy of packing and tying my duvet to my suitcase with a piece of string. Parma was a mess of tears, cleaning, sleeplessness, packing, texting my Landlady and then phoning my boss on the train to the airport telling him I was leaving. The past year has been full of rather unsatisfactory endings. Yet what I remember is all the things before the end, all the times I went to the cinema with Franzi, had cups of tea in the office with Sarah, my boss and I dressing up as mexicans, my friend Kate and her beautiful birthday concert, International food evenings at church, ice-cream with Brynne, cooking with Tessa, Florence at sunset, adventures with Hodges, the perfect sips of coffee, the lone wanderings, the performances than left an imprint, the strangers than made me bolder. I never look back on a time and remember those horrible last moments, where I had to untangle myself and move on. I only recall them when I find myself having to do it all over again. 

Today is my last day in Berlin and rather than expecting a day full of last minute japes around the city, I am quietly accepting that it will be stressful, that my highest priority is to keep myself together and not leave anything behind. Right now I can't even tell you what the last few months have meant for me, because all I can think about is that Lufthansa flight at 18:00 tomorrow afternoon where I will finally flop on a seat and feel the relief seep out of my pores. There is always a lot of processing that needs to be done, your mind, body and soul need to click back into a place of rest before any conclusions can be made. 

Travel doesn't consolidate it unravels. It makes you feel like a solid core, that fluctuates between a mess of ideas, thoughts, opinions and memories. In many ways you know yourself better, in others you seem unrecognisable. This constant oscillation is beautiful, but exhausting. If you travel too long and too far, without putting down a few roots here and there, you start to lose yourself; things start to lose their clarity and you find yourself wanting to sleep longer and do less. I got to that point on Saturday and whilst I still had a lot of fun, the only thing keeping me human was the thought that in 3 days time I'll be sat at home in Bracknell having a cup of tea, in a Cath Kidston mug with my family. In many ways I have finished this season well, I have persevered, had fun, kept positive and in others I am too exhausted to care. Even if the next 24 hours becomes another anecdote for my terrible finishes, all that will matter is that I got home in one piece. 

Back in B-City and the Sense of Belonging

I've been back in Berlin for about 48 hours. This morning I woke up in a sun streaked room, near the Charlottenburg palace and just lay there on the mattress looking up at the ceiling feeling super content. I'm one of those losers that loves sleeping with the curtains open so that I can wake up to the light and after 10 days of constant travel, hostels dark shuttered rooms and even my old WG room, this burst of morning light was the perfect post-travel treatment. I'm living with my friend Lotte for the weekend, which is WONDERFINE* because she likes all things Woody Allen, Gilmore Girls, Book-esque and lives near a PALACE. I mean it's a no brainer really. She also manages to rent an ENTIRE apartment for less than I pay for a room in Bristol, which makes me feel a little nauseous, but there we go.  

I was a little apprehensive about coming back to the city. Many of you will have seen my whimpy protests about wanting to come home and just wishing this season of nomadic wandering would finally be over. I have to stay abroad until Wednesday in order to make up the time for University, so travelling across Europe for only 5 days did feel a little bit silly. To add salt to the wound my bus from Karsruhe to Berlin was 3 hours late, meaning that I didn't actually get into town until 2am on Friday morning. I also no longer have any keys or any official place to call my own, which made arriving late a little bit complicated.  I got off the bus in a sleep-deprived Fight-Club-esque trance and tried to get hold of Lotte, because I realised that she'd only given me the Ubahn stop and not her full address. When I couldn't get hold of her, I tried a few other friends and when they didn't answer I sat on a bench and contemplated my fate.

Part of me was willing to just lock up my bag and sleep on the bench in the bus station, wake up at dawn and then find a cafe to sit in. However, my Grandma reads this blog and I know she'd be incredibly concerned if she found out that I'd been sleeping rough, so I kept trying to get hold of my friends. 15 minutes and a Mini-Milka bar later I was still sat on the bench feeling stupidly calm about the whole situation. The Ubahn had stopped running, which meant that if I wanted to get anywhere I was going to have to get a Taxi for a lotta dollar or a bus for a good hour or so. I reasoned with myself that I did at least know one address near the bus station and that even though I didn't have keys to the apartment anymore,  I could probably still ring the bell and grab a piece of floor to sleep on . I had to beat down the British inclination to not 'make a fuss' and remind myself that I would want my standed friend to knock on my door at 3am if she found herself without a place to stay. With that I got up, took a taxi, rang the bell, the door was answered by Eva Maria who laughed when she saw me and I made myself comfy on the floor and fell asleep. 

When I woke up I realised that I had conquered something pretty significant. For a girl who used to freak out if things weren't planned down to the very last minute, I had succeeded in going with the flow. I had made the best out of the situation and I did it all without panicking or bursting into tears. I also thought about how many people I had rung that night, knowing that if they'd answered I would have had a place to stay and even though my attempts were a little fruitless, it made me feel like Berlin had finally become another home. In some ways that's one of the year abroad's best achievements: to carve another space in the world where you feel like you belong.  I intend to enjoy these last few days in my new Zuhause, but at the same time I'm very much looking forward to 7pm on Wednesday evening when I walk through arrivals and see my Dad scrolling through the twitter feed on his phone. It's NEARLY OVER!!!!!!


*wonderfine is a Lotte invention and I am determined to make it happen.

Berlin Disposables: Lone Wanderings

One thing this year has given me in abundance is the confidence to be alone and to do things alone. If I want to check out that cafe/restaurant/film/museum/park I don't have to wait until I can find someone to go with me, I can JUST go. It's been remarkably liberating. Here are some snaps.

1/'Kotty' after a chill date on Oranienstrasse.

2/ Early morning flatwhite date.

3/ Beautiful, fragrant blossoms.

4/ Trees on my walk home.

5/ Club Mate and a New Yorker at Ocelot bookstore.

6/ I spend most of my life at this intersection.

7/ Westhafen train station.

8/ Another Luzia date, except alone with my book and my thoughts.

9/ Summer evening chill time by the lake.

Back in the Dorf

After an 8 hour coach ride, I found myself back in the Dorf. It felt good and strangely familiar. It was one of those moments where it feels like you never left, yet at the same time you become aware of how much has changed since you last trod the cobbled streets of the Altstadt. I've realised that the second half of my year abroad has been full of completely different challenges, namely trying to feel known despite moving city every couple of months. I am so grateful for the time I spent here in Düsseldorf, for the friends I made, for the wonderful job at the theatre, for Woyton and the friendly baristas (who just made me a smiley face coffee - yay!) and for the chance to make a German home for myself. Berlin is exciting, but it can often overwhelm you with choice and its indefatigable artistic energy. You want to see everything, capture everything, create something, try all the coffee shops, meet all the cool people and it gets exhausting. Düsseldorf is slower, calmer, less ragged around the edges and much, much easier to move around. 

As I write this , sitting in my favourite Woyton spot, bantering with my Barista boys the sun is shining and my heart is full. I am finally acknowledging what has come to pass, finally recognising my achievements over the past year and gladly accepting the fact that, in four weeks time,  this adventure will be over. I am proud of myself and breathe a sigh of relief. 

The Hugo Rouge

Jule says it's the new 'in' drink.

Steffi says it's been the 'in' drink for 2 years and is therefore no longer 'in'. 

The Hugo Rouge: prosecco, elderflower syrup, soda water, mint, a slice of orange and something red.

I think it might just beat a G&T.

Go to The Bar just off Schönhauserallee, sit on a tiny chair outside and try it yourself.

An afternoon stroll in Kreuzberg

It's a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Get the U-Bahn to Görlitzer Bahnhof.

Walk down Wienerstr. 

Peek into 'Gorli' park, take note of all the shops that you want to come back to.

Stop in front of the Silent Club and marvel at the people signing their lives away.

Turn right at some point and find yourself on the street where Five Elephant Coffee resides.

Buy a flat white, pick up a magazine, sit outside.

People watch and flick through the pages.

Walk back on the other side of the street. 

Go home content.

Diner en Blanc: caught on film.

"The summer night is like a perfection of thought."

-   Wallace Stevens

 “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Everyone turns up, but no one is really quite sure who invited them in the first place. Diner en Blanc had it's Gatsby-esque moments.

I loved everything about this night and I love everything about these photos. I especially love how hopeful everyone looks, dressed in white, flowers in their hair, wine glass in hand. 

As I lit her cigarette with a match, she said: 'A year ago, I would never have thought we'd be sitting here, drinking wine, with you lighting my cigarette'

We laughed. 'Neither would I'

Then the jazz came, soft yet energetic, subtle yet all consuming. We kicked up our heels and danced the Charleston as best we could. Breathless and happy we threw our heads up to the sky and were captivated by the colours. Summer had finally arrived.

“My soul is in the sky.” 
― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

As the daylight turned into twilight and the candles replaced the sun, we realised that what we thought was an infinite moment would soon cease to exist.

 “This moment will just be another story someday.” 

                                            ― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

An Aperitivo with Strangers

As I walked back down Ackerstrasse after church on Sunday evening, I felt a little blue. Not blue enough to buy ice cream or sit and mope in a corner, but the kind of blue that compels you to do something outrageous or extraordinary. I thought perhaps I might take myself out to dinner and read my book, like a sophisticated person, but unfortunately Miranda Hart has destroyed that idea for the time being. Every restaurant I peeked into seemed like a cringe fest waiting to happen and so I kept walking and looking: looking for something, anything that would take me out of myself and let me participate. 

It was then I came across one of those spaces, that are very common in Berlin. It's very difficult to work out what they're actually supposed to be, but art-types flock to their empty window displays for pop-up exhibitions and nights out, that are advertised by word of mouth rather than conventional marketing ploys. I've walked past this place a number of times and the only thing that I could glean from it all, was that it had something to do with polish artists because I saw the word poland in tiny, white typography under the window and there always seemed to be someone playing the piano and painting on the window. All in all, a very bizarre yet incredibly fascinating space. The kind you feel the need to be invited too, rather than just allowing yourself to wander in.

That evening people were huddled around the tables outside with wine glasses filled with red liquid and paper bowls full of food. I peeped in the window and saw a buffet table and a make shift bar on wheels that had been plonked in the middle of the corridor. Hungry and curious, I made my way in, walked up to the very trendy looking couple behind the bar and asked what was going on.

'It's a wandering aperitivo' said the beautiful woman with silky hair and tartan leggings. Turns out there's an aperitif every month in different places all over the city, usually on Fridays, but perhaps just this once, especially for me, it was held on a Sunday. 

I looked around the bare room, at the Leonardo sketch graffitied onto the wall and the groups of friends hanging elegantly on the furniture, both inside and out, trying to decide whether to stay or not. They were Prenzlauerberg types and by that I mean young, hip professionals with careers and kids, some of whom were running around in their organic snoods and tiny converses. I felt very out of place;   a student, dressed in jersey black overalls from ASOS, accompanied by flip-flops and glasses from Specsavers, with very little intellectual knowledge of art and music, just the notion that it's supposed to mean something and provoke reactions. Yet before I could stop myself, I had ordered an Aeropol Spritz and was heading to the buffet table to fill up my paper bowl with mini-mozzarella balls, rice and large, sumptuous cherry tomatoes.

Most of the seats had been taking, so I found myself a bench outside and sat, alone with my drink and my food. It was very satisfying, like inviting yourself to the coolest party in town and not having to justify being there. The woman next to me was showing her friend pictures of Diner en Blanc, so naturally I engaged her in conversation. She was Italian, but then everyone outside was Italian. I guess it was an aperitivo after all! After the generic questions exchanged in encounters with strangers - why are you in Berlin? Where do you come from? How do you speak Italian? - it suddenly became awkward and my bowl was empty. I politely excused myself and wandered inside to get more tomatoes.

This time I sat on the floor in the corner, where I had an excellent view of the whole space. It was comfortable, but I had an itch to make friends. A space opened up at the table next to me, from which I heard a refined American accent and I knew I had found my group. I hurried over and asked whether I could join them. They obliged me. 

Two dutch one American. One artist, one software engineer and a woman who works at the Tate Gallery in London. All a lot older than me. Still, we had things to talk about. What struck me most, was how thoughtful and unpretentious they were in their conversation. In comparison to the wild, sporadic, and eager energy of myself and my peers, these were people who had finely-tuned their tastes and their dreams. They knew themselves, what they wanted, what they thought, how they wanted to live. They treated me like an equal and didn't seem to mind that I had practically forced my way into their tete-a-tete. I felt safe and peaceful for the first time in months. Perhaps it was a result of being taken seriously, exactly as I was, right there in that moment. Perhaps it was because there were no social strings or pressures disrupting our discourse. Everything was spontaneous and natural, because there was no reason for it not to be: I didn't have to prove anything and they didn't have to entertain. 

The aperitif came to a natural conclusion and I felt that it was time for me to leave. I stood up, thanked them, wished them well and shook their hands. Then I left. I walked out of the door, down the steps and into the warm evening air and thought about how I would probably never see those people again. If you like, I had participated in a social one night stand, in which all I had offered was my presence and a few words, meekly articulated in my 'oh-so obvious' British accent. I felt strangely animated and not at all blue anymore. 

Then I thought about how often I have encountered strangers this year and how some of those strangers are now a few of my closest and favourite friends. Every friendship, every partnership, every meaningful encounter starts with the willingness to begin a conversation. Regardless of how how stupid that opening sentence or phrase might sound, there is so much worth in being open to new people and new relationships of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. Yet it hangs on such a split-second decision; that choice you made to buy a drink and sit down at that particular table, that courage to act on the intimation that the person in front of you is worth a conversation, that fearless moment when your hand extends to shake another. One decision can turn a stranger into a friend. Yet sometimes, these strangers remain unknown and that's okay too. You are left with a story. You were given a chance to participate in another world for a while and in that instant it was exactly what you needed.