Life's Chance Rendezvous!
Life's chance rendezvous means weaving through the fabric of our existence, connecting us with people, opportunities, and experiences in unexpected ways. It all began with the question, "Why Poland?" It was as straightforward as it was. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, being India's neighbours, have many shared characteristics. My assumptions were similar as well. Poland, as Germany's neighbour, may share a comparable culture. I moved to Germany in 2019 and had to deal with a lot of cultural shock. When I started adjusting to the culture here, I wasn't prepared to deal with many more cultural shocks. But my expectations went topsy-turvy starting from the first day in Poland.
BUT WAS IT ONLY THE POLISH CULTURE THAT I HAD TO ENCOUNTER?
You'll find out as you continue reading!
Not only were there cultural shocks, but also exquisite history and purity of the countries. This blog is going to tell you about what I acquired from the people I met.
CHAPTER 1:
The original name of the country's capital city is "Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit".
BANGKOK, THAILAND
This Bangkok local was my roommate in the dormitory. He flew all the way from Thailand to spend a semester abroad studying medicine. But I discovered his motivation the first day he walked in. Travel, Party, and Make Friends!! He lacked fear and acted independently. I learned from him how to accept and respect various cultural conventions, as well as how to travel alone.
CHAPTER 2:
Would you think there is a country whose national meal is pancakes?
AZERBAIJAN
We understand patriotism, battle situations, and what it's like to be fired or starved. This Azerbaijani gentleman went through all of these conditions while fighting for his nation. He was my travel buddy during the semester. He taught me to make daring decisions. He once informed me that there are certain things that don't require much thought, but we simply have to take action. A much of thinking removes the essence of the event. His method of thinking differed greatly from others. One good tale that relates to the statement above is how he unexpectedly decided to convince me to travel to Lithuania at 3:00 AM when we were still drinking at a pub at 12:00 AM!
CHAPTER 3:
Türkiye
Turkish students were in greater numbers during my semester abroad. They arrived in numerous groups and returned as one large group. They eat, party, and travel together like a wolfpack. They were incredibly nice and helpful, and they taught me how to stay together with people during their success as well as hardships. They showed me how they accept an outsider into a community of theirs. They greeted everyone with their famous Turkish coffee and expertly highlighted the beauty of their culture.
They were the ones that readily became linked to everyone, making it difficult for everyone to separate when it was time to fly. I recall their eyes welling up with tears for others as they left Poland.
CHAPTER 4:
I believe that some of the most courageous girls come from this country.
ALGERIA
Algeria being a Muslim country, it is understandable that everything is different for boys and girls. After overcoming all of these challenges, six girls enrolled in our programme in Nysa, Poland. They made an effort to capture the spirit of their culinary, music, and dance cultures, as well as the beauty of their faith and country's history. I admired their culture throughout Ramadan. There were numerous prayers, purity in their deeds, commitment, and respect for their way of existence. It was the discipline that caught my eyes. They displayed many parallels with Turkish people in that. Absolutely mind-blowing!
CHAPTER 5:
How long can someone party? A night? Perhaps two nights?
People from this part of the world are capable of partying for a week or two in a row!
SPAIN
"Are there no seats on the train?
Not an issue at all. We'll still make it to the party by standing the entire way on the train or by sitting on the floor. but partying is important."
CHAPTER 6:
This chapter is not about a student or a group of students, but a professor from
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
He was originally from Egypt and moved to the United States of America in the late 1990s to study. His way of thinking was way different from any common man. Financial studies posed no difficulty for him. My companion and I had the opportunity to tour him about the city, but it turned out to be him teaching us on the cultural shocks he had to confront and sharing his success story. His experience was a big lesson for me, as I arrived to Germany with many similar goals. He seized every opportunity to inspire us and provide us with new knowledge. It was truly inspirational.
CHAPTER 7:
"Tacos at Taco Bell aren't original Tacos!"
MEXICO
do not agree with that!!
Every Mexican I encountered was talented at dancing, singing, cooking, or maybe all of the above. There were seven people from Mexico. They were daring and liked partying.
(Wait, is this because they speak Spanish? 🤔 Well, maybe! )
They flew all the way to Poland to meet new people, learn about European culture, and showcase their abilities. They exhibited their dancing culture by having everyone dance with them rather than just presenting it to us. As an Indian, I thought the dance seemed simple. But little did I realise I was opening the door to painful muscles. Their vibe and their energy taught me that no person is weak if he/she is motivated enough to do something.
CHAPTER 6:
POLAND
Despite the fact that it is a neighbouring country to Germany, one will never know how distinct the culture is unless he/she experiences it. Cześć, Dzień dobry, Dziękuję, Proszę, dobrze… One of the most difficult languages I have ever heard. But everyone here knows English, or at least tries to speak it.
The folks in Poland were significantly different from those I met in Germany. It took them a bit to connect with us, but once they did, they made us feel at home. They prepared us meals, showed us how to create dwarf beers and traditional kompots, organised parties and activities for us, and made us feel like we were one of them. Poles love vodka, and no Polish party is complete without it. Friendship is essential to their existence. I once loved how they gathered for a friends' evening even though they all lived in various areas of Poland. One of the most important lessons I acquired from them was "Networking". Most of my Polish friends don't speak English fluently, but that has never prevented them from communicating with us. They were willing to utilise a translator to communicate but refused to give up. Every person who reciprocated the friendship characteristic was important to them.
CLOSING REMARKS
As I ponder on the great experience of meeting with different people and sharing their unique stories, I am reminded of the immense influence that people can have on one another. Each individual I met had a unique viewpoint, a new tale, and an important lesson. Together, we weaved a tapestry of experiences that expanded my perspective of the world. Through these meetings, I've learnt that by accepting the diversity of human experiences, we may create a more compassionate and integrated global community. As I say goodbye to the chapters of adventure and discovery, I carry with me the warmth of shared moments and the inspiration that comes from the wonderful tapestry of people.