What turns a stranger into a friend?

Drinking absinthe in Budapest

In 2006, when I left my marriage, I booked a trip to Budapest. I had never been outside North America, although I had been to almost every state. I had wanted to go to Europe since I was a child. Every continent, really. I had planned, at 13, to go to one continent per decade, Europe first. So at 34, I was finally doing it. I went to a country where I didn’t speak the language. I didn’t know how to go through customs even. I made a reservation to rent an apartment for the week (pre airbnb). I got lost on my first walk and nearly cried with anxiety. But I took a deep breath and found my way again, thanks to a beautiful Jewish memorial.

Drinking absinthe at a grimy bar (the perfect European intellectual spot in my mind), I met some Israeli guys. The next day one of them drove me all over the city on a personal tour. I thought, my mother would totally freak if she knew I was in a car with a strange man in a foreign country like this. On the other hand, what turns a stranger into a friend?

Since 2006, I have been to: Sweden, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, England, Ireland, and also Australia! That makes 2 continents in 6 years. Yeah!

Now, here, in London, I easily hop on the tube, navigate the city maps, and use pounds instead of dollars. When you come from a small town in the middle of the midwest, these things can be overwhelming. What works for me is diving straight in, head first. People are kind. They help you figure out your train or bus stop (and remind you when to get off), they translate for you, and in general want you to have a terrific experience. Where I have visited, anyway. The universe carries me along. If you trust it, maybe it will carry you along too.

I jump head first now into my 40s and this trip is my ceremony to mark the transition. Thank you to everyone participating and supporting. And thank you to the strangers that becomes friends along the way.