Strangers with Memories

There's something amazing about travelling alone and meeting new people. If you happen to be at the right place at the right time, you create wonderful memories in a few minutes with people that you hardly even knew they existed. Within these memories, there are lessons and stories that make you smile, maybe even brighter if you were having a dull moment alone.

I've made a few good friends from my travels alone, most of them because I would usually ask for help about something or we would just end up next to each other and I would end up talking to them, or they would. It's interesting how small talk can get people on the same wave length and then before you know it, you start talking about things that you both can relate to. Also because, I thought I would use some of them as characters in a book or something... so let's get right into today's post!

Earlier this year, for my winter break, I ended up in Hammerfest at a friend's house. Me and another friend were staying with the other friend (it would've been easier to use names but that's not really important right now) and her mom. I can make a post about that break, for now, let me get to the main part before I get carried away, words always play such tricks on me and I forget what I initially wanted to say. Like I almost just did.

By the end of the winter break, Aunt Iselin organised for me to go back to the school with a boat? Or a ship? Anyway, there I was, on a ship all alone. Not literally, but yeah. I walked around a lot, checking out the stores and lounge and all that stuff. I sat in the jacuzzi at night and chilled alone. I noticed that there were mostly older couples on board, just having a time of their lives. It made me think that some day when I get old and retire, I would also love to be on a cruise ship around the world, seeing all the places I never got to see.

I woke up a little late but just in time for breakfast and so when I got to the breakfast area, all the single tables were taken which meant that I had to for the group tables. I chose one by the window and settled down then not long before, I got up and started getting food from the buffet.

The view was amazing and the sound of forks and knives, and people just laughing or talking made me feel very relaxed. I was in a great state of mind and the food was good. Suddenly, a couple approached my table and asked if they could join me, I said yes and so they got comfortable and got their food and all that stuff.

A few minutes later, I learned that they were from Alaska and that they had been in Norway for a few weeks just sightseeing and having a good time. They would be on the ship for six days since they were on a round-trip from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. I also told them about me attending a folk high school and since they asked, I told them how I got here and what my plans were. I got along so well with them and in that moment, I took a moment to appreciate friendly and nice people in the world, really. It was nice to just talk to them and joke about how cold it could get and how Namibia is the complete opposite of Norway.

After I had eaten breakfast, I bade them farewell and went back to my cabin.

The lounge area was a good place to hang, especially after one checked out from the rooms, so that's where I decided to be for a few hours before we reached Kirkenes where I would be getting off. I was reading, listening to music, writing and braiding my hair in between so I would switch between those four activities as I sat by the window and watched the snow on the top of the mountains and the beautiful ocean.

A light tap on my shoulder caused me to turn and I saw a very familiar face. I then remembered that it was one of the folks I had breakfast with that morning, the husband.

He said:

"My wife and I were very pleased to meet you and we think that you are very brave for coming to Norway all the way from Namibia, alone. We wish you all the best with college applications and we wanted to give you some money just to say it's been a pleasure"

And then he handed me 500kr.

As he was saying all that stuff, my eyes already filled with tears and I was getting very emotional. It was really touching hearing him say all that stuff about me, considering we had just met. It reminded me that I had really been brave and that I could still achieve anything that I wanted to. It was motivation in a way that I never even thought about. I thanked him dearly and that's when we said our final goodbyes.

I sat there for a few minutes and cried. I did. That was a very rare experience and it was phenomenal. I was happy I got some pocket money (I bought a burger afterwards and I still regret that to this day because it was expensive) but the words that he said were what really made me happy. It's true, people like hearing nice things about themselves, especially people in doubt.

These are some of the experiences I've had while being away from home and its during those moments that I realise that as long as you are around people that show that they care, as long as you can be yourself around these people and as long as they make you laugh until your tummy hurts, then that might as well be your home away from home. Or something like that!

hearts, Queen

#blogger #writer #holiday #storytime