(Former) Strangers

We started writing these stories to bring various cultures and different worldviews closer to people, because we find it important to see not only the tourist sites while travelling, but also to take time to really listen to people we meet. This way, we’ve learned a lot and we wanted to give that to others as well, especially now when travelling is practically impossible for the majority of people.

We’re also in the process of learning that there’s an endless number of courses in life, and not a single one exists that would be universal or the right one. There’s just the one that’s right for you. It’s difficult to follow your own way with your head high up sometimes, since there are so many crossroads along the way and decisions to be made, which take you up the well-trodden paths. Our conversations with (former) strangers keep giving us new insights and make us realise that we are entitled to our wishes, our goals, and our own path.

Here are the photos and short excerpts from stories shared with us by (former) strangers.

River, Australia

“That’s how I ended up in South America, somehow, which was very good for me. I found myself in a country where almost no one speaks English. I learned how to listen. I wasn’t very good at listening before and I’m far from done learning how to listen. When you’re born with the gift of speech, listening plays only a secondary role. But in South America, I only listened for the first couple of months, as I wasn’t able to take part in conversations. It was hard and as if I suddenly became a mute. That’s why now, when I’m in New Zealand, I really appreciate the fact that I can freely express myself.

It’s also hard because you’re so far from home and there’s no support from your family or friends, which you’re used to getting in your home environment. You’re forced to deal with your own shit alone, the shit you put off dealing with before.

Maruša & Maruša, Slovenia

We would bring our bikes and a normal washing machine from Slovenia. We also miss the really good homemade bread. In New Zealand, we also miss the culture in the cities, that city vibe only European cities have. Maybe we’ve picked the wrong time for travelling, considering there are way less tourists in New Zealand due to the global pandemic, but we still miss the specific character of the places.

The thing from New Zealand we would bring home is the mentality that life shouldn’t be taken as seriously. We, Slovenes, mostly work, work, work, and we don’t know how to stop. Living here, we’ve also realised what a true connection within a community means. In New Zealand, you can truly feel how everyone supports one another and how they buy locally, while Slovenes compete with each other all the time. Despite there being two companies in a single town, both selling practically the same item, people will still give support to both alternately. There’s no negative competition.”

Mintzu, Taiwan

“The first thing I learned was how to live with less stress. I used to work 16 hours per day in Taiwan and it was a very stressful job. Not to mention I always felt like I had to spend my well-earned money for luxurious things or I would feel inferior. But people in New Zealand live comfortably, without the need for luxurious and expensive items. I now also live with less clothes and spend time travelling, and I feel much better now.

Trish & George, Germany

“We’ve changed considerably, ever since we moved to New Zealand. Now we always say ‘Why not?’ to new opportunities. We’ve also learned to appreciate the little things in life more. Things like high-pressure hot shower, good food and sunny weather. We’ve become much more grateful and more present, ever since we live and travel in our van. This is because we’ve got much more time now to think about these things. About us, our worldview, about food... We’ve also met a lot of people from all over the world who think differently than we do. We like to take the pieces of these people we meet that we like, and we try to put them into practice ourselves.

Dung, Vietnam

“Ever since I’ve been living here in New Zealand, I’ve been exposed to a completely different culture, unlike the one I was used at home. I learned to live like an Asian in a (mostly) European society, I learned to leave the nature just like I found it, and to not buy things I don’t need. My family lives in Vietnam, so I had to learn how to rely on myself. I was forced to learn to cook, but I still miss my country’s food, the Vietnamese cuisine.”

Petra, Slovenia

“I’ve been living in New Zealand for more than two years now and I’ve got so used to the life here that I can’t imagine anymore what I used to be like at home. It feels like I’m still the same person, but I’ve definitely changed. I think that’ll be the most noticeable when I get back home. I’ve become much more open, and I allow other people to explain to me concepts that are new to me, which I then also accept more easily. I’ve also got to know myself better, have gained more confidence, I know what I want in life and I refuse to compromise that.

Here, I’ve had the opportunity to feel the diversity, to meet people of various cultures and to see the different views within a single culture. At home, I knew only Slovenes and I had that one circle of friends, within which a single mentality prevailed, and that mentality was considered the best and only one. Now I see things from other perspectives as well.”

Vincent, Switzerland

“Too much materialism isolates you from the rest of the world. That’s why I decided not to own anything. This way my life is more exciting and I get to know a whole lot more people. I’m happy and I don’t need anything. I enjoy nature and I sleep outside. I also have a dog Buba who appreciates this way of life even more than I do. I used to own a car, too, once, but I realised I missed out on so many beautiful things while driving from point A to point B. I missed walking, I missed the smells of nature, and I missed the new experience. You miss out on all that while driving. Sure, cars are very useful and, since I have an engineering degree, it was really hard to stop using mine because I was really interested in the way cars function and into technology in general. But, over the years, I’ve learned that technology works against us, against our well-being. This was the reason I gave up on almost everything (that I found to be) unnecessary – the car, the phone, the soap, the shoes... I’m much happier now and worry-free. I think we need to start living a somewhat simpler life and make an effort to solve the issue of our mindless consumerism, not of overpopulation. If every person reduced their consumption of unnecessary things, the danger of all the problems we face today would also be reduced.”

You can read the whole stories here.

We hope they’ll inspire you to make room for new views and different opinions, so you’ll openly listen to people that you meet on your journey, be it on the other side of the world or at home.