Cool people

When you're abroad, you tend to meet a lot of people you would never otherwise come across in your lifetime. Some of them you don't quite notice too much, but others have a bigger impact on you and your perception of the world and of people in general.

For example, before coming abroad on my traineeship, I had never met a 'real' Swede, Uruguayan, or Austrian (not to be confused with Australia). All I knew about Sweden was that they shipped their ice hockey players to our teams, about Uruguay - Homer Simpsons 'U R GAY', and Austria - Ahnold Schwarzeneggar, of course.

I find it so enriching (yes fancy wording) to meet people whom I know nothing about, who are from a place where I can't even really imagine what it's like to have a life there. You would think they are very different but the biggest realisation for me was how much the US has influenced the world, in terms of pop culture for instance.

My Swedish roommate is an avid viewer of "Nip Tuck" and "The OC", there is a German trainee claims to be a 'movie expert' and you can take that as truth becuz he just knows so damn many movies (out of Hollywood), my Hungarian roommate is big into brands like Puma and Diesel, and the now very famous Austrian coworker of mine probably knows more lyrics to 50cent's Candy Shop than I do (he definitely has the moves down).

Sometimes it's hard to make a connection with people who are from completely different backgrounds. If you happen to have nothing in common, that's one thing, but if it happens you do, sometimes it's a language barrier that makes one person have less of a personality. Then, you also need to overcome the 'superficial conversations' that are inevitable when you have too many acquaintances from all different parts of the world. The topics never stray far from: the weather, how long you've been here, when your contract ends, where you are from and what it's like there. Repeat 20x and see if you like meeting new people anymore.

That's why it's so nice to meet people that, despite coming from a totally different background and maybe mother tongue, you are able to connect with, on a deeper level of understanding and conversation. Surprisingly, I found this in a thin, willowy Austrian fellow. I've always been a fan of wise, intellectual (yet sickly funny) folk and I have to say that he is one of them.

So here's to you Chris, the guy who can:

• talk forever on philosophical topics, financial topics, relational topics, u name it, all the while interspersed w/ "Ja", "I mean" or "To be honest"..
• shake his butt like no man has ever (wanted to) seen
• squint to have smaller eyes than Asians themselves
• match his eye colour to his hair
• get the attention of everyone in the clubs with his swaying 'loose hips'

Take care, u'll be missed!