Thanks to the internet, of course, I get to keep in touch with some of them. In hopes that maybe one day I get to go to their country and be able to see them again.
But what are the chances?
It's not like I am a stewardess or it's not like I travel around the world for my work.
This is just something I have to deal with. It's either I am the local or I am the tourist. But regardless of who is who, the fact still remains that some of the people I meet are there to say hello in my life.
I meet people at the airport. I meet people at a pub. I meet people on a tour group.
Sometimes I fail to put it out there and maximize the opportunity that I am there with them.
But I am making this blog post for me to remember that when I meet a new friend, I should maximize the opportunity that I am with them.
There are three foreigners that I am thinking of right now that I've continued to keep in touch but I regret not being able to spend more time with them.
There was one guy I met at the pub but I didn't spend enough time talking to him until the pub was about to close and we just exchanged our e-mails. He did mentioned that they were about to leave manila the day after the next day which meant he only had one free day in Manila. I should have offered to show him around that day after. Although luckily, I was able to afford visiting him in his country and he was able to take me around. He lives in USA, and c'mon... I don't mind going to America.
Another foreigner I met at the airport in LA, she was also travelling but lives in Australia. I've been really meaning to go to Australia one day but I don't think it's happening anytime soon. I met her at the airport because I was too early and she sat beside me. I started striking up a conversation and to my surprise she was comfortable enough to leave her luggages with me because she needed to go to the bathroom. Later on, she had to go in to check-in. When I checked-in I still had time before boarding and I tried contacting her again so we could continue our conversation. Luckily she replied and we were still able to meet before our flights took off.
My recent encounter which triggered this post was the Russian girl I met in Cebu. I should have just invited her to couch surf at my place when that was initially what my instinct was actually telling me while I was talking to her. It's too late now because she already booked a place in Makati area. My next instinct was to meet her for dinner but then she beat me to it. She invited me first. Unfortunately, it's already too late and the traffic is bad. She's inviting me over for breakfast instead which prompted me to change my entire schedule for tomorrow. My new friend is leaving Manila tomorrow afternoon and I'm telling myself I should not let this opportunity pass. We could still hang out tomorrow.
Sometimes it makes me think if investing my time with people I know who is going to leave anyways, would be worth it. Maybe it is? Maybe it's not? But I guess I'm just going to bank on the experience I'm going to get. If it's not friendship that I will gain then at least having a good time.
I've also met people when I was travelling and most of them I don't communicate anymore. They are just passers-by. Whatever it is that they have imprinted on me, I cannot identify but I am sure that has probably shaped who I am, somehow.
I am making this post because I still need to appreciate the time that I have with people that I meet.
I need to speak my mind whatever instinct tells me. Ask them out for dinner. Ask them our for lunch. Ask them if they already have plans.
I may never see them again after that, but, at least I get to spend more time getting to know another person who's culture is far different from what I am comfortable with. And I would learn a lot of things from the interaction, I am sure.
I'm hoping I still get to meet my Russian friend tomorrow for breakfast. She doesn't have a local sim card, thus depend on the internet. She hasn't replied to me since then. I'll just take my chance and probably go to their hotel tomorrow and let's see what happens.
Otherwise, I'll just go to the gym.
*Sigh*
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