Harrison Baer
I’m a staunch believer in striking up conversation with strangers. The nuances in tone, emotion, and facial expression are all quite revealing. These unexpected first impressions may be some of the truest indicators of character.
Back home in America, reactions from strangers can be distant, and almost cold. My college hometown, Greenville, tends to be warm, but this is not the case in other communities. More often than not, I’m given a stare – one that shouts, “Who is this weirdo? Why is he talking to me? Please, leave me alone.” There’s an invisible boundary – an unspoken rule – that discourages engagement with strangers. It feels taboo.
Since arriving in Scotland, I have not experienced this even once.
After settling into my new home for the next four months, I was met by my French roommate, Antoine. As we shook hands, he greeted me with a smile, and immediately peppered me with question after question. He paused, as he pondered, and pieced sentences together. He pushed to make purposeful conversation. His sincerity made me feel valued. Since then, my new friend and I have enjoyed evening cards almost every night.
The next day, a brightly colored flier taped to the door of the ground-floor stairwell caught my eye:
“Drinks in Flat 8 at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome!”
I couldn’t help but chuckle in surprise and confusion. Who in their right mind invites strangers over for drinks? Whatever happened to stranger danger? Not to mention this was ONE DAY after moving into a new home. Although there was reservation, my roomates and I felt obligated to check it out.
Upon our arrival, the door of Flat 8 was propped open with a folded piece of cardboard. We gave a knock, and then were greeted by a bubbly brunette with an unfamiliar accent—German, as it turned out, like her roommates.
Stepping into the living room, we were welcomed by people from Norway, Denmark, and Scotland – all genuinely curious about us and our homes. The warmth verged on overwhelming, like a freshly opened bottle of coke, when the rise of fizzy bubbles threatens to spill over the top.
Yet, the most powerful encounter of this semester happened just a few days ago. It came on a windy evening, after munching an Indian meal, when my ears suddenly perked up. The Aussie accent was a dead giveaway. I struck up a conversation, and I learned she was also a new study abroad student. Before long, I was inviting her for drinks.
We made our way towards the bus stop and hopped on the first ride. Lost in conversation, we rode further than I ever had before. Eventually, we hopped off at Edinburgh’s Old Town, and sought out the nearest pub. We sat, swapped favorites movies, debated zombie apocalypse strategies, and laughed. The night was so peculiar and picturesque, that I half wonder if it had truly happened.
Every one of my memorable encounters I’ve had in Europe has sprouted from a question. An offer. An openness. A willingness to embrace a stranger. Here in Scotland, relationships aren’t limited to familiar faces. The most noticeable difference in my travels outside the U.S. lies in the sense of community. Edinburgh’s atmosphere makes you feel like you belong, even as an outsider.
It’s strange, that in such a cold place, I’m warmer than ever before.
