Those Whom I Care About
I want to share a few words about my friends, those people with whom I resonate at a higher spiritual level and for whom I have immense respect: colleagues, mentors, relatives, and teachers. "We are in this together," they always say. "One person's success does not necessarily mean another's failure. We can fail or succeed together, as well as individually" – this is why I love them!
Making friends has always been a challenge for me. I did not know how to do it, but more importantly, I did not understand why I needed to. My uncle and aunt always told me that friends and family are what life is about and that sooner or later I would realize the sanctity of friendship. I never believed them and never felt strange for not having anyone to call a "friend."
Looking back, I realize that, in fact, I had someone whom I enjoyed being around – a friend. He was my classmate for eight years, and we used to spend a lot of time together, playing and riding our bicycles. However, I did not consider him a friend, but more of a brother. When we parted ways in 2019, I was literally left with no friends, no one to call and make small talk with. Fortunately, I did not suffer from it at the time.
After graduating from high school in 2023, I realized that something was missing within me. Regardless of how many accomplishments I had, how many beautiful cities I had visited, and how many websites and interviews I had done, I did not feel like a complete human being. Soon after graduating, it struck me – I was missing my long-time friend.
Gathering all my courage and humility, I texted him, apologizing for how I had behaved, what I had done, and how things had turned out. He was mature enough to accept my apologies, and I could finally close a wound that had been bleeding for over four years. Soon after, I left for college, and a new world opened for me – the Dutch paradise.
Dutch people have a completely different approach to friendships than we Eastern Europeans do. For starters, they are honest and straightforward, not fearing that someone might be upset by what they think or say. And no one is, because people here value honesty.
They also value their time greatly. Even if two people are friends, it doesn't mean they can drop by each other's houses unannounced and spend quality time together. Everything has to be scheduled, and "Zullen we een afspraak maken?" is a phrase most friends hear and use frequently.
After college started, I was exposed to people from tens of nationalities and hundreds of cultures. As part of my degree in International Business, international awareness was emphasized and taught daily. This helped me understand different cultures and encouraged me to make friends from all around the world.
Being exposed to such a diverse range of opinions and beliefs helped me become more considerate and open-minded in choosing friends. Previously, I would only make friends who shared the same interests and beliefs as I did – what a catastrophic approach! If you don't have anyone to challenge your beliefs, engage in intellectual sparring, and learn from, having a friend becomes, indeed, meaningless.
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Chris is my best friend, even if he might not realize it. He is especially talented and kind, speaks more than three languages, and is a voracious reader and a fitness enthusiast—someone from whom I learn a lot every day. He is a few months older than I am, and his experience and interculturality make him one of the people my age I am closest to.
I do not have a lot of friends, but I think no one does. Real friends are the ones who are there for you and for whom you are there, no matter the circumstances. Every friend is special to me. They are amazing people who help me grow as an individual and who teach me what life is about – being there for one another, loving everything and everyone, and doing your best to help those in need, making their lives a little bit better.
Having discovered the beauty of friendship, I have fulfilled my aunt and uncle's words – I learned to connect my soul with other beautiful souls around me.
This chapter is dedicated to Radu, Ana, Chris, Erita, Sander, Sebastian, and all the other amazing people who are happy to have embarked on this journey of (self-)discovery with me.
