The Small-talk King

The Small-Talk king

3 months, I have been living in Madrid now. 3 awesome, interesting, tiring, gruesome months. While in the first 2 months I only got to see one side of the coin. The other side is slowly being revealed to me lately.

Erasmus-life is indeed full of the clichés you expect it to be about. Partying, drinking, international encounters, travelling and a bit of studying. It is, indeed, a lot of fun. Its sometimes bad for my wallet and my health (especially my liver), but still, it’s fun. I have however, come to find out that Erasmus-life (paradoxically) is also about learning to be alone.

I know a lot of people. Really, a lot. I can arrive at parties saying hi to at least 20 or 30 people. But how many of them do I really know? How many of them really know me? The answer has to be: little or none. It’s funny how, surrounded by people, one can still feel alone. We have all become kings and queens of small-talk. Most people know how I am doing that day, if I am going out tonight or tomorrow night, if I have been with some girls recently, but, that’s it. We know nothing more. The overwhelming amount of people, impressions, buildings, discos and activities blend in, to result into a life which can (at times) be very superficial.

No depth, no true friends. Just a lot of small talk.

I realize I come across now as a rather depressed individual. In case you would worry: don’t, I am not. This blog was once intended to give short impressions of (funny) events or states of mind. Well, this is one of them. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a current reflection.

Luckily, I am not the only one who once had these thoughts:

“We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.” (Orson Welles).

Erasmus-life is great. I would recommend it to all even though I know by now it is about much more than partying, drinking, international encounters, travelling and a bit of studying. It’s also about learning to be surrounded by people, while, at times, still being alone.