The Human Journey
Before You Dive Into The Stories, Here Is Some Behind-The-Scenes Look:
Sometimes, the true beauty of the journey isn’t found in places but in the people we meet along the way. Every street corner, every café holds a human story waiting to be discovered.
As a self-declared introvert, I find myself in an interesting position—I love my solitude, and I truly embrace it. The anonymity of foreign cities gives me the freedom to be with myself, to observe the world around me without the expectation of participation. I can sit in a café for hours, watching people, writing, and collecting moments and thoughts. It’s one of the greatest advantages of a nomadic life—the ability to be both present and unseen at the same time.
But here’s the paradox—precisely because I choose my interactions so carefully, the connections I do form along the way are incredibly deep and meaningful. The people I meet are the reason I keep moving, despite the challenges.
I think of the elderly woman in a Melbourne park who sat beside me. Without realizing it, we slipped into an hour-long conversation, one that shifted my perspective on life in a way no breathtaking view ever could. Or the bartender in Fiji, who, while mixing cocktails, told me about his dream of becoming a lawyer. Without knowing it, he gave me the courage to dream bigger.
The human connections in my journey continue to surprise me. A week after arriving in Melbourne, I found a partner, even though it was the last thing I had planned. He was exactly what I needed at that moment—someone who showed me new sides of myself and taught me important lessons about what I want and what I don’t.
A year later, when I arrived in Townsville in northern Australia, every sign pointed to the fact that I was ready for love. And suddenly, I found it—right in the apartment across from mine. I realized that love doesn’t have to last forever to be meaningful.
This journey has taught me that meaningful connections aren’t measured in time.
Friendships from Chile, Venezuela, and Italy have become soul ties—anchors of emotional support despite the distance. Each of them has touched my life in ways that are hard to explain, as if there’s an invisible thread connecting our souls.
Through these people, I’ve experienced cultures on a level I never could have reached alone. Even when words failed, I found connection, like with the Indonesian barista, where we spoke about dreams and aspirations beyond the limits of language. Sometimes, I think that’s even better—when words don’t get in the way, and only the eyes do the talking.
My Israeli identity follows me everywhere. Being Israeli in the world means living in constant tension between pride and discomfort, between belonging and foreignness. There are moments when I prefer to stay silent when asked, "Where are you from?" And other moments when it leads to the most fascinating conversations.
At the end of the day, these human encounters are the real treasures I collect. Not photos, not souvenirs, but moments of genuine connection. These are the people who have shaped the way I see the world—and myself within it. They remind me that even though I cherish my solitude, it’s the human connection that makes the journey truly meaningful.
Here you’ll find short stories about the special people I’ve met in different places and times throughout my journey, as part of Journey Beyond Borders 🌎 (Wednesday).
You can follow The Journey Through Time 🕰️ (Monday), which presents the journey chronologically, and experience my most authentic moments in The Daily Journey 📆.
Check back here to read about the human connections that reshape the way I see the world.