From potential serial killer to friend for life ?

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When do you ever get to know a stranger and they invite you to a picnic to meet 20 other awesome people?
Most people would fear for their lives, or would consider the chance of running into a serial killer but for me it was a huge opportunity to meet different mindsets of different backgrounds at the same time. It was a chance I could not pass. It all started on an app called Couchsurfing. It's an app where you can host foreigners traveling in your country or look for hosts yourself in the countries or cities you're traveling to. My destination was Turkey. I was traveling abroad for the first time and I needed to find a way to get to know people and possibly make friends as fast as possible. I posted on the app hoping to find a few girls who were down to meet or host both me and my friend. It didn't take me long enough till I got a reply from the coolest girl I've ever met in my life. A girl from Moldova living in Turkey. I thought wow she's the "one" because she , more than anybody else, would relate to what I was experiencing at the time. We talked for a little bit and she invited me to a picnic she was having along with her friends at Yildiz Park in Istanbul. The fact that she invited me and my friend, two strangers coming from the other side of the world, amazed me. I was so down to the experience and it was truly worthwhile. She agreed to meet us and take us to the park because it was our first day in the city. She introduced us to a group of extremely humble, easy going, beautiful people of different genders, races, ethinicities. I was astonished with the mount love everybody has for one another. We got to know each other, play games, share delicious homemade food and take beautiful pictures that will hold those memories for life.
I can't believe how one click, one message, one open heart can get you such an experience that changes perceptions, stereotypes and so many more preconceived notions about the world. Thank you Maria for the opportunity and thank you to all of the amazing people that welcomed us with open hearts.






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