backstory:
i’m a US student traveling into europe to do a workaway program. before coming, i did a bit of *cultural research* via youtube. despite speaking half decent spanish, i still wanted to brush up on my vocabulary and get a feel for the social climate. i soon learned that, spaniards especially, have a culture of physical closeness, wherein touching the arm or leg of a stranger or new friend was not uncommon, nor sexual in nature. a very tactile and touchy person myself, this information didnt bother me a bit, and actually excited me a bit. i looked forward to the sense of intimacy that might provide for making new connections. little did i know.
after boarding the last flight in my journey i was beyond relieved. i had missed my layover and spent the last 12 hours meandering the airport in limbo, with my flight ticket reading “standby” and both my anxiety and exhaustion coming to a peak. at my gate i chatted up an american boy, whom ended up giving me his (used, plastic wrapped) pillow & blanket from his previous flight so i could try and get some sleep.