But now, looking back, the trip turned out to be an experience I will never forget, and I fell in love with solo travel. The loneliness I feared didn’t come. Instead, I found a kind of peace that only comes from being by yourself. I became more attuned to my surroundings, my senses heightened in ways I hadn’t expected.

There’s something magical about the quiet moments, when I was just wandering around Rome. It was in those pauses—the ones where no one was around, where I could just breathe—that I felt the city more deeply. I started to notice things I might’ve missed if I were distracted by a group or lost in conversation. The sun hitting the ancient stones, the sounds of footsteps echoing through narrow streets, the smell of freshly baked pizza—each moment felt so real, so vivid. Solo trip gave me the chance to really connect with the place, to observe without distractions. Being alone wasn’t lonely at all; it was freeing.

The ski resort in the French Alps was breathtaking. There are endless slopes covered in soft, powdery snow, stretching as far as the eye could see. Each turn carved into the fresh snow felt like a dance with the mountain, and every fall was just another lesson in resilience.

But the most unforgettable moments came when I let go of hesitation, picked up speed, and let the wind roar past my ears. In those fleeting seconds, as I raced down the mountain, I felt weightless, unburdened, free.

I fell in love with skiing. It’s a dialogue with nature, a test of courage, and a reminder that sometimes, the best way forward is simply to let go!

Fasting is all about disciplining the spirit. It’s like our rational mind is the "charioteer" and our desires are the horse. Fasting teaches me to control the horse, even when it gets greedy and wild. It’s hard because hunger makes it tough to think, but that’s part of the lesson.

I’ve also realized that fasting isn’t just about food. It’s about resisting all the little cravings we have every day. It makes me more aware of how easily I get distracted by desires. It’s not easy, but I can feel myself growing stronger, both in body and spirit, each day I push through.

Later I joined the Chinese table. There was a Dutch man covered in tattoos with a big beard. When he wasn’t speaking, he looked kind of intimidating, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he spoke really good Chinese. He told me he had been studying Chinese at the Confucius Institute for eight years. He enjoys watching historical Chinese dramas like Nirvana in Fire, which are full of complex, sophisticated, literary language. He also mentioned that he has autism. I was so surprised and it reinforced my stereotype that people with autism are often geniuses.

There were also other groups for Dutch, Spanish, French, Korean and more. This gathering really opened my mind. I started reflecting on how my motivation to learn languages has always been quite utilitarian, mostly for passing exams or finding a job. But today made me realize that learning a language can lead to so many different life experiences. The boundaries of language are truly the boundaries of the self.

If God created the Tower of Babel to divide humanity and make us misunderstand each other, there will always be people willing to cross those barriers and overcome the division.