...I don't know why this question came to mind and it's not directly related to travel, but...
When is an acquaintance no longer an acquaintance, but a friend?
I feel whatever criteria I subconsciously used before to make such distinctions have only become blurred as I've grown older, or maybe it's a part of living the expat lifestyle where everything is transient....?
Would be interested to hear people's thoughts on this....
2 comments:
Interesting question!
I know what you mean! Did you notice that it's actually even 'worse' when traveling? I met LOTS of people who talk about their "friends", and it's usually someone they talked with for 10 minutes on a minibus and added in Facebook *new friend: check*. That's the definition of a "travel friend".
Personally, I would define a friend as someone I can share intimate or special things with, whether it's insightful conversations or some personal experience. Sometimes, it can be someone in similar circumstances and with a similar mindset, so you understand each other right away, 'it clicks'.
Interesting question indeed! As is the reverse...when is a friend, no longer a friend, but only an acquaintance?
I think we all decide the answers to both for ourselves :) Not sure that I personally feel there is a "rule of thumb" to follow. It's more about what is in your heart for that other person...how you feel when you see or talk to them again - perhaps after a long period of time...
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