Getting to know people

Since I got back, many people have asked me whether I got to know many people while travelling. Well, the answer is: I met lots of people. Considering that I spent most of my nights in hostels, sharing rooms with an average of about 4 people, and went on several multi-day tours with between 10 - 20 other participants, plus the people on the Magic Bus (many of whom I travelled with for several days), plus the wine tastings and guided tours, I'd say about 200-250? With most of them, I had the following conversation (either initiated by me or by them, doesn't matter):

Q1: Hi, where are you from? 

A1 (in 90% of the time): Germany. (Go to Q1.1) 

A1.2 (the rest of the time): Some (probably middle-European) country. (Go to Q1.2)

Q1.1: Oh, ich auch, woher denn genau? 

A1.1: A place in Germany I've probably never heard about. (Go to Q2)

Q1.2: Oh, really! Whereabouts in ... (insert name of country)? 

A1.2: Some town I've never heard about. (Go to Q2)

Q2: And how long have you been in New Zealand/Australia?

A2: A description of the places they have been to (the same places I have been to, or, if they are doing the tour the other way round, the places I will go to next)

Q3: Sound great! And how long are you travelling alltogether?

A3: Mostly a year, but there can be interesting variations ranging from 2 weeks to 5 years.

Q4: Oh, cool! So where have you been before coming here?

A4: A description of - mostly - South-East Asian countries ensues.

Q5: Amazing! And where are you off to next?

A5: See A2 (in reverse)

Only after getting through this can one start to ask other, potentially more interesting questions. But by that time, we're both so bored that we have to move on to the next person.

But to answer the initial question: I've met a handful of people that I really like, and had the time to get to know a little bit. With these I'm still in touch and hope to continue to stay in touch. 

But (please don't vomit now): The journey really helped me to get to know myself a lot better. I know it sounds really cheesy. But getting away from the daily routine, and having to take decisions on what to do each day just based on what I like (yes, it's all about me, me, me), really helped me to figure out a few things.