A Memorable Experience : Cooking For New Friends
While Traveling . . .
To prove that you consider your new acquaintances as “copains”, that they will remain your friends long after you’re gone; cook something for them.
OK, I’m French, and it isn’t only a cliché to tell you that food is important to us, but everywhere around the world, people enjoy it when you serve them something a little more sophisticated than what they may be used to. When it works, you come as a traveler, but you’ll leave as a true friend…
The French word for “buddy” (“mate”) is “copain”: the person you share your bread with.
When traveling alone, you often meet people and ask for their advice, assistance, sometimes they will even offer you a place to stay for a few days or other generous assistance.
In many countries, hospitality is an obligation, and people you’ve never known before will do all they can to help you, just because they feel it’s something they have to do. And as for you, you feel obligated and perhaps grateful beyond words.
So…. you can just go to the supermarket (or the next bookstore) and buy them a present just to show how much you appreciated their kindness.
But there’s also something better you might want to try…