Meeting People and Making Friends

I like to meet people-- no surprise there. In all my travels, England is one of the friendliest places I've been. Perhaps it is my accent or maybe they somehow feel sorry for me, but at almost every meal in Cambridge I get invited to join others. More than a few times portions of my meals (I'm eating way too many desserts!) have been "on the house" or someone has treated me. Today a lovely older woman named Beth who was reading near my table bought coffee for me. We only exchanged small talk about the book she's reading, but she insisted on buying my coffee. The other evening at dinner I was invited to join a birthday celebration meal at the table next to me that included two Spanish women, two Polish women, a Pakistani guy, an Indian guy, a Greek guy, and a British guy. They were some of the kindest individuals I've met here. Yesterday after dinner as I was walking back to the hotel, I passed two of them on the sidewalk. The woman said, "Mississippi!" and the guy said, "No, he's Tennessee. Louis actually." (I don't know why people remember where I'm from more quickly than my name). I told them they both were correct. Ha! As a university city, Cambridge draws students from all over the world. I've really enjoyed meeting people from various cultures and making friends during the times I have free to venture out, which isn't a lot because of our busy schedule and the meals provided for us at the hotel. I know my time here is limited, and I will really miss this place when I have to leave.