I met a couple from Germany while visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I helped them take some photos. The woman was in her 80s, yet her husband didn’t leave her behind; they traveled together. Despite her leaning stance, she stood strong because he was by her side. The man asked my name, and I said, "I am Sahn (short for Sahnawaz)." He replied, "Sun." I corrected him, "No, not that Sun." He responded, "But you have a sun inside." For reasons I can’t explain, every time I remember this moment, it fills my heart with joy.

I completed my primary school education at my grandmother's house. Once, the day before an exam, I visited my parents, who lived about four kilometers away. The next morning, I walked back to school, but as a kid, the journey took longer than expected. My teacher sent other students to my grandma's house five or six times, and finally decided to delay the exam just for me. I remain indebted to him for the kindness and affection he showed. He still holds a special place in my heart.

In Gibraltar, near St. Michael's Cave, I encountered a Spanish couple struggling to take a photo with an old phone. I offered to use my better camera phone to capture a good picture of them when the cave lights were bright and colorful. As I took the photo, the woman joked, "I look like a model, don't I?" I immediately agreed, thinking she truly did. Small gestures like this bring me joy.

It was a hot and sunny summer day in Granada, Spain. I noticed two elderly ladies, also tourists like me, walking under the scorching sun. I offered to share my umbrella with the one nearest to me. Smiling, she asked, "Are you from India?" Though I see myself as a global citizen, I replied, "Yes." She then inquired, "Are you from Calcutta (now Kolkata)?" When I answered, "Yes," she became excited and showed me her WhatsApp profile picture, which she had taken in Calcutta back in 1995, long before I was born. After that, we took some photos together and exchanged contact information.

Inspired by the boy from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, who came from the Andalusia region in Spain, I decided to begin my journey in Tarifa, the southernmost part of Spain where Europe meets Africa, starting from Granada. I needed to leave early in the morning to maximize my time in Tarifa. For this, I approached the director of Granada University to request permission for an early departure. He graciously invited me into his apartment and showed me some toys he had bought from Kerala, India. Meeting such kind and down-to-earth people motivates me to become the person I aspire to be.