The bitter winter cold was defeated by the warmth around us.
A stack of problems trying to bury each of us,
but the spirit of the evening inducing momentary amnesia.
There were superficial differences,
of language, of race, of nationality and of circumstance,
Yet the overwhelming spirit of hospitality and friendship,
blurred these differences and destroyed any cultural barriers.

The conversation flowed naturally and spontaneously,
unimpacted by the relatively short span of association.
As we shared wonderful food and interesting experiences,
it felt like I was transported back in time,
to my student life, a merry and carefree existence.

Hours went by like minutes,
The fun and frolic soon ended,
But the spirit lingers on..

This wonderful evening with a group of friends from Germany,
left me wondering..
How fundamentally similar we are,
And yet the world harps on the superficial differences,
ignoring completely the profound similarities which unite humankind.