How I learned to be self-confident in 10 minutes

by Vasylyna Kobets (Ukraine)

Making a local connection Ukraine

Have you ever heard about a personality test when a psychologist offers you to imagine yourself naked in a foreign country in the middle of a square without any appurtenances? That test is intended to help you understand who you really are. Well, the Universe decided to place me under the conditions of this experiment in real life. The story took place in Miami, also known as New Cuba since 60% of the local population emigrated from the island of freedom. The Magic City is world-famous for its nightlife and beaches, and I decided to get some local vibes from both sides. Where did I go to bronze my skin? – Obviously my choice happened to be a Holloway beach. If you have never been to Miami, you wouldn’t know that it is a nude beach, but unlike American movies, it is filled with an ageing population far from beauty standards given to us by Hollywood. I placed a mat with a towel on hot sand and went to reunite my body with the gentle salty water of the Atlantic Ocean. After some time spent in complete harmony with nature, I decided to enjoy the warmth of the sand too and exited the ocean. This is when my local connection experience occurred… I couldn’t see my mat with other things and decided to walk along the shore for a while trying to find it. After a 10-minute stroll, I still couldn’t find any signs of my belongings, and that is when some panic started to appear within me. I started thinking of possible solutions to a problem that arose. Going to the police was not an option, because being undressed outside the beach was illegal and to call the police I would need my phone which was missing altogether with my other things. That moment I noticed a lifeguard and considered him to be my last hope… I approached a salvager in my Eve suit and asked: “Good afternoon, Sir. I have got a problem. I have lost all my clothes, and I have noticed that you have a big...binoculars. Could you please look for an orange towel over a white mat?” I was full of self-confidence and without any shame of being au naturel in front of a stranger, since as I mentioned earlier, taking into account the average age of other people there, I could call myself a beauty queen of the beach. Luckily a man checked the area and pointed to a place where he saw my things. I walked over there and found my possessions. I felt extremely relieved knowing that I wouldn’t need to wander around Miami wearing absolutely nothing. What have I learned about the locals? They are very professional and helpful even when working under… ”pressure”. What happened next? I met a local guy on the beach, who was kind enough to show me the second part of what Miami is famous for, and I would say it feels amazing to have a ride in a white sport Mustang around the night city. That evening I visited 2 strip clubs (male and female), received a lap dance and even earned some money when a club visitor confused me with a worker and placed 20 dollars under the strap of my bra. Conclusion: when visiting a new city, the best memories you will keep with you for the rest of your life are those made away from museums but in the heart of the local life. It is far more entertaining to become a “native” to a city for a few days and learn some customs and traditions from your new fatherland than trying to bring your own habits into other people’s lives. All in all, each culture has something worth experiencing. The world is not black and white; it is colourful, bright and diverse. So, what was your best story related to a local connection?