Noel Gallagher is my travel agent. His music has helped me overcome national and cultural boundaries and develop life-long friendships with people all over the world.
My story begins 10 years ago when I became an active member of an Oasis (the band) fan-run Internet community, called OasisFanatic. It brought thousands of members from various national, cultural and language backgrounds together into a micro-global village. A lot of our discussions were debates about our favorite albums, posting pictures or looking for downloadable music videos or bootlegs (this was in the good ol’ pre-YouTube days…). As it evolved, our community also developed into a public sphere, a place where we could openly discuss topics of mutual interest. OasisFanatic became an international watering hole where people from around the world were able to talk about their daily lives, exchange political and social perspectives and discuss various cultural similarities (and differences) from our respected countries.
A dream come true, meeting Noel Gallagher in Toronto with fellow OasisFanatic, photogirl.
I eventually started to notice a sense of affinity towards news items in countries such as Argentina, England and Singapore, because I started to have actual connections to these nations as they were no longer strange countries on the other side of the world, but rather the nations in which my friends lived.
Fast forward to October 2010. I was collecting my backpack from the luggage carousel in the Barcelona airport and felt unusually nervous for what would happen after I made it through customs. As the automatic doors opened, I saw a somewhat familiar face of OasisFanatics’ rollstar, or as I now call her, Silvia. After countless hours instant messaging, it finally came down to this moment, meeting my “Internet friend” offline for the very first time.
Andrew with Silvia in Barcelona.
The car ride back to her house was quiet as we made awkward small talk. “What was I thinking?” I said to myself, “I’m spending a week with her and her family? We can’t even make small talk for a car ride! Time for another one of your weird travel adventures Andrew…”
Maybe it was the jet-lag, or just initial nerves, but after a good night’s sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed and excited to have breakfast with Silvia. From that moment on, things started clicking just like they did online. We were able to quickly engage in conversation and talk just like we were old friends, and in a way, that is exactly what we were.
For the remainder of the week I had the privilege of staying with a family that showed me the most tremendous hospitality. I, a strange Canadian, was taken in as a member of their family. We did sightseeing around Catalonia, ate the most wonderful home-cooked meals (which is when I realized you really do need a siesta because of the size of a Spanish lunch!) and enjoyed learning about each other and our cultures. Perhaps a highlight was when Silvia’s mother bought two small pumpkins for us to carve, as she heard that on Halloween, North American’s make jack-o-lanterns. And we probably had the best looking jack-o-lanterns in all of Spain by day’s end.
Bringing some Canadian culture to Spain, Silvia’s first jack-lantern!
My trip in Spain was amazing, and not because of the location, as I had been to Barcelona before, but because of the local connections I had. None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for the shared love of music, and the technology that brought Silvia and I together.
My friendship with Silvia is just one example of a relationship that has taken me to other parts of the world. I have made offline connections with numerous other “Internet friends” and travelled to visit them across Canada, Thailand, Ireland (which was an unfortunate unsuccessful meet-up) and Spain. As well, it helped me to develop strong, long-lasting internet friendships with others in Argentina, Guatemala, Australia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Meeting a fellow OasisFanatic in Bangkok, Thailand.
My relationships have taught me that finding similarities, in this case a passion for music, can unite people from around the world. Even if there are language, cultural or geographical barriers, technology can empower us to develop meaningful relationships with others. It has helped me develop the intercultural competencies that have allowed me to travel to over 30 countries, and make friends throughout my travels.
Like so many bands, Oasis came to an end in 2009, and my interest in OasisFanatic disappeared shortly thereafter. For me the legacy of OasisFanatic is the friendships that continue to live on thanks to the technology that allows us to stay connected at all times despite our geographical location. As Noel Gallagher famously penned “All the roads that lead the way are winding,” and now that I have walked the winding road, I am grateful for not just the music that Oasis has allowed me to enjoy, but the friends that Oasis has given me along the way.
Photo Credits
All Photos by Andrew Staples – All Rights Reserved
Guest Author Bio
Andrew Staples
Andrew Staples currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario and works at Sheridan College. He has travelled to over 30 countries and lived in France and South Korea. He is currently working on his Masters in Intercultural and International Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria, Canada. Andrew enjoys taking on new challenges, learning, gardening, traveling and working towards a more sustainable future.
You can read more about his travels by visiting www.andrewstaples.com. Andrew continues to be an active contributor to OasisFanatics Facebook page.
Recent Guest Author Articles:
- Empowered to Advocate: How to Become the Voice for the Silent
- How to Build a Celebration-Ready Wine Cellar
- Wander, Discover, Reflect: My Most Surprising Finds in Las Vegas
- Creating Meaningful Connections: What Ecosystems and Families Teach Us About Belonging
- How Breathwork Creates a Pathway Through Trauma: Beyond Traditional Approaches
Please Share Your Thoughts - Leave A Comment!