When Julia’s full lips smile at you, you forget for a brief moment what you were going to say. There’s a brief pause. She gets a little shy, maybe smiles again. And very slowly, her shyness gives way to curiosity. Julia’s blue eyes look at you expectantly. “Tell me something about yourself,” they seem to say.

Maybe you could tell her about your last winter vacation? That would break the ice right away, because Julia loves snow and skiing – and if there’s one thing she misses in Berlin, it’s that. Snow-covered slopes, fast runs until you’re exhausted, then back to the lodge. Or you could tell her what you studied. Then Julia will tell you about her studies in education in return.

And as Julia speaks like this, you notice her accent. Eastern Europe? Julia grins and nods. Her grin radiates a sense of calm and warmth, and you take it as an invitation to just be yourself. With Julia, you don’t have to prove anything, overthink things, or search for the perfect words or the perfect moment. Instead of searching, you let the moment unfold just as it is – perhaps even without a single word.