The Most Interesting Exchange

Italy. Germany. Korea. Hong Kong. England. Canada. Philippines.

Denmark.

This has been a whirlwind of a week; meeting Exchange students from literally all over the world. However, there has been one exchange student that may be the new most interesting man in the world.

Meet Tai. He is an exchange student from Denmark studying physics. He may be just a regular spectacle'd college student in appearance, but don't let the look fool you, he has some baffling experiences under his belt. He told me about one of these crazy adventure he once had and I just have to retell it.

Just like any college student our age, he and his friends decided to go on a road trip. However unlike driving down to Florida or to Chicago, Tai and his friends decide to go to China. Denmark to China. I know what you're thinking but yes, it is possible.

They buy an old blue sedan and are set on their way. Country after country they pass, enjoy, take pictures, and repeat. It's only when they are deep in Armenia that one friend says there are a few ruined structures that would be super cool to look at...I mean we all have that one friend that just wants to do extra shit (guilty as charged).

Anyway the car is cruising down these curvy roads in Eastern Europe following google maps almost blindly until they have to stop at a parking gate. The arm of the gate is down and they don't seem to see anyone around. Then out of the foliage a man in a ghillie suit armed with a sniper walks up to the car. They immediately roll down their windows without a moments hesitation. Tai can only make eye contact with the rifle. The soldier asks what they're business is in the area. They tell him it is to see the ruins of a city. "One second" he replies in a heavy Eastern Euro accent. He leaves.

Turns out that they drove into the years-disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is situated between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, it's controlled by a self declared republic.

When he comes back, the arm of the gate swings up, and he beckons them inside. They're little bright blue sedan contrasts this military outpost like a stain on a white shirt.

A higher ranking official comes out of a building to welcome the travelers... He offers them coffee...scared shitless they accept.

He takes them to the roof of another building. Nineteen military garbed soldiers come out of a door after the group is seated. Honestly in this situation I would be ready to be executed. My life over because one man wanted to see some broken walls. On the contrary, the soldiers separate and one of them brings over a tray with tiny pink cups full of coffee. None of these Danish teens have ever drank coffee before but you bet they drank it and acted like it was chocolate milk you just begged your mom all afternoon to make.

They ask the boys questions about what they're doing, where they've been, and how they like the area. It's when the teens start asking questions that the military leader thinks it's time for them to leave.

They pile in their car and drive the hell out of there. Several miles down the road there are sounds of bangs coming left and right. At one point it sounds like that they are so close the noise is palpable.

Well my favorite part about this story is that around 50 km from China, Tai is just like "yeah I think this is far enough" and they turn back. They didn't ever make it to China. Mans travel thousand of miles just to sell the car in Kyrgyzstan... I was baffled.

Listen, this man had coffee with military leaders of a self declared republic on one side of an active conflict and just kept driving. I just had to tell y'all.

#InterestingPeople