95-year-old friend on flight and life lessons

A chance encounter on an international flight brought Gloria Kostadinova a special friendship and valuable lessons on choosing to live life to the fullest from an energetic 95-year-old woman.

Gloria unexpectedly befriended and became pen pals with a 95-year-old woman on an international flight - Photo: Gloria Kostadinova/Business Insider

When Gloria Kostadinova boarded a plane in Paris earlier this summer, she had no idea she would be getting off in Boston with a new pen pal who had nearly three times as much life experience as she did.

Friendship through travel

Instead of watching movies, listening to music, or sleeping like other long flights, Gloria was drawn into a conversation with Anne, a 95-year-old woman who had just returned from three months in Paris. She was immediately drawn to her positive energy, boundless curiosity, and zest for life.

The casual "Where are you flying from?" quickly turned into a conversation that lasted most of the flight, punctuated only by a few naps.

As a frequent solo traveler, Gloria quickly realized she was in true company. Anne said she had been traveling to Paris alone every year since 2015, skipping group tours and renting a small room to explore the city on her own.

But she has always found a way to connect with people wherever she goes. Over the past 10 years, she has built a vibrant community of friends in Paris. She taught herself French because locals appreciate visitors who speak their language.

Gloria learned that the person sitting next to her had been traveling to Paris alone for the past decade - Photo: Gloria Kostadinova/Business Insider

The two women spent most of the flight telling stories. Gloria knew that Anne had been a tango dancer, and had recently danced with the Boston Tango Club. She had even traveled to Buenos Aires to learn Argentine tango, her favorite style.

Even on the flight, Gloria saw clearly how she took every opportunity to practice her French by insisting on listening to movies in French to strengthen her language skills.

Life lessons

When the plane landed in Boston, the two old friends took selfies and exchanged emails to keep in touch.

Anne shares her advice for young travelers: "Travel young, travel often, and travel long." Her trips to Paris have given her a treasure trove of memories and friendships, and Gloria feels lucky to now be a part of her story.

Gloria hopes to one day travel to Paris and meet Anne again - Photo: Gloria Kostadinova/Business Insider

Another important thing Gloria learned was the value of connection. Meeting Anne motivated her to start taking more solo trips and to be more open to new people she met along the way. Anne’s stories inspired Gloria to also make an effort to make friends while traveling.

If Gloria hadn't spoken to her on the plane that day, she would have missed out on getting to know someone very special. Anne hoped to return to Paris next spring, if her health allowed. Gloria really hoped her grandmother would make another trip to her favorite city - and who knows, maybe someday she would see her there again.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-ban-95-tuoi-tren-chuyen-bay-va-nhung-bai-hoc-cuoc-song-20250909092700992.htm