It was one of his impossible years<\/a> trials, when he asked a friend's joke-suggestion while studying Erasmus in the Czech Republic and wanted to get to know 100 locals in one month.<\/p>\n How did he do?<\/p>\n Well... He ran out of patience on the 87th man, the 27th day. But that was enough to make tongue-wagging no longer a problem for him as an introvert.<\/p>\n But let's talk to Daniel himself!<\/p>\n Today's interviewee is Daniel! No mustache yet.<\/p>\n I'm Daniel, a 24-year-old young man who tried writing 2 years ago... And then saw that my little ideas turned into this community you see now. The cloud community.<\/p>\n I officially introduce myself as a challenge fanatic and writer. But it's just a brand - something that catches the eye and the ear. I'm really just a green tea brainstormer. I collect ideas and serve them on this blog.<\/p>\n I aimed to meet 100 people in the month of October. <\/p>\n I lived at that time in the Czech city of Brno, 1<\/a> where, unfortunately, the Czechs do not speak English very well. If it pays at all.<\/span><\/p>\n Additional terms: <\/strong><\/p>\n And these conditions made things a little more difficult than I had planned. Good thing I didn't expect anything, because I might have given up.<\/p>\n I left for Erasmus studies at the last moment - in the penultimate semester of the course. I also submitted the documents on the last day. 2<\/a> And, finally, I set off without any idea where I was going, how I would get from the bus station to the student barracks and so on. 3<\/a><\/p>\n This was my adventure: A journey without hopes, plans and ideas. Because what's the worst that can happen? Maybe just hurt. And the pain goes away.<\/p>\n ...So in October, when I got bored after a month in the Czech Republic, I asked my friend Taurus what I could do. He jokingly suggested 100 singles a month.<\/p>\n I didn't know then that he was joking. I got into it and accepted that challenge with all the people without thinking about how I was going to get through it.<\/p>\n Some acquaintances were born in teahouses like the one on the right. The power of alternative locations!<\/p>\n Imagine: you've never tried to date in your life... And then you're dumped in who knows where and told to \"go and do it\". Do what?<\/p>\n I didn't meet a single person on the first day. <\/strong>Because I was sitting in my barrack room. I learned my first lesson that night: you won't meet anyone if you don't leave the house.<\/p>\n So, I went to lectures on the second day. And after one - let's go!<\/strong> I picked up a girl from the Czech Republic with some name that starts with the letter A. 4<\/a> We talked about studies, university, biggest wishes and future plans after graduation. And the conversation went well.<\/p>\n But she was the only person that day... Too little.<\/p>\n My second lesson: <\/strong>"If you take one step, you can take two more."<\/p>\n Well, okay, maybe that doesn't sound like a tutorial. But I wrote these words on a piece of paper for the morning of the third day. That day I spat, laid, and decided to communicate more!<\/p>\n (Because I'm behind schedule. One person isn't enough.)<\/p>\n On the third day I went for a walk around the city.<\/strong> Centre. ...And in the city, it turns out that more interesting things happen than you expect. It's similar to what happens to me in Kaunas, where I've lived all my life, but I still find new places and communities every time. So I found a caf\u00e9. Full of people.<\/p>\n My first target is a guy typing something on a computer. Since I am interested in writing, I asked him what he was writing. A conversation ensued. Turns out he was preparing for the Nanowrimo writing contest... And in November, I shared together<\/a>!<\/p>\n ...That day I met 2 new people during the day and 5 in the evening, as there was a board game club meeting later in the caf\u00e9. Unexpected! I realised that I can make friends and just chat about things that interest me.<\/p>\n Later, everything was much easier. Every day I started looking for places where it would be fun for myself. And there I was.<\/p>\n I tracked the progress in a small red notebook. I wrote a little about each person here.<\/p>\n It was several things:<\/p>\n But it was the biggest obstacle only at the beginning. In the second half of the month, I started to notice that bars and various clubs are the best place for acquaintances. If I had stayed in one place, it would hardly have been easy.<\/p>\n Like month without internet<\/a> during, the hardest part was in the beginning.<\/p>\n It helped then that I had told my closest friends about the goal. I didn't post it to everyone in a row, for to do so would have been the ultimate folly<\/a>, and I chose the right ears.<\/p>\n It also helped that the goal simply excited me. With such goals, it's the easiest, because if they didn't carry me, I might have given up in the middle.<\/p>\n Despite setting a goal of 100 new acquaintances in 31 days, at the end of the month I had in my little red book 87<\/strong> new people. I made so many acquaintances.<\/p>\n But the fun part: I reached my goal. <\/strong>It wasn't exactly what I had set out to do, but it was enough. In the last days, it was just that luck that got in the way - after reaching 87 people out of 100, I was already in such an orgasmic state that I almost fell to the ground and foamed. (I may be exaggerating a bit.)<\/p>\n 4 days before the end of the month, after the last night of board games and 12 new acquaintances, I was literally jumping for joy. It was incredible for me.<\/p>\n I could certainly have gone on and made the other 13 in those days, which wouldn't have been difficult, as I've already experienced that it's not hard to make that many in a day, even if you're only talking to each person for 20-30 minutes...<\/p>\n ...But I said to hell with it. I've had enough.<\/strong> I was tired and wanted to rest.<\/p>\n In November, I started growing a moustache (well, not shaving it off...) out of that fatigue, and I shut down my writing his first novel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here are a few:<\/p>\n 1<\/strong><\/p>\n It turns out we are surprisingly similar.<\/p>\n For example, during the challenge, I asked people I met what they would do if they could do anything... and almost a quarter of them said they would like to travel the world. When asked the same question in Lithuania, a quarter said exactly the same. The only difference is that Lithuanians choose buses for their trips and Czechs choose bicycles. Other common answers were \"to do what I am doing now\" or \"to help humanity\". Which is also no different from Lithuania. Interesting! 5<\/a><\/p>\n So if you want to make friends abroad - don't feel like a stranger.<\/p>\n 2<\/strong><\/p>\n ...To follow up with something that you just want to say.<\/p>\n For example, I interviewed a writer I met by asking what he writes. I complimented the blue-haired woman I met and followed up with questions about how other people react to her hair color. 6<\/a> Just communicate. You can tell right away that you have a dating challenge and want to do a micro-interview about their lifestyle and secret dreams. I tried this method too.<\/p>\n Whatever you do, don't pretend. Just say what you want to say. Sincerity and openness are the root of communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Talk as it goes. Ask for what you want. Do what feels best at the time. Maybe he didn't know how to understand other people in the beginning, but communication is learned only through communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n After all, there are a lot more people in the world than you think. Even if you do get confused, do you remember all the weird people who have asked you out? They might as well just be learning how to speak. Like all of us.<\/p>\n Oh, and anyway... There are no rules for communication.<\/strong><\/p>\n Even if someone doesn't like it - there are other people who will like you<\/a>. This is how I like strange people who set themselves the most stupid challenges just for the fun of the experiment.<\/p>\n I'm currently trying a new series of productivity and work efficiency challenges. For example, I test my work efficiency by working early in the morning, late at night, eating only vegan food, or trying to derive some productivity measures.<\/p>\n These are not traditional challenges. But, still, I'm not doing it for a bigger audience (because I could go to Asia for a month and make a mountain of photos on Instagram), but just because I'm trying to find some kind of productivity answer while doing freelance work. I'll see what I get.<\/p>\n And about a year after this interview, in the fall of 2015, Daniel received the book "The Lazy Manifesto<\/a>", where he put together his experience and discoveries. He also has a book made his voice heard<\/a>.<\/p>\n Well, what can I say - it was a pleasure to talk to you! And do you have more questions for today's interviewer? Ask in the comments below!<\/p>\n - Piglet Antanas<\/strong><\/p>\n The second largest city with many universities. In other words, Kaunas of the Czech Republic.↩<\/a><\/p><\/li> I remember it was a rare day when I came to lectures. During the lecture, the dean of the department asked why no one had signed up for Erasmus studies, today is the last day, and you didn't take the chance. After the lecture, I went to the office and filled out the documents in 20 minutes.↩<\/a><\/p><\/li> I picked up some euros on the way. Because I thought that the Czech Republic, as a normal EU country, uses euros. It turns out not - they have their own Crowns.↩<\/a><\/p><\/li> I honestly don't remember... I can't remember the names though.↩<\/a><\/p><\/li> In both the Czech Republic and Lithuania, the answers to "create a family and take care of it" did not differ. About 5 percent of those who met answered this with the first application.↩<\/a><\/p><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/debesyla.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/menu-cekijoje-kaip-susipazinau-su-simtu-zmoniu.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> Daniel, who are you?<\/h2>\n
\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> What were the rules of the challenge?<\/h3>\n
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\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> And why did you choose this challenge?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/debesyla.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/cekija-brno-kur-susipazinti-su-zmonemis.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> So how did you go about achieving your goal?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/debesyla.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/tcb_content_templates\/contentblock\/images\/Quotation_marks_image_03.png\" "\\"Quotation_marks_image_03\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/debesyla.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/kaip-ismokti-bendrauti-uzrasine-stebejimas.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> What bothered you the most?<\/h3>\n
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\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> What did you do when you wanted to throw it all away?<\/h3>\n
\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> Did you achieve what you expected?<\/h3>\n
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\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> Do you have any advice for people who want to repeat or surpass your adventure?<\/h3>\n
Residents of other countries are no different from Lithuanians.<\/h4>\n
The easiest way to start a conversation is by saying \"Hi\" and...<\/h4>\n
Don't be afraid to appear weird.<\/h4>\n
\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> Soooooo\u2026 What challenge will you take on now?<\/h3>\n
Renewed!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\ud83e\udd1d<\/span> Thank you very much, Daniel!<\/h2>\n