Being a member of the Toastmasters Community helps me connect with likeminded people when I travel. It is a liberating feeling to step into the room and know that other people are here for the same reason. We bring our life stories and vulnerabilities on stage. We share random desires, dreams and visions that matter to us. For me, public speaking provides therapeutic benefits and this is the key getting to know others.

When I travel, I have a tendency to feel alone. Buenos Aires in Argentina, was not different either. Big cities are the perfect place to feel alone. Big enough that nobody cares who are you, where are you from or where are you going. But also, big enough for me to try something new and put myself out there, to show my Sparking Light to the World. Not all days are like this however, another one may be total darkness. 

I was in this mood of easy light when I decided to visit the English-speaking Toastmasters Club in Buenos Aires. I also wanted to meet some English-speaking people.

My name is Zsuzsanna Szili, I am one of the founders of the Saturday Toastmasters Club in Budapest. I am a traveler, and digital nomad. Not long after founding “my” club, I left Budapest. I say “my” club, because it really feels like my club, my baby. The idea, which we accomplished, was to create a “hipster” club where we could bring on our creativity. We have transformed from strangers to a community. From friends, to family. With what we achieved in Budapest, I had high expectations for the Buenos Aires Club. 

After arriving lost and late I sat down humiliated at the back of the room. Britney’s “All eyes on us, all eyes on us” was playing on repeat in my head. I had to be funny, I am funny. Humour always helps me to get out of situations like this.

The president of the Buenos Aires Toastmaster Club, Gabriela Platine, is a very enthusiastic lady. She is smart and professional. She takes her position seriously. It makes me so happy when I see another woman in this role. I feel blessed, and I whisper to myself: “Oh yeah sister, you are doing the right thing”. Gabriela was addressing the crowd when I arrived. She took advantage of my late arrival and asked me to stand up and introduce myself. After introducing myself I felt more at ease. As I was sitting at the back, I saw everyone from behind. I thought to myself. Who are they? Why are they here? Well, I guess they are here for the same reasons I am. I was surrounded by foreigners and Argentinians alike. I felt I liked these people; I loved these people.

There were two speeches scheduled for the night. The first was about travelling solo. The speaker was from Spain, she was on an adventure; discovering a new country, a new culture. I thought how useful it would have been for her to be able to speak Spanish here. When I listened to her speech, I saw myself. Another female travelling solo. For me, it’s natural. For my people, they think I’m brave or doing something extraordinary. I hadn’t felt this way before, but listening to her, made me realise how many times we encounter circumstances where we have to be brave, where we have to make hasty decisions or create an exit from certain situations.

The other topic was about lifelong learning. I loved this speech. Silvia, the speaker, made me understand that learning is earning. I was thinking of all the related phrases one could coin from these two words: learning leads to earning, “The yearning, the earning was it all part of learning.” (Rod Stewart, Only a boy). “But I am learning twice you are earning.” (Barbara Streisand). I believe that everything I am learning I can convert into earning. The following is something beyond my Toastmasters Experience, or of my public speaking pathway… I remember listening you, to all of you in different clubs, talking about the preparation of your speech, talking about how you fell in love with each other, how to inspire each other. While I was listening your stories, there was a moment, a desire born inside of me. I wanted to meet with someone, who shares the same interests as me, who is inspiring, who will challenge me, who is accepting of me and with my ambitious thoughts…

“Burrup Lambert”. He let me write down his name… I met him at the first Toastmasters meeting but I still don’t know him. He is an expat living in Buenos Aires. When I first saw him, I saw myself in him. It made me smile how he was representing his real, true self on stage. I was lucky enough to be in present when he did his first ever speech, the Icebreaker, at the second meeting I attended. It was amazing. Why? Because I felt inspired, and not only because of his speech, but also because of his presence. I found a friend, a lost piece of my puzzle. He is Australian, but this fact doesn’t have anything to do with him. He is big fan and follower of the “Flag Theory”, and his consciousness was truly inspirational for me. The speech was titled “From Lazy to Living”. He talked about how we can look and find purpose in life. He joined the Air Force in Australia then later left to do what he really desired. He moved to Argentina and decided that 2020 will be the best year of his life. “Environment is destiny.” he said. I wrote it down. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, what surrounds us is crucial. The people we meet and interact with. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – said Jim Rohn, the motivational speaker. 

I know that something is missing from this story. I know that there is no closure, it is like life: you meet people and you don’t know when or if you will see them again. I found out many things about myself in Buenos Aires, and the whole journey began with my visit to the TM Club. Now, I’ve made a decision, while I am travelling, I will visit all the TM clubs… because I can never know when will I find new pieces to my puzzle.

Toastmasters and Public Speaking give me comfort in uncomfortable situations. I got influenced by the people, who I met there. Being a member of the Toastmaster Community is like being a citizen in an empire which has no border. We are no longer separated, we are connected by same purposes, same intentions, same values. And for that, I thank you.

Creative design: Éva Tamás Skylarks Toastmasters Club