two personal experiences i can add:

• i went to a resort in cuba and met a group from quebec. we were best friends and hung out at the open bar every night, but we couldn’t do much more than say hi and smile when we passed each other during the day

• i moved to a city and used to go to the polish bar near my apartment a lot. i’d hang out with a bunch of old, fat czech dudes. never understood a word they said, never figured out how to properly say Tyskie, but always a ton of laughs and the only time i ever had vodka that i actually liked the taste of