Mark Schwarzer: What travel has taught me

KINDNESS

On a road trip through France with my wife, Paloma, two kids and a dog, Paloma was Googling things to do and stumbled across a beekeeper in Senechas, who hosted tours of his farm. She insisted it was a small detour – we ended up spending three and a half hours searching. As it turned out he had stopped hosting tours three years prior but with broken English he kindly said, "Well, you are here now, so why don't you have a look around?" I spent an hour walking through his garden with him, discussing our common interest in plants. As we were leaving we bought some of his homemade apple juice and honey.

RESILIENCE

I have never experienced hostility such as that towards the Australian team competing in the 2001 World Cup qualifiers in Uruguay. At the airport, we were spat at and people even threw punches at us. People ran out of their houses hurling abuse at our team bus – the whole nation was involved in the sledging. It affected the team and Uruguay beat us 3-0. We learnt a lot from the experience and when we met in Uruguay again in 2005, we were more resilient – and won.

SKILLS

I didn't see proper snow until I moved to Germany, aged 22. I wasn't able to ski during my football career, while my wife and kids became very good at it. I finally learnt, aged 44, at Madonna Di Campiglio, in Italy. I recently skied off-piste in Flaine, which was pretty surreal for the guy who didn't know how to ski only a few years ago. You're really never too old to try your hand at something new.

FRIENDSHIP

Friendship can present when you least expect it. Eating breakfast at the hotel during the Asia World Cup in Qatar, a young German guy approached and introduced himself as a massive Dynamo Dresden fan. He was in Qatar with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. We exchanged details. Some time later Paloma and I were visiting Berlin and messaged Kasper. He invited us to the iconic Staatsoper im Schiller Theatre to watch him play. We ended up drinking with him until the early hours. We remain in contact and good friends.

PERSPECTIVE

I first visited Dortmund, Germany in 1995 when I was part of the Dynamo Dresden club, playing at Signal Iduna Park stadium, where fans famously create an electrifying atmosphere. As a player, it was something I didn't let distract me. I returned to the stadium this year, 24 years later, commentating on a Champions League match for Optus Sport. It was surreal to be standing on the pitch again but in this different role. I was taken aback by the crowd and the thunder of their cheers. I found a new perspective of Dortmund as a fan.

Across two decades, Mark Schwarzer represented Australia in five World Cup campaigns. He played in the English Premier League for clubs Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester City. Mark is now a football commentator for Optus Sport.