I was going to complete my week’s blogging with some more flower photographs but I had a precious moment today that I thought I would share with you. Those of you who regularly follow my blog know that I have been unwell of late and seem to be having a protracted recovery. This week I have turned a corner and regularly walk to the local cafe for a delicious cappuccino. It was previously a bakery and the owners retired. We were all excited that a new Argentinean bakery and coffee shop was opening.
It has been an instant success both with regular gringos and many different Latino people who live here. We have a local wealthy population of Latinos who have immigrated from countries that are unstable, such as Venezuela, and also from Mexico. I really enjoy hearing all the dialects chatting about how delicious the pastries are. They have a funny chalkboard outside that implores us to eat pastries because skinny people are easier to kidnap. The nice young man, who I assumed was Latino, asked me if I would like a pastry. I said, “I would but I am not going to…” The man next to me said, “Didn’t you see the sign outside saying skinny people are easier to kidnap?” We all laughed and I told them that I lived too close to the cafe to regularly eat pastries.
The young man asked me where I was from (Scottish accent) and I, in turn, asked him. To my surprise he said Jerusalem. “Arabie or Hebrew?”, I asked. His face lit up with delight when he realized I spoke a little Arabic. I wished him a good afternoon in Arabic and he beamed. Eventually (good coffee is slow) my coffee was ready and I thanked him in Arabic. He said, “It is so lovely to speak Arabic!” We forget that immigrants can feel lonely in their new country and, let’s face it, Arabic speakers are not particularly popular right now. I was always very grateful to Egyptian taxi drivers speaking a little English to match my little Arabic. Pay it forward, folks and have a good weekend!
Thanks for sharing your friendly story. It brightened my day. 😊
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I’m so glad!
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That is a very sweet story!
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Thank you, Patrick. The Sansa hair is making me less Khaleesi… 🙂
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Aw, that made me smile. And want to learn Arabic. 🙂
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Now, that’s not so easy. It’s a bit like Clingon…👽
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I had a similar experience last week. I parked the car and was walking towards the farmer’s market when a fellow, in broken English, asked which way to the markets. I told him and his kids to follow me. I asked where he was from. Iraq! So I spoke to him in Arabic. He nearly fainted, and I felt proud to have helped him to feel welcomed in Australia.
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Very nice post Kerry, you are a very kind person. Glad to hear you are feeling better. Have a great weekend. 🙂
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Thank you, Terry, and I hope you feel okay this weekend. 🙂
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😄
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Aww Kerry, that is so lovely. You are a wonderful person. You really made that guys day 🙂 Have a great weekend, and keep well 🙂 x
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Thank you so much, Lynn. You, too, have a good weekend. 🙂
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Ditto to all of the above!
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Thank you, Kate!
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I always feel awkward on holidays if I not even speak some polite words in the country language. You always get a smile as reward and sometimes….the better place to sit.
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No that’s what I call the best of reads and the best of sentiments ….
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Thank you, Osyth!
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It’s moments like these that your inner beauty is blinding 💛
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Thank you so much, Pan! I’m blushing.😍
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Nice story. It costs nothing to be pleasant, and generally it pays you back. I wish we could all be this way and we’d have a happier world.
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Thank you, Roy.
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My hubby speaks Spanish and German, and is chatty (like you), and I watch in awe as he easily converses with others in those languages when we’re out and about. Hope you had a great weekend!
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Hello Terri. My Spanish, French and Arabic are very bad…but at least I try!
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Still impressive, Kerry!
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I liked your post. I hope you are heading into a long period of smiles, pastry, and joyful moments. Thanks for sharing
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Thank you so much. No pastries but hoping for the rest… 🙂
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I love the way your tell stories, Kerry! I echo what Pat said about your inner beauty. 🙂
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Just don’t call me, late to dinner 😉
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🙂
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You are all too kind. Thank you Margarisa.
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Con mucho gusto, Kerry! 🙂
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😺
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Not to mention your outer beauty, of course! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Ha, ha! Thank you Magarisa!
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Nice post. Kepp feeling better.
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Thank you – two steps forward, one back at the moment. 🙂
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I am going through the same.
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I feel for you – I was just about to bring out my first communion rosary. I will say a Hail Mary for us both! 🙂
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Thanks so much
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😇
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I wish I could speak another language but it doesn’t seem to stick in my brain. 😦
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Don’t you speak Scottish and English???😈
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Awe, this is such a precious moment. I can’t imagine how isolating it must feel to immigrate to another country where the majority of people speak in a different language. How fabulous that you brightened this man’s day and in the course of sharing you’ve made us smile as well. Have a good one Kerry!💖
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Thank you, Stephanae. I felt isolated in Egypt until I started taking Arabic lessons and making new friends. All the taxi drivers would correct my Arabic until I said it right!
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Egypt, a place I long to visit, how long were you there?
I wish I could speak another language, I have a young cousin who speaks Arabic and 3 other languages not including English. At this stage I cannot cram another blessed thing into this brain of mine.
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I was in Egypt for 2 years 2002-2004. I am really very bad at languages but my communication skills are good. I can cluck like a chicken when all else fails on a menu…😄
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You’re funny! 😂
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