Because we live so far apart since I moved to the West of Ireland, we only get to meet up a few times a year.
Our time together is always fun and laughter. If you’re Irish, you’ll know what I mean by banter and good ole slagging.
If you’re not Irish, it means we mildly insult each other in a way that’s not taken seriously. We have a line we don’t cross. And if sometimes that line gets smudged, we acknowledge it, apologise without drama, and begin again. We laugh with each other about ourselves, our problems, and our habits.
Some might say that this kind of behaviour comes with age, but I disagree, because we’ve been like this since the beginning. (30+ years)
Humour is important and can be the best antidote for all sorts of problems. It helps us to see things in a more positive light. That’s what my experiences have taught me anyway.
My friends and I can have heart-to-hearts and important conversations, but we always end on a high note!
I think a lot of it has to do with how we accept each other – flaws and all. None of us are perfect and none of us are the same. We share some traits but the best thing we all have in common is our sense humour!
A recent trip to Torrevieja. Unfortunately, one link in the Golden Girl Chain couldn’t make it – Roza! “Next time, Bridie!”
A collection of Spanish doors from my good friend Esmeralda!
Thursday Doors is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join in and create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week, visitnofacilities.comfor more information.
Alice, a foreign exchange student from Spain, came to live with us for four months in 2021. She and my daughter, who was only ten at the time, became very close friends.
We visited Alice in Santander last year. She and her family were very good to us while we were there. They took us sightseeing in between visits to their favourite Spanish restaurants. They spoiled us, actually!
We had a Spanish exchange student staying with us last year from the end of August until mid-December. It was a wonderful experience for our family, especially Little Miss Ten. She and Alicia got on so well together.
Lucy struggled to settle back into school after lockdown and suffered from low confidence and a little bit of anxiety.
This was the reason why we decided to accept an exchange student. Not so that they’d be firm friends, but to have another young person in the house, getting up for school each morning, coming home full of tales—some of woe, some of wow—and then sitting down to do homework.
Lucy’s three siblings are independent young adults who live about three hours away, so she’s a lot like an only child. Don’t feel sorry for her—it has its perks!
Our plan went much better than we expected. From the first day, Alicia and Lucy connected. Her English was excellent too. And she could do a great Cork accent. “Me nerves George…me nerves.”
As the days went on, Lucy became more like her old self. Funny, talkative and confident. Alicia was kind to Lucy and spent a lot of quality time with her. They had lots of chats and Alicia listened to all Lucy’s little concerns. She advised her, she told her about her own struggles of being a 14-year-old teenager. She talked about her dreams and ambitions. Thank goodness Alicia has realistic goals and appealing dreams.
Last week in school, Lucy had to draw a picture of a person who inspires her. I was so happy that she drew Alicia.
Homework
Alicia was very honest. She said it as it was! This turned out to be a good thing because we all knew where we stood with each other. We had one or two very minor issues, but once we mastered the task of keeping the lines of communication running smoothly, everyone was happy.
She was tidy, reliable, trustworthy and she ate everything she was given. A lot of it! We joked a lot about how much food a small person could eat.
‘Where do you put it?’ Stephano would ask. ‘How do you stay thin?’
‘Genetics Stephan.’
She had a good answer for everything.
It was great that she ate well because I must admit, the food was the one thing I worried about. Teens can be fussy eaters at the best of times, and in a foreign country, it could be a problem.
We cried when Alicia was leaving. We missed her so much. Her smiles, her upbeat attitude and her chats. But that was not the last we heard from her. She calls Lucy a lot, we chat on WhatsApp.
And the best thing of all—we’re taking a trip to Santander where Alicia is from. We will stay for four nights and visit Alicia and her family while we’re there. We’re all very excited.
Alicia gave me permission to use her image on my blog.
Christmas Markets Galway City
Alicia told us some very important news a couple of days ago. About a special trip her dad is taking. You can read all about that HERE in part two of #SoCS
Gloria McBreen 