Friday, May 12, 2017

Multicultural Experiences

My sister Denise and I volunteered at Multnomah Falls yesterday.  It was a cool damp day with some rain and some drizzle.  And yet we had a steady stream of visitors all afternoon.  We always enjoy meeting people from all over the world and yesterday was extra special.  A tall man entered the center and asked me for a map and some advice, he had dark curly hair and spoke with an Indian accent.  We had a nice chat.  Then 2 men came in and I asked where they were visiting from and they said Oman.  I asked questions about where that was exactly and we talked about Dubai, one of them said they liked visiting there for short periods but preferred here where the nature is real and wild, not man-made.  

I was working on my crochet lap blanket and they started asking about my crochet shawl I was wearing and then I showed them my knitted hat.  I let them feel it and asked them if they could guess what kind of yarn I used.  The young man guessed silk but did not know how to say it in English.  Everyone was amazed that it was made of 50% alpaca and 50% silk.  I must tell you that the crochet I work on while volunteering behind the information counter sparks a lot of conversation and stories of their own crafting or that of their family members.  


One conversation was with a couple from Kansas - she was a knitter and so I showed her my hat.  :-)  She said.. I know what that is!  :-)  She liked it.  I was heartened to know there are people in Kansas who have similar ideals as I do.  

Later a smiling man and three women wearing hijab came up to ask questions and I asked them where they were from and they told me Saudi Arabia.  I admired a bracelet one of the girls was wearing, it was actually 2 mesh stretchy bracelets she had joined into a kind of knot.  She pulled off the two bracelets to show us how she did the knot and then on a whim gave one to my sister and one to me.  See it below?  Wasn't that just sweet?  It's the first time a visitor has ever given us a gift.  

And then I thought.. our current president has tried twice to ban people like this from visiting our country.  I wish everyone would share my notion that we all live on this earth together and why can't we all get along and be friends?  Well.. we can each do our bit by being kind and engaging people who don't look like us and you know.. you might just make a new friend.


After an afternoon of meeting and greeting and making new friends.. and helping people plan their adventures.. I got into my car and looked up.. rain on the sun-roof and green leaves and mosses and ferns on the cliffside.  So I grabbed my iPhone and snapped an image to share with you.


Driving through the forested Historic Columbia River Highway I again raised my iPhone to snap a quick image of the Spring green of the leaves.


I'm working on convincing myself to head to the pool.. on a cold and rainy day.. :-)  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

16 comments:

  1. We recently relocated to Montana, and were on a hike Wednesday with our son. On the trail, we met several hikers from other states, and it was wonderful to share the knowledge that we have gained during our time here and our past visits to the State. It reminded me how nature has a way of creating a common bond with people that you might only meet once for 10 minutes.

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  2. We need more ambassadors like you, Teresa! Sadly, many of us are not exposed to folks from other countries and cultures. If we were, it would not be so easy to stereotype people. Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

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  3. Lovely photos of the greenery in the Gorge Teresa. It's so bright! I love how you have the chance to meet so many people. I absolutely love meeting people from other cultures. I think that's why I like Japan so much. When you have the opportunity to actually meet people, you realize that we are more alike than we are different. I think it's the differences that scare people, and most of the differences are imagined. OK, I'm off my soapbox! That is a lovely bracelet and a very kind gesture of her to give them to you and your sister. Thank you for the sweet comment on my blog. I appreciate it. The latest is that this afternoon I had to go learn to use the blood sugar monitor thingy that diabetics use. I have no idea what they're called. Ha! They think that I have low blood sugar so I have to check it every morning. Oh boy, just another thing. I hope you have a wonderful time swimming with Gracie and a wonderful weekend.
    Blessings, Betsy

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  4. Sounds like a great day in one of our favorite places! Have a great weekend.

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  5. I am so glad you were able to connect with people that you met. I think it is so important to establish relationships with ALL people!!!

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  6. I am glad to be among those from diverse ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds who like you extend friendship and work to get along with others in our world...a challenging goal individually and nationally as we and our leaders grapple with how to protect us to encourage this freedom. Thanks to you and Denise for your loving hospitality in your lives, including at our beautiful Falls, Teresa! xx

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  7. The small city where I live is very multi-cultural, for many reasons, and that can be enjoyable. We have restaurants with a wide variety of food, for one thing. One of my favorites features food of the Silk Road.

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  8. Sounds like you had some very nice encounters. I have those same mesh bracelets. :) Absolutely love Oman! It is such a clean country and has so many mountains. We visited Jebel Shams (Mount of the Sun) which is said to be the little Grand Canyon of Arabia. Plus, they have a limit on how many floors a building can have, so you will not see highrises or skyscrapers. That helps maintain the cultural identity of the land and it is absolutely fantastic.

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  9. It's fun meeting other people at the falls. I met many people when I worked at the outlet mall for 3 years. Even now in our hardware store there's a variety of people and I have no problem talking with them. It's the attitude of the heart and friendliness we show that's what helps our corner of the world. Intersting weather we're having, huh? I don't know how to dress...check weather on my phone in the morning!! Have a good mothers' day weekend!

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  10. It sounds as though you have some lovely visitors to the Falls, it must be fascinating to talk to people from so many different places. That road through the forest is beautiful, I love that fresh green of late spring. Hope you had a good swim, and have a lovely weekend. CJ xx

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  11. A lovely day for you and enjoying the multi cultural visitors and is how it should be.....here in our town we have all sorts of different restaurants and makes for some lovely eating and meeting and hearing pleasant stories of their lives ☺☺

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  12. Such a lovely day meeting new friends from different cultures. You have a warm and kind heart Teresa. The gift of the bracelets was such a sweet gesture. Wishing you a happy weekend.
    Helen xox

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  13. Handwork is always a connection to other people. I participated in a sewing donation program run by a soldier 3x in afghanistan. We would donate a bundle of sewing fabric and supplies which he and his cohorts could distribute in the villages to the women. Who can influence things. It was such a great way to connect with a longer view.

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  14. Lovely lovely people you met. I would love that part of your volunteer work . Lovely photos. THe road of greens is my favorite today

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  15. I so agree with you....why can't we get on??? It is my belief that it seems they (the powers in control) want us to be at loggerheads with each other.
    Alicante where I live is an international city and it is always full of multi cultural people and if I paid attention to what our elders taught us about not speaking to a stranger I wouldn't speak to anyone. Good job I take no notice of that old-fashion piece of advice as I like to socialize and meet people from other countries. The bracelets a lovely gesture!!

    keep well

    Amanda x

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  16. Yours sounds like a fantastic volunteering opportunity, out in nature and meeting many different people, learning about their lives as you tell them about yours. Just great :-)

    Have a lovel Sunday, xx

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