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 :-)