Here There and Everywhere

Expat wanderer

“It’s Going to Be Painful!”

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A week after the wedding, I am talking with the mother-of-the-groom, my old friend and telling her she has inspired AdventureMan and I. A friend has contacted us, someone we like, but also someone from another culture. We’ve been friends for a while, but we don’t know him well.

He asked if he and his 10 year old son can come stay with us.

AdventureMan and I looked at each other. This is a man we like and admire, but the cultural differences are profound. We agreed that it is the right thing to do, and the thing we want to do.

So I’m telling my friend, whose home has been a revolving door informal hotel as long as I have known her. She knocks herself out helping people. Lives have changed because she and her husband “welcome the stranger.”

“We want to do it,” I told her, “but we know it is going to be painful.”

“It’s going to be painful!” she enthusiastically agreed. We laughed. This is the basis of our friendship, the ability to tell each other the worst things in our lives and to laugh about it. She knows I am an introvert, and love my peaceful quiet.

“It’s also going to be worth it.” She added, and I believe her.

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May 25, 2015 - Posted by | Adventure, Civility, Cross Cultural, Cultural, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Friends & Friendship, Humor, Quality of Life Issues, Spiritual, Travel, Values | ,

5 Comments »

  1. Reblogged this on rennydiokno.com.

    Comment by rennydiokno2015 | May 25, 2015 | Reply

  2. Opening doors to others reaps surprising rewards. Blessings!

    Comment by Snapshotsincursive | May 25, 2015 | Reply

    • I agree, Snapshots, there will be many blessings. 🙂

      Comment by intlxpatr | May 26, 2015 | Reply

  3. I love reading this so close on the heels of your “Good Samaritan” post. God has an excellent sense of timing and humor, does He not? It will be an adventure for sure, but you two are experts in hospitality!

    Comment by Grammy | May 25, 2015 | Reply

    • Grammy, I thought exactly the same thing. And, amazingly, AdventureMan, who dearly loves his privacy, was the one who said “I think we need to do this.” I was thinking it, but he said it 🙂 I’m not so sure we are that good at hospitality, but we like this man, and it will be a great adventure 🙂

      Comment by intlxpatr | May 26, 2015 | Reply


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