There is a lady, I’ve seen her twice recently, sitting in front of her apartment building – the one right across from us. I’ve seen her when I’ve been on my way to class. She sits with a dress in her lap, using brightly colored thread to embroider a beautiful design on it.
The other day, I told her it was beautiful, and she smiled, graciously accepting the praise. She said something in response, and I wish I had understood it. We were on our way out, or I would have been tempted to sit down and watch for a while. Maybe next time.
Kelsey whispered to me afterward, that she wanted to learn how to do that. I told her that maybe when we are all better at French, we can get to know her, and maybe eventually she would be willing to teach Kelsey what she was doing.
It’s my hope. Someday, I will be able to understand and communicate enough to get to know my neighbors better. Someday I will understand more fully the culturally correct way to get to know neighbor ladies. Someday is coming. Meanwhile, I will greet my neighbors, and hope that my smile will convey an interest in their lives that my words are not yet quite able to.