when they got here and before his dad walked out the door, i asked him, "do you think he'll be alright communicating with us?" (by which i meant, will he be okay not really communicating with us.) "we can do the basics," i said. "and i think william is pretty good."
"oh yeah," his dad said. "he just ate lunch and went to the bathroom, so with those covered, i think he'll just play the entire time."
if he felt okay about it. i felt okay about it.
they played with toys, had a sword/battle-ax fight, built a fort, and wrestled a bunch. there was no way henry was going to miss out on any of that for a nap, so he didn't take one.
later william and his friend helped greg make cinnamon rolls...
and if you guessed it's impossible for little kids to work with butter, sugar, and cinnamon and not stick their fingers in it for a taste now and then, you would be right.
"jeg elsker smør!" his friend said. ("i love butter!") don't we all...
when his dad came back, he brought us some of william's friend's clothes that didn't fit him anymore, which was so cool! he stayed for coffee and cinnamon rolls and told us if we ever needed a car to borrow, we could borrow theirs. even if there's truth behind the stereotype that danes do not welcome you with open arms, the second half certainly holds true time and time again (for us at least)-- that once you get to know them, they are incredibly friendly and generous.
we sent them home with a container of cinnamon rolls.
3 comments:
I think Americans are often surprised by how much Europeans are willing to open their hearts to the likes of them. I speak in generalities, but still, I think Europeans are so often honored when Americans show them a kindness. They don't expect it and when it comes, they're so happy. I haven't met a European (and I do not exaggerate here) who can't identify some part of America that he or she would like to visit someday. Tell me that that is not so in Denmark.
Your sweetness (that comes through in every step you take over there) is so palpable -- I think you don't know how good an ambassador you are of this distant, fascinating American culture.
Anyway, I'm glad the play date went well!
Yes, it seems so in Denmark-- or they have already made the trip. And thank you! I hope we are being good ambassadors!
sounds like a lovely friendship for all of you! way to win 'em over with awesome children and seal the deal with cinnamon rolls.
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