Well, here we are - my first Christmas in Wales and I have to reiterate: The Welsh people are positively the most warm and welcoming people in the world.

I know, I know, I’ve said this before. But it really is true! Case in point.

I’ve met several of my neighbors and we’ve had occasion to speak, both in Welsh and English depending upon which language they prefer or know. We don’t speak often but our conversations have all been very pleasant and everyone has given me a hearty welcome.

Neighbors have very willingly (and at odd hours) helped me to understand how to work machines that have perplexed me because of their differences. They have given me advice on buying cars, tips on where to shop, how to get there and what to shop for. A friend from Pontypridd gave me a Christmas tree and a variety of friends have invited me to various parties and events being held in the Welsh speaking community.

Today, people were dropping Christmas cards through my mail slot offering good wishes and happy tidings for Christmas and the New Year; in English and in Welsh! Some of whom I’ve only met once. This has never happened to me in the States. Not ever in all the years I lived there and all the places that I lived. No one has ever made me feel so welcome into a community.

And I am a very long way from home and family and I won’t tell you that I’m not missing them a bit just now. But I will also tell you this. There is not another place in the world that I would rather be at this moment.

This entry was posted by Arwen on Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 8:29 pm and is filed under Life in Wales. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.