I have got lots of friends I made since I was young, and I keep in touch with them time to time. Having friends or people you can rely on is very important in places far away from home.

Turkish friends

When we were in Colombo at Easter, unable to host Steve’s colleague’s Sri Lanka family for an Easter afternoon tea due to the terrorist attack, as I had it already prepared, we laid it out under the palms by the swimming pool and Steve went around asking people to join us for crustless sandwiches, scones with jam and cakes. The first week we were here, we met a really lovely Turkish family and they happen to be at the swimming pool and come forward to join us. Their two children Lorine, 9 years and Mirza, 6 years loved the sweet bakes. Emilka become very fond of Lorine and they have formed a friendship which waited to fully blossom for the 5 months it took us to move here. The family have been living here 12 years and they call their specious apartment on 25^th floor their home. Mummy Rabia has got everything, and apparently cupboards are bursting with stuff, so she will be very happy to lend me whatever I need – I am borrowing her blender already! Daddy Mahmood is an owner of a tea company he set up over 10 years ago. They live in our apartment complex, so it is very easy for girls to meet up and if I need anything, it is only a short walk and two rides in a lift! This family are such a generous and lovely people we do like to spend time with.

English friends

Standing in the queue to pay for the school uniforms leaving kids by the door, I noticed Emi is chatting to a Western looking lady. Once I paid and join them and learned, that Jo’s family has been in Colombo since January, also accompanying her husband with his work.  They were buying a school uniform for her charming young son who is starting secondary school, and his 9-year-old sister.  She was absent as she was showing their visitors around the city – which I was amazed about even though they have a driver.  I was in disbelief as at that time it was our second week in Colombo, and I was finding any forms of travelling through the city daunting. 

You could immediately feel the spark/click between us and without me prompting her, she wrote her mobile number on a piece of paper and gave it to me to contact her to meet up.  We did meet up few days later for McDonalds and ice cream, they visited us in our apartment for swimming as their fabulous house does not have a swimming pool (but does have mosquitos, ants and cockroaches!).  They were the first people to give us a housewarming gift (a sweet two espresso cups) and they invited me and Steve for Pre-Poya drinks to meet other of their friends they have met over the year.  Their son has had a play afternoon with us and we have joined the whole family in their house for a precious pork stew dinner they kindly shared with us. Playing hide and seek in their spacious house was amazing. Kids see each other at school and most days are spending break and lunch time together.  Jo keeps advising me on things (she is a pro after living here for nearly a year!) and we support each other.  She kindly introduced me to some of her friends and going for breakfast with them some mornings, discussing obstacles and challenges we each face is an uplifting experience, when a person can offload and hear someone else’s point of view. Jo also took me, as her guest, to join monthly meeting of members from International Expat Association I will most likely become a member. You meet all sort of people from all over the world and it is so interesting to listen to them, what they have experienced and where life’s opportunity has taken them.

We are so lucky to have met in that queue and I feel this friendship may last a life time.

Czech friends

One love we share with Jo, is the love of a nice coffee. During conversation on that Expat gathering we attended, we learned, that there is newly open café called Coffee& Bread on 27^th Avenue, run by a Czech man Pavel and his Italian wife. No way!  Jo went to check it out. Amazing cakes and amazing coffee! “You have to meet the owners, really nice Czech couple Pavel and Marketa.”: she said. I couldn’t not believe! We met them at Pre-Poya drinks and we instantly took like to each other. Steve tried to converse in Czech language and they were impressed. Would you believe, their kids go to the same school. I invited them to our apartment already. We had a lovely Sunday afternoon with them, talking in Czech, having a wholesome Czech lentil soup for light lunch, drinking coffee and eating Czech yeast cakes with jam and enjoying swim and talking some more. The world is so small. Of course we went to see their coffee shop, which is a nice, quirky, welcoming place to relax. And yes, they do have a delicious coffee and a delicious hot chocolate too!  I think meeting this family often will be the case and will have lots of positives for all involved: It will keep the Czech language going for all children, it will help Pavel and Marketa improve their English language and we will keep our Czech identity alive.