Je t'aime, melancholie...

Ramadan is knocking and I got a bad bout of nostalgia. I miss UAE. I miss the mood, the food, I got a bad bad craving for Sarai restaurant food (the best Syrian food), I miss the evening crowds in shopping malls, the salty humidity blowing from the sea. I miss being able to go downstairs for a stroll after sunset with Little Miss and not only feel safe but see lots of other parents doing the same. I miss my girl being welcome in proper restaurants, I miss being able to eat anywhere and not worry about the almighty pork in pancakes. And I miss our apartment, not smelling cigarette smoke 24/7 from addicted neighbours. I miss the bread from Organic Café, I miss being able to wear the all-black abaya with black scarf without scaring the living daylight out of people... I miss the respect and courtesy regarding pregnant women, I miss so much...
This, too, shall pass but today I allow myself to indulge in memories.

Joys of multilingual life

Little Miss decided to be a French speaker. She started to speak and answer exclusively in French. She obviously understands when I speak to her and acts accordingly but answers in French. Counts in French, her letters are French. Only her food is still Polish but I guess it will change as soon as she actually learns French equivalents in kindergarden. Oh well, I always said what counts is that she understands my and husband's languages. This way the languages are imprinted in her brain and if one day she decides to use them, it will be so much easier. Understanding what people say to you and around you is very reassuring and confidence-boosting, as any TCK or foreign language learner will tell you. But for now, I have a little francophone at home. Can't wait for the Quebecer accent to come out!