Saturday, April 12, 2014

Comforts of Home Quilt Block and Trust-Building Tea Time

Comforts of Home Quilt Block Pattern Information
 
"Somehow, taking tea together encourages an atmosphere of intimacy when you slip off the timepiece in your mind and cast your fate to a delight of tasty tea, tiny foods, and thoughtful conversation."  Gail Greco
 
Check out this wonderful blog post about the trust-building effects of tea time.  The author, Judy Palpant, is my brother-in-law's sister and writes about the importance of tea time in building relationships when they were missionaries in Kenya:  Trust Building Over Tea in Kenya
 
 
 
Have you ever lived in a culture different from your own?  Did you find it hard to adjust?  Inquiring minds want to know!  By commenting, you'll be entering this month's give-away of Marie Bostwick's newest book APART AT THE SEAMS, coming out the end of this month.  Three lucky people will each win a copy, courtesy of Kensington Publishing!  If you are reading this via email, you must click on the title of my blog post to be able to comment and read the comments of others.  The winner will be announced on May 1.
 
 

19 comments:

  1. I've visited Europe, but not lived there. After growing up in the midwest, I moved to New England for a while. I noticed that even within our country, there are different cultures in different areas.

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  2. I was raised in Wisconsin but married and moved to Mississippi....at that time it was the end of the earth. But over the years I have met so many wonderful people and learned how great and gracious Southerners can be, I love it here.

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  3. I have lived in three places overseas. The first place was London, England. Adjusting wasn't that hard, since they spoke english and their traditions weren't really different from Americans. We then moved to Seoul, Korea for a little over a year. My husband was afraid I would find it really hard. It was a fun place and I met so many wonderful people. Joining the American Women's Assoc. was the best thing I did in Korea. Was interesting learning about their different culture. Thought it was funny that one of the gifts Koreans give to people moving into a new house or a bank gives as gifts to new customers is toilet paper. We then moved to Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, UAE. My husband was the only American on the project. It took awhile to meet women who would speak to me, since english was their second language and they didn't feel comfortable talking english. I met Europeans that would talk with me. But once I met people who would speak with me I had a good time. The arab culture was hard to adjust to. But I did and enjoyed myself. We only lived in the UAE about 2 years.

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  4. Hard to imagine really but I have lived my whole live in cultures other than my own. I grew up in Montreal, Quebec, in a French speaking community. Sure there were English speaking people around but even back then there was a very French presence. Then I moved to the Yukon, to a small First Nation community, which has been becoming stronger and stronger as an aboriginal community. I must like to be the odd person out, I guess.

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  5. When you visit a Japanese home, you are served a cup of green tea and a sweet of some kind. Years ago, even offices had a lady whose job it was to serve those cups of tea. It seemed that every home had the hot water ready and a package of biscuits to open should some one stop by. Even when workmen came to fix something, there was a break while tea was served.

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  6. I was lucky enough to travel over Europe for a whole month, many years ago, but, I've never lived anywhere but in the USA.

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  7. I have only lived in 2 states and cultures are the same. Went to Mexico as a young adult and was having a hard time with the Spanish---sorry they speak to fast. In our women's group we have had a few High Tea's.

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  8. I grew up in the Midwest but at 46 I accepted a job in Miami. My husband was going to commute from our home to Florida every few months and my daughter was attending college in Florida. Most of my neighbors spoke Spanish, I did not, and I really didn't know Miami at all. It was a lonely life but I also learned to become independent and ended up really enjoying my life while I was there.

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  9. I was an exchange student at the tender age of 16. The biggest adjustment was the language barrier, although I had studied the language for two years in high school. When I conquered that, it was a blast! I came home with a new sense of confidence and an appreciation for home.

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  10. I have never lived outside my culture. My son is living in Malaysia and Singapore right now and loves it. Unlike some of his friends he has not had the culture shock. We have spent time teaching our children about how other countries live. So they are prepared when they get there.

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  11. I never have had a chance to live elsewhere but have met wonderful people from other cultures here though work and pleasure. Enjoyed learning of their cultures and drinking Tea with them. thank you for the chance to win

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  12. I lived in Italy for a couple of years and it was a blast! I loved everything about it and for a small town girl from Utah it was so eye-opening. I found friends, they helped me with the language and I learned to step out of myself and learn things. It was great!! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

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  13. I have never lived in a different culture. That is something to think about. This is a great posting.

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  14. In college I studied abroad in Rome, Italy and loved every minute of it, although Europe isn't as vastly different from the U.S. as some other cultures, we still had fun navigating the differences in language and customs - and of course falling in love with the art and food! :)

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  15. Lovely tea photos...love the Daffodils. I have done quite a bit of living in other countries...an exchange student for 8 months in a remote village in the Philippines at age 15-16 and 8 month in Europe at age 20-21...including 6 weeks behind the Iron Curtain in 1967. I think every teenager should spend time in a 3rd world country to realize that life for folks can be so very different from affluent Western countries...Happy Easter and thanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea.
    Ruth

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  16. I do love blue and yellow together for springtime! It always creates a cheery and fresh atmosphere. Your quilt block is fab! The colors are very earthy and go well with your theme of home comfort.
    I have lived in other cultures. It is challenging in the beginning to get used to the differences. It really helps to try and focus on the similarities.
    Happy Easter,
    Terri

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  17. I have never lived in a different culture but have always thought how wonderful it wuld be! Your blue and white tablecloth is very inviting for a two person tea. Have a blessed week!

    Pam

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  18. Your blue and yellow is lovely and I do love your daffodils! We were in ministery for many years but no, we have never spent time in any other culture but our own. My hubby never felt called that way. I admire anyone who has however. Thank you for coming to tea and Happy Easter!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  19. I spent several years living in Puerto Rico. And I have lived in many parts of the US. But never felt anyplace was all that hard to adjust to. I found weather variations harder. Especially when we moved from Puerto Rico to Maine. From a tropical climate to the northern wintery weather was quite a change. It took a while for our blood to thicken. But I am thankful for my various experiences.

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