I don’t normally post anything except on Sundays but the past few weeks have been unusually busy and the things I want to share today are already overdue. Therefore, I didn’t want to wait yet another week to write something.
Last week, my sons and I welcomed our friend Dani, together with his parents, to London. Dani is a Spanish friend of my oldest son who he met at university but has been in all our lives for the last six years. In 2024, we had the wonderful opportunity of spending time with him when we took a short – yet unforgettable – trip to his hometown of Malaga, Spain. Through knowing him and being in Spain, there were many things I observed about Spanish culture in that weekend some of which have remained with me till now. (All positive things and nothing to freak out about!)
One overall conclusion that came to my mind back then is that the Spanish seem to have more time for family social interactions and this is something that crosses different generations. Perhaps this is more of an Andalucian culture? But I recall noticing that over the weekend, there were families out and about with elderly grandparents and young children all milling around and enjoying the company of one another. This is something sorely missing in British culture where young people are more individualistic and seem to consign their elderly parents to the scrapheap of society and prioritise their own pleasures. It’s a growing problem endemic in many societies but, in Malaga, it seemed they have not yet caught up with the 21st century social malaise which other Western societies suffer from. It seems there are traditional family values which they are still clinging onto. For me, it was reassuring and comforting to know not all has been irreparably lost to modernity.
Coming back to Dani’s visit to London, for his parents this was their first time and my sons and I knew we had to see them here. Although I myself could only manage one night with them, that evening was so beautiful. We were a group of ten people, and even with some limited Spanish language skills on our side, we had a fantastic time in a coffee shop, then just walking through London and finally sitting for an evening meal. I even forgot that I had work the next day and felt like I was the tourist in London with no cares in the world!
Perhaps I am a romantic, but the company we were in that night reminded me of how much I love when people come together despite their apparent differences in language, religion, ethnicity etc. and yet create a fantastic fusion. Our little coterie represented humanity at its best. Everyone was happy to be there and was genuinely interested in the other. That’s the microcosm of togetherness which I wish could be projected onto the wider world in places where it is so desperately lacking. Instead of filling our minds and hearts with hatred or ignorance of the other, all it takes is a little effort to get to know someone and overcome those misconceptions. Beautiful things can happen.
This blog post is a tribute to Dani and the affection he brought with him to London. He clearly has taken on his responsibilities towards his parents and ensured their time was memorable. As a mother myself, it was such an adorable thing to witness. Like my own sons, Dani represents to me a hope that the future will be in good hands as long as these young people do not succumb to whimsical desires too often but see the responsibilities they carry on behalf of the generation before and the one after.. He is a rare breed amongst his peers in that he is respectful, engaging and interested in others.
Insha’Allah, there will be many more meetups with him and his family either in Andalucia, London or elsewhere and I do hope we will always be in one another’s lives to celebrate all the milestones which have yet to be crossed.
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