The Sidney herald., 1956-10-04
|. F. Y. {. Letters

1Oui1t4ilS OQI cups 1Ol tea dliO
caught herself counting in Eng
fish. She laughed and said "When
you start doing that, you know
you are very close to the Ian
guage." I received a letter from
her and she said she had a
chance to practice her Dutch be-
fore she got home, as she had
met another Dutch girl at the
airport. The other IFYE in whose
home I stayed has since been
married, and l found his home
to be a typical Irish home with
a few American habits mixed in.
l noticed one in particular, his
manner of eating in the Ameri-
can instead of the European
style. The European style has the
fork in the left hand pushing the
food on the back of the fork
with your knife. l have mastered
everything but peas.
The Irish have a great sense of
humor and l have laughed some
times until tears rolled down both
sides of my face and my stomach
ached. 1t is rather hard to de-
scribe and still sound funny, but
if you can imagine an IFYE
sitting on the edge of his chair
Growing like a rooster - you'd
have a perfect picture of Tom.
This evening everyone was going
to make a sound like a farm
yard animal, but when the ami
mails were handed out, only one
got an animal. At the count of
three - you can imagine the
surprised look on n face when
he was the only one sounding off.
There have been other times of
laughter, but the earnest look in
Toms eyes will bring back a
anytime.
When Tom and l arrived in
Dublin, for mid-point change,
we were greeted by the other
IFYE's. 1t was one busy af-
ternoon and evening of chatter
about experiences and happen
ings. 1t was unfortunate that we
iidn't have more time. One of
The most welcome things in Dub
in was the sight of "Old Glory"
waving in front of the American
Embassy. We were interviewed
and pictures taken and then had
/ conference with the Agricultur-
ii staff. That evening we were
entertained at the American At
achee's home. You'd never guess
what received the most atten-
ion while we were in this home:
IF all things - a squeaky rock
ng chair. Each of us had our
urn making the chair speak its
,iece. Why was such a chair
he center of attention? Well,
rish homes don't have rocking
hairs. / was amused to see the
elbow from Arkansas in an Irish
weed sports coat. His just wasn't
YARN enough. You'd perhaps
augh at me to see all the cloth
ng / put on to go outside.
l hope it doesn't rub off onto
ne, but the Irish don't have a
are about the time. l have al
rays tried to be ready on time,
ut find my host and hostess
ont seem to be in any rush. /
ave made. mentio nof the time
My on the occasion when l was
} catch a bus. l was to be picked
p for one of my changes at
O:30 a. m. for one change but
to myself, if I'm ready
t that time, l can have several
tiers written before my ride
cts here. To be exact, l wrote
letters and three cards, and
oticed the clock hands pointing
ut the time of 1915 p. m. when
ride arrived. Wont you have
cup of tea before you ~start?"
as the question asked by my
0stess. The reply surprised me
bit, mo, Mia is expected at
or next home for lunch" Well
didn't have tea but we were
cry late, and l was happy the
ext family hadn't waited for my
rival before eating.
Through my letters I hope l
ave brought some of the Irish
fe a bit closer to you. This is
last in the series of contribu-
rs letters for this year. /
ould like to thank each contrib !.