Living is in the details.

The other day Richy and I had the afternoon free (most afternoons are free) but we weren't working on portfolio work, etc. so we decided to hit a free art gallery. On the stroll back along the canal, there were market stands selling gourmet foods. Anything from cup cakes, to duck eggs, to fruit, to specialist sausages.

We needed some fruit so Richy and I got talking to the fruit man, deciding what we were going to get. After deciding on Strawberries, grapes, and pineapple, the man said to Richy, "where ya from boy"? Richy said, "I'm from Armagh." The man, "ahh I could hear that in your accent, do you know the Moores?" Richy, "yeah yeah I know them, do you know Francie Moore?" "Francie Moore.....does he sell fruit by the cathedral?" Richy, "aye he does". Man, "well do you know the Mc Parlands?" and this went on for about 5 minutes! Then he looks at me and says and where are you from, you're not from Armagh....? I was scared to tell him for fear he knew every Irish family in Arkansas. Anyway, "Arkansas...a long ways from Armagh", I said. He looked at me and smiled.

Then he looked at Richy and said "ah well you have a quar beautiful lady there son." (picture this in a thick Irish Accent too please)

And that was that! I loved the complement, but the word "quar" had me baffled. When I asked Richy he hardly knew what it meant, but said it means very or really...kinda an exaggerated term.

I blog about this strange little story because it adds to the whole experience. The random interactions with people of a different culture keeps things so interesting for me. Kinda like design is in the details, well so is living abroad and traveling for that matter. All of these details add up to give me one overall view and love of Ireland. I don't ever want to forget the details!