I have made contact with the young lady I am to mentor....(I am part of a scheme run by Sova to help asylum seekers in Wales) it was a lively and easy conversation filled with laughter. We spent about 15 minutes trying to work out a location we could meet. I tried a few places I thought she would know but realised quickly that she wasn't familiar with Cardiff at all.
We decided to have a think for half an hour and ring back ....in the conversation she had mentioned dropping her children off from school so I suggested that I meet her at the school and that she gave me the telephone number of the school so that I could get directions.
Apart from the fact that I waited at the front of the school and she waited at the side of the school.....everything went fine. We introduced ourselves, I met her husband and her little boy and then we walked off together to have a cup of coffee in the local cafe.
As far as I was concerned she spoke very good English, but she herself wanted to go on an intensive course to be even better at the language. She would like to visit museums and places of interest in and around Cardiff.
Next week I am going to take her to the museum by bus as she is not familiar with catching public transport. I didn't like to tell her but I haven't got a clue with buses either so it will be an adventure for the two of us.
I had a very enjoyable time and I am looking forward to meeting up with her again next week I just hope I am able to make a difference for the better in her life in her new country.

Bear wrote...
Good for you Vickie!!
Thanks Bear.
Posted by: Bear | November 15, 2007 10:58 PM