Shoo Shoo Here Comes Connor!

One of the most rewarding parts of raising a toddler abroad is watching your child seamlessly befriend playmates of every nationality without blinking an eye. The language and cultural barriers don't mean a thing when you are two. If only it was always this way...

We are finishing up a long weekend in Spain. Today we visited the Girona cathedral - a small town near Barcelona. Connor hopped and leapt all over the surrounding square. She chased the pigeons by running with rambunctious zeal right at them and calling out "Shoo! Shoo!"

Before too long a Spanish girl with long ringlet pony tails joined right in, shooing right along with Connor. As soon as Connor noticed her fellow bird chaser she ran up to her. Instead of a "hello" or anything else she looked at her new friend and announced "Connor! Connor!"
No, "My name is" or "Hi, I'm Connor, nice to meet you" or anything like that to ease the instruction - just the grand nodding pronouncement of her name. And finally in one last attempt she said "C-O-N-N-O-R, Connor!" Mind you this is not the first time I have witnessed these unusual and candid introductions. It is a regular routine. And it leaves me smiling every time. The poor Spanish girl had no idea what Connor was trying to convey. No matter though, they were back to chasing birds in no time.