Two Evenings, Two Parties!

Last night it was our "home-language" group, eating good food, drinking good wine, and chatting away in English after the traditional G&T to start us off.
In view of events in the news just now it's interesting to reflect that the five of us all work in universities, or government departments, contributing our bit to society. However, it wasn't like that when we first arrived as migrants to Sweden.  Although we'd all had university education our first jobs were working in kitchens, as unqualified teachers, or similar.  It took us a few years to learn the language and get established. For me, 15 years of part-time or short term work before I had a full time, permanent job.
And so it will be for today's "migrants", many of whom arrive with very few material possessions but arrive educated and with a determination to make something of their lives.
And half a lifetime later, as fully established members of society they'll probably still enjoy getting together with a few friends from the old days of their arrival and they'll sit there chatting in their "home-language".  Maybe they'll even stay over and share a breakfast the next morning, as we did today.