So an update on what we have been spending our time on, apart from the drop-ins that have become a regular feature of our week. We have been very pleased to have made a lot of family visits in these past few weeks. Family visits usually involve around 3 or 4 hours of time spent in the home of one of the refugee families. We usually take a gift, such as olive oil, fruit juice, soft drinks and / or some treats for the kids. We share a delicious meal together (Turkish, Iraqi, Assyrian, Kurdish foods are all delicious) and may help with the kids with some homework, play games with them, get to know their situation and stories a little better and just generally spend quality time. One older couple are particularly at risk of social isolation and depression, compounded by a list if health problems. The lady informed us during the week "From the very first time you came, we have loved you. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because you remind us of our children." This is the second time an Iraqi lady has decided to adopt me.

Oftentimes, it’s an opportunity for some of these families to ask for assistance with very practical needs. Letters from government departments or from school, for example, are sometimes only partially understood, or the action required in response may not be possible with their level of English. Having been on the other side of this difficulty in Greece and Egypt, we are only too willing to try to help. The training that I am receiving at the North Glasgow Advice Centre is also proving invaluable in knowing our way around the incredibly complex systems here and knowing who else is available to help with special expertise. Little things like this can make a significant difference.

On several family visits, I am also taking advantage of the opportunity to learn how to cook some of the different foods that we so enjoy. It gives me a chance to get into the kitchen with the ladies, expand my culinary repertoire and sometimes the ladies open up more fully during these times for various reasons.

We are also deepening relationships with those who are regulars at the drop-in centres. We are saddened by the threatened deportation of one family and discouraged with the lack of progress for one lady trying to find a way to bring the rest of her children to join her here from the Horn of Africa. We are relieved at the continued bail of one African lady and her son whose case is being re-examined. Each week at the after-school club reinforces our feeling that many of these children simply crave the positive attention of an adult. Some are separated from one parent for a variety of reasons. For others, their parents are simply too busy trying to survive and provide to be able to offer the attention that they really crave.

Paul’s Arabic lesson continued this week and he is also having very in-depth discussions over coffee and backgammon with an Iranian friend.

As we’ll be away for three weeks, unfortunately we won’t be able to update this as much as we would like, but you should still be able to contact us by e-mail.