Hablas Español?

Just got back from Phucket! Thailand was amazing!!! It was a short trip and we hope to go back soon because the country seems to offer soooooo much!!
As always, we hear the beautiful Spanish language in its unique accents and even little Diego's ears perk up. We met a really nice Argentino and his girlfriend on the beach. They have been dating long distance because she lives in Bangkok and he lives in Shanghai. They asked us a lot of questions about living in Asia and wondered if it was difficult to live abroad (more like without family!) and have a child? I always think its cute and wonderful when couples contemplate having babies in front of us. They look at Diego with such wonder and admiration and bombard us with questions that we welcome and love to answer. The best is when they look at each other and smile as if asking, "Can we do this? Even if we are abroad??" In my experience, it has made me stronger, happier and grounded. It has also made me more adventurous, a little rebellious and smarter (learning tons of new Spanish words for Diego and did you know that a beaver is "castor" in Spanish?) We said goodbye and good luck to our new friends. With everything new in Asia, one holds on to the hope that the moment just experienced, will linger in your memory and heart for a long time.
That same day, we left the safe cocoon of our hidden hotel and drove 30 minutes to the happening Padong Beach where the nightlife is colorful and CRAZY!!! I didn't think I would be chatting it up with trannies (gorgeous and stylish Thai trannies) and street hustlers dropping iguanas on Diego's lap for a picture and a buck. Just as we were thinking, "Should we have come down here with Diego?" we hear Spanish again and the 3 of us stop devouring our hot and spicy green curry and turn to meet a Spaniard who introduced his wife and 2 gorgeous sons. They were vacationing from Shanghai and thought it was perfectly normal to follow the crowd at night with their 2 year old and 3 month old. This time, Jose and I were the ones in awe wondering how in the world a couple can travel from Shanghai with 2 little boys and just hang out in Padong Beach?? It was our turn to contemplate having another child and asking them a hundred questions about how they manage, do they have help and how often does family visit...??
It's so much fun to get out there and meet new people. And just to set the record straight, we don't stalk every Spanish speaking person!!! You can see it in people's eyes that they too are happy to hear their language in a far away place like the middle of Asia. For us, it always makes us feel a little closer to home. Helping each other in the smallest way goes so far. Just to be able to have a conversation about what you are passionate about is so worth interrupting someone's relaxing time on the beach or private dinner to ask, "hablas español?".
Betty