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Yesterday I met Milda when I was sitting outside having an iced coffee at Stork’s on Las Olas. She’s a young, very pretty lady from Vilnius, Lithuania who moved here six months ago. We had a delightful talk about many things, including Fort Lauderdale. But let me back up a minute before I get to all that. Because I should explain that I love chatting with folks who come to visit or live in South Florida, anyone with a fresh perspective. I’m especially interested in the viewpoint of people from other countries. They approach life in Fort Lauderdale with a true outsider’s eye. I’m always fascinated to learn whether they like it and why.
So there I was on Sunday, sipping my coffee. The air was hot but with a nice breeze blowing off the canal next to the café. As I do often, I had gone there to relax, get in some reading, think about my writing projects and the work of my nonprofit group – and basically chill out while doing all of this. I was getting ready to leave and meet a friend when Milda showed up. It was crowded just then. Pointing to the empty seat next to my table, she asked, “Is it ok to sit down?” Naturally I was pleased to have her join me. And naturally, I suddenly decided I didn’t need to leave just yet.
As it turned out, she’s a bright and engaging woman with lots to talk about. I’ve visited Estonia, near Lithuania, so we compared notes about the Baltic for a while. Then we turned to South Florida. “I have lived in the United States for five years,” Milda told me. “I moved to Fort Lauderdale from Myrtle Beach.” Ah, another well-known vacation spot. How did she like Fort Lauderdale in comparison? “It’s better here,” she said. “The weather is great. And there’s not the same kind of slow season they have in Myrtle Beach. I like living here.” Milda is a painter with two works hanging in a good local gallery. To survive, though, she waits tables. But she voiced no complaints about this or anything. In some ways, I sensed that Milda already was charmed by South Florida. The range of things to do, the diversity of cultures, the beach and sun and sea of course – these were drawing her in the longer she lived here. Let’s just say that Milda smiled a lot when talking about this area. And so when she mentioned her planned return to Lithuania in a couple months, I wondered if this was a permanent move back home. “No, just three weeks probably,” Milda replied. “I’ll be back here.” I wasn’t surprised. South Florida has a way of attracting people, then holding on to them. As I should know. I moved to Fort Lauderdale nearly 19 years ago and, much to my surprise, I haven’t left yet. Who knows? Milda may be just as surprised some day.
So there I was on Sunday, sipping my coffee. The air was hot but with a nice breeze blowing off the canal next to the café. As I do often, I had gone there to relax, get in some reading, think about my writing projects and the work of my nonprofit group – and basically chill out while doing all of this. I was getting ready to leave and meet a friend when Milda showed up. It was crowded just then. Pointing to the empty seat next to my table, she asked, “Is it ok to sit down?” Naturally I was pleased to have her join me. And naturally, I suddenly decided I didn’t need to leave just yet.
As it turned out, she’s a bright and engaging woman with lots to talk about. I’ve visited Estonia, near Lithuania, so we compared notes about the Baltic for a while. Then we turned to South Florida. “I have lived in the United States for five years,” Milda told me. “I moved to Fort Lauderdale from Myrtle Beach.” Ah, another well-known vacation spot. How did she like Fort Lauderdale in comparison? “It’s better here,” she said. “The weather is great. And there’s not the same kind of slow season they have in Myrtle Beach. I like living here.” Milda is a painter with two works hanging in a good local gallery. To survive, though, she waits tables. But she voiced no complaints about this or anything. In some ways, I sensed that Milda already was charmed by South Florida. The range of things to do, the diversity of cultures, the beach and sun and sea of course – these were drawing her in the longer she lived here. Let’s just say that Milda smiled a lot when talking about this area. And so when she mentioned her planned return to Lithuania in a couple months, I wondered if this was a permanent move back home. “No, just three weeks probably,” Milda replied. “I’ll be back here.” I wasn’t surprised. South Florida has a way of attracting people, then holding on to them. As I should know. I moved to Fort Lauderdale nearly 19 years ago and, much to my surprise, I haven’t left yet. Who knows? Milda may be just as surprised some day.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 10:00 PM
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