Dinner last night at Gay's house ... still de-briefing after her time in Cambodia ... brought to my attention, again, just how international life is on this little island. Accustomed as we are to differences, noticing that there are any takes some effort. Since a couple at the table were new additions, perspectives, accents, looks and dress were unfamiliar enough to note. Represented at our mini-UN: England, Wales, Jersey C.I., Greece, Cyprus, South Africa, Seychelles, the US and Cambodia.

At a Christmas feast a couple of years ago, someone decided to tally diners by nationality and religion. That was a good one. I recall eleven countries ... a few guests rightly claiming more than one ... and half a dozen religions ... a few guests claiming less than one.

It would be a simple thing to put together a dinner party invite list of friends that could include: a Saudi Muslim, a Tibetan Buddhist, an Irish Catholic, a German Jew, a French Jehovah's Witness, a Russian Orthodox, a Seychellois Anglican, a Swiss Agnostic, a Filipino Evangelical, an American Baptist, a Czech New Ager, a South African Fundamentalist and a Tanzanian Hindu.

Table talk is always interesting with this diverse a company, and such a wide range of experiences makes for amazing stories, hilarious anecdotes, and perceptions that can alter views. Animated and sometimes heated, discussions enlighten, aggravate, educate, and amuse. (One topic from last night: hunting in Africa as a means of conservation. Didn't that just get some comment!)

Of course, religion and country of origin only define a tiny percentage of who a person actually is. I could list careers, hobbies, travels, accomplishments, families, that would put an ever-broader lens to the group, but I won't. Suffice it to say that this is not a situation where people are drawn together because of similarities. Frequently, the only thing we have in common is that we're all on this island.

With so many concerned about 'being on the same page' as those around them, I quite like it when everyone is holding a completely different book.