learning from Daniel

Daniel is just over two years old and starting to talk like crazy. I've been watching him closely lately. He and I are in the same boat, the only difference is that he is learning to talk for the first time and I am learning to talk for the second time.

Of course, I am talking about learning Hebrew for myself. I have really been trying recently--four hours yesterday and just taking a break after two and a half hours today. It's amazing what doors open up when the people here see that you are trying. The guy in the pizza place on King George has never been overly friendly to me. But the other day I asked for a Coke in a bottle, and I did it in Hebrew. A big smile spread across his face and a wall came tumbling down. I experience it at the Souk as well and it's such a good feeling.

The guys in the falafel shop are beginning to know me as I come in once a week for lunch. They see me coming and go into the back to get a bowl of cucmbers (WITHOUT tomatos) just for me. Last week when I went in, the guy pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen and said "write." Then he told me the Hebrew words for "spicy" and "eggplant". We had alsready established that "no tomatos" is "lo agvaniyot" and cucumbers are "melahfefonim". And even though they know my order by heart, I hope to go in this week and tell them in their native tongue.

I want to be a blessing, and so I try to keep learning. Watching Daniel is quite a learning experience for me. He just keeps talking; there's no fear of rejection if he says the word incorrectly. He just keeps saying it until he gets it right. I pretty much think it's adorable to hear him speak. I don't know if Israelis think it's "adorable" to hear me speak their language, but I think it is attractive to them. I know that I for one am so thankful when someone tries to speak my language with me.

So I'm getting serious about it. I went to a shop and bought the biggest pads of paper that I could find so that I can make word charts and have written out the "alef-bet" (alphabet) in both print and handwriting and posted them on the walls above my desk. Then I went into a small bookshop on Zion Square to purchase a "serious" Hebrew/English dictionary with pronounciations, and my Rosetta Stone language program is getting a big-time workout from me. I really want to break down this barrier that's towering in front of me.

With God, all things are possible. Just watch a baby learn and grow if you don't believe me.