Yesterday was very exciting and incredibly scary for me. I have been wanting to volunteer somewhere in the greater Israeli community for several reasons:
1. To improve my Hebrew speaking
2. To meet new people and
3. To connect more with Israel as a whole
For this reason, I was ecstatic to find a center for "children at-risk" through the welfare office in a neighboring town. This seemed like the perfect venue for me. When the day finally came to go, I was having so many different thoughts...like...
"Can I really handle this? Will I be able to communicate with anyone or will I revert to just shaking my head at everything as if I know what they're saying? Will I ever be able to communicate on my own without Yoni present? What if I want to leave early in the day? What IF, What IF, WHAT IF?????"
It's so important to me that I can communicate with people. I'm such a talkative person that not being able to fully express myself has been a very painful process - (see my past post - "Waging War Against Self"). I also want to have the confidence and independence that I had in the States in a level that's healthy and relative to my new environment.
All I have to say is THANK GOD FOR LITTLE GIRLS! The minute I walked into the door, a little girl came running up to me with her arms wide open saying, "Ema, Ema (Mom, Mom)!" Of course, I was not her mother, but this type of warm welcome put my mind at temporary ease. Children are "testers" for trying out a new language. They're not so critical and everyone likes a hug at the end of the day :-)
I had a good day and was able to communicate. Granted, it was basic and I noticed a thousand mistakes, but overall I feel like "The Little Engine that could...."
I have a long way to go in my fluency in Hebrew, but this one day has encouraged me that "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" be a good Hebrew communicator even if it means going up a "big hill" and many challenges. Even today I noticed that I was not so afraid of talking to people outside my circle...guess it helps when you are ordering mint-chocolate ice-cream :-)
May this encourage others in their own challenges!
1. To improve my Hebrew speaking
2. To meet new people and
3. To connect more with Israel as a whole
For this reason, I was ecstatic to find a center for "children at-risk" through the welfare office in a neighboring town. This seemed like the perfect venue for me. When the day finally came to go, I was having so many different thoughts...like...
"Can I really handle this? Will I be able to communicate with anyone or will I revert to just shaking my head at everything as if I know what they're saying? Will I ever be able to communicate on my own without Yoni present? What if I want to leave early in the day? What IF, What IF, WHAT IF?????"
It's so important to me that I can communicate with people. I'm such a talkative person that not being able to fully express myself has been a very painful process - (see my past post - "Waging War Against Self"). I also want to have the confidence and independence that I had in the States in a level that's healthy and relative to my new environment.
All I have to say is THANK GOD FOR LITTLE GIRLS! The minute I walked into the door, a little girl came running up to me with her arms wide open saying, "Ema, Ema (Mom, Mom)!" Of course, I was not her mother, but this type of warm welcome put my mind at temporary ease. Children are "testers" for trying out a new language. They're not so critical and everyone likes a hug at the end of the day :-)
I had a good day and was able to communicate. Granted, it was basic and I noticed a thousand mistakes, but overall I feel like "The Little Engine that could...."
I have a long way to go in my fluency in Hebrew, but this one day has encouraged me that "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" be a good Hebrew communicator even if it means going up a "big hill" and many challenges. Even today I noticed that I was not so afraid of talking to people outside my circle...guess it helps when you are ordering mint-chocolate ice-cream :-)
May this encourage others in their own challenges!
