I was walking to the supermarket a few days ago and I passed a little girl shouting from a falafel stand to her sister sitting in a parked car. She yelled across the sidewalk to her big sis' to ask her dad what he wanted on the falafel. It was too cute, but it also gave me some much needed linguistic faith.
"Tagee - tagee - tag - tageedi aba..."
She couldn't spit out her Hebrew either! It's funny that a child's poor language skills gave me a boost of confidence. Not that children speak poorly. Actually, quite the opposite.
My Hebrew is about the level of a small child's (in terms of true fluency), so when they speak so much more quickly and correctly than I do, well, it really makes you think "I SUCK."
Thank you stuttering Israeli child for giving me hope.
9 comments:
You're lucky, I am still at the level of an 8 month old who hasn't started saying his/her 'reish'. Will I ever sound Israeli or will I forever sound like the american weatherman on galgalatz in the morning. It's about time I commented on your blog - I see your comments everywhere Mr.Commenty. Well done on being on top of the blogosphere and thanks for all your comments on the big felafel.
YESH! The Big Felafel commented on my lowly blog?! I really am moving up in the world! :) Yeah, I check your guy's site like every day! Link a brother up!
Oh, yeah, I shouldn't have written 8 year old. The more accurate analogy is "My Hebrew = Fetus." Nice image, right?
If I can speak as well as the morning radio station guy, I'm doing alright. Shoot, I just hope I can understand what the freaking bus driver says to me for once!
yay i just found your blog and im ever thrilled i did :)
Well thank you Sabra. That makes my day! Feel free to comment whenever!
Hmmm we're jumping ahead of ourselves now, aren't we? I didn't exactly disclose WHY im so thrilled i found it, you realize....
stam stam
yeh, ill read, comment, get banned from commenting....
I've been deliberating whether or not I should turn off moderate comments... looks like I got my answer!
Apparently the Israeli kids I talk to are smarter than this one. I need an ego boost like that.
www.whatwarzone.com/2008/03/how-can-someone-her-pants-but-still.html
Benji you're absolutely correct. I got my start speaking Hebrew to children, being that I lived in the Old City (Jtown) for a long time. Obviously there are a lot of kids there, and heaven forbid I speak to a rabbi in broken holy tongue!
That was a major confidence crusher when some 5 year old would run up and just start telling me about his day while I'm thinking...
"He must want tzadaka"
I'm so glad to see that people are giving you input. Way to go with the top blogged site! I very much enjoy your writings and insights into life. Your stories continue to be very interesting, humorous and well written. Mom
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