"don't speak...no, no, you mustn't...shh...don't speak"...

One of the granite-like parts about living in Egypt is learning Arabic.  I love to be able to express my feelings, who doesn't, but I find that my current vocabulary allows me to either do my daily shopping or speak about my feelings in metaphors.  


For example, I can say things like...


I am a leaf 
without water 
out in the hot Egyptian sun.  


Or on the upside...


I am a butterfly
going from flower to flower
as God made butterflies to do.  


Other then that, my self-expression is mostly non-verbal.  


Growing up in school we were required to take 2 years of a foreign language or 4 years of art.  I started in 8th grade as a small caterpillar in a Spanish cocoon (taught by my Music teacher) and bulged out as an ugly grub.  I attempted to repeat my metamorphosis the next year, this time Spanish taught by a German lady, but alas, I was destined to be a grub.  So I chose to make my wings in art classes and drama. They were beautiful, unique, and special wings that glittered as I moved and danced and when the wind blew...  


Where was I...oh yeah. Language does not come naturally to me, even English sometimes.  I have to say, however, my training in non-verbal communication from theater, has been more useful to me in the Middle East than Spanish ever could have been. 


We are currently using a method of language learning created by a man named Thompson, Greg Thompson.  You can read some of his articles at http://www.languageimpact.com/articles/articles.htm.  He has developed a system of language learning based on learning as a child learns.  This includes games, fun times, and just listening for a good wallop of time before actually speaking the language.  I had just finished the listening part of the curriculum when I decided, um...ah...well yup, that I needed to take a small break for a while before the formal but non-formally speaking part of the lessons began.


I had posted a picture of one of our language learning sessions under the spaghetti bones recipe, but I will include some more here...

As you can see, if you ever need to "run to put the bib on the red lady bug next to the blue fish", I could tell you how to say that in Arabic.:)


It takes a child years before they can talk.  Theo knows just a few words and only Daddy and I can understand them.  Still, he communicates so much to me everyday. Luke is always saying his sentences incorrectly, but I hardly notice because his heart is so full of joy and love.  I would never show them the whole dictionary and tell them this is what they must learn to express their feelings.  Yet, I do this to myself so often.  


Not to sound prideful, but this video greatly encouraged me...I know that as language-challenged as I feel, I can take comfort in the fact that at least I am smarter than this guy...http://www.vdb.org/smackn.acgi$misc?clips/TEACHINGAP.mov  


PS.  Here is the story behind this video, in case you are interested...http://www.vdb.org/smackn.acgi$tapedetail?TEACHINGAP