Step by Step

I recently started at a job at the same place I volunteered last September. The kids, of course, have grown. They can now walk by themselves and have a conversation. Although they don't remember me because of their age, it is still great to see how far they have come in just six months. For an adult, six months is no improvement at all. Full rehabilitation takes longer than that, but these kids have acquired a language and are able to walk around and play.

On my first day, I was asked to come in to welcome the kids when they arrived. One girl arrived and I couldn't believe how she has grown. Last year, the teachers worked with her to keep her bald head from going to just the right side. When she was laid down now, her ginger hair contrasted with the blue mat and she was able to turn her head to both sides, though she still favored the right side. In contrast however, one of the girls just turned three. She can't stand, nevermind walk, nor can she talk or really do much of anything. I'm not sure exactly what she has (I think cerebral palsy), but she is severely developmentally delayed and no matter how much therapy she has, she will never be a "normal" child.

In the day to day learning, we don't see the improvement of the children. Even talking begins slowly. First there is the "bababa" sound which goes to "abba" (father) and then two word sentences and eventually full chatter. However, this process doesn't happen overnight, but rather about a year. Working with the children everyday, you don't see the small skills they acquire so that they are able to go on with the next step. It is only when you look back that you can see how much a child has learned.

One of the hardest things about making Aliyah is the language. Sometimes I feel like I am on the same page as the two and a half year olds. I know words and I can put together sentences, but I don't always understand the words that everyone is using. It feels like I am not learning any more Hebrew, but then there will be a day when suddenly everything is in Hebrew or I do a task that I previously would not have been able to do. For example, I went to the bank (which is a whole different system than the US, but that's a different story). I asked the teller if he spoke English to which he replied only a little. Since I had already been waiting for 45 minutes, I didn't feel like waiting more so I gave up and spoke Hebrew to him. (Side note: He was surprised I was from the US...Last time I checked I have a strong American accent. Oh yea, plus I asked if he spoke English. Is that not a clue? I speak Hebrew sometimes and the clerks automatically switch to English.) I succeeded in my task and was proud that I was able to do this in Hebrew.

A few weeks ago, I went to the Golan so here are some of the Pictures