Page 52 - HaMizrachi Pesach 5783 USA

ALIYAH DIARIES

I am More than the Sum

of my Hebrew Mistakes

Kally Kislowicz

’ll always be an immigrant, but as long
as I keep talking, even telling jokes, I
can hope for the day I stop confusing
Ithe words for ‘snack’ and ‘kidnapping.’
I started a new position at work a few
months ago. In addition to my old respon-
sibilities, I now have another job in a dif-
ferent office where I must interact with
a brand new set of Israeli coworkers.
And if all this newness wasn’t enough to well practiced smile-and-nod. I will not And so began the great experiment. It
send an under-confident, change averse,
native English speaker back under her be shy. I will demonstrate once and for started slowly with ‘How was your week-
bed (and it most certainly was!), I took the all that I am more than the sum of my end?’ and ‘That’s a beautiful picture of
opportunity to issue myself the following grammar mistakes. your family.’ And over time it has evolved
challenge: I bravely accepted the challenge. Or rather, into ‘Want to hear about the crazy thing
I will engage in spontaneous conversa- after trying to weasel out of the challenge, that happened to me over Shabbat?’ And,
‘Look at this new shirt I bought for 15 shek-
tion with this new group of colleagues. I I promised myself sushi should I honestly els at that cute second hand store!’
will speak even when the situation does attempt this daunting task. This was a
not require it. I will ask questions when boss move, as I know full well that I never And while I have clearly made progress, it
I don’t understand, instead of using my back down when sushi is on the line. hasn’t been easy.

52 |