Dear ECS: So much language in Cairo

Dear ECS,

Hey honey, you are sleeping sweetly as I write this, and I am not sure what language you are dreaming.  It is probably English, but sometimes it seems like you are dreaming in French.  Maybe it is a mix of the two languages, with maybe a sprinkling of Arabic or Amharic thrown in just to get extra confusing.  Whatever the composition, I know you are making it work in your mind and in your communications.  And sleep well honey.

It has been a busy month+, per usual, for the korol family.  I was thinking earlier today how we haven’t gotten on an airplane for like 7 whole weeks.  And it will be another 2-3 weeks before we get on a plane, which has to be a record for our family over the last four years.  A climate-guilt inducing record, for sure, and also a positive reflection of how happy we are to be here in Cairo. 

So what have we been doing with ourselves?  Great question.  Thus far our meta-theme here in Cairo seems to have been language.  Just in the last couple of days there has been language learning for three languages across our household.  And you are leading the charge, increasing your knowledge, dexterity and fluidity in multiple languages on an ongoing basis.  Yes, I am very proud dad.

French: First off, your French school has re-started and you are back in that immersive environment every day.  I have a little, rudimentary familiarity with French that mostly comes from a summer in Geneve.  And you are WAY past me, speaking French with a flow and accent that I don’t think I could ever achieve at my advanced age.  It is a visceral and stark reminder and endorsement for learning languages at a young age.  When you are flowing in French, I am often astounded that we are related.  That we have had mostly had the same experiences. Cause your dad is not so good at languages. 

Every day you switch between French and English seamlessly.  I am continually astounded by how comfortable you are in the language of your school.   As an ancillary benefit, your mom’s French is getting better too, since she talks to you daily in French and models that it is important and worthy. 

Lastly on this front, I think about where you might go.  Where you will go.  You are so big, smart and dynamic.  But you are also just four.  To see what you can do, what you do do on a daily basis is to reframe what is possible.  It is helping me break my own mold in my own language study.

Arabic: Which leads directly to Arabic, and for this I am the main flag bearer in our family.  Your mom is also studying Arabic, and she is predictably doing amazing in pretty limited instruction.  I hope you have all of her language genes and also her gumption.  It helps so much learning a new language.

I am working and studying everyday to learn Arabic and really enjoying it.  The fun part for me is being out in our new city and picking up little pieces of life that I would have missed two months go, when I knew literally zero Arabic.  That said, I am also reaping some rewards from having learned a similar language a few years ago, Amharic.  Some vocab overlaps and the structure and ethos of the languages are similar enough to be helpful.  Which is great, as I need all the help I can get. 

English: The thing I too easily forget and don’t give you enough credit for is that you are also learning English.  You will be learning English for years, still.  Your mom is doing this great program for teaching reading, which is taking your loquacious verbal skills and applying it to reading and the more comprehensive language.  The mental gymnastics of learning two languages at the same time is frankly mind-boggling when I step back and think about it.  But not to you.  It just normal.  Just like it is normal to hundred of millions of kids, maybe a billion +.    

So, sleep tight honey.  Your mind needs that sleep, to recover, to build your abundant new neural pathways, to rest, to sleep.

love,

dad