La versión español está después de la versión inglés.
LEARNING TO READ and write is exciting and liberating for anyone at any age. My maternal grandmother taught herself to read Hebrew as a child simply so she could pray like her father (girls in her village in Russia did not “need” to be educated). She finally learned to read and write English when she was in her 60s so she could become an American citizen. (There she is above with my sister Dale in 1952.)
You may remember that my pal Luke has begun that process by imitating his teacher-mother Kathleen’s online English lessons (click here). Luke’s papa, Pedro, recently wrote the word PAPA on Luke’s blackboard so that he could copy it, which he did. Pedro then pointed to the first two letters and said, “P – A. Pa.”
Luke repeated while pointing at the letters, “P – A. Pa.”
Pedro was beside himself with pride. He continued (and I’m paraphrasing; Pedro did a much better job). Pointing at the two pairs of letters, he said, “So this says Pa… and this is the same. What do you get when you put them together? Pa…?”
Luke was ecstatic. “MONDAY!!!” he exclaimed.
And I suppose that’s what is meant by ‘back to the drawing board.’
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APRENDER A LEER y escribir es emocionante y liberador para cualquier persona de cualquier edad. Mi abuela materna se enseñó a leer y escribir hebreo de niña para poder rezar como su padre (las niñas en su pueblo en Rusia no “necesitaban” ser educadas). Finalmente aprendió a leer y escribir inglés cuando ella tenía 60 años para poder convertirse en ciudadana estadounidense. (Allí está arriba con mi hermana Dale en 1952.)
Puedes recordar que mi amigo Luke ha comenzado ese proceso imitando las lecciones de inglés en línea de su maestra-madre Kathleen (haz clic aquí). El papá de Luke, Pedro, recientemente escribió la palabra PAPA en el pizarrón para poder copiarlo, lo cual hizo maravillosamente. Pedro luego señaló las dos primeras letras y dijo: “P – A. Pa”.
Luke repitió brillantemente mientras señalaba las letras, “P – A. Pa”.
Pedro estaba fuera de sí con orgullo. Él continuó (y estoy parafraseando; Pedro hizo un trabajo mucho mejor). Señalando los dos pares de letras, dijo: “Entonces esto dice Pa … y esto es lo mismo. ¿Qué obtienes cuando los juntas? Pa…?”
Luke estaba extasiado. “¡MONDAY [LUNES]!”, exclamó.
Y supongo que eso es lo que se entiende por “volver al tablero de dibujo”.
Cocido. Pedro no solo puede enseñar, sino que también puede cocinar. Aunque no puede enseñarme a cocinar (porque en mi caso, la ignorancia es una bendición).
Tarta de casa de Pedro con salsa de fresas frescas. ¡PAPÁ!
Con Tía Fran (Francesca) en el fondo. Luke la llama Flan, que creo que es delicioso.
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, cheesecake! and flan! sign me up for THAT!
anne marie:
From a former New Yorker who thought the City was the only place in the world to get good cheescake… I was wrong!!! Also, I was never a fan of Mexican flan. I AM a fan of Spanish flan.
What an amazingly strong and high-powered woman she was.
And that sure looks like matza ball soup. It’s not, is it? Regardless your food photos make me salivate.
Robyn:
Ooh, that’s far from matzo ball soup. Those are a combination of pork and beef meatballs!
What a wonderful story and lovely lady. Reading, writing and
My Grandparents came from Poland. When they came to America they had to have a job or sponsor. They both became citizens, spoke both English and Polish. Worked hard and had a family that thank goodness that included had my Mum ! I am so proud of them.
Love Lucas and the video, Pa Pa Pa Pa
parsnip
Parsnip:
Immigrants ARE the United States.
I am home until PaPa, maybe Luke will help us create a new language.
David:
Happy travels! I’ll be here on PaPa.
The Addams Family had a little girl named Wednesday, so it’s not being named for day of the week is unprecedented.
Kirk:
And then there was Tuesday Weld. Luke knows what he’s talking about.
That Luke so cute, always gets the right answer.
larrymuffin:
I am batshit crazy for Luke and his parents. (Well, I think you know what I mean.)
Oh, I love that pool video… or photo…or whatever it is? How did you do that? Anyway, cute! And amazing story on your grandmother. Love the photo with Dale.
Judy
Judy:
That’s an animated GIF. I haven’t been doing them because I found them cumbersome and time-consuming to create in Photoshop. Then Kathleen told me she creates them in Google Photos. Done in an instant, so now I’m hooked. I also love that photo with Dale. That was taken in Brooklyn on our back porch (which was creaky and dangerous, I’m sure, to walk on). We left that apartment when I was less than 2 years old and I can still remember that porch.
I hated pools at his age.
Adam:
I grew up surrounded by beaches, so pools were a novelty for me on vacations and, on the rare occasion when we go to the Jones Beach pool. So, I loved them.
I love hearing stories like hers; she inspires me to keep going learning Spanish.
Urspo:
No formal education, but she managed. She really only learned the basics of reading and writing so she could sign her name for her citizenship. I remember discovering her old books when i was a kid and already beyond that level. I thought it was funny until my mother explained why they were there.