I think many people can imagine what it must be like to relocate to a place where everything is foreign: the customs, the culture, the language, and just simply how to do life! One aspect you may not think of is how kids adapt to those changes.
In many ways kids are way more flexible than adults. It helps when you don’t have to carry any of the responsibility in getting things done and have people who take care of your every need! Plus, you can get by on your cute looks! This is an area that our son Zeke understands very well and uses as much as he possibly can. When we first moved here Zeke was just on the cusp of talking, and as his language progressed he was equally learning English along side of our local language. However, about the time he turned two he sort of stopped with the local language. Although he now excels in his language abilities for a 3 year old with English, he doesn’t seem to want to learn to communicate in any other. He has held onto the word for candy (which he uses profusely with our neighbor) and will mimic me when I tell him to say supas (thank you), but other than that he asks us to only “talk English” as he says.
Lately he has made an interesting change. I think he is beginning to recognize how much is going on around him that he can’t understand, and I think he is desiring to communicate more. He recognizes when the language being spoken is not English and in leau of his own language abilities he is beginning to insert gibberish when he can’t get by with English. Picture this scene from the other day: we are all out at a local grocery store picking up a few things. As we are checking out Zeke wanders around the side of the check-out counter where the cashier sees him, picks him up, and sets him on the counter while he continues to run things through for us. Zeke starts pointing at a little toy/candy thing and says “duba duba doo?” The man looks at us for a moment, then over at the toy and then hands it to Zeke telling him that it will be a gift from him. Wow…if only communication had worked that well when we only had a few words of the local language. I suppose gesturing aids things a lot, but the kid manages to circumvent any situation to accomplish his end goal, whether that is to get something, go somewhere or have someone do something for him!
I have loved watching my kids grow and observing how they go through their days with complete abandonment of things like shame, embarrassment and fear that so many of us adults struggle with every day. Kids have such an innocence that transcends culture and expectations. I sure wish I could have appreciated that time in life for all that it had to offer. In many ways starting over in this place has caused us to revisit the days of being a child as we stumble through how to do things here. We have definitely reached a level where we feel very comfortable and capable, but the toughest times are still very fresh in our minds. We are so thankful that as we go through these challenges that we can always rely on God, whether we need comfort, encouragement or just need to vent! I think once we can learn to fully rely on Him only then can we fully shed all of those negative emotions that come with worrying about how others see us and fully enjoy the care-freeness that kids enjoy every single day!
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