March 2009
Learning the alphabet
She is a quiet child made mute by the sights and sounds of a new place, an 11-year-old who instinctually reached for her mother’s hand, and when that was withdrawn, her hem for reassurance. Looking around the cafeteria and auditorium at Springside School, Aaliyah’s eyes widened as boisterous children and counselors greeted one another after months of separation.
We met at the Open House for Al-Bustan’s summer camp. Al-Bustan Camp is gearing up for its eighth summer, and it unites a diverse body of children in a fun, supportive environment where everyone learns about Arab culture together. Aaliyah and her mother were exactly who our Open House was geared towards: a new family who showed up to see if Al-Bustan Camp would be a good fit for their family this summer.
I spoke with her mother, while Aaliyah stayed a little hidden, taking in every word of our exchange. Finally, I asked her if she would like to learn how to write her name in Arabic. A quiet nod, and we were off to a table full of markers and scraps of paper. We had a quick Arabic language primer, which broke the ice. . . “it’s read and written right-to-left…each letter makes one sound…your name begins with the very first and tallest letter, Alif!”
Slowly, we wrote her name on a sheet of scrap paper, practiced it a few more times, and finally set it down on a notecard that she took home with her. She would answer my questions with a quiet shake or nod of her head, but she said very little while we worked together. But still, this teaching process reaffirmed what I like the most about my job: the opportunity to provide avenues for genuine, positive cultural learning that crosses the boundaries of race, ethnicity, and age. Although neither of us are Arab, we both walked away from the Open House with a greater appreciation for the intricate beauty of Arab culture and the Arabic language.
After our activity, Aaliyah showed her mother the new way of writing her name, and stayed for a little while longer. I got distracted, speaking to parents and my co-workers about our exciting plans for this July, and I had practically forgotten to look for Aaliyah until I felt a small tug on the hem of my shirt. Large, sheepish eyes looked up at me, and Aaliyah’s voice softly said “I’m going now.” We hugged good-bye, and later that week, we received her registration for Camp.
- Chloe Tucker, Program Assistant
