(This post is being posted from America, so don't ask why I am up at 10 PM on Shabbat. It is One thirty Friday afternoon here.)
Ricki has been a rather serious creature of late. Here at my Mother's house we (including "I") laugh a lot more than I do at home. I don't know why, but probably because my older brother (who is also visiting my mom) keeps making facetious remarks.
The first few days, every time someone laughed, Ricki "took up her arms". She got angry, snarled, etc. We realized very quickly that since she didn't understand us (speaking as we were in English), she assumed that any laughter was a crack at her expense. My mother's first reaction to this is "Boy is she self centered." And perhaps she is.
But as the days passed, Ricki got a bit less touchy. I don't know if that is due to her gaining confidence in us, or getting used to the fact that we laugh around here. More relatives are arriving on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see how that affects the status guo.
3 comments:
I can understand Ricki's attitude. My very extended family(husband's relatives) all speak Hungarian, which I don't and neither do my children. When there is laughter, everyone looks around to make sure everyone else is laughing too. If you are not, you are noticed. With everyone looking at you, you really do feel they are laughing at you.
Maybe Ricki will decide to try to learn at least a few words in English and that will reduce her feeling of being the outsider.
I hope you all enjoy your vacation.
It's hard with the language barrier.
Many non-self-centered people would be hard pressed not to feel concerned.
Perhaps "letting her in on the jokes" by translating them, if possible, might help. (I'm sure you've already done that... )
Actually, often she laughs at jokes (whether in Hebrew or English), just to be "part of the group".
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