Howdy!
I cannot believe that we have already been in Europe for 3 weeks! It had been such an amazing experience filled with core memories, laughter and growth. I have loved every minute of it!
Throughout my time in Bonn, I have had the privilege of living with the Klein family. They have 3 kids who are 8, 5, and 1. At first, I thought that one of the most challenging things I would face during my time in Europe would be the language barrier between me and the kids in my host family. At first, I was nervous about how we would connect since they didn’t speak much English and I don’t speak German. Simple conversations felt awkward, and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to bond with them at all. But to my surprise, things turned out better than I expected. We started communicating through gestures, laughter, games, and the occasional translation app. Over time, our connection became more natural—full of shared jokes, silly faces, and playful moments that didn’t need words. The experience reminded me that communication is about more than language; it's about effort, patience, and openness. What started as a challenge turned into one of the most heartwarming and fun parts of my trip and caused me to change my belief of the difficulty of a language barrier. I now know that with a little bit of patience, effort and understanding conversations might look a little bit different but can work. This also changed my perspective by showing me that genuine connection does not always requires words- just the willingness to engage.
I am so thankful for the connection I have made with the kids in my home and could not imagine my time here without them. Some of my favorite memories of this trip so far have been doing cartwheels and coloring with Leonie, playing tag with Julian and playing peek-a-boo with Max. From my experiences with them I am more open to the concept that you can over come language barriers and develop real connections.
I have been so grateful for my experiences here in Europe so far and I am excited to see what is to come.
Thanks and Gig’em!
Howdy Ali! Your story is so beautiful! The language barrier can be initially scary but it is sweet to see how you blossom as well as the children. Both going through this learning process of learning each other’s language is very sweet. That is extraordinary that you got this experience!
ReplyDeleteHey Ali!! This is actually the cutest thing ever!! I know you were placed exactly where you were meant to be in that house with those amazing kids. It is so beautiful to hear the way this kids have changed your perspective on the world!
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