Breaking the Language Barrier

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By Hila Ghersin
ENP Volunteer
Haifa 
 On Sunday I had the amazing opportunity to join the ENP Youth Outreach Center in the city of Nesher in welcoming a Taglit-Birthright group from Broward County, Florida (coincidentally, where I'm from!). 

 As soon as I got to the center, I caught a glimpse of five young girls rehearsing a Beyoncé routine they choreographed. Their talent and energy amazed me and I really wanted to learn the routine so I immediately started talking to them. They were so nice, polite, funny, and curious that we were basically best friends within a half hour. 

 It was then time to meet the birthright group. Initially, the kids from the center were shy and embarrassed because they did not exactly know how they would communicate with the birthright group. Most of the American trip-goers did not know Hebrew and the kids were hesitant about speaking English. However, as we began making juggling balls out of balloons and rice and solved a puzzle of the map of Israel together with the birthright group, they opened up. The kids from the center and the people on birthright became friends and shared with one another what Israel means to them and their favorite part of Israeli culture, as well as their favorite songs and TV shows.

 It was so beautiful watching the kids open up and become more confident with their English as our time with the birthright group progressed. I was happy to bridge over the language barrier when needed and to get to know the kids better! At the end, the girls performed the routine they had rehearsed in front of everyone, and, needless to say, they got a standing ovation. 

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