Linguistic Learning together

 

Yesterday after school Leen rang me up.  I always ask in Nederlandse "Wat doe jij vandaag?" First she wanted to do more sums, her addition is heel goed now.. Then we did some word flash cards as I am trying to see if she can read English & Dutch words.. she is though more quickly English with me.  So when we got to the flash card for Apple we looked at the word in Arabic... over skype we used the google Arabic keyboard on my laptop... not only was she telling me how to pronounce the words Tofah Arabic for Apple but she was with me as we found the Arabic letters on the keyboard! Truly a Professor of Linguistics No confusion but so much fun as we made it all a fun game together.. Then she ate an apple.. was so unplanned but she had apple patterned pjs on too !

APPLE was of the words of the day this week with NaTakallam I think Leen will be one of their teachers before long lol So magical sharing languages and learning together.  Here I am 66yrs Yorkshire born woman in Hayes West London and learning and sharing so much with 5yrs old Syrian Leen living in Belgium.  Family Link Up has really enriched my life. 

Sharing after school

 

The past 2 days Leen has called me after school so full of energy from the days lessons stimulation. Yesterday we tidied books in her room ( little sister made mess!) Lol tried to make tidying a game long distance tidying London/Belgium!!! and found one of the Nederlandse kinderen boeken... she took it to school today for the teacher docent to read... she said she would listen carefully to get the words in her head...hhh so cute. Then she can teach me!  Today she wanted to do more number magic... with my coloured buttons.. we looked at variations to make 10... 

Then we had a girlie time which will please Ella one of my zoom friends in the Wednesday Women together group. Ella feels empowered when wearing mascara...lol but we cheated using the effects on skype messenger ..so we had lashes, glitter lips and butterflies 

Sunday morning wake up

 

Adorable wake up call this Sunday morning Leen & Celine awake in Belgium messenger Skype calling me... yesterday they had called and I had promised to work on adding numbers today..how lovely they remembered and was excited to play numbers.  I have some fancy buttons that I use and this cute reaction from Celine is her WOWed by the owl button lol ..

We have been drawing and counting leaves. Observing leaves have veins and we have veins..my old lady veins on the back of my hand demonstrated this..lol ..we found a baby snail on a leaf that i picked up from my garden..that fascinated Leen..as it came out of its shell and slithered along the leaf. So a nice fun Sunday morning as I miss visiting them and don'f like being alone all the time. My family like updates on Family Link Up..and keep saying  "keep hope mum that you can visit next year when this coronavirus is more under control." So frustrating for us all but thank goodness for wifi & internet connections. This morning we made pancakes or I did while they watched..and Lulu & Pengu respond to Leen & Celine calling them. I get updates from Turkey and Germany too. So our link up continues for life as is my life. I am impressed how the Syrian community are helping one another too.  Lives need healing & rebuilding. They are ...day by day, month by month, year by year getting stronger, integrating and contributing to host countries.

Duality print mounted & Framed

Today I was in Uxbridge so called in to Raz the photo shop & Framers, Pavillions we have printed a copy of Bushra's Duality Artwork..I am so pleased with the mount & frame.  It is lovely to have her work on my wall..making my room all cosy for winter.  Raz was so impressed by Bushra's work.. if you would like a mounted print or framed print email me marjoriebahhaj@gmail.com or message me on twitter Marjorie's Yard..for order and prices... I am trying to help Bushra so all profit will go direct to her. Bushra's Art Gallery  Its been a happy day today as Leen skyped me after school she is so chatty in English with me... but maar teaching me some Nederlandse too. Leen was pleased with the framed print of her mother's artwork.  Also we have had good news from Bushra's sister Asma in Germany, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl... They are doing good...

Also nip over to my 

Marjorie's Yard Christmas Shopping Mall  

your Christmas shopping as my registered customer can help fund my Family Link Up project from commission on sales.

Good News

 

One of Bushra's  paintings has been bought by a German tourist to Oostende..and from the personal message the buyer has put on Instagram it has gone to the right place. The artwork, has I always find, speaks deeply as you connect soul to soul artist to viewer... 

Then we also have some growing up fast news from Leen her wibbly wobbly tooth came out ..lol bless her ..there is a parcel on the way with a message from the tooth fairy ... :-) 

Plus had a skype call from Turkey and the boys there also growing up quickly.. 

Girls get the pop up book

 

There was great excitement yesterday on the girls return home from school as the Pop Up Nature book had arrived that I posted to them.  There was also a call to me while my daughter was with me and she is so impressed with Leens' command of English.. To think all day at school she was speaking in Dutch, speaks Arabic to her mama and then can so easily flip into English when speaking with me and my daughter.. truly a Prof of Linguistics bless her.. Celine loved the book too and was carefully lifting all the moving parts of the book.  I have sent small video clips of the pages and my talk through them to help them learn more. Scroll down through the photo uploads and you will see that the girls had worn cardigans I had knit to school in the day too... So pleased with the fit.. but now I need to knit bigger sizes to grow into.. :-) 

Words from within

Bushra puts words to her art as an expression of how she is feeling on her journey of healing and adapting to her new life...she has shared this on her facebook page.. Along with some words to another artists work that is expressing visually what she is saying from within. (see Below) She is alone with the her daughters as the marriage is over.. But as you read.... is being strong though at times feeling on the verge of collapse.  I do wish I could get out to her to help her with the girls and her life rebuild.  Not only have we got the pandemic in the way but I need to renew my passport as it expires in September...So we continue to have time on Skype and messenger shares.  It was lovely on Saturday as my eldest daughter called round to me and it was just at the time Leen called me.. So my daughter finally got to meet Bushra and spoke to together.. Though they are friends on facebook.  Both my daughters are impressed with how Bushra tries hard to heal and rebuild her life... Today I have been reaching out for help to gt her art printed and marketing.... and tomorrow the Kunst Academie an Zee opens for the new academic year and we have Bushra registered. 

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