A woman just arrived in America from a small town in Poland. She became the caretaker in her son’s home. It was difficult for her to shop because she knew no word of English and had to point to everything she wanted. One morning she went out to buy chicken but did not know how to ask for it. When she came to the butcher she began to waive her hands in the air, as a chicken flaps its wings. To make it clearer for the butcher, she began to crow with at the top of her voice. Now she was certain he would understand.
”Madam,” the butcher said in Yiddish after observing her behavior, “Do you want something? Tell me what it is.”
”God bless you my friend,” the woman gleefully exclaimed. “You can speak Yiddish! The why should I bother to speak to you in English?”
It is arduous to come to a new culture and acclimate ourselves. It was hard for our forbears who came to this country and it is as difficult for new immigrants today.
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