Natives and newcomers
Who is a native Israeli? In 90% of cases - a son or a grandson of a newcomer. Who are the newcomers? In 90% of cases - parents or grandparents of a native Israeli. Myself, I am a grandmother of a native. And within ...ty years he will be able to touch a stone, that will let him feel a third generation of the family in Israel. Or, rather - fourth: his maternal greatgrandfather is burried here, and his greatgrandmother is still alive.
Currently, I work as a nurse, taking care of elderly women. I have a woman in my care - she came to Israel over 60 years ago from Germany. Another one - a newcomer from Russia, who was retired already when she arived. I had another one who came from Rhodesia and lived in Israel for 28 years. Another one - came from Polland and lives here for 70 years now. I spoke English with the one from Rhodesia, Russian - with the one from Russia, and Hebrew with the others. Apropos Hebrew, I learned it from a native, an old lady, whose parents came from Egypt.
Usually, I get alone with this plethora of multilingual old geezers just fine. Because I am there for any of their wishes and whims. And the wishes are many, and often are quite contradicting. Which makes things interesting.
But there is a topic, which every last one of them necessarily touches at the beginning of our relationship, and which I never go along with. That's when each of them starts to assert that her ethnical group is the best. That's where I get all nerves, but I force myself to keep calm, so as not to loose the job.
- I don't like the native Israelis, they are uneducated and uncultivated!
- My Hebrew teacher spoke seven languages, of which she learned Spanish when she was 50. I never saw that much care and attention from any other aged woman. By the way, we visited together the concert hall on a monthly basis.
- I don't like "Russians", they don't even know how to use cellphones and ATMs!
- Actually, I was rather surprised to discover, that not all the natives know how to use a computer. After all, they have it here for a long time.
- I don't like those who don't speak English! This is the lingua franca of the world, why on earth would I learn other languages?
- You don't want to - then don't. Otherwise my English will rust away due to lack of practice. And if you don't mind, let's switch topic from cooking and bathing. Because, you know, my Hebrew- and Russian-speaking patients are always eager to talk about books and painters - and I'd love to entertain you with a nice substantial discussion.
These examples are just a tip of the iceberg. Now the old ladies figured by now that, to their amazement, I don't break up our people into the better half and the other half. Because everyone has his strong traits - and his weaknesses. And I won't allow to speak of any group of population in degrading terms in my presence. I won't allow any juxtaposition. Will help out anyone. And if I encounter another period of hardship, I will receive any help with gratitude, without asking whether I am being helped by one of "my own" or not.
If only because people of any group of my nation are dying at the frontiers and under the missiles.
Translated by:
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
dimrubLink to the original post:
here
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}