I can't believe all these things I have to share with you today: For those of you when you first learned a new language other than your mother tongue were you afraid to open your mouth?

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I learned some Hebrew when i was growing up but it was not the same as they talk in Israel. I had to start all over again when came here and when I was first learning when I sat on the bus I did not want anyone to sit next to me and ask questions. I was so afraid of making a mistake. Then all of a sudden I opened my mouth the words starting coming out and I did not care how many mistakes I made. I remember when I had to go back to Minneapolis and was in a Target store and someone was asking in Hebrew whose cart it was that was sitting somewhere and I turned to the person without thinking and answered back in Hebrew that it was mine. There were lots of Israelis living in Minnesota at the time. In malls I would hear Hebrew. Well, back to the person. He was so surprised that someone would answer him in Hebrew that he asked if I would pay for his things and I said no. We had while I was growing up a small Jewish community there. That was really cool and there was a man off to the side watching the encounter but not understanding what we were saying. That was fun. I made some Israelis friends and had to come back in 1989 to make some money so would call a friend up that I made there and talk in Hebrew. It was really fun for me.