MooBee

English is not an easy language to master. If you come from a remote island in a far off corner of Indonesia, you will not hear English spoken. You may not even hear Bahasa Indonesia (official language) spoken either, because many of these people speak only their local dialect. Tison comes from one of these places and has done very well in his first weeks in America.

We just love the way he asks to see a movie--he calls it MooBee. He is now counting on his own in English and thinks the number eight is funny, because it also means (ate) I have finished eating. There are a number of English words that sound the same, are spelled differently and have different meanings. What a language we have.

Before going to bed each night, he is having several books read to him. He is smart and is picking up a number of new words. He is also helping us with our Indonesia. I think it is amazing how his young mind can remember words. I am a testament to how hard, it can be, for an old brain to learn a new language. I tell my Indonesian friends--Saya otak tua (I have an old brain). Words just do not stick as easily as they used to--I need more of that youthful new language glue maybe the words would stick the first time I hear them.

I have written several times about his adjustment to our ways and the climate here in the far north. I think he is doing as-well-as can be expected.

We are still awaiting the date for his first surgery. We should hear in the next day or two.