AT. the age of twentyeight. 1 was chosen to begin life over by becoming a child once again. To begin life from the womb and develop through the stages of life is normal but there is constant struggle for the person who returns to infancy still possessing knowledge from the old Hfe^ My mind may have been mature before, but now his first words are a meaningless' babble of monosyllables which those around him mistake for mind-

My first attempts to eat rice bring forth suppressed smiles and quite shame as food dribbles to the Door; memories of past skill with silverware are useless.

Even after a year of agonizing growth, I was still a babe,

bewildered by the purposeful activity of busy people stepping over him. I can now be understood and make my basic needs known but my only contribution to society is the Inconveniences I cause it. 1 am fighting for my old pride, now shattered by each funny failure I perform. People arc patient, but tt is the indulgent patience that-one would have for a child.

There are occasional rewards: I will sometimes say something surprisingly witty, but the comment is usually unintentional and the grammar, offbeat. Remaining quiet, I begin to learn the heartbeat of ’hts elders in this new world and at scarce moments he offers timely solace to suffering souls or is able to Join in the joys of his teachers.

My victories into the new kingdom are always matched by paranoia that this kingdom will overwhelm him. But now memories of the former life begin to serve him. I do not simply grow tall, but broad also. Horizohs formerly shrouded are now in view. The words and ways of this new culture are not merely learned but compared with the old and rediscovered. New friends are more deeply fathomed; enemies are less bizarre.

I left secure maturity behind to become a vulnerable babe. There arc also the countless individuals who. for whatever reasons, move from one culture to another and become children, with a new life but ever conscious of‘the old as well.

My advice to people moving to a new culture: Unless you become as a child, you will never enter that kingdom.

Your old patterns will be lost and useless and yet, strangely, after' losing them for a season . they will be returned to you tn greater glory. You will suffer the loss of your own identity, only to have it reborn tn a new identity.

If you suffer the loss of expressing ideas in your own language, the old ideas will come with new freshness as you team a new speech. If you suffer the loss of your self pride, it will be replaced by freedom from needing such pride. And even if you never move to another country, remember that every new day Is a new country.