I never knew what it meant to be illiterate. Even in European countries I could get by because I knew the alphabet and there were many cognates. When I moved to Korea, however, suddenly I couldn’t even RECOGNIZE my own name, much less write it. I was looking for pictures to tell me which door was the men’s bathroom because the signs just looked like a bunch of chickens with inky feet ran across them.
That was a horrible feeling. And having to point at the pictures of the food you want because you are not able to read the menu or being unable to fill out something simple like a video membership card was also a horrible feeling.
When I finally DID learn to read, however, it was a vast ocean of relief. I was no longer relying on the kindness of strangers for my succor and I was once again in charge of my life.
I want to give this same feeling of independence and control to adults in my own country; to people who see signs written in their NATIVE LANGUAGE and have no idea what they say. I want to shatter their shackles of illiteracy and free them to live a full, prosperous, and fearless life.
Is there any greater feeling than being the Captain of your own Destiny?
snowstar cheered this 6 years ago
