So, you lived in Jordan, and when did you move to Brooklyn? '79. So five,
turned six here, I'd imagine. And I started
kindergarten, I had ESL. Although both of my parents spoke really good English,
they went through
the
primary refugee education, which was British based, not American based.
So they pretty much spoke better English than a lot of people who
taught me.
That's the truth.
And I went to PS 29, which actually, Spike Lee went to PS 29. Is
that right? Yes, a bunch of people went to PS 29.
Do you remember what your first day of school was like,
or what it was like to prepare for your first day? I remember
my mom taking me to school. Yeah, I do.
'Cause, first of all, you would just remember your mom is like this
queen goddess angel type. And now when I think about it,
it's even more so. I remember her holding my hand and taking me to
school. And because I had a bit of a speech impediment,
I had to have these rehabilitation courses, so I think that somehow softened
my entry because I was given special attention for my stuttering,
and that went hand in hand with acclimating me to the language.
But at that age, you pick it up, and then
everybody wishes you shut up in every language.