There are so many reasons to study foreign languages at every age. With all the tools we have available to aid us, there's no excuse not to learn a second (or even a third) language. Foreign languages are one of the most important parts of our homeschooling experience.

In fact, I even downloaded Duolingo on my mom's phone so she could keep her mind fresh learning another language! Learning to speak a second language is so rewarding, especially when you have the opportunity to put all that effort into use.

That is why I was thrilled to speak with Stefanie Naumann, the granddaughter of Tadeusz Haska.  Her grandfather spoke nine languages! He was born in 1919 in Mikołajki, Poland, and was orphaned at the young age of thirteen. Education was so important to him, that he and his younger brother continued going to school while living alone. They were able to pay their way by tutoring other students.

Unfortunately, a bomb dropped on the university he attended and he had to put his education on pause. However, his knowledge of languages helped him survive World War II. He persevered and miraculously survived in many situations.
Languages saved his life on multiple occasions, as told in his memoir.

Haska's granddaughter, Stefanie Naumann, co-authored the book How Languages Saved Me: A Polish Story of Survival. It is her grandfather's biography that he was unable to finish at the time of his passing at age 93. Stefanie was able to finish the book using video interviews, letters, and other documents made during Haska's lifetime.

How Languages Saved Me: A Polish Story of Survival earned 1st place in the 2019 Royal Dragonfly book awards in the autobiography and historical nonfiction categories. Not at all surprising since his story is astonishing and inspirational.
When I was arrested, my whole world crumbled. I knew that leaders of political parties had been arrested, and never heard from again. My only chance at survival was to find a way to escape from the jail.
Tadeusz "Tad" Haska survived World War II on the run, narrowly evading the Nazis every step of the way. After the war, he daringly escaped jail by the Soviet Secret Police, fled to Sweden, and launched an elaborate plan to smuggle his wife in a coffin on an all-male naval ship.
Languages Saved His Life
Through reading the book, we are able to observe how Mr. Haska's knowledge of nine languages helped him survive in the face of unspeakable adversity.

Interestingly, his ninth language was English and was the language in which he earned his Ph.D. in Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley.

He taught and served as chairman, in the Polish Department at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA for 35 years. His work was featured on the TV program The Big Picture. (source) See footage on Stefanie Naumman's website.

My children also wanted to read this book and were inspired to continue their pursuit of learning other languages. We have studied Spanish, Korean,
Rebecca Huff
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Being Successful in Spite of a Difficult Childhood
https://www.thatorganicmom.com/difficult-childhood-mark-diehl/
Mon, 25 Nov 2019 13:00:00 +0000
https://www.thatorganicmom.com/?p=16929
Those who have a relationship with someone suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), will know how difficult it can make every aspect of life.
Mental Health and Setting Boundaries with Family
Mark Diehl, the author of the memoir Stealing Cinderella: How I Became an International Fugitive for Love, has been there. His mother, who suffered from BPD, often harped on worries not grounded in reality. For example, she was paranoid that his daughter's ice skating lessons might bankrupt his family.

She would act on these fears, recruiting others to help her press Mark for answers. Her constant badgering drove Mark to distraction. At one point, her intrusion caused him to flush his daughter's beloved pet frog down the toilet by accident.

After Mark's mo