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Diversity The Intensive English Program Newsletter Volume 8, No. 2, Fall 2009 Editor's Note: The Intensive English (ESOL) Program at Lone Star College - Kingwood was founded in August 2001 to help immigrant and international students living in the community to learn and improve their English. One of the goals of the ESOL Program is to promote intercultural understanding and diversity on Contents campus and in the community. Diversity: The ESOL Student Newsletter plays an important role towards this goal. This issue of the Diversity has several themes: What I Like Most about My Country, Why I N eed to Improve My English, What I Like Most about the U.S., An Interesting or Funny Experience in What I Like Most the U.S., What Surprises Me Most about the U.S., Who is My Hero, This I Believe, and What Inspires About My Country Me. I hope you will enjoy reading these great stories. ...............1 If you have any comments about the newsletter, please e-mail Anne Amis at [email protected]. Why I Need to Improve My English What I Like Most about My Country ...............4 Patricio Bedon, Ecuador, Writing–High Beginning “With love today I want to sing, Yes sir, to my beautiful Ecuador and say that wherever I go, I am What I Like Most Ecuadorian.” These three lines are part of a song that we Ecuadorians sing with pride and with a strong About the U.S. voice to remember fondly our little piece of land. Ecuador is known around the world, despite the ...............6 fact that it is a small country, no bigger than Colorado. However, with human warmth it welcomes the people of the world. We are located in South America between Peru and Colombia. We share the An Interesting or Funny same culture, the same race and even the same blue ocean that bathes our beaches. It is the tall peaks Experience in the U.S. and mountains that appear to interact with the stars at night and the lakes adorned with thick mist .............13 that make our land special. Atahualpa, the Great Inca King said, “Tahuantinsuyo, Llacta Cuna, Pacha Mama,” or “Tahuantinsuoy, My Cradle, My Mother Land.” What Surprises Me Alvaro Leal, Mexico, Writing–High Beginning Most about the U.S. Hello! My name is Alvaro, and I am from Mexico. What I really like about my country are the rooster .............15 fights. In a rooster fight, two roosters fight with knives, and fight till death. The one that stays alive wins the fight and attends the “Palenque,” a big after-party. I like parties. The best time to party in Who is My Hero Mexico is in September and December. September is the Patriot month, and every night there are .............17 fireworks, people drink all night and are very happy. December is a party month too, but this time we celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Besides parties, what I like the most about my country are the This I Believe soccer games on the weekends, when people join each other to watch their favorite team. Oh, I almost .............18 forgot that Mexico is not expensive, and for all these reasons I like my country. Maria Teresa Adams, Venezuela, Writing–High Beginning What Inspires Me I like everything about my country, but I think the landscapes are the most beautiful in Venezuela. The .............19 beaches are the best in the world, and my favorite beaches are Morrocoy National Park, Sombrero Is- land, Mayorquina, Paicla, Los Juanes and many other beautiful ones. One of these beaches is all I need ESOL Schedule on a weekend. The Venezuelan plains are very beautiful, too, and they are homes to many animals and Spring 2009 many exotic flowers and birds. The Andes has snow-covered mountains, and its climate is very pleasant. .............23 The Great Savannah is said to be the world’s oldest land, and its Angel Falls (Salto Angel, or Churum Meru) is very amazing. What matters the most about my country is that my family lives there, in the beautiful city of Barquisimeto. My city is musical; everyone knows how to play an instrument or how to sing. Also, I like Venezuelan food, such as arepas, empanadas, tostones, pabellones and Christmas food, like hallacas and ham bread (pan de jamon). And of course, I like the people that work to make Venezuela a better country day by day. For more information, call 281-312-1578 or go to Kingwood.LoneStar.edu Diversity: The Intensive English Program Newsletter is published once a semester. What I Like Most about My Country Angela Gonzalez, Colombia, Writing–High Beginning Julio C. Gonzalez, Cuba, Writing–High Beginning A tropical country of incredible diversity and charm, situated in My name is Julio C. Gonzalez. I was born in Cuba, in a town the northwest corner of South America, Colombia is a country named Varadero. What I like most about my country are the with great history, culture and tradition. It is the only country in beautiful beaches. Many tourists visit Varadero because of its the region with coasts on both the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. beautiful beaches. The water is blue and green. The sand is white In most of the country, there are two rainy seasons – from April to and very clean. I used to spend many hours on the beach. My June and from August to November – and two dry seasons. Co- house was only four blocks away. My very first job was that of a lombia enjoys constant luminosity throughout the year, with an life guard. I met a lot of people from different countries. I was equal duration of daylight and night time hours. Colombia is the amazed at how many people loved to visit Cuba. Some other second most diverse country on the planet. Protected ecosystems, things I love about my country are the food and the music. We where scientific research or the simple delight of contemplating dance to salsa and merengue all night. I often dream about my and experiencing are possible, make our country an exceptional country. I am planning to take a vacation to Cuba next summer. nature destination. It is a country with incredible biodiversity, I cannot wait to see my family and friends whom I have not seen which is represented in 53 protected areas. With about 1876 in years. species, equivalent to 20% of the word total, Colombia is the number one country in bird diversity in the world; it is a paradise Hilda Gonzalez, Mexico, Writing–High Beginning for birdwatchers with innumerable options. Also, my country has My city, Puebla de Los Angeles, is beautiful and interesting. It was some of the most beautiful flowers in the world. founded on April 16, 1531, by Spanish conquerors. For us, May 5 is a day for big celebration. A lot of people think it is the Day The people of Colombia are very intelligent, hard-working, cheer- of Independence, but it is not. May 5 is the day of a battle that ful and hospitable. We have beautiful music (Cumbia, Vallenato), happened in Puebla. dances, and delicious gastronomy. Puebla has a beautiful landscape. It is known as the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan. Puebla is surrounded by two volcanoes and one mountain. The climate is such that you can enjoy all year round, and the air is very fresh. If you ever get a chance, I would recom- mend that you take a trip over there and enjoy what Puebla has to offer. Maria Tudor, Romania, Writing–High Beginning I love my country, Romania. My country has big cities. I lived in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. The people in my country are friendly. They are hardworking and hospitable. They also like to travel. My country has beautiful places with mountains, forests, hills, beaches and plains. In the summer, people go to the Black Sea for vacation. We celebrate Easter, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. People are happy when they celebrate their traditions. We prepare delicious foods like cookies, sausages, cabbage rolls, bacon and soups. The people of my country are intelligent. Our history is interesting, and many people know about the monasteries of Olga Caldas, Colombia, Writing–High Beginning Moldavia, the Bran castle, or Dracula’s castle. I love my country I like Colombia because the people are very friendly there, and and my people. I am proud that I am Romanian. the families are close to each other. I love Colombian music, as it Nilsa Kleiber, Panama, Writing–High Beginning is one of the most beautiful expressions of my culture. We have a great variety of music genres, songs and dances. I love Colombian I am from Panama. It is a beautiful country. It is also a small food because it is unique and healthy. We enjoy it at parties, which country with only nine provinces. The people in Panama are nice I like very much for the people are happy there. Colombia is a and friendly. What I like most about Panama are the beaches. great place for vacation; it has a variety of climates, the beaches are Panama has wonderful, beautiful and nice beaches. The water is pretty, and it has many holidays in the year. Also, I like Colombi- clear and blue. The sand is white. People spend their weekends an literature because it portrays Spanish culture. I am very proud on the beach, and they have a good time there. When I go to of our Nobel Prize winner author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Panama, I always go to the beach because I love it.