Reflections Voices of English Learners
Third Edition, 2020
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 1 OUR MISSION
The Literacy Council of Frederick County teaches adults the reading and other English language skills they need to provide for their families and to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of our community.
OUR VALUES
• Sustaining our organization through responsible financial stewardship, sound management, and community engagement. • Teaching a parent in order to educate a family. Educating our students in a learner-centered format with compassion, confidentiality, and respect. • Producing a safer, healthier, economically stronger, and more vibrant community through adult literacy. • Sustaining, empowering, and energizing a passionate, strong dedicated volunteer base.
OUR VISION
A community where literacy is attainable for everyone.
frederickliteracy.org
The Literacy Council of Frederick County is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
2 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners FOREWORD
The Literacy Council of Frederick County (LCFC) is publishing its third annual Reflections: Voices of English Learners. This is a collection of various stories that our students have written with pride. The LCFC started in 1963 to teach adults reading and other English language skills that they need to provide for their families and contribute to the well-being and prosperity of our community. We have helped 335 students in the past year with one-to-one tutoring, specialty classes, workplace classes for hospitality and restaurant employees, and English learning for parents of grade school students at several Frederick County Public Schools. As we each reflect on the additional stresses we have felt during the past six months, we realize that multiple things have shifted in our own lives. The COVID-19 Crisis has caused us to feel isolation, economic uncertainty, and fear for our own health. Furthermore, social justice issues have led to widespread unrest, felt locally as well as nationally and globally. Imagine how threatening this time of change and uncertainty is to our students as they try to cope and survive. We are all challenged to rethink our perspectives and values through a more inclusive lens. As I read each of these “reflections”, I imagine each writer’s struggle, bravery, and hope for reaching a better tomorrow.
Jim Grissom, President Literacy Council Board of Directors
All rights reserved ©2020 Literacy Council of Frederick County, Maryland.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 3 DEDICATION
We dedicate Reflections to our adult learners, their families, and their volunteer tutors.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Reflections: Voices of English Learners is a very special publication. It emerges from the minds and hearts of our student body and their perspectives on life in general. Some are English learners and some are English speakers who are improving their reading and writing skills. Submission is open to all the adult learners of the Literacy Council and we are always amazed at the excellence of writing we are blessed to publish in this magazine at many levels of language acquisition. A number of the pieces came from the Writing Class that we conducted online this Spring. We studied a new form of essay writing: one where you state a problem and come up with a solution. Students tackled issues close to their hearts and shared their transformative moments with their classmates. Their insights into human nature and their own moments of revelation are quite enlightening. The artistic endeavors of our students were inspired by these unprecedented times of pandemic, economic difficulties, and social unrest, which have altered many viewpoints and illuminated the need for justice and equality for all. Our students are moving forward in their lives with their newly acquired English language skills and making a difference for themselves, for their families, and for our community. Our adult learners represent many different nationalities, languages, and cultures. We are privileged to present to you the third edition of the Literary Magazine of the Literacy Council of Frederick County. We edit only lightly, maintaining the integrity of the individual voice in each piece. We would like to invite those of you who are new readers of the magazine and students of the Literacy Council to submit your stories for Reflections 2021. Let’s continue to be a place where many voices can come together and share their writing, ideas, and perspectives.
The opinions expressed in these essays do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Literacy Council.
4 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This magazine would not have been possible without the generous support of the Literacy Council of Frederick County’s Board of Directors, President Jim Grissom and Immediate Past President Richard Haney, Executive Director Laurie Fisher, Program Manager Jennifer Szabo, editors Julie Heifetz and Catherine Coundjeris, our dedicated tutors, and our contributing students. Reflections: Voices of English Learners was designed by Betsy Maymon and printed by Strategic Factory. Photography was provided by our students.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Curious Iguana, Jane & John Ketchem and Spring Ridge Chiropractic
Congratulations to the Literacy Council of Get to know your world Frederick County and at Curious Iguana, Downtown Frederick’s its volunteers and adult independent bookstore. learners on your 12 N. Market St. outstanding Downtown Frederick achievements. 301.695.2500 springridgechiropractic.com curiousiguana.com 301-466-4440
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Amilcar Perú Knowing the History of 8 Tutor: Dorothy Matthews the United States
Ana Perú My History 10 Tutor: Janet Millward
Helon China Reading to Children 11 Tutor: Paula Duarte
Horyeh Jordan Fall is Here 12 Tutor: C. Coundjeris
Horyeh Jordan My Favorite Corner 13 Tutor: C. Coundjeris
Jacqueline Syria Gibran Khalid Gibran 14 Tutor: Denise Dertzbaugh
Jacqueline Syria Understanding the Homeless 16 Tutor: Denise Dertzbaugh
Jamila Syria Peace for the World 18 Tutor: Lorraine Roberts
Jamila Syria A Family Dinner 19 Tutor: Lorraine Roberts
Jessica United The Magic Tree 20 Tutor: Sandra Evans States
Jinjin China How Do I Keep My 22 Tutor: Mary Loverro Marriage Fresh?
Kezhong China My Botched Adventure 24 Tutor: David Allerton
Kezhong China She is Better Than Celebrities 26 Tutor: David Allerton
Lily China Bragi Dress 27 Tutor: Yanling Zhou
Maria Colombia One of the Most Important 29 Tutor: Rita McGowan Events in Our Lives
6 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners Maria Colombia The Delight of Building the 30 Tutor: Rita McGowan Christmas Manger Scene with My Family
Marina Uzbekistan Lovely Perfume 31 Tutor: C. Coundjeriss
Marina Uzbekistan The National Monument 32 Tutor: C. Coundjeris
Naylya Russian My Favorite Places to Visit 33 Tutor: Irene Dutikow Federation
Olga Russian A Near Miss 34 Tutor: Irene Dutikow Federation
Olga Russian The Domra and My Student 35 Tutor: Irene Dutikow Federation
Rocio El Salvador My Great Adventure 37 Tutor: C. Coundjeris
Rocio El Salvador The Perfect Balance 38 Tutor: C. Coundjeris
Rui China The Effects of Being Bilingual 39 Tutor: Jennifer Smith
Rui China My Grandmother’s Board 41 Tutor: Jennifer Smith
Sanjhana Nepal Holi-Fagu Purmina 42 Tutor: Ekta Sharma Colorful Festival
Silvia Perú Finishing School in a 44 Tutor: Freida Pryor Global Health Pandemic
Wenfei China My Quarentine Time During 46 Tutor: Paula Duarte the Pandemic
Wenfei China The Danger of A Single Story 48 Tutor: Paula Duarte
Y Republic A Wood Turtle 51 Tutor: C. Coundjeris of Korea
Y Republic If No Gun Was Available 53 Tutor: C. Coundjeris of Korea
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 7 KNOWING THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES by Amilcar
I am Amilcar from A Purimac-Chalhuanca, like me, without distinction, and for in the Andes Mountains of Perú. For twenty- welcoming me as part of a great family. five years I served in the special forces of Peru’s I am sure that is how many of us feel. military. When I came to the United States, Respect for culture and history integrates I was introduced to the Literacy Council by one very quickly into the society of the my wife, Silvia. I enjoy cooking, especially on the grill, and in the summer, gardening is my country where a migrant arrives. Since passion. I continue to pursue my first goal of my arrival in the United States on April learning to speak more English. My long-term 9, 2017, to this day, I have participated in goal is to one day develop my own company, some commemorative events on important Amilcar’s Tree Service. dates that occurred in the history of the United States. My tutor, DJ Matthews, I want to thank the Literacy Council shares my interest, and encourages me to for their significant mutual help in my increase my knowledge of these events. personal life and for supporting a student I like history, especially the Civil War,
8 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners some presidents of the United States, and In the same context, the assassination historical places. of President John F. Kennedy happened, I learned about the United States Civil and I deepened my knowledge by visiting War by attending the commemoration the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, of a battle between the Union and the where I enjoyed exhibitions about his Confederates. This event took place at life and his government. My admiration the Monocacy National Battlefield. In for president Kennedy prompted me on the same context, I found that in my my vacation to take a road trip to Dallas, city, Middletown, the church located on Texas, to visit the place where he was last Main Street served as a center for hospital applauded. I reflected on Elm Street in care for Union soldiers. I also enjoyed Dallas, where the exact location of the the theatrical play staging the death murder of President Kennedy is marked of President Abraham Lincoln. It was with an “X” that represents the irreparable shocking to me the way he was killed in a loss to the country. theater with a shot to the head. I learned I participated in the High Wheel Bike about the history of Dr. Martin Luther Race in August of last year, but only as a King, Jr., in the museums of Washington, spectator with my friends. At Arlington DC, and I walked to the Lincoln National Cemetery, I participated in the Memorial. I learned how Dr. Martin National Wreaths Across America in Luther King, Jr., led the largest peaceful December. In February I enjoyed the First civil rights protest in United States history Saturday Fire in Ice event of ice statues with his famous speech, “I have a dream...” on the streets of downtown Frederick. For In addition, I watched the Martin Luther me, all these experiences are beautiful, as is King, Jr., murder scene at the Weinberg knowing their history and integrating into Center and was impressed with his the American culture of this incredibly ability to lead a large crowd of protesters wonderful country. peacefully with one idea: to fight for civil and labor rights.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 9 MY HISTORY By Ana
My name is Ana and I am from Perú. I happy because I needed help with my am married and have four children. I am a English. Moreover, I met with Janet who is Registered Nurse in my country and I am very helpful, patient, cheerful, lovely, and I passionate about my job. I moved to the U.S. learn a lot with her. in 2016 and a few months later, I found Then I took another step in my life. I my first job. I keep working there because I like to work as a care giver even though it enrolled in classes for Certified Nursing is very different from my work in Perú. I Assistant certification. At first, the teacher miss working at the hospital a lot, but here was confusing because she spoken very I received a better salary. I dream someday I fast in English and I couldn’t believe I will work at the hospital in the U.S. For this finished the class. I had to study 4 or 5 reason, I need to study English, but college is units every week. Janet pushed me because very expensive for me. she thought I was able to finish. Janet was my second angel. I finished my CNA and One day, my friend Olinda told me passed the test the first time. Now, I rely about the “Literacy Council.” I went on Janet to help me with my big goal. I there, but they told me they couldn’t help hope to become a Registered Nurse in U.S. me because my English was too good by taking the RN exam. I am finished with for tutoring. But I prayed to my God to my history; however, I need to say thank convince the Literacy Council because God for finding the Literacy Council. my English needed to improve to be a Registered Nurse in the U.S. A few The real failure arises when you stop months later my first angel, Catherine persevering. appeared. She told me “I will probably —Albert Einstein have someone for tutoring.” I was very
10 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners READING TO CHILDREN By Helon
Hi, I am Helon! I have been studying in writing. She is also a pretty brave and cool Frederick Literacy Council for 3 years already, woman, which inspires me to face difficulties the time flies! in life and work tirelessly towards my goals! I gained and learned a lot from the Literacy This learning experience will be a great Council, and I contacted many people who help to my future academic study and work. come from diverse backgrounds during this No matter where I go in the future, I will period. We have shared hobbies and learned remember this warm experience. Thanks to my together. This is an amazing and great teachers, Literacy staff, and all the people who experience for me. The Literacy Council is support us in learning there. I hope I have the an ideal platform to provide many forms of opportunity to become someone like them to language training for students. I attended help others in the future too. conversation class, writing class, etc., they also offered tutor training for me, which greatly Reading books to children is the best promoted my English level when my English solution for parents to prepare their was not particularly good. children for elementary school. It is I clearly remembered that my first class was beneficial for children’s future school life Ms. Catherine’s conversation course. She was and their academic learning. very nice and pretty friendly, welcoming me Firstly, reading books for children to join her course. I was very nervous, but I can cultivate their social skills. To begin suddenly felt relaxed when I saw the smile with, parents read books for their kids, of my kind teacher and classmates. She was as an ideal platform, can hone children’s very patient, and to make me understand the communication skills. Such as listening, meaning of the article in the newspaper, she speaking, and understanding, which can even helped me to analyze and explain the enable kids to complete mastery of diverse meaning of some new words. The staff in here social skills. I preferred to read some and the teachers of other courses are also great. My tutor was responsible and professional, books with pictures and music when my and she adjusted my pronunciation of son was three years old. The book “Baby’s speaking and helped me to practice my essay First Animal” by Jennifer H. Keast, which
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 11 combined picture and music, is a good book, “Dora’s Search for the Seasons”by example of one. These kinds of music Samantha Berger helps children learn books developed my son’s singing and the knowledge of seasons and stimulate listening. So, in this way, children practice children interesting in exploring the world. their social skills if they can read books Thirdly, parents can improve an intimate with their parents. relationship with their children. Initially, Secondly, reading books for their providing parents with access to books children can increase the kid’s knowledge. that were read for children, the adults and Firstly, parents, with reading books kids can share their hobbies, or solve kid’s for their kids, could expand the kid’s problems from books instantly. Therefore, knowledge base. To be more specific, the they can build a strong bond. For instance, more they read books for their kids, the I used to read the book “Little Bear Won’t more likely they will widen their kid’s Sleep” which was written by Christine knowledge horizon so as to extend their Swift with my son before his bedtime. It kid’s knowledge base. Moreover, not only helped him to build a good sleeping habit reading books can enlarge kid’s knowledge and it also enhanced our relationship. out-look, but also it can boost their kid’s In conclusion, it is beneficial for parents interest in the study, which will encourage and their kids if adults can read books for kids to absorb knowledge from those their kids. books. Yet another example of a great
FALL IS HERE By Horyeh
I am originally from Jordan and I am a wife and a mother of 4 children. During my Shivering, scared and worrying, school years, my favorite hobby was writing falling one after another. short stories and poems. I joined the Literacy They gather together and started Council to improve my writing and speaking singing. Listen, abilities, to allow me to better communicate with others. I benefited a lot from meeting listen, hush… new people and got the chance to learn not just to better my skills but also about many What doesn’t kill you makes different cultures. I am very grateful for my you stronger, stronger. time at the center and for all the wonderful Yes, yes we believe teachers who helped me and others feel like soon we will be back, grow together, a family. bloom together. Dry grass, dry leaves. Grass leaves, Dry flowers, and dry trees. flowers and trees, Came together to support each other. Grow bigger and make it again Because of the weather, together forever. they cry together, and hug each other.
12 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners MY FAVORITE CORNER By Horyeh
In any home, there is a special room or My favorite time is when it snows. I corner for each one who lives in that home enjoy having my coffee or my hot cocoa to enjoy and unwind. My special place when the snowflakes land on the edge where I can sit and relax is my bedroom. of my window and on the trees in my One small corner next to the big window, backyard. It is very nice watching my is my small world. neighbors’ children play in the snow, I go to the corner and sit on my big, making angels and snowmen. cherry leather chair and place a pillow I love my window and I love the view all behind my back, and under my feet. I love year long. Sometimes my husband and my those big, soft pillows. They are white and children join me and we enjoy talking and light as a feather. I can see the highway laughing, while we watch those beautiful 340 and Big Knob Mountain from my birds, enjoying the food we left for them. window. I’ve never been bored when I sit This is my most relaxing and favorite next to my window, watching the birds place to be. landing and flying again after they pick some food from the yard.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 13 GIBRAN KHALID GIBRAN by Jacqueline
My name is Jacqueline. I’m from Syria where volunteer in Community Care Ministries I worked as a physician internist, for about 35 with the Salvation Army. Eventually my life years. My husband and I moved to the U.S.A. has regained its vitality and its humanitarian because of the war, 5 years ago. I learned meaning through my community services, and the English language in school. I could read, I still aspire to give more. write, but I could not speak the language, nor understand many essential daily concepts, Among the many important persons so I was frustrated. Now after attending who have passed away and who have had different classes at the Literacy Council I a fingerprint in my life, I chose Gibran first attained my driver’s license and also Khalid Gibran to be my topic. gained so much more so that I can immerse myself in my new community. I am certified “Gibran was a Lebanese-American as a Community Health Worker, facilitator writer, poet, visual artist, philosopher, for “Chronic Disease Self-Management,” theologian, and Syrian nationalist. He and “Diabetes, Hypertension, Pain Self- was born on January 6, 1883 in the town Management” as well as a graduate of the of Bsharri in Mount Lebanon.” He was Bridge Program that helps health educators young when he migrated with his family give outreach to the community. Besides I
14 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners to the U.S. and settled in Boston. exaggerate in protecting our kids, and this I was a teenager when I read about prompts them to rebel in defense of their Gibran’s platonic relationship with May freedoms and personalities. Sometimes we Elias Ziadeh, the poet, essayist, and push them to fulfill our dreams that we translator who was living in Lebanon. failed to achieve, or that we didn’t have the They knew one another solely from the opportunity to accomplish, disregarding letters they exchanged and from the deep their passion for something else. admiration for one others’ writing. Those I learned from “The Prophet”: letters were the spark that fired my passion “You may give them your love but not and pushed me to dive into his books and your thoughts thoughts to extinguish my desire. or they have their own thoughts. Reading his books, particularly, “The You may house their bodies but not Prophet” opened my mind to different, their souls cultural concepts which I adored, and for their souls, dwell in the house penetrated deeply into my mind, my of tomorrow, which soul, and my heart, and I nurtured them. you cannot visit, not even in Those new concepts were and still are my your dreams. lighthouse that guided me through the You may strive to be like them, but seek journey of my life. They were about love, not to make them like you. friendship, marriage, forgiveness, children, I tried my best to discipline my son life, education, and many more landscapes and show him right from wrong, and the of humanity. Marriage in our culture, in consequences of each choice we make. I general, gives the man the authority in helped him build his self-esteem and gave leading his family. His will and interests him the choice to choose his pathway in are priorities. His wife lives under his this harsh world. shadow. Gibran says in The Prophet: Gibran was a great poet. He died early “Give your hearts, but not into each at the age of 48 from cirrhosis of the liver other’s keeping and tuberculosis of the lung in New York for only the hand of life can contain City, but his writings are still alive. His your hearts book, “The Prophet” has inspired song and stand together yet not too near lyrics, political speeches and have been together read out at weddings and funerals all for the pillars of the temples stand apart, around the world. and the oak tree and the cypress grow When I think of him, a feeling of not into each other’s shadow.” gratitude overwhelms me. When I think My husband and I believed in Gibran’s of him, a challenging question faces me: thoughts and likewise we built our If during his short life, he left such a great family and we thrived. Children are very legacy of literature and art, what would he important in life. They are the hope and have left if he had lived a long life? Genius the future of the families and nations. Out is unpredictable! of love and fear of the unknown, we often
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 15 UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS by Jacqueline
Homelessness is missing a permanent high enough to block the car door. I called and safe home to reside in. It is my husband who immediately started experiencing living in a car, park, parking shoveling a narrow path across the street lot, campground, or shelter. Homeless and helped her to get into the house. She people spend most of their daytime near was shaking and her eyes were full of tears, libraries, hospitals, or any facility that may her nose and lips seemed reddish, and she provide them with warmth, coolness, water, looked to be in her fifties. We comforted restrooms, or entertainment. her, offered her a blanket, and a warm cup When we moved to the U.S., Frederick, of tea, and we invited her to sleep in the MD, we settled across from the Frederick spare room that the landlord had. She Memorial Hospital. Every day, I would thanked us for our hospitality and chose to notice a group of shabby, unfortunate sleep on the couch. people, sitting round a table in the Through the three days we had spent hospital park, eating, chatting, laughing or together, she told us that she was homeless disagreeing. Next to most of them lay big for about 8 years shortly after leaving home bags in which they kept their belongings due to domestic violence that she could and possessions. Sometimes I would see no longer handle it and she got a divorce. them strolling around or even sleeping on She also told us that she had a part time the benches. When I inquired about this job as a house cleaner that supported her situation, I was told that they are homeless financially. We didn’t dive into her private people by their choice, and I have to ignore life, but through our general conversation them and avoid them because they might we found out that she was knowledgeable, hurt me. And that is what I did until Christian, and she had memorized the one particular day that had changed whole bible by heart. my perspective. A week after she had left, she came It was the night of a heavy snowy day, back and left a thank you card with sweet my landlord and I were sipping tea in her written words and a beautiful origami warm cozy room, and enjoying the sight object she had made for my landlord and of the illuminated snowflakes, dancing in me. She touched my heart with her dignity, the air in the shadow of the street lights, her faith, her smartness. She changed about to embrace the surface of the glass my view of homelessness; she inspired and settle. Through the foggy window, we me to look for facts and information could see the nature around the hospital about homelessness; its causes and the premises, the building and the parking steps taken by the state in general and vehicles across the street coated with a Frederick County in particular to solve gorgeous white apparel, when our eyes this growing issue. And I started thinking, caught a light and a motion into one of what, as a citizen can I do to help alleviate the cars. We opened the door and looked this suffering. I was surprised to find out carefully and saw a woman rubbing her that homelessness is not a choice and hands and shivering with cold. We shouted I was told it has many reasons which and asked her to come in. The snow was cause it including poverty and housing.
16 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners Housing is very expensive according to Human Needs” uses the shelter system. the common income of most people; it “The Community Action Agency and the absorbs most of the salary so when poor “Health Management Agency of Frederick people afford to pay for housing, food, County” are running programs that offer health care, and education face a crisis permanent supportive housing. in life like job loss, death, serious illness What about us? What are our duties and medical emergencies, they are forced toward our community? I believe there to take a difficult decision. They usually are many different ways to help ending choose to drop housing and if they don’t homelessness. We can donate money get prompt help, they will end up living and resources like, blankets, clothes, in the street and eventually in shelters. hygienic tool kits, and goods etc., to the Other causes are addiction, domestic organizations that help the homeless. We violence, serious mental problems, divorce can also volunteer in these organizations and physical disabilities. I also found that or can become advocates for homelessness. there are many Federal strategic plans to For about a year, I have been part of a prevent and to end homelessness and they volunteer group related to the “Salvation are generalized and run in all the states. Army”. Every Monday afternoon, we Briefly some of the preventative measures prepare and offer meals, drinks and include job placement services, medical snacks to the homeless by going around services, and housing. And the first step to where they usually gather. We conduct to end homelessness is providing the a friendly chat with them and we make client assistance in finding a safe secure them feel that they are loved and valued permanent housing as quickly as possible. by the community. Unfortunately, we have The good news about Frederick temporarily suspended our activities due County is that homeless populations to the Coronavirus pandemic, but we’ll have decreased over the last five years. resume soon. According to the “Metropolitan Actually, understanding what being Washington Council of Governments homeless means is the first step toward Point in Time Survey” report the number having compassion for our neighbors in of homeless people counted in 2019 need. And when we have the compassion, was 286. In Frederick we have many we realize also that we have a responsibility organizations that run different programs not only to enjoy our lives, but to make a to assist homeless people. For example, difference when we can. the “Religious Coalition for Emergency
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 17 PEACE FOR THE WORLD By Jamila
My name is Jamila. I came from Syria. My countries and to start endless wars inside family and I moved to Frederick in 2012. and outside Palestine in order to return I live with my husband and I am a mother back to their homeland. of four children, and grandmother for six Since the beginning of history, peace grandchildren. I studied and practiced civil continues to be lost in our world. Humans engineering in Syria. I started studying at the Literacy Council in 2016. I am very grateful have fought and are still fighting all the to the Literacy Council for the help I had to time everywhere for unimportant foolish improve my English language and to have reasons. Most of our daily news tells all wonderful teachers and friends from all over about wars taking place among various the world. countries, about the terrorism of ISIS in the Middle East and in East Africa, about My daughter was in fifth grade when discrimination and racism in Africa due the teacher asked the class to write a to race issues and a sense of superiority paragraph asking Santa for a wish on of one race over another, or religious Christmas. She wrote that she didn’t discrimination like the situation in my need gifts, but that she wanted to ask for country, Syria. ISIS killed Christians. peace for the world. Santa answered sadly, Wars continue the fight between tribes in “Alas, my child. I can’t fulfill your wish. It’s the Sudan and the fight between diverse beyond my ability. Peace is very difficult to political parties. The endless economic make in this world.” crisis between the poor and the rich was We were raised in the Middle East with and still is the cause for revolutions. the Arab Israeli conflict. We were taught The main cause of these tribulations in since we were children in schools through our world is man himself. He is selfish. books and the media to dislike the Zionist He thinks that he is the best and deserves Jews because they occupied Palestine and to dominate. He is greedy. He wants forced Palestinians to leave their homes to possess more and more money and and orchards and become refugees in other properties. He fights to gain more power
18 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners and positions of dominance. He fights times they succeed in bringing peace because he is envious and jealous. Wars between warring parties. may start for revenge. That was the reason For me the most effective way to create for Hitler to start World War II. There are peace in the world is to start with ourselves countless reasons to push humans to start in our hearts. To draw close to God, to wars, but then they are not able to put an love, to forgive, to respect, to accept others end to these wars. as they are. It is not enough to have peace Organizations like the United Nations, in our hearts. We have to spread it out to who hold the emblem of the earth the world. surrounded with two olive branches which I agree with the saying, sometimes peace represents peace to our world, are trying is better than being right. to make peace in the world. Most of the
A FAMILY DINNER By Jamila
There is a saying in my country, up and go to do their homework. After “Blessed is the father who at the end of the I washed the dishes and cleaned-up I day puts bread on his family’s table,” and I made two cups of Turkish coffee: one for say, “Lucky is the mother who gathers her me and one for my daughter. As soon as children around the dining room table we finished drinking, we turned the cups and feeds them what she cooks.” I was upside down and enjoyed figuring out the a lucky mother. shapes which appeared inside the cup. Dinner time was the most joyful time Here is a flying bird or an angel. Here are of our day. I used to cook every day. The two people facing each other who seem food was ready when the children came that they loved each other because there back from school. We always began the is a heart shape above their heads. If I see meal with a short prayer. Our Lord, bless a long path, it means somebody is coming with your grace our meal. While eating we from abroad, or somebody is going to leave. would talk about their school day. What Afterwards, I help them with their funny or sad stories happened. How they homework. This was our daily school day behaved with their teachers, classmates routine. I wished these days would never and friends. What grades they got for their end, but the days keep running and never homework and tests? We would discuss the stop, and my joy is temporary. The kids will mistakes they made. Sometimes the older grow up and leave our home and have their ones who were in higher classes would own homes and families. explain to the younger ones the problems Now when I visit my children and I they didn’t understand and try to help see that they are taking our roles. Now them to solve any issues that came up. We my sons are the fathers who are putting also might talk about movies or TV shows the bread on their families’ tables, and my or about our extended family, but I had to daughters are gathering their kids around ask the same question everyday: What do the dining room table. you want me to cook for tomorrow? I look at them and ask God to Time passed quickly. When we finished bless them. each one of those meals, they would wash
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 19 THE MAGIC TREE By Jessica
My name is Jessica. I have an older sister and I live in Frederick, MD. I work at Weis Market. I like to watch movies and play games. I also like to go out to eat, go to the zoo, go to plays and concerts and of course, go shopping.
Chapter 1 One day I was walking in the woods and saw a magic tree. It was magic because it started to talk to me. “You look excited. What is your name? Where are you going?” “My name is Kelly, and I am going to my sister’s house for lunch. My sister and I will have pizza for lunch. How can you talk?” “I have a spell on me. That is why I can talk,” said the tree. “Who put the spell on you?” “The monster who owns the woods.”
20 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners Chapter 2 “Do you have any other talents?” “I can juggle.” “Wow! That is great. What do you juggle?” “Fruit.” “Where do you get the fruit?” “I get it from the monster’s garden.” “Why does the monster give you her fruit? “We are friends.” “What kind of tree are you?” “I’m an oak tree, and I am 400 years old.” “When you were only 100 years old, what was the forest like?” “There were more trees 300 years ago and the forest looked bigger and brighter.” “Would you like to meet my sister?’ “Yes, I would like to meet your sister.” “Would you like to meet for lunch? “Could we have a picnic?” “Yes, we can have a picnic!”
Chapter 3 Kelly met her sister and went home to make lunch. They made a pizza for the picnic. Kelly and her sister also made a cake. Kelly and Christina went to meet the tree. Kelly was carrying the pizza, and Christina was carrying the cake. They were being very careful as they walked to meet the tree so they would not drop the food. When they arrived at the tree, Kelly said, I would like you to meet Mr. Oak Tree.” Christina said. “It is nice to meet you.” Mr. Tree said, “Nice to meet you, too.” Kelly said, “Let’s have the picnic now.” Kelly gave a piece of pizza to Christina and the tree. Christina ate her pizza. Kelly and Christina were surprised to see the tree eat a piece of pizza. Kelly, Christina and the tree had the cake because it was Christina’s birthday. Christina and Kelly must now leave to go to back to work.
Kelly said, “We will see you later.” “That is good to hear,” said the tree. “I hope we can have another picnic. “The tree sounded very nice. I am glad you had me meet the tree,” said Christina.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 21 HOW DO I KEEP MY MARRIAGE FRESH? by Jinjin
I am from China. I work for a patent firm. Some people are afraid of getting According to my tutor, I am making huge married, because they think that marriage ground in gaining English communication is the grave of love. However, I have skills. I have two small children and enjoy been enjoying marriage for eight years. cooking and hiking and being with my family. My marriage is still fresh. You must be My goal is passing the patent bar exam in wondering how I do it. Let me give you August. I am trying to find a job as a patent some tips. agent in the USA. Now, I have good listening First, open your eyes wide and find a skills and spoken English. I am happy to see good partner for the rest of your life. As my improvement in English. I will be a better version of myself. you know, well began is half done. How
22 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners do I define a good partner? What’s the Praising is a powerful way to encourage standard for it? It is important that he your partner to change into someone you respects your reasonable decisions. It is want. Praising also helps him form good also important that he is able to tolerate habits. Establishing good communication, your flaws. When you lose your temper, like putting vegetables into a refrigerator, he is supposed to be like the lake below will keep your marriage fresh. a waterfall. No matter how irritable your Third, find a common interest and temper like turbulent waterfall, the lake improve yourself. Take an interest in the will make everything calm down. It is things that interest him to please him. enough that your partner is respectful and What’s important is to improve yourself. tolerant. If you already have such a good Learn a new skill about cooking, so that partner, congratulations! You are on the the family could enjoy a feast. Improve way to a good marriage. communication skills to make it easier Second, don’t complain and keep to tackle problems between generations. praising. After marriage, you will find Learn how to wear make-up, so you can be that young, clean, handsome guy has pretty when showing up at an important disappeared, and is replaced with a messy event. All in all, making yourself happy uncle. Especially after exercises, if he will make yourself attractive to your smells bad, don’t criticize his stinky smell. partner. If he is happy to stay with you, the Just ask him to take a bath. If he doesn’t love won’t die. follow your suggestion, leave to another There are more than three tips for a room, in order to avoid quarrelling about good marriage. Keep learning, and grow it. Love comes first; don’t do something together with your partner. Hopefully, that may hurt your relationship. You don’t everyone will have a wonderful marriage. need to be disappointed about what he did, because men do things differently than women. Once you see that he did a good thing that you advised, praise him.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 23 MY BOTCHED ADVENTURE By Kezhong
I should thank the Literacy Council for teacher helps me to “write, write, and write teaching me English. In the past two years, again.” I did and I will continue to study I have been well educated from beginner English hard. Thanks Literacy Council! conversation class to writing class. My Thanks to my teachers! English has made great progress. I especially want to thank my writing teacher Ms. This is the story of my botched Catherine. I wouldn’t write a composition adventure. Behind our university was a well. My native teacher once said that my mountain covered with bushes. There was words are stiff and my sentences are dry and a temple on the hillside often shrouded astringent. So I was very nervous in my English writing classes. There are many things in mist in the morning or after it rained. wrong in my composition. To my surprise, The temple had a history going back at Ms. Catherine not only corrects my mistakes least a hundred years. The mountain road very carefully every time, but also encourages to the temple is very hard to walk and is me to write well. Sometimes the teacher’s sparsely populated. There were only a few comment is longer than my composition. My old monks in the temple. We all wondered
24 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners how did they live each day? What did beasts, thought of the snakes, thought of they do? Why had the temple been built the bad guys, but when we looked up and there, and why did it still exist after nearly saw the red wall and the gray tiled roof of a hundred years of wars and great social the half-mountain temple it was so clear as unrest? For safety reasons the university if it was welcoming us. We looked at each discouraged students from going there other and shouted out, “Come on!” and this increased our curiosity about The leaves under our feet were five the temple. inches thick, and sometimes a strange My roommate quietly asked me if I sound was heard when we took a step. had the courage to go exploring. I was We ignored it and went ahead quickly. amazed at his bold thoughts because he When we were about to arrive at the rarely played sports and liked to sleep. He mysterious temple, suddenly a tall and didn’t wait for me to speak and he took large stone blocked us. Now, on the left out a small book from his bag. “Look! This was a steep cliff, and on the right was the was a travel guide written by the ancients abyss. Only one road climbed up. Because more than a hundred years ago.” He said my roommate was taller than me, he that the gentleman (author) had been to climbed up first. The same action as the this place, but because the mountain road rock climbing in a game, when his right was too steep to go up, he had not been hand grabbed a raised part of the stone to the temple. We should be able to climb and was pulling his body upwards, the up and give it a try. I immediately agreed. stone suddenly shattered, and his whole The strong desire to explore the temple body quickly fell down! I screamed, “Hold thrilled us, but we didn’t prepare carefully. onto something!” He finally caught a small We thought we could get there with this shrub and stopped sliding. I used a lot of guidebook. strength and pulled him up. His trousers After breakfast on Sunday, we hurried were scratched by sharp stones, and even off. In Beijing in May, the sky was clear his whole thigh was exposed, with blood and the temperature in the morning was on his hands and on his chest. His face slightly chilly which was suitable for was pale and his hands were shaking. hiking. We walked faster and faster. After Fortunately, there was no major injury. an hour, we entered the mountain area. We were very nervous, the two of This was a stone mountain covered with us didn’t say anything, sitting there on shrubs and weeds. We couldn’t find the the ground, looking helplessly at the way, which the book showed. We were a mysterious temple, which now was even bit confused, standing there and observing more mysterious. our surroundings. We thought of the This was our botched adventure.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 25 SHE IS BETTER THAN CELEBRITIES By Kezhong
I used to like many celebrities. make a lot of careful preparations for the Among them were movie stars, singers, surgery. In order to prevent an accident, and ballerinas, etc. As long as they had she invited an expert from another hospital performances, no matter what I was doing, to assist my doctor. I would go to see their performances. They conducted repeated studies and However, since 2000, my hobbies have developed a complete and detailed surgical changed a lot. That summer, I suddenly plan. After the surgery my toes were able got seriously ill and was severely paralyzed. to move, which meant a very dangerous In just two weeks, my body was almost spinal surgery was successfully completed. completely unconscious from my chest Thanks to the great doctors, and thanks to to my feet. Experts and doctors said that my dear wife! I would only live for a few months. Even She took care of my life while still going the scammers who used fake drugs to to work. About two months later, I was deceive others would sell me nothing once able to stand up from the wheelchair. And they saw my X-rays. All of them tried to then I could walk freely soon after. I even persuade my wife to give up my treatment accepted the invitation from my son (who and to improve my living standard with was studying for a doctoral degree) to our money. travel to LSU (Louisiana State University) In the face of such tremendous pressure, in the U.S. for a month. she neither cried nor panicked. She did not Although my wife hadn’t studied believe that my illness was incurable. She medicine, in order to save my life, she was determined to do everything possible worked hard to learn medical knowledge. to save my life. Even later, the doctor would actively On the one hand, she encouraged me consult her before prescribing medicine to be confident that I would be able to for me. Many patients with the same recover. On the other hand, she consulted disease as me have died, but I am still many doctors, and searched the Internet alive and well. The experts and the doctors day and night for knowledge about my say that I have created a miracle. In fact, disease and various treatments. In order my wife, Huifang is the one who created to get more knowledge, she bought an the miracle. English/Chinese medical dictionary. She is not a celebrity, but she will always Finally, she selected the surgical plan. be the most important person in my heart. She cooperated with the doctors to
26 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners THE BRAGI DRESS by Lily
I was born in a rural area of China and grew never saw such beautiful colors! There were up there. After graduating from university, vivid red, blue and yellow flowers designed I worked in a research institute of Chinese on it. Academy of Science. 20 years ago, I came to In the following day, it was snowing. the United States and then worked in a small After breakfast, my father said,” Let’s go company, until retirement. I love traveling, shopping and reading. to the tailor!” Then he put me on the sled, and wrapped me with a quilt. He put the In 1956, my family lived in a small cloth in his bag, then we set off. It took village in the northeast of China, very a long way to the tailor. When my father close to the Soviet Union. There were four showed the cloth to tailor, he was surprised children in my family: two brothers, I and with the color too. He measured me, and one younger sister. Since I was the first discussed with my father for a while. I girl, my parents really adored me. didn’t know what he would make for me, I remember, at that time, everyone wore but I was very excited and looked forward clothes of similar colors, such as green, to it. blue, grey and black. A few days later, my father came home It was almost Chinese New Year. One with a bag. He said: “Close your eyes!” day, my father came home with a small I closed my eyes. He suddenly took out piece of cloth. He showed it to me. Wow, I something, and brushed my face with it. It
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 27 was soft. me and kept talking. This woman said, “Tad da, look!” “You are so beautiful!” That lady praised, When I opened my eyes, I saw the “You look like a princess!” Someone asked cutest dress in my life! my father: “Where did you buy the cloth? I tried it on right way. I looked at Which tailor made the dress?” My father the mirror, couldn’t believe that pretty was very busy answering their questions; glittering little girl was me! How beautiful we were so flattered. I was! The hem was very long. It was the Later I knew that dress was called first time I saw puff sleeves, lotus leaf Bragi. It was the daily wear of the former collar and a belt around the waist. It fitted Soviet Union women in 1950s which was me really well. I twirled the dress in a introduced into China. The styles were large circle and jumped happily, my father mainly floral, plaid and stripes. My Bragi clapped his hands happily. was one of them. Soon everybody knew my father got me In our small village, many old people a pretty dress. Women took their children still remember me, I was always that lucky, to our house to see me, they surrounded little girl who wore that pretty Bragi dress.
28 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN OUR LIVES By Maria
I have written these words with great thanks to get a lawyer and apply for the green to the Literacy Council program and to the card. The U.S. and Colombia are good kind people who work arduously for us, the examples of two countries that are students. The Literacy Council is a privileged geographically distant but have similarities place for foreigners like me, because we with respect to following and complying receive all sorts of help regarding learning the English Language. As an example, thanks with immigration laws to be able to live to this help I was able to prepare for my without any mishaps. Since then, we have citizenship exam. I am already an American followed the steps to get the green card. A Citizen; and now my goal is to achieve a high green card gave us immigrants permission level of fluency in English, both, written and to become lawful permanent residents. spoken.. My achievement is to focus more on This meant that we had the same rights as reading because I must reach the desired level. an American citizen. We enjoyed the same I will live forever grateful to the program and rights and privileges and health insurance to all the wonderful people that make up the for my family and myself. My sons went Literacy Council staff. I will carry you forever to the public schools without problems. in my heart. When my sons finished their high school, they could apply for student financial aid. One of the most important events in Another big privilege was to have our our lives was to become an American own home and we can have our social citizen. When my family and I came to security benefits. the U.S. we knew from my husband’s After five years of having the green card, family that it would be of vital importance
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 29 we applied for the U.S. citizenship and After this interview, the young we had to meet several requirements such lady congratulated me for passing the as passing the U.S. Citizenship Test. This questionnaire and she gave me test was about 100 civic questions. During an appointment to take the our naturalization interview, one young Oath of Allegiance. lady asked me ten questions from the list In addition, to being very excited of 100 civic questions. The interview took to achieve our goal, we were also very me 25 minutes and they were the most proud to reach our goals of the most eternal 25 minutes of my life because I was important event of our lives: obtaining so nervous. American citizenship.
THE DELIGHT OF BUILDING THE CHRISTMAS MANGER SCENE WITH MY FAMILY By Maria
During the Christmas season, my family put into the scene a rectangular mirror, and I have a Catholic tradition where we resembling a big lake, and we happily put build with the whole family the Christmas ducks to swim in the fictional waters. manger scene, representing the birth of the We filled them with different figures, child Jesus. Placing wisps of straw in the such as people, houses and animals from crib in order to prepare the child Jesus’ bed, the village where Jesus was born, and the families prepare their hearts for the when we finished it was amazing to see Christmas miracle of the holy birth. I have the whole village on such a small scale. It in my mind, beautiful memories when is a visual reminder of our faith, and it also my Dad began to assemble the village of is a wonderful tradition and our heritage, Bethlehem where the child Jesus was born. which passes down from generation to We would set up the stable with generation. Although I no longer live in animals, such as ox, ass, camels, sheep, Columbia where the nativity mangers horses, ducks, etc. Although the main are assembled, I continue the Catholic figures were Joseph and Mary, there were tradition of having the Christmas manager other important characters like the Three with the child Jesus, and Joseph and Mary, Wise Men who came from the East to because it is a very important tradition visit the newborn, and the angels who to keep the nine days before the birth of announced the birth of Jesus. All the Jesus. We gather around the Christmas figures were on a wax paper that my father manger and pass on the values of family, manipulated and formed with his own love and union, and do not lose the hands and with our help. We also created emotion and delight involved in the mountains and plains. What I liked building the Christmas manger scene most was when my brothers and sisters with my family.
30 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners LOVELY PERFUME By Marina
My name is Marina. I came to the United competently. Our teachers are happy to States six years ago from Uzbekistan. Here share their knowledge. Their lessons are very I live with my family, my husband and two informative and interesting. beautiful daughters. I am very glad that I found this educational In my country I graduated from the center. I’d like to share my new good University of Foreign Languages. By experiences with my friends about profession I am a teacher of French and this program. foreign literature. With much respect I’d like to express my Currently, my main goal in life is to get gratitude to our teachers for their work a profession that will be associated with and patience! children. I really love children, I enjoy helping them, I like to share knowledge, and do I remember an event from my good deeds. childhood when I was eleven years old. I To make my dream come true, I need to learn really liked my mother’s jewelry box, her English very well. shoes and her beautiful dresses. I dreamed Therefore, I’ve started to attend ESL lessons of growing up, and wearing the same at the Literacy Council of Frederick County. things as soon as possible, but most of all, I liked my mother’s new French perfume. Here I found very experienced teachers who are truly dedicated to teaching. In the Many years ago, it was very difficult class students learn to express our opinion and expensive to find good perfume in on the subject, as well as speak and write our country. My dad spent a lot of money
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 31 and gave it to my mother on her birthday. the floor. It was a real tragedy for me. My mother was very happy. She kept this When my mom came home, she asked me, perfume for great holidays, but I liked this “What is that good smell in our house?” I perfume, too. It had such a pleasant scent. cried. My mom was very upset because she I admired this bottle, and so I opened and loved it so much. closed it. I smelled it and enjoyed it The perfume scent hung in the house every day. for a long time. Many years have passed, Once I took the perfume, opened it, but when I think of this story now, I smelled it yet again, but it slipped out of remember the scent of my mother’s my hands, and I could feel it spilling over favorite perfume. THE NATIONAL MONUMENT By Marina
There are many different monuments their families. It is about such families, in the world created not only in honor which subsequently erected a national of man but also in honor of the people, monument that I want to tell you about. important dates in history, characters of Shaakhmed Sha Makhmudov and his wife famous literary works and even children’s Barry Akramova lived in Tashkent and fairy tales. Preservation of memory is the worked as blacksmiths. At the beginning main task of the monuments. There is no of WWII, they adopted 15 orphans who future without the past. It is wonderful lost their parents. They did not distinguish when people try to preserve their memory, between native and adopted children. They prolong the fate of a person, event, place were all like one big international family as well as capturing it in photographs, Russian, Belorussian, Jewish, Latvian, monuments, and sculptures. A lot of Kazakh, German and Tatar. emotions arise in me in regards to the On May 26, 1982 a monument to the monuments of the Great Patriotic War. Sha Makhmudov ’s family was erected in This is emotional distress for many people Tashkent on the square called “Friendship in our country. It is hard to find a family of Peoples”. They are a family that left which did not lose somebody in this awful an unforgettable mark in our memory. war. The tragic war started in 1941 and Children have found their new family, new lasted four years. The war that was between parents, and new homeland. The film “You the USSR and Germany, which lost about Are Not an Orphan” was recorded by this 25 million citizens from fighting and family. One of the streets of Tashkent is starvation. Millions of courageous soldiers named after them. have died, leaving their wives widowed and I am proud that I was born in this their children orphaned. country, proud of my people, proud of Every city tried to help as much as people who did not leave the wounded to possible in this terrible war. Women with die, who sheltered all orphans. About my children, wounded, old people, children city they say “Tashkent is a city of bread.” who were left without parents and were In conclusion of my story, I want to say taken by trains to my hometown of that today every family keeps the memory Tashkent. People showed mercy and good of those people who have not returned nature, shared shelter, food and clothing from the war and thanks to our with them. Often, Uzbek families came great-grandfathers for a peaceful sky to the station and took the children to above our heads.
32 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners MY FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT By Naylya
My name is Naylya. I came from Russia to and plants. I also visited the National be with my family. I recently began to learn Arboretum. Several times I visited the English. My granddaughter is still little. I National Botanical Garden. It has a big became a student at the Literacy Council of collection of different plants including rare Frederick County to better understand her, my and almost extinct plants. Its collection of family, and others around me. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to learn orchids is fantastic. But my favorite place English. Thank you very much to organizers to visit is Hillwood Estate Museum and to my teachers who help me improve my and Garden. language skills. This museum was established by its original owner Marjorie Merriweather I began learning English not too long Post. It has a big extraordinary art ago. I am writing today about my favorite collection. This magnificent estate has an places. When I came to Maryland, I was elegant French garden and a beautiful amazed by the natural beauty of this rose garden. Roses are my favorite flowers. state. It is spring right now. When we are I like to walk in this garden, to stop at driving, we see emerald fields, blooming the Four Seasons Overlook, which is trees, and beautiful flowers. My heart is surrounded by cherry, magnolia, and full of joy. It is all God’s creation. I used dogwood trees. This estate also has several to live in a country with a harsh climate, nice green lawns. One of the best places where plants were not as blooming and of the estate is an exotic Japanese-style diverse as they are here. garden with a small waterfall and Asian When I go to Washington DC, I always sculptures. An amazing beauty of plants visit the garden near the Smithsonian and flowers takes my breath away and fills Castle. It is beautiful any time of year, my soul with light and joy. especially when cherry and magnolia trees I love these beautiful places and this are blossoming. I like the Dumbarton magnificent area. Oaks Garden with its terraces, gardens
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 33 A NEAR MISS By Olga
My name is Olga. I am from Russia. I am day we went fishing. At that time, we an opera singer and voice teacher. My career lived in a small town in Ukraine. My dad has taken me throughout many of the main also agreed to take along my classmate. I opera houses and concert stages across Europe was 9 years old at that moment. We came and the United States. I performed with great to a small river and found a good place success in major roles such as Tosca, Mimi (La Boheme), Violetta (La Traviata), Micaela for fishing. At some point, I was tired of (Carmen) etc. with Teatro Lirico D’Europa. waiting for us to catch another little fish and I told my dad that I saw a good place I am really happy to be a part of the Literacy on the river where I could go to the water Council. I recommend this excellent school for everybody who wants to start to learn and swim. My dad easily agreed. a foreign language and to improve their So, I went with my friend to the place English. I really love teachers in this where I saw a good descent into the water. school and the process of studying here is On the way to this place, my girlfriend very interesting and I learned many new suddenly changed her mind about important things. Thank you for this beautiful swimming, but I stubbornly decided to go possibility for me and my new friends, which alone regardless. Such stubbornness played I found at the Literacy Council. a trick on me. Arriving at the place, I saw sticking Back in time, when I was a kid, Dad and driftwood and pieces of iron sticking out I always had active weekends. Dad taught of the water, but that did not scare me. me how to ski, how to find and pick the I went into the water and swam. I must berries in the forest, and much more. One say that I was just starting to learn to of our hobbies was fishing. On one warm swim and was able to do a few miserable
34 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners strokes. I was not able to turn around to save this stubborn girl and I noticed because I simply did not know how. The a huge piece of foam plastic over me. best idea I could came up at time was to Somehow, I managed to grab it and got stop swimming, stand up, turn around and out to the shore. I was sitting with the swim back. Sadly, this did not work well, I dirt in my ears, my nose was running and could not reach the ground, water was too I was trembling with terror. After sitting deep, and I started drowning a while, I returned to my dad and told All I remember was a greenish water him this story. Dad took close to his heart above me. Strange, but I did not have time what a mistake he made by letting me go to get scared in that moment. I realized swimming alone and how he could have that now I might have drowned oddly, but lost a child. We decided not to tell mom only one question sounded in my head: this story to not scare her. Many years later “My mom, my death will be a great grief my swimming skills greatly improved. In for her!” For some reason I was thinking adulthood I had many adventures in the specifically about my mother. And at that sea because of my love to swim far, but no moment, apparently, the Lord decided more risking of my life.
THE DOMRA AND MY STUDENT By Olga
I really love my job. In addition to my Here is the story about My Domra performances and the preparation of new and Me operas and programs, I also teach my I was trying to learn mandolin at first to students to sing. match my husband’s guitar. I spent $40 I have students different age from eight online to get a mandolin just to find out if years old to over sixty years old. I want to I could play any music instrument or not. Secondly, I found a mandolin teacher on share with you about my student Li. She is line. My teacher was Zhenya Tochenaya originally from China, but has lived many who is a key domra player of WBS. She told years in the U.S. I met her in 2012 at the me to abandon my mandolin and adopt a rehearsal of the Washington Balalaika wonderful Russian folk instrument called Society (WBS). She plays the domra, domra. That’s the first time I knew and which is a Russian folk instrument. Also, saw the domra. After a couple of lessons, she has a beautiful voice. In the past she Zhenya introduced me to join WBS and I already had an experience with the voice was addicted to Domra and WBS since then. lessons, but it did not work well for her. WBS sold me a Domra for $1,000. I love it. Li asked me about voice lessons because But I was so afraid that I would damage it accidentally, so I bought another domra online she had a dream to sing and wanted to for $100. I took it with me when I travel on continue. In time, she became my favorite cruises such that I could exercise WBS music student, which brought a lot of joy for while not worrying about damaging my both of us. nicer domra. I asked my dear Li to write me about This is what my friend Li told me about the instrument, and how she cares about it. her domra. Some people asked about This is a short story from Li: the difference between the domra and
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 35 mandolin. I’ll try to explain this. Mandolin for eight years. And every time when is a stringed musical instrument in the lute Domra plays solo, it`s a very special family. The mandolin has four courses of moment. The domra sings like a human doubled metal strings tuned in unison (8 voice: sometimes either sadness, then light strings). The mandolin was common in sadness, then joyful dance, then love and 18th century and her story began from the languor. All emotions are subject to domra. instrument of the lute from 14th century. I want to say couple words about The domra has Russian and Ukrainian my student Li. I called her my favorite versions. Russian domra has 3 strings, student. But in fact, every student in my Ukrainian has 4 strings. class is my favorite. The traditional domra was only known My Li and I are very different people. through numerous mentions in folklore. A She is Mormon, I am Orthodox. She is three-stringed version of this instrument from China; I am from Russia. I love stage, was later redesigned in 1896, patented, and she is very shy person. But we have the introduced into the orchestra of Russian same political views. We both love U.S. folk instruments. In recent times, scholars and are proud to be American. We both have come to the conclusion that the term respect the American Constitution. We do “domra” actually described a percussive respect law and order. We both love music instrument popular in Russia, and that the and romantic movies. discovered instrument was either a variant It is really a nice instrument for of the balalaika or a mandolin. people to find and interesting to play. Today, it is the three-stringed domra It`s wonderful that people love music. It that is used almost exclusively in Russia. helps us to learn more about the culture It is played with a plectrum, and is often and national traditions of the people from used to play the lead melody in Russian different places. Music helps to unite balalaika ensembles. The four-stringed people and make our lives more colorful, domra is primarily widespread in Ukraine. emotional and happy. I cannot imagine I have been performing with folk my life without music and my Orchestra Washington Balalaika Society adorable students.
36 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners MY GREAT ADVENTURE by Rocío
My name is Rocío. I am a Salvadoran things. I have learned from American designer, wife, mother and daughter and culture: how traffic laws work, what is the I have 1 1/2 years of having started this way to dress and make up people, what it adventure living in my new country. I is to be multicultural, how a library works, study in the Literacy Council because I and also much about the educational want to improve my English, to be able to adapt better to the United States and get a system of this country. I learned how good job opportunity. Thank you for giving important the seasons of the year are and me the opportunity to be in this wonderful how everything revolves around them, the institution. food, the clothing, and the activities. I know that this is just the introduction to I have been in the United States for everything. I need to learn, since this trip 1 and 1/2 and it’s been a great learning is not only thousands of miles away from experience in every way. I have learned to my home, but it is also a personal learning start over, to cook, to be grateful for small journey and a challenge of how far I can go.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 37 THE PERFECT BALANCE By Rocio
I believe that finding the perfect balance personal satisfaction such as a hobby. I between work, family and friends is the think everything has its moment and key to having a good life. When you have there is time for everything, finding that just graduated from college, you want to balance is the advice I would give to a show the world everything you learned recent graduate. Value all things, good and what a good professional you are and and bad because in this life everything that is a good thing, but many times in you experience is an integral part of your that eagerness to find success we forget learning growth, and never forget your very important things like our family, our roots because that is the essential basis for friends, and the things that fill us with your success. Find your balance!
38 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners THE EFFECTS OF BEING BILINGUAL by Rui
I come from China, which has a totally situations more objectively. Recently, different language and culture than the U.S. there is a national protest against racism Now, I live in Frederick as a housewife with and police brutality in the U.S. Many of my little son and my husband. In these three my monolingual peers in China don’t years, the Literacy Council has helped me to understand why people march for a single improve my English and immerse myself into the local community. person rather than for 100,000 covid-19 fatalities. But I know the meaning of this More and more people across the world protest, because I can read local news are speaking more than one language. and learn about the detailed history Although learning a second language is of oppression. So, I believe learning a hard and long journey, being bilingual another’s language is a good way to can benefit us in many aspects, such as get more information and eliminate education, career, social life, health and etc. misunderstanding. As a bilingual in English and Beyond any doubt, being bilingual can Chinese, I gain more access to different make it easier for us to achieve long term informational sources and other cultures success. In today’s global society, bilinguals than monolingual people. I read news in have many advantages in education and English and Chinese and communicate career. For example, more than one million directly with people of other cultures. Chinese students are studying in the These can make me understand things U.S. to get a better education. It’s being from other’s perspectives and handle bilingual which enables them to study
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 39 abroad. Communication is very vital in words and grammar more slowly than the workplace, especially at multinational those who speak only English. My son companies. Having the ability to speak is such a bilingual kid. He could not another language specified on your resumé speak a complete sentence until he was can make you come out victorious amongst four and half years old. When he was at other job applicants that are monolingual. daycare, his speech delay prevented him Besides, although there is still an from communicating with teachers and argument, most of research supports the classmates effectively. The delay in English idea that being bilingual is good for mental even may lead to their failure in Standard health. According to the research of NIH, tests at elementary school. Even worse, certain brain functions are enhanced in some kids may have issues in their social teens who are fluent in more than one lives. But one in five kids in the U.S. are language. Other experiments with older bilingual, teachers and schools should pay bilingual speakers show that the enhanced more attention to them and give them mental skills of bilingualism may protect more support. them from illnesses such as Alzheimer’s In sum, the benefits of being bilingual and dementia. outweigh its disadvantages. We should Being bilingual can have so many encourage people to learn another positive effects on us, but we can’t language no matter what their ages. At the ignore its negative side for young kids. same time, helping kids overcome the bad Children who grow up learning to speak effects of being bilingual is necessary, too. two languages tend to learn English
40 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners MY GRANDMOTHER’S CUTTING BOARD By Rui
When I think of my grandmother, the diet. I liked to watch her when she made scene of her kneading a giant dough on an food on the old cutting board. In my old cutting board in the sunshine through memory, as a material handler before the kitchen’s window always comes to retiring, she has something wrong with my mind. her legs and waist, but she was full of Including my mother, my grandmother strength when she kneaded dough. Beyond has seven kids. In her kitchen, everything any doubt, no one in my extended family was huge, such as pots, bowls, cutting can make better food from flour. As I boards, knives. She had several large grew up, her legs problem became more cutting boards; the biggest one was used and more serious, it’s even hard for her to for noodles and steamed bread. I never move to the kitchen from the living room. saw a cutting board as big as this one in But when I came, she asked my cousin to the market. It’s made from light color bring her in arms to the cutting board to wood, and measures about 1.2 meters make steamed bread for me. Although her by 0.7 meters. For as long as I could movement was no longer as fast as before, remember, this cutting board had been in the cutting board had begun to make a my grandmother’s kitchen. As time went creaking noise, the food she prepared was by, the center of the board gradually sank, more delicious. its edges had worn away, but it was still Two years ago, my grandmother moved there when I last visited my grandmother to an apartment after her previous house in her house. was demolished. I don’t know if the old In my childhood, my family lived in broken cutting board still accompanies my a town one hour away from the city my grandmother who spends most of her time grandmother lived in, going to her house in bed now or if it is left in the previous was an exciting thing for little me. Every house forever. But when I recall my time when we visited, my grandmother childhood, I always remember it and my always tried her best to prepare delicious grandmother who was making food on it. food. As people from the north of China, noodles and steamed bread are our staple
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 41 HOLI–FAGU PURNIMA COLORFUL FESTIVAL by Samjhana
I am Samjhana, a 70 years old girl, and During this colorful festival, Nepalese come from Nepal. I like knitting, cooking and and foreign tourists, too will cover each travelling. Cel Roti is my favorite Nepali other in dry colored powder and colored food, I can make it for you if you visit me. I water to express their sincere blessings and have been studying with the Literacy Council good wishes for each other. for a long time. I want to learn more English. This Holi festival relates to the Hindu Holi-Fagu Purnima is the colorful religion. According to mythology, legend festival which falls on the full moon at tells of a famous epic. Prahlad was the son the end of the month. This is part of the of an arrogant ruler, King Hiranyakashipu. Hindu religion. We celebrate it according He didn’t allow the people to worship to the lunar calendar. So, we celebrate the Lord Vishnu. But his son was a devotee coming spring in March on the full moon. of Vishnu. So, the king wanted to kill
42 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners his son, but he could not because his god burned. After that day, the eldest and most protected him and saved him every time. respected of the people will be the first Sebika (Holika) was sister of the King and of all to start the fire and begin a demoness. She had been blessed from the the celebration. god Bremha. Fire couldn’t burn her, so the In Nepal, there is a special ceremony for king piled wood and put the prince in the erecting a tall wooden pole in Kathmandu lap of Holika and lit the wood. When the Durbar Square at the old royal palace. fire started, it burned brightly in a great Nepalese women dress in beautiful saris blaze and burned Holika into ashes, but with auspicious things in hand and circle the Prince came out of the fire whole and around the pole to pray for the blessing of untouched. People became so happy and the surrounding streets into the Holy Sea sprinkled colorful water on him and prayed Ganga. If you get a chance to see the most gratefully to the victory of goodness and prestigious singers performing on that the destruction of evil. They expressed, stage it is a wonderful sight. “Whoever does good work, they will Untruthfulness will always lose and always have goodness done to them.” faithfulness will always win. The proof of So, everybody agreed that they must do this has endured century after century. This good acts and so they established the Holi story signifies the victory of goodness over Colorful Festival. So good persons always the darkness of the earth. win but evil persons like Holika will be
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 43 FINISHING SCHOOL IN A GLOBAL HEALTH PANDEMIC by Silvia
I’m Silvia, originally from Lima, Perú. In classes. The program I was enrolled in Perú, I am an attorney and when I came, switched to virtual and finished in May I barely spoke a few words. I would define 2020. It is now concluded, finite the end. myself as a kind and persistent person with To be honest, I feel weird. I never thought compassion for others, eager learner with that I would be finishing FCC with a a mischievous sense of humor as well as an infectious personality. About my hobbies, I global pandemic health crisis. Graduation enjoy practicing sports, reading books, as well ceremony is moved to fall of 2020 and as singing karaoke at my house. Currently “Quizás” (Spanish meaning of perhaps) I hold a B.A. in the Paralegal Program at will be online, and summer 2020 with the Frederick Community College. In addition, virus still a threat is canceled. So, how does I attend the writing classes, book club and it feel from my perspective? With a bizarre conversation classes at Literacy Council of feeling about the end of the Paralegal Frederick County and I love it! program at Frederick Community College, with a frustrating graduation ceremony How do I feel after completing pre-law and yet I feel thankful for this 2020. class at Frederick Community College? I feel that one day I can go to school Wow, I finished and wow!! I have a mix and literally the next day I stop attending of emotions. I was working nonstop at at least in person. One day I was a student my classes, and then on March 12th and then on Thursday calls from professor everyone stopped. No more on campus
44 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners Thomas explained that the college will be this did not happen the way I wanted it to. closed until further notice. In other words, Nonetheless, the pandemic did not stop I worked every day in classes, studying me from thinking that my “imaginary cap” at the law library and meeting with the can fly as high as my dreams. tutors. Moreover, the pandemic would Terms such as “mask”, “no handshakes” not allow any student to do anything or “social distancing” are part of this new at college. Even more, I concluded my reality. But how do I feel about finishing classes online, studying late into the night school in a global pandemic health crisis? at home with zero college contact. I miss I feel blessed because I am here healthy Dr. Parker, attorney Shapiro and Professor and with loved ones and friends who Teresa Clark and professor Laura “Laurita” are healthy, too. I feel optimistic about Cordova. I missed my productive work the future and choose to be an optimist at the law library. I missed the collective through this pandemic in 2020. I feel work at FFC. I missed the Spanish blessed since all my friends and family club, Paralegal Student Association, and members are smart about quarantining. seminars. I missed all the opportunities I switched gears during this global that the college provided for me. In pandemic to welcome this new chapter of addition, I miss Catherine and Miss my life. First of all, I decided to check my Marianne at the Literacy Council. I also family and friends more often because I miss Laurie and the Scrabble Mania event. want to be sure that they are healthy and Sadly, it was canceled. safe. Also, I feel blessed because I feel that I always thought that finishing I have incredible friends that we mutually university I would have a decent support and become sources of support for celebration with my family and friends. I me. Monica, you developed such patience thought that I will say with a big hug to with me even when you were with the Dr. Tracy Parker thank you sooooo much virus! We coordinated plans to spend time for your support, your kindness, and for in virtual films baking, gardening, and being there for your students. I dreamed virtual karaoke. I feel thankful because we for a second time in my life, wearing a spent more time at home eating dinner cap and gown. I dreamed many times of together and playing games in the evening. walking across the stage and receiving In essence, for me, the positive thing my diploma. I dreamed with friends about the virus is that it helped us and family celebrating at the graduation rediscover family and friends and provided ceremony with excitement, pride, and me time to meditate about the future and hope for a better future. Then, I imagine become more self-aware. I feel blessed to that the graduation will conclude with a stroll through the neighborhood and talk family picture full of joy because I finished to my neighbors. To conclude I bet that this important step in my life. These this new reality made me appreciate more celebrations would allow me to close the the meaning of family and friendship; circle in normal reality. It would allow me appreciate love and solidarity. I can’t to display at home a new framed picture wait to do an amazing thing under this of me with this achievement. However, new reality.
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 45 MY QUARANTINE TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC By Wenfei
I’m Wenfei from Beijing, China. I was a overwhelmed by the unremitting news research scientist before I came to the United coverage of the 24 hour cycle. As a States. I have been here for one and a half scientist, I tended to read and research as years. Frederick is the first place that I lived much as I can to get to know this newly in and I love this dynamic and friendly discovered disease and how to prevent community a lot! My friend introduced me to the Literacy Council in May, 2019, infection. That’s what I had been doing all where I’ve been learning English to improve the time at the beginning of the pandemic myself. I’ve made a lot of friends with to keep myself updated. I remembered different cultural backgrounds and it is like that there were mainly two voices at a big family to me. I appreciate and treasure that moment. Some people thought that everything all the time here and hope one day the covid-19 was threatening and we I could give back by volunteering. should take it seriously, while some others thought it was only a fraud that was The covid-19 pandemic has shifted our made up by some politicians to defame life a lot in various aspects. After the new the government. It was true that news type of virus first struck Wuhan, China sometimes was likely to overstate the facts on December 31th, 2019, it spread rapidly and render emotional coverage. However, and swept through every corner of the this time was not the thing like that. The Asian region. I was very concerned about roaring cases and death toll wouldn’t my homeland at that time, but I had never deceive people. I knew clearly how thought that it would impact my life two infectious this disease was and how tricky months later in the United States. My to control it. This was even worse than the feelings toward the pandemic has been SARS in 2003, because covid-19 could evolving with the passage of time. be transmitted among people without any At first, I was very frightened and symptoms. The lack of personal protective 46 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners equipment had become a humongous risk tried before. The happiest thing during to the frontline workers and prevented the pandemic was that I could spent them from saving people’s lives. Especially more time with my husband as he was in New York, I was so shocked and working from home too. We investigated concerned when I watched the news new gourmet and tried to duplicate the that the nurses had to wear plastic bags Chinese cuisine that we had eaten at our for protection. favorite Chinese restaurant. My cat was At the same time, I felt touched and also very happy that we could accompany warm-hearted as my parents and friends and play with her. What’s more important, were worried about me and kept asking me I had started taking online classes held by if I was safe. Following the international Literacy Council. I felt the elation from news to keep up with the statistics the bottom of my heart to be able to get for covid-19 had become part of their together with my friends and talk about everyday lives. Thanks to the technology, life during quarantine on Zoom again. I we can communicate by video, talking was so glad that I could continue learning every day to ensure them we are safe and English and keep busy during this special staying at home. True friendship stands time. My life was colorful again, I didn’t out in difficult times, and I will cherish feel afraid or bored anymore. it life-long. Moreover, they insisted on Now, it is more than two months since mailing me some masks for protection, the government placed the shelter in although I had told them here no one place order. I feel that I’m a real hermit would wear a mask because of the cultural when I stay at home. It seemed like a difference. I found it really interesting that completely new world to me every time Asian people had gotten used to wearing when I went out for regular shopping. masks as they often used them to keep I enjoyed the blue sky, bright sunshine, warm in the winter or protect themselves and the fragrance of flowers on the road. from the haze. However, at first in the Everything has changed a lot, especially U.S., they thought only patients would at the grocery store. People followed the wear them but soon the government rules strictly by keeping the six feet social ordered people to wear a mask in distance from each other. There were public places. disinfectant and sanitizer prepared at the After a time, I began feeling numb entrance for customers. Everyone wore towards the endless news report about a mask and gloves to keep safe. It made the pandemic and started seeking ways to me think about what the world would be make life juicy. I started doing something like after the pandemic. Will people from that I was interested in that I didn’t have all over the world become more united a chance to do previously. For example, or separated? I felt frustrated about the binge-watching some movies and dramas. growing tension between America and I was fascinated by a Spanish drama called China and the increasing discrimination. “La casa de papal”. As I have been learning I think it’s the time for all the people Spanish with my friends, I decided to to stand together to walk through this watch it with Spanish sound and English difficult situation. We should help each subtitles to practice both languages, which other instead of blaming each other. I was a fun experience. I also shifted my hope the world could be united soon and workout routines to home work-ins to I look forward to the promising day when keep fit and healthy. Doing exercise online eventually the virus is wiped out by our together with my friends was a totally joint efforts. new experience for me that I had never
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 47 “THE DANGER OF A SINGLE STORY” BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE By Wenfei
The TED talk of “The danger of a single very kind, friendly and caring black person, story” by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi who was also well-educated. We shouldn’t Adichie is very impressive. She told the generalize that some black people in the story of how she discovered her authentic news are somehow representative of all cultural voice and warned people about black people. Just like the speaker noted the negative consequences that a single that we should engage all of the stories of story would bring. Her brilliant speech a place or a person to engage properly with reminds me of the story of Leonardo da that place or person (TEDGlobal, Vinci. When he began to learn painting, Adichie, 2009). his teacher let him draw eggs for several As we all know, political power and days and told him that drawing eggs is media have an immense impact on the not as easy as you would think because of formation of stereotypes. For example, different views, lights and shapes. There are the trade war between U.S.A. and China. no identical eggs in the world, even The U.S.A. government has imposed with an egg” (The Celebrity, 2016). In more tariffs (BBC, 2019) and put Huawei this way, his teacher aimed at developing on a blacklist that forbids trading with his ability to perceive things with American companies (CNN, 2019). different perspectives. Huawei is the largest telecommunications It’s of great significance to possess many equipment supplier in the world and perspectives instead of merely stereotypes is well known for its high quality, and on account of forming unbiased cognition cost-effective products (TECHINASIA, towards places or people. In the past, all I Zen,2019). It has made remarkable knew about Africa was that it is a beautiful achievements in the development of place with a lot of wild animals and full 5G technology, from standardization of poverty, disease and endless wars. to commercial application. What’s However, through the stories shared in more important, Huawei has the most this meaningful talk, I now have a 5G-related patents (Huawei,2019) and it different perspective. is currently the only company in the world I too was guilty of having a stereotype that can offer 5G end-to-end products of black people. Before I came to the (NIKKEI Asian Review, Tanaka, 2019). U.S.A., all the information I had about American officials accused Huawei of black people was received from the stealing intellectual property (IP) as well media. They were usually represented as as having concerns for underlying safety undereducated being portrayed in horrific problems with 5G (The Washington post, gunshot or rape related incidents, which 2019). While the Chinese government I found really frightening. The only good demonstrated that the American thing I knew was that they like hip-hop government presumed hegemonism and music, and they are fast runners. I felt prohibited Huawei without any evidence ashamed of my thoughts when I met a (New China TV, 2019), in my opinion, we
48 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners should follow up reports from both sides. said before, “If you want to dispossess a I have to admit that there are people, the simplest way to do is to tell documented cases of IP stealing in the their story and to start with secondly” past, however, these few cases are not (I Saw Ramallah, 2003 /TEDGlobal, representative of all cases. China has been Adichie, 2009). If we are unwilling to be developing increasingly rapidly in the last dispossessed by a single story, the media decade, owing to the collective wisdom diversity must be improved and the truth and efforts of Chinese people. Therefore, should be told from all perspectives. it is reasonable and acceptable that China Above all, we should avoid formation of can develop more advanced technologies stereotypes via the single story. We should in the world by itself, instead of stealing. be aware of the powerful influences that As a newly developed technology, it media and political power have. Diverse is conceivable that there may be some stories should be heard in order to form a inevitable safety problems. However, comprehensive understanding. According prohibiting Huawei is not an appropriate to the speaker, a single story is dangerous, way to solve this problem. 5G must be an which has been used to dispossess and imperative trend in the future, which will malign. While many stories can be used bring huge changes to people’s lives and to empower and humanize (TEDGlobal, in industry. China and the U.S.A. should Adichie, 2009). Many perspectives are work together, hand-in-hand, to seek new wondrous and beautiful, through which we ways to work out this problem for the sake can get a better understanding of people, of improving global commerce and human places and things. When we realize there development all over the world. will never be a single story, we will get a In order to eliminate stereotypes and wholly different, but wonderful world. achieve more stories, we should promote unbiased cognition by education. It References is admirable that the speaker of this The Story of Leonardo Da Vinci Learning Ted Talks has made such enormous Painting. (2016, July 25th). Retrieved contributions to education in her country, from http://www.theceleb.org/european- through lectures, workshops, and also celebrity/the-story-of-leonardo-da-vinci- learing-painting.html a non-profit organization to establish libraries and provide books for state Adichie, C.N. (2009). The Danger of a schools. Through education, a growing Single Story. Retrieved from https://www. number of people are reading and writing ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_ more authentic works of African literature. danger_of_a_single_story In time, not only the Africans, but also A quick guide to the US-China trade people all over the world will obtain war. (2019, June 29th). Retrieved from a more complete story of Africa BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/ and understand Africa from business-45899310 different perspectives. What blacklisting Huawei means for the The media should also take a socially US-China trade war. (2019, May 28th). responsible approach to report more Retrieved from CNN: https://www.cnn. comprehensively and not just a one-sided com/videos/business/2019/05/28/huawei- story influenced by political power. As a tech-trade-war-orig.cnn Palestinian poet Mouride Barghouti has Zen, S. (2019, Feb 19th). How Huawei
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 49 went from small-time trader to the world’s How China’s Huawei took the lead biggest telecoms equipment supplier. over U.S. companies in 5G technology Retrieved from https://www.techinasia. (2019, April.10th). Retrieved from com/huawei-smalltime-trader-worlds- https://www.washingtonpost.com/ biggest-telecoms-equipment-supplier technology/2019/04/10/us-spat- An overview of Huawei 5G: The battle with-huawei-explained/?utm_term=. over 5G commercial devices is coming. f1b0d3b631a1 (2019, Feb 25th). Retrieved from https:// U.S. crackdown on Huawei typical consumer.huawei.com/en/press/media- economic bullying: Chinese FM. (2019, coverage/2019/an-overview-of-huawei-5g/ May 23th). Retrieved from https://www. Tanaka, A. (2019, May 3rd). China in pole youtube.com/watch?v=F4xgBzErcHw position for 5G era with a third of key Mouride Barghouti (2003), I Saw patents. Retrieved from https://asia.nikkei. Ramallah, https://www.goodreads.com/ com/Spotlight/5G-networks/China-in- quotes/413873-it-is-easy-to-blur-the- pole-position-for-5G-era-with-a-third- truth-with-a-simple of-key-patents
50 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners A WOOD TURTLE By Y
I am grateful for Ms. Catherine, at the back with tomatoes, lettuce, and kale from Literacy Council, and that the Literacy the other side of the garden to offer, it was Council is providing for those in need gone. I looked all around with disbelief of learning. By learning to write and that it could so quickly disappear. I was express myself, I am touched with a deeper sad and disappointed because I wanted to understanding of nature and life. take care of it, but I was also glad in a way, for it had strength to find a way to move One day, I saw a wood turtle on the road to a better place to live, I hoped. I believe on my walk. Right after passing it, I turned it lives, for I did not find any evidence it to see it again with concern that it could did not. In fact, I have seen turtles around get hurt on the road. I decided to take it to my house a few times before, but not lately. a safer place, but I ended up walking back They come and go, but they don’t hang home with it. around very long. It might be because we I realized its weight was a bit heavy for don’t have a water stream nearby. its size, and the texture was like a smooth Many days later, on a rainy day, I rock on the surface. I couldn’t tell if there thought I saw the turtle’s yellowish bumpy was life after I picked it up, until its head belly, bottom up in the bottom of a came out from the folds in-between the 50-gallon rainwater barrel as I was dipping top and bottom shells. The top shell was into it with a watering can. I was in shock dark brown, but the bottom and neck were at first, and then started pondering as to yellow with large black blotches on it. how this had happened. The turtle was I released it in the barley patch at the released in the down slope area next to corner of my backyard when I arrived the woods. It is not possible for a turtle home. The barley is for my chickens to to climb up 11 red brick steps and across peck at during the winter. When I came the 40’ ft. patio to drop into the water
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 51 barrel. Had someone…? I called Glab, my harming it, I must have caused stress husband. After looking into the barrel, he and suffering that was not necessary. I walked away with a so what, don’t bother acted upon my ignorance; therefore, I too me attitude. I felt he had no concern, as suffered emotionally for the price. usual. I brought a long strainer to draw it Again, nothing is free for every action out. When I got it on the ground, however, has its price. there was no turtle. Did it disappear into Turtles live for over 50 years, even in the air? Then I came back to my senses and the wild, Google said. Although they are found a large yellowish mulberry leaf with not endangered, their slowness to maturity exposed ribs where I emptied the strainer of 14 to 20 years, and their slowness on the ground. I decided it was the leaf I to reproduce make them rare. I shall saw in the bottom of the water barrel and remember them for harmless creatures and not the turtle. My emotions played in a they are only to be admired for their great strange way to show my guilt for bringing adventures on earth, and not to be taken it home. Though I had no intention of away from their original habitat
52 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners IF NO GUN WAS TO BE HAD By Y
“Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent accepting her situation. “Jakes told me that men detest them.” he would take care of me and I am not Translation of: Tao Te Ching by worried about anything,” she said. Stephen Mitchell About three months after Kome’s death, Jakes called me and said that he A few days ago, Euny left a message got remarried. Apparently, one of Kome’s for me saying she was calling to let me friends, who knew that he was suffering know that Jakes died. It was shocking grossly from his loss and was not able to news, thinking that I had spoken with cope with his life, introduced him to a lady him only a month ago, or so I thought. 20 years his junior from Ashland. I told Upon hearing the news, Glab went on him that I was happy for him and I hoped the internet to find out the obituary to meet his new wife. We invited Jakes and information on Jakes. He had died on June his wife, Kathy, for dinner and we went 17, 2019. When I called her back with out for many lunches together after that. this information, she told me that he had When I got to know her, she told me that committed suicide. she was missing her family terribly and I met Jakes through his wife, Kome, wanted Jakes to move with her back to who died three years ago. Jakes and Kome Ashland where many of her siblings lived. were together for 52 years, but they didn’t Jakes wasn’t sure about moving away from have any children. Because of this, he the life he was used to, his church and his treated Kome like a child, people said friends. When we got reconnected with behind his back. Kome told me repeatedly them this past winter, we found out that that she didn’t know anything, for Jakes they had moved to Ashland in July of was taking care of everything in their last year. life together, but she didn’t seem to be Recollecting an encounter with Jakes, I completely unhappy about it. In fact, some realized that it was early in June; I called of her friends envied Kome for it was a Jakes and spoke with him for the last time, privilege they didn’t have. One day, she not a month ago. And I remember that he came to my house alone and said, “Jakes sounded somewhat unsure of the things, wanted to drive me, but I told him I knew now that I think about it. He had said how to get to Y’s house,” she said proudly. that he was missing Frederick. I asked him Then she said, her wish was to learn to come for a visit and stay with us for a everything for herself when she would while, but his response wasn’t as positive have a chance. as if it could have been because it was too She suffered for about a year without much trouble for him to leave the comfort knowing what was wrong with her health. of his home. Then, I asked Jakes if he was Only a month before her passing, was she attending church. No, he said. When, I diagnosed with a rare type of cancer that suggested he put some effort into meeting was found too late to be treated. The last new people, and his response was, “yes, time I saw her alive, she looked peaceful, but…” Had he given up, then? We ended
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 53 our conversation without any plans to As for the reason that caused Jakes to carry on in the future. take his life by suicide, I have no idea. No I called Kathy the day I spoke with one told me why and I didn’t ask. Perhaps Euny, but there was no answer. So, I left he had difficulty adjusting to his new life. a text message for her, saying that I was Perhaps he realized moving there was a sorry to find out Jakes’ passing so late, mistake that couldn’t be undone. Perhaps and also that I was sorry for her loss and he realized Kathy was not Kome…One suffering. Her reply came at nearly 10 p.m. can only imagine the scenario. He was 76 that night. We continued conversing by years old who loved to dine out and have text only, without either of us mentioning social drinks with people. He had a passion how he died. She said she stayed away for for gun shows and going to shooting a while because she couldn’t bear to stay in ranges with his friends. He had told us that house after his passing, but she now how many squirrels he shot a day that has returned to take care of things he left came into his yard. His only immediate behind. She also mentioned that she had family was a sister whom he did not have let people know his passing by posting a relationship with after his mother died in the Frederick newspaper because she years ago. Therefore, he liked the idea of couldn’t call everyone he knew, yet we did having a large family as his new wife has not see the post at the time. We ended our in Ashland. So, why? Was the gun in his texting by my asking her to visit us when house too handy? she was ready.
54 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners Board of Directors James Grissom, M.D. President Darrell Batson Vice President Catherine (Cate) Keller J.D. Secretary Caroline Gaver Board Member Emeritus Brian Guenther Richard Haney, Ed.D. Immediate Past President Carmen Hernandez, M.D. Sharon Jacko Erik Jones Beth Lowe Catherine Mock Leah Knecht Karen Richey Niki Thrash Geordie Wilson
Staff Laurie Fisher Executive Director Jennifer Szabo Program Manager Kim Brown Workplace Literacy Program Coordinator Lisa Meyers Volunteer Treasurer Doris Vierbuchen Volunteer Assistant Treasurer
Volunteer Student/Tutor Coordinators Holly Bohman ESL Program Coordinator and Parent Literacy Program Coordinator Lynn Bruton Basic Literacy Program Coordinator Catherine Coundjeris ESL Program Coordinator Linda Crough Workshop Coordinator Alix Cooney ESL Program Coordinator
Office Volunteers Heather Davis Sarah Matthews Lindsay Ryan Mary Alice Self Pat Veon
Translator and Office Volunteer Rosibel Ruiz de Cano Allison Kang Rui Zhang
Reflections: Voices of English Learners • 55 110 E. Patrick St. Frederick, MD 21701 301-600-2066 www.frederickliteracy.org [email protected]
56 • Reflections: Voices of English Learners