Spring 2021 THETHE PARROTPARROTYour ARC newsletter by and for ESL, multicultural, international ISSUE # 154 students, Californians, and, well, anybody really... The Music Man from Afghanistan The Parrot: Hi, Mr. Shahryar position of production floor bilingual Mr. Shahryar: Hi representative and The Parrot: Would later on promoted you briefly intro- to the position of American River College duce yourself and team lead. Unfortu- 4700 College Oak Drive tell me about your nately, due to Co- Sacramento, CA 95841 (916) 484-8001 background? vid-19 pandemic, I Mr. Shahryar: My lost my job in April name is Kaikawoos 2020. This unfortu- Shahryar. I am nate circumstance ESL originally Afghan opened an op- and I moved to portunity door for California back on me to think about Scholarship January 17, 2017. As soon as I moved continuing my education. Hence, I p. 2 to the United States, I got a job with joined American River College and Covered California initially in the “Travel, in the Continued on page 21 younger sort, is a U.S. State Department Selects ARC’s part of education; Miralynn Malupa for Prestigious Project in the elder, a part of experience.” Francis Bacon Maybe you were one of Profes- this year, and you might say she is sor Malupa’s students in celebrating by accepting a INSIDE ESL L30, R50, G310, or new challenge. ISSUE THIS maybe you’re currently in The U.S. Depart- Life-Changing Event....3 the ESL L51 class that she ment of State announced is teaching this semester. the selection of Miralynn A Dangerous Life..........4 She has taught ESL at Faigao Malupa of Sacra- ARC since 2019. Professor mento, CA for an eight- A Peculiar Year.............6 Malupa started her educa- week English Language tional journey in English Specialist virtual project My Experience..............7 language teaching in focusing on Teacher Train- 1996, so she is celebrat- ing and Community of Ramadan.......................8 ing 25 years in the field Continued on page 10 THE PARROT 2 Requirements: This scholarship will be awarded to an ARC ESL student who has the same love of learning and writing that Prof. Pezone showed in her teaching and in her own writing, with preference going to a student who has already completed a minimum of 12 units in ESL at ARC. Timeline: “I love words, though they sometimes get the better of me. Being The application time period for the Spring 2021 a writer has always been my dream. For me, writing is kind of scholarship will be from 3/19/21 - 5/3/21, and the like studying a language. I know I’ll never master it, but it doesn’t scholarship will be awarded in mid-May, 2021. matter because it’s so much fun along the way.” --Susan Pezone from A Collection of River Rock Writing: We plan to award the very first scholarship at the Sacramento, page 65 end of Spring 2021 and will continue to offer the The Susan Pezone Memorial ESL Scholarship!!! scholarship every year during the fall semester. The ESL Department at American River College has ***Please complete the form below to apply for chosen to establish a $500 scholarship to honor the the Susan Pezone Memorial ESL Scholarship: memory of a dear ESL colleague who passed away Link to the application for the Susan Pezone in Fall 2020. Prof. Pezone was a wonderful teacher, Memorial ESL Scholarship colleague, and writer who is already sorely missed. THE PARROT 3 Student Chirpings The Event That Changed My Life Life is full of surprises that change our lives very bad to me. I was very sad because I would go from bad to good. Many events can happen in the to the United States, and everything would change lives of some people, and they think it will give them in my life. In addition, my language would be a negative result but be wonderful and beautiful somewhat forgotten because I would have to speak later. For example, you can go with your friend to a English. place where you do not want to go and then when Then on April 28, 2016, I traveled with my you go, you discover that the place is wonderful, family to the United States. When we arrived, we and you see the people you love there. There was were greeted by many people who were friends an event I thought would transform my life into of my brothers living in the United States, in difficulties and sadness, and then I discovered it was Sacramento. In addition, when we moved in, we a fun and good event for my future life. were welcomed by Arab families. At that time, I When I felt very nice. I did left my Syrian city not think I would because of the war, find people from my I moved to live own country, Syria. A in Egypt with my week after our arrival, family. I lived there I started studying for two and a half English at school and years. My life was so met great friends. I wonderful. I studied felt that life was very law there and I met beautiful here and a lot of friends from after studying I would my country, Syria. return to university, Day after day I loved and I could study the life in Egypt, and medicine because it every day on my was my childhood holiday I was able to dream. go shopping with my In the end, friends and visit some areas such as The Pyramids, this change that happened in my life has made me museums, and beautiful gardens there. I also worked realize that it can be something negative and sad. as a teacher in a kindergarten. I organized my time But has instead turned into something indescribable well between study and work. My work with the because I will achieve my childhood dream and children was fun, funny, and very entertaining. become a doctor. Finally, all bad things can possibly One day I received a call from the United turn out good in the end and be wonderful. Nations, which offered us asylum to the United States. My mom and my brothers agreed to move because they wanted to improve our future. At that time, I felt this event would turn my life into something very bad because I would have to move to another country. I would not know anyone, and I Alaa Turkmany would lose my university, and all my happiness that ESL 50 I had in Egypt with my friends. This change looked Descriptive Essay THE PARROT 4 When Life Was Very Dangerous It happened one day in summer 2007 in the morning. We woke up early the next morning. Iran when I started to work with my cousin’s friend. We ate a quick breakfast. Then the company’s driver His name was Ali. He was a good civil engineer and picked us up. He drove two hours and we went to very helpful person. I talked with him about my a small road without any life or houses nearby. I major. I told him I needed a job and also I could was a little afraid. After twenty minutes, he stopped work anywhere if he had one for me. Luckily, he the car near a gate. An armed security guard came had one open position and I started to work for and checked our car and my ID. Ali told him about him the following week. The government project me. We went to the main office and Ali introduced was to build a new strategic city between Abadan me to others as well. They welcomed me and and Khorramshahr. These are two important cities smiled after a long time. They showed me my office in Iran, so the government needed to protect them and told me I could start. Immediately, Ali had to from enemies more than other cities. I was excited make 1,200 houses. The city was new and needed and I didn’t ask him a school, cinema, about the weather. hospital, and sports I accepted the job. area also. We lived in I called my father a trailer house that and told him about looked like a por- my new job. He table classroom at congratulated me ARC. Part of my job but told me the area was to estimate the was dangerous and cost for excavation. I had to be careful. That means calculat- In those moments I ing how many trucks think parents always would be waiting in say something about line or how to work taking care with- cheaply. out understanding Three hours children. I wanted later, Amin came to to earn money even my office and said, if there was a very “Young man, stop dangerous area. your job.” You will After two days, Ali and I went to Ahvaz by have time to finish it. I want to show you an area airplane. I remember when I left the airplane, my that you will enjoy. Amin worked for Ali, and he was face was burning. I was surprised when I saw cac- also Ali’s roommate when Ali and he were at the tus and date trees (palm) at the airport and felt university. I agreed and we went outside, but when the hot weather. Suddenly, I recalled Tom and Jerry I left the office, I felt the burning again. That feel- cartoons when they were in the pot and making ing was more than previously, but I didn’t tell him. soup for cannibals. Anyway, a driver waited for us He was full of energy and a kind man.