Egypt World Cup

I really like to travel. My family and me know a lot of countries. One time I went to Egypt because my best friend Rafael Acosta is a professional soccer player and he played with Venezuela soccer team.

I flied alone and that was exiting but was scared too. When I arrived at the airport I was impressed about the people and their culture because was really different than mine. I like learn about other cultures.


My experience in Egypt was amazing. I knew the Giza Pyramids, The Hanging Church of Cairo, Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the Nile river, and the most important for me the Cairo International Stadium.


I saw my soccer Venezuelan's team in our first world cope, my team won three times and passed to the second round, I felt so happy. I will never forget my experience en Egypt.

My First Success in America

I could not forget the day that got my driver’s license. The story reminded me of my driver’s license in Mississippi When I read Ndiaga’s essay.  It was so fun. When I was 21years old in my country, I got a driver’s license at first time. I could not drive because I did not have any car and I was afraid to drive. But I have loved to drive since I had my car. I used to travel around my country if I had every time. When I decided to come here,

I had to change my international driver’s license before I came here because I have heard to get a driver’s license without road test if I have an international driver’s license.

    At first, when I went to Department of Motor Vehicles in Olive branch in Mississippi, I could not take a text test because I did not have birth certificate. So I got the certificate from Korea, it was tested and translated by a notary public. They were very kind however they did not believe the birth certificate, I had to prove it. I gave them with notary’s identification card and license for proving. Nevertheless, I had to go to the office more several times because I did not understand their words completely.  After visiting the office five times, eventually, I could take the text test. But I failed, it was very confused. They talked to me friendly, “Don’t worry and you can come here every day.” It was ridiculous, nobody wants go the office every day. But it was relief to be able to take the test again. Next day, finally, I got my driver’s license. When I passed the test, everyone of in the office congratulate me warmly. They did not forget to advise to me, “Don’t lose the license.” I could not forget the experience that was a good for me. But, again, no, thank you. That was my little success in America first. 

By Kyoung Hui.

Prince Charming

           I used to believe in a prince charming when I was a child until now I still believe that they exist. Let me tell my dream.

          I had a dream, I dreamed that I was a princess and, I had everything I wanted, everybody loved me, my desires were orders. But I was not happy and I was thinking about that something was missing in my puzzle. Everyone wanted to be like me. They thought to be a princess was incredible. They were wrong because to be rich is not always easy. You cannot have all the friends that you want, you must be with the children of good family and rich like you. You cannot go to some place like a nightclub for example, or go out very late at night. Everybody think that having a bodyguard is amazing but it is not because you are not free to do things of your age and having a boyfriend is very difficult.

         I was a princess but I was sad, I was always dressed in black. My father ‘’the king’’ tried to help me, he called everyman to come and make his daughter happy. Everyman came and told me their experience in life, the funniest joke in the world, but it didn’t work because I was still sad. My mother ‘’the queen’’ called everywoman to come and give her ‘’lagaré’’ (means last love) the smile that she needed, and everywoman tried but nobody could. All the people in the castle or in the village were unhappy because they couldn’t help me.

          My parents advised me to travel to another country but I refused. ‘’Cinderella’’ one of my friends advised me to get married like her so I can be happy because Cinderella was unhappy before she got married. Her step sisters abused her many times. She couldn’t go anywhere, she stayed at home to do chores, and when she got married her life changed.  I said yes, and my parents call all the single princes to come and I will choose the one that I want. Every single princes in the world came but just one said no because he was not ready to get married. I saw all of them, they were kind and well cultivated but I said no they didn’t complete my puzzle. My father called his best friend to persuade his son to come and meet me. The prince answer was ‘’ why should I married a women if I am not happy?’’  ‘’ I want the best for her and I know I can’t make her happy.’’ The two families were doing their best to make us happy.

           A friend of the prince told him to meet me just once. If we love each other we will get married and if not he could return, and he would  be disappoint if he never meet me, because he will never know if he will love me or not.

        One day, I received a letter from an unknown person, I opened the letter; ‘’ dear princess I heard about you, we have the same hobbies and that you want to be married to complete your puzzle. I need a woman like you: courageous and cultivate. I also heard that you always wear black clothes. I hope I will help you to be happy and I really want to meet you soon. Hope you will answer me, Ps: my name is not important.’’ I run to my parent’s room as soon as I finished reading the letter. I was breathless when I got in my parent’s room.  ‘’ what is the matter?’’ asked my parent’s, I showed them the letter and my father laughed, ‘’ I know who is this valiant man’’ said my father. ‘’ who is he?’’ yelled my mother and I ‘’ he is my friend’s son and I’m sure that you will love him like I do’’ and I repeat ‘’ I hope father, I hope’’

          A week ago we met itch other and we felt in love. He asked me to married him and I accepted. The planning of the weeding was so fast. Two months later we were married. I moved to his house and all our parents and populations were happy for us. Two years later we got twins ‘’Sasha and Binta’’ I was pregnant, it was a men, and we decided to name him ‘’ prince ZOUZOU’’ like my father. I knew my puzzle wasn’t complete, But now it is because my husband and my children complete me.

          I will never forget that dream; I will continue to believe in my prince charming and the true love. I have never seen him before. But I know he is somewhere waiting for me.

By Mami.

                                                     Dear mom                                             

What have you been up to? I did not hear you for a long time. I wrote this letter to tell you everything you mean to me.

You carried me nine month in your belly.

You risked your own life for me.

You told me more than once that I am too young to get my freedom.

You have always worried about me.

You have been feeding me since I was born.

You taught me everything I need to know about life.

You have always listened to me with wise and calm.

Mom forgives me for being reckless sometime.

I will need your advice for the rest of life.

You are the greatest gift I have ever had.

Thank you for spending most of your time with me.

Thank you for shaping me into a good person.

I love you mom, I love you.

                                                                                                         You son Ndiaga

The Pico de Orizaba

Mexico has many mountains as Popocatepetl, Pico de Orizaba, Iztaccihuatl, The Nevado de Toluca, La Malinche, Cofre de Perote, Cofre de Colima, etc. 

   The Pico de Orizaba as known as Citlaltepetl, is mean “star mountain”. It is the highest peak in Mexico, the third in North America, and the second most prominent volcanic peak in the word. It has 18,700 ft. high (5,700 m) above sea level. It is considered dormant but no extinct, last eruption was in 19^th century.

It is located between states Veracruz and Puebla. Close the Orizaba city, which gives the name.

   The best time to climbs is around Christmas between months of October to March, it takes 6 to 10 hours to climb. Its summit is always snow. Is a really spectacular to view if drives on the highway in any point around The Pico de Orizaba.

The Spanish during conquest used the volcano as a landmark to guide themselves to the port of Veracruz.

   The Pico de Orizaba is certainly a beautiful and interesting place to visit.

                                                                                   

                                                                                                By Angeles.

My First Job

           I got my first job at the age of fourteen. By then I was trying to save some money because I wanted to buy an electric guitar. My father had a friend that own a hardware store, so my father helped me to got the job in the hardware store. I had been practiced acoustic guitar for almost a year, and I was ready to have an electric guitar.
          I started to working on December when all the schools and high schools in my Country had the summer vacation. The first day of job was really hard because, the store was big and had a lot of items and tools to sell. In the store they assigned me a tutor. The tutor show me the entire store and explained me everything about the items and tools.The job was really demanding you had to stay in the entrance of the store waiting for the costumers, once the costumer told you what item wanted you had to look for the entire store trying to remembered where was the item. One day one costumer was trying to search for a particular screw, the problem was that the hardware store had like more than 30 types and sizes of screws.
          I was expecting to worked for one month to had the enough money for buy the electric guitar. But after the first week I realized that one month won't be enough to gather all the money. The salary was underpaid, so I decided to quit and start to enjoyed my vacation.
          It was a great experience, but I preferred to stay at home being a couch a potato. Rather than had to work for underpaid salary, knowing that at the end I won't be able to had the enough money to buy the guitar.

Family

      A family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children.
A family is a beautiful gift of GOD. Family can help you sentimentally, physically, and emotionally. My family is everything for me. I can’t imagine my life without them. I need to see or call them every morning.
     When I was in my country, I used to eat dinner with all my family (dad, mom, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and even niece and cousins). During the week end, I really miss this. The long distance is killing me but I know I will be fine.
I prefer to have a big family because I will never be alone or sad and I know that they will always be there for me.

by Mami

Life is Interesting

          Life is a very interesting thing. At times, you think that everything you do has a purpose and makes sense, only to wake up the next morning and find out that your plans don’t really work and you have to shift gears toward something new. One day you realize that you are not a child anymore; you are an adult with many responsibilities. “It’s life,” people say… and you just have to agree. Life is unpredictable and ever changing.

          Many of my wonderful students have to face difficult decisions in their lives. In the majority, when they come to my class, they are no longer children. They are world travelers, who have seen things and visited places. I often wonder about how different we are based on where we were born; only to realize that we are not different at all, we are just living our lives. Those lives, that are unpredictable and change with the direction of wind.

A Lucky Woman

   Are you are a lucky person?

   I considerer myself a lucky woman. Always after I have some bad experience or something bad happens, something good comes.

   Let me tell you, why I think that.

   One day, I went to buy a bull for my ranch. While I was talking with the owner of the bull, named Rosalio, about the price, weight, pedigree, etc., the ranch workers were trying to grab the bull to upload the trailer. There were three men and could not do; besides they were already hitting and that get to anger the bull.

   I was upset and walked to where they were, to try to help. The workers were afraid because the bull was desperado and angry.   Then, they gave me the rope.  I started to talk soft, slow and said … shhh, shhh the bull calm down. I put the rope on the snout, and ready, butt!!! He shook his head and crushed my hand against the wooden wall and crushed my engagement ring. The diamond came on the air; the ring saw likes square in my finger, it wasn’t round anymore. I couldn’t feel my hand, the pain had numbed it. I thought was broken. I ran and put my hand into the tank where the cows drank fresh water, to prevent inflamed, and tried to get me out the ring, but I could not.

   If I had known I would work with animals, I would have never worn my rings. I did it without thinking.

   Later, the bull was inside of trailer safe and quiet. Rosalio was worried about my hand and the diamond ring; the workers were looking around to try to find the diamond, but that was impossible, we were in a ranch.

   A few days later, while I was working in my ranch, Rosalio and his workers appeared. They wanted to know how my hand and the bull were. Fortunately my hand was not broken. They brought food and drinks and were happy. They began to help to vaccinate. Suddenly Rosalio gave me a small plastic bag. Everyone looked at me…. Inside the bag was the diamond ring. I asked, how did you find it? He said that while they were milking, they saw something shining in the mud and feces cows. “It was a diamond.”

   Now, I have three more friends, that help my worker in my ranch; Rosalio and his family comes to visit, always them talk of that day and makes jokes. My hand is fine; my ring is inside my drawer with its diamond. We called the bull Capitan. It is very well, and has many offspring, is friendly and quiet. Do you not think I’m lucky?

                                                                                                            by Angeles

                                                                                                            Feb/2012