Living Our Passion, Breaking Down Walls

LIVING OUR PASSION

BREAKING DOWN WALLS Ku Noolaanshaha Himilooyinkeena, Jabinta Darbiyada ምኞቶቻችንን መኖር ፣ ግድግዳዎችን ማፍረስ Viviendo Nuestras Pasiones, Derribando Muros Viv Pasyon Nou, Kraze Mi Yo

‫ تحطيم الجدران‬، ‫عواطفنا‬

Vivendo Nossas Paixões, Quebrando Paredes Vivre Nos Passions, Briser les Murs 活出我們的激情，打破牆壁 活出我们的激情，打破墙壁

Writings from the Women’s Education Center at Rosie’s Place, 2020

LIVING OUR PASSIONS, BREAKING DOWN WALLS Ku Noolaanshaha Himilooyinkeena, Jabinta Darbiyada

ምኞቶቻችንን መኖር ፣ ግድግዳዎችን ማፍረስ Viviendo Nuestras Pasiones, Derribando Muros Viv Pasyon Nou, Kraze Mi Yo

‫ تحطيم الجدران‬، ‫عواطفنا‬

Vivendo Nossas Paixões, Quebrando Paredes Vivre Nos Passions, Briser les Murs

活出我們的激情，打破牆壁 活出我们的激情，打破墙壁

Writings from the Women’s ​ Education Center at Rosie’s Place Summer 2020

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Living Our Passions,

Breaking Down Walls Writings from the Women’s Education Center at Rosie’s Place ©2020 Writing Café Artwork: All interior artwork by guests of Rosie’s Place.

Thanks to Open Studios Teacher, Rébecca Bourgault, MFA, Ed.D. Cover image, Broken Heart, by David Goehring, used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Cover and Interior Designer: Emerson College Pub Lab and John Rodzvilla. This book was created by students, volunteers and Rosie’s Place staff in partnership with our publisher.

Students Who Contributed to Dedication: Stella K. and Lucy N. Volunteers: We are grateful to all our 2020 Writing Café teachers!

Staff: Michele Chausse, Liz Hughes, Pauline Jennett and Sara Jorgensen Publisher: Jonathan Jacobsen, Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc. We also thank the entire Rosie’s Place community for their support!

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We dedicate this book to Rosie’s Place. Even during the time of Coronavirus, we practice what we learned at Rosie’s Place: to have a voice, to use our talents, to make friends, to help our neighbors, to keep moving, to have hope and courage and to know that our own words will be in this book for everyone to read.

Some of us are living our passions by the experiences we have come through. It is our turn to do what we love.We are breaking down walls of fear, time, money, transportation and language. Nothing can stop us!

The teachers and staff help us to be unshakable, to tell our stories if we want to, and to stand up for ourselves.

We say thank you for teaching us at Rosie’s Place because now we can talk with you, write our stories and live our passions.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Living our Passions ������������������������������������������������ 9 Boston, Grisbel B. �������������������������������������������������� 11 Walking, Mekdes G. ����������������������������������������������� 12 Dance Late into the Night, Crucita B. D. ������������������� 12 Wonderful Family, Yineth V. ������������������������������������ 13 Nothing Stops Me When I Swim, Qing L. ������������������� 14 Living My Passion, Marie C. M. �������������������������������� 15 My Friends, Altagracia G. ��������������������������������������� 15 I Want to Speak English Also, Ke N. S. ����������������������� 16 I Learned to Cook Because I Really Like to Eat, Lara R. � 17 My Passions Are Flowers and Cooking, Ana D. ������������ 18 My Passion Is Shopping, Silberth M. ������������������������ 18 Living My Passion, Carmen T. ����������������������������������� 19 My Passion Is Yoga, Anne-Rose A. ��������������������������� 20 I Like Walking, Ana P. ���������������������������������������������� 22 Church with My Family, Marie J. ������������������������������� 22 Life in America Was Difficult, Bekelech D. ����������������� 23 My Trip to the Baltic Sea, Xiuzhen W. ����������������������� 24 My Church and My Supermarket, Anyi M. ����������������� 27 When I Was a Child, Anoelle M. ������������������������������ 27 I Love Decorating, Elsa C. ����������������������������������������� 28 Knitting, Gilberte P. ����������������������������������������������� 29 I Have a Passion, Carolina S. ����������������������������������� 30 My Passion Is Cooking, Margarita M. ���������������������� 30 My Passion Is Swimming, Digna V. ���������������������������� 31

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Breaking Down the Walls, Christy L. ������������������������� 32 My Passion, Genese A. ������������������������������������������� 32 School Is My Passion, Idovane M. ���������������������������� 33 Studying the Bible, Eddy A. �������������������������������������� 34 Going to Church, Laurette P. ���������������������������������� 34 Living Our Passion, Leonica V. ���������������������������������� 35 Walls, Ertha P. �������������������������������������������������������� 36 My Family, Estuania L.C. ���������������������������������������� 36 My Passion Is My Garden, Maria O. ��������������������������� 37 I Have a Passion, Evelyn L. �������������������������������������� 38 My Family, Julienne P. �������������������������������������������� 39 My Butterfly Life, Ivon D. ����������������������������������������� 40 I Love My Husband, Josefinade P. ��������������������������� 44 I Like America, Anicia B. ������������������������������������������ 44 Cooking New Recipes, Maira R. ������������������������������� 45 Sewing Is a Thread Throughout My Life, Lucy N. ��������� 46 My Passion, Magalis P. ������������������������������������������� 48 My Passion Is Working in an Office, Maribel C. ���������� 50 I Liked to Play, Marie A. ������������������������������������������� 51 My Family, Alourde D. �������������������������������������������� 52 Breaking Down Walls! ����������������������������������������� 53 What Do You Want to Do for Your Dream?, Anie �������� 55 I Like America, Saint Helen C. ��������������������������������� 55 My Two Passions, Zhixia W. ������������������������������������� 56 My Family, Khadijo A. �������������������������������������������� 59 I Feel My Passion about My Country, Marie C. ������������ 60 My Passion Is to Plant Flowers, Belaynesh M. W. ������� 61

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When I Was a Child, Cherina L. M. �������������������������� 62 I Love Music, Marie Consulta C. ����������������������������� 63 Church with My Family, Marie J. ������������������������������� 64 I Am Happy, Marie M. D. ���������������������������������������� 64 My Passion, Marie G. ���������������������������������������������� 65 I Love My Church, Marie R. ������������������������������������� 66 My Passion, Marie T. P. ������������������������������������������� 67 I Feel Happy, Marie V. J. ������������������������������������������ 68 I Love to Dance, Marjorie H. ����������������������������������� 69 Dominican Republic, Marlen B. �������������������������������� 70 I Have a Good Job, Martha O. ��������������������������������� 71 My Passions, Mary P. ����������������������������������������������� 72 My Passion Is Nail Art, Clarivette R. ������������������������� 73 My Passion, Monique E. ����������������������������������������� 74 I Have a Passion, Monise M. ������������������������������������ 74 My Story, Nancy F. �������������������������������������������������� 75 My Home, Pak Y. Y. ������������������������������������������������ 76 Cooking, My Greatest Passion, Roberta L. ����������������� 77 My Story, Sagema H. ���������������������������������������������� 78 Tanzania, Stella K. �������������������������������������������������� 79 My Passion Is to Go Shopping, Tatica C. �������������������� 81 My Passion, Teresa S. ���������������������������������������������� 82 Dancing, Veronika ������������������������������������������������� 84 Cooking, Victoria ��������������������������������������������������� 86 Music, Violeta D. ��������������������������������������������������� 87 I Love Dance, Wanda M. ����������������������������������������� 88 My Passion Is Swimming, Digna V. ���������������������������� 88

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My Passion, Yessenia C. ����������������������������������������� 89 What I Like, Renia C. ���������������������������������������������� 89 I Listen to Music, Yulian G. P. ���������������������������������� 90 When I Am at Church, Ghislaine A. J. ��������������������� 91 My Passion, Angelica G. ����������������������������������������� 92 Immigrant Courage, Anonymous ���������������������������� 94 Teacher Writings �������������������������������������������������� 97 Mill River, Theodore H. ������������������������������������������� 99 Rosie’s Writing Cafe, Debbie W. ����������������������������� 102 My Passion Is Writing, Sara J. ��������������������������������� 104 Living My Passion, Breaking Down Walls, Florence P. 106

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LIVING OUR PASSIONS

by J. Fullam

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Boston Grisbel B. Everyday I went to school. I learned different cultures and played. I loved to go to school because I felt great with my friends. When I was a child, life was different. Every child rode a bike and I played nice games with my friend Soel making big houses and selling the houses to our other friends. I felt like a free person, no problems, no precautions. I just needed to worry about my school and do good things. My world was wonderful because I didn’t have to worry about everything. I was passionate about dance; I played baseball, played with dolls, rode a bike and went to the park.

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Walking Mekdes G. My name is Mekdes.

My home is in 165 Harold Stap., Boston I found housing by working with a friend.

I love walking.

I enjoy cooking.

Walking makes me happy.

I’m beginning to walk to the store.

Dance Late into the Night Crucita B. D. My passion is dance. I dance with my husband, also with my son. I like to dance every Friday and Saturday. I invite my family and my friends to my party at my home Saturday. We go dancing to different music, meringue, salsa, bachata. We dance late into the night.

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Wonderful Family Yineth V. I am passionate about my family. When I am with my family I feel fortunate. I will always love my family.

I hope to see my brother happy for my whole life. I hope to see my brother, Scarle, happy his entire life. Scarle is fun to be with. He is intelligent, funny and very nice.

I do many things with my family. I can cook, go shopping, go to the movies and go to restaurants with my family. I cannot imagine life without my family. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful family.

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Nothing Stops Me When I Swim Qing L. I’m passionate about swimming. I would go swimming on Saturdays at the gym in China.

I can swim backstroke and breaststroke.

Nothing stops me when I swim. Now I can’t swim because I don’t have enough money or time to join a club where I can swim.

When I swim I feel joyful, content and relaxed.

I feel like a fish swimming in the ocean when​ I swim. I really like this feeling. I love to swim.

I hope I can start swimming again soon.

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Living My Passion Marie C. M. My passion is singing with my family. It makes me happy. I will join a choir at my church in Dorchester, because I am determined to learn more. I like to sing with my family because I enjoy our time together. I feel joy. I sing in Creole. I sing because it fills my heart.

I am not afraid to sing to people. I can read classic music. Nothing can stop me from singing.

I like to sing prayer songs.

My Friends Altagracia G. Everyday I went to school in the Dominican Republic.

I loved to dance because it is good exercise.

I went to dance class; I talked to friends.

I felt love with my friends.

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I Want to Speak English Also Ke N. S. I am passionate about learning English. Learning English is important to me. I’m going to Rosie’s place school to learn English. I can speak English a little now.

It is hard for me to learn English. I learn English in class and improve every day. I like my teacher and classmates. I feel lucky to be able to come to Rosie’s place to learn English. Around the world people speak English and I want to speak English also.

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I Learned to Cook Because I Really Like to Eat Lara R. Cooking is my great passion. I learned to cook, because I helped and watched my mother cook white rice. I started cooking in the kitchen. My mom helped me because I was still very small.

I still remember the first time I made white rice.

My mother gave me the measure of salt and I doubled it; it was very salty! We still ate it though.

I learned to cook when I was twelve years old.

I was still too young to cook. I still wasn’t able to reach the table. I had to stand on a bench.

I learned to cook, because I really like to eat. In Dominican Republic the popular dish is white rice, chicken and red beans.

My challenge is to cook food for 50 people like it is done in a retirement home or daycare. Why, because I like to cook.

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My Passions Are Flowers and Cooking Ana D. I love all flowers. The colors are beautiful and awesome. I have a little garden in my house. In summer I plant different flowers. My favorites are yellow flowers.

My other passion is to cook. I learned to cook when I was nine years old. I cook different foods.

Spanish food is my favorite. I cook rice and beans, and fish. I like salads, also.

My Passion Is Shopping Silberth M. I love to shop for clothes.

I like to go to the mall.

I shop with my daughter because She likes to play while I shop.

I am happy and grateful for my Life and for everyone in it.

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Living My Passion Carmen T. I am passionate about eating in restaurants.

I will go to the restaurants with my family.

I can eat vegetables at the restaurant, Life Alive.

There is nothing I love more than their food.

I am passionate about being vegan.

I go on Saturday nights. I go with my family and friends. I eat the dish, “green garden� and my family eats different vegetable dishes.

My passion is the Life Alive restaurant. I love this restaurant because its food is very healthy.

The restaurant is on 165 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA.

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My Passion Is Yoga Anne-Rose A. My passion is yoga. Here is how to do yoga: For you to do yoga, you have to stretch your legs thirty times. You can not do this only one time. It has to be thirty times. Next, you alternate both legs two to three times. When I am in bed or I am sitting on a chair I alternate my back and then everything else on my body so that I can stretch.

I do yoga every morning around 4 am in my bed.

I usually do it before I go out, but I don’t have time to do it a lot more when I am at home.

Sometimes when I go out, I try to do it while I am waiting for the bus. Especially if it is cold, moving my arms and legs make me feel warmer.

I do this sometimes before the bus comes, but I do not do it all the time. Another time where yoga helps me is when I sit too much. When I am sitting a lot, my soles sometimes hurt me.

But when I do yoga, it makes the pain feel better.

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The reason that I love yoga so much is because I would see my grandfather do it when I was a little girl. Before I started doing yoga, I always liked moving around. When I was in school, I used to play jump rope with my friends. Staying active through yoga makes me happy.

In the future, I want to teach yoga to other friends and people. When I retire, I want to teach my own yoga class at my church. I hope many people who are interested in yoga but do not have the time to do it will be able to learn yoga in my class. I believe yoga is really good for the body, mind, and soul. It relieves pain and makes you sweat so that you can be healthy.

Some barriers that are stopping me is time and my busy schedule. Right now I am getting my GED and taking classes. I come to Rosie’s Place to learn English. Then I go to a group at my church. When I finish school, I will have more time for yoga. I want to teach others yoga too.

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I Like Walking Ana P. My name is Ana P. I am from the Domican Republic. I speak Spanish. I live in Boston. My passion is walking because it is important for my health. I like walking because it helps me relax.

I walk to work everyday. I walk to go shopping.

I walk to the laundromat. I also walk to go visit my family. But sometimes I can’t go walking because it is too cold outside. When it’s too cold outside I spend time with my family inside.

Church with My Family Marie J. I love to go to church with my family.

We attend Mattapan St. Angela.

We pray and sing and read the Bible.

After church we go home and I cook rice, and some plantains.

I cook plantains and other vegetables.

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Life in America Was Difficult Bekelech D. My name is Bekelech D. I am a student of the Women’s Education Center. I want to learn perfect English because in the future I want to work here at Rosie’s Place. I want to talk about my experiences at Rosie’s Place. I am sure with determination I can aim to catch my big dream.

My life in America was totally difficult because I did not speak any English but now I can speak good English now.

MY PASSION: I am a cook at a hotel. I work from Friday to Sunday. I work 21 hours a week. I start work at 2 pm and go home at 9 pm. I stand all day so I am tired. I am very busy on weekends because the kitchen has prepared special meals for parties at the hotel. I cut vegetables, make soups, prepare all kinds of meats and help with desserts. During the week I go to cooking school because I want to become a hotel chef. I want to manage a hotel kitchen.

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My Trip to the Baltic Sea Xiuzhen W. When I was a child, I liked to be active and try new things. After I grew up, I still wanted to see the outside world, and I dreamed about traveling. With my daughter’s support I travel.

Last August I joined my daughter’s family and her friend’s family. We flew to Switzerland and to Denmark; the “Norwegian Getaway” cruise ship left Copenhagen to Germany, Russia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden and then came back to Copenhagen.

On a sunny afternoon, we climbed a tower that was 90 meters high and 400 steps. We followed many tourists and visited the really wonderful Christian church. We saw many people waiting in line, ready to climb up the tower. My daughter suggested that together we go up and try to climb the tower. Then I worried, “Can I do it myself?” I thought about it again and I thought, “I have to try.” Soon we were following the tourist line along the steps slowly. There were cheerful boys joking, we had to walk slowly and the stairs became narrower and narrower. Suddenly, I saw above there was 24 Writings

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a bright light coming from a doorway, we had come at the door. Wow we can see the beautiful city under the bright sun. Now we were on the outside of the tower, we were looking out while we walked.

We are like birds flying overlooking the earth; we can see neat red roofs, small houses on the street, small people and the sparkling sunshine down. It is like a wonderful fairy tale world. My heart is excited, it feels like birds flying. Then we were still climbing round for the rotating ladder. Soon I finally climbed up to the top of the tower, my daughter cheered for me and she photographed this unforgettable time.

I am happy to have the pictures. Then we together went down the steps slowly. I was very comfortable and didn’t feel tired.

That evening, we boarded the cruise ship, and we traveled to Germany, Russia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland and we saw their different local customs. Passing these areas let me surprisingly see Zurich, Switzerland their clearly bottomed lake, Copenhagen hi-tech museum, aquarium, mermaid, Pushkin statue and several magnificent big churches.

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I thought this trip was an exciting trip, because it let me achieve a dream and gave me confidence. Personal experience tells me that I can overcome fear and it is important to try, and there will be gains. So travel lets me broaden my horizons and grow knowledge. It makes life full of passion; interesting and fun; life can be wonderful. Outside travel is a good choice.

I suggest to friends that you have a healthy baby with no medical conditions, and you need to enjoy travel. This is how I feel about my trip to the Baltic Sea.

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My Church and My Supermarket Anyi M. My name is Anyi M. My passion is to go to church and read the Bible. It is my passion because I like reading the Bible. If I am not healthy I can’t go to church. I want to stay healthy always.

I also like the supermarket. My supermarket has lots of choices of food. It has many juices like orange, mango, lots of fruit, and bananas. It has lots of vegetables, peppers, potatoes, and many kinds of fish.

When I Was a Child Anoelle M. When I was a child in Port au Prince I loved to go to church with my parents and siblings.

I always enjoyed singing with my sister. I have a big family. I am blessed and thankful for them.

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I Love Decorating Elsa C. My passion is decoration. Another passion of mine is interior decorating. I always felt that your home is your temple. I like to change colors and decor styles every three months, from the curtains to the shower decor.

I create my own flower arrangements and even sew my own curtains. The constant changes make my home more beautiful, making me so much happier to be there.

When I sit down to enjoy my home, I begin to think about the next project. When is my next project?

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Knitting Gilberte P. My name is Gilberte P. I learned knitting and crocheting in Rosie’s Place. Someone gave me yarn in different colors. When I knit hats for women that come to Rosie’s Place this makes me happy.

When I am sitting in my house I make hats for people. It makes them happy to have a hat for winter. Knitting takes away my stress.

I went to visit my friend who was sick in the Brigham and Women’s hospital. I brought her a hat with many colors. She didn’t move; I felt sad and did not feel good. God gives me favor because I’m not sick. I hope the hat made her feel better.

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I Have a Passion Carolina S. My passion is singing. I am passionate about singing because I like to praise the Lord with my voice. My passion is important to me because I feel very good and I have peace when I am singing. Not knowing how to read music notes is stopping me from living my passion. I will study music to live my passion.

My Passion Is Cooking Margarita M. My name is Margarita M. My passion is cooking.

I like to make chicken, rice, potatoes, salad and pasta.

After, I drink coffee, soda, juice and sauce.

My passion is cooking different foods when my family comes over.

They are happy.

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My Passion Is Swimming Digna V. I have a passion.

My passion is swimming at the beach.

I am passionate about swimming because I like exercise.

My passion is important to me because I feel good when swimming.

A lack of time is stopping me from living my passion.

I will look for time to live my passion.

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Breaking Down the Walls Christy L. My name is Christy L. My home is in Boston.

I found housing by working with my friend.

Rosie‘s place helped me break down the walls through school.

I am passionate about school.

I feel good because I will go to the supermarket today.

I buy milk, meat, apples, and bananas.

My Passion Genese A. I love to exercise. l like to go to the gym. l go every Friday. l like to use the elliptical and the weights. l go to be strong and build my muscles.

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School is My Passion Idovane M. My name is Idovane M. My apt is 815 Dorchester Avenue.

I found housing by a friend.

My passions are School and Rosie’s Place.

Living my passion, I love Rosie’s place, I love to cook fish and plantains.

I’ve got chicken to eat.

I am from Haiti.

I live in Boston.

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Studying the Bible Eddy A. My passion is studying the Bible, my family, and my grandkids.

I am passionate about the Bible because I learn about spiritual-being.

My passion is important to me because of the importance of the eternal.

A lack of time is stopping me from living my passion and studying the Bible.

I will study the Bible to live my passion.

Going to Church Laurette P. I love going to church.

The church I go to is on River Street in Mattapan.

I go to church 2 days a week, Friday and Sunday.

I am passionate about prayer and fellowship.

It helps me handle the tough days.

I thank God for church.

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Living Our Passion: Breaking Down Dominican Republic History Leonica V. I am writing about my history.

I am from Dominican Republic.

My country is very hot.

I came to Boston in 2016.

I was sick with cancer.

I went to Beth Israel Hospital.

They have good doctors and nurses.

I feel good. I am working.

I study English Tuesday and Thursday in Rosie’s Place.

Rosie’s Place is my second home.

I lived four months in Rosie’s Place.

I am working at CVS across the street.

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Walls Ertha P. My home is in Dorchester.

Rosie’s Place helped me break down the walls with school.

I am passionate about Rosie’s because I like school.

It breaks down the walls.

I love God.

My Family Estuania L.C. I am passionate about my family, and every weekend my family gets together. We cook, eat, drink, have parties, and sing and dance.

I have four sons, five grandsons, and one granddaughter. They are all good and kind. My family goes to church together, and we all have very good relationships. I love to spend time with them and talk to them. We tell lots of funny stories to each other.

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My Passion Is My Garden Maria O. My passion is gardening. I love plants with different colors and fragrances. I love gardening because I enjoy being in the garden so much.

The flowers are alive and beautiful. In past years I had vegetables and flowers. I like elephant ears, margaritas, sunflowers, tomatoes, and peppers, both sweet and hot.

The husband of my neighbor and his son helped me. All the neighbors enjoyed the vegetables.

Now I can only grow flowers. I have only a little yard. Someday I will have a bigger yard. Now, I have the Community Garden here at Franklin Field.

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I Have a Passion Evelyn L. My passion is family And I love family I am passionate about family because My family cares for me My passion is important to me because I love my family Time is stopping me from living my passion I make time I will make time to live my passion

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My Family Julienne P. My name is Julienne P. I am passionate about my family. My family is nice and funny. My family makes me happy. I go to the movies with my family. I love to cook for my family. They love rice and beans.

I have four brothers who live in Haiti. I had a sister who lived in Haiti, but sadly she died.

She lived a long life.

I have five girls and no boys. When I came to Boston in 2015 three of my daughters also came to the USA. I have ten grandchildren, six girls and four boys. Five of my grandchildren are in the USA and five are in Haiti.

In 2019 l went to Haiti and saw my family that lives there. I feel fortunate to have such a wonderful family.

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My Butterfly Life Ivon D. Hello. My name is Ivon D, and this is my story before I knew what my passion was in my life.

When I was a child I remember my life being very happy because there was nothing to complain about. I had no worries I was a child living in the moment.

Then one day I woke up and I saw myself becoming a young lady going to college, having fun with my classmates at my favorite college Instituto San Antonio. I remember one day I was talking to classmates about the future and I remember saying, “I want to be a wife and I want to have twins babies in my first pregnancy.”

Eventually times run over and I reach the top of my career and graduate as a Bilingual Secretary, immediately I prepare my resume and I start to look for a job; I look for a while but I have no success in it.

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Then many years later I met a man that became the father of my twins...yes...my dreams came true. I had my twins; one girl and one boy which eventually led me to a couple of barriers and struggles as a single mother.

Then I got an offer of support from my youngest sister offering me the chance to study to be a nurse assistant, and I did. While I was studying and learning nursing I felt inside this was going to be a great passion for me. After a while I started to work in a hospital in my country, Honduras, in a small town named Puerto De Tela, a Port in the North Coast where I was born. My passion to help people as a nurse got so stronger during the 8 years I worked at the hospital. I learned so many things as a nurse during that time; I learned nursing technique, skills, patients management, and much more.

Then one day I had the desire to know the United States because it was a dream from when I was a child. So I started to gather all the information on how to move to this wonderful country. Then one day I had the opportunity to travel to the United States. I knew a lot of places, and of course I became more interested in knowing the health care center Living Our Passions | 41

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and hospitals and how the patients were treated, and observed that everything was very different from what I learned in my country.

That was going to be one of my barriers because my plans were to study to be a nurse assistant, second barrier — the language because my native language is Spanish, and my third barrier — status, because I am an immigrant. So I ask myself, “How can I break down those barriers that prevent me from realizing my passion as a Nurse Assistant as I was doing it with so much love and passion in my country Honduras?”

“What should I do?” Those were my questions.

It is not easy to come with a dream that you are passionate about and want to realize in this country if you are not well oriented, if you are not well advised because you are coming to failure as I did. But nothing is going to stop me and I will keep trying and that is why I approached many people to find out what I should do about what prevented me from realizing my passion to be a NA but because my status gave me wrong advice.

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Then I visited government institutions and shelters. Where there are all kinds of legal services, and the shelter that I attend most is named Rosie’s Place because it is a shelter for women, it’s very clean, they give all services that women need. This is a good shelter, Rosies Place.

In all this journey I always trust in God that he opens doors wherever we are…….

Painting by Melissa

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I Love My Husband Josefinade P. I love my husband because he makes me happy.

He helps me stay healthy. He helps me exercise.

When I am with him I feel good. My world is happy.

When I was sick he helped me take medicine because I forgot all the time, because of my accident. I love my husband. He is a great cook and wonderful husband. He is my passion.

I Like America Anicia B. My name is Anicia B. I am from Haiti.

I like cooking and cleaning when they eat.

I like walking.

I like America.

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Cooking New Recipes Maira R. My name is Maira. I am from the Dominican Republic. I came to the United States in 1999.

I live in Dorchester. My passion is cooking. I like cooking because it makes my children happy.

My children like my food because they say it is delicious. My family is my inspiration.

I try to make native food but also try new recipes.

My mother taught me how to make native food from the Dominican Republic. I like to cook on special occasions like holidays and birthdays.

I like to cook rice, beans, chicken and plantains.

However, since 2017, I have not been cooking as often. I had surgery on my right ankle and it’s hard for me to stand. I may also need another surgery on my left ankle. I take medication for the pain. It helps me feel better and I am still able to cook 1– 2 times a week.

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Sewing Is a Thread Throughout My Life Lucy N. I grew up as an orphan. I lived with many families, who were not our family members.

I learned many ways of life. No school for me, but I learned to cook, clean and to sew.

When I was twelve years old, I lived with a lady who was a tailor. This lady made me a doll with fabrics. She also gave me a needle and thread and some swatches of fabrics to make dresses for my doll.

The doll gave me comfort. It became my friend.

The doll introduced me to sewing. Sewing came back into my life when I became ill. It was polio.

I could not walk. At the age of twenty-two years old, with two kids to support, I started learning how to sew.

It was both “therapy” and a way to make a living.

Sewing is a thread throughout my life. It always helped me in difficult times in Africa. And the pedaling of the sewing machine gave strength back to my legs.

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In America — sad, ill and homeless, sewing in the form of crocheting helped me. In Rosie’s Place, I took sewing classes for one year. I enjoyed the quiet of sewing. Making things for myself and others brought me friends.

Sewing gave me hope. I got connected to others. I got in touch with my creativity. Sewing broke down my walls. It led me to my marriage.

It supported me with my illness. It helped lift me out of fear, shame and depression and it brought friends, community and creativity into my life. It’s my turn now to change my world.

Thank God for everything. Thanks to all my great teachers, and to my wonderful friends. Thank you Rosie’s Place! You changed my sadness into joy and happiness, and to stand up as a woman.

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My Passion Magalis P. My passion in life is to learn English very well.

My dream is to speak, read, and write English. If I can speak English fluently then I can become a social worker which is my dream job.

I went to Unicaribe University in the Dominican Republic and there I studied accounting. But when I came to the United States, I decided to study social work. This job would be perfect for me because I love to help other people. When I become a social worker I want to help find housing, food and support for families. I would feel very happy knowing that people who need help are receiving it.

What is stopping me from achieving my passion is the language barrier. If I spoke English better then I would be able to get a good job as a social worker. By learning to speak better English, I could communicate with more employees during my job search. I want to learn English as my second language so that there are no barriers that prevent me from finding a good job. I thank Rosie’s Place for opening the doors 48 Writings

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for me and helping me achieve my goals and dreams. I have learned that you have to fight for what you want and never give up. I thank all the teachers who helped me realize my dreams.

Painting by Janice T.

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My Passion Is Working in an Office Maribel C. My family consists of my husband, my daughter and two grandchildren. I came in 1999 to Syracuse, New York to find help for my daughter’s health and to better her education. After 3 years I moved to Boston to start a new life and new jobs.

I have worked here in Boston in the supermarket and in Boston Public School, and right now I am working as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA).

I love working in an office because I like to work typing on the computer, and with the money machine. I like customer service, answering the phone and everything.

When I lived in Puerto Rico, I had two jobs: one in the office and one in the supermarket. In the office I did personal checks, answered phones, wrote different letters and sent out bills. In the supermarket I did customer service, scanning the food, helping people with shopping and the meat department and cashier too. This is the work I love.

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I Liked to Play Marie A. Everyday I went to school in the Dominican Republic.

I loved to play with dolls and played baseball.

I love it because it was fun.

I was happy playing when I was little.

I played very much. It felt very good.

My world was happy because of playing with my friends in the school and my house too.

I was passionate about playing with dolls. I rode bikes.

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My Family Alourde D. I love to spend time with my family.

I love it because I like my children.

When I am with my family I feel happy.

Once my grandson came to visit.

I made fish for him.

I watched him because I felt happy because I love my family.

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BREAKING DOWN WALLS!

by J. Fullam

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What Do You Want to Do for Your Dream?

Anie I want to be a citizen in the USA. I want to do it to feel good.

I work too much.

I don’t have enough money.

Yes, people can help me.

The doctor also helps me to fill out the paper.

I need to go to immigration.

I need to fill out papers.

I need to interview.

I Like America Saint Helen C. My name is Saint Helen.

I am from Haiti.

I like walking.

I like to cook chicken and cake.

I like America.

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My Two Passions Zhixia W. I love to study and obtain knowledge, that gives me more information. Studying English is my joy, because I live in America. Every day I need to understand and speak English with other people in conversations about all sorts of things. My continuous study of English helps my confidence.

Since 2008, when I moved to the senior apartment in Boston, I often encountered problems because I did not understand English. The situation was very difficult. For example, once I had Acute Enteritis. It was the weekend, and I had to go to the Emergency walk in. I can’t say “diarrhea” and the hospital had no translator, so I needed to wait for the translator. The nurse did a few tests: ECG (electrocardiogram), Urine test,etc, but no stool test. I waited a long, long time,until midnight. I didn’t see a doctor and I had to go home.

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class at different places: church, YMCA, my apartment building, the Boston Public Library to meet my literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts tutor, Chinatown English class, and Rosie’s Place Women’s Education Center. With the help of the teachers’ patience, I became more and more interested in learning English. I especially thank the many volunteers for teaching us. Their kindness and generosity moved me. I have to work hard to learn English. Now, I can handle everything by myself. This makes me have more confidence and my objective, more English.

Keeping fit is important to the health of the body and mind. A few years ago, I fell down three times, and hurt my knee and shoulder.

I couldn’t go to the gym. I stopped exercising.

I just stayed home and sat on the sofa, I was a couch potato. My body weight increased by over 10 pounds. Soon after, I was allergic to sunlight, it was very serious, I had to prevent sunshine from touching my skin. I seldom went outside. I felt exhausted. When I got better, I felt that exercise brings health and cheerfulness.

So I keep exercising: walking, swimming and doing group exercise in my building. I try to keep myself busy and do what I am interested in. It is an effective way to treat my depression.

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Recently, I started to go swimming. Because I haven’t exercised for a long time, I started step by step. At first I swam four laps in the pool.

Gradually after months of practice, I can swim ten laps in the pool. I gradually adapted. I am very happy to have regained my strength and my health. I feel very pleased.

Drawing by J. Fullam

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My Family Khadijo A. My passion is spending time with my family.

My family helps me with my health. I have pain in my shoulder and my knee. When I was in the hospital my family visited. I felt lucky to have my family.

My barrier is that I cannot see my family because they live in Minnesota. I hope they come to Boston. I have another barrier. My brother’s wife is pregnant and she can’t travel. She has 8 children, that is why they cannot come to visit. One important time that I miss my family is during the 30 days of Ramadan. It is important because Muslim people love to be together and celebrate and pray after fasting.

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I Feel My Passion about My Country Marie C. My passion is down because my heart is not happy with my country. The senators and deputies are not good people for my country.

They are working for themselves; they don’t do what is right for the people. I am scared for the young people. I cannot see the young people’s path. There is no example for young people, children and friends of my country to follow because the senators and deputies are corrupt.

The president is nice and well-liked by the people.

He is working and my country is delighted.

I love America because this helps my country get the T.P.S. for the people in my country. They are working hard to send the money to Haiti. God bless America.

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My Passion Is to Plant Flowers Belaynesh M. W. My name is Belaynesh M. W. and I am from Ethiopia. Before I start to plant flowers, I have to pray. If I pray and talk to God it is powerful, and easy to do.

Why I want to plant flowers is to create a job for myself and for other people. Why do I want to plant the flowers? Because they are beautiful for decorating our living room and compound and also gifts for our friends. Also during holidays we use them for decorations.

I love flowers. There are many kinds of flowers, green, white, red, rose and pink-extra. The flowers smell like rose perfume. The bees create honey from flowers. The people make perfume from the flowers.

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When I Was a Child Cherina L. M. Every day I played basketball and volleyball with my classmates. I also danced. I loved to do them.

Basketball made me feel free. It was good exercise for the body. I liked volleyball because I ran fast. I loved dancing. I love all music, I like zumba, salsa, merengue, bachata and tango.

I felt joy when I danced.

Now in Boston I can’t do these things. I don’t have money, I don’t have time, I don’t have a car. My dream is to speak English fluently. I need to learn English so I can work in my profession.

I want to help the people in a company learn from me and I learn from them. My name is Cherina.

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I Love Music Marie Consulta C. I love to listen to music.

Every Friday I listen to music in my room.

I like Haitian music.

I like louc louc.

I love it because it picks me up when I listen to music.

I feel like dancing.

I listen because music makes me happy.

My world is happy.

I am passionate about music and dancing.

I stop my passion when I am sleeping.

When I don’t listen to music my world is quiet and boring.

I love, love music.

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Church with My Family Marie J. I love to go to church with my family We attend Mattapan St. Angela.

We pray and sing and read the Bible.

After church we go home and I cook rice, and some plantains.

I cook plantains and other vegetables.

I Am Happy Marie M. D. I am from Haiti.

My name is Felix.

I like watermelon, and coffee.

I like dogs, cats, boys and girls.

I love to dance.

I am passionate about being happy, joy, dancing, and big money.

I feel good.

I am happy at Rosie’s Place.

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My Passion.

Marie G. I love to speak English.

I don’t speak English too well.

I am confused in English.

I am very good at Rosie’s Place.

In English Class, a barrier is no communication and no language.

My other passion: I love singing in church and home.

I like to walk because of my knees and asthma.

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I Love My Church Marie R. I love to go to church.

I love it because I can pray when I go to church.

I feel like clapping.

My World is at peace.

I am passionate about church.

I remember a time when I used my passion powerfully.

One sunday my friends and I cooked a big meal for the families at church.

I used it to make people happy.

I used it because I like to see people enjoy good food together.

It felt wonderful.

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My Passion Marie T. P. Every day I pray for my daughter Ulala and my family.

I love to be with my family. I have two daughters.

I love to be with my family because it makes me feel happy when I go to church with my family.

I feel like I am doing something good.

My world is peaceful.

I am passionate about my family.

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I Feel Happy Marie V. J. Every day I feel happy. I love to go to church by myself. I love to go to church because I can dance. When I dance at church, I feel happy.

I started to go to church because I was sick, now I am not sick because I found Jesus. When I go to church and dance, I feel happy. I am passionate about church, Jesus, cooking, but I feel especially passionate about Jesus.

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I Love to Dance Marjorie H. I love to dance compa. I learned compa in Port au prince, Haiti. Compa makes me feel free and relaxed. I would love to dance Compa all the time.

It makes me think of my favorite country, Haiti.

I love my country, The Haiti Republic, because it has the creole, ocean, Haiti. I want to continue to learn about Haiti for the rest of my life.

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Dominican Republic Marlen B. I see Easter week carnival in February, the holiday in honor of the patron, the beaches, hot sun, and motorcycles.

I hear music in the public, the people dancing and singing, activities in the parks for children.

I taste the fish flavor of tasty dumplings, tasty traditional food of beans, rice, and chicken, tasty mangoes.

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I Have a Good Job Martha O. My name is Martha. I am from El Salvador.

I have a good job at a company called Medical Resources. I have been a home health aid for 20 years. My native language is Spanish but I want to learn English so I can talk with other people. I have clients that only speak English.

Knowing two languages would give me more opportunities.

I love my job now because I get to help elderly people, but eventually I want to be a nurse’s assistant. I want to get better at reading and writing English so that I can take classes at the Red Cross. Thank you, Rosie’s Place.

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My Passions Mary P. My passion is to cook and learn.

It’s my passion because I like it.

The barrier to my passion: I have to go to work.

My passion makes me feel good.

Because I look after my house.

My passion is my kids’ children.

The barrier to my passion is to go work.

I enjoy having tea in the morning.

I enjoy hearing from my pastor.

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My Passion Is Nail Art Clarivette R. I love this because I can create nail art for my clients, making many designs, different patterns, colors, shapes, glitter, rhinestones. It is my passion, my work, and hobby to make nail art.

I went to school at the Instituto de Banca y Comercio for one year and graduated Magna Cum Laude. I’m so proud of me because I love making art with nails.

In the United States, I need training for 100 hours to get my nail tech license and work in a nail salon.

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My Passion Monique E. I love America because they help me get medication.

Everyday they help me a lot.

I don’t like violence because I like peace.

My passion is to learn English and to volunteer at Rosie’s Place.

I bless America.

I Have a Passion Monise M. I have a passion.

My passion is learning English.

I am passionate about English because I want to work for more money.

My passion is important to me because I can take care of my family.

Nothing is stopping me from living my passion.

I will be very happy to live my passion.

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My Story Nancy F. My passion…

My passion is important — English class.

My passion is to speak English.

My passion is to have conversation.

My passion is to write and read.

I like going to class.

Even though English is difficult, I practice everyday.

I love the pin earrings of my teacher.

I speak English with my daughter.

She is studying nursing at the community college.

I am proud of her, my daughter.

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My Home Pak Y. Y. My sweet home. Our building is five levels. The year when we bought it, it was very old style.

We decided to remodel it better. We needed more space to live. If we fix it one time it is good forever. The next generation doesn’t have to do it over and over again.

Now, we take the first floor and second floor together to become one family. We added a stair inside. We have more rooms to use. It is comfortable and nice. We feel happier than we did before. We will love it forever!

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Cooking, My Greatest Passion Roberta L. Cooking is my greatest passion. I learned to cook because I helped and watched my mother cook white rice. I started cooking in the kitchen. My mom helped me because I was still very small.

I remember the first time I made white rice. My mother gave me the measure of salt and I doubled it so it was very salty! We still ate it though.

I learned to cook when I was 12 years old. I was still too young to cook. I still wasn’t able to reach the table. I had to stand on a bench. I learned to cook because I really like to eat. In the Dominican Republic the popular dish is white rice, chicken and red beans.

My challenge is to make food for 50 people like in a retirement home or daycare. Why? Because I like to cook.

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My Story Sagema H. My passion is my story. My name is Sagema H. I am from Haiti. I came to the US in 1999. When I came here I was very sad because I left my family in Haiti.

I live with my cousin. I did not speak English, so I went to English class in Mattapan with my sister Paula for one year and 2 months. I found a job, my first job, at KFC on Washington Street in Dorchester. I worked for one year, then I found a job at the YMCA. I worked for them for 16 years.

I can’t work because I fell and I have a problem in my shoulder. In September 2019, I came to Rosie’s class.

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Tanzania Stella K. My name is Stella. My passion is to take a trip to go to my home country, Tanzania.

I went to my country Tanzania on December 26, 2019, after Christmas day. I traveled to the capital city called Dar-es-Salaam.

My trip made me feel joyful, comfortable, and happy because I was with my family members.

My children and my grandchildren were very glad to be with me. I engaged in my passion with other friends who were in Dar-es-Salaam city, and also other friends from different villages.

They were happy, they brought me love and I love them.

My barrier is that I didn’t visit my village where I was born. I had no money to travel there. Also it is very expensive to buy a ticket to return from Tanzania to Boston. A ticket from Boston to Tanzania in the Winter costs $700 if you get your ticket early. If you buy one day ahead, it costs more. In the Summer it costs more than $700.

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When I am not in Tanzania, I go to Rosie’s Place to learn English and the computer. So it makes me happy to be at Rosie’s Place if I can not be in Tanzania.

Drawing by J. Fullam

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My Passion Is to Go Shopping Tatica C. I like to go shopping for a long dress and leggings.

I like a black dress.

Wearing a dress is more efficient and easier.

I like a dress that is very elegant.

I like a blue green and black dress.

I think l can find my dress at the coach store this weekend yay!

My passion is cleaning.

I like to clean the bathroom.

I like to clean the kitchen.

When I clean my kitchen it shines bright.

My house is spotless and then my granddaughter visits and she makes a mess.

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My Passion Teresa S. My passion is dancing and traveling. I want to clarify when saying “going out” it’s going to different places: parks, museums & activities in the community.

My name is Teresa S. and I’m from the Dominican Republic. For me dancing and music is the soul of the town, it could be a medicine. I enjoy dancing because when I’m dancing I feel my entire body is overjoyed and I think dancing is an art.

When I’m dancing I transform into a different person. I like all kinds of music and I could spend all day and night dancing. For example my favorite types of music are Salsa, even though I don’t know much Bachata, Merengue and “Som” because they are from my country.

Two years ago I went to Cuba with my friends for vacation. For me Cuba is an interesting country because of the controversy surrounding the United States and Cuba. Cuban music is similar to Dominican Republic music because their music comes from a combination of instruments from 82 Writings

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other cultures like Africa. When you hear Cuba and Dominican Republic music it’s like you are hearing African music. “Som” is a type of music of rhythmic and sensual dance performed by two people. It comes from African and European instruments like the Bongo and the Guiro.

Dancing is like therapy. At the end of the week after work, often I feel tired. But, I immediately go to my calendar and I start planning what I can do in the next week or day to make me feel better. This is why I have my calendar full of activities for months at a time.

I’m an adventurous person, my other passion is traveling. When I decide to take a trip the first thing that I look for is a location where I can dance. I say to my friends, “we need a hotel close to somewhere we can go dancing.”

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Dancing Veronika Dancing is like breathing. I cannot live without it.

Living without dancing would be like drowning on a shore. I would be dying inside. I need to dance to feel alive. Dancing brings me motivation to keep going; I try it again and again. When I am dancing I am free. I feel like I can fly. I can do everything. It cheers me up.

It wasn’t like that always. Four years ago I was saying goodbye to my most favorite dancing place originally only for two months but unfortunately it had become way longer than that. My life completely stopped for a while and needed to be rebuilt from point zero. There was a lot of darkness and hopelessness during the first half year/year. Many tears passed and loss happened. It would be impossible to choose the worst one. Once upon a time I lost everything; my ability to walk, to take a bath by myself, eat and drink without help. Everything needed to be done with the support of someone or something. But my first question wasn’t: “Will I be able to walk again?” It was: “Will I be able to dance again?”

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Three months later after all physical therapy I fell down and broke my shoulder. My neurologist wasn’t surprised but I was. So I wasted all the hard work during physical therapy in a minute and I had to stay home for nine weeks. I don’t have to tell how hard it was to restart again and how slow was my ability to do anything. Every time I fell down again I knew I had to get up and start again. I finally got it. I can’t force myself behind the point of exhaustion. I had to accept I am having movement disorder which doesn’t disappear if I try to ignore it. And nowadays I am practicing with a performing dancing team and I am not the one who is sitting exhausted in the corner, ok sometimes it’s still me.

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Cooking Victoria Every day I cook meals. I love to cook because cooking makes me think about my grandmother.

In fact, I grew up in my grandmother’s home.

She taught me many good things in my life.

One, how to respect people. She also taught me how to clean and how to cook different types of soup. Egusi soup, ogbono soup, vegetable soup, and banga soup. When I was young we would go to the market. When we got back home she directed me on how to cook. I love my grandmother dearly for the good training she gave to me in my childhood. I became useful to so many people and this makes me happy.

When I am cooking I feel like I am home with my grandmother. That is why I am passionate about cooking.

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Music Violeta D. My name is Violeta D. I am from the Dominican Republic. I live in Roxbury. I speak Spanish. I study English at Rosie’s Place. The teachers give the best of themselves to help us learn. My passion is listening to music.

I like to listen to music when I am cleaning the house. I listen to music on the radio and on my phone. I listen to music like bachata, merengue, salsa and reggae. The music makes me feel happy and good.

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I Love Dance Wanda M. I’m Wanda. My passion is to dance, especially merengue. Dancing makes me feel perfect because I am relaxed. To dance, I wear comfortable shoes with heels and black pants.

Sometimes I don’t have energy to dance. Then I just sit in a chair. I dance sometimes with my husband, Ricardo, at home. This is very romantic at parties: I’m a star!

My Passion Is Swimming Digna V. I have a passion. My passion is swimming at the beach.

I am passionate about swimming because I like exercise.

My passion is important to me because I feel good when swimming.

A lack of time is stopping me from living my passion. I will look for time to live my passion.

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My Passion Yessenia C. My name is Yessenia C. I am from the Domican Republic. I came to the United States on August 29, 2015. My son, Antonio B. is 11 years old and he is handsome. I live in Roxbury. My passions are cooking, walking, listening to music and helping people. I like to help people with disabilities.

What I Like Renia C. My name is Renia C. My home is in Hyde Park, MA 02136 Dorchester Ave. I love cooking meat.

I love bananas.

I love apples, banana bread and school.

I like the office, my family and the supermarket.

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I Listen to Music Yulian G. P. My passion is to listen to music. It is one of my passions because I like to learn the different cultures. I like to listen to music when I’m in bed, cooking, running, eating and other activities.

The music I like to listen to is Balada and Reggae.

I feel comfortable when I listen to music because I forget about everything. For me to listen to music is one of the ways to hear what each culture has to express. Music is the art of talking about each culture.

The barrier to my passion to listen to music is that there is no battery, no internet, no phone and bad health.

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When I Am at Church Ghislaine A. J. I love to go to church.

I love it because I remember a time when I went to church with two friends on a Sunday.

My friends’ names are Mane and Alude.

They liked my church.

When I am at church I am happy.

When I am at church people listen to Father Macion.

He says we should pray and read the Bible.

I feel like listening to music when I am at church and my world is happy.

I am passionate about church and music.

I stop my passion when my leg hurts.

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My Passion Angelica G. I have a passion.

My passion is helping people.

I am passionate about helping people because it makes me feel happy.

My passion is important to me because I like to help less fortunate people.

Not having enough money is stopping me from living my passion.

I will work hard to live my passion.

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The following piece was written by a group of immigrant women from countries including Mexico and Brazil.

During months of hoping to return to their lives and families, they attended an ESOL literacy class taught

by Rosie’s Place staff. Then, they were transferred or deported.They gave us permission to publish their poem anonymously.

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Immigrant Courage Anonymous We are students.

We are from China, Honduras, Venezuela, Cuba, El Salvador and America.

We came by bus with many people.

We flew here by plane.

We arrived by boat.

Our family is back home and in Orlando, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Dallas, Texas, Miami, and Los Angeles.

One of us walked seven days through Columbia and Panama.

We crossed the border swimming, or paddling on a raft With twenty people who did not know how to swim.

One of us was drowning in the river.

A man saw her drowning and helped her.

She had a lot of water in her stomach.

We went to the immigration jail for twenty days.

We moved to a detention center and then they flew us to Boston.

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One of us came with her daughter to find a better life.

We came because the gangsters killed my Papa.

They threatened to kill us too.

We have been in Boston for two months and twenty-eight days.

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TEACHER WRITINGS

by J. Fullam

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Mill River Theodore H. There is history in this river, that the river itself forgets. It’s placid and unassuming, but it was once a birthplace for the Industrial Revolution.

It was here where the inventor Eli Whitney’s workshop sat, nestled at the bottom of East Rock’s jagged, rust-red cliff. Here where he built a factory based on interchangeable parts. Here where his cotton gin gave life to an economy built on slavery.

It’s easy to forget all this, as I slip my kayak into cool, still water. The sun, though bright, is hidden behind willows, and the mud feels alive between my bare toes. Yes, it’s easy to forget it, gliding knife-like through the water, trying to sneak up on a heron stalking silently along the banks.

You can’t even see the road, once the trees have grown new coats — just a smokescreen of elm and dense clusters of reeds.

I’ve seen carp float on beneath me in a long, slow-moving train. I’ve been jolted by a splash to see a kingfisher emerge from below, a minnow Teacher Writings | 99

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in its beak and its crest aglow with water. Here the tide has marked the plants with its chalky saltwater kiss.

It’s not until the highway that the human world confronts you. You hear it in the whir of engines, smell it in the fresh exhaust, see it in the vaulted atrium of tangled overpasses above you. Here the river appears to stop, but it does not. In fact, it rushes on faster through the cataract of the tidal gate, and you have to keep your distance to avoid slipping under. You can’t go through, just under.

It seems like a forgotten place, purposely hidden from view, but even here my eyes are not the only pair. There are half-submerged shopping carts, water-logged mattresses, rain-stripped chairs — it seems I’ve entered someone’s home.

And there it is — a camp. And there they are — its people. I wave, and they wave back. Just a greeting between neighbors on a lovely summer day. It’s the thing that gives me strength before I have to head upstream.

The mill defines this river, but the river is not a mill.

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are out of place, these people of the bridge and I. Paddling against the current. Hoping we have the strength. And those who get pulled under we will not forget.

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Rosie’s Writing Cafe Debbie W. Their origins from around the world create a student body of great diversity.

Each woman having a unique wonderful story.

A story of her own to tell in her own special way.

Their enthusiasm most palpable cannot be contained. Not that anyone would want to try! Infectious in the extreme throughout the classroom is magnified and multiplies.

Smiles wide on cheery faces as students enter to begin the day. A marvelous antidote to any morning blues.

Heads up, alert, pencils and pens poised. They regard us, their teachers, ready to learn, to practice, to express themselves.

Eager to improve their English and form their thoughts. They attentively listen to lessons, taking copious notes in journals of everything written down in a rainbow of colors on the white boards.

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Worksheets providing cues, stimulate thoughts.

Ideas jell and are jotted down.

Sentences are fashioned. Paragraphs are formed.

Their stories take shape, developed and refined further with each successive draft.

We teachers have come to educate and inspire, but have been so in turn by the students’ tenacity, heart, determination and courage.

It is our task, our hope and our joy to instruct, nurture and support our students that they may find their voices, and their creativity will find expression so that their stories will take wing.

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My Passion Is Writing Sara J. My life is full of meaning and challenging projects like taking care of family, working with amazing staff, teaching adults, collaborating with artists, publishing student writings, and starting ESOL classes in the community. I work at Rosie’s Place where women gather every day of the year in a sanctuary of love, dignity and respect. Each day I work with others to try and humanize a tiny corner of the huffing and puffing planet that is struggling to give birth to something more compassionate.

Right now, I am personally working on a book of reflections called, “Hoots, Taps and Brushes with the Light” and I am on number 48 out of an eventual 365, one for each day of the year, I hope. My topics are varied from the comfort of nature and animals, to the tension of forgiveness, grief, anxiety and many related questions.

I know writing this book is my passion because when I get a new idea, I can’t wait to scribble my first thoughts into my journal. I rewrite my draft while the concept is spicy in my spirit and I keep 104 Writings

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changing it. Re-writing is so much like learning from mistakes in my life. I think about it for a long time, like a letter I write to someone I really care about because I want to make things right after an argument. I wait until the feelings settle before I drop my letter in the mailbox or click the send button that will permanently deliver words that I can never take back. Writing helps me to mull over my steamy words, like spices seeping into hot apple cider. While it simmers on the stove, I find I may need more orange peel or cinnamon to enhance the fragrance.

Writing is my interpretation of my experience.

With my own words on the page, I can see the light and dark of my messy and blessed experiences and keep on attempting to unravel life’s purposes.

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Living My Passion, Breaking Down Walls Florence P. Living like a bee, losted and then found Living my passion, Breaking down walls The bay berry’s smell near a tree The first thing for me was to get to the root of my pain

The problems of incest, rape, alcoholism and addiction Breaking the generational curse, breaking down walls To heal, to take care of Flow the little girl, the wolf my disease To become the woman God created me to be Florence.

Passion 1. A strong and barely controllable emotion.

Passion 2. The suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Passion 3. The rebirth of life.

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Passion 4. The intense desire or boundless enthusiasm or about doing something.

Living my passion, Breaking down walls.

Free to express my uniqueness because I got to the root of my pain, My truth has set me free I then discovered those gifts within me, The passion of Art, expressed in my writing, quilting, speaking and then service to others.

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Drawing by J. Fullam

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Index A

Alourde D. 52 Altagracia G. 15 Ana D. 18 Ana P. 22 Angelica G. 92 Anicia B. 44 Anie 55 Anne-Rose A. 20 Anoelle M. 27 Anonymous 94 Anyi M. 27

B

Bekelech D. 23 Belaynesh M. W. 61

By Sara J. 104

C

Carmen T. 19 Carolina S. 30 Cherina L. M. 62 Christy L. 32 Clarivette R. 73 Crucita B. D. 12

D

Debbie W. 102 Digna V. 31, 88

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Writer / Artist Page E

Eddy A. 34 Elsa C. 28 Ertha P. 36 Estuania L.C. 36 Evelyn L. 38

F

Florence P. 106

G

Genese A. 32 Ghislaine A. J. 91 Gilberte P. 29 Grisbel B. 11

I

Idovane M. 33 Ivon D. 40

J

J. Fullam 9, 53, 58, 80, 97, 108 Janice T. 49 Josefinade P. 44 Julienne P. 39

K

Ke N. S. 16 Khadijo A. 59

L

Lara R. 17 Laurette P. 34 Leonica V. 35 Lucy N. 46

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Writer / Artist Page M

Magalis P. 48 Maira R. 45 Margarita M. 30 Maria O. 37 Maribel C. 50 Marie A. 51 Marie C. 60 Marie C. M. 15 Marie Consulta C. 63 Marie G. 65 Marie J. 22, 64 Marie M. D. 64 Marie R. 66 Marie T. P. 67 Marie V. J. 68 Marjorie H. 69 Marlen B. 70 Martha O. 71 Mary P. 72 Mekdes G. 12 Melissa 43 Monique E. 74 Monise M. 74

N

Nancy F. 75

P

Pak Y. Y. 76

Q

Qing L. 14

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Writer / Artist Page R

Renia C. 89 Roberta L. 77

S

Sagema H. 78 Saint Helen C. 55 Silberth M. 18 Stella K. 79

T

Tatica C. 81 Teresa S. 82 Theodore H. 99

V

Veronika 84 Victoria 86 Violeta D. 87

W

Wanda M. 88

X

Xiuzhen W. 24

Y

Yessenia C. 89 Yineth V. 13 Yulian G. P. 90

Z

Zhixia W. 56

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More than four decades after our founding, Rosie’s Plave not only provides meals and shelter but also created answers for 12,000 women a year through wide-ranging support, housing and education services. We are grateful to our staff, volunteers, and donors, who work together to offer our guests the unconditional love, respect and caring that can change their lives.

Rosie’s Place

889 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118 617.442.9322 www.rosiesplace.org

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Living Our Passion, Breaking Down Walls

Founded in 1974 as the first women-only shelter in the country, Rosie’s Place provides a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.

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