English Language Learners Bring You The World 2024

English Language Learners Bring You the World

Essays, Stories & Cultural Insights

Volume 22

Spring 2024

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Department

Sponsored by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center (DEIC)

Dear Reader,

Although the students in the English for Speakers of Other Languages and Intensive English programs at South Puget Sound Community College come from all over the world, their common experiences and dedication to learning English bring them together. As teachers, we are honored to have students who are so caring and so interested in learning. We hope you draw as much inspiration from reading their stories as we have.

Over 130 students from 30 countries have shared their stories and essays here. The contributions are organized alphabetically by country of origin. Student biographies are listed in the About the Authors section at the end of the book.

Students of the following IE and ESOL instructors contributed to this volume:

Kristen Blegen Bouyer

Geoff Dugwyler

Beth Kim

Andrea Long

Janelle Martinez

Julia Richardson

Jodi Ruback

Chris Wettstein

Heather Williams

Julie Williamson

Editor: Geoff Dugwyler

Cover Illustration: Tiffany Weng

A special thanks to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center (DEIC) for sponsoring this publication.

Commenting on the diversity of people and beliefs that make up the United States, former U.S. President (1977-81) and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jimmy Carter said:

“Wehavebecomenotameltingpotbutabeautifulmosaic.”

AFGHANISTAN

MY STORY

By Marwa Ahmadi

I am Marwa, a 24-year-old Afghan woman who left my country because the Taliban took over our country, and it was not safe for my family because my family worked with American military. Only five family members left for Qatar by airplane and four of my family members stayed in Afghanistan because the Taliban separated us and wouldn’t let my father, older brother, his wife and his 2-year-old son get on the plane. We didn’t know if we would see each other again. It took our family of 5 five months to go from Qatar to Germany to Virginia to Olympia. We talked to my father and the others every day in Afghanistan and Pakistan. When we talked, my father was always crying. They worried the Taliban would come and take my country. I thought I would finish college and become a dentist. Finally, after so much worrying, my family got visas to come to Brazil. We were all so happy. We did not know they would have to come through a jungle with lots of dangers. We didn’t speak for 3 days, and we were crying every day. Then we heard they were in Mexico and waiting to cross the border. Next, we heard they were in California and coming to Olympia by airplane. We did not sleep that night. My whole family went to the airport. My brother sped at 100 miles per hour because he was so excited. My mother didn’t tell him to slow down. We were running in the airport when we saw them. We hugged each one and brought them with us. We were together again.

MY COUNTRY

By Sonam Ahmadi

My name is Sonam. I am from Afghanistan. I like the food of my own country. My country has many ancient sights. And still the country has pleasant music.

I LOVE AFGHANISTAN AND AMERICA

By Feerozan Barat

I miss you, my homeland. I miss my family, friends, parties and weddings in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is an Islamic country that celebrates Eid Sakhod. People go to each other’s houses and wear new clothes. I feel comfortable and happy in the USA because it is a good country with kind people. I love Afghanistan and America.

BRAZIL

BRAZIL VS. UNITED STATES: CONTRASTING TRAFFIC LAWS

By Juniely Paschoal

No matter how long you have been driving in your own country, there is always something new to learn when you start driving in another. People often mention food, religion, and celebrations when discussing cultural differences between two countries. However, something I have discovered since moving from Brazil to the United States is that traffic laws can vary significantly depending on where you are driving. I have been driving in the United States for a year now, and there are still three things about driving here that I am trying to adjust to: not having to take all driving lessons at a driving school, the practice of turning right at a red light, and the permissibility of driving after consuming alcohol.

In Brazil, it is mandatory for everyone to take their driving lessons at a driving school, where you will drive the car provided by the school and be taught how to drive by an instructor chosen by them. On the other hand, in the United States, like in Washington State, going to driving school is optional. You can choose to attend classes or hire a private instructor to teach you, and the best part is that your private instructor can be someone from your family or your friend, as long as they have a valid driver's license and are over 21 years old. Once you have learned and passed all the tests, you can get your license. So, while it is required in Brazil, it is up to you to decide if you want to go to driving school in the United States.

In the United States, do not be surprised if you see a car turning right on a red light; that is a common and legal practice here if there is no signage prohibiting this action and it is done safely. It happens to help drivers to save time by avoiding unnecessary waiting at a traffic light when the road is clear. In contrast, in Brazil, turning right on a red light is typically forbidden unless there are explicit signs allowing it. Furthermore, Americans who intend to drive in Brazil need to pay attention to that, because making a right turn at red lights on Brazilian streets can result in you getting an expensive fine. When in doubt about whether or not to turn at a red light, choose not to turn because if you are wrong, a driver behind you will let you know your mistake by honking madly.

The rules about drinking and driving are also different in Brazil and Washington State, USA. In Brazil, it is not allowed to have any alcohol in your blood while driving, and if you do, you can get big fines, lose your license, or even go to jail. The law is strict, and police often

check drivers to make sure they are following it. In Washington State, there is a legal limit for how much alcohol you can have in your blood while driving, usually 0.08%. The same thing that happens in Brazil could happen to you if you go over this limit: you can get fined, lose your license, or even go to jail. But how strictly this law is enforced can vary depending on where you are. It is important to highlight that both places also try to educate people about the dangers of drinking and driving through campaigns and regular police checks. These differences show how each country deals with road safety and alcohol in its own way.

In conclusion, the differences in driving education and regulations between Brazil and the United States, particularly in Washington State, highlight how each country has its unique methods of ensuring road safety and teaching driving skills. However, despite these differences, both countries try to prevent accidents by teaching people, making sure rules are followed, and telling everyone about safe driving. So, no matter what country you are in, it is always a good idea to learn the traffic laws before you start driving so that there are no surprises when you go to the driving school to get your driver's license or while you drive after a party with your friends.

ESPERANÇA

By Ana Paula Santos Silva

"Where There's Life, There's Hope". Have you ever felt hopeless? Have you ever felt that you wouldn't be able to overcome a challenge or difficulty you were facing? I believe that this proverb from the book of Ecclesiastes is something we should keep in the back of our minds: no matter how difficult the problem, there will always be another chance to make it work. That's a phrase my dad says a lot... and he's living proof that yes, where there's life, there's hope.

In 2020, the world was facing the covid-19 pandemic, the first case in Brazil had been in February and everything was very new to us. Fear and anxiety ran through our veins. My dad had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2019 and was undergoing chemotherapy, in March he had done the sixth session of eight. Chemotherapy lowered his immunity, so he was at great risk of being infected by Covid and dying.

March was where it all began, after a call from my dad saying, "Are you busy? I need to go to the hospital; I can't feel my legs" everything changed in our lives. It all happened very quickly; within a week his body began to stop little by little. His breathing was labored, his voice wasn't strong enough, his arms moved with difficulty. The

doctors carried out various tests and never found a plausible diagnosis for what was happening.

Within a fortnight, my physically active dad had become totally dependent on medical devices. He couldn't breathe on his own, he couldn't move his body and it was a mystery what was happening. He spent six months in hospital undergoing tests, treatments, physiotherapy and, most importantly, he always had hope that everything would be fine. After about a year, the doctors finalized his diagnosis as Guillain-Barré.

He had to learn everything all over again, learn to move his arms, learn to talk, learn to eat, learn to walk and he never gave up trying! 4 years have passed, and it's all ingrained in him and me how challenging that period of our lives was. He continues to have the necessary treatments so that he can get 100% well, he always believed that he would get well and it's happening. He's an example of strength and overcoming... and as he always says: Where There's Life, There's Hope!

CAMBODIA

TALK ABOUT MY HISTORY

By Rortos Rovech

My name is Rortos. I just came from Cambodia. Today I live in the USA. I have six brothers and three sisters. I live with my sister, mom and my dad. I live happily with my small family. I love my family so much.

MY LIFE

By Safira Sou

I am from Cambodia. I came to America 3 years ago. In my country and the United States, the foods are different. In United States they like to eat cheese. In Cambodia they don’t like to eat cheese very much. I live in Olympia. I have 6 people in my house. My family is big. I have a father. His name's Roset. He is so kind and a good person. He is 65 years old. He likes to work and do something outside. Pizza is his favorite food. I have 2 brothers. Their names are Ravy and Radin. They are helping fuel.

Also, my mother's name is Rose. She is 60 years old. She likes to cook and make cake. Her favorite color is red. I have 2 sisters. Their names are Sofia and Sofiyah. Both sisters like to cook too, but Sofia likes to read books. She is smart. She has long hair. Her favorite game is tennis. That is her tennis ball.

The United States is different than my country. Cambodia is a small country, but it is beautiful and it has good weather. It has three seasons. It’s cold, hot and it rains. In Cambodia, they are different than the people in the United States, where so many people work in an office. A lot of people in Cambodia work on the farm and they go fishing. They sell the fish in a small store where they live.

In Olympia, it’s cold and rains a lot, but in the summer it’s very nice weather. My family enjoys the weather in the summer. I am so happy and excited to live in the U.S. with my family.

FOOD IN MY COUNTRY

By Sophea

My name is Sophea Kak. I am from Cambodia. Cambodia’s food is durian, apple, jackfruit, pineapple, mango stirring sauce, tongyam, lobster, noodle soup, French curry, chaloklak noddle soup, fried rice and micna.

CHINA

MY FAMILY

By Anonymous

My sister's name is Yan. She is 67 years old. She has a child. She likes cooking. I like her cooking, but her daughter doesn't like her cooking. Her hobby is travel. She likes to take a lot of photos when she travels. The photos on the wall are hers. The photo album on the table is hers. Her favorite color is red. The red coat on the chair is hers. The red cup on the table is hers. I visited her once a week before I went abroad, but now I haven't visited her for a long time. I miss her so much.

My brother-in-law's name is Wei. He is 67 years old. He is very intelligent. My son likes to talk to him. My son asks him many questions. He likes to read books. Many books on the shelf are his. I often borrow books from him. His hobbies are drawing. He draws very well. I like to watch him draw. The pictures on the living room wall are his. His favorite food is fish. Traveling is a way for him to relax.

MY DREAM JOB

By Yajie Bi

My dream job is to be a chef. This job is good for me because I love cooking. Every day I cook. My job is in a kitchen or restaurant. I work 4 hours a day and 3 days a week. My boss is a manager.

CHINESE CHEONGSAM

By Olivia Mengen Cai

The “Chinese Cheongsam” is a dress that has a long history and people still wear them today. The “Cheongsam” is a dress made for women during the republican period of China and has about one hundred years of history. A lot of women or children still wear it. In China they also wear a “Red Cheongsam” as a wedding dress. A long time ago they used “Red Cheongsams” to get married with birds or butterflies, dragons and flowers on them, which represent luck, good fortune and prosperity. So, many people still wear “Cheongsams” today. Of course, not all “Cheongsams” can be worn to any occasion. You can only wear the “Red Cheongsam” in weddings or some important occasions. You can wear the “Black Cheongsam” in the funeral time. You can wear white and pink colors for daily clothes. But now it's not so much about the occasion, we can wear what color we like. I like “Cheongsam” very much and I hope that the culture of “Cheongsam” will continue to be passed on.

MY COUNTRY AND THE UNITED STATES

By Qiu Can

I am from China. In my country and the United States, people have many of the same and different customs. The same are communication. They usually say “hello” or “good morning.” They also say “good night” before going to bed, and they also shake hands and say “nice to meet you” when they first meet.

The difference is customs. In my country, when you receive a present, you can’t immediately open it to see. This shows respect. But, in the United States when you receive a present, you prefer to open and admire it then to show your love. It helps us to learn more about other customs.

MY FAVORITE

By Zhijing Chen

My name is Zhijing. I am from China. I have lived in the United States for 1 year and have been working all the time. I found that American people love coffee. But I especially like Chinese tea. Chinese tea culture has a history of thousands of years. They have black tea, green tea, white tea, pu’er tea, jasmine tea, etc. But I like jasmine tea the most. It has the fragrance of jasmine flowers, which is refreshing. I also want to study American coffee culture. It is a bit difficult, but I will understand it slowly.

MY TROUBLES AND HOPES

By Yeqiu Hu

My name is Yeqiu Hu. I am from China. Although I have only lived in the US for a year and a half, I have already adapted to this country and like it. I am a writer in China, and writing is my most confident area, but in the US this has become my disadvantage. I was troubled by the language barrier. My dream is to be able to read English books directly and one day be able to write in English. China and the US have completely different historical traditions and lifestyles. For example, in terms of diet, Chinese people like to drink hot water, while Americans like to drink cold water. Chinese people like to drink tea, and Americans like to drink milk. China and US are representatives of Eastern and Western culture.

MY FAVORITE SEASON

By Muchang Lei

There are four seasons in a year. My favorite is summer. I like summer because it is hot, sunny, and warm. I like to eat ice-cream in summer. I like watermelon, too. I also like summer because I can go camping with my family. In the evening, we sit outside and enjoy the beautiful starry sky. Another thing I like about summer is going to the beach and feeling the soft sand between my toes. In summer, I also like to go to pick blueberries and barbecue in the backyard. Summer is so much fun. It makes my life full of joy and happiness. This is what I love about summer.

GOOD LUCK SUPERSTITIONS

By Anqi Li

In China superstitions are in our culture and influence people’s lives. This is a part of Chinese life. Here are some superstitions for good luck.

The Chinese believe that the number 8 is a lucky number because the pronunciation of the number “eight” and pronunciation of the word “wealth” are similar. Many businessmen like this number. They think it’s a good luck sign. Sometimes people pay money to buy a license plate number with a sequence of 8s for their car.

Having a haircut on special time can change luck. February 2nd is a traditional Chinese festival known as “The Dragon Raises Its Head.” This day means the beginning of spring. One of the most popular customs is to have a haircut on this day. They believe it can bring good luck and remove bad luck from last year and start the new year with good luck.

The color red in China is very popular. During weddings or festivals you’ll see red everywhere you go. For example, during Spring Festival people like red decorations to decorate their house. If this year is your animal’s year, you will wear red clothes from top to bottom.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHINA AND AMERICA

By Dong Ju Tan

China and America are both big countries. The people are very friendly. In China we celebrate Chinese New Year. In America people celebrate Christmas. People also celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1. Americans are usually more informal and more modern. Chinese are more formal and more traditional.

People in China drink hot water and drink tea. Tea culture is rich and varied. There are black tea, green tea, flower tea and so on. People in the U.S. drink ice water and coffee.

In the U.S. people enjoy the sun and never use an umbrella. In China people don’t like the sun, afraid of sunburn. People usually use umbrella. In the U.S. there are very good protections for the disables, for example, there are special parking spaces for the disabled. In China, not at all. So there’s a big cultural difference.

SINGLE MOM’S JOURNEY

By Yan Mei Wang

My name is Yan Mei Wang. I am from China. I like listening to music and dancing. I like to wear cotton and linen clothes. I like hot pot. I like to swim. I prefer my four children. Although life is busy and difficult, I still see hope. I don’t have more friends in the US, but the people here are very friendly and the kids like the environment here. My current home is in Olympia. I hope one day I can master English fluently and do the job and career I like.

THE DIFFERENCE OF EXPRESSION BETWEEN CHINA AND THE U.S.

By Tiffany Weng

Unlike animals, people communicate their thoughts and feeling through the means of expression. Why are expressions so different around the world? There was only one language and people spoke in the same manner in the beginning. After the Tower of Babel, different languages formed, and people scattered around the world. As the culture grew, means of expression became different from place to place. I have noticed some differences of expression between my home country, China, and the U.S. since I came here, which are in conversation, in body languages, and in literatures.

One major difference of expression between China and the U.S. can be seen in daily conversation. Studying a foreign language is the best way to get the culture of that nation quickly. People from different nations have different ways of thinking. This fact is especially obvious in linguistic differences. Chinese people are more reserved in expressing emotions, so we use a lot of

vague words. For example, in declining someone’s invitation, American people may say it directly, then thank the host and give reasons, while most Chinese say it in an indirect way. Words such as maybe, probably, and perhaps are used frequently, showing an uncertain situation. This case is a tacit rejection in Chinese culture. Another example is the reaction to receiving compliments. This is an interesting phenomenon. When most Americans are complimented, they will gladly give thanks and accept. Chinese people are completely opposite. People may get surprised that Chinses people usually say “no” when receiving compliments. This does not mean they do not like it nor accept it, because this reaction is caused by the traditional Chinese culture always being humble. As a result, there is a big difference in daily conversation between China and the U.S.

Another difference of expression is the body language, not only in gestures and posture, but also in facial expressions and eye contacts. Chinese people use body languages much less frequently than Americans. There is no custom for us to use body languages to express our emotions and clarify our points. In addition, some of the body language may have significantly different meanings between Chinese and American culture, which may cause confusion and misunderstanding. One example is when you are talking to a person who is older or who has authority over you, looking directly into his/her eyes is considered impolite in China. The young usually lower their heads and nod. In contrast, American people show respect in focusing on the speaker’s eyes while listening. Although there are a lot of differences, I believe in the future, with more communication between the two countries, there will be less misunderstanding of these body languages.

The third difference of expression between China and America is shown in literature. In Chinese classic literature, authors are more likely to use the description of the environment to heighten the mood. Adjectives are frequently used to make the product more beautiful. The expression of the overall emotion is also implicit and secret – if only read according to the literal meaning, the true meaning may not be found. These characteristics are particularly evident in ancient Chinese poetry. In the works of the famous poet Li Bai, we can see that he used a lot of environmental description to highlight a kind of sadness of the times. Sometimes it was the feeling of missing the hometown, and some was missing the friends. Because of the background of the war, he could never see the people he missed nor return to his hometown. The structure of Chinese traditional ancient poetry limits the number of words, thus

streamlining without losing the softness of speech. Whether it is traditional literature or modern literature, the style tendency of the United States is very different from that of China. The literary history of the United States is not long, and it almost appeared at the same time as American liberalism. The American people are rich in the spirit of democracy and freedom, and the concepts of individualism and personality liberation are relatively strong, which are reflected prominently in literature.

Cultural differences have led to a large number of differences in expressions between China and the U.S. The increase in cross-cultural exchanges encourages young people to learn about each other's cultures, customs, and histories while minimizing misunderstandings in the way they express themselves, thus creating a more harmonious and better world.

MY MEMORIES

By Yuan Ye

I miss many things about China. I miss Beijing roast duck. I also miss barbeque, fruit and mutton soup. Cooking Chinese food reminds me of home.

COLOMBIA

M Y COUNTRY AREPAS

By Anonymous

I am from Colombia. I like to go out and play sports. I listen to music in my free time. I like to watch a movie with my family.

DIFFERENT CULTURE

By Gabriel Agudelo

My name is Gabriel. I am from Colombia. I came to the US to eat arepa in New Jersey. I’m waiting for something similar to Colombia. The food is different here like pizza and the hamburgers and the coffee is strong. It was winter and I didn’t have a jacket.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT COLOMBIA

By Isabel Alomia Vega

Colombia is definitely a gorgeous place. We have everything there from the most unique and incredible animals, plants, landscapes to the most joyful and happy people. My country is a small country located in South America. I dare say that we are located in the best corner of South America because we have both seas (Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea).

Throughout history we have been known for what we should not be known for (drug trafficking, prostitution, criminals and other more negative things). Many times, we have been stigmatized because of our origin. However, I believe that my country is more than all the bad things and I feel very proud of my country and my nationality. We are very cheerful, supportive, empathetic and kind people. You can always build a relationship easily if you have a Colombian friend. Our food is absolutely wonderful; all regions have their own typical food, and every time you travel to a different department it is as if you were in another country. The weather is perfect; you can choose between hot and cold, and although we have obviously been affected by global warming, you can still feel comfortable. We don't have seasons, but we don't need have it to have some of the best tropical fruits in the world and one of the best coffees. Before coming here, I didn't realize how beautiful my country and its people are, and now that I'm here, I feel like I miss every single thing I didn't even realize before. But without a doubt what I miss the most is the human warmth that you can find in every corner of my wonderful country, which every day is being more recognized for all its qualities and that is worth highlighting. I am

proudly a "paisa" (Medellin) Antioquia, Colombia that with this writing does not seek more than to make an extensive invitation to know my country that has so many things to surprise you.

MY FAMILY IS MY STRENGTH

By Ereida Florez

I miss many things about Colombia. I miss my daughter. I also miss my brothers and my daughter. I also miss my parents. Many people remind me of home.

MY LIFE

By Luzmila Munoz

If we analyze the Colombian and United States culture, we can find many differences and some similarities. The first difference is the language in Colombia is Spanish and in the U.S. is English. Colombia has no seasons. It has a tropical climate. U.S. has four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. Colombia has a weakened economy that generates poverty. U.S. has a strong economy. In both countries there are many happy people with big dreams and the strength to achieve them. The similarities between American and Colombian culture are that both countries have democratic governments and religious freedom.

LOVE FOR ITS LANDSCAPES

By Juliana Ortiz

My name is Juliana. I am from Colombia. I like fish in coconut juice with coconut rice, patacones and salad and panela water. Colombia is famous for food and music and its beautiful landscapes.

FOOD THAT REMINDS ME OF MY COUNTRY

By Alfonzo Ortiz Machacon

I am from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, a city that is located on the Colombian Caribbean coast and from Thurston County, Washington, where the people are very welcoming and hospitable, making it a wonderful place to live and grow both personally and professionally. I would somewhat miss Colombian Caribbean cuisine, but thanks to my cousin’s restaurant, “Don de la Columbiana,” located in the center of Olympia, I can feel the flavor and seasoning of the food that is made in my hometown. I delight in being in his restaurant because it reminds me of my origins. This is a feeling that I share with the Latinos who visit the place. Although we are from different countries, we find that gastronomically we have similarities in the way we cook plantains, corn, rice, beans, among others. Even so, even though it is far away, the musical atmosphere, the food and the people speaking Spanish remind me of the beauty of our culture, and if they are from the Caribbean coast a little more so. As for the food, the soup is spectacular. We call it “Sancocho.” The arepas, the Colombian chorizo, the empanadas, the “patacones” are the same. “Tostones” of our country and the Cafecito con leche cannot be missed in any time of the year. The Caribbean coast gastronomy is diverse and although we leave our land for different reasons, our gastronomic customs live in our hearts.

MY STORY

By Dorys Pedrozo

I lived in Colombia throughout my childhood and adolescence, at the age of 26 I decided to move to the United States in search of new opportunities and to learn English. This path has not been easy at all. I arrived in this country without knowing anyone and without enough support to start a different life, find the resources, the right, the way to understand and earn an economic life. Additionally, I couldn’t speak English perfectly and didn’t know the characteristics of American culture. It has been a strong change, but it has taught me many good things: independence, flexibility and adaptation, new routines, other social norms, courtesy, importance of respect and differences, a new vision of the world and life, experiences and I have acquired so much information that has helped me create several initiatives for the community and my people. All this makes me very happy and makes me always have a positive attitude and a smile. I consider that in general everything I have experienced in the United States has been an exciting and a challenge, because each day has brought a new objective or goal. For example: the mere process of

learning English has been a long one. I have realized that there are many things to learn about this language. It is strange that English, being one of the most spoken languages in the world, requires so much time and effort to learn. However, here I am on this path of feeling more secure and confident when speaking it. My goal is to be able to minimize many of my errors in pronunciation, intonation, vocalization. Currently I want to focus on speaking because it is the skill that I need to strengthen to be able to communicate in a better and clearer way with the people of this country. It is strange that although I studied English in my country, no one ever taught me how to use the language and the words so that they sound like music in the ears of the natives. Well, here I am, here I go, and I continue for more.

WONDERFUL COLOMBIA

By Karina Vidal De Oro

Colombia is a country with wonderful places to visit. My hometown is one of those wonders that you must visit. Cartagena de Indias is a colonial city surrounded by walls and beaches. You will be able to visit representative places of Cartagena such as the walled city. It is the historic heart of the city and the most see place to visit. It is a walled enclosure built in the 17th century to protect the city from pirate attacks. The Castle of San Felipe de Barajas is an impressive fortress built in the 17th century to defend the city from attacks of Spanish and British forces. There are also many beaches to enjoy the Caribbean Sea coast. Among the beaches are El Laguito, Marbella, Castillo Grande, Manzanillo, Bocagrande and Playa Blanca. There you will appreciate mangroves, coral reef, and wetlands where a large number of species of marine animals and plants live. It is really spectacular.

CONGO*

MY FAMILY

By Grace Nyamucho

I miss many things about Congo. I miss my family. I also miss my sister and my brother. Travelling to my country reminds me of home.

I MISS MY FRIEND

By Patience Nyirabakunzi

I miss many things about Congo. I miss my sister. I also miss food from my country and I miss my brother.

* At print time, it could not be verified if these students are from Republic of the Congo or Democratic Republic of the Congo. These entries appear under Congo to mirror the usage in the students’ stories. See also Democratic Republic of the Congo -ed.

COSTA RICA

MI BELLA TIQUICIA

By Mariana Rodriguez

I never know what to say related to my country Costa Rica, which is better known by “los ticos” (the people) as “tiquicia”. Here are some facts you may not know about Costa Rica: 1. In Costa Rican culture, the terms “Tico” for males and “Tica” for females go beyond simple words. They hold a deep significance in terms of identity. “Tico” and “Tica” are highly respected because they represent a shared cultural heritage that unites Costa Ricans. 2. Costa Rica's forests are home to many creatures, including the world's tiniest squirrel species, named "pygmy squirrel," which measures just a few inches in length. 3. The decision to abolish the army in 1948 was not only a move towards peace but also because of a unique circumstance: after a brief civil war, the winning side chose to invest in education and healthcare instead of maintaining military forces. 4. Costa Rica has an underwater volcanic vent, known as "Black Smoke" found off its Pacific coast. 5. Costa Rica has a “Blue Morpho butterfly”: some indigenous communities believe that encountering a Blue Morpho brings good luck and symbolizes a visit from departed loved ones. 6. "Pura Vida" is a philosophy of Costa Rican culture, encouraging individuals to embrace life's simple pleasures and prioritize happiness over material wealth. 7. Costa Rica is also known as: “The happiest country in the world” and with one of the highest lifestyles in Latin America. 8. Costa Rica has tourism like "sustainable surfing," where surfers are encouraged to protect coastal ecosystems and minimize their environmental impact. 9.Costa Rica's people live a long time and many say it is due in part to the healing properties of indigenous plants, which are used in traditional medicines passed down through generations. 10. It’s a must to have pinto for breakfast, or a tamal with lizado for Christmas time, At the end, I can just invite you to visit my pretty country, mi Bella Tiquicia.

CUBA

MY EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES

By Ariel Mesa Espino

My name is Ariel. I’m from Cuba. I live with my wife and my stepchildren. I like to eat Cuban and Dominican food. I celebrate Christmas.

I arrived almost 7 months ago to the United States and for me it has been a cultural shock because my country Cuba and the United States have many differences.

The most difficult thing has been the language, not being able to communicate with other people at certain times. However, I have met very kind people and with them I have been able to adapt to this country.

Every day I learn a little more and I feel better to be part of this culture. I wish one day to be able to communicate fluently.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO*

MY JOURNEY FROM CONGO TO THE UNITED STATES

By Lickson Mugisho

I’m originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but I grew up in Burundi. Before moving to the United States, I lived with my mother and two sisters in Congo. Unfortunately, life got tough because of the war, so we decided to move to Burundi. Starting over was hard, and I was unable to pursue my education further. That’s when we decided to approach the refugee department and explain our situation. After some long ten years, I finally made it to the United States, where I could go back to school. It was a tough journey, but I’m happy now with my new life.

* See also Congo -ed.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MY HOME COUNTRY AND THE U.S.

By Celeste Almánzar Girón

I am Celeste Almánzar. I have been in the United States for 6 months and during this time I have seen a lot of differences with my country, the Dominican Republic. I am going to start with the different celebrations since at the time I am writing this story it is Mother’s Day, which is totally different in my country. In the United States it is the second Sunday in May and in the Dominican Republic, it is the last Sunday of May.

Another difference is the greeting, the way we greet each other, since in my country we usually greet familiar people with hugs and kisses on the cheek, even if they are not family members. We also establish long conversation anywhere. In the United States the greeting is about fewer contacts and shorter conversations. I must also mention the differences between the meals, since in my country the food is generally homemade and in the United States there is a lot of fast or pre-made food. Also, the foods are different.

ECUADOR

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Karla Intriago

Without a doubt I am lucky to have been born in my country Ecuador. Although not everything is perfect, many things make me miss my country. One of them is its magical towns and cities; a country with 4 regions, the mountains and the east coast, it is a megadiverse country which has beautiful forests like Yasuní, beautiful beaches and mountains; it’s a country totally full of lots of fauna and flora. The people of my country are altruistic; they are very kind, warm and respectful people, who will be willing to give you a hand. As Ecuadorians we love music, dancing and having fun. And finally, one of the things I miss the most is the food of my country, especially Manabi food. I could tell you that it is the best gastronomic food in Ecuador. So, if one day you visit Ecuador, you should try the delicious Ecuadorian ceviche, encebollado, tonga, empanadas, corviches and endless other delicious foods.

EL SALVADOR

HOW IS NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATED IN USA VS EL SALVADOR

By Anonymous

Holidays are a beautiful way to gather with family and friends. Although there are many of them, I have decided to talked about one celebration, New Year’s. Imagine how celebrations can have a huge impact on how they are celebrated in different countries around the world. I have only experienced this when I moved to the US but I’m sure other cultures have their own and fun way to celebrate this holiday.

A major difference for New Year’s in the USA is not such a celebration as it is back in my country. The majority of Americans celebrate by sharing a meal with family and friends, a toast, and new year's resolutions. In El Salvador most people similarly go to dinner, but only with our family since after 10 pm most of the teenagers are going to gather at a specific location with one kind of a scarecrow that represents the year that is about to leave and everyone helps out to build with old things that we want to get ripped off. Everyone has a chance to put 2 garments. After everyone has helped out to filled it up with fireworks, the music starts playing and most of the people dances. We wait until 11:55pm to start burning the scarecrow. At 11:59 pm, everyone runs to their house and hugs their parents or the closest people you have as a family.

A second difference that I have noticed is that many Americans don’t travel on this holiday and it is not a big deal to spend New Year’s in a different state, another country or with friends at night clubs, away from their parents, unlike in El Salvador where most people travel from other state or countries just to spend December holidays with their loved ones. Also, here some stores and restaurants are closed, or they close early on New Year’s Eve. In El Salvador, there is not such a thing. People believe they can sell more on that day since most people are happy and do not mind spending a few more dollars.

The third difference between USA and El Salvador on New Year’s is fireworks. In the USA fireworks are only permitted in certain areas, and there is always security around to make sure people are safe. On New Year’s Eve not everyone can blow the fireworks due to burn bans and other legal actions such as the risk of the forest fires. In El Salvador most people including children use fireworks. Everyone is allowed to buy and use them, which is something people really enjoy doing since most of them believes if you say goodbye to

the old year happy you will have a great New Year. Also, I have also noticed some people here in the USA don’t stay up after 12am, but in El Salvador most of teenagers stay until 2am since it is the only day parents allow their children to stay up as much as they want. Gathering with family and friends is a wonderful way to spend your holidays. Although it is up to people to do what makes them happy. It could be exploring unfamiliar places, meeting up with new people, or just staying home with your loved ones or by yourself, and the special thing about holidays is to remember we are alive making memories and enjoying every moment of it.

MY FAVORITE COUNTRY

By Carlos Herrera

My name is Carlos. I am from El Salvador. My favorite food is pupusas. My favorite music is Christian and spiritual music. The weather in El Salvador is hot. My favorite sport is football.

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Jennifer Padilla

My name is Jennifer. I am from El Salvador. What I miss about my country is I generally miss my family, seeing them in person, talking to them, and the time together we spent as a family. I also miss part of the culture of my country, such as its food and its parties. Every celebration in my country is beautiful.

EL SALVADOR AND THE U.S.

By Irma Rodriguez De Herrera

My name is Irma and I’m from El Salvador. In my country the food is very delicious. It’s delicious pupusas and other typical food. In my country you hear a lot of dog music (when men make dog sounds to attract women), but I don’t like that. In the educational field, schools are something of a good thing. The children go with their respective uniform. When we came to the United States we saw the radical change. The food here is totally different from our country. Here in the U.S. you hardly hear those dog songs and it’s better because those songs discriminate a lot against the women. I like to live better here in the U.S. because there is more respect here than in my country.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

THE GASTRONOMY OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA

By Vincente Rafael Mengue Abaga Angue

The gastronomy of EG is very diverse because the country has different ethnicities such as Fang, Bubi, Ndowe, Annobones, etc. It has influences from other cuisines such as Nigerian, Cameroonian, Creole and Spanish, since the country was a Spanish colony. Typical Equatoguinean dishes are characterized by strong flavors, exotic combinations and a lot of spices. The most notable dishes are peanut sauce and Bambucha (Fang), Pambota and Djomba (Ndowe), Abala and Bilola (Bubi), Pissoj (Annobon), Ndolé (Cameroon), Okrossup (Nigeria), the Banga soup (Creole), and Spanish paella. The ingredient used for the dishes are, among others: onion, oil, broth, salt, meat, fish, pepper, vegetables. And garnishes such as rice, cassava, taro, tubers and yams are the basis of the diet and the traditional accompaniment to dishes. The recipes vary from one community to another, but the ingredients are the same.

GUATEMALA

CULTURE IN GUATEMALA

By Bernabe

In Guatemala I like its lake, marimba music, its culture and much more like its climate.

THE CHRISTMAS TRADITION

By Lucia Esteban

Christmas is celebrated a little differently in the United States and Guatemala like food, gift-giving, and the ways we celebrate.

Christmas in Guatemala is celebrated at midnight on December 24. In Guatemala, people invite all their family to their house to enjoy and have fun together. This tradition reminds us how important our family means everything. In Guatemala we usually eat tamales and drink hot ponche which is fruits like coconut, apple, pineapple, and cinnamon to give it flavor. Also, in Guatemala at midnight we eat tamale and drink hot ponche to give welcome to Jesus. After we go to church to celebrate mass before midnight. I love how we celebrated at mass. Each person had a candle, and after that, we turned off all the lights and we used the candles as light. Another characteristic of Christmas in Guatemala is that our family exchanges gifts, and we hang out on the street using fireworks. We see the colorful sky with some of our neighbors and at midnight we share hugs and wish good blessings for them

In contrast, in the United States, Christmas is celebrated on December 25. The family gets together to choose, buy, and decorate the Christmas tree with lights and ornaments of many styles. In the United States, Christmas consists of a family meal that usually includes turkey or ham. Many families bake cookies or apple pie. One of the first activities in the United States is to decorate the Christmas tree, play Christmas music, and gather family and friends to decorate their house and get into the Christmas spirit. The United States is where children open Santa Claus gifts on the 25th in the morning and, in addition, they usually hang stockings with Christmas decorations on the fireplace, which Santa fills with sweets and small gifts.

In conclusion, Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways based on the customs of the family. However, I have the honor of celebrating in both Guatemala and the U.S.

MY EXPERIENCE TRAVELLING TO THE U.S.

By Yulisa Gomez

When I was a 14-year-old girl, I lived with my grandparents in Guatemala, and my mom lived in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and I wanted to go to Mexico with her because I wanted to spend my time with her when I finished my studies. So, in November 2015, I went to Playa del Carmen with my mom, but my other plan was to go to the U.S. to live with an aunt. I had already thought that was what I wanted, but my mother would not let me but, little by little I was getting used to life in Mexico and maturing. In Mexico I learned to speak Spanish well. Before arriving, I did not know how to speak Spanish, and time passed, and things were getting worse with my stepfather. He and I did not get along well, so my mother decided to give me a chance to come to the United States with my aunt, and I accepted. I was 16 years old when I left Mexico. It was difficult because I traveled alone, simply following the instructions they gave me. I left Cancun, Quintana Roo, on a plane to Mexico City. From Mexico City I went to Mexicali and I arrived in an ADO, which is a bus. Finally, I arrived at the border to cross into the United States and that was the end of my guide. I rested for a while, ate and in the early hours of the morning I crossed the border. But, immigration caught me, they took me to a wine cellar and then they took me to another place, a hotel, where they take care of the other children, I was there for two weeks and from there I went to the airport to travel to Seattle. I arrived in Seattle with my aunt on November 9, 2019.

MEMORIES

By Christopher Huit

I miss many things about my country and my culture. I miss my dog, my friends and my family. I also miss the food with my family and with my grandmother. I also miss going out to play with my friends. Eating together with my family reminds me of home.

I LIKE COFFEE

By Juana

My name is Juana. I am from Guatemala. My favorite food from Guatemala is soup with chicken, tomato, beans and rice. My life in my country, I drink coffee with my sister.

MY COUNTRY

By

Ramos B Ramos Francisco

My name is Ramos B Ramos Francisco. I am from Guatemala. My favorite foods are tamales, rice, chicken soup and beans, tree fruits and vegetables. I drink coffee too. In my country of Guatemala, we would like to make tamales and pepian which is traditional food on Christmas day.

HONDURAS

HOLIDAYS

By Anonymous

My nationality is Honduran. My favorite custom is Holy Week. The Honduran National Holiday is an important holiday in my country. Some people in my country celebrate Labor Day. I follow the Christian religion. I eat beef soup. I celebrate Holy Week and Christmas.

I have two children. Their names are Yosselin and Christofer. They live in the United States. In my culture, children usually live together. I live with my wife and 2 children.

WHAT IS THE SAME? WHAT IS DIFFERENT?

By Rosa Sanchez

I'm from Honduras. In my country and in the United States we celebrate Mother's Day and Christmas.

In my country there is no work but in the United States there is work. In my country, people who are already 30 years old do not get jobs. In the United States we have the opportunity to work.

WHEN I LEFT MY COUNTRY

By Mirna Warren

I was twelve when my mother was killed by a careless driver. Soon after the funeral my family started to become dysfunctional and abusive. So, I decided to run away. I lived on the street for two years. As the time passed by, I frequently thought about moving to the U.S.A. It was too much to handle, so I made a plan.

First, I prepared myself mentally. I outlined the obstacles on my pathway: rapists, human traffickers, lack of courage, thieves, etc. I found a job selling clothing. I managed to save enough money to pay for the Coyote. A Coyote is a person who brings people across the U.S.A border illegally. Their services are equivalent to $10,000 USD. Second, I found a Coyote while I was walking around. I heard a conversation about a local man that could bring them to the U.S.A. I memorized his name and his phone number. The next day I called him, and we met up.

He was concerned, because I was a teenager. But after I showed him the money, he didn't care that I was a minor. Third, I gathered the necessary supplies for the journey. I went out and bought a small backpack, a couple of changes of clothing, more toothpaste and great walking shoes. In a week I was set to leave. I

was both excited and sad to leave my country behind. But as the day started to pass by, my excitement grew stronger.

The day came when we left. We had to take buses, trains and walk for miles until we arrived in the U.S.A. In conclusion, at last, after diligent planning, I arrived in the U.S.A. I am so grateful that my family was dysfunctional because without that, I wouldn't be here in this country. Looking back, I have grown so much in those previous years. I have been living here for more than two decades. I created a wonderful life!

INDIA

THE REASON I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES

BY Jongmu Lepcha

Hello, my name is Jongmu. I am from Northeast India, Sikkim. I have lived in the United States for 3 years with my husband and 5year-old son. The reason I came to United States is my family. My husband is from the United States. After seven years of living in Bhutan, we moved to the United States in 2021 because of covid. My husband did not spend time with his family for 7 years, so our plan was to spend time with the family in the tough times. In addition, I love to see the United States and their people, culture, food and to learn new things.

JAPAN

DIFFERENCES OF THE SAFETY GAP

By Tsukasa Kashiwamata

“19,216”. This is the number of murders, rapes, and robberies in New York city in 2022. What about Tokyo? The number of Tokyo is “567”. Surprisingly, the crime rate in New York City is over 33 times higher than Tokyo has, despite that fact that Tokyo has about 2.8 times bigger of the area and 1.7 times larger population than New York city. Of course, the safety of regions varies depending on the location, but I believe that there are significant differences in safety if one compares the United States to Japan, as seen in gun ownership, drug regulations, and issues with homelessness in a lot of places. In fact, I feel much safer in Japan. Even American people say to me, “Don’t walk by yourself at night.”

First, the general citizens of Japan are not allowed to own any guns besides the police, and very few people with legitimate purposes and limited uses. In the United States, the right to own guns is protected by the constitution. The difference between the United States and Japan lies in the fact that guns have been generally present since the founding of America, and as an acquired reason, there are too many guns in circulation that regulations are no longer effective. Personally, I believe that the ability of guns influences criminal psychology. Guns allow you to shoot from a long distance, and you would feel lower risk of being attacked from others. Consequently, the criminals use them because the irrational convenience of guns contributes to the commission of other crimes, such as robbery and rape. Although it cannot be simply categorized as good or bad because guns also have a meaning as crime deterrent effect. However, it is a fact that they contribute to the crime rate.

Second, the issues with homelessness are handled differently in each country. In Japan, there is a support system called seikatsu hogo for low-income people. If it’s approved, they receive ¥130,000 per month. This amount is enough for a modest lifestyle. In contrast, the United States doesn’t have a nationally mandated welfare system, which is considered a significant factor contributing to the difficulty of social reintegration for the homeless population. The issue of homelessness is connected to public safety, urban aesthetics, and the drug issues. It’s impacting to citizen’s sense of security.

Also, there's a significant difference between both countries in drug regulation. Even in downtown Olympia, it's not uncommon to encounter individuals loudly shouting abusive language, a situation that clearly shows drug dealing on the streets, or people who appear like zombies by drug use. This was the most shocking aspect for me since I moved to the United States. In contrast, even in major metropolitan areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya, such people are very rarely seen in Japan.

As mentioned above, there are some gaps in terms of safety between Japan and the United States. This macro-level background involves the diversity of the United States, the difficulty of regulation due to low population density, and the conformism of Japanese people, and other complex factors. However, I strongly agree that the United States would become a greatest country if the safety issues were resolved.

MEXICO

MY COUNTRY

By Anonymous

I am from Mexico. I like carne asada. There are many types of tacos here. Mexico is also famous for mariachi for new year. My country is so cute.

ONE CULTURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN U.S & MEXICO

By Anonymous

There is a very significant difference in the laws between my country and the US. Everyone in my country had heard about the United States and that its laws are different from those of our country, but we have no idea how important the laws are in the US. I have lived here for almost 5 years; my husband did the procedure like fiancé and I can say that from the moment I had my appointment at immigration to see if I qualified to enter the US, I really realized the control they have over their laws. Now that I am here, I see that most people are like that; they respect their laws. People are more responsible for their actions and security is definitely very different from Mexico.

First, here in U.S., most people respect the laws unlike in my country, maybe you ask why does this happen here? It is because in this country the laws are followed. Most people do everything respecting the laws, unlike in Mexico, here in the United States there are many rules.

The second difference is that people take more responsibility for their actions because they know they would take some punishment if they do something wrong. In Mexico nothing happens, no one complies with laws because they know that it is not respected; the same authorities are the ones in not complying.

The most significant thing is security. When I arrive here I see that people have their things outside and nothing happens, people keep car open, kids play outside, people can wear anything and is no theft.

In conclusion, the laws in United States are usually followed but often in Mexico they are not followed; that is why security in Mexico is very bad, many people don’t respect the laws; no one takes responsibility for their actions. Honestly, when my family and I go to Mexico we always go with fear because we know that it is not a safe place. I feel blessed to be here.

THE MOST WONDERFUL PLACES I SAW

By Anonymous

I saw mornings, sunsets, I saw trees and the nature in United States, it’s awesome. All of that makes me feel small. When I saw the stars, I feel scared. I just saw four times a clear sky in my life. This is awesome how in the United States they care a lot about everything.

MY EXPERIENCE AS AN ENGLISH LEARNER

By Alexis Raúl Aguilera Duarte

Hi, I’m Alexis. My experience studying at SPSCC is one of the best with my highly trained teachers who can explain and understand the basics of English to you. I can always say that it is not easy but if you put effort into it you will learn. Taking into account that they help us as immigrants, they make us feel that we have a place here.

ABOUT ME

By Alberto Villana Avila

My name is Alberto Avila, and I am from Mexico where I grew up and I come from a big family. I have 6 sisters and 2 brothers plus me is 3 brothers. My dad raised animals. He had 7 cows, 3 horses and 9 sheep and goats. I would help take care of and feed them. My favorite was helping with the cows. I would bring them in the field so they can eat and when it was almost dark I would gather them back to go back home. In my free time I loved to go play soccer with my family and friends at the soccer field. And after playing I would go back home for dinner. My favorite dinner is enchiladas. At the age of 13 I would work with this family at the street market selling church items, and I did that for 2 years.

After that at the age of 16 is when I came to the United States, not knowing any English. I lived with my cousins in Lacey, WA. They showed me how to work in picking salal, I lived here for 2 years before meeting my wife. I met her in Forks, WA when I was there living with my uncle helping with work. And a couple years later my wife and I started our family. We are a family of 8 now and we live in Tumwater.

FLAVOR OF MY COUNTRY

By Alejandro Calvo

My name is Alejandro. I am from Mexico City. I like to ride bulls. Mexican bulls are crazy. I like to dance to tropical music such as Niche band. I like the soccer team from Mexico. The food of my country is delicious, and enjoying it with my family and friends is better with good music to relax and sing our favorite song.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MY HOME COUNTRY

By Sandra Chavez

Mexico has thirty-two states. It is a big country and has beautiful places to visit. Some of the best places to visit in Mexico are La Bufadora in Baja California, Xochimilco, Janitzio in Michoacan, Tulum in Quintana Roo, Teotihuacan, El Canon del Sumidero in Chiapas. Also, people enjoy the beaches because in Mexico there is an excellent climate. In addition to having many places to visit, Mexico has good culture, traditions, and delicious food.

THE REASONS I CAME TO THE US

By Wendy Cruz -Martinez

My name is Wendy Cruz. I came to the United States four years ago. I came to the United States because I wanted to help my parents. When I came here, I found a job that pays well so I can send money home to help them. Another reason that I came to the United States is to build a future and have more opportunities. I am taking English classes at SPSCC and they helped me get a promotion at work. Because I worked hard and improved my English, it was noticed by my boss, and he made me a supervisor. I love living in the United States.

THE BEST PLACE I HAVE VISITED IN NAYARIT MEXICO.

By Ana Dominguez

In my country without a doubt is Nayarit, Mexico. Its gastronomy and culture are exceptionally beautiful. The beaches, seafood, and wildlife. The water on the beaches is warm and not deep. The seafood is delicious, I like shaken fish (pescado sarandiado), shrimp ceviche cook in lime juice and vegetables. You can see iguanas in their natural habitat, and the crocodile sanctuary is a tourist attraction. Nayarit, Mexico without a doubt is one of the best places I have visited.

ABOUT MY LIFE

By Felipe Espinosa Rocha

I am from Monterrey, Mexico. My city is a mountain city. It is very hot in spring and summer and very cold in winter. I enjoy the days on weekends. We prepare roast beef. My wife prepares the hot sauce and guacamole. I prepare the meat on the grill. My children place the plates on the table.

I’m in the USA learning English. I want communication with people. I like Olympia. It is very beautiful. I like to eat meals in the

garden, listening to music, talking, joking, and laughing. I met very nice classmates at school.

MY LIFE AND CULTURE

By Hilda Esquivel

I am from Mexico. I have a husband, a son and a daughter. Their names are Juan, Francisco, and Maria. They live in Olympia, WA. In my culture, families usually live together.

I follow the Catholic religion. I eat pozole and tamales on special days. I celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. My favorite custom is fireworks. One custom in my country is Independence Day. In my country and in the United States, we celebrate Christmas and Mother's Day. In my country, most people are Catholic. In my country we celebrate Mother's Day on May 10 and here in the United State it's the second Sunday of May. In my country we speak Spanish and in the United States they speak English.

MY COUNTRY AND THE UNITED STATES

By Maria Garcia Arguello

I am from Mexico. In my country and the United States, people are friendly. They also celebrate Christmas and New Years. The difference is that here it is safer to live than my country. In my country there is a lot of insecurity.

THE BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN MY HOME COUNTRY

By Jose J Garcia

I am from Mexico. I think that the best place to visit my country is the pyramids of Teotihuacan. I think that this is the best place to visit because it has a lot of culture and history. Teotihuacan is the place where the gods were created. Another reason that this is a great place to visit is that visitors can still climb the pyramid’s steep staircase. You can also hop in a hot air balloon and enjoy the beautiful view. If you ever visit Teotihuacan, please be sure to visit La Cueva, a restaurant inside a grotto that is 100% natural. It's a unique experience you don't want to miss.

MY HISTORY

By Lupitha Gonzalez

I’m from Mexico and I like to listen to music in English. I like to tell my mom a lot of things. I really like to visit landscapes. I like to work. I like to go to carnivals. The weather is cold and cloudy.

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Jeydi Jimenez

There are three things I miss about my country.

The fair, every year in my town we have a big Catholic fair where we celebrate “Holy Week Lent.” At the end of Lent, we have fireworks and music, rites and people sell food.

Food, I really miss the taste of food and fruit, which tastes different. At the fair people sell super delicious traditional bread. It is one of my favorites.

The place, my house, and the lands where we plant different vegetables like corn, haba, sugar beets, beans, potatoes, carrots with my family.

All these things make me sad sometimes, but at the same time happy because all are good memories.

MY LIFE

By Brenda Martinez

My name is Brenda. I am from Mexico. In Mexico in the state of Monterrey. I like to make roast meat on the weekends with family.

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Juan Martinez

My name is Juan Martinez. I came to the United States seven years ago. I like living in the United States, but I miss some things about my country. One thing that I miss about my country is the food. I miss red enchiladas and tacos the most. Another thing that I miss about my country is the New Year’s celebration. During New Year’s, we meet with family and friends to have a party and eat together. We also watch fireworks. The last thing I miss about my country is the weather. In my country, almost every day is sunny. I really enjoy living in the United States, but I hope to be able to visit my country soon so that I can celebrate holidays and eat delicious food.

A CULTURE DIFFERENCE: TRADITIONS

By Janeth Mendoza

One cultural difference that identifies each country is the traditions. What meaning do celebrations have? Those are beliefs, customs, or information that our families give us, and we pass them on from generation to generation. It is part of our roots. Since I arrived in this country, I realized that celebrations have a different meaning for each person even when they are celebrated on the same days. Celebrations are essential for our countries; Mexico has

the traditional Day of the Dead. The United States has Halloween and Christmas which are celebrated in both but in different ways.

First, Mexico has the most significant and important tradition, Day of the Dead. This celebration starts from October 31st to November 2nd. The families set a table with any favorite food of the celebrated late family member or friends. The most popular are our flowers which are orange Mexican marigolds in addition to candlesticks, incense, and photographs of their deceased. This is done so that the souls of the deceased who visit on those days feel welcome and their families still remember them. Also, people visit cemetery to place marigolds, candles and stay up all night till dawn; this is called “veiling the deceased.” An important symbol that identifies this tradition is the skulls called “Calavera.”

Second, I realized that here in the United States Halloween is celebrated on same day being October 31. The families dress up as their favorite character whether scary or something funny; they walk in their neighborhood and go trick or treating door to door for sweets in the houses that are decorated with a ghoulish theme. Some of the most common activities are Halloween costumes parties, and visiting haunted attractions. The most significant activity is when it involves the whole family visiting the harvest farm, picking pumpkins, and turning them into jack-o’- lanterns.

Third, Christmas is celebrated in both countries and on the same day, but in Mexico, it starts December 16th with the posadas; this celebration involved church and the community. They offer hot food, and the popular fruit punch on Christmas Eve marks the end of the posadas, which concludes with the families spending time together to celebrate with a traditional dinner. On this night known as Noche Buena children break piñatas filled with sweets and fruits.

Now that I live in the United States, I realize that those holidays are celebrated differently, Christmas being only celebrated for Christmas Eve and Day. Some families travel long distance to be with their loved ones, and have, for example dinners including turkey, ham, drinks like eggnog, and the gift exchange. Christmas trees are essential in each home, and the kids enjoy it when Santa Claus brings their toys on Christmas Day.

In conclusion, it is interesting how countries celebrate each tradition in a unique way with a different meaning. We adopted new life and traditions too, but we must remember the roots of where we come from and continue our beliefs; they do not need to be lost. Let us continue celebrating Day of the Dead, Halloween and Christmas, the traditions never end.

MY EXPERIENCE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES

By Andres Mora

My experience living in the United States has been a little difficult and at the same time a learning and growing experience. I'm from Mexico. I lived and grew up in the state of Michoacán, then I moved to the state of Baja California in North Mexico. I lived there for 5 years. After that, I moved to the United States a year and a half ago. The most difficult thing has been trying to understand the language. So, I have looked for ways to learn. Currently my experience living in the United States has been a little different since I started studying at SPSCC. Currently, I can understand the language a little more and I can take advantage of the opportunities that this country offers for my personal growth.

CELEBRATIONS

By Jesica Nieto

I am from Mexico. In my country, Mexico, they celebrate Mother’s Day just like in the United States. Christmas is an important celebration in both countries. The people of my country have very big parties that last for days while those in the United States last a short time. In Mexico, the guests of a party arrive up to hours late and the Americans are very punctual.

MY LIFE AND MY CULTURE

By Maricela Nieto

I am from Mexico. I live with my family. I follow the Catholic religion. I eat mole with chicken and rice. I celebrate the Day of the Dead. One custom in my country is to give an engagement ring.

THE BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN MY HOME COUNTRY

By Juana Iris Ortiz

My name is Iris. I am from Mexico City. I think that the best place to visit in my country is Ixtapa. I think that this is the best place to visit because you can relax there. In Ixtapa, you must visit the church. It is famous and many pilgrims go there. Another reason that this is a great place to visit is that the museum there has many old things. You must also visit the mountains. They have a nice view. If you ever visit Ixtapa, please be sure to visit a restaurant called Xochil. Their food is very delicious.

SIMILIARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

By Anabel Penaloza -Gomez

I am from Mexico. In my country and in the United States we celebrate Christmas. There are also fairs with mechanical games. People in my country greet each other with a kiss on the cheek and here in the United States they greet each other only with a verbal greeting. People in the United States have fewer holidays. In my country there are more holidays.

I have two siblings, 1 brother and 1 sister. Their names are Jose and Rosa. They live in Mexico City. In my culture grandparents can live with married sons or daughters and grandchildren.

I live with my son. I follow the Catholic religion. I eat Mexican food. I celebrate Three Kings. Rosca is a tradition that is made on January 6 of each year. You do it with family and friends.

MY MEMORY IS MEXICO

By Beatriz Perete

The schools are very small and they are all regulated. The people are very friendly. My favorite food is pozole. The ranchera music is my favorite. The traditions are beautiful.

DAY OF THE DEAD

By Misael Plasido Cruz

The Day of the Dead is one of the biggest traditional festival celebrations in Mexico. They celebrate to deceased people. The celebration is on November first and second; the first day they do it for the children and the second is for the adults; not stereotyping the whole people in the country but most of them celebrate. Most of them are believers (Catholic), and also indigenous people who live in towns or villages. In addition, this tradition is part of the Mexican culture for centuries. It has come from Aztecs and Mexicans and other and Spain’s tradition; they were mixed. The Day of the Dead is a special time that people can share with their deceased which one day was gramma or grandpa or anyone else who was part of the family or can be a friend one day. So, people who are already dead come to the beyond to enjoy what their living family place on the table. In addition, people make traditional food, decorating the table, and praying for their deceased at the cemetery and at the church. Making traditional food: the vast of majority makes their own traditional food such as traditional mole, chocolate, traditional bread with a tiny figure attached, and turkey (guajalote) setting on the table, also, they set many kinds of fruits such as mandarin, oranges, grapes, guavas, bananas, and many others.

Decorating the table: people decorate the table with sugar cane, each side of the table; they set the sugar cane and make them as skulls; decorated with occasion flowers (cempasuchil); these symbolize life and death. This flower is decorated all around the arch to make it nice and set some on the table on a vase. Also, the table is decorated with candles and makes it colorful and aromatic.

Praying for their deceased at the cemetery and at the church: additionally, this is crucial during the festival because it makes the deceased loved ones feel important in world of the livings; people are praying because that helps deceased to be peacefully in the world of the death; also they are placing flowers (cempasuchil) also, called “flowers of the death” and candles on the grave, tombstones on the deceased relatives at the cemetery.

In conclusion, this significant traditional festival that people celebrate for their deceased every year is to be not forgotten. Also, people are doing it because they believe the world of the dead exists. Each state makes their own way of decorating, making food and prays in their own way for their deceased but with the same purpose which is to welcome the people who have passed away. Hopefully this tradition will never be forgotten because it is especially important for our culture and community.

A LITTLE BIT OF ME

By Catalina Ramirez

I’m from Mexico City. In my natal country we celebrate Independence Day on September 15th. Thousands of people came to my city named “El Zocalo” to listen to “El Grito de Dolores” where the President of the country shouts very loudly “Viva Mexico” which means “Long live Mexico”. Then we continue to celebrate with lots of big fireworks. We can see the buildings from where my mother lived. When I was a girl, I only watched it on television. I hope someday to return there.

REMEMBERING MEXICO

By Jesus Ramirez

I miss many things about Mexico. I miss my food, my friends and my culture. I also miss going to the beach with my family. Foods my son cooks reminds me of home.

LIVING IN THE U.S.A.

By Sandra Luz Robledo Muñoz

I’m from Mexico. I came to this country on vacation with a tourist visa. I liked it a lot and I stayed. But I also miss my country and my

family. I study English to be able to communicate with people. I have been here for 7 years.

THINGS I NOTICED

By Amelia Rodriguez

I'm from Mexico. The people of Mexico and the United States have customs about caring for our children, and we celebrate Christmas day. In my country people eat 3 times day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the United States some people only eat twice a day

MY FAVORITE PLACE IN MEXICO: OAXACA

By Cecilia Sánchez

My first favorite place in Mexico is Oaxaca. Oaxaca is not only distinguished by excellent beaches but also by its gastronomy and culture. The typical food of Oaxaca is tlayudas, mole, sopa de guias, tasajo, among other typical foods. Of course, you can´t miss a delicious chocolate and delicious mezcal. If you visited this state of course you must visit Monte Alban. Monte Alban is one of the most fascinating pre-Hispanic cities in the Mesoamerican area. It’s not only because of its monumental dimensions but also because of its strategic location in the mountains, in the heart of the Central Valleys of Oaxaca. It was the ancient capital of the Zapotecas. Also, you must visit the Templo de Santo Domingo, Hierve el agua, the Mercado de Benito Juarez, and obviously you must buy some barro negro. If you can buy a loom, take advantage of it. These are hand-painted looms with handmade paintings, made of flowers and some animals from the region. The beaches to visit are: Puerto Escondido, Zicatela, Huatulco, Carrizalillo, Zipolite, etc. To finish, don´t forget to try a nieve de leche quemada con tuna and a pan de yema or pan de chocolate. Enjoy Oaxaca and relax on the paradisiacal beaches!

BEING A GOOD MOM IN THE UNITED STATES

By Dafne Sosa

My name is Dafne Sosa. I’m from Mexico. I’m 30 years old and I have a 15-year-old son. Being a young mother has always been a challenge, but now that my son is a teenager it is more involved. First, with our arrival in the United States, with the change of language, the change of house, the change of friends and change of routine, everything became complicated. However, it is difficult but not impossible, and with a lot of patience and affection I help my children adapt to this country every day that passes.

Every day I try to be a good mother and when I see my son’s behaviors, I realize that I do it well. With love to my teenage boy.

CHIAPAS IS A NICE PLACE

By Anai Torres

My name is Anai. I am from Mexico, Chiapas. I like mole, poblano and in Chiapas there are a lot of crafts, hand embroidered dresses, and there are many beautiful places with waterfalls. The climate is tropical.

MY LIFE AND THE CULTURE IN MEXICO

By Cindy Valladares

I am Cindy Valladares. I am from Mexico. My hometown is Tepexoxuca, Mexico. It’s a small town of Mexico. It is two hours from Mexico City. It has an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. The schools are small. Also there is a park that is between the elementary school and the middle school. I played basketball there. In my country we celebrate the Independence of Mexico on September 16 and some people wear very long dresses to dance to Mexican folk music. We also have one tradition on November 2. We celebrate Day of the Dead, in Spanish “Dia de Muertos.” That day our family’s dead come to visit and we put food on a table for them.

MY LIFE

By Evelin Villicana

My life in Mexico: I lived in the Ruana Michoacán. I like Mexican food, enchiladas, Michoarenas, Morisqueta, tamales, quesadillas, tacos, etc. We have flavored water like rice, jamaica, lemon, mango, fruits, tamarind, etc.

The cultural famous place is my capital. Marelia is #1 cantera pink, Capula, Mich. is beautiful and the national capital is Catrina. Janitzio, Mich. is #1 in the world for the Day of the Dead. Mexico has a rich history.

MY HOMETOWN

By Yeimi

My name is Yeimi. I am from Chiapaz, Mexico. I miss my family, my friends and my town very much. I miss family meals, my uncles, my cousins, and my grandparents. We met to celebrate a birthday or Christmas. While the food was out, all the children went to play near the river. We didn’t go in because we saw alligators. My town is very

beautiful, the jungle, the forests, the animals. I miss it a lot. I hope to go back soon.

NICARAGUA

BLUEBERRY FARM AND BEES

By Roger Fornos

Ten years ago I started beekeeping in Nicaragua. I worked with Africanized bees. I had a small business of 60 hives that produced 10 barrels of honey. That’s my goal in Washington. My dream job is to be a beekeeper. This job is good for me because I like how bees work in pollination. In addition, they bring benefits to human health and the environment. My job is on Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm in Olympia. I work 2 hours every day, 7 days a week, checking how the colonies are doing. I am my own boss.

MY NEW LIFE IN OLYMPIA

By Mildred Payán

My hometown is in Managua, Nicaragua. It is a small town. The name is Mateare. Mateare is a very traditional and religious town. Our traditional food is nacatamales. It is a food made of corn, meat, and mixed vegetables.

Now I live in Olympia with my children and my husband. I have new friends here. My dream job is to work as a laboratory technician.

ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN CULTURE IN NICARAGUA

By Ali Jose Samayoa Mena

I find it very enriching to know different cultures. The world is so diverse and interesting at the same time that I love meeting people from other places or getting to know other places, even in my country. I remember one time I traveled to the Nicaraguan Caribbean and found a completely different world within the same country, from gastronomy to its language, skin color, dances, and way of communicating, well-known for having its own dialect.

It was a very nice experience that I am sure at some point I will repeat or live again. Based on this situation that I experienced, I can advise you that if you have the opportunity to live similar experiences, take them, in the end, the world is so immense that little or almost nothing is known about it, and then to live it from another perspective or another culture is very pretty.

PHILIPPINES

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Anonymous

Things I miss about my country: First, I miss my family because I grew up with my grandmother. It is extremely hard to me to live in United States, but no choice, I need to go United States because we have a good opportunity. I miss my childhood friends because every morning me and my childhood friends go to the basketball court and play for 2 hours then after playing, we eat beef pares. I miss the delicious foods in the Philippines, like Adobo and Sinigang. I miss my cat, Athena: Athena is the best cat in my life because my grandmother bought her for me on my 17th birthday. Athena is a kind cat, friendly. I miss the warm and tight-knit community where neighbors treat each other like family and gatherings are always filled with laughter. While I have lived in the United States, I am so sad because, I miss my family and my childhood friends then extremely hard for me to live in United States because my English is not good, and I do not know how to speak English.

MY NATIVE COUNTRY AND THE U.S.

By Marie Jo C. Oneill

Filipinos are citizens or people identified with the country of the Philippines. The majority of Filipinos are predominantly Catholic and all typically speak Filipino, English or other Philippine languages. They are a group related to the Negrito (black person). Filipino Americans are officially classified as Asian but share many cultural characteristics with Latinos. The Native American generosity, wisdom, prayer, respect and compassion to treat others and the Earth the way you want to be treated.

RUSSIA

ST. PETERSBURG

By Pavel Shulaev

Before moving to the U.S. I lived in Russia in St. Petersburg. This is a city with more than two centuries of history. St. Petersburg is called a museum city. There are a lot of museums and palaces built by Italian architects. Here are the main ones: the Hermitage (Winter palace), the Summer palace, Mikhailovsky Castle, etc. They contain masterpieces of world fine art and much more. One of the city's attractions is its canals and bridges. Many tourists take boat trips along the canals and learn about the history of the city. St. Petersburg is the most visited city by tourists in Russia. Every year it is visited by more than 10 million people. The city has every opportunity to receive such a huge number of people. Most of them were in spring and summer. A special natural phenomenon is white nights, when at night it is almost as light as day. Every year in June a three-masted sailboat with scarlet sails passed along the main river of the city. This is how school graduates are celebrated. It must be said that the great and most important poet of Russia, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, lived in this city. St. Petersburg is the most beautiful and most mysterious city I have ever lived in.

CELEBRATING EASTER IN RUSSIA AND THE USA

By Olga Somina

One of the significant religious holidays in Russia is Easter. Russians are especially focused on overcoming death through eternal life at Easter. In the USA, the Catholic Church also celebrates Easter. However, I met some differences between how Easter is celebrated in Russia and in the USA.

First, the date of Easter is determined according to two different calendars. Since Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar, and Catholics according to the Gregorian calendar, the difference is about 13 days.

Second, the traditional Easter dishes differ significantly. Sweet butter Easter cakes are a Russian tradition, and not typical food for American Easter. In American supermarkets, you can only find Easter cakes in a gift box for long-term (3-4 months) storage. Multi-colored eggs are traditional symbols and food for Easter in both countries. A unique Russian tradition is the cooking of sweet “Easter” cakes from cottage cheese with raisins, which is made in the shape of a pyramid, a symbol of the Holy Sepulcher.

Another difference is the symbol of American Easter: Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny tradition came to the USA with immigrants from Germany in the 1700s. Russians do not have the Easter Bunny tradition but have colored eggs and Easter cakes.

In Russia, people do not pay much attention to decorating houses and premises during Easter. On the other hand, a month and a half before Easter, Easter paraphernalia appears in American stores and Americans begin to decorate their houses and gardens. Also, Americans decorate the inside of their home with Easter baskets containing colored Easter eggs. In Russia, tradition usually starts with decorating Easter cakes and eggs.

In Russia, on the eve of Easter, all churches hold all-night vigils and processions around the church, then the Easter cakes and eggs are blessed. With blessed painted eggs, believers “share Christ” - they give them to each other, saying: “Christ is risen!” - “Truly risen!”, hugging and kissing. This ritual does not take place in the USA.

There are similar traditions in celebrating Easter in Russia and the USA. Both countries have Easter games with eggs. “Egg rolling” has long been a common tradition in Germany and in the USA. In the USA, “egg rolling” is held on the lawn in front of the White House. Easter egg hunts are popular in American homes and some public parks. Children with special baskets and buckets collect bright eggs - plastic molds containing candy or small toys. In Russia, there are Easter egg games, where blessed colored Easter eggs are knocked together by two people. The winner of the game is the person whose egg is not cracked.

In conclusion, despite some differences in the celebration of Easter in Russia and the USA, the tradition of coloring Easter eggs is preserved in both cultures. Easter in both cultures is a bright holiday, symbolizing rebirth, and renewal.

ROMANIA

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROMANIAN MATERNITY AND U.S

By Irina Andreea Coste

Romania is probably the best European country to become a parent in. It ranks amongst the top countries when it comes to paid maternal leave, parental leave or social assistance for new parents and their newborns.

Compared to The United States, which is the only rich country without nationwide, statutory, paid maternity leave, paternity leave or parental leave, Romania created a maternity system to support and help the future mothers, and it is a law passed by the government. To receive maternity leave and allowance, you must meet the following conditions. For example, you are legally a resident in Romania, you live together with the child or children for whom you are requesting the allowance, and you contributed for at least 6 months to the social insurance system during the last 12 months prior to the maternity leave. Maternity and maternal risk leave is 18 weeks – 126 calendar days. This is made up of pre-natal birth leave and post-natal confinement leave. Mothers can take a maximum of 63 days before birth and the remaining 63 days after birth, or the entire period of 126 days after birth. Both parents are eligible for leave if they have paid national insurance contributions in the last 12 months until the child is two years of age. Leave is a family entitlement. This strategy is meant to foster more gender equal arrangements. After maternity leave and the child is two years old, he or she will receive until the age 18 the allowance.

In contrast the United States has no national policy for maternity leave, but several states have mandated a maternity leave policy on their own. Depending on the state, leave may also be taken by fathers and after a child is adopted or fostered. Often maternity leave is covered by parental leave laws, but in other cases these rights only apply to mothers, not fathers. For example, Washington State allows 12 paid weeks.

In my opinion the government here does not do enough to ensure that new families are off on a good start and that the children are all well looked after. On the other hand, the Romanian system offers both financial support and paid time off to encourage their parents to spend more time with their newborns and with the family.

SENEGAL

I MISS MY COUNTRY

By Saliou Ba

I miss many things about Senegal. I miss my family and the solidarity of my country. I also miss the thiebou diene my mother cooks. Drinking tea with my brother and sister reminds me of home.

THOSE WHO I MISS IN MY COUNTRY

By Sokhna Diarra Bousso Ndiaye

I miss many things about Senegal. I miss my family. Every meal we are in a group. I also miss watching movies with my family after dinner. Solidarity with my country reminds me of home.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY FROM MY COUNTRY

By Seydina Issa Laye Thiaw

Tabaski is a special holiday from my country. We celebrate it every year. The day before the holiday, all fathers buy a sheep. The women prepare barbecue for breakfast and we go to eat as a family. In the afternoon everybody puts on a beautiful dress and we prepare a cocktail. At night the whole family gets together to take pictures and videos. Tabaski is the best holiday of the year from my country and everyone is happy, and exciting.

SOMALIA

THE REASON I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By Sebaha Osman

I left my home country on 1st December 2007 because there was a huge war that caused many people to die. I even lost some of my family in that war. Then I couldn’t stay when the disaster happened and I got trauma that I couldn’t cope with my feelings. After that I decided to look for peace. Then I went to the neighboring country of Kenya. From that day on World Refugee branch provided for us general assistance and we became refugees.

During the refugee camp we got the opportunity to come to the United States of America. The process to come to America took my family and me 16 years. This long period we suffered lack of education and poverty but fortunately I was happy to come to America because of brighter future and my children could get education. And we have been in America for 2 months. Those are the reasons why I came to the United States of America.

SOUTH KOREA

MY HOMETOWN

By Anonymous

I miss many things about Korea. I miss Korean food and Korean hospitals, where you can go without an appointment. I also miss my mother’s food and family trips. Drinking coffee with my friend reminds me of home.

MY FAMILY

By Jenni Bartlett

I would like to introduce my husband. His name is Marcus. His hometown is Chinook in Montana. His job is a US military soldier. I love him very much and am proud of him. He likes playing his online game and reading the Bible. This makes him happy. His favorite coffee is a Starbucks Cafe Mocha with no whipped cream. He does exercise every day. It keeps him healthy.

My daughter’s name is Lily. She was born in 2007. She is now in 10th grade of high school. Her favorite class is orchestra. Her part in the high school orchestra is in the cello section. I’m very proud of her. She practices playing her cello every day for her concerts. We will go to view her concert in summer. She likes playing cello, but her dream job is to work either at the UN international organization or as a doctor.

THE BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN MY HOME COUNTRY

By Changyeol Choi

My name is Changyeol Choi. I am from Korea. I think that the best place to visit in Korea is the Han River. I think that this is the best place to visit because it is beautiful and calm. There are a lot of parks near Han River. Another reason that this is a great place to visit is that there are a lot of things to enjoy. Also, there are a lot of food trucks there. If you ever visit Korea, please be sure to visit the Han River.

KOREAN AND AMERICAN EDUCATION

By Miyeong Jang

I have two children. They are elementary school students. I have a good experience that I felt when I sent my children to American schools. When I first went to a kid's school event, I was surprised by the atmosphere and progress. They literally looked free. They weren't

even formal. The children in the school didn't seem nervous or difficult.

My son was in a choir with his friends. I laughed when their song started, because it didn't sound so cool. I asked him if he had practiced. He said yes. But the practice was not forced, and they said it was very comfortable. Yes, I understand. Perhaps your decision comes first. I think you want to participate, feel, express, and get to know better. Of course they still need the help of their parents. They believe and support what they can do. It seemed to mean a lot to them. I've been thinking a lot. Children will often get opportunities to express their opinions and have confidence through participation. I remember when I saw a general public interview on CNN News before, I didn't feel nervous. Maybe it's because everyone practiced naturally? I think this is definitely a good experience for my children. I will support children by combining Korean and American education.

DO YOU KNOW WHY CHOPSTICKS ARE DIFFERENT IN THE THREE NORTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES?

By Hae Mi Kim

Do you know why chopsticks are different in the three Northeast Asian countries? Chopsticks are a pair of stick of the same length used when eating food. Westerners mainly use forks when eating, but Korea, Japan, and China have a chopstick culture. Additionally, in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, chopsticks are used, although their shape and material are different. It mainly corresponds to a rice culture where rice is the staple food. It is said that 30% of the world's population uses chopsticks, 30% use forks, and the remaining 40% eat with bare hands. There are more people than you might think who eat with their bare hands. Representative countries that use chopsticks include three Northeast Asian counties: Korea, Japan, and China; however, the material and shape of chopsticks used in each country are different.

China has a food culture of sharing food together. This practice began in the 10th century. As the culture of using tables and chairs came from West and Central Asian, the Chinese began to sit around a table and eat together. In this process, the custom of sharing food from a large bowl became established. When you sit on a chair, your chopsticks naturally become longer in order to pick up food from a distance.

Japanese chopsticks are pointed and sharp. In Japan, spoons not used, so chopsticks are stubby and short for ease of eating. Japanese chopsticks are usually made of wood, so they are simple

and large. This because, unlike in Korea, wooden tableware was developed. And it is considered rude to eat with your head down, so you eat with your plate held up, so your chopsticks are short. In addition, the island country has high humidity, so wooden chopsticks that do not rust are used. In Korea and China, spoons and chopsticks are placed vertically, while in Japan they are placed horizontally. When Japanese people place their chopsticks on the table, they place them sideways, parallel to their chest. A traditional Japanese house has a hearth in the center and small, low tables with chopsticks placed horizontally around it. In Korea and China, people often have to sit around a round or large table to eat, so spoons are arranged at tight angles. It was efficient.

In Korea, large families eat together, but chopsticks are not long enough. This is because several tables were prepared separately. Father and eldest son, woman and woman, child and child. So there was no need for long chopsticks. Unlike China or Japan, Korea uses relatively heavy, thin, and slippery metal chopsticks. It is easy to lift a Korean table with a lot of side dishes and pickled vegetables, but it is difficult to lift heavy foods such as meat or flat foods with wooden chopsticks. And those of us who eat seasoned side dished and soup, wooden chopsticks, which are prone to mold, are not suitable. There is a record that around 18BC, in Baekje, a poison test was conducted by inserting a silver chopstick into food to see if its color changed. And in Gaya, technology for producing and refining iron was developed early on, and the country has had the technology to make thin and delicate iron chopsticks for a long time.

One study found that when using chopsticks, the right temporal lode, which is responsible for emotions and memory, was noticeably activated. The reason East Asian people are strong at calculating and dexterous is probably due to the power of chopsticks. Unlike a fork, you need to learn how to use chopsticks. Culture is continuous. If we learn well, we can teach well, and our culture can last.

A SPECIAL HOLIDAY FROM MY COUNTRY

By YoungMi Kim

Sae Hae (Korean New Year) is a special holiday in my country. On the first day of each year, the people in my family from all generations meet together at someone’s house. When we arrive at the house, the younger family members Sei-Bei (bow to) the elders from oldest to youngest, and tell them good wishes for the year to come as we bow. After Sei-Be, the elders give money to the youngest

family members and wish them happiness. We gather to play games like Yut-nori and Hwato (poker). We also eat duk-kgook (rice sticks) and mandou (dumplings). We also go to church as a family. For these reasons, Sae-Hae is my favorite holiday.

THE DIFFERENCE IN P ACE BETWEEN KOREA AND UNITED STATES

By Hyeonlim Lee

Can you imagine issuing a driver's license in 15 minutes? Even no appointment is necessary. In Korea, not only driver's licenses but also many other things, such as ID cards and bank accounts, are processed in a short time. I have never thought about it before. But since I started living in America, one of the most difficult things to get used to was the difference in speed, which felt very slow in restaurants, transportation, and working culture.

The first difference in pace is in the restaurants, which I am still not accustomed to. Unlike the United States, Korea does not have an assigned server, so any waiters can come and take orders. So, waiting for a server doesn't take long. You can also save time by ringing a bell on the table to call an employee without waiting for the assigned server to come near your table or bringing your additional side dishes directly from the self-corner. And food is also made quickly.

You can find the second difference on public transportation. In my case, it takes more than 1 hour to get to SPSCC college by bus, but it only takes 15 minutes by car from my house. I even have to transfer to another bus, and the waiting time for the bus is quite long. Buses are less frequent on the streets here than in Korea. In Korea, buses come every 2 to 10 minutes, and using public transportation is much faster than driving car. Also, various types of transportation such as subways, buses, trains, express trains are widespread.

The third is the working culture. Having worked in Korea, I have aimed to finish a lot of work as quickly as possible. However, what I felt in the United States is that they don't seem to be in a hurry to work. For example, hospitals, banks, and government offices in Korea can handle almost all requests or tasks within 30 minutes. On the contrary, in the United States, I always waited for more than 1 hour and even went back the next day again because things didn't work out that day. But it was surprising that few people seemed to complain about this system.

I'm not complaining about America's slow system. When I think about why Korea has this culture, I could find the answer in its history. South Korea was a very poor country after the Korean War in 1950s.

However, less than 100 years later, the country has shown such rapid economic growth that its global GDP ranking has risen to 14th. The reason why this was possible is because of the large amount of labor of the people. Most of my grandparents and parents' generation worked 12 hours a day, even on weekends to restore the war-torn country. This working habit has become gradually customary, and it has been evaluated as competent to process many tasks in a short period of time. That's why people seem to have come to eat quickly and try to reduce travel time as much as possible. In contrast, the United States is a powerful country that always ranks first in the world's GDP. Americans seem to think that it is a happiness not being pressed for time and spend more time with family and friends. Efforts to live well are good, but I hope that the day will come when Korea lives a little bit of a leisurely life.

COMPARING TRANSPORTATION IN THE US AND SOUTH KOREA

By Eunyoung Maing

Flowers are blooming everywhere; trees are turning green colors. Spring makes us want to travel. If so, how would you like to go? Many Koreans drive their own car, just like Americans do. Also, many Koreans use public transportation. I have noticed significant differences in transportation between South Korea and the US, such as easy access, diversity of options, and convenience.

First, in Korea, there is easy access to the public transportations. For instance, there are many kinds of buses: town buses that only operate neighborhood, regular buses that run with in a city, and intercity buses that connect cities. Also, the type of taxis are regular taxi, owner-driven taxi, deluxe taxi, and company taxi, so we can use public transportations whenever, wherever. In addition, properties near subway stations are more expensive because of their easy access to public transportations. In contrast, in the US, the closer bus stop properties are lower value and access to transportation is poor.

Second, Korea is connected by a variety of public transportation options. For example, if I need to go airport, there are several options. People are taking airport limousine bus, subway, taxi, or own my car. It can also be reached a few public transportation transfers. And, in Seoul city has public bike rental system. It’s available through a dedicated app and costs about $1 per hour to use. Then if we need to go on a business trip to Busan, it takes five hours to drive normally, but we can get there in two and a half hours by a high-speed train called KTX (Korea Train Express)

from Seoul to Busan. On the other hand, the Unites States does not have a variety of options.

The last Korea transportation difference is its convenience. One of the conveniences is that transportation fares are reasonable price, so people feel free to use it. In one study, taxi cost $0.66 for a one-kilometer trip without tips in Korea unlike, the cost $1.68 for a one-kilometer trip plus extra tips in the US. Also, government gives out vouchers for free public transportation for elderly, disabled, lowincome, etc. Some seniors take subway trips in the summer because it’s free, nice, clean, cool air conditioner, and they get to spend time with friends. Moreover, dedicated application makes public transportation easier by letting us know when the bus will arrive and information about taxi drivers for safety. However, a friend of mine needed to go to the hospital in Lakewood, it takes fifteen minutes by car, but she took more than 3 hours by public transportations. In the US, taking public transportation is really difficult.

In conclusion, public transportation in Korea makes it easy for people to get everywhere easily, and conveniently with a variety of options whereas for people in the US, it is hard to get somewhere if they don’t have their own car. It would be nice to have easier access to public transportation in the US.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

By Lynn Paik

What I felt most about living in the United States was the perception of people with disabilities. In Korea, people with disabilities are viewed unfavorably. Of course, this may not be viewed favorably in the United States as well. But I do not think it is that bad. After coming to the U.S. and seeing various situations, I felt that it would be good for Korea to learn from this perspective on the disabled and the elderly. Most people in Korea avoid people with disabilities rather than helping them. It is like something happens if you help. Few people help people with disabilities. I was like that too. In the U.S., the disabled and elderly are considered differently than in South Korea in three noticeable areas: buses, attitudes, and the law.

First, what I felt the most after coming to the United States was that the government stepped in to help people with disabilities. This is because it is the best welfare system for the disabled and the elderly. Korea is not a leisurely country, so buses are not geared toward the disabled and the elderly. What shocked me when I came here was that there was a seat on the bus for people who use wheelchairs. It was also interesting to see that the height of the bus

was lowered and higher to accommodate the elderly or people in wheelchairs. It was also great to see the bus drivers stepping up to help. Compared to the United States, Korea has a classic concept of avoiding the disabled and the elderly. Bus attitudes toward the disabled and the elderly also change depending on the bus driver. In Korea, most people live with an obsession with time. Even I was like that. For office workers who use public transportation, bus times are life-threatening, and buses should not be so slow. The same goes for students, so if you want to pick them up like the disabled or the elderly, they do not act for a long time. What surprised me after coming from the US was how relaxed the drivers were. This is the first time I have seen a bus take more than 15 minutes to come. This shows that the elderly and the disabled are well taken care of. The reason most buses arrived late was because of the elderly and disabled people.

The second, as I said before, Americans have a warm attitude just as they have a good attitude towards the disabled and the elderly. Because Korea is a country where ‘work’ is more important than oneself. Korean people try to get an excellent job to make a lot of money. From an incredibly early age, ‘me’ becomes the most important. Therefore, most people live their lives obsessing over time only to get an excellent job, without caring about anything other than themselves. So, if you want to live your own life, you cannot see the people next to you, so you do not think much about the disabled and the elderly. American culture is good enough, but it also has some bad points. However, Korea is becoming an increasingly individualistic world, to the extent that it has only recently begun to practice consideration for the disabled and the elderly.

The last, in the United States, there is the ADA, an antidiscrimination law against persons with disabilities. ADA is the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was enacted on July 26, 1990. The meaning of this law is that it clearly states the right of disabled people to live freely and fairly in all areas of life. It seems that thanks to this law, people can no longer ignore disabled people and can respect disabled people as they are. Because disabled people were born with human rights, it is natural for them to be treated well. When I saw the ADA, I thought a lot, ‘It would be nice if Korea had a law like that too.’ As I said earlier, Korea is a country that still lacks consideration for the disabled. So, I hope that by enacting a law like ADA, disabled people in Korea can be guaranteed a better life.

In conclusion, the United States is a country where respect and equality for people are fundamental. It is a good country that respects people as they are, no matter what kind of person they are. On the

other hand, Korea is a country where people can receive special treatment if they are exceptional or good at something, but people are looked down upon or criticized if they do not meet those requirements. This is a cultural difference. I felt a lot of cultural differences when I came to the United States, but this was a big cultural difference. I hope that in Korea, like the United States, the views, and attitudes toward the disabled and the elderly will change.

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Son Park

There are many things I miss about my home country. The first thing I miss is my family and friends in Korea. When I move to the United States, I lost my connections to the people I loved. In addition, I miss traditional Korean food and cheap Korean restaurants and street food a lot. Food wise, I really miss the healthy food of the Korean countryside. Third, I miss the huge flea-markets and wetmarkets of Korea. I miss visiting and enjoying myself in the markets. Fourth, I miss the fast speed of health care in Korea. Seeing a specialist in my home country is not a matter of weeks or months –but days. In conclusion, I miss the simpler things about my life in South Korea before immigrating to the United States.

SYRIA

I MISS MY FAMILY

By Nisrin Alfarekh

I miss many things about my country, Syria. I miss my house and sitting with my family. I also miss my friends, my favorite food, and the gathering of brothers and sisters. I also miss my husband’s mother-in-law whom we missed last week. I miss everything: my family, house, friends, food, comforts, and the sound of the call to prayer in mosques.

I MISS MY FAMILY

By

Omar Alfarekh

I miss many things about Syria. I miss my family and friends. I also miss my mother language, my favorite food, my favorite job and everything.

TANZANIA

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Joyner Mnyuku

My name is Joyner. I came to the United States 5 years ago. I like living in the United States. but I miss some things about my country. One thing that I miss about my country is my family and friends. We used to work and laugh together. Another thing I miss about my country is the traditional food. Tanzanian traditional foods taste very good and they are easy to make. I really enjoy living in the United States but I hope to be able to visit my country soon so that I can visit my friends and family, eat traditional food, and laugh together.

THAILAND

MY NOSTALGIA

By Punnisa Rotrattanathara

I miss many things about Thailand. I miss my life in Thailand. I had a career, my friends, festivals and travelling. I also miss my family when they call me and eating with my husband’s parents. Cooking Thai food reminds me of home.

UKRAINE

UKRAINIAN VYSHYVANKA

By Bogdan Grapeniuk

Vyshyvanka is a colorful, hand-embroidered Ukrainian shirt. Worn separately or together with a suit, as festive, patriotic and cult clothing. There are women's and men's patterns. In general, Ukrainian embroidered clothes have a thousand-year history and special patterns in different regions. Each embroidery ornament has its own specific meaning and is passed down from generation to generation. What does the symbol on the embroidery mean? Geometric patterns are the forces of nature and the fertility of the earth. Plants and flowers – family happiness, love, motherhood. Animals – loyalty, longevity, prosperity. Red color –passion, vitality. Green color – rest, nature, prosperity. White color –purity, chastity, perfection.

Once upon a time, vyshyvankas were worn both as everyday clothes and worn on holidays and to church. Today they are worn only at celebrations and holidays. Modern vyshyvanka look aesthetic, effective and stylish. By the way, in 2015, Ukrainian vyshyvanka was presented at Paris Fashion Week. Vogue magazine and Harper's Bazaar wrote about the designer embroidered shirt. In 2016, the Times of London newspaper announced the embroidered jacket as the most popular clothing of the summer. The New York Times also advised readers to buy clothes with embroidered designs. Ukrainian vyshyvanka became an element of the wardrobe of many world stars, such as Demi Moore, Salma Hayek, Lana Del Rey, Claudia Schiffer, Adele, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and others.

Ukrainians celebrate Vyshyvanka Day every year on the third Thursday of May. People wear it to work, to university, to a business meeting or just for a walk. Also, Ukrainians all over the world in vyshyvanka organize flash mobs, concerts, festivals, fairs and photo shoots. Vyshyvanka Day has taken on a special significance right now – in a very difficult time for our people, when Russia is waging an aggressive, cruel and unjust war against Ukraine. Today, Ukrainian vyshyvanka is a popular means of emphasizing a person's belonging to Ukraine. The embroidered shirt became a peculiar symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence. Ukrainian vyshyvanka is the genetic code of a Ukrainian, a talisman and a symbol of the unity of the nation.

AMERICAN WAY

By Olha Kashyna

My name is Olha. I was born many years ago in Kazakhstan, on the territory of the former Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, I moved to live in Ukraine with my older brother. I got married in Ukraine and had a daughter, Alisa. I became a citizen of Ukraine. I lived and worked for 30 years and never thought about moving to the USA. One day, my older brother suggested that I think about moving to America and apply for participation in the US immigration lottery (Green Card). In 2018, I applied for Diversity Visa Program – DV-2020. I had no hopes of winning. But I was lucky, and in May 2019 I learned about winning the lottery. I had to make a decision about my future move to the USA. I didn't have money to move. I didn’t know English and had never been abroad. I was 51 years old and I decided to start a new life in America.

Over the next year I worked hard in Poland, in a factory, in a cafe and in a hotel. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic and quarantine, I was only able to get a visa and fly to the USA in October 2020. I was on a plane from Odessa, Ukraine, to Istanbul, Türkiye, from Istanbul to Chicago, from Chicago to Seattle. To avoid getting lost in huge airports, I made cards with flight names in English. Everything went well and I was met at SeaTac airport by my new employer from Olympia. I agreed on the job in advance via the Internet. I started working as a nanny for a Russian-speaking live-in family. Then there were various care jobs in Russian-speaking families. In January 2021, I enrolled in an ESL program at college. I've been studying at college for four years now. I had to take several driving lessons and pass a driver's license test. It was difficult for me, but I managed. Now I confidently drive my own car. A few years ago, I opened my own eBay store selling clothes and other things online. The business is small, but it helps me learn the language and communicate with customers. In 2023, I had health problems. Medical care in Olympia allows me to successfully maintain my health. I want to get a new specialty - nursing assistant. I want to help elderly and sick people in the USA. I am gradually getting used to American life. I fell in love with America.

ABOUT UKRAINE

By Sandra Tkach

I miss a lot of things about Ukraine. I miss my family and Ukrainian food. I also miss borscht, dumplings, soups, shish kebab and okroshka golobtsi. All this reminds me of my home in Ukraine.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MY HOME COUNTRY

By Bogdana Tsymbal

There are a lot of wonderful places in my home country. For example, the capital of my country is Kiev. This is a very incredible city with its culture and traditions. In this city there are a lot of interesting places. One of these places is Andriyvsky Uzviz. This is one of the oldest streets in Kiev. This street was built in the 19th century. Today Andriyvsky Uzviz is a street-museum. It is one of the attractions of the capital of Ukraine. There are many beautiful architectural houses along this street, on both sides of the street. There are a lot of tourists from different countries in the street. Kiev is a beautiful city with an ancient history. My home country has a lot of wonderful cities, and Kiev is one of the best places.

CULTURE SHOCK - WHAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT THE UNITED STATES

By Iryna Zavrazhnova

Honestly, there are a lot of things that surprised me about the United States. First, Americans are very friendly. I have seen a lot of people from all over the world, and I have listened to different languages. I was impressed by their offering of help even to strangers. I was amazed by the openness of Americans. In addition, the highly developed technological innovations, which are widely used everywhere, amazed me. For example, there is an efficiency of online services which are widely used in various fields. Undoubtedly, the variety of food options impressed me. I saw a lot of big restaurants and a local dinner serving on every corner. In conclusion, the strong sense of community among Americans gives me confidence in the future.

VENEZUELA

AREPA IS GOOD

By Rosa Arzola

My country’s food is the arepa. Here is how to prepare the arepa. Ingredients: 2 ½ cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 cups corn flour. Mix the ingredients. Knead for 2 minutes.

How to prepare the arepa: Divide the dough into small balls and flatten with your hands into circle.

Cook in a griddle or frying pan over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side, slice open lengthwise and add your filling of choice: chicken, cheese, etc.

MY LIFE

By Rosana Garcia Bolivar

My name is Rosanna. I am from Venezuela and I have lived in Tenino for four months. I am studying English because I like to learn. I am happy to return.

MY PATH HASN’T ENDED

By Jose Ramon Rodriguez

I miss a lot of things about Venezuela. I miss my family and my friends. I also miss the food, the culture and speaking in Spanish. Friends from work remind me of home.

THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Gerardo Rodriguez

Venezuela is a wonderful country. People in Venezuela are friendly. It has beautiful places, like beaches, mountains, lakes, and its weather is hot all year. All the time we have sunny days. The winter starts in May until October. November and December are the best months. December is a month for sharing with family. We make in December many delicious foods, like hallacas, baked pork, different salads, made house wines, and the most important, we meet to share. My mom was an excellent cook, and she made delicious food. In Venezuela we listen a lot of Latin music, and of course dancing all night. I missed some of my culture, but I like the culture of the US a lot too. My family are in Venezuela, but they are coming soon.

MY LIFE IN THREE PLACES

By Joselyn Rodriguez Arzola

My name is Joselyn Rodriguez. I am from Venezuela and what I remember most about my country is its family Christmas party. I like the Christmas dish of hallaca, ham bread, pernil and chicken salad. I like to listen to the bagpipes at this time. I also like its beaches and feeling at home. But I enjoy getting to know other places. I lived in Ecuador for 2 years. I like their food, like encebollado and their beautiful places like Cuenca. Now I like in the US. I like the sunny days of spring, I like learning a new language and I’m excited to continue getting to know places here.

VIETNAM

MY FOOD EXPERIENCE IN THE USA

By Anonymous

When you move to another country, it also means you will experience things you have never met before, and some will be shocking to you. In my case, the most shocking thing that I have experienced in the USA is food traditions. There are three aspects of American food tradition. First of all, food is always served in enormous portions. Back in my country, Vietnam, people who know me always said that I have a big stomach. I can eat twice as much as others of the same age. But, in the US, the supersized food is even larger. I still remember the first time I got Pad Thai in the US. I had to struggle to finish my entire dish. It took me a while until I figured out that I could get to go boxes for my meals. The second thing about the US food tradition is that American people really love fast food. The number of fast-food establishments in the United States really impressed me. It is extremely convenient to take an order for fast food. You can walk in or drive through to take an order. You can even order from the fast-food app, pay in advance, and get the food after that. Moreover, the low cost of fast-food makes it is an ideal choice for many Americans. Finally, the concept of food fusion makes the US food traditions more unusual, for example, in Vietnam, the traditional way to make Pho’s broth that I know is boiling the combination of meat, bones, onion, ginger and spices. But, in the US, if the customer is vegetarian, the Pho’s broth can be replaced by a vegetable broth. I was really shocked the first time I heard about that. Overall, experiencing American food tradition can be a fascinating and sometime shocking journey.

VIET NAM AND THE U.S.

By Hao Lu

Viet Nam and the U.S. has differences and similarities about language, culture and ways of life. They are both friendly and drive the car on the right hand side. But they have a lot of differences. The first difference is about languages. Americans like to live alone. Vietnamese like to live crowded with people. The weather is different. In Viet Nam, the weather is hot. But in the U.S., the weather is cold. About the food: Americans always eat hamburgers but Vietnamese always eat rice. Whether you live in Viet Nam or the United States, everyone is so friendly.

VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES

By Hue Ngo

I am from Vietnam. In my country and the United States, people are friendly. They also celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 and New Year’s Day on January 1. People in my country bow, but in the U.S. people shake hands. In my country, at family meals the main foods are rice, fish, meat, and soup. In the U.S., meals include salad, fish, steak, chicken, cheese, and hamburgers. Regarding the weather, in my country there are only two seasons: rainy season and sunny season. In the U.S., there are four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter.

MY FAMILY

By Nha Nguyen

My father s name was Tu Nguyen. He died at age 72. I miss him a lot. He was a nurse and helped many people get better. He was kind to everyone and very smart. He always went to bed at 8:00pm so he could quickly help patients anytime they needed. He listened to them and helped them feel better. My mother is keeping his shirt. The books on the bookshelf in the living room are his. He left good things behind. The day before he died, he told me, “Father is going far, stay strong and healthy.” I try to live well because of his words. My mother s name is Hien Nguyen. She is 85 years old. My older brother and sister live with her. She likes to read books. She reads books every day. She eats only vegetables and makes tasty food. Her favorite food is rice with mushrooms and broccoli. The Ao Dai in the wardrobe in the bedroom is hers. The conical hat hanging on the wall in the bedroom is hers. She wears Ao Dai and a conical hat every Lunar New Year. I love her and call her every night on Facetime.

MY COUNTRY VIETNAM

By Son Nguyen

My name is Son. I’m from Vietnam. I like Vietnamese food like pho, spring rolls and salad rolls. Vietnam has a festival called lunar new year.

I MISS MY COUNTRY

By Huong Pham

I miss a lot of things about Vietnam. I miss travelling in my country and my family. I also miss cooking Vietnamese food, my two cats and drinking tea with my family and friends.

MY COUNTRY

By Oanh Quan

My name is Oanh. I am from Viet Nam. In Viet Nam we have the lunar New Year. New Year’s Eve has a very beautiful fireworks display. In spring the weather is very warm.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCES IN THE U.S.

By Anna Tran

Hi guys, my real name is Anh but please call me Anna! Today I want to share a few things about my own experiences since I moved to the US.

I come from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. My family moved to the US on August 7, 2022. At first, I had a hard time adapting because my English was not good and I had to start all over again in life. I was under a lot of pressure about study, work and family. You know, there was a time when I thought about dying when I was feeling extremely stressed and that was also the first time I wanted to give up on everything.

I used to be an independent girl, having my own business with my passion and being able to take care of my family. But I left and stopped everything to move with my family to live in America and I have nothing here. I have to go to school and work part-time after that, feeling quite tired but I have to motivate myself to try. I started learning English again at SPSCC from level 3 because my English is not good. I don't understand when communicating with someone because they speak too fast and I don't know what vocabulary they are talking about. After a few courses, I can assess myself that I have improved a lot compared to before and most especially, I have more friends from many other countries.

After school, I drive to work. I work part-time at a nail salon with my mother. At first, this job was very stressful because it has to follow

the wishes of the customer. Sometimes there are some extremely difficult customers and it makes me tired to the point of exhaustion. As time goes by, I am now used to working at the nail salon and feel it is fine and not heavy. My colleagues are also very friendly and help each other during working hours. But most importantly, working at a nail salon makes it easy for me to arrange time to go to school and also have more money to spend for myself.

The coming fall in 2023 is also the time when I will start college, and I have chosen to major in software development. I hope I will always be strong enough to keep trying, hope I can confidently communicate in English better every day with everyone here.

Last week, I flew to Massachusetts and New York. I went to the University of Massachusetts Lowell to attend my boyfriend's graduation and spent a few days there with him and his family. It felt great to see him in his graduation gown. Then we went to New York together by bus and experienced many new things here. My boyfriend is also an old classmate; we have known each other since high school when we were in Vietnam around 2010 or 2011. He moved to the US to live with his family in 2013. I was surprised when he confessed the first day we talked again when he found out that I had moved to America. Small hint, he actually liked me since high school. Now he wants to have a serious long-term relationship because he wants to get married after I finish two years of college. I fell in love with him and then I told him "If I had known that I would love you so much now, I would have loved you since we were in high school."

There are unexpected things that happen that we don't know in advance, so let's always believe that everything will be okay. It's lucky that I didn't give up when I was desperate. Work and study hard, set goals to do, don't give up and always smile! I believe you will do it and be successful.

MY LIFE

By Giao Trinh

My name is Giao. I’m from Vietnam. I like pho. There are many kinds of pho. Chicken pho, beef pho, pho roll … Vietnam is famous for bolere music and love music. Vietnam also has many temples and churches. Vietnam also has many places to travel as well as many different cultures of the ethnic groups.

MY COUNTRY

By Huy Trinh

My name is Huy. I am from Viet Nam. I like pho and bun bo hue, it’s very delicious. There are types of pho and bun bo hue and banh mi. There are many types of foods. Viet Nam is also famous for pop music and rock and dance.

MY COUNTRY AND LIFE

By Loan Trinh

My name is Loan. I am from Viet Nam. I like pho because it’s very delicious. There are many types of bread. Viet Nam is also famous for temples and in Viet Nam, there are many types of music. I am studying English to find a job.

THE FOOD IN VIETNAM

By Hang Truong

Hi everyone, my name is Hang and I am from Vietnam. My country is known for many beautiful places to travel to or discover, such as Ha Long Bay, Hanoi capital, Son Doong Cave and Phu Quoc Island. But today, I want to introduce the food in Vietnam that makes you feel interesting. Pho and Banh Mi are already known to many people, so I want to suggest a few other delicious dishes when you travel in Vietnam.

First, the delicious food in the North of Vietnam that will make you fascinates by frugal flavors such as: Bun cha ca (grilled chopped fish), Nem Cua Be (grab spring roll), Xoi Cha Muc (squid sticky rice) ... The special food is Bun Dau Mam Tom, it is good and has a strong smell but if you can eat it, I think it will be one of your favorite foods. Second, the food in the central region has stronger, sourer, and spicier flavors. The famous food in here is Mi Quang (Quang noodle), Cao Lau (Cao Lau noodle soup), Chao Luon Nghe An (ell congee) and Vietnamese corn sweet soup. In central region of Vietnam, it also has many beautiful beaches and interesting place can make you feel better. Next is the food in South of Vietnam, this is where are many delicious dishes as well as street food that young people like such as Com Tam (Vietnamese broken rice), Goi Ca Trich (Vietnamese herring salad), Banh Trang Tron (rice paper salad), Pha Lau (organ meat banh mi). This is also the famous place for horror dishes like Duong Dua Cham Mam (coconut worm with fish sauce), Chuot Dong Nuong Lu (grilled field mice). If you do not feel scared, try these dishes once in your life. Finally, the food in Western of Vietnam is known sweet food and seafood hotpot such as Lau Ca Keo (spiny goby hotpot), Lau

Mam (hotpot with fermented fish), Pia cake, Coconut candy, and more.

This is just one of the many delicious dishes in Vietnam that I can recommend to you. If you have a vacation, you can visit Vietnam to try them. And if you worry about your language, in Vietnam, there are many people who speak English very well and fluently. I think each trip will be a memorable experience. I believe you will find more things that are interesting in my country if you visit there.

THE DIFFERENT CULTURES OF EDUCATION BETWEEN VIET NAM AND THE U.S.

By Chau Tue Vu

Education is the most necessary one on the world. It brings humans knowledges, skills and character traits and manifests in various forms. However, every country has their own culture that is different to each other in the way they bring education to people in their country. There are a lot of differences in the education between the U.S. and Viet Nam. But the most noticeable difference can be seen in uniform, time schedule and lessons in the middle schools.

The first difference is uniforms. In many schools, in Viet Nam, students have to wear uniform every day, even when they study in public or private school. Both boys and girls wear white shirt with long dark blue pants. However, some private school has their own uniform with other color. Although students in the U.S. also wear uniform if they are in private school, they do not need to do it if their school is public. They can wear any color, any kind of clothes or whatever they want as long as it is polite. It shows that students in the U.S. can show their personality by the clothes that they wear; one thing which Vietnamese students cannot do.

Second, many students in Viet Nam almost spend their time at school more than time at home. They go to school every six days per week, even on Saturday. The class begins from 7:00 am to 11:25 am in the morning and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm in the afternoon. Anyway, they still have ten minutes for break time between each subject. Although they spend all day at school, some students still take the extra classes at night, such as Math, Chemistry, Physical and English. On the other hand, time schedule of many American students seem not really busy like Vietnamese students. They start study at 7:30 am and finish at 2:45 pm from Monday to Friday, no class on Saturday and Sunday. Moreover, students still have time for lunch at school about forty-five minutes every day; it is also their break time. Therefore, when they get home early they can have more time for

relaxing, doing sports, and doing homework, and they also can prepare the lessons for tomorrow carefully.

The last one is about the lessons. In Viet Nam, students in the middle school have to learn fifteen subjects in a week, include in Music and Art. They are taught about five subjects per day, each one takes about forty-five minutes. In addition, the teachers teach more theory than practice; therefore, students just need to learn by heart without understanding the lessons; also some students will lose their knowledge if they do not remember the theory. Unlike Viet Nam, students in the U.S. just need to learn about Core subjects and Electives. Core classes include in Math, Science and ELA. Specially, electives are optional course within an academic program that students can select based on their interests and objectives. Anyway, students still do homework when they get home; or when they are still at school if they can. Doing homework means that students can understand the lessons deeply and helps them remember the lessons longer. As you can see, in the U.S., students can be free in select their subjects based on their interests and objectives while students in Viet Nam have to learn a lot of subjects in the middle school.

To summarize, there are a lot of differences about the education between the U.S. and Viet Nam. However, the differences will give the education all over the world more variety that every country can learn from each other.

A BOUT THE A UTHORS

Abaga Angue, Vincente Rafael Mengue – Vincente lives in Lacey, WA. He’s a cleaner at the Trader Joe’s warehouse. He has been studying English for a month. He has lived in the U.S. for a year.

Agudelo, Gabriel – Gabriel lives in Olympia. He plays soccer. He likes to read.

Aguilera Duarte, Alexis Raúl – Alexis has lived in Lacey for 8 months. He works as a cook in a Mexican restaurant. It is not easy at all, but there are opportunities that arise. He has been studying English for approximately 1 year, during which he has learned a lot.

Ahmadi, Marwa – Marwa is from Afghanistan, but now lives in Olympia. She likes to listen to music and play with her nephew. She has been studying English for two years.

Ahmadi, Sonam – Sonam lives in Olympia, and she is a student. She wants to continue her career to become a doctor. She has been in Olympia for a year.

Alfarekh, Nisrin – Nisrin lives in Olympia. She likes to study the language and master is so that she can work and rely on herself. She has been studying English for seven months. She has lived in the United States for eleven months.

Alfarekh, Omar – Omar lives in Olympia. He likes to work as a carpenter. He has been studying English for seven months. He has lived in the United States for eleven months.

Almanzar Girón, Celeste – Celeste lives in Olympia. She is currently taking care of her family and the home. She likes to study, read, spend time with her family, and watch movies. She has been studying English for 5 months. She has been in the United States for almost 7 months.

Alomia Vega, Isabel – Isabel is from Medellin, Colombia. She has lived in Olympia since September 2023. She lives here with a host family, but her real family lives in Colombia. She has 4 siblings and a father. She doesn’t have a mother. She enjoys fishing, reading (mystery), hiking, and traveling around the Washington state and United States in her free time.

Arzola, Rosa – Rosa lives in Washington. She works in a laundry room in a hotel. She likes to travel.

Avila, Alberto Villana – Alberto lives in Tumwater. He has been here in this area since 2001. He isn’t working now because of a work accident, so he is going to school to learn more English, hoping it will help him when he is able to work. He has been in school for 8 months.

Ba, Saliou – Saliou lives in Olympia. He likes to invest in his country. He has been studying English for three months. He has lived in the United States for seven months.

Barat, Feerozan – Feerozan lives in Olympia. It has been two years since she came to America. She is studying in class to learn the language faster.

Bartlette, Jenni Lee – Jenni lives in Lacey. She likes to paint with oil on canvas. She’s been studying English for 5 months. Her husband is in the military, so he’s around every 2-3 years. She’s lived here for two years. She went to Korea when her husband worked in the army. She came back to the U.S. last year.

Bernabe – Bernabe lives in Tumwater. He works in the field on a plantation. He likes the plantation.

Bi, Yajie – Yajie lives in Olympia. She has lived here for two years.

Cai, Olivia Mengen – Olivia is from China. She has lived in Olympia for two months. She is studying English because she has a Music major. She is a pianist.

Calvo, Alejandro – Alejandro lives in Olympia. He works for a cleaning service. He likes to play soccer.

Can, Qiu – Can Qiu lives in Olympia. She likes joy.

Chavez, Sandra – Sandra is from Mexico. She is a student at the local community college SPSCC in the morning. She has a job in the afternoons. She enjoys watching movies with her family in her free time. She also likes to cook and listen to music.

Chen, Zhijing – Zhijing lives in Lacey. She is a caregiver. She likes going to the beach. She has been studying English four months. She has lived in the United States for 1 year.

Choi, Changyeol – Changyeol is from Korea. He has been married for twenty-two years, and has two daughters. In his free time, he likes to play tennis and watch baseball.

Cruz -Martinez, Wendy – Wendy is from Mexico. She has been living in the United States for four years. In her free time, she enjoys learning how to cook new things.

Coste, Irina Andreea – Irina is from Romania. She has been living with her family in Washington since September last year. In her free time, she likes to swim and play tennis; also she likes to dance.

Dominguez, Ana – Ana is from Mexico and has been living in Washington for 28 years. She likes hiking with her family. She tries not to lose her Mexican traditions. She likes traveling to Mexico with her children. She likes to get her family together on Sunday and have BBQ.

Espinosa Rocha, Felipe – Felipe has lived in Olympia for 2 months. He likes to exercise.

Esquivel, Hilda – Hilda lives in Olympia.

Esteban, Lucia (Lucy) – Lucy is from Guatemala. She likes to spend time with her family. She loves to travel and she has been studying English at SPSCC for two quarters.

Florez, Ereida – Ereida lives in the USA. She likes to walk and share with her family. She has been studying English for one month. She has lived in the United States for 8 months.

Fornos, Roger – Roger is from Nicaragua. He has been living in Olympia for six months. He works with environmentally friendly bees. His dream is to create his own company.

Garcia, Jose J – Jose is originally from Mexico. He enjoys skating and playing racquetball in his free time. He also enjoys riding motorcycles.

Garcia Arguello , Maria – Maria is from Mexico. She’s lived in Olympia for 1 year. She’s studying English because she wants a career.

Garcia Bolivar, Rosana – Rosana lives in Tenino. She has two jobs. She delivers food and works online starting her own business. She likes to hike and do yoga. She has been studying English for six months. She has lived in the U.S. for four years. She is very grateful for the opportunities that this great country has given her.

Grapeniuk, Bogdan – Bogdan as born in the mountainous region of Transcarpathia, Ukraine. He received a higher legal education, then worked as a lawyer in business protection. In 2022, he was forced to migrate to the USA. He is married and is raising a son. Bogdan is a student at SPSCC in Olympia. He is fond of drawing, cars and loves to travel.

Gomez, Yulisa – Yulisa is from Guatemala. She has been living in the United State for 4 years, and she has been studying English for almost 2 years. She likes playing soccer and hiking.

Gonzalez, Lupitha – Lupitha lives in Lacey. She works. She likes to listen to music.

Herrera, Carlos – Carlos lives in Lacey. He likes football.

Hu, Yequi – Yequi lives in Lacey. He writes at home. He likes to play tennis, swim and play the piano. He has been studying English for one year. He has lived in the US for a year and a half.

Huit Perez, Cristopher – Cristopher lives in Tumwater. He likes the country, the summer, its landscapes and watching soccer. He has been studying English for one year and one month. He has lived in the United States for one year.

Intriago, Karla – Karla is From Portoviejo, Ecuador. She has lived in Olympia since 2023. She is learning English at SPSCC. She likes traveling, listening to the music, dancing, going out with his friends, and loves animals.

Jang, Miyeong – Miyeong lives in Lacey. She came here last year. She has a husband and two children. She likes to cook. She’s not working now. She’s been studying English for 8 months. She is still learning English and trying every day.

Jimenez, Jeydi – Jeydi is from Mexico. She has lived in Olympia, Washington since 2006. She loves cooking and spending time with her kids. She enjoys seeing the sunset in summertime.

Juana – Juana lives in Tumwater. She is a student. She cleans houses for work.

Kashiwamata, Tsukasa – Tsukasa is from Japan. She has been living in United States for about one year. All of her family lives in Japan. She lives with her husband and mother-in-law. She could speak almost nothing in English when she moved here. Painting, coffee in the morning, and talking with her husband are her favorite time.

Kashyna, Olha – Olha is originally from Ukraine, but currently lives in Olympia. She’s working as a caregiver because she likes helping people. She wants to be an assistant nurse. She likes cooking. She has studied English for 3 years. She has lived in the U.S. since 2020.

Kediye, Noor Farah – Noor lives in Olympia. He likes to work and likes America. He has been studying English for one quarter. He has lived in the United States for two months.

Kim, Hae Mi – Hae Mi is from South Korea.

Kim, YoungMi – YoungMi is from South Korea. She lived in New York, California and Oregon before moving to Olympia, Washington where she has lived for 15 years. In the future, she would like to have a job where she can help people.

Lee, Hyeonlim – Hyeonlim is from South Korea and has only been in the U.S. for four months. She lives with her husband and is enjoying learning about the new culture of the U.S.

Lei, Muchang – Muchang is from China. She has been living in Olympia, Washington for four and half years. In her free time, she likes to listen to music.

Lepcha, Jongmu – Jongmu is from India. She has been studying English for 5 months. In her free time she likes to do gardening and sometimes go hiking and biking.

Li, Anqi – Anqi lives in Olympia. She likes sleeping, eating, doing exercise, listening to music or the radio, and playing computer games. She came to the United States 3 months ago. She likes it here because everyone is different and everything is new, but she also misses China, her family, her friends, and Chinese food.

Lu, Hao – Hao is from Viet Nam. He lives in Olympia, WA. He likes to go to the beach in the summer. He has been studying English for about two quarters. He has lived in the U.S. for about one year.

Maing, Eunyoung – Eunyoung is from South Korea. She has lived in WA for 10 months. She lives with husband, a daughter, and a dog. She enjoys watching Korean TV shows, and walking with her dog.

Martinez, Brenda – Brenda lives in Lacey. She is a cook. She likes to listen to music. She has been studying English for 7 months. She has been living in the United States for a year.

Martinez, Juan – Juan is from Mexico City, Mexico. He has been living in Washington for seven years. In his free time, he likes to go finishing and to the movie theater with his wife.

Mendoza, Janeth – Janeth is from Toluca, Mexico. She has lived in the United States since 2011. She is married and has two beautiful kids. She enjoys walks with her dog.

Mesa Espino, Ariel – Ariel lives in Olympia. He works in a plastic manufacturing company. He likes to exercise. He has been studying English for 5 months and has been in the United States for almost 7 months.

Mnyuku, Joyner – Joyner is from Tanzania. She has been living in Olympia, Washington for five years. She likes to swim and eat at the Ramada hotel in her free time.

Mugisho, Lickson – Lickson lives in Olympia. He works in Tacoma. He likes reading story books and watching TV shows. He has been studying English for four months. He is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and he has lived in the United States for six months.

Munoz, Luzmila – Luzmila lives in Washington. She is from Colombia.

Ndiaye, Sokhna Diarra Bousso – Diarra lives in Olympia. She likes to work hard to prepare for her future. She has been studying English since April 2024. She has lived in the United States for seven months.

Ngo, Hue – Hue lives in Olympia. She’s a nail and eyelash technician. She likes to cook, clean and play with her daughter. She’s been studying English for 2 months and has lived in the United States since 2022.

Nguyen, Nha – Nha lives in Lacey. She likes to walk, run, swim, sing, listen to music and more.

Nieto, Jesica – Jessica has parents who live in Mexico. Their names are Gloria and Jose. Her brother is Jose and her sister is Maricela. She lives with her husband and her daughter in Yelm, Washington.

Nieto, Maricela – Maricela’s nationality is Mexican. She lives with her family.

Nyamucho, Grace – Grace lives in Lacey. She likes to watch movies and read and write. She has been studying English for 9 months. She has lived in the United States for 3 months.

Nyirabakunzi, Patience – Patience lives in Lacey. She likes the weather and cooking. She has been studying English for one year. She has lived in the United States for eleven months.

Mora, Andres – Andres grew up in Michoacan Mexico. He works in a restaurant and he is an ESOL student at SPSCC. Andres enjoys dancing, walking and listening to music.

Oneill, Marie Jo C. – Marie Jo lives in Olympia. She likes walking. She’s been here for 3 months. She’s been studying English for 2 months.

Ortiz, Juana Iris – Iris is from Mexico City, Mexico. She has been living in Washington for a year. She enjoys spending time with her daughters in her free time.

Ortiz, Juliana – Juliana lives in Olympia. She works in a restaurant. She likes music. She has been studying English for 3 months. She has been in the United States for 4 years.

Ortiz Machacon, Alfonzo – Alfonzo is from Colombia. He lives with his wife and daughters. He likes to eat sea food, and he celebrates the 20th of July.

Osman, Sebaha – Sebaha lives in Olympia. She has lived here since March 6. She studied English for two years in Kenya and has studied at SPSCC for two months.

Padilla, Jennifer – Jennifer lives in Olympia. She works as a cook. She likes to spend time with her family in her free time. Jennifer has been studying English for one year and six months and has been living in the United States for two years.

Paik, Lynn – Lynn is from South Korea. She has lived here for nine months. Her family consists of four people: Mom, Dad, herself, and Hosun, the flying squirrel. In her free time, she sometimes reads Korean books; sometimes she reads original English books; sometimes she goes out with friends, and sometimes she spends her free time looking at the sky and listening to songs.

Park, Son – Son has lived in Lacey for 24 years. Now, she is retired and goes to school and does hobbies. She enjoys making food. Sometimes she spends time with her children and enjoys walking her dog.

Paschoal, Juniely – Juniely lives in Olympia. She has been living in the United States for two and a half years. She has been studying English for two years. She is passionate about travel, nature, and photography.

Payán, Mildred – Mildred is from Nicaragua. She has been living in Olympia for six months. She is happy talking and playing with her children in her free time.

Pedrozo, Dorys – Dorys is originally from Colombia. She is currently studying in ESOL Level 5 at South Puget Sound Community College.

Penaloza -Gomez, Anabel – Anabel’s nationality is Mexican. Her favorite custom is to give offerings of food on the Day of the Dead. She has two siblings.

Perete, Beatriz – Beatriz lives in Olympia. She works for a cleaning service. She likes to listen to music.

Pham, Huong – Huong lives in Olympia. She likes summer and lots of green trees and studying English. She has been studying English for two months.

Plasido -Cruz, Misael – Misael has lived in Olympia, WA, since 2006. He has worked in many places such as restaurants, yard maintenance, and construction. His current job is a carpet cleaner. He likes to spend his time with his kids, and, also, he enjoys visiting parks around the area. He has been studying ESL for two years.

Ramirez, Catalina – Catalina is originally from Mexico. She is currently studying ESOL Level 5 at South Puget Sound Community College.

Ramirez, Jesus Adrian – Jesus lives in Lacey. He likes the rainy weather and the trees. He has been studying English so he can learn, speak, and read. He has lived in the United States for two years.

Ramos Francisco, Ramos B – Francisco lives in Tumwater. He works in the field. He likes to fish. He has been studying English for 1 year. He has lived in the US for a long time.

Robledo Muñoz, Sandra Luz – Sandra lives in Lacey. She works as a cook in a restaurant. In her free time she goes for a walk in the park if the day is nice or goes shopping. She only recently started studying English. She came to this beautiful country 7 years ago.

Rodriguez, Amelia – Amelia is from Mexico.

Rodriguez, Gerardo – Gerardo has lived in Lacey since March 30, 2023. He has been working at El Sarape Restaurant since he arrived here. He is a cook there. He feels so happy when he is in the kitchen. He likes studying a lot, but he still does not speak English very well. He studies and talks to his family in his free time. He is happy living in the United States. In this country he has many opportunities to study and to work. He can help his family. His family is living in Venezuela right now, but he wants to bring them here soon. He likes to go to Seattle because he likes the big city. He likes American food, and he would like to have his own restaurant.

Rodriguez, Jose Ramon – Jose lives in Olympia. He likes to work in one of his professions in the agricultural branch. He has been studying English for two months. He has lived in the United States for six months.

Rodriguez -Alvares, Mariana – Mariana is from a small town in Costa Rica. She loves being in this country and has been studying English for almost 2 years. She believes every day is a new opportunity to learn.

Rodriguez Arzola, Joselyn – Joselyn lives in Olympia, Washington in the US. She works in a hotel. She likes getting to know places here.

Rodriguez De Herrera, Irma – Irma lives in Lacey. She doesn’t work. She likes to cook. She studies English for 6 years. She’s lived in the U.S. for 8 months.

Rotrattanathara, Punnisa – Punnisa lives in Lacey. She likes to learn about different cultures. She has been studying English for 13.5 years. She has lived in the United States for six months.

Rovech, Rortos – Rortos lives in Olympia. Her job is picking fruit. She likes cooking. She has been studying English for one year and has lived in the United States for three years.

Samayoa Mena, Ali Jose – Ali is from Nicaragua. He has lived here for 10 months. He likes to work out and exercise at gym. He also likes to swim.

Sanchez, Cecilia – Cecilia is from Mexico and has lived in Yelm for 10 months. She doesn’t work. She has been studying English for 9 months. She enjoys going for coffee with good company.

Sanchez, Rosa – Rosa has two children. Their names are Christopher and Yosselin. She has a husband too.

Santos -Silva, Ana Paula – Ana is originally from Brazil. She really has liked to write ever since she was in high school. She learned English by herself playing videogames and watching movies and TV shows. She has been living in the United States for one year.

Shulaev, Pavel – Pavel is from St. Petersburg, Russia. He grew up in the South region of Russia and graduated high school and then University. His work experience is more than 25 years. He left his country in 2023. He has lived in the U.S. since August 2023. Now, he is working in a greenhouse and learning English in SPSCC. He is very happy to live and work here and is grateful to this country for this opportunity.

Somina, Olga – Olga was born in 1983 in Ukraine. But since she was born when it was still the Soviet Union, Russian traditions were prioritized. She moved to the USA in 2014.

Sophea – Sophea likes to study with her teacher. Her teacher teaches very well.

Sosa, Dafne – Dafne Sosa arrived in the United States in 2024. She had lived in Mexico with her family. What she misses most about his country is his cousin Yuzu. She enjoys studying English and dreams of being able to speak fluently.

Sou, Safira – Safira is from Cambodia. She has lived in Olympia for 3 years. She is studying English because she wants to get better in communication and improve her listening, reading, speaking and writing for her future.

Tan, Dong Ju – Dong Ju lives in Lacey. She doesn’t work now. She likes to cook. She has studied English for more than a year. She has lived in the U.S. for more than a year.

Thiaw, Seydina Issa Laye – Issa is from Senegal, and he lives in Lacey. He has been in the United States for 5 months. He has studied English at SPSCC since April 2024. He likes to play soccer and go to the gym. In his free time, he likes to watch movies and read books.

Tkach, Sandra – Sandra likes cross stitch and sports. She has lived in the United States for nine months.

Torres, Anai – Anai lives in Olympia, WA. She doesn’t work at the moment, but she’s studying English and wants to graduate as a nurse. She’s been here for 16 years.

Trinh, Huy – Huy lives in Lacey. He is a student. He likes computers. He has been studying English for two months. He’s lived in Lacey for one year.

Trinh, Loan – Loan lives in Lacey. She is a student. She has been studying English for two months. She has lived in Lacey for one year.

Trinh, Giao – Giao lives in Lacey. She is a student. She likes to listen to music and travel. She has studied English for two months. She has lived in Lacey for one year.

Truong, Hang – Hang comes from Vietnam and now she is living in Olympia, Washington. She is an international student and has been studying at SPSCC since April 2024. She likes watching TV and drinking boba. She usually goes to the market or hangs out with her friends when she has free time.

Tsymbal, Bogdana – Bogdana lives in Lacey, Washington. She is from Ukraine and has lived in the USA since 2022. She is a volunteer who helps women. She likes to study English. She also likes the nature of Washington State.

Valladares, Cindy – Cindy lives in Olympia. She has lived in the United States for two years.

Vidal De Oro, Karina – Karina lives in Olympia. She has lived in the United States for one year. She likes to ride her bicycle and walk outdoors.

Villicana, Evelin – Evelin lives in Olympia. She is a student. She likes the scenery in Washington.

Vu, Chau Tue – Chau is from Viet Nam. You can call her Tue. She moved to the U.S. in November, 2023. She likes listening to music and driving around Olympia in her free time.

Wang, Yan Mei – Yan Mei’s current home is in Olympia. She likes the design and promotion of life aesthetics. She has been learning English for less than half a year. She has been in the United States for four years.

Warren, Mirna – Mirna is from Honduras. She enjoys her family, gardening and hiking.

Weng, Tiffany – Tiffany is from Guangdong Province, China. She has come to the United States since April 2024. She is an international student in at SPSCC. Her hobbies are walking, listening to music, and drawing in her free time.

Ye, Yuan – Yuan lives in Olympia. She has been studying English at SPSCC for one quarter.

Yeimi – Yeimi lives in Lacey. She likes to spend time with her daughters, go to the park, and go to the library. She has been studying for one month. Yeimi hopes to get her high school diploma.

Zavrazhnova, Iryna – Iryna lives in Tumwater. She is from Ukraine. She works at Korean Woman Association as a caregiver. She has been studying English since 2023. She likes reading books in her free time.