Student Employee Blog Entries
THE PERSON I MOST ADMIRE
Sade, by Shade Mahabeer
The person whom I idolize is Sade, whose
birth name is Helen Folasade Adu. Sade is a Nigerian singer who is well known
for her all time classic, “Smooth Operator.”
Sade was born on January 16, 1959 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Sade
was a Nigerian born but was raised in England with her mother and grandmother.
After high school Sade then went into fashion at Saint Martin’s School of Art.
Before she rose to fame she was a backup singer for a local British band called
pride, which she was performing with Stuart Mathewman. Long after, her voice was recognized when she
debuted her first hit, “Smooth Operator, “and producers signed her
immediately. Sade then went on and
released several albums, and they all did very well. The reason why I Idolize
this person is because she is greatly
respected in the industry, and when people say her name they are
delighted to speak of the great music that she has created throughout her
years. Another great reason why I
idolize this person is because we both have the same name. I love my name
because of the wonderful person that also has the same name as me. My dream
goal is to meet her one day.
Dawda Jawara, by Sanusi Touray
When I was
young, I thought my father was the only person whom I admired because of the
good things he had done for us and other people in my country, Gambia.
However, when I was in my twenties, I realized that our former president called
Dawda Jawara is the person I admired for his good thirty years of presidency.
The several reasons why I admired him are because of his kindness towards the
people, honesty with the public funds, and his beautiful personality. First,
Dawda Jawara’s kindness was one the reasons why people of the Gambia elected
him for thirty years. To illustrate, most Gambians depend on agriculture, which
is our main back bone of our economy. Dawada Jawara would take his vacation
during the farming season and go to the villages to help the farmers in their
fields. In addition, after the farming season, he would make sure all the crops
from the farmers are purchased by the government. Therefore, the farmers didn’t
have to struggle to sell their products at the market because he wanted them to
live a comfortable life. As a result, the villages started having some developments
such as, roads, schools, and hospitals. Second, honesty with the public fund
was another reason why we admired Dawda Jawara. For example, when we became
independent in 1965, there was only one high school in the Gambia, built by the
British colonist. Dawada Jawara’s first project as president was focused in
building more high schools across the country. As a result, the Gambian people
started to further their education and later could travel to other countries
such as, England, America and Sweden to achieve their degree or masters.
Moreover, he used to take the tax payer’s money and build one of the most
important roads across the country, which enhanced the movement of goods and
services. Finally, his beautiful personality during his administration was
another reason why people of the Gambia voted for him to stay in power for
thirty years. For instance, even though he was the president, he used to walk
in people’s house and surprise them with gifts. Also, he used to invite people
to the state house to meet with him and tell him their personal problems. He
was not only admired by the people of the Gambia, but he was admired by the
outside world as well. To illustrate, he was always invited by the Queen of
England to attend many occasions at the royal castle. Because of his beautiful
personality, He was a friend of George Bush and the King of Saudi Arabi. As a
result, before he was overthrown in 1994, he was knighted by the Queen of
England as Sir Dawada Jawara. To conclude, being of the smallest country in the
whole world, Sir Dawada Jawara’s beautiful personality,
kindness, and honesty have made the world know Gambia as the smiling coast of Africa.
Ravi Shankar, by Manijeh Ahmadi Bidhendi
“Pluralism and embracing people of all cultures
should be part of our education. The multicultural, multi-religious fabric is
the glory and beauty of the
planet.” -- Ravi
Shankar
Although
there are many unknown people who seek and work to promote human welfare and
compassion in this chaotic world, I admire one of the most popular spiritual
leaders, humanitarian activist, and ambassador for peace, Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar. Born in May 1956 in southern India, Ravi
Shankar is the creator of “the Art of Living” foundation in 1981, which aims to relieve individual stress, societal
problems, and violence. In 1997, he established a Geneva-based charity, the
International Association for Human Values, an NGO that engages in relief work
and rural development in order to foster shared global values. He has also received some of the highest awards
of several countries including India, Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay.
Relying on ancient wisdom, he creates new techniques for
personal and social transformation. Shankar says that as every
emotion has a corresponding rhythm in the breath, regulating the breath can
help elevate the individual and help relieve personal suffering. In the beginning of 1980s, Shankar initiated a series
of practical and experiential courses in spirituality around the globe.
The rhythmic breathing practice, Sudarshan Kriya
inspired him as a poem after 10 days of silence. In 1983, Shankar held
the first “Art of Living” course in Switzerland. In
1986, he travelled to conduct the first course in Apple Valley, California in the U.S.
Today the happiness programs are already held in more than 160 countries around
the world. He believes
that spirituality enhances human values, love, compassion and enthusiasm. The spiritual
bonds among people of diverse cultures and religions is more prominent than
nationality, gender, religion, profession, or other identities that separate
us. Ravi Shankar asserts that "Violence-free society, disease-free body,
quiver-free breath, confusion-free mind, inhibition-free intellect, trauma-free
memory, and sorrow-free soul are the birthright of every human being."
TALES OF TRAVEL
Ruth Njike's Visit to Miami
The last spring break gave me the
opportunity to make one of my dreams come true. In fact, I have always wished
to visit the sea side town of Miami. For one week I toured Miami, visited games
park, and beautiful landscapes. We visited Magic Kingdom which was very
amazing. I was very excited to play scary games such as Space Mountain and
Splash Mountain. Also, we went out for dinner in a restaurant.
The invitation came from a relative
who lives there; as he was off for a month, he asked me to come if ever I was
free. I was extremely happy; I could not express my feelings in words.
My mind started reflecting what I
could do over there; a broad smile overtook my face. I prepared my little bag;
the plane took off at 7pm and landed at 10pm.
It was windy and a little bit cold
because it was spring, but I was wearing t-shirt and jeans so I felt comfortable.
My friend came to pick me up at the airport; I was curious to learn about the
town and the people living in Miami.
I met a lot of friends and they
expressed happiness for my coming. The next day after my arrival, we boarded a
boat tour; it was the most wonderful experience I ever had. The day passed and
my adventure was over: I returned to Maryland with my mind full of joy and
satisfaction.
Ruth Nicuoe's Travel Plans
I
always love to travel, and if I can do that for a living my dream will come
true. Let me first explain where this passion came from. My father has
travelled everywhere for his job or for pleasure. When I was a child, he used
to bring me a little souvenir from the places he visited. Those little presents
fed my curiosity and my love for trips while growing up, and the stories that
followed them have reinforced my desire to visit every single place like my
father did. The place I have dreamed to visit is Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
because of its famous Carnival. The first time I heard about it, I was 10 years
old, and my father gave me a shirt with the image of exotic birds. He told me
that he assisted a float during the carnival, and the way he was describing the
colors and the landscapes made me desire to be in his place and witness this
event. I could imagine myself there with the different colors: green, yellow,
red and blue. Women wearing outfits with fake feathers dancing and singing
while thousands of tourists were surrounding them. In my native country, Benin,
celebrating every event is in our culture, so my fascination with this festival
was logical. In addition, I would like to go to Rio de Janeiro and see for the
first time the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer and assist during the
festival. I would like to hear the music of the samba and see the complicated choreographies
executed by the dancers. I am very curious by nature, and this trip would be
the opportunity for me to taste typical Brazilian foods like the Feijoada (a
dish made of different grilled bovine fillet) and the Farofa with French fries.
Finally, I would also be glad to visit Brazil’s famous beach and take photos
and videos of this amazing country.
Phuong's Travel Plans
I love traveling,
and the very first place I want to visit is Japan. Japan is an island nation in Pacific Ocean
with famous Fuji Mount, valuable culture, and eye catching FOOD. I plan to
visit Japan between March and May when the temperatures are mild and skies are
clear. This is also the blooming time of
some flowers likes cherry blossom, tulip, pink mossy, and wisteria. I can enjoy my vacation time by watching
flower fields in Tokyo or Hokkaido. Moreover,
I can’t help viewing the Fuji Mount as well.
In my eyes, Japan
is both a traditional and modern country.
One day, when I arrive at Japan, I would like to see the Japanese architecture style temples and house,
which are made of wood and keep Japanese safe from frequent earthquakes.
Furthermore, I
have an interest in some produce that are handmade such as kimono, dolls, book,
or home furniture as well.
Being
the developed country, Japan is the world of vending machines, it is not hard
to find them, which are selling candy, coke or even “crazy things” likes noodle
or ramen, necktie, and vegetables. One
day, I want to buy a book from the vending machine.
Last but not
least, the most attractive thing in Japan is food. I have my friend live in Japan. When I travel
there, he will make me some Japanese tradition food and we will try some famous
restaurants in Japan.
Thioro's Travel Plans
I wish to visit China at least one day in my
lifetime. If I have to decide where to spend my vacation, it would be
definitely China. Because I do not know much about the Chinese culture, I am
very curious about discovering it. One thing that I am mostly attracted my
interest of visiting china is the architecture of their cities. I am also fascinated
by how the vegetation and its natural beauty are conserved. In addition, China
has a lot variety of foods that I want to savor. Chinese people are in general
friendly, and I love their lifestyle; for instance, the consummation of natural
products and the usage of natural medicine. When I have the opportunity to go
to China, I would like to visit some temples, such as The Temple of Heaven,
Nanshan Temple, and Famen Temple. I would enjoy going to places where people
practice taekwondo. The reason why I am interested in attending those places is
that I am very passionate about martial arts. Moreover, I also would like to go
to restaurants and to places where I can reinforce my knowledge about Chinese
culture and beliefs. I would love to go hiking because I think hiking is a good
way to be in touch with the nature and experience new things. In short, my
preference of choosing China as a country where I would like to spend my
vacation is justified by its natural wealth and its distinction among others
countries.
Ragda's Travel Plans
Greece has always been a
country I have always admired and so desperately want to visit. Not only is the
country known for its beauty, but its
beaches consistently place in the top ten for best European beaches and best
beaches overall. Looking at pictures of Greece, I automatically fall in love
with the crystal blue waters, rugged
mountains, and rolling hills of white houses all in the same landscape. Lastly,
I LOVE GREEK FOOD! Gyros with tzatziki, roasted lamb with potatoes, and various
goat cheeses are simply the best things ever!
Vu's Travel Plans
If I could
visit anywhere I would want to visit Altissia, City upon the Water. The reason
why I would like to visit there is that Altissia is a beautiful place. Also I
like fantasy landscapes more than the real landscape. It is like Venice, Italy
but bigger and it has better architecture.
Natenniel's Travel Plans
My
dream place where I would like to visit is Ile, Hawaii. When I was in Africa, I heard many people
talking about this marvelous place. I
did some research about Ile, Hawaii online and found out this place deserves to
be visited. Located in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, Ile, Hawaii is a
wonderful state with many commodities.
The landscape is wonderful. For instance, there are many types of
flowers like protea, big swimming pools, large beaches, and many trees. The
environment is nice because of vegetation such as trees, flowers and grass. Once
in Ile, Hawaii, I would like to eat Loco Moco, which is rice + hamburger +
fried + gravy all over. I can’t wait to visit to learn about that place.
Tho's Travel Plans
The
preferred country in my plan of traveling when I finish studying is the most popular
country in Asia, Japan. With a long history and unique culture, Japan impresses
people around the world with their technology and with their many festivals
with different dresses and different etiquette. There are some things I want to
do when I go to Japan. The first thing I want to do is to find an original
sushi restaurant because I like sushi; I like to eat fresh salmon. Then, I would to visit some temples in Japan.
Since I am a Buddhist and have been to visit many temples in Vietnam as well as
in the United States, I want to see how how they make ceremony. I want to learn
more about my religion in different places. Before I leave Japan, I would have to buy some
real swords so that I can hang them on the wall in my living room.
Nhu's Travel Plans
Venice, Italy is the place that I must
visit before I die. Venice is a romantic, historic, and gorgeous city which is
famous for the canals, gondolas, architecture, and colorful towns. I would like
to wander around exploring the canals, taking pictures of colorful towns, and
going café-hopping for coffee and good food. A Gondola ride is what I want to
experience in this city; I always thought it would be interesting to be driven
on a boat through the canals. The time I would like to visit Venice is from January
to February; the reason is because this is the time when The Venice Carnival is
held annually. The Carnival includes colorful parades, exhibitions, and
competitions, where people all wear masks and costumes. I think it’s very
meaningful when people cover their faces under the colorful masks because all
the norms, social order and boundaries are broken. I would like to experience the
Venice Carnival one time and buy a mask for myself as a souvenir.
Nathanael's Travel Plans
A place I would very much
like to visit is Italy. I have always loved the culture of Italy and the
history the land holds. Rome is a specific place in Italy I would like to
visit, mostly to admire the architecture and history the Roman Empire left
behind after its collapse. Of course, I would also like to try the various
types of food Italy has to offer. The various pastas, breads, soups and other
dishes would be an adventure all on its own. The main reason, however, I want
to visit Italy is to visit Venice. There, I would like to participate in the
Carnevale di Venizia, or Carnival of Venice. The Carnival, in case you don’t
know, is an annual event held in Venice where individuals dress up in elaborate
costumes and wear masks. Aside from this, riding in a Gondola, admiring the
architecture and just enjoying the city in general would be a wonderful thing.
Meyevi's Travel Plans
Germany has had a
great relationship with my country, Togo. Germans left great accomplishments
behind after colonizing my country. For
instance, nearly all the historical buildings, roads, and churches were built
by Germans. They were helped by ethnic groups that worked along their side. It
was such a strong bond between these countries that Germany has become a second
home for my people. Because of this strong bond that has existed between those
two countries and the amazing achievement they made together, I would like to
visit Germany one day. I would mainly like to visit the Berlin Wall Memorial,
the Bavarian Alps, and the Neuschwanstein Castle.
The Berlin Wall, photographed above, was built on August 13, 1961. Its purpose was to
divide Berlin East from Berlin West.
The Bavarian Alps, above, is a group of mountains in the state
of Bavaria.
The photographs above show the outside and inside
the Castle. The Castle was built to serve as refuge for Wilhelm Richard
Wagner, a German artist.
Manizhe's Travel Plans
I
love to be a tourist and travel all around the world. India has always been one
the most attractive places that I wish to visit. It is an ancient country with diverse
cultures and ideas. It is the third largest country in Asia and second
populated country in the world. Although there are many attractive cities and
places for tourists there, I plan to go to the Bangalore, the capital of
Indian’s southern Karnataka state. I would like to stay in the Art of Living
International Center ashram to take some yoga and breathing classes for a
month. It would help me to experience a real peace of mind and relaxation
within groups of diverse people. Interestingly, everybody can stay there as
long as they want and only pay for the classes that they would like to take.
Mai's Travel Plans
In the future, I would like to
travel to Maldives Island and Korea. The
greatest attraction to me is that I can walk along the shore and listen to the
sound of the ocean. I love beaches that are peaceful and that do not have many
waves. Maldives is known as paradise with blue water, white sand and beautiful
resorts. It is located in the southwest of India and Sri Lanka. This is the
lowest island in the world, and it is only 2.4 meters above the sea level. That
means I can swim with fish :))) and discover marine life. I am also attracted
by overwater bungalows. There are many beautiful and luxurious resorts with overwater
bungalows.
The next place I want to travel to
is Korea. As I wrote on my blog, I love watching Korean movies and eating
Korean food, so I would like to go to Seoul- the most famous city in Korea. Gyeongbokgung
Palace, inside Seoul, is known as the palace of shining happiness. I want to
enjoy the food and try to wear Hanbok- traditional Korean dress.
Lauren's Study Abroad Experience
We visited a local collective and had the opportunity to watch dancers
perform traditional Cuban music! I’m standing furthest to the right. The man
with his arm around my shoulder is one of the members of the collective!
This past winter break, I
had the amazing opportunity to go to Cuba! I didn’t know what to expect going
into the trip—of course, I had a certain idea in my head of what Cuba would be
like, based on what I had been taught in school. Since I had always been told
it was an extremely authoritarian country, I always assumed that there would be
a particularly militaristic culture. I anticipated that there would be a lot of
soldiers walking around with guns, obvious restrictions on citizen’s freedom of
speech, and communities that were very uniform in nature. My presumptions could
not have been further from the truth! Cuba was incredibly vibrant and
free-thinking—not only were the people helpful and friendly, but they were
totally willing to go out of their way in order to help you experience the best
parts of Cuban culture. I never felt that people thought they had to “hold
their tongue” in any way—in fact, they were quite balanced in both their praise
and criticism of the government and country that they live in!
My favorite experience
was definitely when we went to Las Terrazas, an eco-village about an hour away
from Havana. I got to tour the village and learn about the
environmentally-friendly farming techniques that they utilize, eat an
absolutely delicious vegan lunch in a beautiful restaurant, drank traditional
Cuban espresso in a small, mountainside café, and visited a local artist’s
studio, where I bought some one-of-a-kind artwork to bring back home. The best
part of our countryside excursion was on the way back home—we stopped at some
freshwater waterfalls and I actually jumped in! I wasn’t wearing a bathing
suit, so I was freezing for the entire bus ride back to the city but it was
totally worth it just to have the experience!
I made so many new
friends while on the trip—both at Montgomery College and in Cuba—and I still
talk to them all almost every day! The trip exceeded my expectations and
allowed me to create memories that I know will last a lifetime. I strongly
encourage anyone who is thinking about going on one of Montgomery College’s
short-term study abroad trips to take advantage of this unique program!
A beautiful shot of the eco-village Las Terrazas!
A picture of me walking down the seashore in Cojimar, which is a
fishing town where Ernest Hemingway kept his boat docked!
Emily's Travel Plans
A
place I would really love to travel is Sicily, a beautiful region in Italy,
located on an island off the coast of the mainland.
There
are three main reasons I want to travel to this location, the first, and
arguably the most alluring aspect of which would have to be the food. Italians
know how to eat well, and the Sicilians are no exception (from what I’ve
heard)! The food is known to be rich and full of flavor, just as one would
expect from authentic Italian food; however, the Sicilians are known to
incorporate a wide variety of local seafood into their dishes, cutting through
the richness with bright citrus flavors, drizzled in locally made olive oil and
served with fresh crusty bread! The Sicilians are also very communal in the way
that they eat, in that all meals are a celebration of togetherness and life.
To me, good food is the best way to
celebrate with friends, so I feel as though I would feel quite at home among
the Sicilians!
The second reason I would
love to travel to Sicily would be for the vibrant history. The island has been
home to a number of ancient civilizations, not least of which were the Greeks,
whose remarkable architecture still line the streets to this day! As an
American Studies major, I am particularly interested in the Greeks, because
their political and social culture influenced the formation of democracy, and
ultimately the United States. Not to mention the architecture itself was
clearly an influencing factor over the design of many federal buildings in
Washington D.C.!
Lastly, I would love to
go to Sicily for the incredible scenic views, and iconic crystal clear
turquoise ocean. I have a feeling that I would be perfectly happy just spending
the day on the beach, laying out in the warm sun.
Yessiree, Sicily seems to
have it all - a healthy mix of the relaxed Island lifestyle where you eat like
it’s Saturday every day, with the sophistication and character of a historic
city!
Chenise's Travel Plans
If you’ve heard anything
about Jamaica, you would know how much of a paradise it is. Growing up in
Jamaica I usually take little things such as the beach for granted. But now
being away, I’ve come to realize that going to the beach was one of my favorite
hobbies. My favorite beach is called The Sunset Beach. Looking back, I’ve grown
to appreciate its breathtaking views. My absolute favorite thing about that
beach is watching the sun set. It’s just beautiful and I figure that’s why they
gave it that particular name, The Sunset Beach. And just for this reason, my
next vacation will definitely be in Jamaica to take in all that goodness.
Deksiyos' Travel Plans
I would like to visit so many
countries and places throughout my life as traveling is my primary hobby.
Indeed, the country I want to visit the most is France, especially Paris and
Lyon. To be honest, there are places that attract me more than France like Jamaica
and the Bahamas. However, I feel like I have a very strong connection with the
French culture. Growing up, I went to a French school and learned so much about
the French culture and history. I also speak the language and have so many
friends living in that country. As a result, traveling to France won`t be a
very tough experience for me because I have a convenient place to stay at and
people who can guide me. In fact, I can easily call France a home away from
home. In addition, it’s a good way to explore other European countries
surrounding France such as Germany and Spain, where I can easily drive to get
there. Finally the city of France (Paris) is a famous city for its beautiful
art, monument, fashion and cuisine, which attracts a high number of tourists
from all around the world.
Biniyam's Travel Plans
Jamaica is the destination for my
dream vacation. I've always wanted to visit a couple of Islands (Treasure and
Negril) and live the life that Jamaicans have to live each and every day. Jamaica
is a very beautiful and tropical place. I love warm weather and the summer time
would be perfect to visit this place. The beaches are such a nice,
shiny blue that you can actually see the bottom. I would love to swim in the blue
waters and enjoy the nice view with the nice hotels while I breathe nice fresh
air and eat all kinds of fresh fruits. So, Jamaica
would definitely be my dream vacation.
Alfred's Travel Plans
During a holiday, I would like
to take a vacation because it can help me relax. Macao is a wonderful city in
China. Although it is a tiny city, it is really famous. I want to go to the
Macao during my vacation. When I talk about Macao, people cannot but mention
that there are many casinos. If people like to gamble, Macao is one of the best
choices. In my mind, Macao is like a second Las Vegas because people can find
casinos everywhere. In addition to gambling in Macao, I can still do other
things such as shopping in malls and finding famous restaurants for eating.
Someone may ask me why I would like to go Macao. Gambling? Actually, one of my
favorite activities is to find a famous restaurant and eat. Hence, Macao is my
next target to discover famous food.
Barnabas' Travel Plans
One place I would love to visit is
Ethiopia. The main reason why I wish to go there is because I have never been
there before. I would also want to meet some of my family members, especially
my aunts who live there. Visiting Ethiopia will give me the chance to
experience what it's actually like living there.
Ethiopia, also known as the “Horn of
Africa” is a country in East Africa. The current population now as of 2017 is
almost 105 million people. Although Ethiopia is known as being one of the
poorest countries in the world, it is well known as a place of ancient culture.
Ethiopia’s population is very diverse, containing more than 80 different ethnic
groups. The official language in Ethiopia is Amharic.
One of the best things I love about
Ethiopian culture is the food.
Aman's Travel Plans
Hi everybody, my name is
Aman. The place that I want to visit during vacation is London. I am not a fan
of the rainy, cold winter weather of London, but a soccer team that I support,
Arsenal football Club, is located there. So one day it is my wish to go to the
Fly Emirates Stadium and watch live games against our big opponents like
Manchester United. So going there and cheering my team would be the coolest
vacation.
What Ragda is Grateful for
1. I am
grateful for my family and friends, for they support me and encourage me to do
my best.
2. I am
thankful for having such an amazing open minded mother who supports me in
everything that I do and has always been an amazing role model to me throughout
the years.
3. I am
thankful for the struggles I have faced in my life, for they only brought me
closer to God and have transformed me to a better stronger version of myself.
4. Growing up a
single child I am thankful for all my cousins as we share a strong sisterly
bond.
5. I am
thankful for the blessing and opportunity to be able to have an education, Health,
Food and clean water at any time, and a nice warm place to sleep.
6. I am
thankful for staring my health journey and losing 30 pounds and feeling great
and healthy!
7. I am very
thankful for my WRLC family!
What Nathaneal is Grateful for
1. I am thankful for my dog, Muñeca because she gives me peace of mind in the night and protects me from paranoid fears.
2. I am thankful for my laptop, for it allows me to work and
entertain myself.
3. I am thankful for the opportunity to work as an English Peer
tutor because it has been a wonderful experience, and having some money is
always nice.
4. I am thankful I have a home because it protects me from the
harsh weather.
5. I am thankful for my friends because they help make me feel
less lonely and can be trustworthy, sometimes.
What Emily is Grateful for
1. I am grateful for my wonderful
Fiancé, Matt, who proposed to me 3 weeks ago; I feel grateful for a love that
it took me to the other side of the world!
2. I am grateful for my chance to experience life
in America, as it has brought me new friends and a new perspective on life.
3. I am grateful for the opportunity to
intern at the Library of Congress this semester. This experience has been life
changing, and I feel really privileged to be able to be able to even have this
opportunity available to me!
4. I am grateful to my friend,
Christine, who has invited me to her Thanksgiving celebrations with her family
this year, as Matt is working. If it weren’t for her, I’d have spent it alone,
so I am really thankful that she would think to include me.
5. I am grateful for all the help and
guidance I receive from my peers, professors, and colleagues at Montgomery
College whether it is in the classroom, at my job at the WRLC, or through my
extracurricular involvement. In 2016 I have really come to realize that without
this support I would feel truly lost and probably quite lonely in America –
Thank you to everyone!
What Alfred is Grateful for
I am grateful to my parents because they give me a perfect
life and a completed family. I love my family so much.
I am grateful to my friends because they give me a glad
environment during my time at MC.
I am grateful to Montgomery College because I learned a lot
of knowledge from here.
I am grateful for my health because I can do whatever I want
such as travel and play sports.
I am grateful for all WRLC’s workers because I can have an
awesome time with you guys.
What Meyevi is Grateful for
I am grateful for my parents
because they support me. They always give me advice to help me succeed. I am
grateful for my health because I can walk, speak, and study. I am grateful for
being in the United States because I am enrolled in one of the best colleges. I
am grateful for my teachers and the Staff at the Writing Reading & Language
Center because they taught me a lot of things. I am grateful for my maternal
grandmother because she taught me how to cook.
What Nhu is Grateful for
1.
I am grateful
for the necessities of life I got because I have a shelter to live in, food to
eat daily and clean water to use while many people don’t.
2.
I am grateful
for my parents because they gave me life and are always by my side.
3.
I am grateful
for my friends because they are always there whenever I need them.
4.
I am grateful
for the challenges I faced because they help me growing up everyday.
5.
I am grateful
for the disappointments I had because they make me realize what matters to me
most.
What Solomon is Grateful for
- I’m grateful to God because I’m healthy.
- I’m grateful for having great parents because they are helping me to attend school.
- I’m grateful for having outstanding professors because I met my educational goal and was selected to be one of the PTK members.
- I’m grateful for having a hard working adviser and friends in the WRLC because we have made the English Conversation Club official.
- I’m grateful for working in school because I’m paying my bills.
What Deksiyos is Grateful for
1. I am grateful to have a car because I
can go anywhere I want without having to worry about public transportation. In
addition, it helps me escape bad weather such as rainy days and heavy snow
since I would not have to walk to go somewhere.
2. I am grateful I am currently in
college pursuing my bachelor’s degree. I am a person that highly values the
importance of higher education and I am happy I am on my way to achieve this
goal.
3. I am grateful for my job because I
get the chance to learn a lot of useful lessons and acquire important skills.
Furthermore, I get the chance to meet different people and adopt good
communication skills.
4. I am grateful for my country because
it’s a place I grew up in and learned a lot about life and have so many
childhood memories. In addition, it’s a country that has a lot of history and
historical places including the birth of humankind.
5. I am grateful I am mentally and
physically healthy in life as healthiness is the most important thing for an
individual. I would not have been able to achieve or perform any of the things
I mentioned above if I was not fully healthy.
What Phuong is Grateful for
1. I’m grateful for life’s challenges
because I become stronger in life.
2. I’m grateful for the US, where I
receive a good education and a promising future.
3. I’m grateful for my family who always
support my decision.
4. I’m grateful for my boyfriend and
best friends, who are always sympathetic and are willing to spend hours to give
me good advice.
5. I’m grateful for my Youth Group
because it teaches me to sacrifice and help other people around me.
What Barnabas is Grateful for
1.
The greatest thing I am thankful for is God and
that he created me.
2.
I am thankful that I have a loving family who
cares a lot about me and my future.
3.
I am thankful that I have friends and teachers
who support me and that I can always count on them for help.
4.
I am thankful that I live in this wonderful
country, America, which gives me the chance to succeed and to be anything I
want to be as long as I work hard.
5.
Lastly, I’m also thankful for food.
What Tho is Grateful for
1. I am
grateful for my parents because of their life time support. For example, they
just bought a new nice study table for me.
2. I am
grateful for my friend because they give me many wonderful memories that I will
never forget.
3. I am
grateful for my coworkers because they back me up sometimes (in a suitable way,
lol).
4. I am
grateful for my hat because it makes me look cool.
5. I am
grateful for my phone because it helps me to do a lot of things such as waking
me up every morning, translating in English, taking pictures and videos,
checking Facebook and Instagram, etc.
What Veronica is Grateful for
1.
I am grateful for being in my right mind because
I am able to perform my duties, whether at work or at home.
2.
I am grateful for my pastor because he
enlightens with the words of God.
3.
I am grateful for my health even though I have
ailments. I am thankful to not be in the hospital.
4.
I am grateful for a place to live. There are
many other people who are homeless, and I could have been one of them.
5.
I am grateful for my family. I can communicate
with them and be encouraged with kind words.
What Biniyam is Grateful for
1. I’m
grateful for my family because they are always with me whenever I need them,
and they understand everything I’m going through.
2. I’m
grateful for my school since it provides an environment conducive to learning
and growing.
3. I’m
grateful for my friends since they are my companions in life.
4. I’m
grateful for my mistakes since they help me to improve and become better.
5. I’m
grateful for my good health since it enables me to do what I want to do and for
what I will do in the future.
What Aman is Grateful for
1.
I am grateful to have shelter because without a house, it would be so hard to
survive especially in the winter.
2.
I am grateful for my parents because they always give me advice and show me
a support.
3.
I am grateful for my health because health is fundamental in
order to survive in the world.
4.
I am grateful for my job and the opportunity to study for free in the USA because it is
shaping me to become a better person.
5.
I am grateful for the beautiful life that I am enjoying because without joy life is
boring.
What Ruth is Grateful for
2. I am grateful for my life because every day God gives me strength to overcome difficult situations that I'm passing through.
3. I am grateful for my prosthesis because it was such a dream that became a reality for me. Even though I don't wear it often, I am still practicing using it.
4. I am grateful for my friends in Europe because they are faithful. When I see people complain about friends who cheat or betray them, I realize how lucky I am because my friends are so amazing and lovely. We are like a family.
5. I am grateful for my family because they are always there for me. They assist me all the time. They encourage me even though we are far apart.
Manizhe's Summer
The first picture is my husband's graduation day in the MC in May 2016. The second one as you know is the end of the school year party. The last picture was taken beside the Shenandoah River.
Nathaneal's Summer
During the summer, I got in touch with an old friend and
ended up going to a concert with her. It was good fun, and my friend was going
crazy the whole concert. My friend is a huge fan of the singer, and it was
entertaining to watch her bouncing off the walls with giddiness. It took up an
entire day though, as it was in Philadelphia, so I had to sleep over, but I
would say it was worth it.
Over the summer, I started to learn how to skateboard, and
it was good fun. I did injure myself in a nasty spill, but it was nothing too
serious. Along with skateboarding, my friends and I did a lot of bike riding
around Takoma, Silver Spring and Langley Park. It was the most fun thing I did
last summer, albeit my summer was pretty dull overall. Keeping that in mind,
all that bike riding and skateboarding made me miss having a bike, and made me
consider getting a skateboard of my own.
Lauren's Summer
This summer, I went to Northern California to visit family!
Since they live in the mountains near Tahoe, I was able to do a lot of outdoor
activities like hiking and swimming. I love being in nature but never really
get the chance in the city. I can’t wait to go back sometime soon!
Here’s a picture of
me after climbing up a mountain to a waterfall!
Here’s a picture from
a restaurant I ate dinner at one night. I love how peaceful it is out there!
Emily's Summer
I went to an awesome crab feast at Nationals’ park! Communal
tables were set up on the actual diamond, there was all you can eat old bay
crabs, and the game (which was an away game in Baltimore) was shown live on the
jumbo screen.
One of my best friends turned 30, so she invited her family
and friends to celebrate with a sunset cruise on the Potomac River, leaving
from the Georgetown waterfront.
My boyfriend and I are big fans of the Phillies baseball
team (he is from just outside of Philadelphia), so we managed to see a few
games over the summer, which was a lot of fun!
Alfred's Summer
Yummy!! Yummy!
Who wants it? I went back to my hometown, Hong Kong, and I went out with my
siblings during summer 1. We really enjoyed my most favorite Japanese food,
sashimi, which is shown above.
Here, I came
back from my hometown. During summer 2, I was so busy, but I still liked to
enjoy the sunshine outside. When I walked on the street, it looked “green”
everywhere.
Ragda's Summer
This summer I had a lot of fun as my cousins visited me from Dubai. We had a road trip and drove all the way to New York then Florida. The first image is in universal studios Florida, and the two next pictures were in Disney Land, Florida, and the last picture is of my cousins and me on a tour bus in New York.
Phuong's Summer
This picture was taken in Cleveland, Ohio. While my cousins and I went to the downtown
of Cleveland, by chance we were record by the DreamWorks Animation. This picture was used to promote for an
upcoming movie “ Trolls”, which will be released on November 4th,
2016.
I took this picture three weeks ago when I came to my home
country, Vietnam. This is the view of
Saigon, which is the biggest city of my country and lies along a river.
During summer, I spent time at church, campsites, and field
trips. This picture was taken when other
youth leaders and I were at Washington Monument Park.
Barnabas' Summer
This
past summer, I went to New York City with my family. This picture with
me, my younger brother (grey shorts), my dad, and my younger cousin (blue
shirt) was taken around Times Square.
One
of my most memorable moments in NYC was getting to ride on the tour bus because I got to be on the top and see things from a totally different perspective.
Here is a pic from my perspective riding on the tour bus.
Nhu's Summer
I went to my Youth Group’s annual camp at Washington
Monument State Park, MD in July. This picture was taken when I was giving him a
ribbon on the flag representing for his team’s winning. That was a very fun
camp.
This picture is taken in Cleveland Botanical Garden, which
is the most beautiful garden in Ohio and features a Japanese garden, a rose
garden, and a wildflower garden.
Vu's Summer
This is my
gaming setup. In this picture, I was playing Grand Theft Auto V. I just got the
game for PC and was figuring out how to play it on PC. I spent a lot of money
on that game, but it wasn’t worth it.
In this
picture are my grandparents from my mother’s side, my brothers, and my cousins.
I am the oldest of 3 brothers. The
middle brother is in high school and the youngest brother is in pre-k. I don’t
know why we took this picture. My family just told me to come down from my room
and take a picture.
Veronica's Summer
Good afternoon. This is my blog, and the first photo is a group of volunteers in the MC Community Garden with their Professor, Dr. Alexandra Fairfield harvesting their garden, just across the street from the College here in Takoma Park. The second photo is me and my Church family who was acknowledge as mothers on mother's day. Thank you.
Aman's Summer
During
summer, I went for my cousins wedding in Toronto. All my family members
gathered from different countries, and it was a sweet time to remember. And
this picture sums it all up.
This is
another picture taken with my family members. Hope you all enjoy it. Thanks.
Deksiyos' Summer
This picture
was taken during my summer vacation in Ethiopia. We went to a 7D cinema with my
family members and had a memorable time. The picture was taken after the short
7D movie ended. It was a very funny
moment because some of them were actually really scared and had weird facial
expressions when the picture was captured.
These two
pictures were also taken during my summer vacation. I took the pictures in
Georgetown Washington-DC. These pictures are unforgettable because it reminds
of my first kayaking experience, which is something I wanted to do for a
longtime.
Biniyam's Summer
This is a cross bracelet
that my friend brought back for me from her summer vacation in Ethiopia.
I love the giver more
than the gift, but I still love the gift 😉!
“ The Davinci Code ” is the best book that I read in summer 2016.
Meyevi's Summer
I had not visited any place since I came to the United States until last summer. It was a great experience for me. I took the first picture while I was on the 100th floor of the One World Trade Center in New York. The second one was taken when I was on the boat to see The Statue Of Liberty.
Ruth's Summer
This is one the most famous tourist spots in Belgium. You
can read about Belgium’s history here.
This
is third floor of the Eiffel Tower. It was amazing to visit here! I went to the
top of the tower, and there you can see Mr. Eiffel’s photo. It was a nice
experience that everyone should have. The construction is fabulous! Some people
even use the stairs to climb to the top because they want to explore the
architecture. The people there are so kind and they really take care of the
visitors.
This is top of the Arc de Triumph in Paris. You can see the
whole city from here. You can see Champs de Elyse, which is the most beautiful
street in Paris. There are trees along the entire street.
This is in Bordeaux, the city that is famous for making
wine. There are nice beaches to visit.
Solomon's Interview
Interviewer: Solomon
Interviewee: Barnabas
1.
Where were you born?
·
Barnabas was born in the second larger city of
Oklahoma, Tulsa.
2.
What’s your first, most vivid memory?
·
He used to love riding his kiddy bicycle and
spent most of his time biking around his vicinity.
3.
Can you describe the neighborhood you grew up
in?
·
As he said, “even though the area I grew up was
mostly white dominated, I used to go to my mother’s and father’s Ethiopian
friends.” and also mentioned “they used to take care of me.”
4.
How many brothers and sisters do you have? When
were they born? What memories do you have of each of them from when you were
growing up?
·
He has only one brother, and he is 15 years
old. His brother used to complain a lot to get more attention from his parents.
5.
What kind of school did you go to? Were you a
good student? What was your favorite subject? Least favorite? Who were your
friends? Who was your favorite teacher and why?
·
He went to a diversified middle and high school
in Oklahoma and had more than 3.4 GPA. His favorite subjects were Psychology
and Spanish and least History. Even though his Hispanic friend Mario wasn’t
good student like Barnabas and didn’t have higher GPA, they often spend
together and had memorable time. He even remembers his favorite second grade
teacher Ms. Nosine. As he said, “She used to bring a cake decorated and with a
colorful written phrase “the little angel that could” on it to encourage/motivate
students to be more focused to their studies.”
6.
What’s different about growing up today from
when you were growing up?
·
Though he wasn’t sure about his answer, he
said, “there are changes over time, but the changes are so minor.”
7.
When you were a teenager, what did you do for
fun? Did you have a favorite spot to “hang out”? What time did you have to be
home at night? Did you ever get into any trouble?
·
He used to go to six flags and loved to play
basketball. Since his favorite sport was basketball, he spent playing and
repeatedly passed the curfew. Due to this, he was grounded many times.
Tho's Interview
Interviewer: Tho
Interviewee: Meyevi
1.
What dreams and goals did you have for your
life when you graduated?
·
Meyevi’s plan is to get an associate degree at
Montgomery College and transfer to a university to earn bachelor degree; then
she will get married. She is undecided between accounting and nursing. She
wants to do nursing, but she thinks that she will have more time to be with her
husband and children if she does accounting.
2.
What was your first job? What did you like or
not like about it?
·
Her first job was at a shop, but she liked her
second job, which was braid because she wanted to make people look beautiful.
When she was young, her cousins and she usually braided hair for each other, so
she has known some technics. What she did not like about the job was sometimes
she had to go to people’s house when they could not come to her house.
3. What do you think are your three best
qualities? Your three worst?
·
Meyevi’s three
best qualities are that she is kind, helpful, and sympathetic, and the worst is
that she will be unpleasant when she is angry.
4. If you won $1 million tomorrow, what would
you do with the money?
·
She would go
back home during winter break. She would buy 1 house for her, 1 for her mom,
and 1 for her dad, some apartments for rent and a big field. Then she would come
back to America and continue studying.
5. What’s the one thing you’ve always wanted but
still don’t have?
·
She always
wanted to have a brother or sister because she is an only child in her family.
6. What things frighten you now? What frightened
you when you were a younger adult? A child?
She is scared of getting on a plane, especially
when it goes up or down. When she was a younger adult, she was afraid of bad
spirits because she did not know if it existed or not. Aman's Interview
Interviewer: Aman (with Meyevi and Phuong)
Interviewee: Mr. Coyle
1. What kind of school did you go to? Were you a
good student? What was your favorite subject? Least favorite?
Mr. Coyle went to Montgomery county public
schools, and then he went to Montgomery College. He said that he was an average
student because he had a learning disability. His favorite subject was Math and
his least favorite subject was English.
2. Who were your friends? Who was your favorite
teacher and why?
Most of his friends are from high school. They
are still friends for more than sixty years. His sixth grade teacher was his
favorite teacher, and Mr. Coyle likes her because she knew he was smart and she
put him in charge of all kinds of class projects.
3. What dreams and goals did you have for your
life when you graduated? Did you meet your goals?
He wanted to be a school teacher and fortunately
he met his goals and became a teacher.
4. What job did you do most of your life? What
did you like most about it? Least?
He was a teacher and taught English for fifty
five years. The most things he liked about teaching is when some of his former
students got graduated and kept thanking him on the phone for all the hard work
he did for them. The least things he liked were teaching new students how to
speak English when they knew no English at all.
5. How did you feel about raising your children?
What was the best part? The hardest part?
He loved rising his children; in fact his son
went to Montgomery College. The best part about raising his kids was that they
were nice boys and very independent. On top of that he adapted three Ethiopian
girls who were sisters, and two Vietnamese boys. Totally he raised seven kids.
The hardest about raising his kids was that sometimes his kids get stubborn.
Meyevi's Interview
Interviewer:
Meyevi (with Aman and Phuong)
Interviewee:
Mr. Coyle
6.
If you could travel into the future, would you rather see something that specifically
relates to you, or something that relates to the future of the country in
general? Why?
·
Mr. Coyle has been interested in politics;
therefore, he would like to see something related to the country in general.
7. How
have your dreams and goals changed through your life?
·
Mr. Coyle wanted to retired and to stop
teaching, but he realized he could teach part time at Montgomery College. He
taught 38 years in Montgomery County Public School and 17 years at MC.
8. How
should a person prepare for old age? Is there anything you wish you’d done
differently?
·
To be prepared for old age, a person
should work and have a pension, which he did. He wishes to travel more if he
had enough money.
9. What
have been the most influential experiences in your life?
·
Teaching English as a second language in
the South Pacific have been an influential experience for him.
10. What
advice did your grandparents or parents give you that you remember best?
·
Mr. Coyle recalls four advices his father
gave him. Men should not beat women is the first one. Second, a child should
respect his or her parents’ rules as long as he or she lives in their house. In
terms of profession, his father told him to find the job he loves and to do it.
In addition to the proper job, he should make sure it has a pension plan in
order to benefit from it later on.
Anthony's Interview
Interviewer:
Anthony
Interviewee:
Vivian, Anthony’s cousin
1.
What would constitute a “perfect” day for
you?
She
would wake up in the morning with 9 hours of sleep, then have a great favorite
breakfast. After that, she’d want to hang out with her family and her best
friends. In the evening, she would love to eat at a luxurious restaurant with
her family and then watch a comedy movie. Before going to sleep, being listening
to her loved songs.
2.
Do you have a secret hunch about how you
will die?
She
would become very old and maybe eaten by animals.
3.
For what in your life do you feel most
grateful?
She
feels most grateful when she is being alive and healthy.
4.
If you could change anything about the way
you were raised what would it be?
She
would love to not being raised in very traditional Asian culture.
5.
If you could wake up tomorrow having
gained one quality or ability what would it be?
If
she had one special quality, she would wish that she could fly by herself so
that she didn’t have to wait for buses, or waiting for Uber cars to pick up
her.
6.
If a crystal ball could tell you the truth
about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to
know?
She’d
like to know about her future career, about its stability, how many times she
have to change her job, and how she’d manage her life.
7.
What is your most terrible memory?
Lost
her final lacrosse games on her birthday. She felt so painful and cried a lot
on that day.
8.
If you knew that in one year you would die
suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
Hang
out more, travel more, limited going to school, taking more risks and adventure,
writing gratitude letters to her friends and family.
9.
If you had only three hours to live and
you were allowed to make only one important phone call, who would you call?
What would you want to talk? Why?
She
would definitely call for her mom and tell her how much she loves her mother.
Because her mom is the most important and closest person in her life.
10.
When did you last cry in front of another
person? By yourself?
On
her last vacation when her parents told her joke and scary story.
11.
If you die this evening without the
opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having
told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?
Regret
not having told her family that how much she loves them. She hasn’t told them
yet since she often distances herself from them and less likely shares her
personal connection with them as much.
12.
Coming from your workplace to home, you
found out that your house was on fire, and you had only enough time to save one
item, what would you want to save?
Guitar! Because she believes that music is a huge important part of her life.
Guitar! Because she believes that music is a huge important part of her life.
13.
What is the best advice have you ever
received, but you never have a chance to do it?
Avoid
negativity. She knows that when it comes to her mind, but she couldn’t really
avoid it.
Biniyam's Interview
Interviewer:
Biniyam Mekuriya
Interviewee:
Anthony Nguyen
Where were you born?
Ø
Vietnam
Why were you given the first (and middle)
name(s) that you have?
Ø
I
don’t know exactly.
What’s your first, most vivid memory?
Ø
My
first family vacation.
What was the apartment or house like that
you grew up in? How many bedrooms did it have? Bathrooms?
Ø
It’s
was like any middle class’s house. It had four bed rooms and two bathrooms.
What was your bedroom like?
Ø
Huge
king size bed room.
Can you describe the neighborhood you grew
up in?
Ø
I
grew up in the crazy neighborhood, but they were good in socialization.
Who was stricter: your mother or your
father? Do you have a vivid memory of something you did that you were
disciplined for?
Ø
My
mother was stricter than my father.
Did your parents have a good marriage?
Ø
Absolutely,
they have a good marriage.
How did your family earn money? How did
your family compare to others in the neighborhood – richer,
Poorer, the same?
Ø
They
have their own business, and they were a middle class family in the
neighborhood.
What kinds of things did your family spend
money on?
Ø
My
family spends money for food, clothes, and other basic needs for the family.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
When were they born? What memories do you have of each of them from when you
were growing up?
Ø
I
just have one brother.
Did you have grandparents? Where were they
born? When were they born? What do you remember about them? When did they die?
Ø
Yeah,
I have grandparents. They were born in Vietnam.
Did you have any pets?
Ø
I
don’t have any pets. But I love pets and I want to adopt.
Aman's Funny Video
This is a prank video about a kid who jumps into a hole filled by water. The video's main plan is to show the shocked reaction of the people who were supervising the kid. I hope you guys will enjoy it.
Tho's Funny Video
This is my funny video for this week. I want to share this video because it is amazing when the father used the effect to make his son's video like Hollywood movie. the kid was so happy with his dad, and I think every kid would be happy if parents give time to play and to support their children.
Anthony's Entertaining Video
Some people don’t
believe in magic, and they think that magic is just simple tricks which fool
peoples’ eyes. If you’re one these people, tried to watch this video and
explain to yourself why would that impossible can happen. The video not only
entertains me, but it also makes me to believe on something that I’ve thought
impossible to happen. Dynamo is one of the best magicians that I’ve ever
watched in my life. I am really interested in him, who always walks with a very
calm face and amazes people by powerful magic. It’s truly incredible and
impossible!!!
Meyevi's Funny Video
I chose this video because it is funny, and it recalls me of my younger age. I used to be very close to the cats which lived in the house I grew up. They used to follow me everywhere. Cats are funny.
Phuong's Book Review
Title: The Great Gasby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Original publication date: April
10, 1925
This book tells about Nick Carraway is a neighbor of Jay Gatsby, and
Nick retold the love story between Gatsby and Daisy after World War 1. Gatsby and Daisy had fallen in love with each
other years earlier. Because Gatsby was too poor soldier, he couldn’t make ends
meet, and then they broke up. After
World War 1, Gatsby became a rich and powerful man, and he looked for Daisy
again. Human can’t expect what would happen.
Although Gatsby and Daisy go chance to meet each other again, they
couldn’t stay with each other forever.
In the end of the story is Gatsby was murdered, and he rested in
loneliness with only his beloved neighbor, Nick, his father, and several
servants. I love this book because it is
not only telling about love story, American Dream, but also giving me a value
lesson “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not
after he is dead.” Despite of the power you get in your life time, in your
trouble, you would know who is your truly friend. Even the people you love most
could betray you.
Tho's Book Review
Book Review: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
The book is about a perfect world where people
don’t suffer any poverty, divorce, war, and pain. They also don’t have to worry
about money or any kind of bills because the society assigns jobs for them. The
society also arranges marriages and provides children to couples, and the
elderly are “released” (killed). However, there is no color in this world, and
all memories or history are gone so that people who living in this world don’t
know what the color of an apple is or how it feels to slide down from the top
of a hill. Only one person who remembers all of these is the giver. He keeps these
memories to himself until one who can take those from him. I really like this
book because it makes me use my thought and imagination to picture about this
perfect world. Sometimes, a funny
thought when I am tired or stressed is about living in this world.
Nevertheless, I would never go to this community even if it exists because this
society is living without honesty; people don’t have any options or choices,
and they don’t have love or even hope; to me, without hope, what is a point of
living?
Solomon's Book Review
Book Review: Uncovering the Logic of English
After
taking Chemistry class in Summer I, I pivoted my head to my favorite subject,
English. Learning English requires consistent
reading of various resources to maximize reading skill, grammar knowledge, and
vocabulary familiarity. Since I’m reading and learning to maintain a better
language foundation every day, I continue developing my knowledge and skill on
the building blocks of English: phonics and phonograms. While phonics deals
with sounds, phonograms is about sound pictures. The book, Understanding
the Logic of English, written by Denise Eide gives clear and concise
explanation regarding phonics and phonograms.
Using her considerable research, Eide explains that although many
educated people learned the 26 letters of English alphabets during their
childhood, they are still straggling how to spell or read words. Why? She
answered this question by over viewing 44 English phonic and 48 missing English
alphabets that are cumbersome to our challenges with English language.
Anthony's Article Review
Author:
Van Anh
Name of Article: 18
Things You Did Not Know Until Maturity
Date of Publication:
July 13, 2016
The
article is basically giving readers some significant advice that young people
should know in order to be successful in relationship and professional lives.
Those lessons are conducted and collected by previous ancestors who experience
a lot of challenges and hardships. Of course, sooner or later we will
unconsciously realize those lessons as we are getting mature, yet it is not too
early for us to learn those lessons now. After reading this article, I found
that my mind has been changed since as I tried to compare my past experience
and those advice that the article given, it’s just simply the best and I wished
I could read this article earlier in my life. Throughout the article, I’ve
selectively chosen some of my favorite lessons.
1. Willingly
Openness to Change. Life is always complicated but should never worry. I’d
always thought that why many things in life often not go to the way I wanted,
so I tended to complain and blame for those changes due to circumstances.
However, after reading this article, I’ve been aware that it doesn’t matter
what happening to us whether it’s good or bad because everything happens for a
reason and the only difference between a good day and a bad day is our
attitudes. Whether you win or fail, life will continue and you will have
another chance to start again even when things do not go as planned.
2. Life
is too short and time is limit, so do not waste time. When I was young, I
thought that I would always have a bunch of time to do what I want as I grow
up. I just realize, nonetheless, nothing actually lasts forever, and it shall
pass quickly. Therefore, realized that time will pass quickly and you’ll never
have a chance to gain it back would help us to enjoy every moment we have and
value the precious time with those important folks in our lives.
3. Seize
every opportunity. One thing that I realize that many opportunities come to us
very secretly and unconsciously, so we should carefully listen to our hearts
more often and willingly accept any opportunity, do not be afraid of new challenges,
and bravely taking risks. Whether an opportunity is good or bad, we’ll always
learn something from it after that. And at the end of the day, we can enrich
our lives with those unique experiences.
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned
about life: it goes on.
Meyevi's Book Review
Book Review: Le Cid
I was in 9th grade when I read The Cid because of my school requirement. While Chimene and Don Rodrigues were in love, both of their fathers argued on a position in the royal castle. Rodrigues’ hesitates between love and family honor before he yields to his father’s will of killing chimene’s father. After asking for revenge, Chimene was not able to kill Don Rodrigues and they finally get together. After reading this book, I learned that people change with time even though “Love is a tyrant who spares no one”, says Corneille Pierre the author of this tragicomedy.
Aman's Book Review
Book Review: Animal Farm
Animal
farm is a political story by a great author George Orwell. The book is about
group of animals who rebel against their drunk owner named Mr. Jones for the
sake of equality, happiness, and freedom. The group of animals were led by two
smart pigs, Snowball and Napoleon. After three months of preparation for
revolution led by these two pigs, the animals revolted successfully the farm
from Mr. Jones. After their independence, Snowball, an inventive and cheerful pig
and Napoleon, strong and cruel pig, started to fight for leadership. Finally
Napoleon secretly grew up nine dogs and removed Snowball out of the farm,
accusing him of wrong doing. After that Napoleon fully took control of the farm
and became a dictator ruler.
I loved this story
because a lot of African leaders rebelled against their European colonizers to
what everybody thought was freedom, but unfortunately most of them turned up to
be dictators.
Freely adapted from https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm
Biniyam's Funny Image
Anthony's Funny Video
Phuong's Joke
Aman's Joke
Solomon's Joke
Meyevi's Funny Post
Tho's Joke
Selam's Summer Plans
May 24, 2016
Summer 2016 is
finally here! After spending many late nights at school with my friends
studying together, I am happy to say all our hard work paid off. I am looking
forward to the sunny days and cool nights, so I can play soccer and hit the
gym. With more time on my hands, I will be able to get through the process of
completely transferring to UMD for the fall semester. With that to be done during
summer I, I am working on the summer II plan to go for a vacation either to the
Atlantic or Ocean City. This summer will be the last time I get to work in the
Writing, Reading, and Language Center (WRLC). And I am going to miss everyone
of you guys. I hope to see every one succeed on your dreams.
Hieu's Summer Plans
May 13, 2016
I’ve been waiting for this summer ALL MY LIFE. Actually, it
has only become visible since the end of last year, when I suddenly realized
that I could afford a long trip by using a large portion of my modest salary to
travel, and that this summer seems to be the most suitable time!
When I was little, my family never went anywhere together.
We lived in a coastal city, so it’s already like a touristy place. Many reasons
and many obstacles used to make me think that I could afford to travel to
developed countries from afar, like the US or Japan, when I’m…40 years old and
have a rich husband? Hahaha.
Then I came to the U.S. I started working. Luckily, the pay
was very good. Things that I could start to afford, like an old car or shopping
at ZARA, really got me question the surreal existence of mine. My relatives and
also my mother told me to save up for a new car and a house someday.
But I have to compensate my childhood. That little girl had
no ideas what her friends were talking about when they mentioned this and that
city, or such and such country. Therefore, I’ve decided to spend “quite a
fortune” on traveling this summer. My solo journey is starting on May 23 in
this order: Malaysia (where I took a course in Culinary Arts in 2012, the best
food, and I miss speaking Manglish), Singapore (because it’s next to Malaysia,
and a developed Asian country), Korea (because of baby-faced guys, food, fashion
and cosmetics), Vietnam (hometown!), China (the language, the history, the
culture, and the scenery), Taiwan (I want to try the authentic bubble tea, yes,
that is a valid reason), Japan (countless reasons, really), and then on my
flight back, I’ll have one day in Dubai! I have friends almost everywhere and
I’m using Couchsurfing too, which saves me a lot on accommodation. I’ll eat
street food and convenient stores’ food, because, guys, that is what we do in
Asia!!! The long round-trip flight from and to the U.S. is expensive, but other
flights within Southeastern/Eastern Asian area are cheap. Believe it or not:
way cheaper than flying from here to Florida, Texas or California!
I would rather have a passport full of stamps than a house
full of stuff (wish I could have both though). My thinking is that we never
know what happens in the far future, so why trying to predict it? I’ll just live
for this moment, this summer, and the next 2 years when I’ll be a student of
UMD! Before learning from school, I’ll believe in what I see with my eyes and
feel with my heart. Sure, after the trip, I will be poor on gold, but may be rich
on life!
Abi's Summer Plans
May 9, 2016
Tho's Summer Plans
May 4, 2016
The
cold finally is going away, and people are eager for their summer vacation. So
am I! I have been planning to go to Myrtle Beach right after I finish the final
exams. Then I will get back to work at Writing, Reading, and Language Center at
Takoma Park campus of MC; Hopefully I will have a spot since many students
might not be able to work due to changing our location. I am going to work
during both summer I and II as well as take summer classes at the Takoma Park
and Rockville campuses. This summer is my busiest summer ever. Time is going
fast, so I have to study in order to get closer to my goal of transferring. I
am so glad that some of my co-workers are transferring; I wish a lot of best
luck to you guys. Anyway, those are all of my plans for this summer. Hope you
will have a best summer ever. Enjoy and play safe.
Isaac's Summer Plans
May 4, 2016
This summer I plan on taking on a
part time job. I applied for a position at a daycare that I am super excited
for. I am also transferring to the Fashion Institute of Technology following
this semester, so I will be preparing for a new school year. I will also begin
shopping for a new apartment In New York City. I have been thinking about
essentials that I will need for a new living space. Besides taking on a part
time job, I really want to have a relaxing summer vacation. I typically take on
numerous activities during this time. Last summer I completed six college
credits and traveled to North Carolina and New York. I actually plan to enjoy
this time by taking on simple activities such as going to the gym and shopping.
Ragda's Summer Plans
May 3, 2016
Summer is finally here! And I cant
wait to finish this semester and do exactly everything I do right now
(procrastinating) just without the guilt. …Only joking! I have plenty of
exciting plans for this summer and I am so excited! In Summer One, I am going
to dedicate my time on really just relaxing and working on my portfolio and artwork.
I personally enjoy my own company and I enjoy kayaking, exploring different
types of museums in DC or even just simply finding a cozy little café or sushi
place to spend my time in while I enjoy my coffee and work on my art. I also
plan on doing some charity work with a couple of my friends and giving to the
community. Summer Two, however, will be full of adventures as my cousins will
be visiting me from Dubai. It is their first time in the States and I can’t
wait to show them around. I plan on working in the Writing Center in summer as
well and I have to say that I will truly miss my coworkers Abi, Cherif, and
Selam when they transfer next semester. I am so thankful I have such amazing
coworkers. I wish for them the best and I hope everyone has an amazing summer!
Deksiyos' Summer Plans
Hey everyone so we are back with
the blog writing but this time it’s even more interesting since it’s about
summer. Summer is the time where most people enjoy outdoor activities and
admire the beauty of nature. I don’t
personally like hot weather but seeing kids play freely and people having fun
outside makes summer one of my greatest seasons of the year. Every summer I
plan to visit a new place or do a certain activity that I always wished to do. This
summer I am planning to make it one of my favorite summers since I did not do
much last summer other than taking summer classes and working at the Writing, Reading,
and Language Center. I am not usually a big fan of summer classes. However, I
did take summer classes for the last two years. This year I decided to dedicate
my summer for relaxation only. I am planning to go to Atlantic City, New Jersey
for a few days during summer one to visit the beautiful beach and maybe the
casinos. In Atlantic City I am thinking to try parasailing. I am a big fan of
adventures and I tried few before and want to try more in the future including
skydiving. I was planning to try
skydiving this summer. However, I found out that I am not ready for that yet
(too scared). For summer two I will go
back to Ethiopia after so many years which is really exciting. During summer one I will also be working at
the Writing Center. Last but not least this summer will be really special
because I will turn 21. Overall, this will be my summer. I hope all of you will have a nice and joyful
summer.
Biniyam's Summer Plans
April 26, 2016
My favorite ‘S’ word, Summer. It is an escape
from all the hard work and complications of normal college life. No school, no
exams, and no waking up early. It allows me to spend some time relaxing and
enjoying the social aspects of life. However, I will not spend the entire
summer seeking fun. In this summer, I’m going to take Anatomy class and work at
WRLC. Like winter and Spring, Summer does not slow down. It goes away too fast.
If I had the power, I would give a speeding ticket to summer. Finally, I wish
you have some great vacations full of joy and sunshine.
Aman's Summer Plans
April 25, 2016
This summer I have a lot of plans to do. On May 19th, I am going to Canada for my cousin's wedding. I am going to stay there for one week and enjoy the beautiful weather in Toronto. It will be an exciting time for me because I have not been there before. After the vacation, I plan to take a Chemistry class in Rockville and hopefully get a good grade. Finally, I wish everybody a happy summer to remember in the future.
Alfred's Summer Plans
April 22, 2016
Summer is a good time to relax.
However, this Summer I, I think I am going to be busy. Although I will take my
time to go back to my hometown, Hong Kong, I still need to take my class, which
is Business Law, online. For sure, if I
have leisure time, I think I will go to Korea for traveling because I want to visit
my friends. Moreover, I will focus on my education in order to get “A” grade in
my Business Law class. In the Summer II, I am going to be back in Silver
Spring, and I am going to take Biology with my friend. I will try my best to
keep myself in good study position in summer.
Senait's Summer Plans
April 21, 2016
Hoorayyyy, summer is on
its way! I am going to work, travel, have fun with my friends, and stay up late
watching movies, but wait I am a student! I need to know what my priorities are,
whether to take classes and finish school, then have great plans, or have fun
(with my parents’ money) and stay in school longer. I choose to do school first
then fun and exploring the world comes second. This summer, I am planning to
work so that I could pay for my summer classes. I am also going to catch up
with reading fiction books.
Ruth's Summer Plans
April 20, 2016
Summer
for me means having fun. I always find that one of the nicest parts of summer
is making plans for doing fun things. When this spring will end, I plan to work
at the Writing, Reading, and Language Center during Summer I. For summer II, my
vacation plan is to travel to Europe for seven weeks. Now I’m getting ready by
compiling travel requirements, and I do hope to have a visa. First I will go to
Germany because my flight ticket destination is Germany. I will spend one
wonderful week with my little sister who lives in Berlin. She intends to take
me to the countryside. We will walk and do some outdoor activities. After
Germany, I will go to Belgium in order to visit my sweet friend Ginette. She will
have a grandiose ceremony, which is an inauguration of her new house. Finally,
I will go to France for the rest of my vacation. France has always been the
country that I always dreamed to visit. Now I’m glad that I have an opportunity
to visit it (if I get a visa). All my lovely sisters and friends are waiting
for me there. We haven’t seen each other for almost 4 years. While in Paris, we
will do some shopping, visit the Eifel Tower, La Defense and many other amazing places.
There is just so much to do in summer. We’d
love to hear about your plans for summer adventures!
Meyevi's Summer Plans
April 18, 2016
In a
few weeks, people will have more smiles on their faces and will be wearing
shorter clothes. In addition, we will all cast our coats in our drawers and
take advantage of the sunny days. Since I still have a lot of classes left to
take at Montgomery College, I plan to take advantage of summer classes. I will take
classes in Summer I and Summer II. I will also work during both summer sessions
at the Writing, Reading, and Language Center. Finally, I will try to find new
music to listen to during my free time.
Cherif's Summer Plans
April 15, 2016
Hello everyone! It is about that time right? Summer! Who
doesn't need a vacation? The sun will be shining at its best; birds will be
flying and singing their impressive melodies; squirrels will be running around
to collect food; and other animals will just do their everyday duties. In one
word, everything will take life. On the other hand, there is "Me";
well... I don't even remember the last time I had a vacation. But wait, I am a
student, so I shouldn't be that surprised. This summer, I will be interning at
the Library of Congress in the Science Technology and Business Division. It
will be my first time to do an internship; as a result, I don't know what to
expect. It will run throughout the entire summer. At the same time I will be
taking one class during summer I, but I don't know about summer II. If I take
classes during summer II, I will only have one week of vacation. I think one
week is enough for me to relax. During that one week, I am planning to go to
Canada where I have my cousins and a lot of friends. It is not going to be a
boring one week because I am planning to go skydiving, snowboarding and bungee
jumping. I know! You might think those things are risky. You are right! I am a
curious and risky person. If I die, that means I was supposed to die. Nothing
less... Nothing more. I said enough about my summer plans. It is your turn now.
Tell us how awesome your summer is going to be and don't be shy :).
Biniyam Mekuriya
February 29, 2016
Hi
there this is my blog post, so I have to say something about myself. Sometimes it is
hard to introduce yourself because you know yourself so well that you do not
know where to start. Let me give a try to see what kind of image you have
about me through my self-description. My name is Biniyam Mekonnen Mekuriya. I
am from Ethiopia; the
only sovereign nation in Africa to defeat colonialist designs, home to Ancient
forms of hominids, source of Blue Nile which allowed Egypt to flourish, home to
one of the first Christian nations in the world, oldest Islamic community
outside of what is now Saudi Arabia, and home to the most diverse African
ethnic groups.
I am a person who is positive about every
aspect of life. There are many things I like to do, to see, and to experience.
I like to read, write, think and dream. I am nature lover. I like to see the
sunrise in the morning and the moonlight at night. I adore flowers in spring,
rain in summer, leaves in autumn, and snow in winter. As I like nature I like
people.
I love going to school and I have always taken my studies
very seriously. I have got big dreams, when it comes to studies. Now, I am
enrolled at Montgomery College. Since I
was a kid, I decided to be a doctor. So that is my goal and I always try to aim
to do my best at school, so hopefully my hard work will pay off in the
end. Caring for people has always been my desire. Whenever I see someone
who I think needs help, I am always willing to help them. I feel very sorry
whenever I see the poor patients in hospital, and that’s why I want to be a
doctor.
Also, I
love praying. I pray as much as I can. Being a Christian and not praying just
doesn't go together, so that is why I pray. I also feel that whenever I pray,
it helps me getting forward and achieving more and more.
Phuong Dang
February 23, 2016
Hi guys, I’m Phuong. I came from Vietnam; my family has been
in the US for one year and a half. I have one sibling also a student at
Montgomery College. I love driving so I could go anywhere whenever I want and I
don’t like staying at home. I failed 6
times (2 law tests and 4 driving tests) in order to get a driver license.
Now, I plan to earn bachelor degree at UMBC in nursing. After I finish nursing program at Montgomery
College, and then I want to continue learning to become physician assistant. I hope when I graduate I can come back to my
country to help the poor. Although my
major is health care, I am interested in learning Japanese, making sushi and
some Vietnamese food, and playing guitar.
Besides working and studying at school, every Sunday, I participate in
Vietnamese Youth group; I come to church to teach kids about the Bible, play
games with them, and do fundraising to support our group.
Working at The Writing Center is the greatest experience I
have ever had. My co-workers are so
friendly, helpful, and fun. I got
chance to make friends with many people, who are really good at studying. I learn a lot from them, they are the
motivation for my study.
Isaac Abraham
February 19, 2016
Hello!
My name is Isaac
Abraham. I was born in the Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, DC. It’s
kind of awkward when people ask me which hospital I was born in because it
actually closed in 2002. I have always been a huge basketball fan. My favorite
team growing up was the Washington Wizards. My favorite player to watch was
Gilbert Arenas. It was amazing to watch someone with such an incredible range
and shooting touch. Besides the physical play of basketball, I was always
infatuated with the sport’s athletic gear. I loved the different jerseys and
accessories the NBA players wore on the court. In elementary school, I began to
collect jerseys, headbands, and athletic footwear. I believe my career goals
have been strongly influenced by my interest in sports and clothing. I am
currently a business administration major in hopes to be involved in the
fashion and professional sports industries. I am also a member of the
Renaissance Honors Scholars Program and the Phi Tetha Kappa Honors Society. For
the Spring Semester, I will be working as a peer tutor at the WRL Center.
Despite being a business administration major, I have taken English and
Literature courses because of my passion for writing. I look forward to
assisting students with reading and writing at the WRL Center.
Abi Logbo
February 17, 2016
Hello my name is Abi Helena Logbo. I was born in the Ivory
Coast I came to the United States in 2002. My father told me that the reason we
migrated from the Ivorycoast to the United States was because he wanted to
raise me in his home country as he is originally from the United States. I
travelled alone as my parents patiently waited for me to arrive. Learning
English was a struggle for me when I arrived. The kids at school used to the
tease me about my accent since I had a thick French accent. Often times the
kids would pose a question in English and I would answer them in French. I was
fortunate to be assigned a guide who spoke French in order to be able to express
myself throughout the day. He was from the Ivorycoast as well so we shared many
similar traditions.
My parents
decided to enroll me in Kumon which is a private
tutoring organization. The program helps students with academic skills
in reading, writing, and language. I was fortunate to be in the program as I
was able to improve my language skills in hopes to perform better in school.
After completing the program my parents noticed that my grades were improving.
Instead of getting B’s I ended up getting A’s. I was very proud of myself. From
that moment I knew anything was possible as long as I put my mind to it.
Perseverance was key.
I am currently majoring in Kinesiology in hopes to go
to the University of Maryland in the fall. In addition, I hope to specialize in
physical therapy. My advisors suggested that I apply for the MTAP program to
remain a competitive applicant. I successfully did so and was admitted. Getting
accepted to the program was a big relief as I could now focus on what is
necessary for me to obtain my goals. Studying at Montgomery College has allowed
me to grasp the skills needed to be successful in the work force. When I first
arrived at Montgomery College I used to come to the Reading, Writing, and Language
center for tutoring. I remember leaving feeling relieved knowing that my work
was finally revised. The feedback I received allowed me to become a better
writer. I am very thankful to now be a part of such a wonderful team.
In my free time, I am more of an outdoor person. I
enjoy hiking, rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. I enjoy going hiking as I am very active for
the most part. I also love working with children. I used to work at Quality
Time Early Learning Center which is a day care center in the heart of Silver
Spring. The days were busy as I helped the kids with phonics. Knowing that I
was able to make a difference in their lives was very rewarding.
Hieu Vo
February 17, 2016
Hi
everyone! My name is Hieu P. Vo, and I’m from Vietnam -
the country where Pho (the famous beef noodle soup) comes from. I love studying
languages, reading books and traveling. Before coming to America, I spent 5
months studying Culinary Arts in Malaysia. Let me tell you, Malaysia is a great
country! Having been here, in the States, for 2 years, I’ve visited around 12 cities,
and by far, my most favorite ones are New Orleans and Chicago. New Orleans
gives me a feeling of being in a totally different land, with culturally rich
neighborhoods, exquisite cuisine and suuuuuuch beautiful vintage French-themed
streets. Chicago, on the other hand, is a bustling metropolis with skyscrapers
and super good food too. Chicago seems like a city that has it all: parks,
lakes, museums, famous colleges, harbor, financial buildings, bridges…all
within walking distance if we stay downtown. This coming Spring Break, I’m
going to visit Mexico City. I don’t know a single Spanish word, but I’m
learning! For the summer, I’ll be traveling for 2.5 months, to Malaysia,
Singapore, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan, and one the way back here, I’ll be spending
one day in Dubai too! This is going to be my first solo trip ever! One may
think either my parents or I have lots of money to afford all of this, but my
mother started from 0 when we first came, and at one point, we were literally
kicked out on the street at 12am. It’s a sad story that I’ll never forget.
Instead of holding on the pain, I have turned it into a stimulant that
motivates me. The truth is I’ve been saving for the last 2 years from a
job at a dental clinic, I always find the best deals and I dedicate my life to
traveling. I’ve realized that once you’ve put your heart and mind in something,
everything else doesn’t really matter anymore. I personally feel like it would
be a big waste if we spend our life in just one neighborhood, while God/the
universe has given us the Earth! Books and teachers can give us information,
but real knowledge comes from seeing with our own eyes and real experiences.
I’m still young, so right now I’m quite against fancy vacation, when we spend
our time in resorts chilling. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I
prefer to be on my feet exploring a new neighborhood, or trying street food,
talking to the locals and learning a new language. I would never travel to a
country without knowing how to at least greet properly or carry on basic
conversation; because "If you talk to a
man in a language he understands, that goes
to his head. If you talk to him in his
language, that goes to his heart." - Nelson Mandela
Vu Hoang
February 9, 2016
(Photo Credit: Selam Berhe)
My name is Vu
Hoang. I specialize in computer, photos, and digital pictures. I was born here
in the United States, in Maryland. I am partly fluent in Vietnamese and English.
I spend my free time on online video games. I like to tinker around with tools,
machines, and programs that I see. From time to time, I like to stream my
gameplay of the game that I currently playing. I spend my time on twitch and
customize my channel or make it look better. I have a hobby when I am
interested in something and just try to complete it as a project. When I have
spare cash I like to spend it on my overly price PC that I have been building
and continue to make it more massive.
Veronica Palmer
January 5, 2016
My
name is Veronica Palmer, and I was born and bred in Kingston, Jamaica. My
mother gave birth to six children, of which I am the oldest of my siblings. My
mother was a single parent, and at a young age when my brothers and sisters
were born I have to help my mother take care of them. I attended primary school
up to senior school, and gradated at the age of fifteen. My first job was to
work in a hardware store as a sales clerk. I became a Christian about a year
after I had graduated from senior school and was an active member of my church,
and I was a group leader in the youth department, I sang on the church choir,
was involved in the outreach ministries, and in the women’s group.
I
got the opportunity to travel to Panama on a field trip with the President of
the youth department and other youth leaders from other churches in Jamaica. It
was a great experience because I had the opportunity to visit another country,
know different places and get acquainted with different people. Also, I was able to start a business, by
importing and exporting goods from Panama to Jamaica. After a while, there were
a lot of competition with other people who got involved and business got real
challenging and I was not able to keep up with it because I was no longer able
to make a profit to meet my demands.
I
got the opportunity to migrate to the US and got the chance to attended evening
classes to improve on my education, so I could get a job. This did not work out
for me, but I got a job as a baby sitter for two years. After that, I got a job
to work At the National Institute of Health (N.I.A) as a Patient Escort for
three years, after which the contract ended. I got another job, and after a
while I was out of a job. Then, I got the privilege to attend Montgomery
College to receive a higher education, so I can obtain a career in Mental
Health as a counselor. It is my heart desire, to make a difference in the lives
of those who are less fortunate, and in society. It is a delight to have a job
in The Writing, Reading, and Language Center at TP/ SS. I also appreciate the
staff, tutors, and students here. One of the things that no one knows about me
at WRL Center is that I love to sing, even though I can’t sing like angel.
Tho Tong
February 3, 2016
My name is Tho Tong. I was born in Vietnam. I
came to the United States in 2011 with my mom, dad, and older brother. My
parents told my brother and me that they brought us here because they wanted us
to have a better life and a better education no matter how hard they work or
what challenges they have to deal with. For these reasons, I tell myself every
day that I have to study to compensate my parents’ sacrifices. I want to help
out my parents and show their efforts are truly appreciated by me. At
Montgomery College, I am taking general courses and trying to get into my major,
which is mechanical engineering as soon as possible. I love mechanical
engineering because I have a huge obsession with cars and it also involves many
interesting courses such as mathematics, physics, and automobile. On the other
hand, I have struggled with English because it is my second language. I wish I had
finished English 102 already so I don’t have to take English classes anymore. While
working at Writing, Reading, and Language Center at Takoma Park campus, I have
met many new friends and coworkers who confide their life stories to me so that
I realize that we have something in common. For example, we all came from
different countries, but we all have mutual experience to live in U.S., which
is learning English as well as learning American culture. Moreover, working at
WRLC gives me an opportunity to apply myself in work field so that I can gain
many work experience and have a chance to interact with others and learn many
things from them. At home, I spend most of my time watching TV shows and
movies. My favorite TV shows are The Walking Dead, Teen Wolf, Falling Skies,
and Once Upon a Time. That is a reason why I cannot concentrate when I study at
home, but I can at school. Some sports that I usually participate in are
swimming, badminton, and volleyball. One thing about me that my co-workers have
never known is that I am really playful. I am usually joking around with my
family and friends. Language is an obstacle which prevents me from
communicating with others, but that doesn’t mean I’m unfriendly. I am actually
a really outgoing and social person. Last thing, I hope WRLC will strongly
preserve and continue to develop.
Solomon Gebretasdik Teklegiorgis
February 2, 2016
My name is
Solomon Gebretasdik Teklegiorgis, and I’m from the Horn of Africa where people
can see and hear all the African cultures and voices in unity. Ethiopia is a
birth place of human kind where you can find Australopithecus
Afarensis, Dinkinish, the 3.2 million year old human fossil, Arabica coffee and more than 80
tribes. The African Union head quarter (AU) and The Economic Commotion for
Africa (ECA) are also found in the capital city, Addis Ababa.
Although I went to pre-school at an early age
and studied at comparatively a better school with my neck of the woods, I was a
mediocre student specially in my English classes, passed tests by praying, dangled
from class to class with warnings from the principals; however, due to my
Christian friends that I had when I was a choir member in Orthodox Church and
with my family’s support, I would be able to work hard and pass my classes with
astonishing scores. My eagerness to education after all those years erupted and
helped me to achieve good grades at high school. To your surprise, now I know
how to read blue prints, paint houses, plaster walls, and set ceramic tiles due
to my vocational study that I have taken in high school which is called
construction trade and science. In addition, I graduated with Associate Diploma
in Chemical Engineering and worked in a pharmacy for two years before I moved
to the USA in September 2013 and helped the people by preparing reagents for
hospitals, and by mixing dermatological prescriptions. Furthermore, I know how
to prepare vinegar, nail polish remover, disinfectants, 1% Gentian Violet, 3% Hydrogen
Peroxide, iodine tinctures etc…
My passion of
visiting and admiring nature starts from back in the days when I was in high
school so that I traveled to nearly three-fourths of Ethiopia. I moved to the
USA around two years ago after I won a Diversity Lottery. When I got closer to
the Dulles Airport, I was so overwhelmed by the trees and the land scape. In
addition, the educational opportunity which I got here in Maryland at Montgomery
College is making me think that my dream career is Dentistry. Currently, I’m
studying life science and planning to transfer to UMCP to pursue my BS. in
Biological Science and to continue my graduate school at UMB to be an Orthodontist.
Selam Berhe
January 29, 2016
Hello, thank you for
checking out our blog! My name is Selam Berhe, and I am a student worker here
at the WRLC. I’d like to tell you about my journey of how I got to where I am
today. My hometown, Asmara, is in Eritrea. I grew up there with my grandparents
and cousins. Eventually, my mom and I decided it was time to leave home
and go to the United States because I knew I would have more academic and
career opportunities. However, in order to do so, I had to spend some
time in Nairobi, Kenya because the visa paperwork to get to the USA takes quite
awhile.
Here in Kenya, I was
living by myself. I made a lot of friends though, especially with people who
enjoyed playing soccer, which is a personal interest of mine. (By the way, my
favorite team is Manchester United!) After about a year, I was able to learn a
little Kiswahili, which is the Kenyan language. I liked asking people, “Habari yako?” which translate to, “How
are you?” The response I would commonly get back is “Nzuri sana,” which means, “I am fine.” After the completion
of my visa paperwork, I was finally able to come to the U.S. in 2011. I then
started my first semester at Montgomery College in the Fall of 2012.
While being here at
M.C., I found my passion for physical fitness. I really enjoy going to the gym
with my friends. As a result, my goal is to pursue a degree in Kinesiology at
University of Maryland. With this degree, I hope to further my education and
move on to Physical Therapy. One thing you may not know about me is that I
earned the nickname “Mr. Wikipedia Man” for possibly knowing the answer to
every question asked by the students that come to the WRLC.
Ragda Noah
January 29, 2016
Hello, my
name is Ragda Noah, I come from a beautiful city called Omdurman Located in
Northern Sudan. Growing up I spent my life traveling back and forth from
America to Sudan. My family and I came to the United States when I was only a
year old. When I turned three years old my beloved father passed away. My
mother and I stayed in the US for seven years after my father’s passing and
after that my mother made the decision that we go back and reside in the
beautiful mother land Sudan. At the time I was eight years old and I hated the
fact of leaving my friends and school behind. I can surely say I struggled a
lot to fit in in my first couple of months in Sudan. Everything was so
different, the people, the weather, the way of living were very different. I
didn't know much Arabic and I found it hard to communicate with people. I later
began to respect my mother’s decision and I am so grateful to have spent my
childhood back home, as life in Africa has both contributed and challenged me
heavily into the person I am today. I was very privileged to go to one of the
best private British schools in Sudan and ended up completing middle school and
high school there.
Growing up I
always planned to study at a university in the United States. I am now a
Graphic Design Major in my third year of Montgomery College and I plan to
transfer to Maryland University in spring of 2017. Art has always been my
passion in life and I knew from an early age I wanted to pursue it as a career
in the future. Other than drawing and working with Photoshop I also do my own
photography as well as poetry. One of my goals in life is to travel the world
making my own exhibitions of my art work and sharing it with the world.
However, my biggest goal is to go out in the world and do some humanitarian aid
work in a third world country. I really want to help people; I like to think
that maybe I can make a change in the world. I feel like it’s not only my duty
as a human but as a Muslim. My advice to you would be to stop expecting the world
to change because maybe you’re that spice that’s missing; maybe just maybe you’re
the spark of inspiration waiting to make the change.
Deksiyos Demissie
January 28, 2016
My name is Deksiyos Demissie. I am from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
and I currently reside in Silver Spring, Maryland. I went to a French high
school. As a result, I speak several languages (Amharic, French and English).
When I graduated high-school I had the option of either going to France or
America to pursue further education. However, I chose America since most of my
family lives here including my father. In addition, it’s a country I was
familiar with since I was really young. I was always into the American culture
and had the chance to visit it several times.
After I moved to The United States, I did not face many challenges and
troubles. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by so many family members and
friends. However, I missed Ethiopia because I had so many unforgettable
memories there. It’s a country that taught me so many good lessons and will
always remain in the bottom of my heart. Growing up I wanted to be an
entertainer (singer, artist), or a pilot. Resultantly, I did acting and
participated in talent shows in high school. In my personal life I am really
liberal and believe in people`s freedom. I don’t like people who discriminate
others based on their race, gender, look or sexual orientation. When it comes
to my behavior I don’t want to say much. However, people tell me that I am a really
honest person which is something I agree with. I dislike lies and fakeness. If
someone hates me for being honest I would be more than happy to remove them
from my life. They might think I am mean or disrespectful by being honest but I
am happy the way I am and would never change that for others. For hobbies, I
like partying, watching movies, playing tennis, swimming etc. In addition, I
like spending most my time with open and free minded people. Currently, I work
in the Writing, Reading, and Language Center at Montgomery College. In my
workplace I met so many good people from all around the world especially Ruth.
She is like a friend, mother and also sister to me and has taught me so many
lessons. My managers and supervisors are also good people who treat us nicely.
Overall, the WRLC is a big family for me and I would never forget that place
even after I transfer. Finally, I want to thank everyone for taking their time
to read my short story.
Anthony Nguyen
January 28, 2016
I grew up originally in Vietnam, and I am currently studying
at Montgomery College in Maryland. I was born in a nuclear family, including my
mother, my father, and my older brother. To be honest, I never get along well
with my brother on anything, but I believe that he always secretly cares about
me. My long-term goal is to complete a Bachelor’s degree, become an Aerospace
Engineer and work in the national workplace/industry. More importantly, the
ultimate aim of my life is pursuing long-lasting happiness since I strongly
believe that only happiness can produce a meaningful life. In terms of my
interests, I am fascinated with reading motivational books. One of the best
motivational books that I have read is “The Rules of The Life” by Richard
Templar. I learned about conquering stress, persuading people, and developing
the skills for a happy life. In addition, I enjoy playing sports, especially soccer
and tennis. These help me not only to be healthier, but also to improve my
teamwork skills. In my work principle, I value ‘work smart, not hard’, so I am
interested in working with “lazy” workers who will find the fastest way to
complete the tasks. Overall, the final message that I want to deliver to
everyone is “When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you
have a thousand reasons to smile.”
Aman Tsegu
January 20, 2016
My
name is Aman Tsegu. I am from Eritrea, a young nation which got its
independence in 1991. I grew up in Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, till
the time came to go to the obligatory Eritrean military service. After staying for eight months in the military
training camp, I escaped to Sudan because I didn’t like it. Going to Sudan was
the toughest journey of my life. After
two and half months of staying in Sudan, I went to Kenya. There in Kenya, while
I was playing soccer, I met a young boy named Selam, our WRLC worker. We both
talked about our plan to come to America. Thanks to our discussion, later we moved
to America. Finally after waiting in Kenya for several months, my father
brought me here to the USA. United States is country of opportunity where I was
taught to be a hard worker and be independent.
My main challenge here in the United States was the language. For
example people were having difficulties understanding my English. Fortunately studying
in this college and working in the WRLC helped me to break my language barrier
and get a lot of work experience.
HingWong (Alfred) Yau
January 15, 2016
My name is
HingWong (Alfred) Yau. I am from Hong Kong, which is a multinational city in
China. I am the only one living in the U.S.A. from my family. In other words,
my family stays in my hometown because they like Hong Kong more than the U.S.A.
I have been working in WRLC since 2015. It is an amazing job for me because I
can learn a lot from the job and I made many nice friends. We have fun during
the work because we always make jokes or share some funny experiences. I cannot
but say I really like this job. In here, I will share one of my secrets which
nobody in the WRLC knows. I am a lazy boy; I really like to sleep. Sometimes, I
can sleep over 16 hours in one day. Can you believe it?
Senait Zewdu
January 13, 2016
My
name is Senait Zewdu. I was born and raised in Ethiopia; I moved to the US in
2010. I love my family so much, and they are the reason I am here today. I
enjoy reading fiction books and going to church. Whenever I am stressed, I read,
and when I read, I read as if I am one of the characters in the book. I also
love being nice to people because I want everyone to be nice to me, too; it is
like the proverb, “Treat someone exactly how you want to be treated.” Working
at the WRLC has given me the opportunity of meeting incredible people, and
seeing people work so hard on their school motivates me. I am a nursing major,
and with God’s help and if everything works out, I will be transferring by Fall
2016. Last, this quote by Barry Manilow reminds me to keep moving forward no
matter what happens in my life every day, “I believe that we’re who we choose
to be. Nobody is going to come and save you; you’ve got to save yourself.
Nobody is going to give you anything; you’ve got to go out and fight for it;
nobody knows what you want except you; and nobody will be as sorry as you if
you don’t get so don’t give up on your dreams.”
Ruth Njike Bakamen
January 11, 2016
My name is Ruth Njike Bakamen, but
my friends and family back home call me "Amina." I am from Cameroon. I
grew up in Douala, which is the economic capital of Cameroon, where
my parents and my family still live. When I was teenager and a student in middle
school, I was diagnosed with cancer; as a result, my right arm was amputated.
I had to learn how to use my left hand for
everything. Writing wasn't easy, but finally and by the grace of God, I made it. Since then, my inner wishes have always been
to travel to the USA where I could study, find a job, and above all be able to
have prosthesis. Fortunately, in 2013 my dream came true. In fact, I was luckily selected among the few candidates who applied for the DV lottery. That is how today I am a permanent resident in
the USA. Since I traveled to
the USA, I met a lot of new people. At first, I
could be seen as someone who is not easy to get on with, but as soon as we
become friends, one realizes that I am a good person. I see myself as an ambitious
and reliable hard worker, but like everyone else, I have some defects that I'm fighting every
day. Now, I am pursuing an Associate degree in Sonography at Montgomery College,
and I am so happy about that. When I’m not at school, I work at the Writing, Reading,
and Language Center where I have
a good relationship with my co-workers and where all the staff are amazing. It
is like a family place. That is a little story about my life.
Meyevi Clémentine Afanyiakossou-Gbagba
January 8, 2016
I am Meyevi Clementine Afanyiakossou-Gbagba. I was
born in Lome, the capital of Togo, a country located in West Africa. I am one
of the lucky people who came to the United States because of my parents. My
mother left the country for Europe when I was nine, and my father for the
United States when I was eleven. They both left seeking to offer better
opportunities for their daughter, even though I had what I needed in my country
to succeed in the future. As a result, I grew up with my cousins, and I was
raised by my maternal grandparents. I did not realize what my parents did for
me until I landed in the United States in 2013.
I
was fortunate enough to be a part of the American education system. I am glad
that I came to the United States because its education system is better, and I
learned many things from my wonderful teachers. I used to be sick often when I
was little, and the nurses were very hospitable. The way they treated me
inspired me, so I decided to become a nurse. I enrolled in Montgomery College
after I got my high school diploma in the state of Maryland. I am majoring in
General Studies, and I am planning to transfer to a four-year university where
I will major in nursing. After, I will pursue a master’s in accounting.
Besides
my academic life, I also have a personal life. I like to cook, listen to music,
read, write, play with children, and clean the house. I used to ask my little
cousins to call me mom. I am a shy and calm person, but I do my best to
interact with the people I meet.
I
accomplished many things in my life. Since I came to the U.S., I earned many certificates
and awards. I also volunteered at James Madison University in Virginia, and I
participated in the 7th annual mid-Atlantic math competition at Cecil College.
My future goals are to help women’s organizations stop violence against women
and promote the education of girls around the world. Therefore. I am looking
forward to volunteering at the Family Justice Center. Because of these goals, I
plan to stay in the United States. However, I will not forget my home country or Europe, which is another home for me. I am pleased to work with the
wonderful and amazing staff, tutors, and student workers at the Writing,
Reading, and Language Center at TP/SS.
Mamadou Chérif Simpara
January 6, 2016
My name is Mamadou Cherif Simpara;
people usually call me Madcherif, Cherif, Mad or Mamadou. I was born and raised
in Mali, West Africa. In my family, everyone has the privilege to choose the
country in which he or she wants to study after high school. As a result, after
I graduated from high school, I decided to come to the United States. When I
was in high school, the United States was not the country that was on my mind.
I wanted to go to England because of its architecture and its historical
content. However, after traveling to the United States in 2011 for vacation, I
changed my mind. My brother, who I came to see for my vacation, convinced me to
come to college in the United States. He flabbergasted me with the touristy
places and the well-known historical faces (people) of the United States. I now
wonder if his primary goal wasn’t to persuade me to study in the U.S. I have
been in the United States for three years, and I feel like I have been gone
from my home country for an eternity. However, I do not complain. The United
States raised me as if I was its child, and I am fearful to detach myself from
this country.
I have grown both intellectually and
independently. I am studying Business Administration, and I am planning to
transfer to a four-year college after Fall 2016 when I will double major in
Accounting and Information Systems (Computer Science). Others will consider
those majors as business and technology. My primary goal was to be an
accountant, but as my knowledge was prospering, I felt a desire for computers;
I felt like computers were the pieces that were missing from my goals. I became
so attached to computers that I felt regret taking over my conscience. I said
to myself, “If I knew, I would have studied Computer Science in the first
place.” Alas, that is just a desire lost in the burden of the unknown.
As for my personality, I consider
myself a calm person. Some people consider me as nice, bold, arrogant, smart,
careless, shy or mean. However, everyone has his/her own perspective of art
exhibited on the walls of a museum. Yet, those characteristics do not matter to
me. I usually analyze the situation before talking. I am known for my honesty,
and I am a determined, courageous, and stubborn student. If I put my head to
something, I will rarely give up on it. I have traveled a lot around the world,
but I have never been to Asia. I speak four languages and understand five. I
like every type of music and sports; however, my favorite sports are
basketball, soccer and tennis. I taught myself piano. I am not hundred percent
good, but I can play.
Since I came to Montgomery College,
I achieved a lot, such as receiving awards, being a part of honor societies,
being a club leader, volunteering in many places, etc. Lastly, I like writing.
I write at least three times per week. Writing is like expressing myself
through words without using vocal sounds. I usually write short stories, but I
have never shown any of them to anyone because I do not feel confident enough.
Everything is possible in life; people should just push themselves out of the
ideology that things are impossible. Be happy, be strong, be confident; fight
towards your goal even if you were to lose some people because you matter. Now,
what are your stories?
INVITATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BLOG
11/10/2015
You can submit pictures and articles to this blog! Is there something you would like to say to the other student workers? Do you have a piece of writing you would like to share for the holidays? Do you have a photograph to share? Please submit to either Karen Blinder or Tanya Camp the things that you would like to have considered for inclusion in the next post. Perhaps the thing you submit will be selected! Don’t be shy! Everyone can work together to make this the best blog ever!
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