Childhood

My husband was born in a small town in Vietnam. When he was 10 years old, he had to help his mother to trade.

Every day, he had to get up early under his mother's loud yell. Before the sun raised, they must cross through the small town and arrived farmer's market between Vietnam and China.

There, they spent some money to buy various merchandise. My husband's responsibility was looking at articles and waited for his mother to trade with farmers. When they finished shopping,they shipped these merchandise to their town in hurry.

In town, my husband's mother owned one booth. She used it to wholesale or sale merchandise feeding her children. She worked as a businesswoman very hard. But my husband didn't understand, because he wanted to go outside to play with his friends. So, sometimes, he felt angry and hated his mother.

One day, his mother bought a group of chickens and called him to feed them with leftover crop and rice. My husband was very unhappy. While his mother didn't pay attention at him, he caught a chicken and opened its beak. At once, he put a bowl of crop into stomach of chicken. The chicken couldn't breathe air and resisted him. Swings hit the floor to make loud noise. My husband's mother stared at him and asked:" what are you doing?" He was very scared. He broke into a run before his mother caught at him.

That day, my husband couldn't eat dinner. Because unfortunately, that chicken died!

Halloween Photos

Click here to see more photos from our Halloween party.

Who I Am

Before deciding to come here, I, like each of my classmates, left important people and important things behind. It was a hard decision. I left my job, my friends, my family. I left important projects for the people I lived with to complete.

Since I was young, I’ve been always interested in the arts. Art is what I want to do, and it is what I do. I like painting, playing music, and reading, but what I really enjoy is acting. Also I played volleyball since I was child. It is my favorite sport.

I was 15 when I started to take acting classes. First, it was a hobby. I was very young and wanted to experience new things. Of course, I was a very bad actor.

After a couple of years, that hobby became a part of my life. I like the adrenaline before and during performances. It is a unique sensation, because it is something alive. It is something that only can exist in that place and at that moment. Each performance is unique. It is exciting to see and to feel people’s reactions when we improvise.

When I was 18 I left volleyball because I started studying architecture at the University. I didn’t have enough time. Instead, I started to work for the state government in artistic festivals and cultural events. When I was 21 I got to be director of a theatre. It was the newest theater in my city. It is a big theater with new theatrical equipment. I learned a lot about how a theater works, and I really enjoyed what I was doing.

I had big responsibilities there, because so many people worked there. I had to manage the finances because the theater was self-sustaining and many artistic activities were presented there every week like: performances, music concerts, dance presentations, conferences, etc. At the same time, I was studying, and I was acting in two different performance-groups, so, I was exhausted, But I really enjoyed everything that I was doing.

Three years ago, a number of players from different groups, began to work together to create in a new performance concept. We trained in different techniques like: stilts, juggling, acrobatics, clowning and everything needed to make spectaculars street performance.

Now, my performance group is a little upset with me because I am here. but they are still working in Mexico.

Hi everybody!

Is there anybody interested in basketball? What do you think about all of us going together to a Warriors game? The first one takes place on October 30th. We can talk about that tomorrow at school. Maybe, teacher, you can give us some advice on how to get the tickets and which are the most interesting games to see. See you tomorrow!

P.S. Unfortunately Hula classes have been cancelled at the Malonga school...

First TV in my small Town

First TV in My Small Town
by
Alberto Ortega Servin

Otilia’s mother told me about the first TV in our small town. She said that Rafael Garcia brought the first TV from Guadalajara. It was a black and white TV. In a short time he became the most popular man in my small town because many people heard about his television.

People were very interested in watching TV because they had never watched TV before. Only people who had been to the United States had seen one.

The most important thing is that people in my town hadn’t watched a TV program, so, at this time, many people paid about 20 centavos to watch TV. In the house of Rafael Garcia, young and old people went to watch TV. Not all people had enough money to pay to watch TV.

I remember that my mother said that at this time the most popular programs were the movies of Pedro Infante. “Chavo del 8”, “El Chapulín Colorado” and the soap operas.

When there was a event special on television, Rafael Garcia announced it with a loudspeaker

What kind of special event you might ask? For example, boxing matches were popular event in the lives of these people as well as special events like baseball. People already listened to baseball on the radio so it was very popular.

At this time only one TV network existed in Mexico. It was called Televisa. Now there are at least two TV networks. Televisa and TV Azteca transmit programs the across Mexico and around the world.

People could only watch two stations: channel 2 and channel 5. On channel 2 they played soap operas and Mexican movies. Channel 5 played programs it bought from the TV networks in the United States of America.

My mother told me that for a long time many people didn't own TVs because the people didn’t have enough money to buy them.

Also,I remember that when I was child only four or five people owned televisions. My brother I went to watch TV at our uncle, Rafael Ortega's, house. We also watched TV at uncle Fidel Baez’s house. My father and mother always told us not to watch TV because, they said, that TV was very dangerous for our eyes. I don’t know if that was true, but I frequently watched TV in the house of my uncle, Rafael Ortega. Also my grandfather often told us not to watch TV because, he said, we should feed the cattle or do some other worthwhile activities. We needed to do homework but the TV was a distraction and sometimes we didn’t do our homework.

Now, in my small town, everyone has a TV. Times have changed and now most people have enough money to buy TVs.

My Complaint Letter

October 23, 2007

Cam Huong Restaurant
Ms. Thuv
755 International Boulevard
Oakland, CA

Dear Ms. Thuv:

"Thanks, lady!" Your restaurant is a clean place. The food in your restaurant is very delicious. The Cam Huong Restaurant is very near our school and the food servers are very nice. However, it might be healthier for people if the cooks didn't use so much mono sodium glutamate.

Mono sodium glutamate is made from chemicals. It can effect blood pressure and cause heart disease. Please use fresh, organic food and improve the skills of the cooks so instead of using MSG. Palatable and healthy food will get more customers for you. You will earn a lot of money.

If don't put so much MSG in the food, your customers won’t need to go to the hospital so often.

Sincerely,

Shanchang
Students in room101
750 International Boulevard
Oakland, CA

Complaint Letter

October 23, 2007
MATTER: SUGGESTION


Manager of Supermarket “Good Food”
Mr. Tolstoy Leon
1982 San Pablo Ave.
Emeryville, CA

Respectable Mr. Tolstoy

P R E S E N T

First, Please let me congratulation for the great performance that you have been doing. It is a very good supermarket, everything is clean and the products are always fresh. I think the supermarket could be better for some costumers, however. Please consider sale free organic chicken and eggs without hormones.

Sale free organic chicken and eggs without hormones is more healthy and nutritive for the consumers. Organic Food keep at the body more healthy and free from chemical sustains.

I think if you provides at the Supermarket with organic foods, you could send a good message to the people start to buy more healthy food. Also, you will attract and other kind to consumers, and increase your sales.

Please starts offer organic chicken and eggs without hormones as soon as possible. It will be more healthy for your costumers, and could will increase yours sales.


Sincerely,



Arch. Alejandro Campa
President of the Healthy
Food Institution

My Complaint Letter

October 23, 2007
Com Huang
Mrs. Amy
1422, International Boulevard
Oakland, CA

Dear Mrs. Amy,
I am your customer. I usually go to your restaurant eat lunch. When I sat in your restaurant, I was feeling comfortable. The food taste delicious and the waitress is a nice person. She always smiles to me. One day I order the wrong food, and then the waitress can help me change the food.

Mrs. Amy your restaurant is very nice and everything is clean and neatly. I like to go to your restaurant, but sometimes the food is too much spicy. I told the waitress doesn’t put too much spices, but she didn’t listen to me. I can’t eat too much spicy because my stomach doesn’t feel good. Please can you help me change less spicy?

Su Juan Chen
Student in Room 101
750, International Boulevard
Oakland, CA

My Ccomplient Letter

October 23, 2007

Manager of Lucky Supermarket
Mr. Kevin Twyford
2020 29^th Avenue
Oakland, CA

Dear Mr. Twyford,

I would like to tell you that your supermarket has the best prices in town an the store is always clean, but I think it would be even better if you offered the best quality meat. I mean, please offer poultry, beef, lamb and pork with less fat.

Too much fat can cause many health problems. Heart disease, high cholesterol and overweight are caused by eating too much fat. Quality meat may be more expensive, but if it reduces health problems, it is worth the extra money. I would rather spend more money in your store than in the doctor’s office.

I feel that healthy food is important and you can help by selling high quality low fat meat and poultry.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Angelica Briddell

My Complaint Letter

October-23-2007

Manager of San Supermarket
Mr. Johnson
226 Harrison ST
Alameda, CA

Dear Mr. Johnson:

I am a student of the Neighborhood Centers Adult School. My name is Shumei Xu.

I have been to your supermarket many times. Your market is a great market. I can buy any thing that I want there. Your market has complete equipment and good service. Everybody is very nice. It would be even better if you sold plenty of fresh vegetables.

I want to talk about something important to you. I found your market doesn’t usually have fresh vegetables to offer to its customers.

If a customer comes to your market, and then they look at your vegetable section, but each kind of vegetable is not fresh, I think they won’t buy them. It is bad for your business.

Fresh vegetables are good and important for everyone’s health. They are also important for the health of your business.

I hope you will sell fresher vegetables as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Shumei Xu

Students in Room 101
750 International Boulevard
Oakland,CA

My Complaint Letter

October 23, 2007

CEO of MacDocdonalds
Mr. Jim Cantalupo
2402 S Park St, Madison, WI
(608) 251-1993


Dear Jim Cantalupo;

First, please let me compliment you about MacDonalds Restaurants. They are very clean and inexpensive .They are a famous part of American culture . Many people in the United States need healthy nutritious meals shared in a comfortable environment. If MacDonalds could sell more fresh fruit and vegetables the health of many Americans would improve.

I think that of the nutrition of America people is crucial because many people have the problems with cholesterol and over weight. I hope you put more healthy food in your fast food restaurant as soon as possible.

Also, people need more educational programs to learn about healthy food. Please post more signs with information about fruit and vegetables.


I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Alberto Ortega Servin

Complaint Letter

October 23, 2007
Manager of Parkway Theater
1834, Park Boulevard
Oakland, CA


Dear Mr. Jones,

I am a movie addict and your Theater is my favorite theater in Oakland. I really enjoy its funny and friendly atmosphere, its comfort and, of course, its very cheap prices. I think that eating some good tasting food while watching a movie it’s a great idea and a delight for your mouth and your eyes.

However your customers will enjoy even more your Theater if you start selling lean and organic food. The importance of nutrition in our society is thriving more and more and many people become to be very beware about a healthy lifestyle.

If you would add in your menu some lean and organic food customers that take care of the diet, could eat during the movie without the fear of getting fat.
Furthermore, you will offer to your customers a wide range of choices increasing the popularity of your theater and your profit and it won’t cost you too much.

I think that it would be a little but important change, for both you and your customers, that follows the healthy trend spreading in our country.

Sincerely,

Alice Romanelli
Student in Room 101
750, International Boulevard
Oakland, CA

Hi, Classmates

My name is Mireya.

This is my first post on the blog.

I will write more soon.

Bye ...

My letter…

My letter…
By
Alberto Ortega Servin
Hallo class

Alberto Ortega Servin
838 36th AVE
Oakland, CA 94601-3409

Maria Luisa Martínez
3506 Virginia St.
Riverbank, CA 95367

October 20, 2007

Dear, Aunt Maria Luisa Martinez

You asked me, about my life in the United States America. Now I do not work because I study English I am usually very busy. In my morning routine is a good example. I wake up at 7:00 am, I cook my own breakfast and I usually eat my breakfast at 7:45am. I always leave my home at 7:50 am, and then I take the bus at 8:10 am. I am arriving at the school at 8:25 in the room 211 on the Clinton Park School so I study English from 8:30 to 11:30 am. Also I leave school at 11:32 am, I eat my lunch at 11:40 am as I read Mexican newspaper in internet abut Mexican news of different topics because I am interesting about the life Mexican people, how you know the year I was working in the Michoacán University. Also I take in the afternoon at 12:30 I begin my other English class this it finish at 3:30 and I usually wait the bus about 15 minutes. The bus usually does of 15 minutes the bus stop Fruitvale where I get off of the bus. On Saturday and on morning I get up from 9:00 to 10:30 am and I usually go to shopping at different place on Bay Area so that I write and read to histories about my country and on Sunday same I made my routine of the Saturday but on evening I leave my house at 6:00 pm and I have gone to church St. Elizabeth Catholic Parish where mass begins 6:30 pm it ends at 7:30 pm and I usually pray.
Tell me, so my classmate her name is Meaza. She is from Africa I don’t remember what country then She usually wake up at 6:00 o’clock, she take a shower at 6:30 so she fixes her own lunch and her family’s at 7:30 am she usually eats her lunch at 7:50 and she always start to study English Class at 8:30 and she stay in it until 8:30 am. She leave to the school 8:32 and she drive her own car with direction her home when she end her class. She arrive her home at 11:45 am and she cleans her house at 12:00 noon.
I hope that you done well with her family but as soon as possible I am visit to you. Already what you cook very delicious tamales of cheeses and enchiladas. I am preparing my stomach for you delicious cook. And you know that you is my favorite aunt when I was child.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Alberto Ortega Servin

Just a note

Hello teacher.

This is just a little note, I hope to everything be ok with your healthy exams

The trange dream

Do you believe the dream will be in your life? I read a new from the newspaper.

The women had a dream. She died relative members was smile in front of her.That is the bad dream by her,so her body will get bad condition as soon as she went to check up at the hospital.She gotten a serious problem,she quickly went to treat,she was getting better day by day ,so she thanks the bad dream.

The men had a dream.His family very poor,he work hard to support his family ,he was a concern spirit sometimes he can't sleep because he always thinking about his affair sand money,he think that he has a awful affection follow him.

One day he felt tire and fell down sleep the he got a pleasant dream,he lay on the grasses to look at the blue sky and a wide sea,he enjoyed the breeze.Suddenly the new environment obsess him,he though a lot of things,he changed his point of no return when he woke up.

After that,he got amazing energize power.Many years after,he has a few companies because he is a rich man.He said he trust that a good dream in lieu of his life.He continues to progress by himself.He believe the dream can change his life until now he said believe it or not but that true.

How about you muse and point of view? Do you have a dream to amuse?


Dear teacher ! This is not mine story. I help Joyce write on the blog because she couldn't connect to blog .Thanks

Tango at Buenos Aires

Hi class.

This is my first time writting in the blog, and for this first time I want to tell you about my travel to Buenos Aires Argentina. As you know I like to dance, mostly salsa, but I like every dance which take two persons.



The last year I went to South America on vacation, actually my original plan was to travel to Chile for a week and to visit Argentina and Brasil in my way back. I spend the whole week in Chile just as my plan was, but as soon as I arrived to Buenos Aires, capital of tango, I couldn't leave.



I decided that I should stay for a week before leaving so I can take some tango classes, "I can't leave Buenos Aires without dancing tango" I thought. So I took an hotel room in center Buenos Aires and started looking for places and dance studios to take classes, and I went out to practice what I just learnt every single night. I met people, friendly young and old people who use to dance tango almost every night. I started to make friends.



I knew I should leave soon, but I fell in love with tango and I still didn't want to leave so I stayed. I lived in Buenos Aires for over 6 months.

The Final Friday

(Farce in one act)

It was 7:10 in the morning, I still remember the hour just like if it was yesterday. I was in my bed when I opened my eyes. At first sigh everything looked normal, as a regular day, but it was not. I hear something outside, a mysterious noise that was surrounding the house, that noise was in all the places, also in the roof. I did not know what was going on, but I had the most terribly sensation. I woke up in my bed, and I approached to the window very slowly. I was not sure, but took strength from my insides, and then I took a deep breath , opened the window and there it was, . The water falling from the sky, a soft breeze soaking everything it touched, it was exactly as the bible describes as The Apocalypses.

I did not know what to do, I could not moved for a few seconds, I was paralyzed and scarred watching that terrible scene. Everything I knew was that I should not go out to the street, much less to school at this situation, It was very shocking to me. I was to choice between my life and my education. And I think I choose the most wiser answer, I went back to sleep.

After I went back to sleep, I dreamed for a couple hours, I dream ed that I was walking in the street when suddenly, the sky was turn dark and start to rain, I could not hide under a tree, much less into a house, because suddenly everything disappear. The city begun to transform in a desert where there was not where to hide from the water, everything was sand, and the water managed to reach me, and every second that the water got wetting me, made me fell more and more weak.

When I woke up from the nightmare. It was 11:00 at noon. And I stilled remember what I was dreaming seconds before. I still scared, but everything looked better, the noise was to disappear, and then a smile drawing on my face. I felt comfort.

I woke up, for the second time of the day, and I started to get ready to go at my afternoon class. I toke a shower, I dress up, I made some breakfast, and got ready all my stuff to leave, I climbed down the stairs and when I opened the door, you would not to believe my what I saw. The rain was still there.

I could not believe that, and that my bicycle was wet. I just stand up in the door watching again that terrible scene, but this time the breeze was more stronger than the first. And without knowing, Perla (my dog), she did not know what was going on, and started to run outside at the street. When I saw her, she was in the sidewalk down the street, I could not believe what that was happening, because she was in danger, and afraid she begun to run more and more in the other direction, I did not what to do, I pulled some strenght and went to her rescue, but when I reached her she was all moody over her feet, ad this is what happened, now Perla is not the same that before, she had changed and I could help her.

Perla, this is for you .
You will always be my bitch.

First Pickup Truck from My Father

First Pickup Truck from My Father
By
Alberto Ortega Servin

When I was children as my father bought Pickup Truck, I was remembering it was cost about $10,000.00 Mexican Pesos. This Pickup Truck sold for my uncle. His bought this pickup in the United States America during many times him came to Unites States, so my father too. Also In this time a few people had a van and truck, because it was very expensive in Mexico.
I can to count with my fingers the people who had car or truck. Only tree people had the Truck in my smaller Town (El Tecuan) with my father.
The farmer very poor then that the money was enough for it, so they bough their harvest in December or they was harvest from wheat in May, so they sold it, different companies in La Piedad, Michoacán, Mexico. But the companies bought the sorghum, corn and wheat it paid very cheaper. It was enough for buy the tuck.
Now farmers have come to the Unites States of America, also they have brought to different kind pickup truck and van but come farmers was not buying cars because government don’t want to legalization it.
The farmer bought of the pickup truck in the United States because pickup truck is cheaper for the farmer in the United State, it is cheaper to buying it but in Mexico the pickup truck is very expensive so the farmers haven’t enough money to buying it.
Now my father has lived in Oakland, California, also he does not car or pickup truck, but he does not drive car. I do not know, why? Maybe he is not driving the car because I think so he had accident before. Finally my father sold this pickup truck as old iron.

I Learned to Read as Until 8 Year Old, Why?

I Didn’t Learn to Read Until I Was 8 Years Old, Why?

by

Alberto Ortega Servin

I didn’t learn to read until I was 8 years old. Why? I have several different reasons.

EL Tecuan Ranch, where I lived, was far away from cities. At that time, the roads were made from gravel and sand. We had a small school, but often we had no teachers. No teachers lived in our town.

The teachers took a bus to our town. They often arrived late to teach my class. And the teachers didn’t teach for very long. Also, the teachers went out on strike for long periods of time. They protested in Morelia, the capitol of Michoacán.

Also, the teachers were very lazy. They only came to our school a few days a week. Sometimes they came three days a week. Sometimes they never came.

The teachers were fanatics.

Now, in 2007, the teachers belong to a movement in Mexico City. They say that the government has stolen their money and violated their rights. They protest about ISSSTE laws.

They really don’t have any reason to protest because the new laws are intended to shelter their retirement.

Please write a last paragraph that connects (and summarizes) to the title of the story.

A Little Feeling About the United States

Hi, everyone. My name is Tina.

I can't say much about this country because I just came to the United States around three weeks ago. But I feel deeply in my heart that this country is my second motherland. I think the United States will make me become better.

My husband's father gave me some advice. He said that I should study at the university. He thinks I should go to the university before I look for a good job.

I am confuse, because I don't know which university would be good for me.

In the United States everyone can attend a university, even if they don't have a lot of money. That is a great thing to me. I will be able to study without worrying about money.

Not all countries are like that. I still worry about my future.

I am going to choose the "Travel Industry" major at Laney College.

Deaf and Mute

I want to tell about a movie. This is my favorite movie. This movie was made ten years ago and I still keep it in my mind. The movie tells about a deaf and mute woman.

Her parents were best friends with another couple. They agreed that if one couple had a boy baby and the other couple had a girl baby, the children would get married when they grew up.

Both couples did have babies. The girl baby had a problem. she couldn't hear and she couldn't speak either. Ater twenty years, when they had grown up, and it was time to get married, the boy didn't want to marry the deaf mute girl. His parents wanted him to marry her.

In those days, the didn't ever see the girl before they were married.

They did get married. On the wedding night he saw his new wife for the first time. She was very beautiful. He fell in love with her.

The young husband and wife lived with the husband's brother and sister. They didn't like the deaf mute bride. She always treated her in-laws nice, but they treated her very badly. When she was cooking they put a lot of salt in the vegetables. They hoped that the boys parents would be angry with her, but the parents still liked the young bride.

After one year, the young bride gave birth to a baby girl. Her husband and his parents were very happy. When the baby was ten months old her father called the baby's name, but the baby did not turn her head. The father took her to see a doctor at the hospital.

The doctor said, "The baby is like her mother. She can not talk and she can not hear."

The young husband's parents were very angry about that. The husband left his wife and baby and went to another country. The young mother's sister in law and brother in law treated the baby and her mother very badly.

Every day tears flowed down the young mother's face.

Meanwhile, her husband met another woman and married her. They had two children, both boys, together.

The deaf mute bride did not know that he had remarried. Every day she wrote him a letter. He never received the letters because his new wife hid them from him.



The deaf mute woman's father-in-law was very rich. His children wanted him to divide his money among among them.

Later, the old father-in-law became very sick. The deaf mute took care of him every day. One day she needed to buy medicine for the old man, but she didn't have any money. She asked her brother-in-law and sister-in-law for money for their father's medicine. They didn't give her any money.

The deaf mute woman sold her own clothes and jewelry to buy medicine for her father-in-law. After a while, her father-in-laws health improved. He found out that the deaf mute woman had helped when his own children refused to help him.

When the old man died, he left most of his money to his deaf mute daughter-in-law.

Five years later, the deaf mute woman's husband received a letter from her. He asked his new wife to give him the letter's she had hidden. He became angry at her when he read the letters.

By then, his sons were five years old. The deaf mute woman's husband left his new wife and their sons and returned home to see his first wife. Unfortunately, the deaf mute woman became sick and died before he arrived.

He saw his daughter and cried.



The end.

Hello Class!

Hi everybody! How are you? I'm very very very sorry, teacher, but I forgot to tell you that I'm not coming (Present Continuous...) at school this afternoon (neither on Friday and Monday) because I'm going to travel to L.A.
If you want you can send to me a Complaint Letter...
Have a great weekend! See you on Tuesday!
Bye!

When I Was Child...

When I Was Child
By
Alberto Ortega Servin

I am remembering now that I learned to read as until 8 year old, but topic this story is about the different activities I make in the days the week and weekend. On Monday through Friday. When I went to school also I woke up at 7:00 am. So first activity was to milk the cows then my family sold this product (milk) other people of “El Tecuan” Town council “Penjamillo, Michoacán Mexico. Or other ranch called San Jose de Rabago of same Town council.
My family and I when we milked lot milk it was became in cheese this cheeses we ate in the lunch and also we drank of the milk with bread, sweet pumpkin and sweet potatoes on the morning and on the night as dinner.
Finish this activity I went to school with my cousin and friends we began the classes at 9:00 am and ended at 1:00 pm after school I brought my horses to drunk water I finishes this activity so I went to took care the cows on the field with my friends and relatives they took care their cows.
Where we other people have harvested of sorghum and corn. So there is enough pasture for the different animal as cows, horses and goats. It is main activity in my small town. When we harvested this product my father went to sell a La Piedad where, there are different companies collected of sorghum and corn. My father bought some toys for my brother and sister with this money.

Nothing Left to Do But Cry (Non ci resta che piangere)

Yesterday, in the afternoon class, since it was Columbus Day, we talked about how the discovery of America by Cristoforo Colombo is related to many others issues, like the extermination of native Americans.

Actually, I think we don’t have many things to celebrate on this day because after the Europeans came ashore in America they started many years of genocide and exploitation. They not only exploited the indigenous people of the Americas, but they also exploited people from Africa, through the slave trade. We are still paying the consequences of this exploitation.

On days like Columbus Day I’m not very proud to be Italian…Although I want to recommend an Italian movie to you. “Nothing Left to do but Cry” covers this topic, but ironically. It’s a very funny comedy starring Roberto Benigni (the director of “La vita e’ bella”) and Massimo Troisi, the actor in “Il Postino.”

The movie is about two friends that get lost in countryside of Tuscany. They travel back in time to 1492. The character played by Benigni has a sister. The sister broke up with her American boyfriend. Benigni tries to convince his friend that they have to stop Columbus’ departure explaining to his friend about how much pain this trip has caused. He tells his friend if they stop Columbus they will be heroes. This will be a deed that can change the world, but actually, he is only moved by a personal purpose – he wants to save his sister from the pains of love.

They start with a trip through Europe. They meet many historical characters and are involved in many absurd situations. Will they finally be successful in stopping Columbus?

Only a Thought

Hello class.

This post is my thought for tonight, but do not pay me much attention. We are changeable people. Today we may believe in something, but tomorrow we won’t. It is one of the good parts of being a human being....... I hope

I am happy to be here, to be learning another language, to be living in a different culture. Sometimes life away from home can be hard, especially when you can not see your family, your friends, and the people who support you.

I think many people are in the same situation as me. I am not just talking about people who came from other countries. We need to be sure that this is really what we want, if this is the best option. We have to try to find in ourselves what really makes us happy.

I think that is the reason to be here in this world. We do not have to do big things in life, or try to be somebody who we are not. We only have to find a balance between who we are and what we do. That is all. A good scientist does not have to spend twenty hours every day looking into a microscope trying to find a cure to some virus.

It was very interesting to read what Dr. Palmer wrote about "becoming the person you have always been". He talked about how people can find their true nature by remembering their childhood. We have to know our limits and potential.

But also, I think it is not just what we can do on the job. We need to know what to do with our lives. Maybe some people just want to have a family, and that is ok. Maybe some people just want to live in the mountains, to sleep in a truck and that is respectable also. Everything we do affects the people that we love and the people who surround us.

Only be happy. Don’t make other people unhappy. , and this, That is the hard part of happiness. All the things have his price?

Alex

Some Interesting Quotations

Click here to read some interesting quotations from the English playwright and philosopher George Bernard Shaw.

My Thursday Evenings

My Thursday Evenings

by Alice

Every week, on Thursday evening, my American sister and I have dinner together with her teenage cousins. The cousins’ parents aren't at home and my sister and I cook for them and stay with them until their parents come home. Yesterday evening, I cooked pasta and the cousins made a good salad and banana bread for dessert. I had never tasted banana bread before.

The cousins are very curious about me and life in Italy and they question me about many things. I do the same with them and they help me a lot with English because when I am with them I feel comfortable and I talk without the fear of making mistakes. They are very nice and smart even if they are much younger than me. We can talk about almost everything. They have many interests like dancing, playing sax, reading and they are very open-minded.

Yesterday, we talked about the feeling of awkwardness. It was intense because we were talking about an intimate feeling and also funny because they made strange gestures to explain to me the meaning of this word. They tried to explain this feeling by making a sort of turtle with their hands but neither my sister ( She is American and is a native English speaker) nor I could easily understand them!

I like this "new tradition" of spending Thursday evenings with them. We eat good food, we compare cultural habits, we learn new things about each others and we laugh a lot. I think that sitting around a table together is a good way to relate with people and to share feelings. Maybe this thought is very Italian...

Another Song

You're Beautiful
by James Blunt

My life is brilliant.

My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Flying high, [ - video/radio edited version]
Fucking high, [ - CD version]
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.

A Song

Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd

So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skys from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

The first trip

The First Trip
by Su Juan Chen

Last year I went to Los Angeles with my family and friends. We went there to visit a friend. We also went to Disneyland. It is a wonderful place.

We saw a show and some animals. We rode on a ship and saw different kinds of birds sing. They sounded like music. At night we saw a wonderful show. The show was in a lake. It was like a movie. Actors rode on the ship singing and dancing. They danced gracefully. There were fireworks.

We walked around Disneyland all day. The weather was very hot and the things were very expensive. We were there for four days. I was very excited by the trip. I will go there again because I would like to see many more wonderful shows.

we are very lucky

Hello class

(First, I would like to say that I published this in the morning class. If you are in the morning class and you read this post before, just ignore it and run ..... ok)

I’m Alejandro from Mexico and I have been in the United States for two months. I am here for two reasons, the first is because I was very tired of the monotony where I was living, not because I didn’t like what I was doing. I love my country, my friends, my work and my family, but, after many years in the same city, with the same people, visiting the same places and having the same expectations, sometimes we need to take a rest and learn different things and experience in another places. The second reason is that I want to learn to speak English.

When I first came to the United States, I was living in Berkeley with my brother and my almost sister in law, and I started looking for schools where I could study. Finally, after maybe ten days I found the Adult School in Berkeley, a big school with many classes and students from all over the world (maybe ten thousand), so I was very excited with my new school.

Exactly like in the Oakland Adult School, there are three different levels. After my test I stayed in the intermediate class. That class was just for pronunciation and it was only one hour each day, so I was bored and I was feeling that I was not advancing very much. All the students just sat in chairs to listen to the teacher. I never talked with my classmates more than ten words. All of us were only echoing the teacher’s pronunciation. I could not take a second class because all the different classes were offered in the same hour (stupid, no?).

For all these reasons, I think we are very lucky to be here in this school, and we are very lucky also to be in the 101 class, with Richard, somebody how really worries that their students learn to speak, read, and think in English. Thank you!

And I believe that we, as students, should be contributing in some way.We can offer ideas to do some personal or group activities. For my part, I propose we could learn some songs. I have a guitar and I could learn the chords and maybe somebody could play another instrument or something else.

Perhaps Richard could dance to the song, Would not they like to see it??

Alejandro Campa

My favorite Meal (Omelet)

My Favorite Meal (Omelet)
Alberto Ortega Servin

Alberto’s Omelet

2 eggs (maybe 3)
½ small onion
1 ½ ounces dry cheese (grated)
1 green Serrano chile (chopped finely)
9 or more tortillas
Refried beans
Salt (to taste)

Corn Oil(one teaspoon)

Crack the two or three eggs into a bowl.

Chop the onions and the green Serrano chile into smaller pieces.

Grate the cheese.

Mix these ingredients in a bowl.

Add salt to taste.

Heat a frying on the burner.

Pour the oil into the pan.

When oil is hot add the egg mixture and cook slowly for about 2 minutes. Flip over. The eggs should brown slightly.

When the omelet is done, serve it on a plate. You should eat it with hot tortillas and refried beans.

This is my favorite meal because when I was a child my family was very poor. For us, an omelet was a delicious treat.

My father and mother sowed wheat, corn, beans, and sorghum. They had a cow, a bull and some hens. The hens laid many eggs.

We didn’t have a lot of money but we could make delicious omelets. Maybe that is why omelets are my favorite meal.

Also my family and I ate beans cooked in many different ways. The cost of living in Mexico is cheaper than in the United States, but there aren’t enough jobs for Mexican farmers.

Now the situation is different because Mexican President Felipe Calderon pegged the price of different products like wheat, corn, beans, and sorghum to the with the price international market.

Now farmers have more money. Now I think so that many people in Mexico are looking for job. Also there are new opportunities for Mexican people.

My Favorite Place

My Fovorite Place.

Alberto Ortega Servin

My favorite place is “National Park Cupatitzio Hillside” This Park is staying in the city of Uruapan, Michoacán Mexico. Why? Because this places is very fresh and colorful. Other things to me are. It has a “Cupatitzio River” running along it. It is beautiful river its water is very crystalline and to be transparent the sound of water is delightful and magical. There are many trees. And other important plat in this park is “banana with bone” it is important because we know bananas only small seeds of black color. The tree is very old maybe some tree are hundred of years old. In this park there are many different bushes. These plants give to aspect romantic this place. It is beautiful. In this place so there are many different fountains of different size these fountains is working with gravity of water this thing is very important because it does not use of electricity other sources power. Also there are beautiful waterfalls inside of the park.
Many people put up small stands, they are selling souvenirs. But many people have visited this park they have bough to different handicraft for friend and relatives. I am recommending to visit this place.

The portraid

Portraid

Hello everybody

I am Alex, and I have one sad history for my, perhaps funny for all of you. I am Architech, but before studying this, I wont study visual arts, because since was child I draw all the time, I like paint people and human figures, also landscapes.

I was trying to find somework about this, and finally the secretary, from my brother's job, wanted a portraid of her with her daugthers, and she sending me the photography.

I bought the papers, and all the necessary material to begin, y was very happy, because finally I had a job doing what a like my, and she was going to pay me $100 dolars, because it was going to be a big portraid.

I was painted the portraid for five days, and finally finish of paint it on a Friday. The Monday I sent the portraid to her with my brother, and she said to him it was very nice, and she promise send me the money the next friday.

The friday came, and she did not sending the money, and my brother say my, "She already did not go to work, she resigned" and we was traying to call her, but she does not answer the calls.

So, my first job in USA did not have success.

funny or sad? I think that both

Hello!

Hi everybody!
My name is Alice, I'm 26 years old and I'm from Modena, a city in northern Italy. I'have been here in Oakland for 3 weeks and I live with my "american sister's" cousine. I'll be here untill February because I'd like to learn a fluent spoken English. I graduated two years ago in Cultaral Studies and before coming here I worked as a librarian for one year. I have always wanted to learn English because if you learn English you can find a job easily and you can also trip around the world and communicate easily with people. I also hope to meet new friends from different countries and cultures and to visit as many places as possible here in California. See you in the afternoon room 101! Bye!