Riding with the Beast

By: Orsy

This is history is about immigration and is narrated by Carlos Palacios

June 26, 2003 was a Monday morning from his home city La Libertad – El Salvador. At 4 o'clock in the morning Carlos Palacios decided to travel to the United States. This was a tough decision because he was only 16 years old and did not know how he could go on the road alone because he was a minor. The journey began in the city of San Salvador. For many hours Carlos walked with other people who were also coming to the U.S. they were walking across the bridge from El Salvador to Guatemala. When they arrived at the station Guatemala they had to catch the bus to the border between Mexico and Guatemala.

He came to the border city of Mexico called Chapas. Here it began to be hard, and he had to flee immigration officials. He had to wait at the train station all night, but there was no train that day. The next day for the train until 8 pm, As soon as the train appeared there were robbers. They took out their machetes and said, “Give me all your money”. At that time Carlos had only 50 pesos and they were stolen. After that he was beaten up, and they left him lying on the railway line. After many days of waiting, the train arrived. People called the train “the beast”. Carlos asked why the train is called like that. Some of his friends who had gathered answered the question. It is really hell to come on the trains. You must endure cold and hunger and sleepless days and nights. Some people cannot resist sleep,and fall to their death. from 1 am to 10 am the train stopped at the station. More than 250 people boarded the train. Some of them were friends from Honduras and El Salvador.

At around one o'clock the train started to move. There was a boy of 15 years who could not get on the train car. Unfortunately we lost his life there. After that, Carlos thought he needed to be more careful because it was too dangerous to come in these cars. We remained in the train for 2 days until we came to a place called Ixtepec. There Federal Mexican police waiting for all immigrants, Carlos jumped from the train. there was a federal police that followed Carlos for 5 minutes. He had to run very fast. Carlos suddenly saw a river and thought it was the best idea to jump into the river. He had to cross the river. After 5 hours he decided to return to the train lines, So he crossed the river again. The next day they said they could not get the train for up to 15 days. So his friends decided to walk. Within two days of walking they were very hungry, sleepy and very tired. They arrived at a place called Veracruz. Luckily there they came to a Catholic church that supported the immigrants and gave food, bed rest.

In Veracruz Carlos had 6 friends with him. They decided to travel to City DF, Carlos arrived at 3 PM. There were many federal police waiting for. Fortunately, Carlos managed to escape after hiding in some trees for 7 hours. Then he had to go for food. Some people gave him food and others did not give him anything. Carlos returned to the place where he hid from the police. At 1 am came the train to Guadalajara. Carlos then realized why it was called the Beast. The train was going about 45 miles per hour when he tried to catch it. The train threw him about 6 meters. He was not prepared to catch the train because he was too sleepy. he again stood up and attempted to catch the train. This time he got on the train. He felt a lot of pain from being thrown by the train the first time. He came to the city of Guadalajara where he had family members. He called an uncle who lives in Tlaquepaque. He stayed with the uncle for 5 months. He decided to travel to the United States - Mexico border. It took 8 days to reach the border.

Carlos contracted with someone bring him to the United States and cross the Arizona desert. This person took Carlos to the United States. After 2 days he called the brothers of Carlos because Carlos had to pay $ 3000 dollars.
The person led him to Los Angeles. There he met his brother Victor. Carlos had not seen Victor in 10 years. Carlos was very exited. Then Carlos moved to San Francisco, a beautiful city, where he lives with his family.

my life

                                                                                                              by:Samar 

               Hi this is a story about a girl named Ayah Nasser.  Ayah is 15 year old girl that lived in Palestine for 7 and half years. She now lives in San Francisco lives happily with her parents. Ayah goes to City Arts and Technology High School.  When she was there she remember being with balcony and I saw a whole lot of soldiers drive by my house. She got scared, so she went inside her house to ask her aunt what and who they are? Her aunt told me that they are just regular police there to protect our country.

             One thing that she remembers about Palestine is all her family and friends in her house and having fun. One good thing is that she  remember that her aunt and uncle gave her everything that she  wanted but also they cared a lot for her like she was their own child. Her aunt and uncle wish to have her back with them but her parents don’t want that right now with all the war going on and the people not caring about what’s going on.

                In Palestine she ate a lot of different kinds of food but of course mostly Arabic food. The most foods she ate there was in the morning which was humus, falafel and tea. But after a while she got sick of eating it too much but now she would love to eat it again with her family in Palestine.

        The difference between San Francisco and Palestine is that here there is more freedom and over there is not much freedom as much but even though she still love her country no matter what happens to it. And it will always stay in her heart and she will also keep her family in her heart and maybe some day she will go and visit them again. (They are still alive).

           In Palestine she felt okay but also scared even though she didn’t know exactly what was going on she still had a feeling that there is something bad going to happen. But now that she is older she understands more of what exactly is happening. her family in Palestine wanted her to be safe so they moved her to San Francisco to live with her parents.

      She felt scared and worried when she heard about the war. she didn’t know what to do and what was going on in her country so she kept her feelings to herself but the thing is that she couldn’t leave but then eventually her parents wanted her to have a good and protective life in san Francisco so that’s when she left Palestine and came to S.F in the year 2001. 

Junior's Story

By: Romeo

This story is about Junior Campos.  It is about his immigration to the United States. He is happy because he studies in the school and he is from Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico and came here on November 12 in the year 2009. He lives with his family and he came here in airplane.

He immigrated to the United States because he needs to study to have a good future and came here to help his family.  Junior Campos likes the school of the United States.  He likes it because learning English in this country is very important to find work or have a career as a lawyer.  Junior likes living in this country because in this country there is less violence.   But in Mexico, where he lived previously, there was a lot of violence and many people killed others.  He was so afraid. When Junior came in this country the family felt very sad and at 8 months after Junior's family came to the United States and feels very happy Junior because he now lives with his family.

Angela's Story

By Edson

This story is about Angela Zhang immigration, Angela is from China, and she has 16 years old. This story begins on September 29, 2009 when Angela Zhang left his loved ones in China. Angela felt very worried because she knew nothing about the country where she was headed, but what helped her to feel better is accompanied by her mother and brother. The day she left her country she was extremely nervous when she went to the plane his thoughts were negative, but when she arrived assume destination and saw his family were waiting at the airport of your negative thoughts and he forgot his mouth Instantaneous smiled. Angela has 1 year and 8 months living in the United States. Disappointed because she is expected to have a good concept about the United States, many people had good things about the United States, she believed them excited Angela feels insecure in the streets because he believes that all people are bad or they're going to hurt.

Civil War and the Loss of a Loved One

By:  Mayra Hernandez

       Isidora is a 75-years old woman, but when Civil War occured she was 37 years old. She is a woman with white and wavy hair. Isidora married Joseph when she was 17 years old. She was very in love, but the death took him away from her life. She lives in a small town where people come and go to discover new things or to have fun, but for Isidora everything is different because she looks lonely. Their children grew up to form their own families, although some of them live near to her and she sees them often, most of her sons live in the U.S. Isidora serves to God because only en God she finds peace.

     In the year 1981 started a small war called "Civil War". This war was to try to stop communism in this country (El Salvador). Civilians have prohibitive to organize meetings to talk about communism. If people were involved in communism, they were murdered and also the entire family.
   

Isidora's husband, Joseph, was involved in communism. He listened people talk about how dangerous it was to talk about communism in public places, but he was very stubborn and he continued doing meetings.

    Isidora didn't want that something bad happen to him. She tried to persuade him to stay away from those businesses, but it did not work. They both loved each other and Isidora didn't want to loss him, but Joseph was not afraid that those meetings would bring him serious problems. However he wanted to protect his family. he always said "darling do not worry about me I"ll be fine. She wanted to think everything was right, but inside her; she knew something was wrong.

    Civilians suspected about him, but they wanted to research more about him so they were infiltrating in his meetings to hear about what he was talking about. When civilians knew that he was involved in communism, they came to his house at night to knock on the door to take him and kill him. Isidora remembers Joseph’ last words as this happened a couple of days ago. Joseph last words were "I'll be back soon darling, don't worry" and they took him away. He never returned to home and Isidora never saw him again. The civilians murdered him.

     After that, Isidora was so depressed and hurtful her heart because she have lost her only love, he was not with her anymore. She felt lonely, but she had to protect her family. She was afraid that something bad would happen to her family and she was going to hide other houses to protect their children from civilians.
    

When was was over nothing was the same for Isidora, her daughters and sons grew up to have their own families and let her alone, although they visit her often because some of them live near to her; she looks lonely.
           

Isidora remember these scenes of her life as a nightmare with the difference that Joseph is not there when she wakes up, this is the real life. She never felt in love again because Joseph was the only one she loved and occupied her heart. He will live in her mind and heart forever.

The Civil War in El Salvador

By Rodrigo Mendez.

Alfredo Mendez is a 51 years old man. His eyes are brown like honey. His skin is brown too. He is a friendly man—every time you see him, he is smiling and worrying about others. Alfredo works hard. I have seen him working in a small farm where he grew corn, beans, and little corns. He used to wake up at five to prepare the equipment to go to work in the hot sun. Every morning he went to work; he smelled the fresh air and listen the birds sing beautiful songs. Alfredo has worked in a farm his whole life.

Alfredo Mendez is from El Salvador, a small place named Caserio Conacastillo, Nueva Concepcion. The place was very poor, the people had to work very hard to feed their families. The place where he lived, there are no buildings, no fancy houses, only some old cars. However, the people are friendly; they live as a community.  They do favors without making an angry face.

From 1980 until 1992 the Salvadorian people passed through ugliness—the Salvadorian Civil War. Alfredo Mendez passed through the whole war; he saw it with his own eyes. This war was very strong.  During the war, he was very poor; he did not have money. He had to go to work cutting coffee. Cutting coffee was a hard life because he had to pick and peel the coffee from the ground.  Sometimes the coffee was covered in poop because there were animals all around and the people didn’t have access to toilets. There were no restrooms. The life was hard as living in hell.

Alfredo Mendez was very frightened during the war because he and his family could die for no reason. The landowners were very unfair with the poor people; they wanted to steal their lands. The workers felt oppressed because the lands were the only soil they had to work. That’s why the poor people fought against the rich people. They did not want to be slaves and die of starvation. One day when he went to work with his horses, the landowners, La Forced Army, and La Guerrilla, those fighting with the poor, were ahead fighting.  He had to go back because it was dangerous to go forward.

 Going to San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, there were a lot of dead people. You could have seen the bodies destroyed—body parts lay all over the street.  Heads, arms, feet, legs, torsos, bodies spread out on the streets. However, not everyone fought.  Only those poor people who wanted to fight, organized themselves to fight against the Salvadorian government. The people that did not want to fight survived. The Forced Army only killed the people that were against them. Sometimes both sides wanted to trick you, if they were la guerrilla, they dressed like the Forced Army to confuse the people and get information, and also the Forced Army did the same.  The poor people did manifestations in the streets because they were mad about what the government was doing and the Forced Army.

     

So coming back to Alfredo Mendez. He and a lot of Salvadorian people have suffered because of the rich people. After the war when the agreement of peace came, everyone felt so happy and safe. Alfredo Mendez says, “Now, even though there is peace it is worse than before.   During the war you knew who the enemies were and who was fighting. The war has ended but there is still violence.  Now you don’t know who will kill you, it can be a friend or a family member.”

''The Life Of The Migrant, Trying To Find A Better Future.''

By: Pedro Jose Navarro.

This is a story about an immigrant named Vlada Teper. Vlada Teper is from Maldova. She is 32 years old. She have parents alive, and they born in the only one sister and she love her family.

First she lived in her country maldova for 10 years. Then, Ms Vlada and her family arrived to the United States in 1989.

Ms Vlada and her family Immigrated to the United States because in her country are discriminate against because they are Jews.

When she come to the United States she feel confuse because she don’t understand American languages, when she star the school she feel exited because she want to learn another language. She start studying in third grade. Then she star to study for learn English and maybe another languages, Now she speak four  languages that are: Spanish, English Russian and little French.

She likes some parts of Russian culture, and some parts of American culture, also, she likes Russian and American food.

She never feels discriminates against, but her father is discriminated against because he don’t speak English.

Rodrigo's story

Rodrigo's Story

By Marlyn Martinez

Rodrigo is 17 years old, boy from El Salvador. He has been in the United Sates 1 year and 4 months. He always smile, he likes to help others and helps the teachers. He is a good student and good friend. Rodrigo is a boy that likes to be better everyday and many reasons that make

His family decided to help him to immigrate to the United States.

United States is a home for Rodrigo that live with almost all of his family. He is studying in San Francisco International High School where he could find good friends and many opportunities that he knows he couldn’t find in his country forever.

But above all he misses all his friends and the people are very warm and kind.

Before he immigrate here, Rodrigo's uncle was killed by the gangsters and all the family

was threatened. Rodrigo's family and he were afraid and they choose to leave their country was like escape from all the badness.

In situations like that Rodrigo felt scared and concern, because he didn't wanted to die, and he thought that would be better their life without tragedies and leaving everything in El Salvador and all one life ago.

Their plan was to travel but without documents and with time to take it, Rodrigo's bothers that live before here, they saved money to pay Coyote (the person that bring here immigrant people) and they left in October 19.

Few days before they left from Rodrigo’s house where they lived and they went to San Salvador and for pass the border they had to pay for pass Guatemala’s border, they stayed for 3 days and they went to Mexico.

Next, they had to move another place from Mexico, and they stayed a hotel called “Hotel 5 letras” to the next days they walked in the desert without water and food, and to feel scared all the time.

The nights were so cold and Rodrigo had just wearing 3 sweater, 3 jeans and plastic bag to cover him.

After that when they were hiding the immigration police found them, but when the police try to take the people, everyone stated to running away. Rodrigo and his father were separate because they were trying to be safe. When they saw that everything was much better they didn’t hiding anymore and the Coyotes put Rodrigo and his father back together.

However thy kept walking and for pass the border between Mexico and United States They had to Stay like 8 hours from Arizona to Los Angeles in a truck with a group of people without eating yet.

In that moment Rodrigo felt that he couldn’t move his legs, and he thought “I will be Invalid”, and he said “Dear God please I don’t what to be invalid, and when they almost come to Los Angeles he started to feel better.

Finally when they came to Los Angeles, Rodrigo call to his family for takes them out. 3 days later the Coyotes bring Rodrigo and his father to their family and they go to San Francisco all together.

In the end, Rodrigo was safe in the desert with his father and his sister with his uncle ere deported and back to their country. All the group of immigrant people was safe too, because the immigration police never arrested them.

Now Rodrigo live here with his family and friends, He is study a high school for new immigrant’s students with least of 4 years to be in United States and he is looking for new opportunities. He felt good and safe.

Something that he said was this:

“The life when happiness is always better and when there is peace too.”

When Angel Meets the Demon

This story is about my best friend L.C.. I know him beginning with junior high school when I was living in New York for less than a few days. Ah seems beside the point. Well, I am starting to talk his story now...

He was born in a rural family, his father left his family when he was a baby, and he lives together with his mother. He was very sissy when he was very little boy. PS: q(X-X)p (This I think is most ironic that a demon actually have such a lovely childhood. I totally cannot accept) in the year he was ten he was told he had a father and would soon go to New York to live with his father. When he first came to the United States, he was a crazy patriot and always crying against the Chinese flag. I learned this from his father, and L.C. has not been confirmed. He spent about 2 year Primary School time at P.S. 20. Then he went to P.S. 189-25 junior high school. Where we met and he became my best friend. At this time, he did not know that he and his most important person in his life would cross; his future wife was also at this school.

When he was 16 years old... he did not like to go to school, and the simple life... he joined the military, I do not know how he did. But he went in (Damn Bush.).He was only a 16-year-old boy and took 27 weeks of training received was sent to the marine, and was sent to the Iraq war. (Fuck Bush, I wander... He is a real human? Why would he allow to send a child to the war?)We basically lost basic links in two years, I saw him about 2 weeks only. He retired in 2009; he spent 2 years of life, returning only to memories and a pile of medals.

In begging of 2010 he suddenly found me and asked me how to make Ketamine. At that time I did not care about formulation and process and casually told him. When he told me he unified the Fala town drug business, to be honest I was really quite surprised. Maybe the military is too easy to change a person. After he retired, he actually stayed free at home doing nothing; huh the gangs start a gang of drug business, and did quite successfully. He used the skills that he learned in the military to rule out several original small gangs, and unified the local drug business. All the uncooperative people have been sent to hell.

At the time he was empty, and what crazy thing will happen? So unexpected! Nothing happens! He met her, a girl like an angel. Maybe this is fate; Geo is doing charitable obligations in a place called the Tzuchi from 2008. He met with his girlfriend in one time to take care old people at nursing home. I don’t know what happened; maybe he wanted to try some new staff or something else. We only know it is they fell in the love. This girl is a totally good person, born in aristocratic family. She did a bad thing only a number of times. As to why he would be with her, as his friends we do not know. The only thing we know is that love has changed him a lot. In late 2010 he bought a restaurant in Scars dale, he intend as a normal person to raise his future family.

The end of the story has basically been said here; let us wish him a happy future. Normality is a blessing.

                                                                                                                By Argent

Karen's Immigration

By: Haijuan Chen

Karen is from China. She is a young girl. She is 17 years old. Karen comes from China come to the united states Oct 20/2010 .she been in United States almost six moth. When she came in United States she is very sad. Her favorite food is Mingo. Karen felt very worried   . Karen decided that she want to go back in your country .first ,she take airplane come to the united states she want in my country is very small .The U.S is very big and very boatful but in the U.S tall boiling have more people live here . Next   , Karen mother tell you come to the United States   for the future. After that   ; she Come to the SFIHS to learn more English and learn how to talk with other people using in English   .In the end , she think family miss worried about you and Karen mother .now she feel very excited and happy

what is like to live without parents

By: Ilyn Melgar

   

       "I guess I never considered myself that I don’t have any parents no more. I was a little kid when I lost my both parents and I always considered that term to refer specially to the children who does not have parents. I think this is a good time to tell my story with others. However, this is difficult to talk about but I do my best."
    She risked her life to live without her parents. She is a teenager who studies at SFIHS and she is  only 17 years old. She have long black hair. Her first language is Spanish. She never saw her dad since he left her mom and she was a baby. This is all happened at San Francisco and El Salvador. When she was young she didn’t saw her mom everyday because she is always busy to her work. Live without parents is the ugliest thing in the world. At 10 years old she lived with her granny because her mom died on that my age. Her mom was very kind, hard worker, friendly and loving. She replace her with her granny who she'd always seen as her mom. However, her granny passed away a few months ago after her mom died and that was so sad. She is  now a teenager but it all seems happen yesterday.    
    After all that happened, her auntie took care of her. For the most part, from the time when her granny still alive. But, now she have to live with her aunte even their not really close. Nobody could take care of her except aunte. She have a brother who lives here. He is 23 years old but their  are not so close too. She love to live with him but he has lots of problems and he scared that she get involve. Also, if she live with him her auntie would get mad because they can’t get along.
    Everything has been change her life. For the first time her life is worst because she can’t believe that she don’t have her own family for this age and to be with her in life. But, now she made a new friends and trying to live without her parents. Her friends and her advisor changed her into a happy person. Everyday her best friend always comforts her when she is not feeling good, and they made her  laugh. Especially Ms. Kirk helps her if she have problems. She makes her comfortable and gives her an advice. For example; "don’t worry because you have a lot of friends and family who does love you and care about you."
    However, she always think her mom and her granny. She also have many questions to herself. She miss both of them. She miss the time they spent together. Why did you have to die on my younger age?  Why did you leave me? Why couldn’t you just hold onto life? Why do I have to be alone? She kept and thinking that questions that she have been keeping inside her heart. Although her life still goes on. But, sometimes it is difficult because she can’t have what she want.  She is jealous to the other children because she want to have family like other people have. She also want to have a better family because she want feel the things that she can’t have right now.
    For the children who have a complete family please love them. Don’t leave them because it is so difficult that you live without them and it is the worst thing in the world.

Story About Jairo

By: Jimmy Velis

Jairo is a young boy; he is 15 years old.  He is tall. This happened in El Salvador and the United States in February 14 2011. One day his father told him he was going to the United States. Jairo felt nervous because he was to meet a new country.  Jairo decided that he would come to the United States because there are more opportunities. First he went the airport. Next he came on the plane. After that he is in the United States. In the end he has a new life here. Now he is studying and he likes the United States.

Ilyn's Immigration

By Regielyn Bonifacio

 Regielyn: how are you?

Ilyn: fine

Regielyn: how old are you?

Ilyn: I’m 15 years old

Regielyn: where are you from?

Ilyn: Philippines

Regielyn: how many brother you have?

Ilyn: I have 7 brothers and 4 sisters

Regielyn: how long have been in this country?

Ilyn: I been her for 2 years

Regielyn: what is similar between your countries?

Ilyn: Philippines and San Francisco has many place to visit

Regielyn: how did you feel during your immigration?

Ilyn: bad because I felt my friends and my family

Regielyn: why did you immigrate?

Ilyn: because my parents want me to be with them and to have better life

Regielyn: Did you like your adventure of immigration? Why?

Ilyn: No because immigration to another country it doe’s not mean that you would feel hyper, it could be your worst day in your life because I felt the people who are most important to me.

Regielyn: what were thinking on the airplane?

Ilyn: I felt nervous because I was my fist time to left my country and I’m afraid went the airplane would might be crush.

Regielyn: how did your family feel when you come here?

Ilyn: My families were happy to have me here in the united state because I would have a good life and find a good job.

Regielyn: how does your family in your home country feel now you are gone?

Ilyn: my sister was crying she felt sad because I would be and different place and I could not be with her for many years.

A Life Story

This story about a man.  He is my father. He is from china. My father height like me, short hair, but fatter than me. He is an immigrant, now living in San Francisco. He rented a house, He has two cars, one is used at work, and the other one is used for holidays.

When him came to USA, he is very poor, he very hard to learn English and find job. He didn't have everything. He is an engineer.

One day, he know a people, she is a engineer also. So they work together, and help my father stay here .Many months later, they work very well, customer number is adding, so they life is begin better.

Then, they married. They gated a house live together, and work together.

One day, he knows his son is in American also, so he try to meet his son .He was surprise. And then, he closed a day to meet his son after school, his son was surprise also.

Now, he has a passport now, so he can stay in USA, and  can meet his son every months.
By: Qiubao

Shearif's Story

by:Ali Abdo

Q: what do you like music

A; I like the music arc

Q: do you what to go to the middles

A: yes

Q: wean you need to go the Yemen

A: I will go to Yemen on 2021 

Q: wheat your favorite color?

A: the weight color

Q: how your life in the us?

A: the life in us great

Q: do you like your job?

A: me job is wonderful

Q: what is your nationality?

A: me nationality is Yemen Muslim

Q: do you like you father wean he med?

A: no

Q: how is your favorite teacher?         

 A: Me favorite is Ana

Q: Wean you by you nerves ?

A: Wean I see victim

Q: What is your like city?

A: I Like San Francisco

  

Big Change Of Life

By: Ace Zheng

      This is a story about Eduardo. Eduardo is very tall and he is a very handsome boy. And he is very nice to every people. When I just came here, I do not know everybody but he was nice to me and friendly to me. He tells me his name is Eduardo then I have a first foreign friend. I am very happy. So I decide to interview to him about how does he think about Mexico and San Francisco and a little about his life.

       Eduardo is from Mexico and he is 17 years old. But now he is live in San Francisco and he comes to San Francisco because his father is here and also because he wants to see him again. He have long time that they did not see each other but when he decide to came to S.F he feel very scared because he did not know everything about S.F and also he feels that it was a hard decision because he did not want to leave his mother, family and friends but he decide to come. And know he is in San Francisco International High School ready to go to college.

      Then he tells me this is very different feel about Mexico and San Francisco. He feels about San Francisco is scared and Mexico is excited. It is very different place to him.

       He says he feel excited with Mexico because he born in Mexico and he grow up in there too. He life his children with his family and friends and also because everything he learned there is helping him here to be a better person on his life.

       But he says he feels scared about San Francisco because here he can not go free everything that he want and also because there are a lot of people who are goo ester that can do bad things to him. It is a very different place between Mexico and San Francisco.

        Also he thinks that two place have a little different expert feel. He says the different that he thinks is that here is very dangerous and a lot of racism here, but on Mexico all the people is very friendly and they always help each other.

        He has a hard life in Mexico because he did not hard everything and also because he did not have opportunities to school, found a job, or have a better life and other reuse that he had was that he always had to work if he want to go to school. I think he has more experiment about the life. And I think he learn a lot during he live in Mexico. But he learned was so bad because he did not go to school every day because he have to work and also because the teacher did not care if you want to study or not just they care about the government pay them for teach.

       But now he tells me, in here he study is better than in Mexico because he did not go to school every day because he has to work and also because the teacher did not care if you want to study or not just they care about the government pay them for teach. So I think it is a big change for his life.

       And he has a different job between Mexico and San Francisco.  In Mexico he is a farmer but in San Francisco he is a cook. Now he is very good at cooking and also he can make many delicious foods. And more and more people like to eat what is he cook. He always has a job because he needs to make more. Then he left a little for himself, other money he will give to his family. So I think he is a good boy for his family. And sometimes I see him talk with teacher; I think he is a very good student in school. Many teachers like him.

 

A Little Story about My Mom and Me

by: rico

          My mom was born in Guangzhou China. When she was 18 years old, she already had to go to work, and she gets marry at 24 years old.

          When I  came to the world. She was 27 years old. She told me,  "when you were just born, I felt very amazing and happy. Because my baby was born.''   When I was grew up. I was so naughty, always made trouble. She always said, '' You look like a little money, you are not a boy. '' Little by little. I change myself by my years. I learned how to feel to my mom.

          And then I already came to U.S. In China, her English had been better than me. She is my first English teacher. And now, is return to me to teach her. And she’s English is step by step getting better. And she fined a job that better than before.



When Ling's Immgrated Story

By Johnny Ling

             My mom’s name is Wen Ling she is from China. She was 49 years old when she immigrated form Bei Jing China to San Francisco. She felt a little lonely and worried to leave her family for another country and she worried about her son. The first thing she did was to visit around the U.S and to know about the America’s culture she saw los Angeles, New York and Los Vegas. She felt in love with America. She thinks that in here is more freedom than china also for my future she immigrated to America. Her first job in America was for an Investment Company. She was a manager and this job just like what she did, because it was similar to her work in china. She worked in this company for 5 years. Every one liked her, she meet a lot of friends and her English began to get much better than before. However the reason why she quit this job was because the boss fraud with his customers and made lot of dirty money. My mom argued with the boss a lot and their relationship became bad. Finally she quit this job and many other staff members quit too. Soon this company collapsed.

                         One day, one of my moms’ friends introduced her to cleaning companies. She said this job is job is much easier than the job you had before. Also if your son comes here you will have more time to take care of him and not work all the time. she thought it was a good idea so she went to the job interview of boss of this cleaning company. He was a very nice guy he knew that my mom could do the job didn’t cleaning the office. It was an easy job and more wages. She very liked this job a lot because she didn’t need to work all of the time.

             Four years passed, I came to the U.S to study here. Mom care very much about me and helped me with homework and taught me to be a good person. I feel lucky that she is my mom. After one year she lost her job because this company had some problems needed to layoff some workers. My mom was one of them but now finding another part time job is not as easy as before. She needed to do two jobs for fewer wage and work more time. She even didn’t have enough money to pay the rent because she bought a lot for me and made sure I ate healthy. Our life became much harder. Tow years passed the government’s housing her applied for was successful. So we moved back to S.F. Now our life is getting better than before because the government’s house is very cheap. She had a lot of time to enjoy her life, I am working now to help support her and to get my own money to pay the rent. Her wish is to go back to living with her family in China because she misses home very badly.         

Communication Legend of Michael

  By: Chongwei Huang

            Mr. Michael is a popular teacher in our school with good communication. In class, Mr. Michael will use the over head projector to help students understand art concepts even thought they don't understand the English, but they can understand and learn in the picture. In his daily life, Mr. Michael also has very good communication skills when he communicates with a person who doesn’t speak English; he is able to communicate with hand gestures and facial movements. For example, if he shakes your hand, the communication means “nice to meet you”.

Mr. Michael thinks communication is not just talk talking because sometimes he communicates without talking. For example, his pets, he know about his dogs feelings through his actions ;the other example is Art, Artists communicate ideas, emotions, feelings and expression through their Art. So that, Mr. Michael defines communication as basically any form of action or image that expresses meaning. When he is driving the sign in the road and traffic light will get him directions, which also is communication.

In his opinion, communication is important as a teacher because it is his job to understand his students and give them an opportunity to express themselves. For example in art class, Mr. Michael is showing students the concepts of perspective about art to help students create depth and space in their artwork.

Communication is necessary to cheer people up; Mr. Michael always does this in three ways. First is listening, students want to talk about their feelings and good listeners will help them figure out the solution, it will help them feel better. Second, give students a space to work it off until their head is clear. Students might need time to just think alone. Lastly is hug or humor, Mr. Michael thinks some students might need a hug, a pat on the back or hand shakes. Others might like to hear something funny or humorous to cheer them up.

            Mr. Michael is most successful when he communicates with a person the ideas, thoughts and feelings that he is knowledgeable about. However, no people can be perfect. For Mr. Michael, it is hard to communicate with a person who makes him nervous. Especially, people in authority like police, bosses or even principals. Sometimes he finds it more difficult to communicate meaning with hand gestures or facial expressions.

            Based on Mr. Michael’s experience, the best way he communicates is through body language and facial expression. He always smiles and makes eye contact when people are talking, so that he will easier understand your subject and be confident. This way means be respectful with others, Mr. Michael wants to teach us about that. And he loves to communicate ideas that he is passionate about.

            Mr. Michael is a teacher who very interesting in learning and improving. He thinks practice is very important to improve communication but it is hard. Also, Mr. Michael is going to challenge himself because he is worried about speaking at two large conferences. Finally, I hope Mr. Michael can do well in this conference and I thank him a lot for sharing his story.