... VOICES OF ADULT LEARNERS 28th Edition2024 A publication of the Thomas Jefferson Adult and Career Education Program at Piedmont Virginia Community College, which serves Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties and the City of Charlottesville. TJACE@PVCC Adult Learning Center 935-A 2nd Street SE Charlottesville, VA 22902 tjace@pvcc.edu 434.961.5461 www.pvcc.edu/tjace VOICES ADULT OF LEARNERS VOICES ADULT OF LEARNERS 28th Edition2024 A Virginia Festival of the Book Event adult + care@, EDUCATION @)PVCC Copyright 2024 Thomas Jefferson Adult & Career Education (TJACE) at Piedmont Virginia Community College. All content included in this publication is used with permission from the authors. 935-A Second St., SE Charlottesville, VA 22902 434-961-5461 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. TJACE@PVCC is an adult education program serving Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson Counties and the City of Charlottesville. Carol Coffey, Director, TJACE@PVCC ccoffey@pvcc.edu For a complete listing of stories go to: www.pvcc.edu/tjace For information about the Virginia Festival of the Book, go to: www.vabook.org Cover and interior design: Lisa Zo Willow Cover image: Cover image by Image by 11485062 from Pixabay. iv CONTENTS PREFACE vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BELONGING 1 Belonging* 3 ix God, I Ask of You* 4 I Belong* 5 I Belong 7 I Belong Here 8 I Belong Here! 9 My Belonging* 10 My Community and Where I Live 11 EDUCATION 13 From Struggle to Strength: A Refugees Journey to Belonging 15 How I Took My Drivers License* 17 One Very Mean Teacher 19 The Years of Oblivion* 21 What Is Success?* 24 v FAMILY 27 A Short History of Family and Country* 29 APPLE 32 From Sadness to Happiness* 34 Growing on a Farm* 36 My Beautiful African Family* 38 No Matter How Difficult the Situation, Some Good May Come from It 40 WORK 43 A Lice-Infested Adventure in the Land of Ice Comb Your Hair* 45 47 My First Job* 50 My Work, My Passion 53 Why Did I Decide to Become a Teacher?* 54 * Denotes Award Winners vi PREFACE What does it mean to belong? Is it the comfort and love of family? Is it the passion and purpose of work? Is it the joy of learning and education? I invite you into the hearts and minds of our adult learners to gain insight into this existential question. A belief in the transformative power of education drives a teachers career choice. A nurse struggles with a decision to connect estranged family members. Refugees describe the suffering and strength that lead them to their new homes in America. This years stories and poems remind us of our responsibility to family and community members, the power of perseverance, how our senses connect us to space, and the importance of finding joy and humor in everyday moments. In other words, the precious things that connect us, right here, right now, in our beloved community. We belong together. Carol Coffey, Director, TJACE@PVCC vii viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VOICES of Adult Learners is a treasured collection of stories from adult learners in our community. Thanks to the 121 students from TJACE@PVCC, Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville Albemarle and the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail who participated this year. Our amazing teachers, tutors, and staff devoted countless hours to this event. Our judges, Meredith Dickens, Harriet Kuhr, Mitzi Ware and Juandiego Wade thoughtfully read and selected stories for this publication. VOICES of Adult Learners is grateful to be included in the Virginia Festival of the Book for the 28th time this year. Thank you, Virginia Humanities! TJACE serves over 800 students each year with core academic, English language (ESL), and workforce readiness instruction to support career pathway growth, family learning, and civic engagement. For more information on how you can support area adult education and literacy programs or register for classes, please call 434-961-5461 or visit://www.pvcc.edu/ tjace. ix x BELONGING 1 2 Belonging* By Mehmet Yildirim Belonging looks like a free life Belonging sounds like birds singing Belonging smells like flowers Belonging tastes like chocolate Belonging feels happy Belonging here in the U.S. is good Belonging in Turkiye was hard for me: in school, no Kurdish No one asks me her are you Kurdish or Turkish? 3 God, I Ask of You* By Edelmira Ayana Padilla One day life took an unexpected turn It took me to a dark and unknown place I was hallucinating that all of this was a nightmare, a bad dream I only wanted to find a way to wake up I looked up to heaven, God, I ask of you And I promised him my life, my heart, and my future That the goal was waiting for me And until my last day My promise would be fulfilled 4 I Belong* By Gianelli Rodrigues I belong to a moment. To the air another human breathes, I run in veins and nourish another heart, feeding every cell of a body of a little one: my child. In this belonging, I see that only now matters. Sleeping cuddled with my child on cold nights, defeating villains and crooks while making dinner. Stopping everything Im doing or thinking when I hear a: Mom!!! You need to see this! Taking showers in five minutes. Being a mechanic, engineer, doctor, nurse, scientist, alien, almost at the same time. Living in a house with toy cars in every room. Always being disheveled or with uncombed hair. Eating cold food. 5 Forgetting my other roles and focusing on being the mom of a five-year-old boy who, in the blink of an eye, will be eighteen. Planting seeds, strengthening the soil, creating roots, whose fruits will feed people I dont know and might never meet. Everyone who comes into contact with my son will benefit from it. Thinking that the relationships my son establishes with his coworkers, his life partner will carry the essence of todays laughter. Giving love. Giving my time. And respecting his time. Respecting that he is new to everything. Respecting that his time is different. Respecting that he is in a hurry. By belonging to him, I also lose myself, my needs are different, my dreams are set aside. I enter a cocoon and as my son blossoms, I do too. And realize that belonging to another brings out the best version of me. 6 I Belong By Tabatha Dotson I belong the same way a dandelion belongs on cement. I belong to the houseless, I refuse to pay rent. I belong when belonging must go where it went. I belong like the ocean in well spent moments. I belong in the heavens as the stars are in the sky. I belong in the world up above. I belong in a world gone by. I belong in the rareness of a blue moonlit night. Ive never belonged more than in the light of your eyes shining so bright. I belong to you like a long kiss goodnight. I will love you until the day after forever. 7 I Belong Here By Mariam Hussain My community of Charlottesville I feel safety here. Spring is beautiful. I like my neighborhood. I have good friends. We talk. We laugh. We sit on my balcony. We drink coffee and water. The retired people talk about their back yards, flowers, strawberries. My family. I feel happy with my family. I feel safe with my family. We have good times together. We talk about good ideas for our future. I belong to my family. 8 I Belong Here! By Sabira Azimi When I was a child My mother was my community. I was loved. She fed me. She played with me. She cared for me. Now I am older. I have many communities. My sister. My brothers. My neighbors. My new Afghan family. My friends. We belong here. 9 My Belonging* By Marta Janiszewska I belong to traditional Europe In the center of the universe. I belong to my Poland and her traditionsContinued unflinching for thousands of years. I belong to wild nature - lakes, rivers, seas, mountains. I belong to people who are helpful, open, and hospitable. I belong to my family, which waiting, and they miss. I will always belong, thats why Im waiting. I will come back soon. 10 My Community and Where I Live By Shabana Omari My name is Shabana Omari. I am from Afghanistan. Now I live in Charlottesville. My community has downtown, mountains, schools, parks, Food lion, market, and post office. My community is good because it is peaceful, quiet flowers, Safe, nice people. I feel happy because Charlottesville is good. I want I like to learn English and chat. 11 12 EDUCATION 13 14 From Struggle to Strength: A Refugees Journey to Belonging By Tajaldeen Ashour On the quiet streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, I arrived as a refugee, bearing the weight of displacement from my home in Turkey. The unfamiliar environment reflected my initial feelings of disconnection and the daunting challenge of adapting to a new environment. In the midst of uncertainty, a decision came to me to travel to learn English. Through books, classes, and relentless effort, I encountered both struggles and triumphs in my pursuit of this new language. Every word that was conquered was like a victory, a step towards building a life in this foreign land. As I came across unfamiliar words, I realized how real the struggles of understanding a language are. Each language barrier felt like a mountain to climb, but I was determined to explore them. Each barrier became a steppingstone to discover new words. I discovered an unexpected strength which was one of personal growth. The seeds of personal growth once planted, now flourished. The paths in my journey began to expand. During this trip, I found comfort in the company of other refugees. Together, we participated in an educational system and shared stories of resilience and hope. Language became more than a means of communication. It became a bridge that connected hearts and strengthened understanding. Dealing with local people 15 brought moments of cultural exchange. Sharing experiences became a way to break down walls and develop a sense of self-belief. Through these connections, personal growth was revealed, and resilience emerged as a beacon in the face of adversity. As the days turned into months, a sense of belonging began to take root. The community embraced us and we, in turn, found a place to call home. Reflecting on this transformative journey, I realized the power of hope for a brighter future. The challenges, triumphs, and connections shaped not only my language abilities, but also my identity in this new community. The story of a refugee became a story of resistance, unity, and the unshakable belief that a brighter tomorrow awaits in a foreign land. 16 How I Took My Drivers License* By Yasimin Niazy One of my biggest experiences in the U.S is how I achieved what I wished for to be independent. Maybe it is a basic thing for others, and you might laugh at what I tell you, but I wanted to try something for the first time. It was getting my drivers license. I tried really hard for a couple months, and I felt it was the hardest work. I felt scared, heavy, nervous, and excited. If it was you instead of me, it would give you the same feeling as I had. Why it is hard for me is because the country that I am from does not allow women to drive. It is a rule by culture custom system, which is weird but thats true. When I came to the U.S. I started practicing driving with my husband. Also, I cant speak English. Maybe one of my obstacles was the language too. By this time, I was pregnant with my second child. I felt heavy and I remember I could not tighten my seatbelt because I felt I was surrounded with chains and had a kind of feeling that I couldnt breathe normally. Finally, after two months of practicing and practicing I was ready to go take the test. I got an appointment for the test, and I went to the DMV on test day. I remember it was Tuesday when my husband got permission from his job to go with me. I appreciate him, because he is always willing to help me to improve, and he protects me to be determined on the way. He is thinking differently from most other men who dont 17 allow their wives to be independent. I admire him for his courage. On the day when I started driving with the teacher who gave the test, I forgot to put on my seatbelt. When I came back from the parking lot, she told me I did not pass the test because of the seatbelt. It was funny, but at the same time it is an important crucial thing. A seatbelt made me fail the test; I cried a lot until we came back home. It was a 40-minute drive. After that, I got stronger and more determined, and I had to be careful with everything in life. And the next week I went back with another appointment, and I finally passed the test and got my license. My family was so happy for me. It was a nice feeling after that. Things fell into place for me, and I see the world as a place to live in the U.S is a land of opportunity for anyone who has a chance to use it in a better way. 18 One Very Mean Teacher By Nasra Fitina In the countryside in the refugee camps of Tanzania, Africa, we had to walk everywhere because we couldnt ride the bus like in the USA to school. We didnt eat lunch or breakfast at school, but we could bring our own food and eat it after or before class started. When it was time for school, we had to wear a uniform and if we didnt have it on, we had to go back home to change. If we were lucky, then we might get a good teacher who would help us or make us understand better, but if we didnt have a good teacher, we wouldnt understand what we are studying, and it would be hard to catch up with the other students. Lastly, when we were late to class and everyone was there, even the teacher, then we got punished because we needed to get there before the teacher was in class. Teachers can hit you with a long ruler or they would tell you to hold out the palms of your hands and hold them against the wall with your head down in an uncomfortable way for up to 20 minutes. Sometimes students had to squat down and pull their own ears. All these punishments were to make students listen to teachers and follow the rules. One day when I was almost 12 years old, I was in the classroom, and I was not prepared to answer any 19 questions about what we learned before. There was one very mean teacher who taught this history class, and I did not study for his class. I knew that I would get in trouble if the teacher asked me questions, so instead of waiting for that to happen, I jumped out of the window that was a little far from the ground. My feet were hurting from this long jump, but I was more scared of getting into trouble. I ran to the bathroom and hid for one hour for the next class with a different teacher to begin. I didnt get caught, but I would have been in big trouble and my parents would have had to come to school. I only did that one time! 20 The Years of Oblivion* By Ziara Blanco About 10 months ago, I visited a retirement home for the first time. Because after studying for the CNA, I finished and had to do 40 hours of practical work in a nursing home. Thats the first time I was there. I remember that very beautiful place, with nurses walking the halls, checking on the old people. It is a very luxurious place and very expensive, but you can feel a great loneliness in that place. Those days that I was there, I felt sad, and my heart was broken to see the old people alone in their rooms. I looked at their sad faces, some sitting in their wheelchairs, waiting to be called for lunch, others lying on their beds, looking towards the door, maybe waiting for a visit that surely would come that day. I felt anguish and even fear, and I thought seriously about old age. When adults reach old age, they face different problems. But one of the main ones, and what affects them most, is loneliness. I met a person at the nursing home that I had a lot of connection with. I was always aware of him because he needed me. I still remember last May 9. It was his birthday, and he was very happy, and the nurses gave him a balloon that said happy birthday. He was very happy and told me. I need you to help me shave and put on special clothes because it is my birthday, and my children are coming to visit me. I told him of course 21 that if I left him looking handsome in his wheelchair. The next day I arrived. The first thing I did was visit him in his room and ask him how his visit with his children had been. With tears in his eyes, he told me that no one visited him on his birthday. When I heard that my heart was broken into 1000 pieces. I will never forget his sad face. On the last day of my practice at the nursing home, I looked for him to say goodbye to him, and he held my hand and said, dont go away. I left, crying, my heart broken, because I knew that he felt alone that day, and was very sad, but I will never forget all the patients that I met there, and especially this man. That day I understood and realized that this was what I wanted to study, and that I had not made a mistake. Loneliness in an old person is a very difficult problem for their well-being. It seems that this is not a troubling issue for our society. I think bringing a loved one to the care of a stranger is similar to saying, I surrender you; I give up, I cannot care for you anymore. I do not understand how a father, or a mother can become an unbearable burden. For me, this is impossible, because in the condition of an illness or old age, the parent is an invaluable treasure that many are not lucky enough to have. I know people who would give anything to get them back once they have passed on. For those people who have contemplated senior care facilities for their parents, it is important to know that even though they get attention, care, and sometimes affection in the retirement home the feeling will always be the same depression and loneliness. I think that nobody loves them enough to take care of them. Since those days I was there in the nursing home, I cannot 22 stop thinking about the people there. I hope their last days are happier in this place. If you have an old person in your life, maybe it is time to thank them for being there and return some of the love that they have given you. 23 What Is Success?* By Phatchari Laechoe I was born in a normal family in the north of Thailand. My family is not part of a real Thai nation. We are a small type that is called Akha and we have our own language. So, Thai is my second language. We have to work hard, and we expect a better life and success. But how? I remember since I was young, I heard everyone around me say, Focus on your studies and you will have a great future. Also, when I went to visit my grandparents, they also said the same thing. Focus on your studies, get a good grade, and your life wont be hard in future. And when I looked at my friends around me, they studied very hard, because they told me, My parents will give me a new bicycle if I get an A in every subject. They studied very hard. They studied all day at school then after school they went to study again and on the weekends, they studied, and in the summer break they also go to study too. Do I have to study hard like that too? I have a question for myself. I dont know, I answered. But everyone around 24 me studied and everyone said I needed to study, too. So, you should follow and do that too. I said to myself. After that I tried to study hard. I gave all my attention to studying. I studied all day and all night. During my meal I studied. I went to school. After school I studied. And yes, I expect that I will get a full score in every test but if not, I have to be the one who gets the highest score or at least second. And yes! I did a great job! One day Im feeling really tired, and I feel it is too hard. During that time my phone rang. How are you? asked by my mom. Mom Im tired, it is too hard for me I said. Some tears came out. And yes, I started crying. This is not the first time this has happened many times already. Did you eat some delicious food? Mom asked. If not go to eat; Did you take enough sleep? If not go to bed lay down and get rest; Did you go out and travel? if not, go out and travel The important thing is not about will you pass the test or not, but that you do the best as you can. And why do you have to put too much pressure on yourself? Then I have a question to myself again. Why do you put a lot of pressure on yourself? Is it because you are wanting success? And what does that mean? 25 Is success the things that people around you say about you? Or think about you? I look back on myself and said, Studying is not everything in your life; You have many more important things than that! You have your family that loves you so much who expectation just your happiness and Yes, you have many things that you love to do And now I learn the way to success doesnt consist of just studying. And success is different depending on who you ask. I dont mean the things that everyone told me when I was young are wrong. But I just think everyone has their own way to be successful. And what does success mean to you? 26 FAMILY 27 28 A Short History of Family and Country* By Emperatriz Amaya Our country El Salvador has suffered many problems due to civil war, guerillas, gangs, and crime. El Salvador is a very long-suffering country and our people have had to endure a lot of suffering. For this reason, we have felt forced to emigrate to the United States. I grew up with my parents and five siblings, three brothers and two sisters. I was the youngest child. I remember one time when I was around 13 years old, our family had to flee to a mountain so that we werent killed by the guerrillas. Our neighbors ran with babies and children in their arms, walking toward this mountain to prevent them from being harmed. We stayed at the top of the mountain while they searched our houses. The guerrillas were so cruel that they killed children and the elderly. I remember that the mothers covered their childrens mouths so they wouldnt cry. We stayed there until the morning when the sun rose, and when they had left, we returned home without having slept at all. Around this time, Monsignor Oscar Romero was killed during mass at his church. In 1988, I came to the United States with my sisterin-law to escape the violence. My oldest brother, her husband, was already here. Many other people also fled to the U.S. to escape the violence and ongoing civil war. The gang MS-13 was started in Los Angeles by Salvadoran refugees who learned about violence and 29 fighting in the war. Then, in the 1990s, President Bill Clinton deported many criminals and gang members back to El Salvador. The civil war ended, but then there were so many deported gang members and gang violence grew. The president of El Salvador didnt do anything. They started to kill people. Kidnapping of children and young people rose, and the gangs trained them to kill and rob. There were more and more gang members until the people of my town could no longer bear the suffering. They killed whole families, destroyed big businesses, and took peoples money. They even took over entire towns, farms, and factories. They became the owners and only the gang could live there. If a stranger came to visit, they would kill them. The gangs killed for no reason and there was nothing people could do. It was not a good life and that is why people thought and dreamed constantly about immigrating to the United States. During this time, I only returned home a few times because of all the violence. The first time was to bury my father and the second time was to bury my mother. When I was there visiting my family, violence was always a concern because we heard gunshots here and over there. They were killing each other, the different groups of gangs. Recently, Nayib Bukele became the president of El Salvador. He has put many gang members in prison and the country is safer now. Last year, in 2023, I went to visit my family and I took my son. Even though he has only been the president for four years, thanks to President Bukele, I could enjoy the time in my country 30 with my family. I know it is peaceful now. I could sleep at night without worries and I wasnt afraid. We visited nice tourist places and had fun. I think it is better for all Salvadorans now. And better for my family. So, I want to say thank you for this time of peace. 31 APPLE By Xiaolu Lin Three years back, it was a cold autumn. While I was walking down a street, I spotted a hurt stray cat curled up on a street corner. She was so small with fur the color of autumn leaves. Her leg was injured, and she could hardly stand, but she looked at me and it was like she was asking for help. I couldnt leave her there, it felt like fate had dropped her right into my path. I picked her up carefully. We went straight to a pet hospital. As she recovered, I decided to keep her. She grew up quickly, her presence was like a warm hearth on a winters night. I named her Apple because she was the apple of my eye. Apple and I became best friends. Apple was more than just a cat, she was my family and a treasure in life. Whenever I had a rough day, she liked lying next to me. Her gentle purrs and soft fur brought comfort and turned my house into a home. It was like a reminder that everything was going to be alright. Once, when I was really upset and crying, Apple stayed right by my side. She did something so sweet she licked my tears away. It was as if she could understand my feelings and wanted to help me feel better. Having her there, feeling her warmth and the gentle touch of her tongue on my face, made me feel a lot less alone. It was a simple act, but it meant so much to me. Apple showed me that even on the hardest days, I had her love and support. 32 She was more than just a cat; she was a true friend who could make any bad day better with her kindness. Ive since left home to come to the United States, and now Apple lives with my parents. Theyve showered her with all their love. My mom told me that Apple has gotten chubbier. She plays with her toys every day, and I guess she must be really happy. Every day and night, I miss her deeply, she is forever the apple of my eye. 33 From Sadness to Happiness* By Saad Al Dulaimi When I lived in Iraq, I lived with my father, mother, six brothers and two sisters. I entered primary school when I was 6 years old. My school was called AlMaaref Elementary School for boys in the neighborhood of Zafaraniyah, inside Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. And it is still in the same place today. I used to love my school and I loved to study. My father worked in The Arab Soft Drink Company making the popular Orange Mission Soda. This drink is loved by all Iraqis. The main ingredient is dried oranges, imported from the American state of California. My father encouraged me to study and get a good education so that I could help him and succeed in my future. My teacher in the school used a stick to beat and discipline the students who neglected their homework, and this frightened me. That is why I worked hard in my lessons and did my homework every day. When I completed middle school and high school in 1979, I started to study in the Air Force Academy in Salah-al -Din Governorate, Iraq. This is the largest aviation academy in the Middle East. My father passed away in 2013. He was greatly affected by the killing of his nephews, Hussein, Hamid, Kazem and Zaid, who were killed in 2006 in the most horrific ways in the center of Baghdad. They were kidnapped by armed groups in front of peoples eyes. 34 My father never recovered from his misery. He did not live to see one of his own sons die in a similar way. My mother was a kind and compassionate person. She fulfilled the ideal duty of a mother towards us. She used to go hungry in order to feed all her children due to lack of food. She protected me and saved me from many problems that happened in my life. My mother was happy that I arrived safely in the United States of America in 2019, but she died under oppression in 2020 in Iraq. My oldest brother, Raad, is married, has one son and three daughters, and now lives in Turkey. Aqeel is my younger brother; he lives in Iraq and has two sons and one daughter. Ahmed, my second brother, died of sickness in 2016 in Iraq-Baghdad. Mahmoud was my third brother. He was killed publicly in Baghdad center in 2019. Muhammad, my fourth brother, died of sadness in Baghdad in 2020. I have been saddened by the death of my brothers who died while they were oppressed. I was also deeply saddened by the killing of my cousins in the most horrific ways in Baghdad, Iraq. Since I arrived in the USA, I have become very happy. I have found peace, freedom, and a good democracy. I have a good job and have access to a good hospital. I have found good people who show compassion and care. The IRC, the Adult Learning Center and Literacy Volunteers have all helped me. There is delicious food and so much more! I am thankful that my life has changed in so many wonderful ways. 35 Growing on a Farm* By Olga Sanchez At three in the morning, my father comes into my room and tells me in low voice, Patricia, mija, lets go to the farm. I got up immediately because I like to go with him and my brothers to work the land. My father, my brothers, and I put on some ruanas and left the house while it was still very dark. I remember we were walking down the block. Everything was very quiet, and people were sleeping. While we moved towards our destination, we heard the sound of the wind. We saw the lights of the few cars that were traveling at the time, and the lamps that illuminated the streets where we walked. We went very quietly and hunched up to conserve the warmth that the ruanas gave us. After we had been walking for about an hour, we reached the darkest part where the streets ended, and the countryside continued. I remember that it was a little difficult for me to see through the road because of so much darkness, so my father used a flashlight to illuminate the path a little. The dawn was very beautiful. You could see how the sun replaced the moon and the road lit up little by little. You could hear the birds singing, and the roosters with their quiquiriqu. You could see the cows grazing, and the dogs began to bark at us. Then, my 36 father prepared the machete in case they attacked us. It was almost six a.m. when we arrived at the farm. We began the work that consisted of sowing the land. What corresponded to me due to my young age was quite simple, it was just following my fathers instructions. Like how to water the seeds, pull out the weeds, and make mud balls. I was very happy. I liked being there with him and my brothers; especially at mealtime because my dad cooked very well and gave us a lot of food. Even though I have a sister a little older than me, my dad didnt like taking her because she was too careless and always made him angry. The worst thing is that one day she spoiled all the food because of a mistake, and he hit her very hard and never took her with us again. My brothers and I yelled at him, Dad stop please! and we started crying. We were very sad and anxious, until my dad calmed down, hugged us, and apologized. In this farm, I learned to work with love and as a team. But I learned to be a psychologist by listening to radio programs while we worked. The radio program was called solution to your problem. I listened attentively while I worked with my hands in the dirt of the farm, pulling out the weeds. At present, I am a good psychologist because I like to help people. I am very good at listening carefully and empathizing with their pain. 37 My Beautiful African Family* By Jeovanisie Ngabireymana I live in a five-bedroom house. I live with my father, my mother-in-law, my husband, and our 3-year-old daughter. The house is large, and it is nice to have space. The living room is large and has a couch, chairs, a television, and big windows. The kitchen is new, and the appliances are good too. I cook a lot of meals with rice, beans, carrots, tomato, beef, and spices like black pepper, paprika, and onion. This is how traditional African food is made. My daughter likes our food but also really likes to eat pizza with mushrooms and pepperoni. My husband and I also like to eat pizza, but we do not eat it often. My husband has a busy life. He works at Amazon, and he works from Sunday to Friday. He leaves at 9AM and comes home at 10PM. Life at home is not always relaxing for him. He is often stressed because his job is very tiring. He needs to relax, but he doesnt have time. When my husband is at work, I watch TV and I cook for the family. I also clean and play with our daughter because she is very young. On Friday, when my husband does not have work, he spends time with our family and also goes to the grocery store to buy food. When we spend time together, we pray, play games, or go to the park. Our daughter loves to swing at the park. On Saturday, our family goes to church to worship. We go to church at 10 in the morning and come 38 back at 2 in the afternoon. Later, on Saturday we spend time with friends and our family. We like to eat African food together and talk. One person cooks for everyone and we take turns. During the evening, we go to visit friends who live nearby. My family is very nice and happy. 39 No Matter How Difficult the Situation, Some Good May Come from It By Bahie Ramadan When the war began in Syria, some areas in Aleppo were subjected to rocket fire. The owners of the houses that were demolished left their homes and came to my area, which had not been attacked. The men, women, and children of my area cooperated to help them. We had no solution but to put them in our school and make classrooms in our homes. My family and the neighbors divided them up. Each family took a room. The neighborhood women began to cook food for them. The men removed the study chairs and replaced them with some of the items they had collected from people in the area. These items included clothes and things for heating and sleeping. Every day our cousins, the other children, and I would gather and go to school. We got to know the people and asked them what they needed, so that we could bring it to them the next day. In the evening, we made sweets for the children. We bought them toys and played with them. It was wonderful to see a little joy on the childrens faces. Some time ago, I received news from my cousin about a girl we got to know in that school. She had married a person from the same school and had children. Her children now go to the same school to study, not to escape the war. Many other boys and girls met in this school and got married. This experience showed 40 me that no matter how difficult the situation, some good may come from it. I met new people and enjoyed helping them. People were saved from a war and started a new life. 41 42 WORK 43 44 A Lice-Infested Adventure in the Land of Ice By Vitoria Macedo Being an au pair in the United States brought its own set of challenges, but nothing quite prepared me for the absurdity that unfolded when the youngest member of the family brought home an unwelcome guest lice. In my Brazilian upbringing, dealing with lice was a straightforward task: apply lice shampoo and move on. However, my host family had a different approach, and they were ready to unleash full-scale warfare against the microscopic invaders. The family, including the infected 5-year-old girl, gathered at a lice clinic for an oil hair treatment. Picture the scene: a family covered in disposable hair caps, sitting for hours with oil-soaked heads, all in the name of eradicating lice. Laughter echoed through the clinic as we exchanged bemused glances, realizing the lengths wed go to for pest control. In the midst of the oily chaos, the little girl, the 5-year-old, piped up, Mom, do you think the lice are having a spa day on our heads too? The entire family burst into laughter, imagining tiny lice wearing mini bathrobes and cucumber slices on their antennae. The unloving spirit of the situation turned our pest predicament into a spa day comedy, making the lice-fighting ordeal strangely entertaining. 45 But the battle didnt stop there. The entire household transformed into a war zone. Armed with vacuum cleaners, we attacked every corner of the house, ensuring no louse could escape our vigilant eyes. Hot water became our ally as we washed and dried every conceivable item. However, the grand finale came in the form of utilizing the freezer a final attempt to freeze the tiny foes out of existence. Teddy bears, hairbrushes, and even delicate items found themselves in an unexpected icy exile. As I reflect on that lice-infested adventure, I cant help but chuckle at the lengths my host family went to combat the tiny troublemakers. What started as a simple case of lice turned into a full-scale family operation, complete with oil treatments, vacuum attacks, and frozen teddy bears. It became a shared joke, a bonding experience that showcased our ability to turn a challenging situation into a lighthearted family memory. In the end, the lice were defeated, and I can proudly declare that my au pair journey is now truly complete a bizarre and hilarious tale to share for years to come. Its a testament to the cultural differences in approaching lifes challenges and the unexpected adventures that make being an au pair a unique and unforgettable experience. Sometimes, in the face of adversity, all you can do is laugh, and in this peculiar case, laughter truly proved to be the best medicine. 46 Comb Your Hair* By Yingxin Lu (Nicole) I used to be a part-time Chinese teacher when I was in Italy. I stood on the stage, waving my hand with handouts in it, even though I considered myself a brat just like my little students. I knew they were not there to learn Chinese. They were there because their parents didnt have time to look after them. Logically, I became a babysitter with a teachers title. The majority of kids who came to my class had busy families. Most of their parents had come to Italy initially as smugglers. They were struggling with their basic life needs and didnt have further plans for their kids. Among those kids, Xuanxuan was the best student. She was super diligent and tenacious. However, there was one thing that confused me a lot: she never combed her hair. Some boys laughed at her hair and said that it looked like a henroost. Xuanxuan never responded to those words. Whenever other kids asked about her hair, she just kept writing something in her textbook silently. Sometimes, I would let her sit on my leg and read some Chinese stories to her during break time. Her hair, frankly, seemed all tangled together into a ball that couldnt be untangled at all, which made me feel very conflicted. 47 I remember it was a hot summer, even the cicadas chirping on the trees seemed feeble. I was a poor college student, and I accepted this so-called teaching job in a daze. On my birthday, I spent one weeks food expenses to buy a birthday cake and then shared it with the kids. When I passed a slice of cake to Xuanxuan, she secretly put something into my hand. She said it was a birthday gift. I opened my hand and found it was a beer opener. She said she got it from her father, who was working for a Chinese barbecue restaurant as an illegal worker. I froze and had nothing to say at that moment. After a moment, I said to her, If you dont mind, could you give me a chance to comb your hair after school? I am good at braiding. She nodded slightly. When there were just two of us left in the classroom, I brought a chair and sat behind her. We were nearly at the same height. I thought that I was not much older than her. Before I braided her hair, I spent almost half an hour untangling it, one knot at a time. Her sigh broke the silence. She said, It would be so good if my mom were like you. She only focuses on making money. I felt like she was a bit choked up, but I couldnt see her face. A college student who had nothing, but mixed feelings was looking at the empty classroom and didnt know how to react. After that day, I combed her hair every day until summer ended. When I combed through my memory of that summer in flashbacks, the scene in which I was combing her hair was recalled in my head even though I already forgot how she looked like. Now I am a 29-year-old mom, but I often feel that 48 hot summer was the first time I truly became a mom, back 11 years ago. 49 My First Job* By Luisa Vasconcelos I finished my Nurse Degree in 2022, so that way I started looking for a job and I thought my first job was a moment to find out what direction I was going to take. But for some reason my first job brought emotions and questions that until now I had only read about it. I believe that we always think that we are sure of something, for me I was sure that I would not judge any patient because I would know how to separate my position as a professional. Wouldnt that be too arrogant? Maybe. Or just a thought from a young woman starting her career. After a few nights on duty and days as well, I realized that her family wasnt going to visit her. How is this possible? She was treating cancer. In my thoughts it is unacceptable. But why was I questioning something that wasnt part of my job? So I asked more about her family. Why doesnt your daughter come visit you with your grandson? and she says, She is busy, I dont want to bother her. She keeps talking. I have two brothers. They are in a different state now and they have their own family. I saw a chance to ask more things about her family. 50 Do you want to talk with your brothers about whats happening with you? I can call for them if you want. After six months of working with this patient, it was impossible not to see her as my grandmother or someone I cared about. So I made that call. My concern was about her going through this treatment alone or dying alone, without the chance to say anything to her brothers. Because unfortunately the news we had from the doctors was not good, so we were going to treat her as a palliative care patient. Her brother told me some reasons why she was lonely, and I couldnt see her that way. He said that she chose to live that way, she chose to live alone after her husband died and she fought with her eldest son. I was devastated, I cant see her as my family, but I see her as my family. She was very good with us, with the entire team and with the people who work in her house, how was it possible that she could have been someone bad to her own family. Her daughter fought with me because I called her uncle, she said I would be fired if I didnt send him away and at that point, I realized again that I had gotten too involved. But the most shocking thing for me was discovering that she didnt want her uncle because he was the only one who knew where the patients eldest son was, and he would contact him to say that his mother was sick. I felt guilty and knew that I did something wrong, I interfered in a patients life, but my intention was to bring someone who loved her close, but I think the boundaries between what I would like to do for myself 51 or for my family was crossed when I took the step of looking for my patients brother. At a time when I thought the family would be the solution, they brought more suffering to the patient I wanted to protect in a way that today I see was not my duty. The uncle told his eldest son what was happening, and he showed up at the patients house after 25 years without talking to his own mother. At that moment I was happy and thought something worked, I managed to get the mother to see her son before she died. 52 My Work, My Passion By Ingriz Hernandez I work in a restaurant. I am cook. I love learning new dishes every day. I cook with a lot of passion. I love the work environment and so do my colleagues. I love my job. My job looks fantastic The job sounds noisy The job smells delicious The job tastes different everyday The job feels happy 53 Why Did I Decide to Become a Teacher?* By Josefina Errazuriz When I was a kid, my best friend was Mara, a field workers daughter. One day we were playing a game about What would you like to be when you grow up? and I remember then I started to say: an actress, veterinarian maybe a designer. But the silence filled the room. Mara had a sad and lost face. I asked her: What would you like to be when you grow up? And she said to me: I will work in a field. I cant do anything else. She was in a public school, instead, I was in a private school. In a country where the difference is evident. And then, during that simple game at just 10 years old, I had a realization. I wanted to change that. A few years later, I knew I wanted to be a teacher; I wished to improve the public education of my country. I wanted everyone to have the freedom to choose what they want to be, no matter where they come from. Here is the explanation of education in my country. In Chile, public education is significantly worse than private education. It is a flawed system. Most of the best teachers who graduate from the top universities decide to teach in private schools, and not in public schools, for many reasons. First, they get paid significantly more. Second, they have more opportunities for their professional development. Third, they have much less emotional stress in a private system, because of 54 social reality. Therefore, based on what I mentioned earlier, the decision isnt difficult. That is why the most competent teachers dont go to public schools. Here is the bigger problem. Because beyond the infrastructure, materials, and technology the excellence of the teacher is the principal main feature to achieve a better education. But can we turn a blind eye to the reality of the country? For me, it isnt easy at all. Seeing children capable of a lot but who cant thrive because they dont have the money. We need better quality public education, there is no doubt about this. I hope that the important thing is not money but effort. That students who strive can achieve their maximum potential. The teachers role is to facilitate this. When I decided to study to become a teacher, what happened? People judged me so much. They told me that I was wrong in my decision. Many believed that there wasnt a solution to the public education problem. On the contrary, my family always supported me. My grandmother was a teacher who dedicated her entire life to public education, inspiring me to do the same. I understand it is difficult to improve the entire education system of a country, but I believe that every contribution matters. I can see this every day in my classroom with my students. I always remember one student, Diego. Initially he was a bad student, he had troubles in his behavior and low grades. He had absent parents who didnt believe in him. However, I took on the responsibility of helping him progress. I believed in his potential. Now, he is the best student in the classroom, and he wants to begin studying to become a doctor next year. Much like my grandmother and me, there are others who share this belief in the transformative power of education. Together we can bring about change for a better country, a better Chile. And in this way, if I were to ask another Mara, What would you like to be when you grow up? She can respond with whatever she wants to be. And the quality of education should not be a limiting factor, only her own effort and dedication. Josefina Errzuriz, the teacher. VOICES OF ADULT LEARNERS 28th Edition2024 A publication of the Thomas Jefferson Adult and Career Education Program at Piedmont Virginia Community College, which serves Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties and the City of Charlottesville. TJACE@PVCC Adult Learning Center 935-A 2nd Street SE Charlottesville, VA 22902 tjace@pvcc.edu 434.961.5461 www.pvcc.edu/tjace ...