Thank You
Vocabulary
By Yorlenys Maradiaga
I came to United States in November 4, 2008. Since that day, my life and my family
life have changed. My family and I are separate from each other. Our lives have
taken a huge turn of 180 degrees, as we say.
First of all, I came to a country where I had to learn another language and also
another culture. The first days were so hard for me. I remember my first day of school
at Next Step Public Charter School. I felt like a little owl, scared, nervous. My eyes
were everywhere, but it was one of the most important things I had to do -- to school
and learn English. I studied there for 6 months and met great teachers who helped me
a lot.
In 2009, my dad took me to enroll at Carlos Rosario School; he told me that it was a
wonderful school. He told me, “I studied here in 1992, and I learned all that I know
now. And I know you will learn too, daughter.” I applied 2 times. I came back and
applied again for the third time. This time, they accepted me; I was very happy.
In August 2010, in Level 2, at the DuPont Circle site, I started a new challenge in my
life. I had no job and I met with a lady she helped me to find a job in a restaurant on U
St. I did not speak fluent English. I only knew a few words, but my friend who worked
there took me to the manager for an interview. This was funny because the manager
ask me do you speak English, and I said, “Yes, yes.” When she started the interview, I
was nervous. She asked me some questions that I did not understand. I just said,
“yes” or “no.” Obviously, she knew I did not speak English very well, but I got the
opportunity to be a food runner. I worked there for four years. Then, she always
asked me, “Do you speak English?” When I felt that my English was fluent, I looked
for another