My first English classes in New World Association of Immigrants


Hey!


I remembered that there is a notebook at home and I can write letters on it. It doesn't have wi-fi and it is not connected to internet any other way, but that's ok because I will go to the office tomorrow with him and send these letters from his office computer. But I can at least write them tonight. I like working on the computer at night. But it's actually not night yet, only 8:30. Anyway... Many places in Philadelphia have wi-fi, all the cafes, all the parks... You can just sit on the grass in the park and work on your computer. That's great, but to do that he has to buy a new computer, because this one is to old and wi-fi cannot be connected L


I have my classes in New World Association of Immigrants (Russian Immigration Center). I had also 3 new students. Children of some of the students already live here and one of my students has come as a family reunion, as I guess. He makes my class a little messy, because he probably tries to show how much he knows and he is always "in front of the train" (vperedi parovoza), he always helps others (podskazyvaet), which I don't like and will have to discipline him a little bit more, so that he listens to me better... Yeap... Teachers' problems :-)


But in general my students are great, the husband and a wife (54 and 59 years old) are very nice and sweet. The husband is like a child. When I tell him to go to the blackboard and try to write something, he looks at me and asks: "Maybe we can watch cartoons instead?" He is joking, but kind of joking... But he is hardworking, he tries to learn everything, it is just difficult for him a little bit. But he tries hard.


And his wife is the sweetest person in the world. She studies better, because she better with the languages probably, but she also helps a lot her husband.


And the other woman I have is from Latvia. She came here also to her daughter in law. It means that there is someone to help her with money, insurance, home, car, and all the other staff that needs to be done, like getting acquainted with the country, the system, and society, people around you, finding places and all those important things that you need to know. And if there is no one to help you, you go to immigration centers for help. And a lot of people do come to such centers. But if they have someone here to help them, they will feel much more secure and won't have to worry too much, and half of the work will be don't for them by their children or relatives.

My 3 new students... one woman, knows nothing and I have to start from the very beginning with her, but it's not much, she learns pretty quickly, she is hardworking. another my new student is half deaf, so I have to speak much louder and close to him so that he hears something. but he is very very nice. sometimes I have to write translitteration of the word in Russian on the blackboard, in other words transcription in Russian. Funny...

And the last new student is very nice and very intelligent. He knows a little bit, so he doesnt have to catch up witht he rest of the class. He can be described even as the best student. He carves wood and makes jewellry, and paints. He is an artist. He looks and behaves as if he comes from the 19th century, very well behaved, educated, unbelievable :-)


All my students are 50-60 years old, but they are good students. They are very motivated to study and they do try a lot.


I go to the movies every now and again. Philadelphia has a lot of artsy theatres and movie theatres (that's what they call cinemas). It's actually easier to find artsy movie in Philadelphia than any Hollywood stupid modern blockbuster or bestseller :-)


I saw a movie about a little bit crazy guy who instead of normal girlfriend brought to his family a rubber toy and the doctor said that they all have to pretend that it is a real girl and to play together with him. So, all the family and the neighbours in the village stared to talk to that girl, to take care of here as if she was real. Can you imagine that kind of staff???


Than there a movie about a psychotic killer who was going after the guy who found money in the suitcase and drugs after a deal with Mexicans. That guy was just passing by and saw the killed people and the money and the drugs, and took the money. And after that the killer was going after him. But the killer was crazy, and that's why the movie was psychologically hard, not like a stupid blockbuster.


And yesterday I saw the one about the trip through all the America to Alaska by foot, which was made by a guy who was running from the society, rules, and his family who were on the stage of divorce. He was looking for freedom. And he found it, but at the end he understood that happiness can be real only if shared. And these were exactly the words that he wrote, his last words. Because he died from starvation, and also poison, he ate the wrong berries. A very strong movie and it was actually based on a true story. That guy really existed and his family helped to make that movie.


And I also take movies, I rent them every now and again. Yesterday I saw one about a Jewish guy who went to Ukraine to research his family and find the woman who saved his grandfather, and made it possible so that he immigrates to America in the beginning of the century, or it was the Second World War, I don't even remember. But it was a great movie!!! It had pictures of Odessa, even. And the author of the book, on which the movie was based, was written by a ukrainian jewish guy, the guy who actually did that trip in a movie. So, it's autobiographical movie. And it tells the story of Western Ukraine when jews were killed there by nazis and how this guy saved by leaving the country a week before the germans came to that village, but his wife and a not born kid died.


I feel like a relief after I can work on the computer in the evening. Because I am used to writing letters, to talk to people, and when I don't have a computer under my hand, I feel strange, like something is lacking, and that is called communication through the internet that I can make any time I want at home and cannot do it here yet L


Ok, I will be finishing for today. You probably already have a lot to read :-)


Be good and enjoy every moment of your life!!! :-) Bisous (kisses in French) from the Western part of the Atlantic Ocean :-)



Lena