Subway Stories

ESOL Speaks Literary Magazine

Fall 2018
 ESOL Speaks
Fall 2018

Subway Stories

Cover& title page photos by Andrea Del Gizzo

Published by: Community Impact at Columbia University

Designed by:

Edited by: Kent Katner

ESOL SPEAKS is the creative writing journal of the Jobs and Edu-
cation Empowerment Program (J.E.E.P.) at Community Impact of
Columbia University. Manuscripts are original and unpublished poet-
ry, essays, short stories, photography, and drawings from students
enrolled in the Fall 2018 semester.

Views and opinions expressed in this journal belong to their respec-

tive authors and are not intended to represent the views of Communi-
ty Impact. Inquiries about the journal, our organization, or our vari-
ous programs may be directed to:

Jobs and Education Empowerment Program (J.E.E.P.)

Community Impact at Columbia University
105 Earl Hall MC 2010
New York, NY 10027
(212) 854-1492

Check out this issue on our website! jeepstudent.org

 ESOL Speaks
Subway Stories

Table of Contents

***

10am-12pm & 12-2pm (CLOTH) ……………….. 7

12-2pm ………………………………………….. 10

4-6pm …………………….……………………… 19
6-8pm …………….……………………………… 31

***

Fall 2018
 A Dedication

from Community Impact

***
Dear ESOL Students,
It has been a great pleasure to have spent this fall semester with you.
We sincerely thank you for submitting your artwork and writing to this
semester’s magazine. To those staying with us next semester, we are
so excited that you chose to come back to Community Impact to further
your studies; And to those graduating out of the program, we are so
proud of your progress, yet, you will truly be missed. On behalf of all
the volunteers and workers here at Community Impact, I would person-
ally like to say thank you for all your hard work, and we wish you all
the best!

Warmly,
Community Impact
ESOL Program Staff
December 2018

***
Level 1 10-12
Guarino De Jesus Madera Acosta
They are waiting for the train, some stand and others sit
Some read the newspapers
The baby is crying
Some are tired
A man is reading a book
A woman is carrying a guitar
Two people are kissing
Some people are sleeping

Eneyda Castillo
The subway there is a woman with a viochello, on the way to work, she has a
red blouse, it is near the door. Man reading in the subway. Asia person with
many flowers. Man with bear costume in the subway. Older lady sleeps; she
has a nice hairstyle. Person with a small dog. Man with mustaches, reading a
book, in love watching a girl in the subway.

Miledys Diaz
I usually use the train and bus. Both are interesting because l see different
people, from different countries. I also like to walk and breathe fresh air.

Jeannefree Nova
I like to travel by train, it is a very interesting experience, because you know
all kinds of people, they speak different languages, in addition, in the subway
you enjoy artists, singers, dancers, listening to different types of music and in-
struments.

7
Level 1 10-12
Wilmer Mendez
Hello, my name is Wilmer Méndez. I’m from Venezuela, a
country with natural beauty and happy people. In the last
few years, the young people here have been forced to
flee in search of a better future. Currently I live in Brook-
lyn and am a professional publicist. I love art and every
day I take a one-hour trip by train to attend classes. My
birthday is November 23. I like to travel and see new
places. Thanks to a program at Columbia University
called Community Impact, I am able to improve my Eng-
lish. I’m very happy to be here in this fantastic country.
God bless America.

Cristina Lluberes
Last year, I had a plan for vacation with my brothers. We wanted to go by bus
from Istanbul to Mujla. Bus is cheaper than flight. I didn’t buy a ticket for bus
because we can buy in bus terminal. For distance we were take out by bus at
11pm. There was 2 pm. After that I searched on the internet for flight. Immedi-
ately I bought it but last four hours for flight. We didn’t prepare the luggage.
We had fast luggage. We were on the way. We stayed a taxi, or bus or some-
thing transportation in airport intersections. Nothing can’t. After that, we stopped
a something car we don’t know who in this. Because we had little time for check
in, maybe 25 minutes.

Ramona Ventura
My story is about the artists in the NYC subway. We view different expresions
artístics for example people play Musical instruments: violin, saxo, guitar etc.
We have singers of rock, pop, Latin music, jazz and others musical genres, but
the dancers in the train is the most amazing. I love this street spectacle, they are
have very special energy, that’s unique in the world.

8
Level 1 10-12

Photos by Ramona Ventura

9
Level 1 10-12
Angela Arias
The subway of NYC is very important because it’s a means of transportation for
all who live and visit to NYC. There is underground and elevators are indispent
for all persons who are working in NYC because it can time and with train speed
of the train, you can travel the distance more quickly. On the subway NYC you
can appreciate the art of much artists, painting, playing his instrument, singing his
music and dancing. There are people who cannot express our art and there they
have their opportunity. On the subway we find different people with different
culture and language. We have to keep them clean. At Christmas the subway is
happy, funny, and beautiful.

Luz Maria Mojica Cabrera

In one of my first trips by train I was lost, although I was with people who had
already traveled by train before, it was a pleasant experience since the train
had people playing music. I arrived at Times Square and the truth is that in that
place I am very excited to see the shops, people in costumes, lights, food, and
the big TVs in the buildings and many other things. It was a very pleasant expe-
rience for me.

Moumouni Tiedrebeogo
I see many people in the train station. The man reads a newspaper. The baby
cries in a train. The young people fall in love. Young people listen to music in the
train. The old man look, they young
people in the train. The baby sleeps
in the train. The young man have the
bags on the train. My colleague al-
ways makes me laugh with his funny
jokes. The old are sitting on train
chair. Young people hold cheeks in
their hands. A lot of atmosphere on
the train. I see older children and
men in the train.

Niurka Acevedo
Somethings that every day look on the
subway are: one is sleeping sitting, a
group of boyfriends and family of four,
and your childrens. On is with a baby
crying and kid. One is reading the
newspapers. One couple is kissing. The
boy listen to music. Two women pray.
The lady is putting on makeup. Many
persons are sitting.

Photo by Weixiong Lai

10
Level 2 12-2
Amani Koffi Alain Simon
I love New York
If New York was such a beautiful woman, I will bring her flowers from my com-
munity "COMMUNITY IMPACT".
I love New York
If New York were an object, I will move its sky-ranks for my country to the IVO-
RY COAST.
I love New York
I love all these lights in the night, as they give a nice light city beauty.
I love New York
I love New York, because it is good to live with a humanist people towards the
poorest people. Please give me 50 greetings as shown by its American flag be-
cause "IN GOD WE TRUST".

Oummou Kaltoum Moussa Soumaila

Personally, since my arrival in New York I have not yet made a trip by train or
bus. But, the shuttle is on foot, bus or train I do it every day and most of the time
it is in train. The train! Oh my God! This crawling caterpillar that I cannot master
so far. To get to a place or to come back on which side or which goes or
where. I am always confused when it comes to taking the train. On the bus, that
I would stay that I master because to go to school I always take the bus is the
rare times that I go on foot. I will surely take time or not to master the train.
Which is sure with the habit I’ll get there.

Photo by Weixiong Lai

11
Level 3 12-2
Alady Acevedo
One day I was on my way to English class and suddenly a person came to the
train and started eating like crazy, ate very fast and when he finished he took a
toothpaste and a very small brush from his backpack and started brushing
teeth...

Mabel Acosta Molina

Many worlds in one, essential, necessary, dirty but at the same time entertaining.
Many different styles of thinking, dressing and beliefs ... I conclude a hope that
we should all have because you never know that you can see meet or find some-
thing new.

Nicolas Chelmagan
The first time than I took the subway, I went to Staten Island and I took a bridge
for looked the city of Manhattan. When I came at Staten Island I could swim in
the ocean. It’s crazy experience to swim in NYC. In France the subway is very
similar to NYC. I was peace and quiet because I didn’t have a car and I took the
subway every day. I have to find the better road for won the time. I think the
subway is expensive at NYC.

Alexandra Franco
I usually travel 3 times a day by train because I study in the morning and work
in the night, and it has happened to me that people get upset when they hear
me talking on the phone in another language, in another circumstance beggars
come up to ask and I did not have money to give but I offered fruit and I they
don't accept it and I get annoyed what they want is money.

Rita Guerrero
Mice happy in the subway. When I wait for the train on the platform you can
see the mice running around on the track and the mice are not scared of the
people any more.

Bangaly Toure
I like the subway because you can go in your work place early every days and
then in the train. I like when the homeless came for setting in the chairs to avoid
the cold, this makes me think if I was like them, I was gonna do like them? Often I
give to them my food so I don't like to see someone like me homeless. After that I
like to listen music in the train station so I never talk to anybody, because some
peoples have bad behavior and they can create problems to you. To done I like
so much the subway since you can learn more about the life and no racism, no
discrimination, and no more corruption too it's the better transportation in my life.

12
Level 2 12-2
Senia Vasquez
One day I was going to Manhattan on the train 6, I'm listening to music with my
headphones on. The train was arriving at stop 125, there entered a man about
70 years old, with his guitar in hand he asked everyone's attention. I put a stop
to my music that I listened to on my iPhone, my attention was for that man and
his guitar. To my surprise the gentleman not only played the guitar, he also sang.
At that moment, I remembered my grandfather.

Insaf El Khadiri
Few weeks ago was my first time taking train. After having hard time using
vending machine to buy metro card an MTA worker helped me to pay with my
credit card, I was feeling lost reading train station signs to come Columbia uni-
versity, later on the train came when the door opened I entered the train, two
ladies said “hello” to me with a huge smile I respond hello I didn’t know why
they were laughing. After setting on my set I figured out that all three of us
were wearing the same coats, the same color.

Photo by Weixiong Lai

13
Level 4 12-2
Alassane Zerbo
My Incredible late

New York Train is always delay. That delay waste our time and money. I was
using the Train D going to my important job interview. Actually that job interview
was like apple of my eyes because its might will transform my life and I was
unemployment. I heard the stinky announcement in The Train D said that there
are police Investigations in the subway so they apologize customer for the de-
lay. Honestly I felt like depressed. I went to my job late and didn't get that job
because I just came late to my job interview.

Rosa Marlene Pena

Ride the New York Subway, it's a complete ad-
venture, one of those that lead you to places
and situations that you never thought. Even your
imagination can't get the complete picture of
what it is a day or a night NY subway ride. This
is what I call a underground world inside a big
apple world, the morning rush hour, the noon, the
afternoon rush, the evening, the magical night,
all of them are ready to show us the best show in
your real life channel, no play can compare
with a real life performance, as great as the
best Broadway play. The actors and characters
are we, yes we, the daily commuters, Moms,
Childs, natives New Yorkers, tourists, homeless,
workers, immigrants, grannies, riches, poorest,
students and even if you don't believe it, maybe
a alien, getting off at 34 St Penn station, to buy
some Louis Vuitton at Macy's, the script change
minute by minute, please make some run, there is
some empty space in the middle , hey could you
please move, hey mom can I get this, oh damned I miss the train, don't push,
what the operator said? Oh this train don't stop at what? Is it express? Oh
no, rush hour are crazy, but no rush hour are show time, singers, musicians, danc-
ers, acrobatics, they just pass in from of you inside the train cars showing their
best, but main performance happen too inside the stations giving us that sweet
relaxing moment some times when we more needed, so get your spots inside the
train station, and the best street performance, Grammy goes to? Oh Gosh there
are really good talent right there, and what can I say about the nights the beau-
ties and extravaganza of a great fashion show will be just in from of you on
your way to home or your way to party, you never know. You can get lost in NY
subway too, even if you are native, the map can help but the planned work Ser-
vice change will mess your day and if you are tourist, I promise you will finish in
14
Level 4 12-2
the next borough, 10 station far away of your destination if you are lucky
enough, could be 5. I know what I am talking about because I have been there,
worst yet at midnight, my supposed 1 hour ride became 3 hour nightmare but
this is New York and we love it, well unless me, but I know you too. New York
City is a inspiration, no matter what you ride, underground in the deeper heart
of the city inside the subway or the wild beautiful. Outside with their busses and
yellow cabs, you just go with the movement of the city, a movement that change
second by second, like flashes in a NY club or sweet memories that you always
will treasure with you, the red color ride via west 1 go local 2 & 3 express, the
green color ride the east, just don't forget to stop at Spanish Harlem to get
something to eat, orange and yellow ride in the center, if there is not delay eve-
rything will be perfect, I just thinking move to Brooklyn in May, please don't close
yet the L train, but if I change my mind and move to Queens, I know my purple 7
will be waiting for me, but I still in Manhattan and I love my local 1 because it
always ride me on time to my ESOL English class .

Photo by Weixiong Lai

15
Level 5 12-2
Carlos Diaz
Christmas Letter

In this Christmas mom..

Orphans of your love and your presence
I’ll lie down to the bend of my boredom
that warms the unhappy emptiness of your haunt
Since we can’t see each other
you will dream me through those avenues
plethoric of noise, indifference and snow..
longing for that welcome rain
because in our Venezuelan Christmas it always rain..
And... Although it’s hard to be away from you
I’ll keep walking straight and firm in my endeavors
because I know that your prayers will go after me taking care of my steps and
my dreams..
I will make the world I dreamed come true and I will fight decisively ‘cause when
I return
I’ll find the new homeland what we all deserve our flag now for the trampled
hate
will wave again haughty and liberated
and we will listen again our Christmas carols
In this Christmas mom
Thousand children like me in different nations
We will make our births
here in our hearts
I’ll feel your embrace as
well as your blessings
Over nostalgia, loneliness
and cold
And then when the twelve
chimes sound
I will feel your blessing in
my conscience
Then.. I’ll hug your memory
in a warm way
that in solitude I will hang
tears to the sad Christmas
tree of your absence.
Photo by Weixiong Lai

16
Level 5 12-2

Susana Vergara

17
Level 6 12-2

Jenniffer Coello
Our beloved city known worldwide as the Big Apple has 8,600.000 inhabitants,
and an area of 141,297 km2, to move around in such a big city and with so
many people we need to make use of the means of transportation that it has,
such as the train, bus, taxi, in your own car or on foot. And every New Yorker
has sure of his own story to tell.

Fortunately I am one of the people who do not need to travel too far from home
to carry out their daily activities, but obviously I have used the train or bus be-
cause I do not have a car and in this city I do not think I will need it since it is a
big problem to find a parking lot and with the congestion, the fastest way to get
somewhere is the train, of course if it does not have any delay and everything
goes as it should.

I have drawn a very personal conclusion about what kind of transportation

should be used, it all depends on where you have to go and for what. I mean
that if you have to go to work and arrive at a fixed time or you go to an ap-
pointment and you want to get there quickly, surely your option is the train, not
so much the taxi because everything depends on the area you go to, that con-
gestion will not help you get there very quickly, it is better to get out of the taxi
and find a train station or start running. Of course, everyone knows what their
routine is and you already know that if you miss that train at that hour you will
be late, we take the train at the same time every day and usually see the same
people, so much so that one day we will start to say hello and even worry when
you do not see someone who always took the train at the same time.

Another story is if you have all the time in the world or if you are a tourist, in
those cases I suggest you take the bus so you can go looking through the window
at the beautiful view offered by the city, on the bus you can get to know the city
better and If something is of your interest you can get off, there is always a bus
stop every two or three streets. I love the buses in New York, they seem so inclu-
sive, I am surprised by the patience with which the drivers help people with
wheelchairs, in my country that is impossible, you have to develop special skills
to get on the bus because usually the driver never stops the bus so you can
climb.

In my case my routine to mobilize varies according to the weather, I usually com-

mute to take my son to school, if it is raining or very cold or extreme heat and I
go with little time I take the train and back I take the bus, and so I use the trans-
fer, and if the weather permits I prefer to walk and so I take advantage and do
a little exercise that definitely does not hurt anyone. If the distance from my des-
tination does not exceed 30 blocks and I have time to walk, and avoid the in-
conveniences of using the train or bus that sometimes has important delays and

18
Level 6 12-2
you get faster to your destination walking or you avoid strange smells in the
wagons of the train.

In conclusion, the Big Apple offers many alternatives to be able to move in and
out of the city, you just need to find the one that best suits your reality. Just be
warned that as strange as it seems when more you are hurry, they are more
delays in the transportation system, so we should work on our time manage-
ment and thus avoid stress and even anger.

Worawith Withayagiat
How do you think about subway in New York City. There is famous and colorful
subway in the world. Many travelers want to try on the subway in NYC because
sometime you will see special or exciting activities in the subway.
In my opinion, Subway in NYC moderate good, but I think it is better than other
country such as Subway in NYC has many line to go to somewhere in NYC for
example I would like to go to Central Park. I can get on many subway line to
go to there but at the weekend, I do not like to go by subway because it very
confuse about a lot of Fixing or change the line and stop at some station to
transfer to the buses
There was very exciting when I got on subway in NYC because I saw something
strange happened such as strange people and strange activities in there such as
singer, dancer, sleeping man or miracle man who can do special thing. I enjoy
looking many strange activities in subway “Colorful subway in the world”. In my
country, you do not do that in subway or sky train .It is new experience for me.
Finally, I think subway in NYC is importance public transportation for New York-
er because you do not have Subway may be you lost the job. For me, many
things in subway are exciting. I think it good challenge for me to learn new ex-
perience in New York City.

Photo by Andrea Del Gizzo

19
Level 1 4-6

Lissette Alvarado Sosa

The first time I go on the train, I saw people dancing and I got distracted since I
had never seen anything like this and I stopped to stop. It made me laugh and
scared since I did not know how to get back to my house and I did not have a
cell phone to call my family and I did not know how to explain to a person since
I did not know how to say hello in English. After, someone asked me if I was lost
and helped me.

Elhadj Boubacar Barry

My First Time on the Subway
I was with my brother that day, it was a wonderful day for me. I asked him
about everything new that I saw. He explained to me almost all about the trains,
the different kinds of trains such as express and local. I remember he said the
express train's sign is red and the local train's sign is generally green. Then, he
told me to be careful about two important things that are always referential:
uptown and downtown. He said uptown is toward the Bronx where we live and
downtown is toward Manhattan. I saw a lot of people---it even seemed like I
was at the airport. It was really a great day.

Priscilla Serrano Quezada

The Big Apple
Always I take trains for go my job, house, or visit places. I remember one day in
the train I saw a man playing music with bucket and a harmonica. Other day I
saw people dancing using metal pipes of the train but always I remember when
in the train I saw a big dog. The people seems scared. The last week I saw a
man sleeping in the train with the cart for bags of airport. He didn’t seem
homeless because he was well dressed and he was carrying suitcases for travel.

Idelia Tejada-Milien
On a rainy day once as I was on the bus going to work, I saw a seat next to the
window. I did not sit in the seat near the window because there was water on it.
A lady wanted to sit next to me on the bus and I told her “There is water on the
seat”. She said she did not care and sat down. When she got up to leave the
bus there was a stain on her pants from the water. The people on the bus got
shocked. I explained to them that it was water. If only she did not sit in that
seat.

20
Level 1 4-6

Yocaty Magdalena German de Soriano

When I arrived here in the United States, the most difficult thing for me was to
learn to take the correct train since my guide is always my phone because with
the map it is more comfortable. But well I tell you that my experience was, when
I first rode alone in the train that stress and fear. But I did it until I missed the
train just when I was coming to pick up my first class and ride the wrong train. I
arrived late but I did it. This was my only experience.

Yoan Carlos Rodriguez Jimenez

I use the subway of the city of NYC and what more calls me to the attention is
that in this city there are so many people of different nation and all these peo-
ple have different cultures and I like that because I would like to learn from oth-
er cultures.

Alex Toai
I don’t like using the subway when I’m traveling, because is sometime slow and
always busy. Also I can meet people who spit on the floor. When I’m going to
the Apple Store, I’m taking the train on 125th Street Lexington Avenue. I’m get-
ting out the train on 59th Street and I have to walk from 59th Street to 58th
Street 5th Avenue. There is Apple Store to my right.

Photo by Weixiong Lai

21
Level 2 4-6

Nada Boroja
Everyday, my son and I take the train in the city. My son in the train told me,
“You need to know how to use/read the map.” Because I never lost my way, I
didn’t learn how to read. One day, I was alone on the train and I lost my way. I
remembered my son looking at the map and I immediately understood the im-
portance of the map.

Alexandra Arkhilova
One day I was going home from my work by taking the subway. I was very
tried. I fell asleep and overslept. I woke up at the last stop and way all the way
back.

Maryoreht Arellano
MY subway story is very easy because I learned how to take the train. The most
unforgettable thing that happened to me is I did not see the station and get off
the train where I had to go, and continued taking the train to the next station. I
felt lost, but I kept calm. After I read the map, I figured out how to get where I
wanted to go.

Angelica Villa
One year ago, I was at the Lexington Avenue waiting for the Queens-bound R
train. I wore a lot of coats because it was winter. When I got on the train and
the door was closed, my coat kept caught between the doors. I was so scared
because I never took the train before. I didn’t move because I was afraid that
my coat would be broken. I got my coat out of the doors til doors were opened
at the next stop.
Dionicia Santana de Ovalle
One day, I was on the train and I wanted to get off the train at 145 St stop be-
cause I fell asleep and didn’t get off the train. The express train kept running
until the 137th St.

Jilma Franco
Last week, after the English class, I wanted to take the uptown train 1. I was
waiting for the train at the platform. I didn’t look at the name of my train. I did-
n’t see the direction, uptown or downtown. The train stopped at 96th. I called my
husband and he explained where I was. He guided me to take the right train to
go home.

Kadiatou Barry
One day, I was 125 Lexington Avenue. I was in such a hurry to go home for
cooking, so I took train 5 without looking at the sign. I thought I went back to the
downtown, however after awhile, I found I was going back to the uptown. I took
the train in the wrong direction.

22
Level 2 4-6

Misael Castillo Sanchez

One day I got to go to work at 6:00a.m. After the breakfast, I left home and as
usual I walked to take the subway. After arriving at the station, I wanted for the
train. After taking the train, therewas a strange atmosphere and the driver told
everyone that there was smoke in one train car. He had to stop the train and the
passengers had to get off until they solved the problem. Then we had to go to
other stations to resume the trip.

Photo by Weixiong Lai

23
Level 3 4-6

Ibrahima Sissoko
One day I was in the subway. The subway was full, no more seat. Then next stop
an old man got in the subway and stood up. It was difficult for him. When I saw
him I gave him my seat. He was very happy and said thank you very much. I felt
very happy to please someone older than me who needed it.

Alejandrina Gomez
I love New York because there are many opportunities to succeed especially for
young children. I love the laws in this country because it is fair for everyone. I
love the four seasons because I get to experience cold weather and hot weath-
er. Here you can also share your customs, race, religion and sexual orientation
with different nationalities. Here we come to reach our dreams. Nothing is easy
in New York but with a positive approach everything is possible.

Mi Soi Mon
Give up the seat for someone. I take the train almost every day to go to work
and to school. Sometimes on the train, crowded people. Not every day I get a
seat. When pregnant people, disabled, and children, they are standing in front
of me even though I got a seat I always give up my seat for them because they
are deserving it more. When I see their smile I feel happy at that moment.

Aboubakar Kante
Last year I worked in a grocery store, I was supposed to start the job 4:00 am
when I watched my watch I was late and I was stressed and panicked because
this was my first time. When I came in subway to take my train I checked in my
wallet I didn’t see my metro card. I saw one policeman, he helped me take a
trip on the subway because I lost my metro card. I will never forget that day.

Wilfredo Lorenzo
In New York not a lot of people have the opportunity to buy a car to travel to
work, school or the places they would like to go, that is why people use public
transportation. And that is my case. I use the New York subway to travel to work
and school every day. I really don’t like to use it because the majority of the
time they are delay and due to that I’m sometime late to work and school. I
starting coming out of home at least 30 minutes early that way I can be on time
to work and school.

24
Level 3 4-6

Anna Ivanova
My brother is a driver. His name is Maksim. He drives a truck.
Last month he was on the highway. Suddenly he saw a small hedgehog on the
road.
The animal stopped in front of the truck. My brother stopped his truck and
picked it up.
The hedgehog was too small and looked not well.
Now it lives at my brother’s home. Maksim bought many different things for the
hedgehog:
a rabbit hutch, bowls, a plaid and food. He called the animal Needle.
Needle had weight 300 grams, but now the animal weighs 800 grams.
When will be spring Maksim wants to take the animal back to the forest.
Maksim, his family and Needle are happy!

25
Level 4 4-6

Vicmelys Cordero
Travelling by Train

Travel by train already has be-

come a part of my everyday life.
Also, I have seen some people,
younger and not too young, spend
their times selling groceries, others
singing, dancing or playing differ-
ent instruments to get some money
for themselves and their family.
Finally, I get a smile from the oth-
er passengers in the train. I really
enjoy travelling by train to visit
touristic places in New York like: 5
Ave, Time Square, World Trade
Center, Brooklyn Bridge and a lot
more. Definitely, you can shorten
distances and gain good experi-
ences travelling by train.

Chunxiao Zhang

Before I came to the US, my husband told me that it is very difficult to swipe the
card to enter the New York subway. I couldn’t believe it, because before I came
to United States, I never had a problem swiping any card. He told me he always
needed to swipe the card few times to get the machine to work. He showed me
a video online where people can’t swipe the metro card well, but I couldn’t im-
agine why it is so difficult. I told him, when I come to New York, I will try to help
him. I will certainly have no trouble swiping a metro card!

But when I came to New York, when I first time use my metro card, I swiped it 4
times, and it still didn’t work! Oh my god! I couldn’t get into the subway! At last,
my husband helped me swipe the card. At that moment, I felt helpless. I thought:
In the future, I can’t use subway to go anywhere in New York. I was so upset! My
husband comforted me: “don’t worry, many people can’t swipe the card smooth-
ly and you will learn it quickly. Just remember when you swipe the card, hold the
top of the card, make sure it is flat, then swipe it not too slow, and not too fast.”

When we got back home, I thought maybe I could put some thick and hard pa-
per with the metro card together, so when I hold it, it doesn’t become bent, be-
cause the card is so flimsy. My husband showed me the video again of people
having trouble swiping their metro cards. Some of them can’t get it to work,

26
Level 4 4-6
some need to swipe a few times, and some need to swipe many times. Then I felt
that I’m not the only person that can’t use the metro card. The next day I needed
go to English class by train, so he thought for few seconds, then took some news-
paper and folded it to make it look something like a turnstile machine, took out
his metro card to show me how to swipe it, and then let me try it. At first, I
swiped too slow or too fast, or changed my speed as I was swiping, so he held
my hand and swiped it with me many times. Then I tried myself until I did it cor-
rectly.

The next day, my

husband walked
with me to the sub-
way station. Before
I swiped my card, I
imagined the swip-
ing motion in my
head. Then I prac-
ticed swiping in the
air several times.
Finally, I swiped the
card through the
machine the same
way I had done
with the folded
newspaper. I was
successful on the
first try! Yeah! I was overjoyed! My husband smiled and said, “Chunxiao is great
at swiping her metro card!” and gave me two thumbs up. I told him “It’s because
you are great at teaching how to swipe a metro card.” Ever since then, every
time I swipe my metro card, I am successful on the first try. I am very proud of
this, because it means that I am free to ride the subway and go where ever I
like.

This event taught me that you should never assume something is easy until you try
it yourself. But you should also not make a small problem into a big one. Rather
than fretting over it, it’s better to use your brain and think of a solution. You will
certainly solve the problem, because you are smarter than you imagine you are!

27
Level 5 4-6
Nerea Brower
Beautiful, magnificent and perfect is the city of New York... With its seasons it is
dressed in color and happiness... its gray autumn, its white winter that invites you
to daydream while white snowflakes fall, its spring full of flashes of colors that
makes the city more beautiful and cozy in the world and finally its summer that
gives way to heat, flavor and fun for every living being that lives in this great
city, its five counties make New York the city more view and most desired of the
whole world, its diversity of people, languages, colors and races so original
make New York the universe of a single world in the same city, its daily life, the
subway, its streets, its different neighborhoods in each One of your five bor-
oughs makes a more interesting city, I definitely love it, I fall in love more and
more every day while I'm still living in New York I Love New York and I'll never
forget you, I'll be eternally grateful for everything you've done for my kisses.

Andrea Del Gizzo

RANDOM MUSICAL NOTES
A rush sequence life is.
An apple falls on the grass
And it was yesterday
When a little boy felt that light
Through the tree.
A train goes by so fast
I can not stop thinking
Somewhere someone waits for us.
I am carrying my better smile
For my inner child.

AT THE STATION
Will we remember?
The faces that touched us
In the train this morning?
Or is it too early
Or we went so far
That we can not remember? Photo by Andrea Del Gizzo
...an old scream dying at the station,
Alone.
A frozen flower
On the hand of a young woman
Can we remember?
Or is it too early to remember?
The rush of forgotten people
Or an open inside-out pocket
Where the sky contemplate us from

28
Level 5 4-6
Will we remember?
Or it is not too late to remember
A little boy giving a kiss
to the portrait of his grandmother
In the train this morning early
Will we remember?

THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN A

COFFEE SHOP
Somebody is talking to Nobody
While everybody is listening to
God
on their earphones
And you are looking through the
window
how life goes by when
A boy comes to the world saying
-Hi, Mum!
Photo by Andrea Del Gizzo
A PERFECT DAY *
If we can play together
The breeze from the trees
Lights up our room
Raising your laughter
- that wind-up train -
Spinning around my beat
Waving "see you soon"

*this poem is dedicated to my brother Marcelo, when we were kids.

AUTUMN SOUL
At the beginning of my days
I did not have a language
If I can remember
I played on the swings
Wishing go to beyond.

Once inside
In the cave of my bones
I would sing my name
If you can hear me
I am alive.
YOU
You feel cold.
You have forgotten your voice.
29
Level 5 4-6
Are you the son? Are you the father?
In that mute portrait of time living there.
You go out and come in
Almost invisible
As a lost wave
Again being a memory
At the feet of some castaway,
Who did not know how to dream.

A SECRET SONG
The sound of the river
Tells us a story
The uncut diamond
Of his voice Photo by Andrea Del Gizzo
Shines at dawn
With fierce joy
Our becoming.

Priscila Tenesaca
Everybody move fast in New York City. When you come to New York City, you
find easy transportation whether by train, bus, taxi bicycle, etc. But the cost is
expensive. For me the best transportation in NYC is the train, because is fast,
available for all people, there are trains all the time, but sometimes in the week-
ends the trains come some minutes late.
Some people like to use buses, especially adult persons, because in the subways
everybody run for find your exit. Is dangerous for that persons, they can’t run
and least walk fast for that motive they are use buses. Sometimes I feel that
spend a lot time traveling in the train. I don’t know but the time in NYC go so
fast, everybody in the train are in your world, eating, using phone, reading,
talking, sleeping. You make a lot things inside of train that is crazy. This is New
York all run for don’t lost the train.

Manty Mansare
For my travels, I’ve always liked using trains or buses because they are
thrifty and speedy. Actually, they are both good choices for the weekday be-
cause they are come on time. But travel by train or bus during the weekend is a
real pain. To get to my 9a.m. job on weekends I have to wake up at 5a.m. and
be at the station by 6a.m. if I don’t want to be late. I now know the secret for
taking buses, always try to get on the first one to arrive, otherwise, if you wait
for the second bus you will be late for your appointment. Regarding the trains,
the J train is a big problem during the weekend because it terminates at Cres-
cent Street where shuttle buses then continue to Jamaica Van Wyck, but it's so
slow there, I usually walk the 15 minutes to my home. On the other hand, I like
the fact that each area has a specific train, offering the chance to get familiar
with each locality by using a transportation map.
30
Level 1 6-8
Moises Aponte
My name is Moises Aponte, I'm from Dominican Republic, San Pedro de Macoris,
I am 4 years and 5 months old that I arrived in this beautiful country United
States of America. I work in a company in which I have to travel a lot at all
times. My work is in different buildings and cities. I also have to drive through
the whole city and it is very difficult to find parking. My work is water technolo-
gy where we give maintenance service
I usually use all means of transportation in the city, train, bus, taxi, uber every
day to go to work, school, church. I also travel to NYC cities such as Bronx (where
I live), Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, among others. Thanks to the
English school for this opportunity.

Level 2 6-8
Juana Garcia
One story that I can think about when taking
public transportation, is when I took the num-
ber 1 train to South Ferry. This experience
was very interesting because I had to be in
the first 5 cars and for the first time the train
was nearly empty! After exciting the train I
had to walk and then get on a ferry. It’s true
what is said about first impressions, they
definitely leave an impact. The walk was for
the purpose of knowing the most famous
symbol of the United States. The statue of
liberty which was of great importance be-
cause I learned part of its origin as exam-
ples was a gift made by the French to the
American. Seeing the Statue of Liberty for
the first time made me feel a warmth and
sense of pride for this country and all those
immigrants that had stood in the same spot I
was in now. I thank God for this experience,
I had a great time.

31
Level 3 6-8
Alexander Montero
Hello my name is Alexander Montero. I am in Class Level 3 from 6-8pm. I am
from the Dominican Republic. I live in the Bronx. My life in the United States is
very important because there are more opportunities for education, more
dreams and more jobs. My life at work sometimes is bad but it’s because of
transportation. I always take the subway. The MTA can sometimes be very bad
when I commute from home to work. When it’s time to wake up and go to work
the trains can be delayed for hours. There can be moments when the trains is
stuck on a stop for too long that makes me late to work or late getting home.
There are days when the trains are running well but they normally aren’t. If I
could change one thing in the city it would definitely be the train services.

Photo by Weixiong Lai

32
Level 4 6-8
Taras Kushnir
I like Christmas. From my childhood, this holiday brings me a lot of good memo-
ries spent with family and friends. The Christmas tree aroma, colorful ornaments
on it, candies, Christmas lights, carols singing, lots of presents - all of those cre-
ate a cheerful mood. Christians usually should prepare for Christmas in advance
recommended 40 days before. As usually this period in prayers and in getting
rid of all bad habits and flaws in character like fear, solitude, envy, thirst for
money, thirst for power, high self-valorization, smoking and drinking alcohol.
January, of 7, we go to the church where we sing carols and we made a perfor-
mance that represents nativity scene Jesus Christus. We call it Vertep. You might
be interested in how we do that? We make costumes which represent Angels,
Mary, Joseph, Kings etc., and learn Bible lines by heart. On Christmas Day we
go from home to home performing Vertep and we sing carols.

Few people know that the popular American "Carol of the Bells" has Ukrainian
roots, it is original Ukrainian song “Shchedryk” written by Mykola Leontovych in
1916. For the first time, a song written by composer Mikolai Leontovich was per-
formed by the choir of Kyiv University in 1916 (Kyiv - the capital of Ukraine).
This song was introduced to Western audience by Ukrainian National Chorus
during 1919 concert tour of Europe and the Americans, where it premiered in
the United States on October 5, 1921, to a sold-out audience in Carnegie Hall.
Later, Peter Wilhousky rearranged the melody for orchestra with new lyrics for
NBC radio network's symphony orchestra. She liked the Americans so much that
in 1936, Peter Wilgowski, a Ukrainian of origin, translated Shchedryk, which
was named Carol of the bells. It was in this version that the song received world
fame. Unfortunately, the agent the KGB's was killing M.Leontovich (01.23.1921),
like many other prominent and talented people...

I like the Ukrainian traditions that we still keep in

the Ukrainian as well as in the US. In this special
time, I will go to our beautiful church to greet Ba-
by Jesus and to sing Glory to Him. I will pray for
my family and people in need. I will go to carol-
ing and I will visit elders to share the joy and to
wish everyone. Old people will be happy to com-
municate and tell stories and memories from their
villages, which will not be told on television and
will not be written in newspapers ... And beyond
that, I wish all Merry Christmas! This is my favorite
holiday.
Photo by Weixiong Lai

33
Level 5 6-8
Belgica Abreu
In New York City, we spent a lot of time
commuting or traveling-by train, by bus, on
foot or by Uber. This is my story about
travels in the Big Apple! My son lives in
New Jersey and on Saturdays I usually
commute from there into New York through
the G.W. bridge bus terminal. For my con-
versation classes, I usually take the down-
town A/C trains at the 178th Street Stop.
On Saturday November the 17th I got to
this station at 8:00AM to take the down-
town A train. The plan was to transfer from
the downtown A to the downtown 1 train
at 168th Street, and get off at 72nd Street station and walk to my destination:
76th Street and Amsterdam Ave.

But it happens that the downtown A train that I took did not stop on 168th
Street, so I got off on 145th Street instead to take a downtown D train, and then
transfer to the uptown 1 train at 59th street to the 72nd Street station. It is im-
portant to point out that on Saturdays, since it is the weekend and given the re-
pairs and construction work for the fast track, trains tend to travel less frequently
and often at a slower speed, taking longer to arrive into stations. I waited for a
long time before a downtown D train arrived. As I get off on 59th Street station
from the downtown D train I realize that the uptown 1 train was not stopping at
Columbus Circle. The same had happened the previous week and I remembered
that somebody recommended me to take the uptown C train instead, but I would
have to walk a little more. I went for that option, however I also had to wait for
a long time for the uptown C train. Once I got into the train an announcement
was made which I did not get understand. I noticed that after the announcement,
everybody left the car but three of us. I asked a person who also remained on
the train whether this C train would make local stops as planned, and she told
me that she did not know. I soon realized that C train was going express instead
and the next stop was 125th Street Station. At 125th I asked a second person
for options to and they recommend I walk West on 125th Street from St. Nicho-
las Ave to Broadway but that was a long walk in a cold weather, and I was al-
ready very late, so I ended up taking the uptown A train to 168th Street station
to transfer to the downtown 1 train and got off at 72nd Street station.

With all train delays, slow speed of the trains, and unsuccessful transfers I ended
up arriving at my conversation class at 11:10 AM. That was three hours and ten
minutes after I took the first train downtown and over an hour late into my 10:00
AM conversation class. I often plan ahead and give myself enough time for un-
expected delays but what happened to me that day was something I never
thought possible.
34
Level 5 6-8
Elsy Rodea

35
Level 5 6-8
Teresa Gomez
There is a City in the World
There is a city in the world, bounded by the Hudson and Harlem rivers. A fasci-
nating island named: “The Big Apple”, “the Capital of the World”, “The City that
Never Sleeps”, and “The City where Dreams Come True”.
Every day, thousands of women and men gather in the subway to get to where
their dreams will come true. A rainbow of races and languages, from all the
continents, intersect. There, they wait for an iron car where there are no first-
class seats. Nor can they select who their travel companions will be or whether
they will sit or stand. A mixture of sounds drown the words. Musical notes,
young people flying through the air or homeless people asking for coins. The trip
can be long or short; agitated or relaxed; nice or annoying; between the pages
of a book or with the melody of a song. For many, the day wakes up through
their windows and a radiant sun greets them and says: “You can”. For others,
the day ends after exhausting hours of work.
What never ends for those men and women are their dreams. They build them
every day, aided with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers, the colors and
the cardinal point of the iron car routes. They can say: there is a city in the
world where all dreams come true, that city is New York.
Ruy Morban
One morning I was set at the
train 1 on my way to my class
and when the train was in 125
station one African American
guy was talking in the phone
something about Obama that
was his best friend and anoth-
er stupid thing that I don’t re-
member, when the train got to
116 one teenager enter to
the train listen to the music
with his iPad and the “mature”
man who was talking at the Photo by Andrea Del Gizzo
phone start insulting him without any reason , the teen
take away his backpack and start confronting the guy why hi insulting him, and I
moved quickly to another car; when I was open the door and complaining about
the incident and turn behind me people fallow me because they was fitting.

36
Level 6 6-8
Teresa De Vivo
One of my favorite colors and also an icon of the city, in this Yellow New York
picture,
I got the instant of my present. The freedom to walk alone without be afraid of
have the spontaneity to manifest my creativity in any field. The constant need to
connect with nature and my condition as a witness of a whole new interior and
exterior landscape.
I will be always grateful with this new step in my life, plane of rich full experi-
ences and new knowledge. My approach to the language is still growing and
one of my goals is to have the right words and expressions to communicate this
new universe.
Thanks always!

37
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