My Experience in the Intercambios by Silvia, Level 6

My name is Silvana Jaramillo. I am Ecuadorian studying in the Center for English as a Second Language. I arrived in the United States with a huge goal: to improve my English through knowing American culture. I had been here in Lexington for 3 months, and I realized that I had learned a lot things. However, I didn’t expect to share my native language and culture with American people too. It was surprising for me to have the opportunity to teach Spanish and learn English at the same time.

Being part of the Intercambios Club lets me grow as a professional as well as a person. I have the privilege to meet wonderful people and share experiences with them. Every Tuesday, we meet in POT 1645 at 1pm, and we talk in both languages (English-Spanish). We learn idioms, phrases and expression that maybe we are not going to learn in class. I enjoy going to Intercambios Club, because every time I go there I learn new things and have fun, so I don’t want to miss any class. Thanks a lot to Mrs. Lina Crocker for creating this club and also to my dear American friends for attending the club and sharing your experiences with me.   

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Going to Lincoln's House by Lilliana Saa, Ecuador, Level 6

Learning English as Second Language is not only about knowing how to read or write.  In other words, we must know the background and culture about the language that we are learning.  Today, I had the great opportunity of visiting the place where the most famous and well-known man and president of the United States was born.

As an international student, I learnt more about Abraham Lincoln.  This man is known historically worldwide as the President who amended the Constitution for giving the black slaves freedom.  But, nobody thinks about his background.

Abraham Lincoln was a poor boy.  He had to go to school with his sister and walk for about one mile to get there. He learned how to read and write using just a stick as a pencil and the soil as a piece of paper.  Lincoln helped in the household chores in his house.  He was a great speaker.  He didn´t have a wealthy family, but he had values.  When he was young, he realized how the slaves were mistreated.

When he became President of the United States, he granted the slaves the freedom, and fought until they had equal rights as white people.  This law provoked the anger among his detractors. Over one hundred years has passed after his death, but his liberating idea is still in the mind of African-Americans.

Thanks to this political shake, today I could enjoy with my international friends a journey throughout the American History.

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Going on Trips by Ibtihal, Saudi Arabia, Level 6

I am thankful for trips organized by CESL like the Underground Railroad Museum, because they help me to expand my knowledge of US history, and in some way this really changes my perspective on life and develops who I am! I really enjoy participating in these trips, and I recommend that each student should be a part of them.

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My First Snowfall by Liliana, Ecuador, Level 6

I never imagined that one day I would see how the snow settles on the ground.  Since I was a child, I always dreamed how the snow would be, how the weather is in those countries with four different annual seasons. Some years later, I have had this opportunity to try out my childhood dreams.

This dream begun a few months ago.  The first step was to apply for the scholarship, then I had to take a placement test, after having an interview.  My heart was beating when I received the good news.  I was awarded with a full scholarship to study in the United States.  I was so excited but at the same time a little worried, since I didn´t know if I could get used to the cold weather.

For almost two weeks, since I have been here, I was desiring to have a snowball.  I have had experimented weather under cero degrees (0o).  Ecuador, my country also has cold weather, but Lexington is too cold.  Thus,  I have been frozen like an ice-cream; anyway, I have been enjoying each minute in this beautiful city.  Another amazing thing that I have could notice about the weather is how the sunrise is.  It is so bright or it could also be so dark sometimes.    When the sun is shining since five a.m, the day is little warmer, but when the sunrise is dark, all the day become cold.

The most expecting day came. On Friday began to snowfall. I could see how small pieces of snow were settling on the ground. After some hours, the city was covered by a beautiful mantle of snow. That night some people was playing with snow balls, making a snowman, or simply resting in their houses.

On Saturday morning, I could be awake with a warm and shiny sun. It looked like some sparkles on the snow. I felt exciting when I looked out from the window, and I realized that the city looked like a Christmas postal. All the soil, the houses´ roof and the trees were wearing with a radiant and white snow. The university campus was so white too. I was so admired like a little girl. My eyes were so wide open and my soul so blessed. A friend took some peers in her car, and brought us to the parking lot near the POT Building. We were sledding for almost one hour. It was exciting.

How is the snow? It’s like cotton balls, soft and cold. If you put a small amount in your hand, and throw it into the air, it looks like little stars touching your face, except when you make a snowball, it is like a rock so you have to be careful if somebody wants to start a snowball fight!

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My City by Mohammed, Saudi Arabia, Level 4

I was very excited to study and complete my major in America. I think I came to the right city and to the right university. Before I came to Kentucky I didn’t know about this state at all I had never heard about it. My friends asked me some questions about my studying trip to the USA and they asked me about the city I going to. When I answered that I was going to Kentucky my friends started laughing at me. They thought I was joking, but I was serous. I said that I didn’t say a joke and that I was going to Kentucky to study and complete my major.

I came from the big city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, so I didn’t think that I would like to live in small towns and that Lexington was really small and there was nothing to do in it. However, the University of Kentucky is awesome and one of the best in USA. I like Lexington and I hope I complete my studies here. One of the best things about Lexington is that it has nice, friendly, and helpful people. Lexington is a nice place to stay and live in. I like the Kentucky basketball fans here. They are really crazy fans they love their team so much. I have made good relationships and good friends from different countries and different states in America. The people here are very nice and friendly. They want to help you when you need it, not like the big cities.

I live on an American campus and I am really enjoying my time living there. They have activities all the time. The restaurants in Lexington are very nice, especially the Arabic restaurants. They are really good and everyone should try them. Although, my favorite restaurant in Lexington is Olive Garden, the Italian restaurant. Lexington is very nice town to study and to live I really like it, I recommend to other students to study and work hard here in Lexington, Kentucky!

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