When I came from Colombia I was full of uncertainty. I was afraid, because I did not know the language and culture; all was new and different . . . very different!. I had thought about Americans as not very much friendly people just because that was what I had heard about them, so those first months I did not want to go out. I did not want to speak. The first sentence that I learned was "I don't not speak English", which, by the way, was wrong because I repeated the negative form. God! I wanted to be swallowed by the earth every time I wanted to express something and I just could not.

I felt intimidated when I needed to go to the Doctor's Office because I was pregnant then, and I did not like my husband to help me fill out all those forms. After a few months, I had a surgery. I was as frightened that I forgot the words that I learned before (I'm feeling pain, I'm thirsty and I want to see my husband). Making friends was impossible at first. I thought to use a label saying "I don't speak English" but then I realized I couldn't live isolated.

So I started studying on my own at my home, listening to CDs, watching TV with closed caption, reading children books. The one I remember the most was my first one. It was about Dora The Explorer. I read it and read it, but I did not understand it. I almost cried reading it in front of my husband. The word "treasure" in the story took me so much effort to pronounce. I felt dumb, but I did not let this get me down.

I persevered and did not give up. Later I took ESL classes offered by the DIAL government program and continued studying on my own. I became an expert in web sites for learning English. I also started to invite ladies from my neighborhood into my home for conversations. I wrote a board notice translated from Spanish to English with Babel Fish that said "Hello, I would like to invite you to a delicious cup of Colombian coffee". Fortunately the second person that attended spoke Spanish too. I practiced my English with her and she practiced her Spanish wit h me.

She is Polish, a lover of languages, and the first person that spent her private time in my learning of English. Later I had a tutor named Lisa, a very dedicated person. She worked very hard with me to improve my pronunciation. She was more than a tutor, she became a friend and even a confidant. I met her thanks to the English At Large government program that provides free tutors.

Now I am learning with the Hudson program, which is another government program. The Hudson program also provides English class. But this program offers greater benefits because of their commitment to the community.

I have learned more than a new language. I have realized that with enough interest, dedication and perseverance, one can achieve their goals.

Every person has different opinions about the U.S.A; some good, others not as good. However, each person is given the freedom to have their opinion.

I am grateful to all of the people who have helped me learn English. I thank my friends for their support and hours of patience as I practice with them.

I also thank my children; they are my incentive and I especially thank my husband for his patience in listening to my interminable questions about English.