Words To Live By ...

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Newsletter of Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area
(July 1998)
Gloria Maybury, Program Coordinator

1998 LVM Conference

The caravan of thirteen from LV Montachusett Area attended the MA conference organized by Literacy Volunteers of MA. Each year it seems to get better and this year was no exception. Doubletree Guest Suites prepared their facility with the best accomodations ever. The workshop selections were wonderful. Several attendees commented that the day was filled with energy and worth every minute of time spent there. Our former board member, Millie Phillips presented a workshop on cultural diversity and aware-ness. Other workshops were equally valuable to all attendees. One of our tutors, Harriet Edson, was honored at this event for her out-standing work and many years of dedication to our program. Watch the local newspapers for more details! If I may quote Linda Aspell, our Board President, with respect to the event: "It makes us all aware of why we are involved with Literacy for adult learners".
Laurie Clotar
Here are a few thoughts in parting:

Each person touched by LV whether student, tutor, board member, or volunteer, is one of strong character because s/he had the willingness to say "I need help" or "I want to help".
To the students: Some come and shed fear; some shame; a lot, self-doubt and many other feelings. They learn that there are people willing to give of their time and that someone believes in them. Most discover things they never knew about themselves and their self-esteem grows with each accomplishment.
To the tutors: Some have degrees in teaching; some are curious about how they might help, and some uncertain about how they can help; but all with a genuine desire to make a difference in someone's life. Tutors give unselfishly of their time and talent and they are to be commended for that.
To the Board: Many are new members and, as is usually the case, this brings about new energy with new ideas and many changes to good. You've made me feel valuable and an asset to Literacy Volunteers and I thank you for that. I wish you much success in your future endeavors.
A special note to Gloria: I've really enjoyed working with you because you are one of the most compassionate people I've ever known. Thank you for being the warm, kind, giving, unselfish and funny person that you are. Thank you for making me a part of so many events and introducing me to wonderful people at the Chamber of Commerce breakfasts, Rotary luncheons, affiliates' meetings, United Way gatherings; the MCAE conference and the women's conference. You let me fly and I learned a lot. We sweated through crunch times during each quarterly report for the Department of Education and worked hard but we made up for it with well-deserved times of laughter. You never once complained about having to share your office, your phone, your computer, etc. I can say that being in the office together was the best time for me and I really enjoyed our chats.
Thanks for all your wisdom and knowledge. You're a good role model. I have only reaped benefits from my involvement with Literacy Volunteers. It's been a wonderful experience and I am grateful to NOVA Chemicals for giving me the opportunity to engage in community service this past year.
EULOGY - JOSEPH HEBERT

Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area lost one of its tutors last May. Joe, who was very dedicated to teaching and selfless in the time he donated to his students over the years, died unexpectedly and will be truly missed by family, friends and colleagues.

Fitchburg Public Library
Essays Submitted by ESL and ABE Students the Literacy Volunteers Program

My name is Starr Holland. I come from Thailand. I come to America in 1974 and I met my husband. His name is Ray. We were married the same year. We had a child her name Sumalle.
Thailand is a beautiful country and the people are very friendly and kind. Americans and other cultures they have a hard time learning the Thai language. When they visit Thailand.
I lived in a foster home since I was 5 years old. I also had 12 step brothers and sisters. They treat me like I belong. I love them all. I finished high school in Thailand. 2 years later I came to U.S.A. I could not speak English it was very hard time for me. I had a book to help me to understand. I had to take care my baby and I was working. I learned how to speak English but I didn't have time to learn to read and write.
Now I go to school 2 hour every week for 2 years. Now I can read and write pretty good. I feel happy and my teacher very proud of me.
I like U.S.A. very much. People are very nice It is a good country.
Written by: Amphorn Holland

My Dreams
Hi my name is Muhammad. I come from Pakistan. I was born in a small town. When I came to the United States everything was very new to me. It took me a long time to get use to the weather. Pakistan is a very warm country. But everything about winter was nice, especially the snow.
I got married the same year my wife sponsored me to U.S. She is very much American. She speaks good English and has gone to schools here too. She was young when she came here from Pakistan. I was very happy to be in America.
But one thing that always bothered me was not being able to speak English well. I want to learn to read and write better. Back then I did not have the time to go to school because my wife and I were working hard to have everything for our children. Thanks to God I have everything I wish for now. I dream about being a graduate. With a lot of hard work and help from my tutor, Kim, I will live all my dreams someday. I wish I had heard about the volunteer program few years back. It has given me the push I needed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
P.S. I am an American citizen now too.
Written by:Muhammad Qureshi

A Visit from Ecuador
When my father-in-law arrived to my house I was nervous because I thought that a new life it was going to start for me. I said that because he was going to stay here in this country and probably live with us for a while.
On the other hand it was a challenge for us. Why? Because my husband had hardly lived with him when he was a boy and this might be the opportunity to get to know each other. For me on the other hand was hard to accept the idea of someone else staying with us for a period of time that to me seemed like an eternity. I saw him as a stranger staying in my house. I thought I don't know how to act or what to say. Am I shy? Some of my friends said that I talk too much, I don't seem to notice when I need to stop and I mean literally, I think is because I get nervous and I don't like the silence to surround me when another person is present and so I talk.
I know that there are times when you need to be silent but talk on. This then was going be the first time I would be close to my father-in-law, what is more this would be the first time for Jessie to get to know her grandfather - not counting his three days visit when she was four.
Jessie seems to adapt better to these situations - a visit from someone she doesn't know, a person in an unusual situation, when my retarded brother came to stayed with us and she amaze me with her understanding of his needs and helped me.
Is it because she is a child? Is it because she is prejudice free? Maybe I'll never know the answer but I think we can all learn a lot from little kids.
Along with her grandfather her cousins came too, there are one boy age 3 and two girls 6 and 8. I can't describe how happy Jessie was to see them. Before they came she only had two friends, Lily and Gina ages 8 and 11 who are cousins and I had noticed how she behaves when they're around, happy to be with them, eager to see them more often and even though she never told me I know that she wishes they were her cousins, I know that is the reason why she is sop happy having her cousins here now to share with them and to do many things she couldn't in the past.
These have been a lot of new situations that we had to go through, it was hard in the beginning trying to adapt to have new people around but little by little I am sure that we will learn to know each one of them as unique personalities.
Written by: Lorena

Construction

My job in construction was to work on framing. We did all of our own footing and forms. We also did all of our own siding and shingling. We repaired the windows at Immaculate Conception Church. Father Collette was very happy.
Written by: Bill Bisson

The History of Horses

Here is a history of horses. In the beginning 60 million years ago they were just born as mammals. But over years they start to form into an Special Equus. Soon they grow up to be horses. Some had horns coming out in the middle of it's forehead. We call them unicorns and all they did was run free. As the years went by all the unicorns died.
When they had the knights they used these horses to go hunting to get food for the people to eat and used them to go into battles. And the Indians did the same things like the knights did with the food for the people and they went into battles with the horses. One more thing in the old days when they had no automobiles they only had horses to use. So they used them to get back and forth and at jobs they had no trucks so they used horses on the working site to put heavy boxes on wagons hitched on to the horses. And the farmers use them to plow the fields. But now automobiles came in and now we don't need the horses any more because we have trucks for jobs and we have cars to get back and forth and we have buses for the children to go to school which they love so much. And now we have trains for the people to travel back and forth.
But we still use the horses just the same. By going on a ranch or at a circus you might see some in the act. You might see them in the parade walking down the street. And many more things they do.
Written by: Darlene E. Beauvais

Pets and Their Owners

The most common pets are cats, dogs, and birds. People in different parts of the world keep other kinds of pets. They keep penguins, kangaroos, and alligators. Their are a few steps you must follow having pets. The first step is to find the pet that is comfortable for you. The second step is to being at home giving your pet lots of love. The third step is training your pet. The most important step in caring for your pet is its health. Pets need check ups once a year. Shots for your pets are also very important and mandatory. The law says if you must have pets, be sure to give them the proper care they deserve. Take good care of your pets, because they try their best to take care of you. Here are some examples of the way pets can care for their owners. Pets are eager to ease fears, stress and reduces chance of heart attacks and high blood pressure. Don't forget dogs and cats have a wild side.

The African Wildlife and Their Habitat

Africa once thrived on its riches of its wildlife. They had many gorillas, wilderbeast, cheetahs, and plenty of wild cats. They have many species of monkeys. Africa has crocodiles and hippos, and many heads of zebra, giraffe, and antelope. Africa also has many species of birds including flamingos, pelicans, storks, and ostriches.
Sadly with the changes in their habitat and hunters, the numbers of this country's wildlife have decreased. Things have been happening to help stop the killing of the wildlife. There has been opening wildlife parks, with conservation, and regulated hunting safaris. I hope the steps that are being taken work. So that people like us may have the chance to see the wildlife in its own habitat.

The Titanic

The Titanic sank to the bottom of the Atlantic on Sunday, April 15, 1912. There were more than 2200 passengers aboard that night. It was very dark, and was very difficult to see. The ship was run very smoothly for its first run. There were no reasons for worries. Then they saw an iceberg. It was only a few feet away. They tried to turn the huge ship. They were too close to turn the ship easily. They turned off all engines. The iceberg hit the right side and caused major damage. Then the ship began to fill up with water. The pressure build up so much that the great ship broke in half. The ship sank many feet to the bottom. There were more than 1500 lives lost that night. There were less than 700 survivors including men, women, and children.

How to Make a Wheelbarrow

You will need a pine board for the wheels. Then you need two pieces of wood for the handles, and two pieces for the sides. Last of all you need a piece for the front. All the pieces need to be sanded. You begin to assemble by putting bottom and sides together. You glue them. Then you nail them. Next put on the handles by nailing them to the bottom. Now put on the wheel. When all is of this is done polyurethane the whole wheelbarrow. When it dries, the wheelbarrow is ready for sale.
Written by: Bill Bisson

Four Important "-ings" In A Child's Life

Reading is the most important thing in a child's life. Three other important "-ings" are singing, dancing, and laughing. Actually, children of all ages can benefit from these movements.
The experiences of singing and dancing will encourage a baby to kick his feet and move his arms. Often a smile will appear too. A toddler will jump up and down with excitement. A young child will prance and diddle-daddle all around the room. A teenager will probably get embarrassed in front of the family or adults but enthused and responsive with friends. With these "-ings" you also have laughing, which we all know is good for the heart, soul, and mind.
These "-ings" enrich a child's development. Self-esteem is improved. Happiness is increased. The human heart is healthy, and the smile is sparkling. You can see it all in the eyes of a child! Written by: D. from Lunenburg

Smoking

I had a bad habit. I was smoking a lot of cigarettes. Every time people turned around I was smoking. I really believe that smoking is just as bad as wee, coke, and other powder drug substance. It is just as addicting. It causes many health problems. Here are some of them, Heart Attack, Lung Cancer in adults and Birth Defects in an unborn infants. It can also cause breathing problems, like emphysema and others. I've tried quitting twice, but I had no luck. Then I tried a third time, and I kicked the habit in the butt. At first I felt touchy, and irritated. I felt like I lost my best friend. When I felt like that, I just started to think about the way my family might pass away. Then I would say to myself, I'd rather die of old age or other natural causes then die of smoke related sickness.
There are many things smoking does for people. Here are some examples, releasing stress, relaxes. The number one thing smoking does for people, causes sickness and in over half of these cases leads to death. Smoking is not only hazardous to the smokers, but it is also hazardous to the people around them. Second hand smoking be worse. I chose not to go out like that!!!

My Essay About My Parents

When I was young, I remember when I used to go to Lancaster Street School, I would bring my homework home and my parents would help me with it. My parents always made me feel that I could do anything I put my mind to, and I love them for it. My parents mean a lot to me because they both brought me up right, I don't know what I do without them in my life, because there's a lot of children in this world that don't have any parents and I feel for them, that's why I love sharing mine with them.
The most important, part is to always thank God for your parents because they're a gift to us from Him and we must always be there for them no matter what they did to us, because we must love them just the way they are, because that' the way God taught me and now we're the best of friends. Most of all I love being there for them, I call them every morning to tell them I love them so they'll know I care for them.
Happy Mother's and Father's Day.
Written by: Lorraine Mary Friedman

Coggshall Park

My family and I went to Coggshall Park for a picnic on a nice sunny day. When we got there we walked the trail and went on to the gazebo. We looked in the pond and saw some fish and turtles. We saw different kinds of flowers around the park. Then the family went to the playground. They had different things there slides, swings and a sand digger. After that we had a picnic with egg salad, potato salad, dips, juices and sodas. After the playground we went up front and we fed the ducks and the geese bread. Then we all cleaned up our mess and went home.
Written by: Russell Vaillancourt

Each year, the essays get better as more of our students participate in the creation of the annual students' journal. Special thanks to those in the State office of Literacy Volunteers for making this publication available to all of the budding authors.