Photo Credits: Creative Bucket Studios
Rohani
I’m Rohani, and I’m here from Indonesia. My husband came here when he received a U of A Fulbright scholarship. When my baby was six months old, we came here to join him. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Back home in my country, I used to watch Hollywood movies. I thought of America in terms of big cities, crowded places, and people wearing fancy dresses. However, when I first got here, I felt amazed by the country and landscape of the Natural State. Here in Arkansas, everything is completely different. I see woods. I see big roads, but less traffic than I expected. Also, people here are very friendly, and religious, too. In my mind, I thought America was a secular country, and Americans didn’t really have the value of belief. At Ozark Literacy Council, I mingle with different people from all over the world. It makes me feel humble, open-minded, and more respectful of others’ beliefs. I have made many new friends, and we have established strong relationships inside and outside of class. I see a lot of good inside the hearts of Americans, especially the people of Arkansas.
Susie
My name is Susie Boggs. When I was about 9 years old I went to Conway, AR to school. When I was older I went to Lifestyles in Fayetteville. I am still partnered with Lifestyles and I have a case worker. Now I’ve got a job, and I live on my own with my cat, Molly. I am a house-keeper at Walmart Optical, and I have been there 14 years. Every Tuesday I come to OLC Reading Class. Margaret and Shelley are my teachers. Dictated by Susie Boggs; transcribed by Margaret Kraemer.
Veronica
My name is Veronica. I am married and have one daughter. Four years ago, we left Mexico with a broken heart – no family, no friends, and no jobs in Arkansas. We lost our way of life, but everything has its rewards. In the beginning, it was very difficult, but we progressed step by step.
A year and half ago, I found Ozark Literacy Council. OLC has very professional people; they always work very hard and give a lot for us. Our school is amazing because we have people from different countries and cultures. We are one big family because we are learning English and a new culture.
My daughter, Samantha, is ten years old. She is very active in her school, and she loves her Gifted and Talented classes. She has very good grades, and her English has improved a lot compared to how much she knew four years ago. Samantha is the reason why we are here struggling. We are seeking a better education for her and us. My goal now is to go to the University for an MBA . I feel more confident thanks to OLC.
Jeff
I started reading lessons in 1996 because I wanted to read newspaper ads. I wanted to get a driver’s license and a better job. I’ve had a lesson almost every week since 1996. I got married to Nancy Newberry in 2000. My tutor came to the wedding. Nancy and I have taken cooking lessons together, gone on two cruises, taken art classes, and to to church together. I work now as a janitor at Walton Arts Center, and Nancy and I get to go to some of the shows. I read better than I did, but still need help. I enjoy my lessons at OLC.
Nouk
My name is Nouketcheussi, and I come from Cameroon. My country is very beautiful, and the people of Cameroon are warm and welcoming to all. My wife and I and our four children came to the United States from a special program in my country. At first, we thought to experience immediately the American Dream. But this was not so easy as we first believed.
Both my wife and I had taken English classes in Cameroon. We thought we knew well the language of the great American people. However, when we arrived, we were surprised by how little we understood. It was impossible to live our dream when we could not understand those who were speaking all around us. By our very good fortune, we learned about Ozark Literacy Council, and immediately signed up for classes. This good habit has helped us to help our children with their schooling, and it also helped me to understand people. Now I have a job*, and my wife is training for a job as well. Now that we can understand the expressions of the people around us, we can live the American dream and help other people at the same time.
*Nouketcheussi works for the Arkansas Support Network. His wife Christine is receiving PRN training.
Nancy
My name is Nancy New and I’m a student at Ozark Literacy Council. My tutor is Jim Mears and we have been working together since April. He is helping me learn to read and write because I want to learn to read like other kids. Someday when I can read better, I want to be able to help kids learn to read, too. I had a tutor before Jim who helped me with my letters.
My husband’s name is Jeff New and we have been married for 10 years. We met at Lifestyles where we were both living. I graduated from Lifestyles after I showed them that I was able to cook and clean and do outside chores and then I moved into my own apartment. I have a job at McDonalds where I clean the lobby and doors and wipe the trays and keep the tables clean. I’ve worked there for 11 years and the people are very nice. I also like drawing pictures and I give some of them to Jim because he likes them.
Lorena
My name is Lorena, and I come from Chile. I want to study more about nutrition at the University of Arkansas. But first, I must pass the TOEFL. The test is very hard and sometimes people are hard to understand. It is also hard to write in English, but I know I must practice everyday.
The Ozark Literacy Council has really helped me to improve my English writing and speaking abilities. I began taking classes at OLC a few months ago. Everyone was really nice and helpful, and I learned a lot. Now that my English is improved, I am taking classes at NWACC and at OLC. Soon, I will be a student confidently speaking at the University of Arkansas in the Nutrition program. I am so grateful to OLC and my teachers for helping me reach this goal!
Nikolas
My name is Nikolas. Every summer, I get out of school and come visit my grandmother. But this summer, she came to the United States. My family thought it would be a good experience for me. So I came to the United States to be with my grandmother. But Grandmother didn’t want to talk to me in Spanish. She had been taking classes at Ozark Literacy Council, and she decided I should, too. I thought I would attend a few classes to make Grandmother happy. I never expected to learn so much in one summer. However, I really enjoyed the lessons, and I learned a lot. We returned home to Peru, but now I am thinking about getting my student visa to take classes at the U of A. Of course, to do that, I will need a LOT more help from OLC!
