In August 2017, as I was hurrying to get my classroom ready for my forty-ninth year of teaching, I saw a young Hispanic woman cleaning at our school in Sarasota, Florida. Later I asked Ray, a bi-lingual member of our maintenance staff, who she was. He told me that Adiasel is an asylee from Venezuela, but even with a five year college degree in biology/technology, she can only get a cleaning job because she doesn’t speak English. I felt the call within to do something.
Ray went and found Adiasel, and I asked him to tell her that I would teach her English. Adiasel filled with tears and hugged and kissed me several times. Since then Adiasel has found a full time job at a department store distribution center. She gets up at 3:30 a.m. to be at work by 5 a.m. Twice a week when she gets off work at 3:30 p.m., Adiasel takes a 30 minute ride to school where I help her learn English. When we finish around 6 p.m., she is still smiling and so grateful — always paying me with hugs and small gifts of arepas, peanuts, pieces of candy, etc. In just six months, Adiasel has learned basic English and is able to have simple conversation. She takes home the books to practice with her husband and other family members, who also recently came here from Venezuela. They are so grateful to have the opportunity to live in the U.S.
I am using Duolingo to teach myself Spanish. I will probably never be fluent, but it has been helpful to communicate with Adiasel. As I struggle to learn Spanish, I have a deeper understanding of how difficult learning a new language is for people immigrating to the U.S.
Both our lives have been blessed because of a yes to this “chance” encounter!
February 14, 2018. - “Love cannot wait!”
