t was a cold and weary night. All you could hear was the sound of the wind blowing the flag from the outside. A crack in the window brings in that cold chill making 14 women on their bunks shiver and sneer. Here's one of 14 women that couldn't sleep a wink -- her soul wouldn't rest. So she prayed and prayed all night long. God spoke to this inmate as she sat awake on her bunk. And she was praying and crying, asking God for forgiveness. She never knew God until the cellmates told the story about the birth of baby Jesus earlier that day. So when she went to get up off her bunk, she couldn't move. She was bound to her bed, and didn't understand. Before her eyes God gave her a vision telling the story of how Christ was born. This is what she heard him say: God sent his son Jesus to die for our sins. His family wasn't the rich and famous; they were poor people without much food to eat. His mother was Mary a virgin and Joseph was her husband. Three kings came from afar to bring gifts to baby Jesus. A shining star was over the manger where Jesus laid his head. God showed that one inmate what Christmas really meant, the birth of baby Jesus coming from heaven down to earth to save us all from sin.

Now three days before Christmas and all through the block not a C.O. was stirring, not even a jail mouse. Animosity was high and spirits was low, people frustrated with nowhere to go. Families were missed and crimes we regret. No stocking stuffers will no one get, the closest we'll get is jailhouse socks. Hanging across our blue bars in our block.

The evil warden tried to rain on our parade. He wouldn't even let us play charades. I bet we'll have two meals on Christmas day. We feel like birds in a cage, no wonder why we're filled with so much rage.

Noassutol eats all our sweets; Ridinghood can't stay off the streets. Clepto stays in everyone's boxes. I wish that girl Alley Cat would keep her smelly socks. Madam Yagermeister filled with too much cheer while Pusher wants Yagermeister's beer. Fed Ex was supposed to transfer to some fancy spot, so come to find out she couldn't fit in the box. Ms. Kitty just got back from Detroit city; God put her to shame and taught her about giving. Jabba Jaws always got something to say, all us inmates wants her to please go away. 8 Ball stayed so darn high she thought she was a reindeer and tried to fly really high. Tulips was shaped like a stem, she thought she was "Lil" Kim. Sumo eats off all our trays, while Psycho mamma thinks about having fun for her few days. Suppository can't get right; oh Lord is her baby black or white? Po Po and Ho Ho are the best C.O.'s. When the lights go out they stay on their toes. Ladies in WB realize what Christmas means without a tree. We know God sent his son and if we believe one day we'll be free. And may God bless us all through out eternity, that's everlasting life to me. So where ever you are make those around you a part of your family.

May God bless you on every Holiday!!!

Thank you ladies for working together as a team on this wonderful Christmas story.

t the beginning of my life I had an uncle that was the only one who looked out for me. It seemed like he was my brother, father and friend; mostly the father that I never had in my life.

At the age of three my uncle was killed by my grandma's boyfriend.

I am now fifty-two years old and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was crying and saying I am going to get you if it's the last thing I do.

As I started school, I thought different about him. I finally went on with my life. Things were hard and difficult for me at first, but I did not give up.

By the age of nine I started my first job working in a tobacco field. I had to work so I could help my mother with my school supplies and clothing.

At the age of sixteen I dropped out of school. That summer, I started working at Fork Union Military Academy. All my friends had a car. I wanted one, too, so I had to work hard.

Things in my life really began to change and come together. At the age of eighteen I started working for the City of Charlottesville. My life started changing for the best.

I started going back to church where I met my best friend and now my father figure in my life, Rev. Hardgrave, a blind man. During this time I started singing with three different gospel groups.

All at the same time I met my beautiful wife Phyllis Anderson. We have been together and happily married for six years, and have a beautiful family.

I try to give my kids and grandkids all I can so they will never have to want for anything. Also, so they won't have to go through the pain and suffering I went through.

As you see, I've been through a lot of changes in my life time. If it wasn't for God making these changes in my life I don't know where I would be today.

This is why I'd rather not look back into my childhood life.

was a young man spinning out of control

No real direction
Thought no one cared

Got caught up in using drugs and drinking
Almost went to prison for something I didn't do.

That didn't stop me
They try to put me under the jail
Become young father in the process
Didn't know how to handle
Mother of children put child support on me
So w/out court
Fight for custody
Still drink and use drugs

Thought that will ease the pain

Got in deep trouble with the law
Live in court, look like every month
On top of that my mother dying of cancer

Didn't know

Too many things at one time

Something amazing happening to me
I forgot about myself
Focus on help mother through her sickness
I grow up in process of things going around
Became a man
Start to handle my responsibilities like I should
Things change for the better for me.

y name is Muslima Rasulow.

I am from Somalia

I arrived in the USA on March 24, 2004.

I came to the USA with my husband

I was feeling lonely, because I grew up with family and I can't stay alone, and what was amazing, everybody was in their house and nobody was outside walking around or shouting. The whole place was quiet, like nobody was in the building.

Next after one month my husband started working and it was very hard for me to stay home alone. I was very scared to stay alone. Then after few weeks, whenever my husband went to his job I started going to my neighbors who live in the next building.

One day I was washing clothes in the bathroom with the hot water, when the smoke detector started giving out its loud sounds, so I ran out of the house and I went to my neighbor's house and told her about the smoke detector. She told me that it was the hot water that caused the smoke detector to make the noise.

Then at last after 3 months, my uncle's family came from Somalia and I was very happy to live with my family. Now I am feeling comfortable to live in the USA with my family.

That is all about it

y name is Saramma Varughese. I came from India in 2004. I live in Charlottesville with my husband and son. I have one daughter and one son. My daughter is now married and settled in middle East.

When I came to States, I started working in U.V.A. Facilities Management. This was my first job. I had never worked in my life before and this was a big change for me. I was scared of the new job, new country, people, and most of all the new language. This was why I joined these English classes.

Those classes have helped me learn English a lot and also helped me meet new people and talk to all. This gave me new confidence and now I have started enjoying my work, too.

I also noticed a lot of cultural changes when I came to States. I had a lot of changes in my life. These changes have been a good thing, as it made me a confident working woman. I have adapted to the changes and am now getting used to the new way of life. Another change was in the climate. I saw and am looking forward to more changes.

am Pera Zarubica.

I come from one of the beautiful countries. This country is now torn into six countries. After sixteen years, American soldiers still keep peace. When I came here, I was very sad. Unknown country, unknown language, and one hundred questions how will my family survive here? Because of war, we have lost everything there. Country, job, house, and youth. One time all family come to unknown. Not long after, when we started in job here in America, all my family, husband and children, are better than before. And life is changed, now in America. From good people we got a car as a present, and we have easy start in life in America. Now we have everything that we could wish. My children finished school at UVA, and they are very happy here. I am too. This is my new country, and I love living here, and never changes, this country. But my life is very changed. I have a hard job here, but a job is a job. I love my job. I must work here and must support my family and my self.

uring different times in our lives, we all go through changes as we grow up. Some would call them dilemmas and others would call them learning experiences. By me being a female, the one I think of is becoming pregnant and not finishing school. To some people this would be a predicament, but I would call it a blessing and a lifetime of maturing.

You have to learn how to make it in life and provide for someone other than yourself. It makes you realize that everything you do is not going to affect you but it will also affect your child. At times it seems so difficult, because you are also a child who has the responsibility of taking care of a child whom you brought into this world. As a mother, you have very little time if any at all to go out or even do school work. Your child is taking up most of your time, and then the other time is going for you to work and support yourself and your child.

Well, as time goes on and you get older, please do not think it is going to get any easier. It may get harder and more difficult. You just have to be strong and realize that God is the key to all of your problems.

ne life change for me was when I moved in with my boyfriend when I was very young. I didn't know how to cook or manage bills right, but I learned how. Then I had my first child and I had to learn to care for her. It wasn't easy! I had to find a baby sitter and walk to work. Learning the basic skills of life to support my daughter was hard, but after a while I learned that, too.

The job I had wasn't very good, because I didn't like working in a hotel cleaning up and making beds. It made me realize that if I didn't change my life and go back to school to get a GED, then I would be stuck in low paying jobs all my life. This made me feel very sad.

I sometimes wished that I had finished school so I wouldn't be in the mess I was in. This was a learning change in my life. I decided to go to school to get my GED. Getting an education is my most important goal, and it takes a lot of effort for me. But it's well worth the effort to me. The best thing about education is nobody can take it away once you have it. It stays with you through life.

y life changed when my parents passed away. When my mother was alive we went to church. After church we would eat out and go for a long country ride.

My mother and I would talk about things that would happen to us. I would tell her about work.

She would tell me about her childhood, and would tell me about how the kids would pick on her in school. Then I would tell her that the same thing happened to me in school.

Now that my mother is gone I don't have that connection anymore. I have no one to talk to or to go to church with anymore.

Death has changed my life. I learned to take one day at a time and enjoy each day to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised to me.

he biggest challenge I have faced in my life was the birth of my son, Richard Delphaun Eaves.

At the age of sixteen I found out that I was expecting a child. To say the least, I was very afraid and confused about the decisions I was facing.

My brothers and sisters already had children and I often baby-sat for my nieces and nephews, so I knew what taking care of a child involved: the responsibility, the commitment, the time you have to give up. I knew deep in my heart that motherhood was not what I wanted, and neither was abortion, so what was I to do?!

After talking to my family and the father of my child, I decided to give my child up for adoption. I set up an appointment with my social worker to discuss my options. Even though my social worker's advise was compassionate and well meaning, it just wasn't what I was looking for. I wanted a legal adoption that would give me some access to be able to visit or at least receive an occasional picture of my son. But unfortunately, that was not possible, so I had to look for other options.

After about a month, my cousin David Carter called me from Baltimore with an offer for me. Some friends of his, a family of four, were looking to adopt a boy. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had two daughters and wanted a son, so after about 3 months of visiting me and my son and getting to know each other, I agreed to let them adopt. My cousin David was to be my contact, and he and his wife sent pictures and kept me up with how my son was doing.

I never had another child, because I knew motherhood was not for me. And having another child would never take the place of my first.

I always knew that one day I would see my son again, and I would be prepared for the question of why I didn't want to raise him, and on August 13th, 2001, that day finally arrived. My cousin David called to tell me that my son had just called him and wanted to meet me. Also that my son is in the Army, married, and has two children. Two months later, after about twenty phone calls, I was on a plane to Seattle, Washington meeting my son for the first time in twenty-two years.

Having a child was definitely a challenge that changed my life. But I handled it, survived it, and with four grandchildren, I am now living it.

hildren are like angels
Sent to you by God
Mothers especially go through emotions
Parenthood is always devotion
Marriages can be brokenhearted
Single and devoted

never thought trying to trust was my second nature. As a child I wished to have a trusting and loving family. That's because I lost my father at the age of four. My stepfather is nice if my mother is around. For twelve years with him, I observed a lot of his dishonesty and unkindness.

I was already in my forties when I met my husband. We had a year of friendship before we got married. He is honest and loving. I think these are the qualities that I am seeking for a long time. After our wedding, we moved to the countryside. He already has a residence here since 1999. We both worked in our first year and I stopped working when I got pregnant.

Getting pregnant in my forties has had a lot of worries. A few details like my bleeding problems and abnormality were concerns. I was relieved when my amniocentesis test came back normal. So I was in my fifth month of pregnancy when we announced that the baby is on the way. My husband's family is all thrilled. At last they are finally grandparents in their eighties. We travel twice a month for our check up and a chance to visit grandparents and my side of the family. The day that my son was born was very memorable to me. It was on my birthday. He was my gift of love and joy in my life. Being the only grandchild in my husband's side, he was very much love and joy too. I feel great too for the very first time. Our relationship is stronger. I feel that security of life that I never had in my childhood. My life is focused now on my son and trying to learn the right way to raise and love him.

As everybody says, marriage is not always a heaven all the time. Some minor problems arise once in a while. I do most of the talking and asking. We communicate a lot. Hopefully, we can continue it that way. My son now is four and a half years old and starting a lot of questions on why daddy sometimes could not come home. My husband explains why, because of his job.

My particular issue in my growing up is fear. I was afraid of everything and nobody could explain that to me. I trust my stepfather to love me like his own, but he never cares at all. I just let time go and let my own mother discover what is going on. I am already twelve years old when mother finally realized what was going on in our life. So mother tries to stand up and find job abroad so we could all have a chance to have an education.

That's why I am very careful in making a decision involving men. I don't want my son to suffer the same feeling that I feel when I was growing up. We're working together to handle whatever challenges come in raising our son. I do believe that we are mature enough to handle any struggle that we about to face.

guess it all started back when I was a teenager. My mother's life was taken by a man who had abused her for five years. It wasn't easy to accept, but I had three wonderful sisters by my side to help me through this tragedy. It was wonderful but not enough. You see the night my mother's life was taken, I was very rude and nasty to her. I had never talked to her this way before. So I never got to say I'm sorry. As time moved on my emotions and feelings went into a little box with a padlock on it. What I mean is when it came to men, I felt nothing. When it came to relationships there was always a wall and me stepping all over hearts with no remorse. You see by this time I thought that there could never be a thing called love.

Over the years I traveled, partied, and worked in numerous places and thought I was on cloud nine where no one nor nothing could touch me, but reality stepped in and for the first time, I gave my heart to someone whom I thought gave me his. Bam! Desertion, hurt, pain, feeling worthless, those feelings were all back again. So I prayed and asked God why is this happening to me? You see my aunt always said, "Never question God. He has a plan for everyone's journey even if it seems like there is no tomorrow. Trust and believe child and you shall receive." Well through the mix of my ordeals, I met someone else. My aunt also said that the Lord works in mysterious ways. This man I met, I would have never thought he could be my soul mate. Until fate stepped in and 7 months later we had twin boys. Let me take you back a little bit. Before I found out I was pregnant this man had moved without a trace. No good byes, no nothing. Then my big news and my new beginning started.

It wasn't easy taking care of twins by myself. Especially when they had come so early and had a lot of medical problems. But we survived. And wow, we found their father a year and a half later. It was scary at first not knowing if he was going to accept them because they were biracial. But he did and I was in heaven. It was wonderful knowing their father was in their life. From the moment he met them, he was always there to make sure they had everything they needed.

Over time their father and I talked about becoming a family for our children. Who would have ever thought that a young man who had just turned twenty-one and hasn't seen you in two years would accept his children from day one when he found out about them?

I felt my life was perfect and that I had a man who was there for me in any shape or form. We even had another son which made our lives grander than what anyone would had ever expected. You know, no one ever tells you that fairytales have heart breaks and disappointments, too. So, I had to realize that just because a brick wall stands in front of you and yes, it might hurt doesn't mean you can't survive from it.

When you experience life change situations, hold your head up high and focus on the matter. In the end you'll still come out on top. Like when my twins were diagnosed with autism. It was scary and hard to accept at first. Knowing what challenges lie ahead for us. Or when my spouse decided to find comfort outside of our marriage, it was especially scary and hard. It still is. Or even more so finding out that the man who had taken my mother's life was out of jail and walking the streets. He was given 22 years and only served 10. But going through all of my life's dilemmas helped me grow into a strong willed woman that looks at life's challenges as if they are beneath me. Now I'm holding my head up high, striving for a better tomorrow. And do you know what? It is. I decided to go back to school to get my GED. My husband and I have a more powerful relationship than ever before. Our children are making so much progress in school and socially. What more can I ask for but to pray and believe. So, that's my life, my new beginning.

here are many stages in our lives, as well as many changes. Everyone's life changes from time to time. Life's changes begin the day we are born. There are many changes after that day.

My life started big changes when I dropped out of school at the age of 16. The reason that I dropped out was to get a job and help my parents with bills and to help take care of my siblings. I worked and helped out at home until I was 18. It was then my life changed again. It was then I found the person that I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, have children with.

When I met my husband I knew that there was no one better that I could have met. We got married when I was 19; he was 18. We had a very small wedding, but to me no matter how big or small that is one day I will always remember. After we had been married for almost a year, we decided to start a family. Our son was born shortly after that.

There is one person in my life that will always be missed, but never forgotten. That is my mom. She meant everything to me. She and I had our ups and downs, but that is something everyone goes through. She was the one person that I could always talk to about anything and ask anything. She was my shoulder if I needed it. She was my listener if I needed her to listen.

My mom was a very happy person. She would do anything for anyone. All you had to do was ask and she would be there with her arms wide open.

There are so many things that I remember about my mom, but there is one thing I will never forget. She called my house one morning and I answered the phone. She said, "What are you doing?" I said, "Nothing much - just cleaning like always." Glenn wanted to talk to her. He told her that I wouldn't cook him breakfast. She would always get after me for that. After she finished talking to Glenn, he handed me the phone and she fussed at me for not cooking for Glenn.

A few years passed and she took ill and passed away. The day she passed was one of the biggest changes in my life. I had to get used to not having a mom to call, talk to or to visit. I just had to keep going and continue on with my life. Even though it wasn't easy, it was something that had to be done. I went on with my life as it was before, but missing the one thing I never wanted to lose. I continued on with my family and continued to have several changes.

I had started night time adult education classes and after being in the class for a few months, I became pregnant with my daughter. I decided to leave the class and stay at home. When I started getting sick from pregnancy, it was another stage that I had to deal with again. After having my daughter, I took a CNA class and became a certified nurse's aid for several years. When my children got a little older, I wanted to go back to school but couldn't afford to go at the time. I put it off time and time,

Now I am doing one of the things that I have wanted for a long time. I am back in class and getting my GED. After my GED, I would like to find a good job and be able to take care of my family and give them what they need. I would like to further my education later with taking some classes at Piedmont College. That way I can help my children with their school work or maybe with their adult work if they need me.

ar was going on, and I didn't like it at all. We went to Pakistan to my cousin's house for only a few days, because I wanted to find a job and rent a house. One week later I found a job that was not that easy and made some money and rented a house. My life was much better than it was in Afghanistan. My children grew up in Pakistan. Well, my cousin told me to apply for coming to the United States. And so I did. But I never realized that it would work and we would come here. And now we have the most beautiful life ever.

y first job in America was electronic technician at a small company. My owner give me a chance to be a technician. I've worked very hard to improve my education.

Now is company growing up. We had a lot of employment

One day we had a presentation at my company. The marketing manager used Power Point for presentation of our products. In the beginning, I saw very nice picture on the screen. I recognized that is from my country, Bosnia. I asked him, "Where did you get that picture?" Then he told me his story.

He was a pilot in the U.S. Army, based in Italy. He was in the war against Yugoslavia. He told me that is very nice country. He made this picture when he was flying across my country. He surprised me, and I asked him, "Did you bomb my country?"

He said, "It is true, I did."

I asked him, "Why did you bomb my country?"

He told me that was his job, and that it was an order from his commander. He told me it was very bad for him because Yugoslavia is a very old country, with a long history. He wanted to apologize to me and he hopes to find a better way to visit my country. I'm sure that it is always best to visit other country in peace, but not as a warrior.

very one of us goes through changes in our life, sometimes it's a planned change and other times it is an unexpected change. It doesn't matter if it's planned or not, these changes can come as blessing or a hardship.

In my life I have had several changes: some of them good, others bad, but with each one I have learned something. These experiences have marked my life in one form or another. I can still remember the good memories and the times when I was hurt. A great change which I have taken in my life was moving to the United States. When I made the decision to come here I was uncertain. I wondered: Will I like it? How will I do socially? How will I do professionally? Will I get used to a life totally different from what I have? Then, I said to myself, if you don't run the risk, you will never know? I reassured myself..."If I go and I don't like it, I can come back. But if I don't take the risk I will never know what it could have been."

This has been one extraordinary change in my life. I have had the good fortune to be with a great family. They have given me the opportunity to experience life in the United States and welcome me with a lot of love. I will always be very thankful to them for that. I know that everybody doesn't have the opportunity that I have had. I am looking forward to keep going on this new road. I know it will benefit me in the future. Because in just the short time that I have been here, I have learned to value my life more, the things that I have, the family that God has given me and I have learned to know myself. I give thanks every day for this magnificent change in my life which I will never forget.

his is a story about my interesting experience in Charlottesville.

My family moved here from South Korea last year and we plan to stay here one year. Although I had been to the USA several times for a short-term stay to some conferences, this was my first time to visit here with my family for a long-term stay. In order to settle down in Charlottesville, first of all, I must have the social security number (SSN) which is necessary to live in USA. So I must stop by the SSN office to issue the SSN.

This was the beginning of an interesting story. By the information on the website of UVA, I knew that the office was located beside city hall. My daughter and I went to city hall downtown in my car along with the map of Charlottesville city. We were looking for the SSN office near city hall but could not find it. We asked a man on the road the location of the office. Fortunately he was familiar with the SSN office and kindly informed us if its location. The kind man said that the office had moved to another place several months earlier. Also he gave us the road map to find the office and in detail gave us directions as follows:

"Pass to two traffic signals and turn right...You will arrive the top of a hill and turn left. Then you will find two BIG BUILDINGS and the office you seek is in one of them."

After saying, "Thank you very much," we again went toward the destination in accordance with his guidelines. We soon arrived exactly at the spot, but we could not find two BIG BUILDINGS. Where are BIG BUILDINGS? After all, we gave up to find the office and came back home.

Next day I met a friend of mine, who knew where the SSN office was. So we again visited the office, and at last I could find an application form for the issue of the SSN. By the way, to my surprise, the office was in the same location that I had visited yesterday. To my points of view, the office building was small and never a BIG BUILDING. In South Korea, a BIG BUILDING means at least a five-story building with size enough both large and high. Why could we not find the office in spite of going to the same building twice? It must be part of the custom differences between South Korea and a small town in America.

iving is beautiful thing. We are born into a magical world, full of fantasies.

We learn to live in this world and over time we realize what exactly it is that we have.

As we grow, goals and desires are born and we learn to dream.

As we learn to read and write, we begin to understand that we must work and even sacrifice of our selves. We learn that it is by mental and physical work that we achieve our goals, we also see that the world is much bigger than we had first thought.

A world of diverse and wonderful cultures.

Another change comes when one must work in order to live. Then we leave our families and start our own family.

Life is a long and hard road at times, but it is beautiful if one lives wisely.

We never stop learning as there are always new changes.

Life is full of surprises, so keep on living.

y life changed when I decided to go to the United States of America for one year as an Au Pair. I heard about the program "Au Pair in America," because some friends and my cousin enjoyed the program too. I also applied. There was much paper stuff to do, but finally I had it all together. One day I got the first e-mail from a native American family. I was so excited to read the mail!

Two weeks later I had around 10 e-mails from different families! I picked two to choose between. One family was from Charlottesville, had three children, two dogs and one cat! The other family was from Ohio, had two children, and it seemed that they were very rich! The parents made lots of business trips and I would have my own little apartment! I thought that this would not feel very good to me, because they would see me just like an employee. Suddenly, the family from Charlottesville called! I was so surprised and I couldn't speak very well! But my first impression was very good! I thought what a funny family! So I followed my feelings and decided for the Charlottesville family! It was the right decision, because I'm already 3 months here and so happy! Besides, I found a lot of new friends with whom I spend most of my weekends! I think it makes it all easier when you like the family and they take you in like a member of their family. Charlottesville is really the world class city!

am a graduate student of the University of Virginia. In a class in the UVA, I was required to participate in a team presentation to a client in January 2006. When I knew that I had to present in front of client, I began to be nervous because I was not good at presentations, even in Korean, my native language. It is needless to say that I became much more nervous for the presentation in English at which I am not good.

Actually, I have had some bad experiences that I did not do well in some presentations in schools and companies. I was so nervous that I could not deliver what I wanted to say exactly. Presentation in public was always a difficult and fearful task to me. Therefore, I always tried to avoid presentation as much as possible. However, I had to do that in this class. I worried and worried. Although I had other team members who could help me, how could they help me when I present in front of the client?

My worry and nervousness were much increased when I did not do well in our team rehearsal on the day before the presentation. At rehearsal, I could not speak fluently, forgot a lot of points that I should present, and could not even speak for moments at a time. I thought that it would be better if I gave up the presentation. However, my team members encouraged me a lot and understood my nervousness and fear and the difficulties of presentation in English as a foreigner. In addition, they gave me a lot of good comments on the words, gestures, and tones of my presentation.

After returning home from the rehearsal, I practiced my presentation again and again. I even began to memorize my presentation. However, my worry and fear for presentation still remained.

At last the presentation time came. When I stood in front of the audience at first, I felt terrified. However, at the very moment that I began to speak, the first word that I had memorized occurred to me suddenly. After that moment, I continued to speak energetically and enthusiastically. Although I have to say I forgot to deliver some points, I did my presentation smoothly and without big problems. After my presentation, I felt happiness to have coped bravely with a challenge that I had been afraid of.

Now I believe that I can present well in front of the audience. Much more, I believe that I have ability and braveness to cope with any challenges in my life that I thought I could not do. This is my lesson that I learned from my experience in the presentation in class. I will keep in my heart this lesson for the rest of my life. Lastly, I'd like to thank my team members for their support and encouragement.

came here about half a year ago. It was a big challenge for me. Last January, I couldn't make up my mind if I had to go with my husband. It was decided that my husband was going to work at UVA starting in March. There were two reasons I couldn't decide.

One reason is about my children. I have two children. The older is six years old and the younger one is one. The older passed an exam of the elementary school which was said to be difficult to pass. Once he leaves the school, he will not be able to return. It is the school policy.

The other reason is about my work. I am an anesthesiologist in Japan. These days we are very busy because of a shortage of manpower. We work from early morning till night and stay at hospital for emergency operations twice a week. I thought they were going to work more if I quit. I felt sorry for my colleagues. And I was afraid that it is difficult to get back the lost time, but I knew it was the best way for my family to go with my husband.

Now we have a happy life in Charlottesville. I can have much more time to spend with my children than I had in Japan. And so does my husband. I am confident that my choice is the best one.

n a Sunday evening in April 2001, I was going to visit my sister in my hometown, Sao Paulo, Brazil. It had been raining a few minutes before I left my house. The streets were still wet and the sky was clear, the stars shined and there was a lovely cool breeze.

As I was driving my car, I started to cross an intersection when suddenly I heard a strong and loud squealing tire. Afterwards I felt that my car was letting down and hitting the ground. I could not understand what was going on. Then I realized that a van had crashed my car right on my door, because its headlight was inside my car. I tried to move out, but I couldn't move. My left hip was hurting me. It was so weird, because I didn't faint, and I didn't feel the crash, but just the car hitting the ground.

In a few minutes there were many people around my car. Suddenly I saw a woman getting inside my car, and she told me with a sweet and quiet voice, "How are you? I am a rescuer. I just left my shift. I am here to help you. Can you hear me?" I could hear her, but I couldn't say a word. I was in shock. She asked me again, "Can you hear me?" I nodded. Then she started to talk to me saying to breathe carefully. After some moments she asked me, "Can you say your name?" I tried to speak, but she misunderstood. She said, "It's okay. You are getting better. Let's go. Try again slowly." Finally, I could say my name. I can't tell how long this lady stayed with me, making me feel comfortable and protected. When the firefighters arrived the lady told me, "Now I am leaving you in good hands. You are going to be fine." Then she left without saying anything.

The firefighters were amazing. They made all the procedures carefully and took me to the hospital. My experience with doctors and hospital was excellent. The doctors and nurses did a great job. I took one year and a half to fully recover due to the gravity of the injury, but now I am fine.

On January 2002, when I finally could walk with help of a cane, I thanked everyone: firefighters, doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists. Unfortunately, I could not find that lady. Nobody knew her. Because I couldn't thank her a strange sensation remained. It seemed that something was lacking. There was a feeling of emptiness inside me for a long time.

On December 2003, two years and a half after my car accident, I was doing my Christmas shopping at a mall nearby my house. Many thoughts were in my mind. I wasn't paying attention to people. I was looking at shoes at a store window when I heard a voice. A lady was asking something to the shop worker. I thought to myself, "I know this voice." Then I saw written on her shirt "Volunteer Rescuer." I couldn't believe it. I said to myself, "I think this lady is the one who helped me in my accident. It is the same voice." I couldn't control myself. I had to talk to her. I asked her if she worked as a volunteer rescuer, and if she could remember an accident that had happened in April 2001. She said, "Yes, I do, but it was so long ago. It is difficult." Then I told her the exact place, the intersection, and she started to describe my car. It was her! The angel that God sent to me that day! Needless to say that I burst into tears and I hugged her very, very thankfully.

In a world with such violence to meet a person like Maria Amelia makes us believe that there is hope for humankind.

ne of my best experiences since I first came to the USA and was driving from Arizona to Virginia. Can you imagine the distance between the two places? It is almost the entire width of North America; it is almost the entire length of my beautiful country Chile, that is about 1800 miles, but here, we drove 2500 just to know more about this beautiful country.

Our trip would begin in southern Arizona, Tucson, the land of Saguaros. It brought us through the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Arches National Park -- what a unique variety of colors that we saw: the shining yellows from the sun, the reds from the sculpted landscape, and the pure blue from the sky. Then, we stayed in New Mexico, to appreciate the native culture that had lived in that amazing environment. We discovered small places full of history and tradtions. They were the Anasazi culture located in the Four Corners area of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.

After we felt that at least we knew a little bit of the ancient American civilizations, we were prepared to take an eastward direction. The first factor that indicated to us that we were on the right way was the topography. We just touched Texas, and the space became flat. All that we saw through it was a vast zone of wheat fields. We couldn't understand why such a difference. But then I realized that we were in a place that 75 years ago a natural disaster had hit it: the Dust Bowl of the 1930's as a result of an over exploitation of the soil. We continued our travel to Oklahoma City. In that moment we were tired, but all our tiredness became anxiety in the moment that we saw tall buildings. For a long period of time we hadn't seen any, and we never expected to find Oklahoma City so contemporary. Modern buildings, renovated public spaces, and the touching Federal Building Memorial represent how man had changed the way of life.

The next city we visit was Saint Louis: we wanted to see the huge Arch framing the Mississippi River. (Yes! The river that inspired Mark Twain to write Tom Sawyer) But first let me explain to you the meaning of the Arch. It is the window to the expansion from the East to the West. In our case, the arch represented "our" expansion from the West to the East.

Just crossing the Mississippi River from Missouri to Illinois, everything changed again. First, we notice the difference in our skin; the climate was humid. Then the difference was in our ears, because the people instead of speaking they sing. Before we left the River we decided to drop a stone, like Tom Sawyer did while a steamboat went down towards Mississippi and Tennessee. Following that river to Memphis, we couldn't forget some present for our parents in the land of rock and roll king (Elvis), and take some pictures of his cars.

In that period of the trip our final destiny was close; the very green appeared. Somebody told us that if we went through the Great Smoky Mountains we could see bears, birds and be in direct contact with real trees. Unfortunately the bears were hiding, but the trees couldn't. We drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Appalachian Mountains viewing overlooks that are going to be our scenery for the next years.

To end the story, now I'm here in Charlottesville, sharing with you our adventure that we hope still continues. This is a huge country with a lot of contrast between each state. We traveled through time and space to know more about the place that give us the possibility to explore it.

hy am I here
I'm here because I put myself here
No need for me to cry now
I smell fear in the air
And I let everybody down
I'm here because I don't know how to say no
I'm here because I love money too much for show
In prison is where I am
Concrete walls, musty odors, stale attitudes
When I cry, I cry alone
No sympathy only regrets
I put my freedom on a limb for a bet
Why am I here
Is what I keep asking myself
Somebody help me
Somebody help me take this pain away or else!
I'm tired of hurting
Missing my son and my family
Should have, would have, could have
Crosses my mind daily
Sharp pains in my head
Time after time
I'm in prison, freedom gone
I vent through my writing
That's the only way to do it
If I don't
I'm liable to go off on somebody
And I don't want to go through it
I have enough problems I hold within
I ask God to take away all my sins
I know everything happens for reasons
Missing in action from the world for years
God will lead me through all seasons
I asked earlier why am I here
To make us stronger, wiser
and God we will only fear.

ife changes hold joy at this point in my life. Allow me to explain what life was really like for me before. I spent my childhood running in and out of courthouses, robbing, drugging, and drinking. It didn't stop then. I became someone I didn't know anymore. Time grew upon me and stopped. I replaced time with the streets. A life spent with emotional pain. Suicidal thoughts became my worst nightmare. I started to drink to keep from becoming depressed. But June 18th, 1995, I found myself in a place of nothing but heartache and a greater change was yet to come. A Murder Charge. Something I never thought would come, because murder is something I always thought happens on T.V. or in musicals, and things of that nature. But it's a reality today. Today I sit in Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women. The heartache didn't stop there because I became angry. My mother passed away, a woman that loved me, who broke her back to make sure life was great for me. A mother who understood my pain, my suicidal thoughts, who placed me in and out of hospitals with her and my father's hard earned money. I couldn't understand why! Then my father left the world right behind my mother. I began to ask myself what was wrong with me. I still ask the question.

I went to Structured Living in 2003 to sort out all of my problems. For three years i sat around blaming everyone except myself. That's when I turned to the one thing that matters, Jesus. I always knew He was there, but never called upon Him. Nor did I ever bow to His discipline. Until I picked up the Holy Bible to understand all things are through Him, the mighty father, Jesus Christ. Today the joy is greater than man. I can now smile and continue my journey through Christ. My life has changed. I no longer pick up. It's like I'm in a Narcotic Anonymous and for my every burden I call upon Jesus daily. I now have that peace within myself to continue on the correct path through life's changes. I am now soft-spoken to life. I now believe in life's changes to know that the day I'm released my final goal is to teach youths the right way of life and the peace they need to grow. For me it's called Peace of Life's Changes.

ne day I met a man. He was a nice guy. He was preparing to study his major in U.S.A. I was feeling the inconvenience because he became my husband. I felt too far from Korea in the U.S.A. Also, I did not have any information about America. When I met him, I considered a different life in another country. I did not make up my mind easily because I had to learn another language and I could not often meet my family and friends. I was afraid to begin new life in new place. I thought nobody could leave his/her own country simply without a special reason.

I have been two and half years with him in Charlottesville since I got married. I believed his talent and challenge. He gave me hope and helped me to set everything. After living in Charlottesville, sometimes, I felt on edge. To study English brought many troubles. I was not able to solve my problem in a short time. I endured many times to fight myself. When I could not communicate with a salesman in a store, I was feeling unwell. Fortunately, I had a good teacher. She gave me compliments and encouragement. She had a heart of gold. I had studied English diligently with her. After 2 years, I spoke English beyond my expectations, thanks to her.

I could have various international friends from many places. Although we did not talk naturally to each other, we understood all through gestures. But, living in a foreign country made me uncomfortable. I missed my hometown so much. I could not stop thinking of my home. I remembered I spent many times to recall last time in Korea.

When that time, last winter, I got a chance to visit Korea, I could not describe my happiness then. I could not sleep for one month. I made plans not only to meet many people but also to eat much food.

During staying in Korea, I felt strange because everything was changed. When I came back to Korea, I thought I could come back to two years ago. But it was just a misunderstanding. My friends, most of them already got married and got new families like husbands, wives or babies.

They were making their own nests. I realized they and I grew up to be adults. And past memories became beautiful and past memories for us. Therefore, I underwent too many events as an adult like wedding, baby shower, warming up home party and mournings. I had time to rethink my position and status.

Although many people were changed, my parents were still the same to me. They took me happily and lovingly. But the appearance of my parents was getting older. Time was going too fast.

After visiting for two months, I came back to my daily life in Charlottesville. Until now I had treated life in Charlottesville specially and differently compared with my friends in Korea. But I know I can find my happiness sufficiently all around the world. I can make international friends and take various foods as well as that in America. I can take a class in college where I want to study lesson or English. I can spend many days to study in the library and do recreation like playing tennis, guitar with my husband. Because I live in Charlottesville and I have spare time, I can get many advantages above all. I want to make my special life with my husband while I stay in Charlottesville. I will do my best for my future.

ne Saturday morning in 1994, I was alone at home when I heard a knock on my door. I went to answer the door and saw a white man who said he was a minister and wanted to come in and talk to me. Normally, I would have said "no," but for some reason I felt I should let him come in.

The minister prayed for me and told me I was saved. Something unusual happened to me. I felt lifted and inspired as though I was touched by God's Spirit. For the next few days, I thought about what the minister said to me. I went to the store, bought a bible, and started reading it. Even though I didn't understand everything in the bible, reading it made me feel peaceful and joyful.

One night a few weeks later, I was laying in my bed. All of a sudden, I had the most wonderful, magnificent feeling in my body. This feeling started in my head and went all the way down to my toes; my whole body was filled with incredible energy. The many aches and pains I had in my body disappeared and I felt uplifted and peaceful. I knew that I had been touched by the Spirit of the Lord. The freedom from pain and the peaceful feeling lasted a few days. It was the best feeling I had ever experienced in my life. I knew that the Lord was the only one who could make me feel so good.

After this experience, I started to read the bible and attend church regularly. About six months later, I decided to leave Charlottesville, and move to Richmond. There was a lot of stress in my life at that time due to negative circumstances. I got involved in a church in Richmond where I felt comfortable. I was active in many things at this church and came to know and love so many good people who were like family. I stayed in Richmond for eight years. I missed my hometown, so I moved back to Charlottesville over two years ago.

Today, I have lots of free time. I belong to a church and am active in the Pastor Aid Club. I just take one day at a time; life is challenging, but I am very satisifed with my life. I know that God has brought me through the difficult times and is always with me.

hat my life used to be like. When I was a teenager I always said I won't use drugs. But it changed. I had a couple of friends I'd been hanging around with everyday as I got older. They used to get some pot and beer and sit around and talk and get ready to go out to a party. And one Friday, they were getting high and I felt out of place, so I joined in and got high with them -- and it was a lot of fun. I got high on pot and beer for about 11 years.

What happened. When I got older I hung out with my cousin and rode around with him everyday. We rode around in town and then went to the park to sit around. A man in the park asked my cousin to take him down to the country to get something and I didn't say anything, but enjoyed the ride. When we got there I did not know what was going down but we started to do the same thing over and over everyday. Then I asked my cousin a question, "What are they doing back there?" and he said, "Smoking drugs." Then I asked him what kind of drug are they smoking, and he said cocaine. Then I asked a couple more questions about the drug and he said it is not going to hurt you. So I tried it and I liked it and started to buy some for myself. That is what happened to me.

How I made the big change in my life. My mother was sick and my brother said, "Randy, you don't have much time. You got to do right. You know you don't have nobody to help you now." So I had a choice: to stay out there and keep on getting high or let my family help me. I chose the right thing and gave up the life of getting high. I'm in the fellowship of AA and NA. They teach me how to enjoy life without drugs by working the steps and being around people that do not use drugs and alcohol, and to enjoy life. I go to a meeting every night after work -- I have a job at Wendy's -- and on weekends I go to eight meetings. Now I'll take one day at a time.

e came from Ukraine eight months ago. I said we because I have a little daughter; her name is Diana. She is four years old and my name's Natasha.

Since we came here my life has completely changed. I can describe a lot of days of my new life, but I want to write about an unforgettable day for me and I am sure for our neighbors. There was something that happened on Tuesday.

Usually, Diana and I go the gym every morning, but that Tuesday I had a hunch that I should stay at home. Maybe it was pure nonsense or just a coincidence.

I was sitting behind the computer and my little daughter was watching a cartoon called "Ice Age," when I heard a loud noise. It sounded like something fell down. I thought Diana had dropped her towns. When I came into her room, I didn't see anything on the floor.

Then I was listening for a sound, and I was trying to find where it came from. I realized it was coming from the basement.

I heard Mrs. Campbell's voice. She was crying, "Can anybody help me?" I went downstairs and pulled the handle of the door, but I couldn't open it. The door was locked. I looked through the window. I could see Mrs. Campbell who was lying on the floor. I asked her, "What happened?" She said that she couldn't stand up and open the door.

At first, I was trying to call her husband, but no one answered. Then I dialed 911.

It was so amazing that the paramedics came to our house immediately and took care of Mrs. Campbell. She was lucky. Nothing bad happened to her.

After that accident I said to myself, "Maybe I don't know a lot of English, but my English is enough to be able to take care of my family and help other people."

nsure of a lot -- but my goal is to be a spiritual woman. Still confused of many things because of the changes that one goes through in life. Struggling every day with life experiences. I cry inside and outside every single day and no one on this earth knows and the sad part to me is that I wonder who cares. Most times I really don't want a person to care because they will hurt too. Praying that they don't.

Preferring not to have so many changes but knowing they are mine!

Back in November of 1976 I married the man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Only a few months after my wedding, in August of 1977 another big change came on the way from work. A man attacked me and a friend, with a gun. What happened after was not very nice. My friend did not live. I was in and out of the hospital for months after. I was sent home by the docotrs and my family was told that I wasn't going to make it through the night. After those changes of making it to living, I dealt with horrible nightmares and being made fun of. Doctor said I could not have children. That was a change that I did not want to accept, but lots of prayer and learning the requirements of God really helped me to deal with those changes. My husband at the time fought to be the strong man that he is somewhere inside because he stuck with me, though others tried to pull him away. Other changes were occurring, as I see now, but also growing stronger. But inside all I wanted was to really be loved, even from a child myself. Did not see it then.

I still thank God every day. May of 1979 my son Milton Jr. was born; May of 1981, my daughter Melanie and May of 1983, my son Marque. God was listening all the time. A few years later I was blessed with my son Nolan who was born march of 1991 and my daughter Tamika who was born November of 1986. My children have been a part of my change in life that brings me great joy. A part of the miracle of childbirth.

We as a family went through many changes -- alcoholism was so big in our family. I began to realize that my husband was an alcoholic. It was so hard to believe because he worked very hard everyday. Never complained when it was time to go to work. But I didn't give myself the credit of holding down the fort. Now the changes helped me see that all the money in the world could not pay me for that job. We also had many outside influences that would cause daily changes. The drinking and night life of my husband came to be so great but still struggling to keep my family together.

My friends and family knew that I called my husband my knight in shining armor but they also knew before me that it was what I wanted to believe. This change of believing what I needed at the time helped me to survive. I was so afraid to talk about what was going on inside. I never wanted anyone to hurt like I was hurting. So many changes seem unbelievable, and the horrible ones, who wants; but they were all mine.

The man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with chose to spend the rest of his life with someone else.

I wondered why so many rough spots in my life. One of my children has an irreversible disease; our home was burned three times; I moved my family away from family and friends -- tried to move back to Poydras but had to come right back here because the storm swept it all away. I'm so scared wondering what is next I feel so weird many times to talk about these changes because who would beleive such a thing. She's still ticking along.

Still caring for our children as much as I can spiritually, emotionally, and physically; only God's grace -- that I'm growing with. Having others that really care though I do not understand yet. On the positive road of making changes I came across some wonderful people at the Theocratic Ministry School and the Adult Learning Center. I'm learning that making changes, though they seem to be bad, sometimes can be good, if one looks hard enough. I would like to think of my life as like a precious diamond in process, going through a lot of rough spots but when all the process is finished it will maybe be spectacular -- A Healthy Spiritual Woman!

feel Good. I feel like a new woman
In the early 90's I became very seriously depressed. I had a very
Difficult time trying to cope. I had to be hospitalized several times
Was put on medications
Was working a full time job which I had to stop because
Of my mental situation. My medical situation took a very
Hard toll on my life. Going through therapy. Praying, and reading my
Bible has helped to encourage me.
I am truly grateful above all how God has brought me out and allows
Me to cope again today
I have returned to work after 9 years of being off this Nov 2005
Part-time. And also this past Oct 2005 I have went back to school to try and
Get my G.E.D. I am a mother of 5 beautiful children. 2 children are grown
And have graduated from high school. The oldest is a college graduate
Today he's a paralegal. The 2nd child finished Medical Technician classes
And works as a Medical tech. The third child will also be graduating
This coming June 2006 and he plans to attend college also pursuing a career
In music he's a great orchestra musician. The 4th child is a 9th grader
The 5th child is a 6th grader. I am thankful and very grateful for them
And happy to say that I am able to attend classes 3 days a week
Today I can truly say I feel like a new woman
Some days may be up and some down but I'm blessed to feel good about me again
And I am very thankful for having a husband to stand by me through all I've been
Thru and I'm very grateful to be able to hold my head up again and go on with my life
Today I can say I feel good, feel a new woman

nce there was a young girl who was smart, bright, and well-liked. She loved school. Her life wasn't perfect all the time, but at that moment in her life, it was. She was so naive. When she got to middle school, all of her friends were ahead of her. All of them were interested in boys and had boyfriends. She didn't. She felt like an outcast. She really started to envy them. But no matter what, she wanted to focus on her dreams. She just said it wasn't her time yet.

Life changes...Changes started to begin. First, there was the fact that she'd reached puberty, which was not easy to deal with. Secondly, during that year this guy picked on her a lot. She never did anything to him to cause him to be mean to her. She hated it. It was such a a nightmare for her.

Life changes...The guy wasn't mean to her anymore. It's like he read her thoughts and decided to leave her alone. She was grateful, but curious about the sudden change. One afternoon she was studying with a friend. The phone rang. She answered the phone. "Hello..." She dropped the phone at the sound of the voice on the other end. "This can't be..." Why?... How?...The voice on the other end was the guy who picked on her. She didn't want to talk to him, but something in her wanted to talk to him. Why?

Life changes...It's a couple years later and she's still with the guy who picked on her. They are starting 10th grade. They fell in love. Everything was good. She started thinking about the future. They were happy.

Life changes...Then she found out she was pregnant. But she kept going to school. In spite of the stress, at the same time, he was seeing other girls. She had a lot of support from family and friends. Maybe everything would be okay...maybe.

Life changes...The baby was born and everything seemed great and overwhelming. Now she started to make serious changes. The father even wanted to change. She had one and a half years to graduate. She's worn out from school and taking care of her daughter, also, a part-time job. It's getting harder for her. The father was there to help when he could, but he too was struggling to finish school. She's maturing fast and was seeing things differently.

Life changes...Two months until graduation and there was a lot of stress on her and a decision to make. Her mom started to complain about keeping the baby. She's angry, but on the other hand she understands. It was her resonsibility so she made the decision to quit school. She took her part-time job on full-time. Where was the father? Well, he was caught up in the streets. So now he's gone and left her to raise her child alone!

Life changes...Things get better. She moves out of her mom's house. She thinks about school and how she missed it. The job she had been working at made her make a decision about what she wanted to do for her career (nursing.)

Life changes...Some years later, she has a new boyfriend and expecting a son. She's still hungry for something more out of life. She dumped the no good boyfriend and made a decision to do at least one of the things she wanted to do.

Life changes...A few years later she has completed her CNA class and has a certificate to be a certified med tech. She is proud of her accomplishments. She is happily in a stable relationship of six years. But she realizes that there is something else to accomplish.

Life changes...She finally decided to enroll in GED classes. She is happy she made the decision. Now she looks further in the future and it is bright.

Life changes...for the better!

went back to Tokyo after 4 years' absence last summer. I had been looking forward to it for a long time. Especially, for my daughter who was three years old; it was her first visit to Japan.

In Japan, the Narita international airport exists far from Tokyo. It is about 90 minutes drive. On the way to Tokyo from Narita, I felt that the green is less than in America, rows of houses are not well-ordered, roads are narrower and most drivers don't have mutual considerations. I realize that Japan is a small country again. Japan is small, besides 80% of the gross area is accounted for mountains. My children were looking outside interestingly. Finally, we were going through the urban area and saw the Tokyo Bay and a beautiful Rainbow Bridge flashing in the evening twilight. The scenery was the same as before. I love it!

We had been staying at my parents' house. It is in the middle of Tokyo, Shibuya. On the second day, my mother told me, "You had better buy new clothes." For my mother, my appearance looked strange. She would think that it was too casual. Many mothers in Tokyo were very fashionable. They are perfectly dressed from head to toe. Staying in Tokyo, I couldn't help feeling that I was a bit out of place there. There are some fashion magazines for mother in Japan and they recommend them to be fashionable mothers.

In Charlottesville, I always use my car to go somewhere. I rarely walk for a long time. In Tokyo, I had to walk for a long time and go up and down stairs to get on a train or a subway. It was hard for me. I got shoe sores and had to buy Band-Aids.

It is very humid and hot in Japanese summer. I thought that one of the good points in Japan was that we could buy something to drink everywhere and anytime. There are a lot of vending machines on the streets. I was happy because I could buy Japanese tea or moderate sweet and tasty healthy drinks anywhere.

At my surprise, I found that there were a lot of Korean people everywhere. They usually had maps or guidebooks, so I thought that they would be travelers. Also, in a department store, there were Korean languages on the direction boards. I rarely found that 4 years ago. I don't know the reason. Recently Korean dramas have been in fashion in Japan. I guess that Japanese and Korean people might be getting to feel affinities for each other.

My most favorite place is the grocery store in the basement of the department store. When I arrived there after the long time, I felt as if I were in another world. There were not only perishable foods, but also hundreds of kinds of sweets and household dishes. I was sure that Japan was one of the countries which were rich in eating habits.

We went to Kyoto by Shinkan-sen, which was the fastest train in the world. It runs at 187.5 miles per hour. My son had wanted to get on it. It was a day trip, but we visited two famous shrines, Kinkakuji and Kiyomizudera, in Kyoto. On the way to go back to Kyoto Station from there by bus, I had an unpleasant happening. The bus was very crowded. Two girls wanted to get off the bus at a station on the way, but they couldn't do it immediately. Finally the bus started to move. It was clear that they were foreigners and couldn't speak Japanese. But nobody tried to help them. Finally, I shouted to the driver, "Please wait! There are people who want to get off!" Other passengers looked unconcerned. In the same situation in my childhood, I was sure that someone helped a person who couldn't get off the bus immediately. I felt that Japanese people or society had been getting unconcerned with other people and selfish. Most of recent Japanese families are tending to be nuclear ones and usually live without grandparents, so it is said that they are getting poor at raising children. I think that selfish people might be increasing in an environment like that. If this is true, it would be a big problem.

When I bought tickets to get on a train from a ticket-vending machine, I was confused because I didn't know the price for a children's ticket. Also, there were mixed American and Japanese coins in my wallet, so it was difficult to take money out of it. At that time, people around me looked irritated. People in Tokyo are always in a hurry, and they are not relaxed. Until 4 years ago, I thought it was usual. I found that I myself was changed during these 4 years and also, the life of Tokyo was stressful for foreigners and people who live in places except Tokyo. And I remember at the same time that when I went to New York two years ago, I felt the same thing like this. The big city might be a special environment.

On the other hand, services in Japan were very good and reliable. We can receive good services wherever we are. Even the shop clerks in convenience stores like Seven-Eleven are polite, kind, and work precisely. Especially, I felt happy that when I bought pants in a department store, the hem of pants was repaired within two hours, because I always feel inconvenience about this in America. I wish this would keep unchanged in the future.

I could see both good points and bad points in the visit to Japan. That was because I have lived in and out of Japan. Thanks to this experience, my view of life is getting changed.

y name is Etab and I am from Saudi Arabia. I came to Charlottesville with my husband. My husband came here to get his master degree in Mechanical Engineer from the University of Virginia. I came with my husband to support him during his student. This is the second semester for us in Charlottesville.

One of the challenges I faced was with the language. When I came to U.S.A., I was unable to speak or understand English but after one English course at the Adult Learning Center, I became able to speak and understand most of what I hear in English. However, I would like to develop my English more. This is why I am taking this class and plan to take more courses after this one.

Another main challenge was to adapt with the life here in Charlottesville. This includes developing friendships with my neighbors and other Arabic families in the city. In addition, the weather in Charlottesville is different than the weather in my home country. The weather in Charlottesville is much colder. In addition, we don't get snow during the winter in my home country.

Currently, I have New Challenges which is to learn how to drive. My husband is teaching me from time to time but I need to learn more English to pass the D.M.V. test. With some luck, I may be able to get my drivers license by the end of this semester.

merica and Europe are two different worlds. Europe is older than America. How old is civilization in America and how old is civilization in Europe?

Civilization in America is very, very young and people in America are immigrants, they came from Europe because the legitimate inhabitants in America were American Indians. Everything changed after Christopher Columbus came to America. He came from Europe, too. He was Spanish and he wanted to find a route to India, but by changing directions in 1492 he came to America.

Then to America came many people from Europe, from different countries. In 1789, George Washington became the first president of America.

Europe is much older than America and in Europe first there were kings and princes, we had knights, beautiful places, and castles. Still we have castles, which are museums and ruins of castles and in many countries still we have kings so as in England, Spain, or in Denmark.

I come from Poland and the first king was in Poland in 996 and Polish culture is different from culture in America.

I lived in Poland 26 years before I came to the U.S.A., and I was born in Poland, I went to school, I have family and friends. We have snow in winter and beautiful places. I had good times in Poland and never I will forget this time which I spend in Poland.

In this year I come to the U.S.A. and here for me everything is new; people, country, culture. I learn how to live here everyday, everyday I learn something new, I have been living a new life.

How is America for me? Still I don't know, but I like living here, I like people, I like city. Everybody here is very nice, they are willing to help and they are always smiling. They are not in a hurry to go everywhere and always ask you, "How are you?"

I love my place, where I live now. Every morning when I wake up and when I eat breakfast, I can see by the sunrise. In the evening roe-deer and rabbits come to my house. Around my house is woods, and from my window I see mountains.

What changes in my life? Everything: my life is change about 360 degrees. I have new family, new acquaintances and I have a husband and soon I will have friends.

America was for me a far-off country and I didn't think one day I would come to the U.S. When I met my husband, my life was changed. One and half year we waited to be together, because I need a Visa to U.S. It was very difficult and it needed much work. But now we are together and we are starting a new life.

I miss Poland, my family and cat and my friends, they will be forever in my heart but now here is my home because "your home is where you find your love."

came here from Turkey six months ago. When I came here my family couldn't come here. Because my wife is a doctor, she didn't have a permit from her university. I came here and I felt bad. I have never had to be separate from my family. I missed them terribly.

Three months later, my family came here and I picked them up in the Dulles airport. My daughter hugged me, and we cried all together. That night, she didn't let go of my hand.

One month later, she had to start child care. She was very scared. My wife and I were, too, because she couldn't speak or understand English. On the first day, we went to child care together. She didn't want to go.

One week later she said to me, "Dad, I have two problems: I can't get used to child care and I can't understand the other children. If I had only one problem I could solve it, but now I can't solve both these problems." When we heard what she said, my wife and I started to cry!

Yesterday my daughter came and said, "I want to ask the other children to play together with me, but I don't know how to ask them. I want to say, "Hi Guys let's go play." I tried to teach her some English words so she would feel more comfortable. I guess she didn't like our pronunciation.

This week she picked up some more words. She said, "You taught me an incorrect word. This is a boot not a shoe!"

have had a lot of challenges here, in Charlottesville, and all of them are very hard and difficult for me. Fortunately, I did it.

I want to write about my driver's license experience. First of all, when my husband and I came here, we thought we wouldn't buy a car, but, day by day, we realized that a car is really useful, because we need to go to the supermarket, to the bank, to travel around Charlottesville, etc.

The first step that I did to get my driver's license, was to find in the internet the driver's license manual on the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles ) web site. After that I printed the manual (54 pages proximally), and I read the whole manual. I spent five or six hours in this reading, because I needed to feel sure about the exam. When I finished studying, I was so tired.

The next day, my husband and I went to the DMV office early and we stood in the line inside the place. Then we needed to say information about us and the reason that we were there. This question is because there are many reasons to visit DMV, like: car register, buy the plates, get an ID and driver's license like us. Then we needed to wait for our turn, it was around an hour, then they called me and I took the eye exam and they asked me if I want to take computer exam, driver exam or both; and I said: "both." I was very nervous.

After a while, they called me for the computer exam, oh my God, it was so stressful because the exam has two parts:

1. Traffic Signs
2. General Knoweldge

In the first one they give 10 questions and I must answer all of them right. It is a rule. And in the second part, they give around 25 questions and they permit miss 5 of the 25. It was really hard, it is a big pressure.

In the same moment when I finished my test, the computer gave me my score and I did it, I pass and I was very happy.

That is not all. I waited again for 30 or 45 minutes more, because I took the driver exam.

This part was easy for me, because I drove since I was fifteen years old. However, here in Virginia the transit rules are different than my country, but I drove well so I passed this part of the exam, also.

Finally, they called me again and took a picture for my driver's license and now I have mine.

That was my biggest and strongest challenge until now.

From: Colombia

'm from Canada and I am Inuit. My two children were born in Canada also. We don't have to pay money to see a doctor in Akulivik but in Virginia we have to pay. My languages are very different because I speak Inutitut and French but now I live in Virginia. It is very hard to learn to speak English and writing.

To be married is more like a family for me, because we are like a team.

In Akulivik there are no trees. I can drive anywhere I want. In Virginia there are too many rules. I even got a speeding ticket. In Akulivik there are no rules.

use to think
That love was only real in the movies
And that I enjoyed being alone.
I use to think
That I was too independent
That I didnt need anyone
Because I was so strong.
But after meeting (and being with) you
I realize that my attitude
Towards love
Was merely a cover-up of
My disappointments with relationships.
I put on a strong, non-caring front
So no one would know how I felt.
But after meeting (and having) you,
I could no longer pretend.
My feelings became transparent
And now I want to tell the world
Something I always knew but was
Afraid to admit.
That love is the most important
Feeling one can have.
And I want to thank you for
Causing me to be honest
With myself and others...

I Love You!