Pearson Patter - 2018 Edition

M E SS AGE FRO M T H E STA FF June is a time to welcome the warm weather and to celebrate your successes this semester. You’ve been working steadily to improve your knowledge of many subjects, especially English. You’ve read and discussed various short stories and articles on a wide range of topics. You’ve also written numerous paragraphs, essays and poems that tell about your families, friends, customs, jobs and most

importantly your hopes and dreams. We are so lucky that you have shared them with us in this issue of the Pearson Patter. By reading these, we can learn so much about each other and perhaps even encourage others to upgrade their education. Take a copy home and share it with your loved ones. Maybe they too would like to become

SUMMER

students here at the Pearson Adult Learning Centre in the summer or fall semester. To our graduates, who through much work and dedication, have completed all the necessary courses for adult graduation, we wish you well in all your future endeavors. You are an inspiration to us all!

REGISTRATION

Did you know that we have summer classes? Registrations for RETURNING students are on July 3rd from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. New to us? Registrations for NEW students of all levels are on July 4th or July 5th at 9:30 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm or 6:30 pm. No appointment is necessary. Drop in, but don’t forget your ID. Our classes are FREE! Visit us at www.newwestadultlearning.ca. PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

When I was young, the activity that I enjoyed the most was running, but this hasn’t continued. This was because I was growing up, and every time I tried to run, my body broke down like melting metal. I had supreme confidence in running back then. Therefore, I used to run in my neighborhood every afternoon. Everybody knew me as the young running girl. It was fun to

be active and be a role model for my friends. As the time passed, I became very weary, so I couldn’t pursue my running. When I tried to run, my tummy started to hurt and I ran out of breath. I wasn’t a winner of running, but my colleagues admired me. In high school, whenever there was an activity involving running, they always put me first in line. Nowadays I have given up

running because I have two beautiful children and my mind cannot do it anymore. Written by Suzanna

Find your Passion Field hockey was my favorite game when I was a teenager, but now I don’t play. First, I started to play on the street with my friends. Slowly and steadily I started to improve my skills. By the time I hit my teenage years, I had become a recognized player. When I started to go to high school, I was old enough to join the hockey team. After I joined my team, we started winning the games. The coach of my team was so impressed, he selected me to be captain. I led my team for four years. We won all of our games. However, high school finished, and I started

working for the government. I stopped playing and that was the end of my hockey career. Now I am old in age, and I enjoy watching hockey games on T.V. Written by Mohan

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

Research shows that having a hobby is great for your health. Engaging in enjoyable activities lowers your blood pressure, unites you with other people, offers you a new challenge, and releases negative stress. Finding a new hobby isn’t always easy. If you don’t have something you are already interested in, try new things! Sign up for a class that sounds interesting or ask your friends what they enjoy doing. The key to finding a new hobby is keeping an open mind and being willing to try new things!

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

The talent I had when I was younger was that I was athletic. When I was a child, I was involved in many sports. The sports I did were baseball, swimming, biking, rollerblading, tennis, hiking and martial arts. As I got older into high school, I lost interest in a lot of these sports. I became interested in getting loaded instead of engaging in sports. I started experimenting with

As a child I could discover and raise my talent, but I could not keep it and had to give it up. I can remember that I had a wonderful talent in history and geography in school; it was also beyond school talent. As a twelve year old child, my historical and geographic knowledge was equal to a student in university. When I was five, I started reading books and when I was eight, I started reading historical books. By the age of twelve, I had read more than thirty different history and geography books. I would also read historical novels and famous author’s novels as

alcohol and pot at 12 years old. My old friends introduced me to them. I wanted to be cool and fit in with my friends. When I got into my older teens, I started to experiment with hard drugs. My life started to get more complicated because of the bad choices I made. I was drinking and doing drugs until I was 26 years old. Then I decided to change my whole life around. This

well. It was my passion to read books in all my free time at home and even in school. My family, teachers and friends always would be surprised by my knowledge of history and geography. My family would always find me reading a history book, or amused with maps and atlases. I did not need to study in order to pass history and geography exams because I would know the content of them already. Several times I got first place in public information competitions in our region. I really would have liked to continue my education in history as well, but I had to

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

year will be four years with no drugs. I also do not drink anymore. Today, I love myself a lot and am more grateful for choosing the sober life. During the last couple of years, I have slowly been getting back at doing sports again. My life is getting back on track. I have learned from my mistakes over the years. It has made me a stronger person!

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.” Charles Bowden

Written by Jessica

change my way because my family asked me to choose math as my major field in high school. Therefore, in university I continued my education in a math related field. My curiosity and passion about history left me little by little because I barely had any time to spend with my lovely books. I believed that I could be a historian, but my family believed that I could be great in math. Even though I was good in university and got my degree, I think if I had chosen history as my field, I could have been a successful historian. Written by Donna

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Although singing is a tough job for me now, it was quite easy when I was a child. Everyone who had heard my songs said that I sung well. My voice could fly up into the sky and dive down into the sea. When I was singing in the classroom, people could hear me at the gate of the school. Because of my naturally sweet voice, I was an important team member in our school

I was the best sea swimmer in my hometown before I was seven years old. I really enjoyed swimming in the sea. I grew up on Hai Nan Island, which has blue sky, clean seawater and a long beach. It’s very hot in the summer, but it’s a good time for me. I went swimming with my friends almost everyday after school. We often played in the sea to see who could swim the fastest. I always was the winner. We were playing and chasing each other. Hide and seek was the best game for us. In the sea, there were lots of high and wide seaweeds. We used to dive into the sea and hide among the seaweed. When I swam

chorus. We won the championship in a provincial chorus completion, and our pictures were published in the newspaper. At the time, I was ten. One day, I had a sore throat and my voice became strange. Maybe I caught a cold, but it lasted for a month. After that, my voice couldn’t fly up into the sky nor dive into the sea. It could only struggle just above sea

level. I lost my attractive voice forever. Somebody told me that it was not a cold that caused this, but puberty. God gave me my singing talent temporarily and took it back when I grew up. As an ordinary person, I am still proud that I used to be a good singer. Written by Lei

“Summer afternoon— summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Henry James

through the seaweed, I could see lots of different colourful fish surrounding us. I felt as free as the fish and the days were so beautiful, but time stopped when one of my friends accidently died while she was swimming in the sea. She swam into the deep sea and never came back again because there was an obvious risk in the deep water. From that day on, my grandmother never allowed me to swim in the sea again. When I came home from school, she was like my shadow. I could only give up after countless failures. To this day, I still dream of swimming in the sea again. Written by Anna

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

This story took place in a university about twentyfive years ago. Rose was a girl who studied very well, and looked very beautiful. Many boys wanted to pursue her. Jack was a boy who studied very diligently, too. One day in the library, Rose and Jack sat across from each other unexpectedly. When Rose and Jack raised their heads, their eyes met each other suddenly. From then

on, they eagerly saw each other on campus. Sometimes when they met, they were too nervous to speak to each other. One night, it was raining cats and dogs outside. Rose stood in front of the library door and was waiting for someone she knew who had an umbrella. She wanted to go back to her dormitory with them. At that moment, Jack appeared. “Do you need my help?”

asked Jack. Rose accepted his offer. “What year are you in now?” inquired Jack. “First year” whispered Rose. They talked a lot on their way back to Rose’s dorm, and eventually exchanged information. When Jack walked away, Rose took her umbrella out of her backpack.

When I was young, my favorite activity was dancing, but over time I stopped doing it for fear of the criticism. In Mexico we have lots of celebrations, so I had many chances to dance at family and friend’s parties. For instance, I looked forward to Christmas because that day my cousins and neighbors would come and we would dance until very late. Sometimes we even had a contest to choose the one with the best movements. Also, at the elementary school we used to do an act for Mother’s day or at the festival at the end of the course. One of my favourite memories is when I danced in a

butterfly costume because I had wings and colourful flowers. In secondary school, I stopped dancing because I started feeling a little embarrassed to dance in front of people. I think that when I was a child, I did not care about the opinions of others, but in my adolescence, I was totally aware of the judgment or criticism that I could receive. In fact, after going to a dance that the school organized to raise funds, the next day a classmate asked me about my style of dancing. I did not like her comment because I felt that she was making fun of me, and that made me lose confidence in myself.

As a consequence, during both high school and college, I did not feel like going to meetings or parties or have the time, so every time there was less opportunity to dance and other responsibilities began to be more important. Sometimes I regret stopping dancing because I used to enjoy it, but now I know that we should do what makes us feel happy without giving importance to the opinions of other people.

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

Written by Umut

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Written by Martha

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I am an eclectic music person, but my favorite genre is rock. I like bands from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. My favorite musician is Dave Grohl. He was a drummer from a rock band called Nirvana. Nirvana was a rock band from Seattle. Nirvana ended in 1994 after the young lead singer had a tragic death. After that, Dave Grohl formed a new band called The Foo Fighters.

Nowadays, he plays in his band and alone sometimes. There is a huge number of rock bands with excellent drummers, but Dave Grohl is my favorite. Written by Rodrigo

A Musician Music is one of my favorite things in my life. It is very hard for me to choose which music I like more, because it is dependent on my mood. If I’m sad, I like lyrical music. If I am glad, I like to listen to happy music. It doesn’t matter where the music comes from. I like to listen to many different kinds of music which helps me show my emotions. I like to feel energy from the music. Music helps people live, feel, teach and design. It is very important to people and to me.

When I was seven years old, I listened to a lot of music. When I decided to move to Canada, I wanted to become a musician. I started to learn the keyboard. After two years, I was able to sing at concerts and weddings. Now I want to become a good popular musician, because music is good

Written by M.

medication for people. People want to be happy and listen to music and release stress. Hopefully I will be a famous musician in the future. Cem Karaca is one of my favorite singers. He died on February 8, 2004. He was a producer of Anatolian rock music. He tried to combine music from the west and the east. I like to listen to his songs and poems. He wrote some poems and lyrics. And he also was a composer. I feel close to him myself, because he had to leave his own country like me. Now I can understand his lyrics well.

Written by Hadi

Written by Aysel

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

There are many reasons why I listen to music. For example, when I miss my family, I listen to music because music makes me feel better. When I’m bored and don’t know what I want to do, I listen to music. Music makes me feel happy! Written by Hawi

Music is important to our life. Sometimes everybody needs to relax to music. Music has made my life better. Music is something like meditation. It helps us to calm down. Music pulsates in our veins, although we are unaware of it. I don’t like everyone’s music, but I like Afghani music. It depends on my mood. My favorite singer is Saraban. He was a very famous singer in my country. Music makes my life more interesting. Written by Rangeen

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

There are many reasons why I listen to music. First, listening to music can make me relax. When I feel tired, I can lie down and close my eyes and enjoy the splendid music. Second, listening to music can make me cheerful; I can forget some of my troubles. Third, listening to music can make many people healthy. So, for all these reasons, everybody should often listen to

music.

There was a Mexican girl called Ella. She lived in Canada five years ago. Unfortunately, Ella lost her parents, so she had to go to Mexico to live with her only Aunt. Ella’s aunt had two daughters, and they were wicked. Because they made her do all the chores around the house, they called Ella “Cinderella”. The aunt sais, “You are always with the cinders, so you are Cinder-Ella.” One day a young and handsome boy from Canada had a huge party in his summer house in Mexico. He invited Ella and her family, but they did not allow her to go. After they left for the party, Cinder-

Ella’s best friend helped her. She lent her a stylish outfit and her parent’s car. The best friend said, “Please, you have to come back and return the car before midnight.” CinderElla was gorgeous at the party. The Canadian boy liked her. When he asked her for her phone number, the clock struck midnight and CinderElla ran away anxiously. On her way out, she lost her wallet, but he found it a few seconds later. Although the Canadian boy did not get her phone umber, he found it in Cinder-Ella’s wallet. After a while, they fell in love and got married. They decided to live in Canada. Written by Maritza

Written by Annie

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Discrimination is always a big issue to talk about, not just in the 20th century. It has been a problem even back in the day. Discrimination used to be severe even before. A lot of people based it on their skin color. The darker you were, the lower your rank in society. The lighter your skin, the more privileged you were. It was sad because our ancestors had to face a

cruel life because of discrimination. Even though it has gotten better in modern days, it is still happening in our everyday lives. As a person of color, I am against discrimination. I see everyone as a human being living life with equality, in the same way as myself. Written by Denise

I find happiness in different ways. Firstly, music makes me happy. I always listen to the radio at home and it keeps me up to date with new songs that I sometimes dance to. It always makes my mood better. Second, dancing makes me happy and active, too. I like dancing when listening to music. Third, going to different places that I’ve never been to makes me the most happy because I create happy memories with the people close to my heart. All these things bring me a lot of happiness. Written by Denise

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

When I have a good relaxing time in my body, I have a lot of energy. Most of the time, I relax after 10:00 am by watching movies and listening to music. On the weekend, I relax at yoga or playing badminton. It’s important for me because it helps me with my body system and for my brain. Written by Haben

I wake up at 6:30 am every morning. I pray in the morning. After that, I recite the Holy Quran. That makes me relax. When I am taking a shower, I feel so relaxed. I like to visit my friends every Sunday because visiting them can make me relaxed and comfortable. While I spend my time with my husband, I’m so happy. I don’t feel the separation of my family and looking at him makes me feel very relaxed. When every Monday starts, I walk to school. At that time, I feel happiness and relaxed. Sometimes when I am so sad, I go to Horseshoe Bay and look at the water. The sounds of

water make me feel happy to feel relaxed. When I want to cook some new things, my husband stands next to me and askes “Do you need help?” That’s so amazing for me and I feel so relaxed. Life is beautiful, but living is more beautiful when a person is happy. Feeling relaxed means not being nervous about problems of life. That’s the real life. Life is nothing without feeling relaxed. Written by Shiba

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My important person is my mother. Her name is Ana Lucia. She is the best mother in the world. I was born when she was 35 years old. She’s an older mother but she’s the perfect age. She is my best friend. She is always there when I need her. She is right now in my country, Costa Rica. She is always happy. I love my mother. Now I want her to come to Canada, so we are

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

preparing the documents for a Canadian visa, and then she will come to this beautiful city, Vancouver, Canada. Written by Gloria

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOME FUN ACTIVITIES TO I had a good Christmas. I got some earrings and some note books. We had mom and dad over for dinner. Then we went to a party at The Variety Club. We watched the Disney Parade on T.V. We had a good Christmas. Written by Eleana

DO IN NEW WEST OVER THE SUMMER? When & Where: June 30th at 1pm, Anvil Centre Event: Board Games (all ages) Cost: By donation When & Where: July 1st from 3pm to 10pm, Pier Park Event: New Westminster Multicultural Festival Cost: Free! When & Where: July 1st from 11:30pm -3pm, Queens Park Event: Queens Park: Canada Day Party Cost: Free! When & Where: August 29th at 11:30am, Ryall Park Event: Queensborough Summer Sizzle Cost: Free!

For more summer events, visit newwestcity.ca

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My favorite day of the week is Friday, especially Friday night. On Friday night, my family always gathers and we talk about my son’s school life or Canadian life. I don’t have to get my son’s lunch box ready, so I can relax comfortably on the couch. My family eats fried chicken with beer or coke on Friday night, so I don’t have to make my family’s dinner. On Friday I am so

happy and I feel so good. Written by Sophia

Friday is my favorite day of the week, because the day is the last school day of the week. I can sleep in more Friday night. I am very relaxed. I watch TV and I read my favorite story book. I’ll plan good things to do on Saturday and Sunday. I can do a lot of things on the weekend night, and I’ll be so happy to have more days to stay up. I really enjoy my favorite Friday of the week. Written by Lucy

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I choose Saturday as my favorite day of the week for a lot of reasons. First of all, on Saturdays, I can sleep until 10 or 11 am and I love it. Then, after I wake up and get ready, I have a lot of free time to call my family. We talk for about two hours. Another thing I love about Saturdays is that I have a lot of time to play with my nephew, be with my sister and share time with the

ones I love. When the sun starts going down, I really like to go for a walk, alone or with my family. It’s my favorite time of the day. At night, I like to see movies and it’s something I can only do on Saturdays. Sometimes I stay up until midnight with a lot of popcorn. These are the reasons why Saturday is my favorite day of the week.

My favorite day of the week is Saturday. On that day, I am waiting for my wife to call. I just arrived in Canada two weeks ago. I was working in the Navy. Most of the time, I am outside of my house. My wife is working in Canada at RBC Bank. Saturday is my favorite day, because on that day, I am waiting for my wife to call. In Canada, life is very busy and fast. She has lots of stress and workload. I am done all my work before the wife’s call comes. I want to spend every single moment with my wife. Sometimes, we are talking for two hours continuously on the phone. She is very precious to me. These

moments are very special for me. When we talk, it makes it my favorite day of the week.

Friday, the golden child of the weekdays. The superhero of the work week. The welcome wagon to the weekend.

Written by Karen

Written by Harpreet

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Sunday is my favorite day of the week in my life because I can say a lot of things happened in my life on this day. For example, I was born on Sunday. Fortunately, I got married on this day. Usually in Canada people are off from their schools and their jobs so I can go outside every Sunday with my husband. We go to the movies or be with family or with friends. I really like Sunday and

this day is special for me.

My favorite day of the week is Sunday. Last Sunday was the final game in soccer. The soccer game began on Friday for three days. My son’s team wore orange. My son likes football and is very happy to play with his friend. All our family went to the soccer stadium. I was happy when I saw my son playing and getting good cheers when the game was finished. My son’s team won second place. Sports are very important for the body and players like to help each other. After finishing the game, we came back to my home. I made a special dinner and sat with all my friends at the table. I felt happy. At

night, I called my family in my country and sent some pictures of my son. I said to my son, “Next time you will have first place.” My son went to sleep very joyfully. That was my favorite day of the week.

Written by Sadaf

Written Aadrah

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

My Favorite Day [ My favorite day was when my family, aunt, and cousin sisters went to Seattle on March 10th. We ate lunch at Jollibee and walked somewhere. My cousin liked to go shopping and looking in other stores but it was very expensive in a lot of stores. My sister bought new shoes. We walked around the public marketplace, Gum Wall Place and took nice pictures. Written by Denise

A Sunday well spent brings a week of content.

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My favorite day is Sunday because there is no school. On this day I am sleeping in the morning more than any day and having breakfast with my family. On this day I cook the best dishes. I call my sons in another country every Sunday. On Sunday I visit my friends and watch T.V. or read. Sometimes I go to famous places or I go to the fields to enjoy. Sunday is very necessary to me.

On Sunday I feel happy. Written by Amira

My favorite day of the week is Sunday. My family sits together. My lovely brother if off from work. I like to cook a nice dish. After lunch, everybody watches our favorite show, Paytihpt. I have a plan for Spring and Summer. On Sundays, we go to the park. My mom invites my friends or relatives over on Sunday because everybody is off. This is my wonderful day. Written by Sajida

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Mr. Young was my Math mentoring teacher, who was important to me. He devoted himself to a career in education for over forty years because of his passion for education. I liked his enthusiasm, patience and meticulousness. I studied in grade 3 when I was eight years old. I got the worst result in my first math quiz amongst my classmates. Mr. Young asked me

some questions about math, but I could not promptly answer him. I was very upset and ashamed. Hence, he actively collected and found out all kinds of math fundamental questions. He consequently spent more time and vigor to review and discuss all math basic concepts in class. He also gave more examples and exercises for us to practice. If we were caught

and confused about the procedures of math, he would explain more details on how to calculate step by step and meticulously solve problems. He also gave us more chances to practice again and again. Finally, my classmates and I were much better than before. I was grateful for his teaching when I was young. I appreciated his zeal, endurance and meticulousness. I loved my respected math teacher, Mr. Young forever. Written by Helen

Teacher Wang, my grade one teacher, was important to me. Whenever I think about her, a grandmotherly image comes in my mind. I was brought up by my grandma in a small village because my parents were very busy. I was spoiled and anti-social. Not difficult to understand, I wasn’t welcome in class. Everyday I went to school alone. One day, while I was crossing the street recklessly, a strong hand hauled me backwards. A car roared past my face. She looked at me seriously and asked me why I was alone. I looked down and muttered, “Dad and mom are busy.” After a while, she gave my hair a gentle

stroke and then asked me, “Where were you heading?” She took me by the hand, and let me stand on her right side. She walked me to the alley where my home was. She bent down and asked, “Would you like to wait for me after school, then we can walk together?” I said, “Yes.” Since then, for a year, I went home with her. During this year, she taught me how to follow traffic rules. We talked about my time in the village. I told her what happened in school. On the last day of grade one, she called my nickname and said, “Today is my last day of working here. I am going to retire. Promise

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

me, take care of yourself. Don’t cross the road on red lights.” That was the last time I saw her. Many years have passed. She is always in my heart and I will never forget her. Written by Lyee

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

People always have important people in their lives. For me, Dong Chow who taught me in my elementary school is my important teacher. He is sympathetic, and his warm heart inspires me. For example, I recall in the 1980’s, people’s living standards were generally low, so there was not much food. In 1984, I met Dong Chow on the first day I went to elementary school.

At lunch time, I took my packaged lunch that was only a few noodles without any vegetables or meat. I ate the few noodles, but I was still extremely hungry. My teacher, Dong Chow, gave his lunch to me, and he didn't eat food that day in school. Since that day, every lunchtime, he always gave me some eggs, dumplings and chicken wings. Dong Chow’s kindheartedness was like a

pretty ladybug that spread good fortune, for I had a wonderful childhood. In brief, Dong Chow seems to be a very ordinary teacher, but he is quite extraordinary in my eyes. He is the most important teacher in my life. Written by Li Qin

, Miss Xu was one of my teachers. She was important to me. She was the head teacher of our class and was a Chinese language teacher too. She taught our class from grade 8 to grade 12. She helped young students grow. First of all, as the head teacher, she had to guide students to have good behavior. When I did something wrong, Miss Xu took me to her office and face to face told me what the right way was. Second, as the Chinese language teacher, Miss Xu taught ancient Chinese to us. She taught it very well, so I still like ancient Chinese to this day. Also, I can remember a lot of ancient poems.

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” Malala Yousafzai

My Inspirational Teacher Third, Miss Xu helped us grow in five years. These five years to young teenagers were very important times. Miss Xu’s age was similar to my mother’s and she loved me like my mother. For the above reasons, Miss Xu was the most important teacher for me. I will always remember my teacher, Miss Xu. Written by Margaret

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

Yasmin Jamal was an important teacher for me. She was my first English teacher in The Foundation Program at Windsor Neighborhood Learning Centre. I was a newcomer in Canada for only four months in 2013. I was still in culture shock. I did not know anybody in my neighborhood. I did not have my old friends besides my husband’s friends. Therefore, Yasmin was not only my teacher, but also my friend and sister. She was kind, calm, patient and nice to me. She told me knowledge is never too late for anybody: unlimited ages, genders, and nationalities. It was very important when I got it because I could be whatever I wanted to be in the future. As long as I kept learning and did not let any obstacles let me down, I would achieve my goal someday. I miss Yasmin and I want to meet her again. Unfortunately, we have disconnected since 2014. Yasmin is the most substantial teacher that I ever had. Written by Dalisak

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Robert Burnaby Park is my favorite place to walk. The park is close to my house. I used to walk there with my little dog. She loves to walk around the stream. We enjoy walking the greenway. There are many birds singing and the air is so very fresh because there are many huge trees on all sides. In the summer, we walk there everyday because the trail is very fresh. Robert Burnaby

Every summer my husband and I like to go to Horseshoe Bay. Horseshoe Bay is a small town near the ocean. All around it is the mountains. This place has a lot of small stores. There are coffee shops, an ice cream store and clothing stores. My favorite place is the ice cream store. This ice cream store has many different flavours of ice cream. My favorite is vanilla and my husband likes mixed walnut. The most important reason I like this place is to see the ferry come and to hear the horn. It makes me feel so happy. The next thing makes me excited and I wonder how God created this beautiful town. If I get

Park is a place that brings me peace and makes me very happy. Written by Dorisley

a chance to show all my family, that is my wish. Written by Brhane

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I like to meet my friends. Last Saturday I met with my friends at Surrey Center. My friends’ names are Raj and Raman. I live in Burnaby and my friends live in Surrey. That day was a very big Indian Sikh festival. The name of the festival is Vaisakhi. There were many kinds of foods and sweets. We enjoyed the foods. My friends and I talked and laughed about many things, and after my

friends bought some clothes at Surrey Center Mall. My friends and I try to meet at Surrey Center once a month to catch up with each other. Written by Sandeep

A Place to Talk I like to study alone at Starbucks sometimes. I also like a quiet place, so I try to look for a quiet Starbucks every time. They have a good atmosphere, a little buzz, sweet background music and an aroma of fresh coffee. So, it is easy to focus on my studying. I order coffee with milk or sugar, such as a cafĂŠ latte, and I sit on a chair beside a window. I try to study there whenever I am free.

My husband likes to go to the park with the whole family often. He prepares something to eat and something to drink. We talk about many things. He tells me about his job, and the last month. From time to time, he is fortunate and likes to discuss many things. I like to talk to my husband because it is important for our family. Written by Munezero

Written by Namsu

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

A superstition is a widely held but unjustified belief that is not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but is connected with old ideas about magic, etc. In Canada, some believe that if a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck, or if you find a penny on the street, it will bring you good luck. Our students share some superstitions of their home countries. What superstitions are popular where you come from? Are you a superstitious person?

Many societies have superstitions. Many of these superstitions are similar. For example, Arab people hate owls because they live in abandoned places and people thought that their presence meant maybe something bad would happen to them. Some brides in my country put a paste with yeast above the house door. They believe that a bride’s life will

flourish and grow if they do so. Some people don’t like to see scissors or broken glass. Some people put eyes to protect them from envy. Some people believe that when you scrape your right hand, you will receive money. These are some of the superstitions from the middle eastern region. Written by Amird

Every country has many superstitions. Things like, for example, when somebody drives a car and an animal like a rabbit crosses the road, that is a very bad day. Another example is if owls hoot at night, somebody will die. Sweeping at night is also bad luck and not good for the body. But I don’t believe these superstitions. Some superstitions are happy. I like some of these. Written by Aadrah

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

There are many superstitions in Korea. First, if someone writes down a name with red colour, the person with the name will die. In Korea, some people hate red because red means death of mankind and symbolizes blood. Second, if a black crow cries, in the morning, something bad will happen. And when a magpie cries in the morning , a pleasant guest

The majority of people are ashamed of the number 39. They believe this is an obscene number, because the meaning is associated with prostitution. All people in my country refuse to use this number. This number has become a general problem for the government. Some people are even refusing to use official letters that end with the number 39. They also do not use the number for houses, streets, roads and alleys. The public never uses phone numbers ending with 39. Even the car’s number plates distribution process was halted for a few months because the number 39 was mentioned. Now this

will come on that day. Many Korean people think that a black crow is unlucky but a magpie is lucky. Some of my county’s people have believed in superstitions for a long time. Written by Sophia

number is considered something shameful in my country. Written by Karima

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

There are many superstitions in Serbia. Many of the people think, for example, that you’ll have good luck when you meet a chimney cleaner and grab their button to make a wish. Finding a four leaf clover is an assurance of good luck. When someone goes on a long road trip, water is spilled behind him so that everything flows like water. Houses in Serbia

have basil incense that protects against evil forces. When a child’s tooth fall out, you put the tooth under the child’s pillow so that the tooth fairy can bring a present. These are a few of the most popular Serbian superstitions. Written by Olivera

I come from China. In my country, there are many traditional superstitions. For example, every year is attributed to one animal. We have 12 kinds of animals. Everyone is attributed one kind of animal based on the year of their birth. When some one is 0, 12, 32 … years old, it should be this animal’s year. In this year, people should wear red underwear and a red waistband. That means the person who is wearing it can have good fortune. This superstition is one that many people believe in, still until now. Written by Annie

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Many people believe in superstitions. Breaking a mirror means the person will not get married soon. Opening an umbrella indoors means bad luck. Many people in my country believe that you’ll have bad luck if a black cat crosses your path. Some people in my country hang a horseshoe under their entrance door of their house for good luck. If you spill salt on the table,

you’ll not be friendly with your family. Superstitions are very funny things, but so many people in my country believe in them. Written by Calino

On Sunday, I woke up in the morning at 6 am. I took a shower, shaved my face and put on clothes. Then I made breakfast early and ate with my family. Then my friend and I went to church. We met some people in the church, then we went to the sanctuary. Some of the women and young men were playing music until the priest came and he

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

started to preach verses from the bible to the audience, and we listened to him until 11:30 am. Then we went to another room to drink coffee. We were drinking and talking with each other for a few minutes and then we left the church at 12 pm. We spent a good time there this past Sunday. Written by Khalih

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Yesterday was a very nice day. My husband and I woke up at 9:00 am. We had a very good breakfast. My husband ate eggs and I ate a sandwich. We had the day off so we went to English Bay. At English Bay we took lots of pictures, went on a long walk and ate some ice cream. My daughters stayed at home yesterday. They were studying for exams. My son was

working all day in Richmond. When we got home, it was 10:00 pm. We had been outside for a long time, and I was tired. I went to bed happy because I had a good day! Written by Saniye

Yesterday was my fun day. We moved to Granville Avenue and 70th on March 28, 2018. So, we had a housewarming party. My daughter and I made Korean bukoki, japchae, and my son-in-law made Iranian food. We met my son-in-law’s family and his mother at 12:00. Just in time, because yesterday was my birthday. All our family congratulated me on my birthday. After lunch, we ate watermelon. Maybe my party yesterday will remain a longtime memory. I had a wonderful day with my family. Written by Margaret

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I went to Gastown yesterday. There is a cheesecake shop called “Tree Organic�. My husband and I ate a slice of New York cheesecake and a slice of key lime cheesecake. I bought a cup of coffee, too. I studied English there in the afternoon. At 6:00 pm, we walked to Stanley Park to take some photographs. There were a lot of people enjoying the sunshine on

My mother lives in Afghanistan. So I often talk to her on the phone in my bedroom. When I come back from my English class, I do chores around the house. Once I am finished, I take my kids to bed and later on I make green tea with some dry fruit and sit in my convenient, cozy room. Then I call my mom. We have many things to talk about. We laugh together and share secrets with each other. My mom tells me about her day, and about my brothers. I tell her about my busy day. She loves to hear about her grandchildren. She listens to me and gives me great advice. I feel well, in my

the beach. We enjoyed the sunshine, too. Written by Tzu-Rou

small bedroom, because nobody can disturb me while I talk to my mom. Written by Frishta

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My family lives far away from here and I am married. I have two girls and one boy. My wife is a teacher and my children are all pupils. When I want to call them, sometimes I speak with them in the morning. When I talk to them, I make a big glass of black tea and I sit on the sofa. I talk a long time, because they are four people and I don’t have time to call them everyday. We talk about life and any-

thing that happened. I tell them about my daily routine. I really enjoy talking to my family every week.

Every Monday and Tuesday during the week are the days we specialize in serving sick people and praying for them. My friend and I divide ourselves in two major areas and she heads toward Vancouver and I go around Burnaby and New Westminster. Then every afternoon, we come home from the ministry. We sit at the dinner table and tell each other about our trips and encounters with the patients. Some are funny and some are sad. Funny because my friend fell asleep on the bus and missed her stop. Sad because the patients we visit do not always show any severe conditions but

when we return, some have died because their condition was already severe. With the experience of serving the sick, we are made aware that man is never as beautiful and as powerful and as rich as when he returns to God to account for his actions in the world.

Written by Rostam

Written by Agatha

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I had an unforgettable day in my life and today I will tell you my story. When I arrived in Canada, I came with my daughter. I was also pregnant. Back in my country, I had lots of family members and friends, and I was also really happy. When I came to Canada, I felt lonely and I felt really homesick. I also wasn’t comfortable and a bit scared. For me, it was a new language and a new

country. I especially missed my parents. I felt my heart was empty. The hardest part was driving during my pregnancy. When I gave birth, at that time, I had no one to support me. Then I told myself that I had to get up and have courage to do what I can. In conclusion, it’s unforgettable when you have lots of family you’re happy. It’s very difficult to move to a different country.

In our society, women remain anonymous, because discrimination against women is a problem. This gender discrimination is even seen in the behavior of children. It was an experience of my life, when my children were small. Due to security issues, some forms were distributed to families by the by the local municipality. On the form we had to include the details of our family members. I filled out the form and gave it to the chosen person in our alley. A few days later, my son was playing with our neighbor’s children. One child said, “I know your mother’s name” and then

called aloud, “Karima, Karima,” My son returned home and he was crying. He said to me, “Mother, why did you write your name on the form? Now all my friends know your name.” He cried so much. He cried and asked me, “Why did you write your name on that piece of paper? I’m embarrassed!” As much as I tried to make him calm, he got angrier. He cried for hours, and then fell asleep. I was very nervous for him, But I did not know what to do. From that day on, he didn’t play with his friends. He was ashamed of being with his friends, because they knew his mother’s name. Then his

Written by Haben

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

father spoke to him, and I felt that he would get better day by day. This is a real story of my life. It is possible that this has also happened to several other women. In the majority of families, nobody calls a women by her own name. A woman is called by her husband’s or son’s name. With this problem, the majority of women were living anonymously and died without their own names.

“Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women.” Joss Whedon

Written by Karima

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I have a little bunny.

The weather is cold.

I like a kid.

They love money.

My dress is old.

I have a lid.

I’m totally funny.

My phone is sold.

He hid.

Today is sunny.

My friend is bold.

I did.

Written by Nykytiuk

Written by Fawzia

Written by Mir Sayed

I have a fish.

I have a say.

He is on the dish.

We are to play.

On Friday our class will have the exam.

He took a splish.

She needs to pay.

I will finish.

Her name is May.

Written by Habiba

Written by Janny

My friend has a house.

My family is not fat.

I have a dog.

Everybody has a mouse.

She has a cat.

His name is Log.

I have a spouse.

He has a rat.

I take it into the fog.

Written by Monica

He has a mat.

The dog fell into the bog.

Written by Woosung

Written by Tommy

Yesterday I ran. Next week my son will be tan. Written by Martha

I have a ball.

I have a mug.

I like to get a call.

Also I have a doll.

He has a jug.

I have to get to the mall.

It is very tall.

He has a rug.

Written by Aluel

I bought it from the mall.

He does a tug.

Written by Vida

Written by Esra

I have a mouse.

His name is Jack.

You have a beautiful house.

He comes back.

Written by Jangyul

Written by May

My ring is gold.

I have a mouse.

He is bold.

You have a beautiful house.

Written by Iman

Written by Jangyul

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

An acrostic poem is where the first letter of each line spell out a word or phrase. Enjoy these wonderful acrostic poems from our students! Do you long for someone? Excited by his mere presence? Secretly dream about him, but hide your yearn deep inside yourself. Immerse in your dreams freely. Reach unimaginable heights! Enjoy each moment in your precious sight. Written by Danijela Despite the obstacles, I always try to reach my goals. Always look at the positive side of a person. Never look back! Inside myself, I am deeply emotional. Joy for traveling will never leave me. Environment in Canada, and taking care of it, fascinated me. Life had changed radically for me when we moved to Canada, and I needed some time to adapt. Acrostic poem requires a lot of effort to write, despite it seeming simple. Written by Danijela M is for memories, I cherish when I am with you. A is for always, forever we will be friends. R is for rose, more beautiful as it unfolds. I is for interest, you’ve surely captured mine. E is for exciting, you’re so full of joy. Theresa is the goddess of the morning. Happy in the sunlight of her song. Enthusiasm fills whatever room. Resounds to the bright trumpets of her bloom. Easy-hearted, ample, clear and strong. So may we enjoy her day-long dawning as Even night cannot stay for long. Written by Marie-Therese

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Hoping to see my parents.

Lovely and lazy.

Off school for the summer.

Enchanted and excited.

Miss my family.

Thankful and blessed.

Eager to get away from the big city.

Innocent as a child.

Sad not to have close friends in Vancouver.

Confident in herself.

I want to speak my native language.

Inside of her heart.

Care for my dad.

Always dreaming!

Kiss my mom.

Written by Leticia

Written by Dalisak Grumpy Grace is a grumbler. Youth and energy sparkle in my hand.

Random return to school for readjustment.

In a flash, my enthusiasm seeds scatter in your land.

Anxious in all subjects.

Listen! Your sadness and despair are sneaking away.

Crazy teacher may give her a C.

Irrigating you with my inspiration and positivity thoughts.

Editing the poem is not easy, is it?

Nourish by reading and exploring people’s good.

Written by Grace

Generously spread the pollen of my experience. Keen on being a ray of sunshine on your sprouts.

Hard to get achievement.

Unafraid to face relentless storms and unexpected drought.

Emotional and ambitious.

Over the hurdle, let the happiness in that blooms in your mind.

Logical, acceptable is possible.

Written by Ling

Enthusiastic and participating. Natural life is the best.

Caring and communicative are the best ways to describe her.

Written by Helen

However,, she is kind of shy when meeting new friends. Influenced by her parents, she is an Absolutely affectionate person. Lively imagination. Inbred courtesy. Nature lover. Generally speaking , she is a nice person. Written by Winnie

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Keeping everything under control, she is trying so. Able to keep her family safe, that is her priority. Running against time, when it is necessary.

Our staff gets in on the fun with these acrostic poems written for our retiring teacher, Louise.

Yelling sometimes inside herself, why not? Written by Kary Super selfless, generous and brave. Amazing person, who is quiet and brave. Naturally kind, gentle and sweet. Dependable man, as dependable as a watch. Empowering, my life is empowered by my parents. Eternal emotional, I express my emotions by speaking and writing. Polite attitude, can I get some donuts, please? Written by Sandeep

Loves to be Outdoors Unflappable Insightful Single reason Everyone is here today

Strongly supportive to who is in need. Art appreciative when I see. Honored to help others is what I am always looking for. Accuracy in the work I do is what I’m looking for. Respect to everyone, that is my goal. Written by Sahar China is my mother country. Have many memories there. End up I don’t live in China forever. Nor do I live in Canada forever. Living a new country for me. Is like a rugged mountain road.

Leader Organizer Unifier Initiator Star Educator

Quarrel only with myself. In my bad temper. Never give up! Written by Lillian

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

A cinquain is a type of poem. Can you guess its pattern? ... Sun Brilliant ball Shining, heating, touching The solar system’s star Full of life

Cat Funny, quick Running, jumping, pouncing An energetic, sensitive animal Jack

Moon White mirror Lightening, rising, growling Secret guardian of lovers Get close

Basketball Fast, active Shooting, dribbling, scoring Basketball is my dream Michael Jordan

Written by Karina

Written by Behar

Summer Radiant days As the sun is rising Scrubbing the sky to the bright blue Dazzling

Future is unforeseen Just like Pandora’s box that is baffling and charming to open.

Park Balmy, showy Chattering, chirping, giggling A big social occasion Joyful

Frankenstein Malformed, monstrous Bleeding, tearing, uncontrolled Desired love and acceptance Tragedy

Written by Qiu Ling

Written by Jie Tan

Tulip Sweet garden gift Fragrant and elegant Blooming lovely under the spring Sunlight

Book Heavy, impressive Reading, thinking, overwhelming Interesting all the time The Magic Mountain

Friendship Honest, loyal Enjoying, sharing, understanding Happiness in the heart Treasure

Dress White, silk Flattering, breathtaking, pointing Worn by a bride Wedding dress

Written by Martha

Written by Maria

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Think you have it? See page 56 for the answer. Dark clouds Thunderstorm strikes as the animals hide They were afraid to move at night Wolves howl

Dog Big, black Watching, growling, barking Eating on the porch Sitting

Fire Forest, burning Spreading, killing, destroying People are scared of burning Flammable

Mother only one on Earth. Shines like gold-never old. Watching from heaven and blessing forever.

Written by Matthew

Written by Mohan

Music Melody Can motivate people And harmony is all around The world

Sunshine The world turns gray. Does the morning sing songs? The tree starts to shine brightly through. Sunshine

Love Endless, bright Growing, engaging, dreaming The most beautiful thing Sweetheart

Woman Short, beautiful Walking, singing, dancing Wonder on the ground Survivor

Written by Maja

Written by Suzanna

Hard life Cannot escape, Like a sweet dream at night. When you wake up in the morning, Nothing.

Springtime Pristine breeze bouquet blossom by sun and rain Brisk bees buzz in florid gardens Feast

Coffee Brown, bitter Filtering, stirring, drinking An unexpected taste in the mouth Energy

Summertime Hot, sunny Playing, dancing, swimming Making us free and happy Welcome

Written by Iris

Written by Ysabel

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Half moon turns to full one; Hangs in the dark blue sky as a lantern lights up the sky and ground. River Clear, fresh Running, living, roaring The source of life Precious Written by y Lin Star Blue sky Sing and shine on as the kid’s missing mom. Open their eyes looking for her At night

Hair Long, black Shining, waving, growing Symbol of youth Hope

Quiet Stars in the sky End of a busy day Everybody prepares to sleep In bed Written by Lei Sweet cat Warm, fluffy fur Little kitty, kitty Lovely ginger, pink nose and toes Purring A Secret

Father Strong, handsome Warming, loving, sharing With a warm joy My heart

Soul Free, mysterious Sky-walking, tripping, flying Mate of the body Eternal

Written by Anna

Written by Dona

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

In Brazil, in April 2009, there was a woman

boiling out of jealousy.

called Ana. Ana was a beautiful woman, but she needed to find a job. She went to the mall and found a

After a week, Rob invited Ana to a special dinner.

job at a clothing store. During her first week at work,

He cooked delicious fehoada, made of cabbage, rice, and

when she was parking her car, she saw a handsome

sliced oranges.

guy. They exchanged glances for many seconds, but They were in love and started dating. Rob

nothing happened.

married Ana, and she left the job at the store, and they all There was a restaurant in front of the store that would have it’s grand opening next week to celebrate and welcome the new chef. All mall employees were

lived happily ever after. Written by Leonardo

invited. Ana worked together with Claire and Angel. They made Ana do all the hard work at the store. They tortured Ana. When Ana received the invitation, she was so happy and went to the mall to buy a new dress. The day of the party, everyone was anxious to go to the restaurant, but Claire and Angel invented a long list of tasks for Ana to do in the store so that she couldn’t go. Ana was very sad, but Ana’s fairy godmother appeared and did her makeup and dressed her in a beautiful outfit. Ana was gorgeous, but she needed to work. “How can I go to the party? I need to work!”, asked Ana. “I will work for you, so you can go!”, answered Mary, the godmother. Ana was a major hit at the party. The chef, Rob, was the same man from the parking lot. He fell in love with her and asked her name. They chatted happily during the party, while Claire and Angel were

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

The gigantic raindrops furiously beat the busy

success had made me spend all my time at work. The

roads in New York. The vigorous wind shoved

competition to be the best in the marketing industry

pedestrians and tried to steal their umbrellas. A loud

has weakened me and taken all my energy. Look at

horn of cats created chaos on the corners. The lady

me! I am as grey as that cloud, and as cold as this

with freckles and endless ginger hair sat on the

rain.”

window-sill and observed a dull performance of “Tick-tick-tock,” the clock tried to cheer

people in Manhattan. Her tea was not warm anymore, and the radio did not play any music. It

Bella up. It did not like it when Bella was so upset.

was silent in the room except the running clock on the “Do you remember the last time I laughed?

wall.

What or who captured and trapped me in this ugly “Tick-tock, tick-tock,” the clock with purple

cocoon?” Bella stopped for a moment as her

arrows called Bella and tried to awake her from her

attention was diverted to the radio. When Bella

deep thoughts.

turned it on, she recognized the song. It was “Frozen”, sung by Madonna:

Bella glanced at the clock. “Do you want to talk?” she asked. Her voice was tranquil but full of

“You only see what your eyes want to see How can life be what you want it to be

sadness.

You’re frozen “Tick-tick, tock-tock,” replied the clock

When your heart’s not open.”

cheerfully. A DJ with a smooth voice began to talk. He “Well,” began Bella, “this rain upsets me.

spoke about Madonna’s song and advised listeners to

Look how gloomy it is outside. The stratus clouds

look at unpleasant situations from a new angle. Also,

covered the sun. The stopped people in colorless

he mentioned that reality is shared by people’s

outfits swiftly move from the cars to the malls,

thoughts, and that the mind is very powerful; when

restaurants, or coffee shops without looking at each

people change their way off thinking of a problem,

other.”

they create a new perspective that offers hope. “Tick-tick-tick,” the clock interrupted Bella,

“It is time to leave your cocoon and transform into that colorful butterfly. Your happiness is

“tock-tick,” it added quickly.

within yourself,” the speaker affirmed. “I know, you are right. Surely, I have been imprisoned in an invisible cocoon. My journey to

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

Suddenly, Bella jumped off from the window

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

-sill and rushed to her room. She took a book, The

could bring more smiles and laughs to everybody

Essential Louise Hay Collection, and started to read.

around her.

Bella bought this book last September; however, she The gigantic raindrops joyfully jumped on the

hadn’t had the time to begin reading it.

busy roads in New York. The gleeful wind tickled All weekend, Bella was passionately reading

pedestrians and nudged their umbrellas. The honking

this book. She also underlined the most significant

cars created an orchestral performance leading to a

ideas in that book. Finally, on Sunday evening, she

crescendo on Madison Square and Broadway. The

pronounced loudly, “It’s much easier than I thought.

lady with freckles and ginger hair drank a warm cup of

My happiness is inside me, and I am the writer of my

aromatic lemon tea. She sat on her window-sill and

life.”

wrote something rapidly in her notebook. The piano music flowed into her home. Bella wrote in her All this important information she found in

Gratitude Journal all the occurrences which happened

that book. Bella sometimes reread certain parts in

during the day; even an unpleasant experience made

that book several times. A DJ, Madonna, and this

her learn something and be thankful for that lesson.

book helped her to see her life from a new “Tick-tock, tick-tock,: the clock was singing

perspective. gaily. Since that moment, Bella has never been upset at the blistering sun or crying clouds, unfriendly co-workers

“It’s time to catch the raindrops!” Bella

or red traffic lights. When her neighbor listened to

pronounced. She put on her rubber shoes, took a pink

rock music loudly, Bella came to him with an apple

umbrella, and swiftly left her home.

pie and politely asked him to turn down the volume. The next time, her neighbor did not listen to music

Written by Olena

very loudly. When her co-workers were in a bad mood, Bella invited them for a cup of tea in the cafeteria. Also, she understood, that her co-workers could be upset for certain personal reasons, and they needed to hear just cheerful words and be surrounded by warm company. Bella sometimes imagined herself as the bright Nymphalidae butterfly: each flop of her wings

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Early in the morning of November 1st, 1969, a newly married couple began to make a trip to Hope

When Beauty saw his eyes, she instantly fell

on their motorcycle. First of all, they had a beautiful

in love with the host and left her husband, Beast.

red bike that had a lot of chrome parts. Every year

They rode for hours on a paradise road surrounded

they made this trip together. It didn’t matter how

by beautiful flowers and magical animals.

many days it took. At the end of the road, she discovered a That morning, something unusual happened

gorgeous lagoon and dipped in without her clothes.

with the bike. It didn’t start. All the parts looked

She felt grateful and free. When she turned around,

good, so they did not know what caused the problem.

she discovered a lovely gentleman with a beaming,

Suddenly the man discovered a cable was

bug heart. The ghost had disappeared, but suddenly

disconnected on the coil. The man connected the

she heard the voice of her husband say, “Sweetie,

cable again and was able to start the bike successfully.

wake up! It’s time for our annual trip.” She smiled

Although the trip was delayed by two hours, the man

as she thought about her dream.

and his beautiful wife were able to enjoy it. Written by Fernando During the middle of the day, they made a stop close to Chilliwack, so they could have lunch. They saw an old tavern, and decided to eat there. When the couple had almost finished their meal, they noticed a man sitting in the back corner of the tavern. He was a tall man who wore dirty rags. They couldn’t see his face because he had a hood, but Beauty felt his strong stare with a strange sensation.

They went on the road again, but a couple of hours later, when the sun set and the darkness covered the road, suddenly the mysterious man in the tavern overtook the couple. When he passed them, they recognized who he was. He was a ghostrider who had a powerful motorcycle. A few meters ahead, the ghostrider blocked the road, so the couple was forced to stop their motorcycle. The ghost approached them.

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

As a psychologist, I am always

changes in an objective way.

are some implications that I am

concerned about topics related

Since my first blood test, I found

considering in my decision. The

with health. It was four years ago

that everything was in a better

sustainability of my diet is a very

when I started an extensive

place compared with what they

important topic for me now,

research about the different types

were when I was on a standard

considering the huge amount of

of diets and the implications that

American diet.

wasted energy, water and land as

food has for our health. I found

Discovering that I could have a

a result of animal farms. Another

that a plant-based diet has a lot of

huge beneficial impact in our en-

topic is the unnecessary killing of

benefits. To my surprise, I

vironment by just changing my

animals. My knowledge that a

discovered that this diet not only

diet gave me another reason to go

plant-based diet has even more

has benefits for our integral

through this move. Before I knew

benefits for my health than the

health, but it also has a huge

what I know now, I was already

standard American diet left me

impact on our environment as

committed to protecting our

with no excuse to kill animals

well esthetic implications.

environment, but at that time my

anymore.

The list of benefits that a

actions were limited to taking

This was how I discovered the

plant-based diet has for our

care of the water, recycling every-

best diet for me. Knowing the

integral health is amazing; it goes

thing I could, and trying not to

impact of my diet to my health,

from little things like stronger

use my car so much. Now I know

the environment and its ethical

nails and shiny hair to the

that by simply changing my diet,

implications left me without

prevention of chronic disease and

I get way more impact than by

doubt about how a plant-based

even the reversion of blood

doing all those things together. A

diet brings me integral health.

pressure, diabetes, some types of

plant-based diet contributes to

The concordance of our thoughts

cancer, etc. . After learning about

saving huge quantities of water,

and beliefs with our actions is

all this information I decided, at

land, and also prevents a lot of

very important for our health

thirty-one years old, to switch to

pollution caused by the gas emis-

too. A hundred percent plant-

a plant-based diet. One of the

sions from the animals and the

based diet bring me concordance

first changes that I noticed in my

transportation required in animal

between what I think, feel and

health was better concentration

farming.

do, and, because of that, it is the

and higher levels of energy. After

I have always been concerned

best diet for me.

being on this diet for one year, I

about the ethical implications of

started running and even did a

my decisions and actions; my

half-marathon for the first time in

research on plant-based diets

my life. I decided to have a blood

have made me even more aware

test every year, so I can see the

of them. After my research, there

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

Written by Anonymous

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

The most memorable event in my life is undoubtedly giving birth to my son 5 years ago. I would never forget the intense memory of that day; it was full of pain and joy, and it was my first surgical operation. Parts of that day were unbelievably painful, I had thought that everything was going to go smoothly; I was doing OK and planning to have a natural birth. However, during the protracted labour, the pain was much more than I had expected. It was as if my body

was being split apart. After eight painful hours of unsuccessful labour, I had to make the difficult decision to have my baby delivered surgically. My baby was in an awkward position inside. Not only that, but he did a poo in my tummy! Can you believe that? It was new to me, too. Finally, the doctor suggested a C-section since there was a possibility that he could inhale his poo and have trouble breathing. I ended up going under the knife: it was my first surgical operation.

Although giving birth was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, it was also the most rewarding experience in my life. As soon as I looked at my son, I forgot all the pain I had gone through. How adorable he was! I was over the moon and feeling blessed. I will never forget this special experience of giving birth to my son. It gave me extreme pain, even left a big scar on my body, but it was an irreplaceably wonderful experience. Written by Eileen

… We would like to wish our beloved teacher, Louise, all the best on her upcoming retirement (or as Louise so humorously puts it, her graduation from work). Louise has been part of the Pearson Adult Learning Centre family since 1984 and her endless dedication, patience, knowledge and wisdom will be sorely missed by both staff and students alike.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward Louise, you have been an inspiration to so many of us, and we know that you will continue to inspire others as you embark on your new life adventure!

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Life is a jungle, Where is the quieter river? Ouf! I found my raft.

We have a short life; Enjoying life is vital Treasure everyday

Written by David

Written by Marina

Travels Take off, landings Sweet feeling of freedom Discovering amazing places Enjoy!

Life is difficult We must overcome each barrier Victories ahead Written by Marina

Written by David

In France Gastronomy Elegance, luxury Fashion, fragrances, history Paris

My love Gorgeous city Evergreens, flowers, blue skies Fresh, colourful, energetic Heaven Written by Amy

Written by David

Rays of light abloom fragrant breeze alluring scent miracle of life Smiling sun-kissed cheeks technicolor memories care-free lazy daze Harvest moon brings change rustling rusted leaves succumb darker nights encroach Biting bitter cold piercing melancholy looms hope for brighter days

My son Nineteen years old Humorous, talented, Proud of everything he has done Deep love Written by Amy

Good love Is infinite Trusting, sublime, liberating, Colourful, evolving: blissful Inside Written by Martha

Four seasons of change all infused with the essences enjoy them with love Written by Howard

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I am studying English at Pearson Adult Learning Centre. I go to classes three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Everyday in class I learn how to speak and write in English. Learning English will help me with my life in Canada. I have two teachers who help me learn. Their names are Patricia and Tazim. Some of the students also help me

learn. Their names are Yasin and Tzeng. Tzeng is from Taiwan and Yasin is from Ethiopia. They are also studying English to make life in Canada better. I like practicing English. At home, my daughter helps me learn by practicing speaking together. With everyone helping, I will learn English very quickly. Written by Saniye

I am studying English because it is the international language and I need it for work. I am studying English at Pearson Adult Learning Centre. I go to school in the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Tazim, Patricia and Teresa are my English teachers. Yasin and Saniye are my classmates. Yasin is from Ethiopia and Saniye is from Turkey. I practice English after class. I use a dictionary and YouTube to help me practice English. I practice English with my husband. Written by Tzu-Rou

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I want to study English because I think it is an international and important language. I go to English class in Pearson Adult Learning Centre. I go to class in the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. My teacher’s names are Tazim, Patricia and Teresa. There are other students in my class. Their names are Beat and Zafira. Beat is from Iraq and Zarifa is from

Afghanistan. They study English because English is very important to them. I study English after class myself. I watch videos and listen to audio. I also practice with my family members and with my friends. Written by Tamari

I am studying English. First, I want to learn a second language and I want to graduate. Secondly, it is important because I’m living in Canada. I am going to English class. The name of the English school is Pearson Adult Learning Centre. I’m going to class in the afternoon on Monday and Wednesday. There are a lot of students. One of them is Julio. He is from Mexico. Another student is Tamari. She is from Georgia. All the time I practice English on YouTube. I practice English with my husband. Written by Bayad

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I am studying English to find a better job and speak well. I go to Pearson Adult Learning Centre in the afternoon, on Monday and Wednesday. Tazim and Teresa are my teachers. Tzeng and Zaniye are my classmates. Tzeng is from Taiwan and Saniye is from Turkey. I practice English by listening to the radio and watching TV. I hope that I can improve my English skills. Written by Yasin

’ Olivera was a caretaker at the museum in Egypt. Her dream was to travel to the 17th century, but her coworkers Tania and Alice were pushing her to work harder, and made fun of her dreams because they saw her a couple of times talking to the statues of the royal family. One day, while Olivera was cleaning the statues, she touched the magic lamp. Suddenly, a genie came out of it. At first, she was afraid. Then the genie said, “You have three wishes. What can I do for you?” She was surprised but she asked the genie if she could go back to the 17th century for three days to be one of the princesses of that time.

Then her second wish was to take Tania and Alice with her so that they would believe that dreams can come true. Within a few seconds, her wishes were granted by the genie. She was very happy and excited to have this dream come true in her life, but three days passed very fast, so the genie appeared again to ask her for her last wish. Finally, she wished that Tania and Alice would remember this amazing experience and respect other’s dreams by not making fun of anyone. This story is proof that there is always a way to achieve your dream if you believe in yourself. Written by Viken

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I love my cat and I love to hold her. Marshmallow is a white kitten; not now so white - she’s grey and white, not much older. When young, she liked to go out. Now she wants to stay home and sleep in bed. Marshmallow loves to play with the laser. Her voice is loudest in the morning red. For fur as soft as her voice, I praise her. Shen she talks, I understand her meow. She runs inside - it does

make her happy. But I go in the bedroom, we don’t allow. She springs away and makes it snappy! I have best wishes for my feline. She should have 9000 lives - be ever mine!

Lidia, my mother, possesses wonderful qualities that inspire me. First of all, she is brave. When she was young, she moved to the coldest part of Russia, Serbia, by herself for work. She worked as a cook to earn money to build her house. At the age of 60, she decided to leave and move to a foreign country again for work. She journeyed to Italy, even though she could not speak Italian. Now, at the age of 66, she met a man. She is not afraid to build a relationship, and start a life together in my home country. Besides being a brave woman, my mother is a caring person. Since

she worked abroad, she helped many people from our home country find a job in Italy. When her employer got sick, she visited him at the hospital. Moreover, she stayed overnight and cared for him. Also, when I was studying at university, she always helped me with my chores by cooking and doing my laundry. She saved my time and energy so that I could study. Finally, what amazes me the most about my mother is that she is a funny and social woman. Although she had money hardships in her life, my mother never lost her sense of humour. When she has a conversation with others, she always shares some anecdotes related to the topic. She knows a lot of healthy recipes

Written by Jessica

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

and she likes to share with everybody who needs her recipes. Likewise, she is a good listener and advisor. All of these attributes are just a small part of the many wonderful qualities of my mother that inspire me and warm my soul. Written by Anonymous

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My mother, my friend. There is no one like a mother and no mother quite like my mother. She is so beautiful, so sweet, so wise and sometimes so funny. Everyone loves her and enjoys her company. When she talks, she tells jokes and makes everyone laugh. Besides that, she is famous for using proverbs. Usually we had guests, so she was always busy cooking and welcoming and

My mother is the most valuable being I have. Currently, she is living in Turkey. At 76 years old, she has principles about life. She is my first teacher, and she told me and my brothers to be honest at all times. She likes helping other people. She is a very good cook, and she loves having guests over. I love my mother very much, and I have appreciated her all the time for what she teaches me.

taking care of everyone. Nevertheless, she taught me to be responsible, honest, and caring as well as the importance of home, family and tradition. She is my great teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. For all you do, do with love. You are a special gift from above. With all my heart, I want to say, I love my mom. Written by Frishta

In Canada, Mother’s Day is the second Sunday of May. In my country, Costa Rica, Mother’s Day is August 15th. We celebrated this at my grandma’s house. All the family went there and had a little party. Now we are in Canada, so it is different. Last year, my mom was in Costa Rica on Mother’s Day and this year my mom is coming to Canada. This year our small family can celebrate Mother’s Day all together in Canada. Written by Gloria

Written by Aysel

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I am grateful for my mother because she is not only my mother, but my hero too. First of all, she is determined. She was born into a poor family, but she tenaciously pursued her goals. She left home and went to university at the age of 17. After she successfully completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Math, she became a high school math teacher. She worked for 30 years and

educated many students. Even though she was very strict, she raised my siblings and I well, and prepared us for college. Besides being a determined woman, my mother is a responsible parent. She is willing to do everything for us to make us better people. I remember when my siblings and I were young, she made sure we did our homework, even if she came late from work.

I think about my mother all the time. My mother died 45 years ago. I was in Canada. We come from a poor family, with seven children. For my mother it was difficult times. There was no running water and the fireplace was for cooking and central eating. The washroom, with no running water, you can imagine! To wash the clothes, I remember as a child, my mother and older sister going to the river and drying the clothes on the top of the bushes. I left home when I was 14 years old, but I have fantastic memories of my mother. When I used to go back on vacation, she spoiled me so much. I remember when I

sent two plane tickets to visit my older sister in Belgium, she was so happy. One thing I and my brothers regret is that she died at 63 - too early and not enough time to spoil her. She was a great mother.

She made time for us and understood school related issues. She taught us to care for and respect other people. When I had a difficult time, I called her. She listened attentively to me and gave me useful advice. Finally, she is one of the most nurturing people in my life. When her children are at work, she happily takes care of her grandchildren. When their parents are late, she

helps them pick up their children from school. She always prepares delicious food for her children and grandchildren. My mom is a wonderful woman, and that is why I am so thankful to have her in my life. Written by Umut

Written by Michela

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I always miss my mother. She came from the country. After she married, she came up to the city with my father. She raised my older brother and me. She was always busy and worked hard to save money, but she tried not to show us a tough situation. She always taught us to be an honest person. She didn’t want us to become bad, so she paid more attention to us. I lived apart from her

since I entered university. I try to call my mother whenever I have the time, but sadly, she rarely wants to call me. I will try to call her again on Mother’s Day. Written by Namsu

My mother’s name is Monira. She was born in 1946 in Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq. She married in 1960 when she was 14 years old. She gave birth to eleven children, 5 girls and 6 boys. My mother is the one who is the master, and we grew up and were raised by her hand. When our father died, she became mother and father at the same time, so she hasn’t forgotten my father and she visited his grave. I wish my mother a long and correct life while she lives in her new country, Ireland. Written by Rostam

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

First, I always thank my mother very much. She did great things for our family, and she loved and took care of my family. She came from a small family. When she got married, she was 20 years old. She had four children and she was an active and energetic mother. She had a close friend, and her friend had a big, wise family. My uncle and aunt came to our home. We celebrated Christmas and

Easter together. I always wonder how my mother made us 3 meals a day. She enjoyed cooking, shopping, learning , gardening and cleaning. My brother and sister helped my mother. She somehow found the time to teach, train, discipline and bless up to be good men and women. We honor our mother because she is a very loving mother.

I want to write about a special person in my life. She is the person that created me. She could not sleep because of my nightly crying. She taught me to talk. She taught me to stand on my feet and walk. She could not do many of her favorite jobs because she had to watch me. During my life tests, she was my teacher. When I was sick, she was my nurse. When I had a problem, she was my advisor. When I was alone, she was my friend. She wants my success. She is a person that cries when I cry and laughs when I laugh. I know she loves me more than anyone else. This wonderful woman is

my mother. If you have your mother next to you, you are very fortunate.

Written by Fekadu

Written by Zahra

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I have many mothers in my family. I have two aunts, and I had two grandmothers. My mother is called Teresa. What can I say about her? She is the best. All the people that have a mom say the same. “My mom is the best.” Mothers are protection, dedication, strength and love. My mom taught me many things, but I will never forget that she taught me that I am capable of

doing what I set out to do. My mother is unique, and I would not change her for anything. Written by Sharyn

My Best Friend My mother is a wonderful person. She had a small family. She married and had two daughters. My sister and I are grateful to have her as our mother. She worked hard to give us a comfortable and happy life. I remember that she always played with us and had a lot of fun. I thank god that she is my lovely mother.

My best friend is Dlkhwaz, and she lives in Arbil, Kurdistan. She is very kind, helpful and loyal. She helps me all the time. She is medium built and she has brown, curly hair. One day she came to my house and we didn’t sleep until the morning, as we just laughed. I need her here by my side all the time. Written by Bayad

Written by Dorisley

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May. I was so happy when it was Mother’s Day last week, on Sunday. My oldest daughter came to Canada from the USA to see me. We went together to see a new car. I bought a new red Toyota. She gave me good ideas. She lives in the USA and has been there for twenty years. Her name is Linda. She is beautiful. She works with

computers and she is very smart. I love my daughter. She is my best friend, and a good daughter. Written by Mei

My Best Friend My mother married at an early age. She had ten children: five boys and five girls. I am in the middle. My mom is very strong, and a love giver. She knows her kids and feelings. Our happiness is her first priority. Every day before going to school, she prays for us. Before bed time, she prays for all of her family. Mom is very different when we have a bad day. She inspires us. She gives her time to all her kids. She is our advisor. She knows girls’ needs and also boys. She encourages us when we have a difficult time. My mom is my sister and my friend. She is my hero. I wish she was with me all the time, but right now she is in heaven. I love my mom, and I miss her.

My best friend is Yabunaka. He lives in Toronto right now. Before, he lived in Vancouver. He moved two years ago because he is a karate instructor. He is not big and tall but he entered a Karate Wild Championship twice. He is a very strong guy but very gentle to everybody. He teaches karate to Canadian students. Because the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is coming, he is so busy. I hope his students will get some medals. I hope he will always be my friend. Written by Seiji

Written by Brhane

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My best friend is Zainab, and she lives in Surrey. She is 5 years older than me. She has long black hair. She works in a pharmacy. She gets up at 6 am because she must be at the pharmacy by 7 am. I love her because she is very kind and friendly. I will always remember how she helped me when I came to Canada. We always went shopping together. I am always happy with her.

She will always be close to my heart. Written by Zarifa

My Best Friend My best friend is my sister Yu-Ju. She lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She is taller and slimmer than me. We look like each other very much. Yu-Ju is cleverer than me, too. She read “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings” in English. My sister speaks English better than me. We love reading and watching movies together. I miss her so much. She will always be my best friend. Written by Tzu-Rou

My best friend is Miranda, and she lives in Georgia. She is tall, slim and she has long, brown hair. She is very kind and helpful. She always helped me when I needed help. I will never forget this. I miss her very much, because she is far away from me. I hope I will soon be able to go to Georgia and we will be together again. But I think it will be better if she is able to come to Canada,

My best friend is my husband and his name is Obed. He lives with me in Burnaby, Canada. I like his personality so much because he is funny, lovely and protective. He has beautiful, big eyes, is a little fat, tall and strong. The situation I will always remember is when we had our first date. He made me laugh all day. He will always be my best friend.

because Canada is a very good and beautiful country. I really miss my best friend. Written by Tamari

Written by Alejandra

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My best friend is Arzo and she lives in America. She is very friendly and helpful with me, She is tall and of medium build. When I was in America, she helped me. I love her and she is the best friend in my life. I always keep her in my heart. Written by Nabila

“A best friend is like a four leaf clover … hard to find, lucky to have.”

My best friend is Anna and she lives in Canada. She is fat and short. She is kind and pretty. Her hair is short. She is very funny and kind. I like her very much. Written by Betene

My best friend is YanQin, and she lives in ShiYan, China. She is short, medium build and has short, straight hair. She owns a beauty salon. She is very kind, friendly and helpful. She is a hard worker. Sometimes she goes to France to learn about the beauty salon. We are close in my heart. Written by Alina

My best friend is Bayan Hasan. He lives in Vancouver. He is tall, a little fat and happy. He has brown eyes and short hair. He is kind and says nice things to other people. He gives some people ideas to help them. He always tells the truth. He always thinks about the good things in life. I like him so much. He is my best friend. Written by Yasin

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My best friend is Akmil Ta Ta. He is kind. I love him so much, like a real brother. I remember the first time he came to my shop. I thought I knew him from a long time ago. One day a violent customer fought with me. My friend was beside me. Akmil hit him to protect me. I felt safe. Akmil is still my best friend. Written by Anonymous

My friend is the best person. He is a gentle man. He helps all people in his village and he helps other people who have problems. Also, he works hard. If he finds someone who is sick, he takes them to the hospital. In addition, he respects human rights. He knows how to respect people. He likes all people in the world. He is the best man. Written by Abdullahi

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My friend is very kind because when he sees I am tired, he buys me ice-cream and takes me to the park. Also, he is very helpful. He respects me. When I am angry, he makes me laugh. He always takes care of me. Sometimes when I am hungry, he gets me delicious food. We play football together, take a walk and talk about everything. My friend is a very nice person. Written by Najmeddine

My daughter and my brother Ali are very kind. When he sees that I am sad, he buys me banana candies and watches TV with me. My daughter is kind because she bought me flowers on my birthday. Written by Aysel

My Kind Brother My youngest brother was very kind. His name was Tades. He was very helpful to everyone. He never said no to anyone, even if the person asked for money. He was charming inside and outside. He had a powerful heart that loved everybody, but this year his heart stopped beating when he passed away of liver cancer. He was my favorite brother. I love him a lot and I miss him, too! I know that right now he is in a good place with God. I hope one day I will see him. Thank you for reading my brother’s story. Written by Anonymous

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My husband is a kind person. He understands me, and he is always with me. Before I moved to Canada a year ago, I lived in Israel, but I am originally from Eritrea. In Israel, I did not have a visa. I needed protection but Israel does not protect immigrants. I needed to learn. I was 18 years old and my husband was a young man, but I did not have a chance to learn in

Israel. Now I need to learn and my husband needs to teach me, but if I learn and work he doesn’t like it, but I need to work and learn. I have a big point. My husband is a good runner in my country. He likes this sport. But I write about problems in Israel. But he needs me to learn and he is a runner. What can I do. Written by Anonymous

My Kind Team There are several precious people who My father is he kindest person of my life. He loves me, and he always wishes me success. Now I live in Canada, but my father lives in my heart. If I become a permanent resident, I will sponsor my father to live in Canada. He is 90 years old, but he is strong.

are kind to me. I have 4 brothers and a sister. Plus I have three special friends. They are kind because they are there in good and bad times. When I started my business, I needed extra money. They helped without and questions or contracts. When I got divorced, they helped me with my children and provided moral support. These special

Written by Mazzik

people will be a light in my life forever. Written by Salvatore

Answer from page 32 A cinquain – which, by the way, is pronounced “sin-cane,” not “sin-kwane” – is a form of poetry that is very popular because of its simplicity. Cinquains are just five lines long, with only a few words on each line, making them easy to write. The first and last lines have just two syllables, while the middle lines have more, so they end up with a diamond-like shape. Did you guess the pattern correctly?

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

, My brother Jarek is a very kind person. He is very helpful in our family. I love to speak with him, because he gives me a lot of positive ideas and good energy. He gives me a smile, good advice, and big hugs. I can always count on him. He is polite and peaceful. If you have a problem, you must talk to him and he will certainly find a smart solution. Jarek always will be my

little brother who has a big heart. Written by Malgorzata

My friend Sharyn is a kind person. I’m very grateful to have found her in my life. She helps me when I don’t understand in the class. We talk a lot. Sometimes, Madelyn, our teacher, is a little mad because we speak Spanish in our English Literacy class. We don’t have enough time to talk about our lives, so we go to Tim Horton’s and drink coffee or hot chocolate. I really enjoy my time with her. Now we are in the same level. We will continue to study at the Pearson Adult Learning Centre until we get our diploma in English. I am happy to have a classmate and friend like Sharyn. Written by Gloria

My mother was a kind person in my life. She was very caring, helpful, and friendly to me. She spent all her life to be a good mother. She liked to be kind to other people and animals. She helped our neighbors when they needed something, and she never refused to help them. My mother respects all kinds of people. Written by Dawid

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I think my brother is very kind. His name is Reza. I am four years younger than Reza. We don’t have another sister or brother. We played together in our childhood. Sometimes we fought with each other. Sometimes we were good friends. We went to the park and cinema. Always, he cared for me. Reza is my best friend. I have very fond memories of Reza. I love him. If you have a

brother like him, you are very lucky. Written by Zahra

My sister Patsy is a kind person. She is the mother of two boys, and she is married to Jose Luis. She likes to help people all the time. When we were children, she drew pictures for me and that made me happy. She always asks me about my life. She is a big sister. She listens to me and advises me. She takes care of our parents. She is a law student, and is a mother and a wife. She takes care of all the people in my family. She is a very intelligent person. I love my sister, and I want to be like her.

My uncle Micle is a kind person. When I arrived in Canada, Micle was there to pick me up at the airport. He took me to his home. Micle taught me how to find a job and school. Micle and I lived together for a long time before I came to Canada, but Micle came to Canada first. Then he brought me to Canada. He is a kind person. Written by Anonymous

Written by Sharyn

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I feel so happy when I Lolla was a great person. She was my grandmother. remember my grandmother. She was a very peaceful Written by Dorisley person. She took care of me when I was a little child. I remembered how she was such a good person. She always helped me and my relatives. She taught me how to sew and we sang many songs together. She always gave me so much advice for my relatives and these were very important for them. I miss my grandmother, but

It’s hard to find caring people, but I have beside me, my parents and my wife. She helps me in all family matters, and she does things for me. When I’m sad and upset, she is nearby and comfort me. I can say that she not only kind, but pleasant. I can write many wonderful things about her, but a piece of paper is not enough. Written by Krol

A Kind Person My father Kotu is very kind. When I was a kid, he taught me how to love and help people. He also helped me with a lot of things. When I was sad, he comforted me with peace. I’ll never forget his kindness. I learned good things from my father. I love and honor my father. Written by Anonymous

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Esther ,my oldest sister, has three special qualities that make her very precious. First of all, she completed her Bachelor of Education when she was sixteen years old. She began to work as an elementary school teacher. She has two sons and two granddaughters. Esther is always there to care for her sons even though they are adults now. She is very loving towards her granddaughters and she plays

with them everyday. When her family needs some advice, she listens to them and gives them excellent advice. Esther is a supportive person. She helps others emotionally or financially, and she always has one door open. Second, she is a generous woman. When I was in Mexico, she always invited me to her home for breakfast , lunch, or dinner, and she always gave me a present. She always lent me her car so that I could run errands, like renewing my

My sister is the greatest, most inspiring person in my life. First of all, she is trustworthy. I can share my thoughts with her, and she helps me relax. She always keeps my secrets and she has faith in me. In addition, my sister is compassionate. When I get tired or sick, she does all the household chores and lets me rest. After that, she makes me my favorite dishes like pasta and Chinese food. Also, she always lets me borrow her clothes. Finally, my sister id friendly. Everywhere she goes, she makes friends. When someone needs advice, she is there for him or her. Furthermore, she tries her best to

make her friends and family happy by making jokes, entertaining them and encouraging them to go out and go shopping with her. My sister is my life.

passport or just do something recreational. In addition, she always provided support for our mom and her sons. Third, my beautiful sister is very optimistic because she never gives up. She reminds me that hard times are not permanent. She says she has good ideas to start a business. She always has the perfect word to change my family’s mood. All these perfect qualities make Esther the best older sister. Written by Fernando

Written by Sahar

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My father was my best advisor. He inspired me because of his honest, hardworking and generous character. My father was very honest and loyal to our family. Fortunately, he was respected by his friends, community, and family. Usually people came from the village to seek some advice for their businesses and other personal issues. He was always the only respectful person in the community, so people could trust him when

they dealt with him. In addition to his honesty, he was extremely hardworking. He always worked two shifts: day and night. And sometimes he worked 14 hours a day for 7 days a week. He worked hard to improve his financial condition and support our family. One of his remarkable characteristics was his generosity. He was an unexpectedly generous person. He loved his family and friends because he often invited them for lunch and

Jeives, my father, possesses wonderful qualities that inspire me. First of all, he is extremely intelligent. After he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering, he became a teacher at the university. He travelled to a lot of different countries, and learned four different languages. He speaks English, French, Spanish, some Italian, and of course, Portuguese. At home, we call him “Dad knows everything”, because he has a lot of knowledge on various subjects. We can talk about history, sports, food and cars. He always has the answer to all the questions. The second quality that I admire about my father is that he is organized. I never saw my father arrive late to an appointment, and I don’t

remember him trying to find something that he lost. His bedroom and office are always organized and clean. I remember how before we went on holiday, he prepared a budget and he always researched what great attractions, good restaurants and nice hotels to visit during our trip. Finally, what inspires me the most about my father is that he is so polite. He never shouts at his family and never uses profanity. He always speaks softly. All these qualities make my father the best example to follow. Because of him, I would like to be a perfect copy of my father.

dinner. He gave gifts to our family and friends on special occasions, such as birthdays, engagements, and New Years. He was faithful to his family and the community. Finally, my father inspired me with his positive traits, and he will be remembered forever. Written by Essa

Written by Leonardo

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

I admire my father AP, because he inspires me and he has a lot of great qualities. First of all, he is responsible. After he married my mother, he started to pay all the bills on time, even though he didn’t have a stable job. When I was in high school, I decided to quit my studies forever, but he gave me good pieces of advice about life. He always has been very clever with me and my siblings, and he encourages me to continue studying. Now he is retired, but I remember that he never missed his shift, showing us that he was extremely responsible. Besides being responsible, my father is too kind. When my siblings and I were young, he used to

allow us to come home late after parties under the condition that we returned at the time that we told him we would be home, and the place where we were going to be that night. He has always shown respect to my mom, by loving her a lot and being faithful to her. Due to his kindness, my father has made many friends at his work through the years. He worked all his life as a banker in Mexico, and thanks to him I got my first job as a banker too, in 1994. He immediately phoned and spoke with the manager of the bank. Due to that call, I got that job, and I was well prepared too. Finally, the most inspirational quality about my father is that he is hilarious. He likes to share

jokes. When he has a party, he always likes to laugh with his friends and family. When we were children, he used to tell us funny stories. I remember how on one occasion, he told us about a client who wanted to enter the bank, but the man did not see the glass door that was very clean, so he stamped his face on the glass, causing all the customers to laugh. When we heard that story, we laughed so hard. Actually I would like to be with my father, but because I live in Canada, I can not see him often. He lives in Mexico, but I hope to spend more time with him and all my relatives. I admire how my father’s qualities have the ability to inspire me, even though I live far away. Written by AP

My father was born on November 18, 1956. He was a very friendly, cheerful and social person. He was an example to follow. He always did his best in everything he pursued in his life. He dies 4 years ago of a heart attack, but I always keep him in mind. I hope someday to meet him again. Written by Angel

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

My father was loving because he encouraged me to make good friends and to become a responsible person. In my home country, some of my friends didn’t listen to their parents, but my father influenced me greatly. Second, he was successful. When he was young, he played soccer and tennis. He was a professional player. Finally, he was hard-working. He started

farming and planting corn, rice and vegetables. He raised his children on the farm and they all got married. My father was a great person who made me proud and wonderful in life.

Francisco, my father, had three amazing qualities that inspire me. First of all, he was always patient. He worked for the government in an association that defends worker’s rights, and he listened and solved many problems for them. He used to listen very carefully to his daughters, and he gave excellent advice to them. Second, he was very intelligent. After he studied Oceanography, he worked and retired from The Oceanographic Institute of Manzanillo in Colima, Mexico. Also, he worked for the government for many years. Finally, he was loving, Many people loved him because he was

very kind and helpful. He was very proud of his daughters, for he always talked about them. He loved to visit new places with his family. My father will always be an example to follow, and I will love him forever.

Written by Mbalu

Written by Maritza

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

There are certain qualities that make me a great person. First of all, I am a patient person. While I am on duty, I have to face different types of people even if it is really difficult to understand English. When I come home, I’m always ready to spend the rest of my time with my family, who tries to make me happy. In addition, I’m punctual. Although I’m tired after a busy day, I

There are certain qualities that I admire about myself. First of all, I am friendly. I like to smile at everybody when I make eye contact for the first time. I love to meet other people because I like to learn about other cultures. For example, I like to watch soap operas from Turkey, for I admire their language and places. The Turkish people are as friendly as Brazilians. In addition, I am an openminded person. I listen quietly to other people’s points of view before I make a judgement. After listening to their opinions, I always respect their choices. Finally, I am a determined individual. I

still focus on my studies and attend my evening classes on time. Also, when I was in high school, I got a letter of appreciation from the administrator for being punctual three hundred and sixty days. Finally, I’m compassionate. In fact, at work, when I’m dealing with customers who have a disability, I always try to do my best to assist them by bringing

their order of food to their table. Because of these qualities, I feel superb. Written by Sahar

pursue my goals and dreams. For instance, my current goal is to find a new job where I can work as passionately as I did in my last job.in Brazil. I never give up easily, so I am able to achieve my ambitions. Although I think that I need to develop other important qualities and be better, I believe that these already make me a unique and commendable person. Written by Verisiana

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

There are certain qualities that I like about myself. First of all, I am creative. I have many hobbies that compliment my creativity. One of these is giving new life, style, and function to objects and clothes. Another way that I like to express my creativity is by crocheting and by making jewelry. Sometimes I combine both skills to produce something new. For example, I crocheted a necklace and a bracelet. I like to crochet but it takes a lot of time. For instance, it took me 5 months to finish a dress made of very thin yarn. Besides, crocheting

and making jewelry, I am interested in painting and drawing. As I am a beginner in drawing, I found an easy and beautiful technique called “Dotting Drawing”. It is a very simple method to draw using special tools, different acrylic paints and diverse types of canvases like rocks, fabrics, wood and so on. I have many interests that I wish I had more time to do all these fun activities. Secondly, I am an eager learner. I discovered this about myself when I had to start a new job in Canada and follow instructions with a

very low level of English in a very busy shop. Another experience I had this winter is that I learned to snowboard in a very short time. I still love to learn many skills, but I have already developed half of them. I am sure I will learn the rest of them quickly. Finally, I am optimistic and flexible. Since I got sick, I have become calm and believe that I’ll recover one day. I enjoy life no matter the circumstances. I was able to overcome all the hardship I had in the last two years. I am grateful because all these challenges

helped me to get rid of some of my bad qualities and acquire new, good ones. I believe that good or bad experiences are there to improve or change our view on life. My creativity, eagerness and optimism are just some of the qualities that I have started to appreciate about me. Written by Anonymous

“Loving yourself starts with liking yourself, which starts with respecting yourself, which starts with thinking of yourself in positive ways.” -Jerry Corsten

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

RETURNING STUDENTS: Tuesday, September 4th from 9am to 9 pm NEW STUDENTS: Wednesday September 5th or Thursday September 6th 9:30 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm or 7:00 pm Don’t forget to bring your identification!





One document with proof of status in Canada (examples: Canadian birth certificate, Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship card, Permanent Residency card, Refugee Claimant document, Work permit, or First Nations card) Two documents with proof of residency in Canada (examples: BC driver’s license, BC ID, ICBC registration, Tax statement, Property purchase agreement, Tenancy agreement, Utility bill, Bank statement, MSP health card, or recent paystub) Please note, one of these documents needs to be a photo ID.

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

Accounting 11



Biology 12



Communications 12



Data Management 12





English 12



Family Studies 12



Foundations of Math & Pre-Calculus 10



Pre-Calculus 11



Writing 12

  

English 11

Civics 11

Self-paced academic grade 11 & 12 courses 

English Language Learning—all levels!

Visit us at www.newwestadultlearning.ca for more information. PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286

The New Westminster School District is proud to have a Continuing Education program named after Lester B. Pearson, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Canada’s former Prime Minister. The Pearson Adult Learning Centre, also known as PALC, has been welcoming learners from ages eighteen to eighty for more than 30 years. The school supports the educational needs of a variety of adult learners including new immigrants, those wishing to learn English and for those interested in completing their high school graduation. Our goal is to provide a warm and friendly environment to help our hard-working learners improve not only their academic skills and obtain a high school graduation diploma for post-secondary studies or employment, but also gain relationships with others within the community. C O N G R AT U L AT I ON S

TO O U R 2 01 8 G R A DUAT E S ! W E W I S H YO U A LL T H E B E S T I N YO U R F U T U R E E ND E VO U R S ! Carla Andrade

Fikadu Gebreab

Harjot Mavi

Bogdan Aranyasz

Olena Golybina

Daniela Nomura Mantovi

Hadia Asawary

Cecilia Guyirttz

Kyle Badlis

Qin He

Galina Baboiu

Susie Kim

Maple Bu

Maggie Liang

Sandra Butts

Erica Lim

Rosa Campomanes

James Liu

Howard Chow

Grace Lu

Vincent Cui

Olivia Luo

Rabia Dean

Tatiana Malinina

Francis Fernandez

Laura Martin

PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE

Borba Jaswinder Saini Shin Ae Shon Don Stewart Eddie Storla Jing Wang Younghee Yang Emily Yin Lu Ping Zhao Lea Zhao

835 8TH STREET NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

(604) 517-6286