Ron's ESL Blogs

When I was a small child, about five years old, I had a very vivid dream, one that I shall never forget. Even though, it’s been seven years, I still remember it like it was yesterday. The dream was about my grandmother.

My grandmother and I were very close. She used to read bedtime stories to me when I spent the night at her house. Grandma and I were very close, like peanut butter and jelly. My favorite story that I would like for grandma to read to me was “The Three Little Pigs” because the pigs were smart enough to get away from the big, bad wolf. My favorite part of the story was when the wolf would say, “I will huff and puff and blow your house down,” and grandma would blow her peppermint breath through my hair. Wherever grandma went, I was right by her side just like a puppy on a dog leash. When we used to go to  Ralphs for groceries, people said we even looked like each other. Whenever I was sick she would tell my dad to bring me over to her house so she could take care of me. She would fix me some homemade chicken soup and give me a teaspoon of honey and tell me to lie down and take a nap. When I woke up from my nap I felt good and my cold was all gone.

One year for my birthday my grandma made me a surprise birthday party. She had invited all my friends, cousins, aunts and uncles. The party was filled with balloons, snacks, and a really good cake.  I will never forget strawberry cream cake. It was an incredible birthday party.  Everyone was singing me happy birthday, as I looked at my grandma with a smile, she looked back at me with a smile, and I saw her fall down tremendously. I quickly ran to my grandmother and said, ”grandma, are you okay”? She wouldn’t answer me. Immediately, my dad and I rushed her to the hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital they took her in righte away. My father and I were in the waiting room waiting to see what the doctor would tell us about my grandma. The doctor came to us and said she had a heart attack. My father broke down in tears because she had passed away from a heart attack.

The night after we left the hospital I went to bed and fell asleep. I had a dream that my grandma was wearing the white gown that my dad had taken to her when she was in the hospital. Her face was smooth and her hair filled with silver curls. There was a bright light behind her and there were two other people on each side of grandma holding her arms. They wore white gowns too and had wings on their backs. They brought grandma closer to me and she kissed me on my forehead. Then the two people went away in the bright light and left grandma with me. She read me, “The Three Little Pigs” and told me that this would be the last time that she would read it to me because she was tired. Grandma said, she was going home and she would see me when I get there. The bright light in the background appeared again and the two people with wings flew out and grabbed grandma by the arms to take her away.

When I awoke from my dream, I realized that she was letting me know that everything will be okay, we will soon be together once again. She left me with a comfort of love and joyfulness that one day we will reunite in peace and laughter.       – Jose Campos

My hometown is a beautiful place and has amazing traditions. Mexico City is where I have been 13 years of my life living, until I moved to the United States. My hometown is a touristic place where people can go and visit with the family. Many people think that my hometown is a dangerous place, but in reality any other country has vandalism and we are exposed to danger. You should come and enjoy Mexican food and its important traditions like Mother’s Day, Independence Day and Dia de Muertos.  In Mexico City, Mother’s day is an important event because you can thank your mother for being who she is. It is celebrated on May 10. I love Mother’s day because we as students can make a festival, by performing to our mothers and bring them Mariachi to show her how much you love. Mexican people take their mothers to celebrate their day. On May 10 the flower shops are really busy because everyone wants to give flowers to their mothers.   September 15 is the principal tradition of my hometown because it’s Independence Day. We celebrate at “El Zocalo” by giving the Grito of independence “Viva Mexico!” At the Zocalo all of us have fun with fireworks, serpentine, confetti and with flour eggs, which is something historic in my country. People get dressed patriotic and also they shown their proud. The president of my hometown gives the speech and then finally does a defile in memory of the people that died for important issues.  Dia de Muertos is a day to remember all the people that you loved and passed away. Mexicans go and visit the cemetery to garnish the tombs. They put some fresh flowers and bring food to the dead person  that had  liked them. My grandmother is one of those persons that put flor de sempasuchil in front of my grandfather’s photo and a calaberita that is made with candy and sugar all this stuff it’s called ofrenda.  And  something that Mexicans never forget is the ofrenda.  In conclusion my hometown is the best place that I will recommend to anyone to visit and enjoy the traditions. For all Mexicans our country is the best and I have never left it because I don’t like it, it would be for some bad circumstances that life put into our lives. Mexico city is big and has many sculptures and traditions that make my hometown the best and unique.    – Sarai Acua

MY FAVORIRE FOOD

When I was a child in Vietnam, my sister was the best cook in my family. I did not like to cook, but I sometimes helped her clean up the kitchen. Chicken Curry was my favorite food. I still remember when I had just come to America. My husband and his family members liked to eat Chicken Curry but nobody knew how to  cook that food. So it was my first time to cook my favorite food.

First, I cut up chicken, and chop up garlic, lemon grass. I peel and cut up a taro root and then fry them. Then I take two table spoons of curry powder and mix with the chicken, garlic, and marinade for 30 minutes.

Second, I put garlic and lemon grass with some more curry power in a pot with a little oil. Add chicken and stir fry for about 7 minutes. Add a little salt and sugar, and then pour in hot water to cover chicken. Place over medium heat and put the taro and lemon grass into the pot. Continue to cook until done, and then pour 3 cups of coconut milk and stir well. Remove the pot from the stove, and we will have a delicious chicken curry. We can serve with sticky rice or bread. It’s delicious and tastes so good.

My husband ate a bowl of chicken curry. A pot of it was not enough for my family. From then on, every time my family has a party, they usually request me to cook that. They like to eat that food because they recall a taste of their motherland food.   – Ly Lien

One of my favorite foods is spicy noodles made by my grandma. I think my grandma makes the best spicy noodles.

I was born in the spicy city of Chengdu, where everyone loves spicy food. When I was 5 years old, my grandma thought that I was old enough to taste spicy food, so she decided to make her best food — spicy noodles. After I finished the day of kindergarten, I was tired and hungry, I ran back home as fast as I could, because I was expecting to eat my grandma’s food. When the spicy noodles had been prepared on the table, I fell to with ravenous appetite, but after I swallowed the noodles, my lips were scorched, and my mouth was “on fire”, I ran to the kitchen, and drunk a lot of water. I thought my grandma was going to kill me by the food poison, but a few minutes later, my tongue stopped curling, and my lips were no longer scorched, the spicy noodles are like drugs on the table, I was totally attracted to the delicious and hot spicy noodles. Even though I drunk a lot of water during the time I was eating the noodles, I felt that I was mind racing, and flying through the air, it was so enjoyable.

My grandma made the best spicy noodles, and her self-made hot spicy flavor was unique. Maybe the noodles are cheap and they are easy to make at any time when you don’t have time to make any fabulous food, but I know even though noodles are simple and cheap, what my grandma put into the noodles is not only her unique hot spicy flavor, she also put all her love in the noodles which is always priceless to me.

- Meng Ying