ANTHOLOGIES - ELI SPRING 2023.pdf

English Language Institute
Reflections
AN ANTHOLOGY
College of Staten Island
Center for Global Engagement
SPRING 2023

Reflections:
An Anthology
Reflections is a collection of writings by the students of
The English Language Institute
ELI Faculty
Gail Hernandez
Kayla Dunn
Thomas Speirs
City University of New York
2800 Victory Boulevard
Building 2A, Room 206
Staten Island, New York, 10314
Email: elistudy@csi.cuny.edu
Website: www.csi.cuny.edu/eli
** Please note that these student writings do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The
English Language Institute and the College of Staten Island.

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Table of content
Center for Global Engagement..........................................................................................................6
English Language Institute .................................................................................................................8
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................9
A Short History of Peru
Sharle Gomero...............................................................................................................................18
Colombia: How Beautiful You Are
Marly Sanchez............................................................................................................................27
Dedicated Physician
Xeniya Yakupova...........................................................................................................................48
Homesick for the Delicious Food of My Home Town
Judy Garcia.....................................................................................................................................42
Lake Dus-Khol
Samvel Zhamkochian....................................................................................................................14
Los Angeles
Daniil Rossochinskii......................................................................................................................11
Medellin: My Favorite Place in Colombia
Lorena Nino...............................................................................................................................13
Meskel
Betelheme (Betty) Merka..............................................................................................................25
Miami: My Favorite City
Jose Saavedra .............................................................................................................................12
My City: Seoul
Semin Kim .................................................................................................................................16
My First Year in The United States
Mamadou Ba ..................................................................................................................................33
New York City
Irina Fredriksson............................................................................................................................30
Orlando: The City of Light
Andreyna Martinez ...................................................................................................................10
Peruvian Gastronomy
Cinthia Gomero.............................................................................................................................20
Singing: My Passion, My Dream
Shaini Fernando ........................................................................................................................22
The Barranquilla Carnival
July Melo.........................................................................................................................................37
The City of Zhaoqing in China
Xiaoying Tan..................................................................................................................................17
Tortilla Race
Liliana Evangelista.........................................................................................................................39
Venezuelan Rum
Luis Leal..........................................................................................................................................40
Vyshyvanka
Sofiia Drobiniak.............................................................................................................................35
What a Day!
Okpe Agoh.....................................................................................................................................45

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The overarching thrust of the Center and its activities is to be the driving force behind
infusing the campus with ideas and activities that support comprehensive
internationalization. The broad goals set forth below are designed to enhance
comprehensive internationalization on the campus:
• Offer unique programming for students, faculty, staff, and the local community that serves
the diverse needs of the broad spectrum of constituencies interested in international
education, ideas, themes, and activities.
• Expand the international outreach of the College including new opportunities for joint
research and scholarship through cooperative partnerships and programming at home and
abroad.
• Infuse the curriculum with global learning so that all students are presented with
opportunities that promote global-mindedness, cultural diversity, and international
understanding.
• Position the College of Staten Island as a premier destination for international students and
scholars though rigorous academic offerings, innovative programming, and welcoming
policies.

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The English Language Institute (ELI) offers an exciting and
innovative academic program for students learning English as a
second language. Our course of study is designed to challenge and
engage students. Students are immersed in the language, culture,
and the ethnicity of New York City.
At the English Language Institute, we understand that learning
English can be a difficult task. Our experienced and dedicated
instructors prepare and guide students through an amazing
journey. With patience and compassion, instructors encourage
students to reach their goals and attain academic excellence.
Students in our program are entitled to use all the facilities available on campus such as the
pool, tennis, basketball, racquetball courts, and fitness center. Students can also attend any
lectures or workshops they feel would enhance their own learning experience.
The English Language Institute (ELI) at the College of Staten Island offers programs in
English and cultural orientation to international students, professional and business people,
visitors, and members of the local community.
ELI provides a supportive environment for language
learning: small classes, individual attention, highly
qualified faculty, and innovative teaching approaches
help students acquire confidence and develop fluency
and accuracy in English in an efficient and enjoyable
way.
Through special focus classes, field trips, and visits to the unique cultural institutions of New
York City, students receive an orientation to American culture and an introduction to the US
system of higher education. Programs are offered at all levels of proficiency, from beginner
to advanced. Courses are designed to address the needs of students who require English for
academic, professional, or personal reasons.

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Introduction
The following anthologies are entirely prepared by ELI students during the semester term
they spend studying at the English Language Institute (ELI) at the College of Staten
Island/CUNY.
They prepare this academic work while having classes of grammar, reading and writing,
communications, and TOEFL preparation workshops, with the supervision of their ELI
teachers. Topics are chosen by ELI students and teachers and they reflect personal points of
view of the topics selected and facts and information researched by them.
ELI students dedicate time to make the
best articles and carefully prepare their
essays in and outside class. All ELI
students participate, from beginning to
advanced level. ELI wants to show their
work considering their English level in
order to become an academic tool for
future English-learning students.
Most of all, ELI wants to show content related to topics students may have experienced
while studying English in New York, an important topic in their home country, a current
issue, or any other topic they decided to write about.
ELI is very proud of the academic work that represents the outcomes of each student, who
not only learns English as a language but also is capable of expressing meaningful content-
based language.
Enjoy reading the anthologies!

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Andreyna Martinez
Venezuela
Teacher: Gail Hernandez
Orlando: The City of Light
Orlando is a beautiful city. The weather changes multiples times a day. Sometimes in the
morning, it can be sunny, and in the evening, it could be raining.
The people are friendly and kind. I love that there are many Venezuelan restaurants. My
favorite is El Importado. The specialty is a hamburger typically from Venezuela. Of course,
we cannot forget about the parks.
I visited Disney's Hollywood studio. My preferred ride is Rock’n Roller Coaster Staring
Aerosmith. This ride is very fast and fun.
In conclusion, in Orlando you can enjoy the people, Venezuelan food, the parks and the
crazy weather.
I hope I will go back some time soon.

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Daniil Rossochinskii
Russia
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a city in California. The weather is tepid and not windy. I think you need to
see the Hollywood Hills because it’s a legendary place.
I would also like to visit Beverly Hills because many famous people live there. For example,
in Beverly Hills, Leonardo Di Caprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp and
others live here.
People in Los Angeles are friendly, content, and open minded!
In conclusion, this is why I like Los Angeles and California!

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Jose Saavedra
United States
Miami: My Favorite City
Miami is a beautiful and amazing city in United States. Many people go to the Miami to have
a nice time. The climate is warm and mostly comfortable.
There are beautiful beaches. For example, South Beach, North Beach Oceanside Park, and
Surfside are great to visit.
It also has very good restaurants. For example, Dolores, But You Can Call Me Lolita, and
don’t forget about the beautiful buildings like the Miami Tower.
The people are friendly and very funny. There are people of all ages.
In conclusion, it is a very cool city, I like Miami a lot.

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Lorena Nino
Colombia
Medellin: My Favorite Place in Colombia
Medellin is a beautiful and amazing city in Colombia. It is known as the city of Eternal
Spring.
People are friendly. There are awesome music, flowers, mountains, and cable transport. The
principal food is bandeja paisa. The ingredients are rice, beef, plantains, avocados, beans, and
sausage. Medellin has the best coffee beans in the world that is exported all over the world.
In conclusion, you can see why I like Medellin – Colombia.

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Samvel Zhamkochian
Russia
Lake Dus-Khol
Lake Dus-Khol (also known as Svatikovo) is located70 km to the south from Kyzyl (Tuva
Republic, Russia). The lake is known forits therapeutic use. It has swimming and mud
bathing.
Each tourist can see the healing properties of the lake are higher than ones of the Dead Sea
in Israel. Mineralization of the water in Dus-Khol is very high - up to 280 g/liters. It is very
hard to dive in the lake because there is too much salt in it. This lake is one of the local
attractions.
The lake has some very interesting features that make it a traditional touristic and healing
spot.

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First, the mud of the lake is said to be medicinal. It helps the articulations and the skin.
There are two kinds of mud - blue and black. In the middle of the lake the bottom water gets
warm, and in some months hot. There is another amazing quality of the lake. The
temperature of the bottom is about 16°С higher than at the top.
In conclusion, this is why you should visit Lake Dus-Khol.

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Semin Kim
South Korea
My City: Seoul
Seoul is a big city in South Korea. The people there do not show interest in each other, But
if someone needs help, they can help. The climate is warm, but windy. There are huge
buildings and many people. There are many places to visit, but I usually go to the mall, a
restaurant or a café.
Itaewon is a district within Seoul. Itaewon is the most culturally diverse in Korea. Many
people from across the world gather in this district. That is why there are many international
embassies and foreign universities in Itaewon. Especially during Halloween, Itaewon is the
most popular place for people to go celebrate. Many people go to Itaewon as there many
places to have fun and eat. That is why if you visit Korea, especially during Halloween, I
highly recommend you visit at least once.

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Xiaoying Tan
China
The City of Zhaoqing in China
Zhaoqing is a beautiful city in Guang Dong, China. Many citizens like going to this
downtown city during their weekends. The people are friendly, hopeful, and genial. The
climate is warm and comfortable, but sometimes it is windy and cloudy.
There are some good places to visits. For example, Seven Star Cave, Ding Hu Mountain, and
Star Lake Food Festival. In “Seven Star Cave” you can see seven peaks. It is said that seven
spirit stones were left behind by Nuwa when mending the sky. In Ding Hu Mountain, there
is a tripod on the top of the mountain. When children have a big exam in this city, people
will go to this tripod to make a wish, and the Anion Air is also over here too. In the Star
Lake Food Festival, you can eat all this city’s special drinks and foods. For example, Chinese
egg puffs, Takoyaki, HK Milk Tea, lemon tea” and lots of other drinks and food.
In conclusion, you can see why Zhaoqing is a place I like.

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Sharle Gomero
Peru
Teacher: Thomas Speirs
A Short History of Peru
Although Peru is most known for Machu Picchu, beyond this there is a variety of cultural,
gastronomic and historical features that make it a country that would generate a significant
amount of interest to people from all over the world. This country is divided into three vast
regions; each one of them with its respective characteristics and important places to visit and
give tourists a moment of relaxation and adventure.
First, there is the coastal region, which is mostly linked to beaches which lie along the
Pacific Ocean. Piura with the Mancora beach, with its warm waters, is excellent throughout
the year and is a paradisiacal destination for tourists. Its perfect waves make this beautiful
beach in Piura an ideal setting for lovers of surfing and bodyboarding, especially during the

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summer. In addition, there are also places such as Ica with the Nasca Lines, which are
designed like giant animals and are better appreciated from a plane or helicopter.
Next is the mountain region where you can encounter diverse fauna, agriculture and the
ancestral history of the past. This region includes Cuzco to Huaraz with snowy mountain
tops and Chavin Complex or Llanganuco lake. Ayacucho has the pools of Milpu. Historic
Cajamarca has Inca thermals baths. In Arequipa you can visit St. Catherine’s monastery or
Colca Canyon. In Puno, Lake Titicaca can be found.
Finally, there is the Peruvian Amazon region, which has a biodiversity that makes it a
very important ecological region. Among the main places in this region is the Amazon River
and the archaeological sites of Kuelap and Loreto.
With all of these places of interest, Peru makes and excellent destination for travelers. I
hope you will be able to visit.

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Cinthia Gomero
Peru
Peruvian Gastronomy
Peru has one of the most varied gastronomies in the world, besides being one of the best.
However, if you want to have the full Peruvian experience you should try all of its specialties
in their places of origin.
Peru is divided into three natural regions: coastal, highlands and jungle, each with different
traditions and cultures. The coast of Peru is a good option for adventure sports, beach
circuits or just strolling through its picturesque streets. It is in this area where we find various
dishes such as ceviche which is an emblematic dish of the country and made from fresh fish,
lemon juice and chili. This dish is served with parboiled sweet potatoes, corn, lettuce, chips
and chicharron de pota. Another very traditional dish is the causa limeña prepared with a
mixture of yellow potatoes, yellow chili, lemon juice, salt and a little bit of oil. This dish is
filled with chicken or tuna salad with mayonnaise and other vegetables. Generally, the
garnish consists of black olives and boiled eggs. The chancho al palo is another dish made from
pork and salt maras. A curiosity about this dish is that it is cooked tied to a grill for a period
of approximately 4 or 5 hours. This typical dish is served with boiled potatoes, corn and
rocoto. As I said, there is a great variety of dishes that will undoubtedly be a delight for your
palate.
The highlands of Peru are a quieter place where you can disconnect from the noise of the
city and relax. In addition, you can also practice some sports such as hiking, canoeing or
going on different excursions while learning about the history of the country. In this part of
Peru, we find some dishes such as fried trout which is basically fried fish accompanied with

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golden potatoes, rice and fresh salad. Another well-known dish is the rocoto relleno (stuffed red
pepper), as its name says, stuffed with fried meat, some spices and boiled eggs. And last but
not least the pachamanca a la tierra. This last dish contains a lot of tradition and flavor. It
maintains the ancestral form of preparation underground used by our ancestors. As its name
implies, it consists of cooking everything underground with the help of hot stones creating a
natural oven. This dish is very famous for the ritual that is done to mother earth to obtain
good harvests. This dish is made with chicken, pork, beef, tubers such as sweet potatoes,
potatoes, beans, corn and tamales.
Finally, we find the jungle area of the country that is perfect for ecotourism. Among its most
popular dishes are Juane, made with chicken, rice and spices wrapped in banana leaves. Here
you can also find a great variety of exotic fruits. Without a doubt, Peru is a country where
you can plan a good trip according to your tastes and needs.

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Shaini Fernando
Sri Lanka
Singing: My Passion, My Dream
When talking about my career goal regarding my personal beliefs and preferences, I intend
to associate my career with music since it is the area in which I am most interested. I have
loved music since my childhood.
I still remember that every Sunday was fixed as a music day where all through the day, music
was running in the center of the house, and my family members were doing their work. It
was my dad who inspired my family members to listen music. I still remember the 1st day
that I sang in front of a crowd when I was 6 years old. Each one in our class was required to
sing, and I was amazed at how my classmates and teachers admired my voice. That was the
day when I found out that there was something special in me. That was the day when I
started to dream of singing in front of more people and not just in front of the mirror.
Because of that event, teachers and student leaders approached me whenever there was an
event in our school, and they asked me to render a song number. I always agreed and
prepared. I started practicing at home with the help of my mom. She had no in-depth idea of
what music was but, she never gave up on me. Literally, she was my first fan and my first
teacher. As the time passed, I also became the choir leader of our school and took part in
various activities like talent shows, A cappella groups, which are singing groups without
instrumental accompaniment, and many more. Back then I also used to be a member of the
scouts' team also and gained a lot of experience in life. As a result of this, I’ve become quite
extroverted.

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My passion for singing comes from deep within my soul, mind, and heart. When I sing, I
sing with all of me, putting everything I can into it. I have always had a great passion for
singing, ever since I was young. Although I was shy and nervous and shaky in front of others
sometimes, in my own time, singing is the elixir of my life, my escape from all anger and
pain. Moreover, as I was growing up, I applied to all of the competitions in Sri Lanka and
won 3 times in a row. I also received special awards and many scholarships several schools.
However, up until today, it was not so easy for me. I’ve gone through a lot. When I was a
kid, my peers as well as the other elder students bullied me a lot. As I was a kid it was really
hard for me to bare all that all alone. Once they had literally pushed me down the stairs and
said very bad things to me. I cried the whole day Fortunately, there was this one friend who
was by my side when no one showed up. It was Kasun, my best friend, and I will never
forget how he was there for me when no one else was. Also, my mother taught me to ignore
the naysayers and never to hate any person in life, so I never did hate any person for bullying
me or hurting me because they were the people that made me who I am today - strong,
independent and a motivated woman. As I was so hurt, I was also motivated to achieve my
goal. With time I grew up and when I turned 16, I took my first step toward achieving my
main dream of being a well-known International Artist.

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I applied to “The Voice Sri Lanka” which is an international franchised reality show while I
was facing my level examinations for school. My father opposed my decision to perform in
“The Voice” because he was scared that I might mess up my exam, but I never gave up on
my goal. I knew that what I was going to do was the right thing, and I was confident about
myself. So, I finally ended up making it to the knockout rounds, which was a milestone in
my life. In addition, I completed my level examinations with good grades. My parents were
so happy and amazed at the same time. I’m so happy that I made my parents and my brother
proud of me. This little step that I took opened many paths in my music career. Since that
day I started to think about myself as a singer and worked on chasing the dream. I worked
every single second to get what I want and eventually got what I wanted. Even though I was
only 17 years old then, an opportunity opened up for me to the society as a teen singer.
Additionally, I got many opportunities such as the main female singer role in the film
“Sangatana,” which was directed by Mr. Tharindu Bandara. I also was the main female singer
in another film called “The Plant” by the same director. In addition, I got many invitations
to collaborate with famous artists and got to know some amazing people in the industry.
When I sing at the end of each song, I always feel glad because I know I made others happy
by entertaining them, and thus made myself happy. Nothing makes me happier than getting
that experience and making myself more prepared to chase my biggest dream which is to
become a famous international artist. I really love singing because I think it is not just an art,
it is how I express my emotions and how I talk to other people’s hearts. Today, I am just a
young teen artist but with all my efforts, I’ll try my best to become the biggest star in the
future. There will of course be so many obstacles standing in my way, but I know that I can
go through them smoothly even though times may get hard. I know I will succeed in
reaching my dream.

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Betelheme (Betty) Merka
Ethiopia
Meskel
As an Ethiopian who grew up in the Gurage region, one of the most memorable experiences
that I have had is celebrating Meskel. Meskel is an annual festival celebrated in Ethiopia, and
it has a special significance in the Gurage region.
In Ethiopia, the Meskel festival celebrates the discovery of the true cross. It is a time for
rejoicing and thanksgiving, a time for peace, a time to honor the legacy of Saint Helena and
the rich cultural heritage of our country. And for my family and our neighbors, it is a time to
come together to celebrate our community and the joy of being alive.
In the days leading up to the Meskel festival, our entire community works together to
prepare. We cook traditional dishes like doro wat, a spicy chicken stew, and tibs, a grilled
meat dish, kitfo, kocho, homemade cheeses with a spicy sauce, and we all pitch in to
decorate the town square with colorful flowers and banners.
When the day of the festival arrives, we all dress in our best traditional clothes and gather in
the town square, where a huge bonfire “Demera” is erected. As the sun begins to set, the
priest lights the fire, and the people around us erupt in cheers and applause.
As the flames lick the night sky, and we join hands and dance around the bonfire feeling the
heat on our faces and the joy in our hearts. Our neighbors and friends laugh and joke with
us, and we all feel a sense of community and togetherness that is truly special. In addition,
it’s also a time to look for your future a spouse.
After the lighting of the Demera, our families return home to continue the celebration. We
gather around the table and share the traditional foods that are prepared. It is a time to catch
up on each other's lives, to reminisce about the past, and to make plans for the future.

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The celebration continues late into the night, with music and dance performances by local
artists. Our family members often join in the dancing, showing off their best moves and
enjoying the festivities.
Meskel is a time when our families put aside their differences and come together to celebrate
our shared culture and traditions. It is a time to reconnect with relatives and to strengthen
family bonds. Meskel is an essential part of our family life in the Gurage region, and it is a
tradition that continues to this day.
Meskel is a reminder of the importance of family in Ethiopian culture and is a celebration
that I will always cherish.

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Marly Sanchez
Colombia
Colombia: How Beautiful You Are
One day I was talking with my foreign friend, and he asked me what Colombia meant, so I
kindly began to tell him the meaning of Colombia.
First, Colombia is a country represented with a beautiful yellow, blue and red flag. The
yellow color represents gold and the richness of the Colombian soil, as well as the sun, the
source of light, and sovereignty, harmony and justice. The blue color represents the sky that
covers the country, the rivers and the two oceans that bathe the Colombian territory. The
red color represents the blood shed by patriots on the battlefields to achieve freedom, and it
also means love, power, strength and progress.

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Colombia is a country located in South America on the northwest coast of the continent
touching two oceans - the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.
It is a lucky country as it has all the thermal floors and a great variety of environments and
climates, so people have a multitude of places to enjoy. If you like hot weather and you like
the beach you can visit Cartagena, Santa Marta or Barranquilla. If you like cold weather, you
can visit Bogotá, Boyacá or Tunja. If you like a varied climate, you can visit Medellín, Cali,
Pereira or Armenia.
If you like snow, you can visit the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Sierra Nevada El
Cocuy, the Nevado del Ruiz, the Nevado Santa Isabel, the Nevado del Tolima and the
Nevado del Huila.
If you like humid weather, you can visit the Amazon jungles in Choco and Putumayo. If you
like the desert, you can visit la Guajira, Punta Gallinas and the Tatacoa desert.
Thanks to the geographical location of Colombia, you can find a great variety of fruits,
vegetables, delicious foods, flowers and exotic plants. You can also find delicious fruits such

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as mango, bananas, watermelons, soursop, passionfruit, pitayas, chontaduro, mamoncillos and
many more. In addition, Colombia is the third largest coffee producer in the world and is
considered to have the best mild coffee in the world.
If you want to eat delicious foods, in Colombia you can enjoy its best foods: sancocho,
ajiaco, bandeja paisa, carne a la llanera (mamona), mojarra, rice with coconut, fritanga,
empanadas, lechona, changua, mondongo and other more delicious foods.
Besides its natural wonders and great foods, you will meet Colombia’s wonderful people
who are beautiful, kind and ambitious. You may also get the chance to learn to dance salsa,
reggaetón, cumbia, vallenato, champeta and enjoy the best parrandas. You will always find a
greeting and a smile in the Colombian people, so I invite you to visit Colombia and enjoy all
the beauty that this beautiful country means.
Colombia, how beautiful you are!!

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Irina Fredriksson
Russia
New York City
I never planned to live in America, but when I was living in Moscow, I did travel to a lot
to different countries as a tourist, for work, with friends, etc. It's always interesting to see
how people live in another country, such as what they eat, how they look, how they work,
how they behave, what they talk about, etc.
Summing up my impressions of what I saw in different countries, I realized that the
inhabitants each individual country has a lot in common with each other. I think it's
impossible to understand this without ever leaving your own country. So, for example, not a
single French breakfast goes without coffee and a croissant; trains in Germany are never late;
at home Swedish comfort is brought to perfection; and Eastern sweets are the sweetest in
the world.
However, not only cultural, territorial, linguistic and gastronomic parameters unite people
into one common whole within the country. In my opinion, other factors contribute much
more to this general mentality. Also important are historical events of the past, the prevailing
economic situation and general educational systems.
Thus, I believe a kind of closed social community is formed. I have found it very interesting.
And then one day I came to New York. It happened quite by accident (as usual, events occur
that completely change our lives). From the very first day, I realized that this city is not like
any of the places I have been before. This is not only because it is huge (the population of
Moscow, where I used to live, is almost 12 million people.) Nor is it only because life is very
expensive here since there are many countries and cities where life is much more expensive
than here. This is not even because of the huge number of skyscrapers, shops, restaurants,

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events and entertainment. In my opinion, the most important feature of New York is its
multiculturalism. It is felt immediately. You can't be a stranger in New York. Just as it is
impossible to be completely your own here. This city lives by its own laws. Every person, no
matter where he or she comes from, will find like-minded people, favorite food, interesting
places and events. Probably, in no other city in the world, millions of people could function
as one large organism to such an extent. They may come from different parts of the world,
speaking completely different languages, but at the same time somehow find a way to
understand each other. This city fundamentally refutes classical ideas about the structure of
society. New York seems to live its own life - not dependent on anything in the world.
Samuel Jackson once said, "If you are tired of London - you are tired of life. I guess that
during those times London was undoubtedly the center of the Old World. But today, I think
that this statement is quite true for New York as the capital of the New World. I have been
living here for several years now. Many things have happened in my life during this time.
Here my son was born. Years will pass and someday while talking about himself, he will

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mention that his mother once upon a time came to New York from Russia, and so he
became part of this huge metropolis.
There are no ideal cities, just as there are no ideal people. But personally, I do not regret
spending my life here. At least it's not boring.

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Mamadou Ba
Mali
My First Year in The United States
My name is Mamadou Ba, and I'm 18 years old. When I arrived in the United States for the
first time, I was filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The prospect of
learning a new language and navigating a new country was daunting, but I was determined to
make the most of this opportunity.
As an English language learner from Mali, one of the biggest challenges I faced during my
first year in the United States was the language barrier. Although I had studied English in
school, I quickly realized that speaking and understanding it in real life was a whole different
story. I struggled to communicate with others, especially when it came to understanding

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accents and slang. Another challenge I faced was adjusting to the cultural differences in the
United States. I had to get used to things like the food, the customs, and the way people
interacted with each other. At times, I felt like an outsider looking in, but I also found ways
to connect with others who were going through similar experiences. I learned to appreciate
and embrace the differences that make each culture unique.
Despite these challenges, I was determined to pursue my education in the United States. I
enrolled in an English language program and worked hard to improve my language skills. I
also had the opportunity to learn about a wide range of subjects and to interact with students
from all over the world.
Looking back on my first year in the United States, I feel grateful for the experience I’ve
had. I realize how much I have grown and how far I have come since my arrival. I appreciate
the support and kindness of those who helped me along the way, and I am excited to
continue my journey of learning and growing in this new country.

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Sofiia Drobiniak
Ukraine
Vyshyvanka
Every country has its own symbols and traditions which are carried through time and
fixed in its history. My homeland also has its symbols which every Ukrainian knows about.
Vyshyvanka is a symbolic image, which is known not only in Ukraine, but also abroad.
Vyshyvanka is a national embroidered shirt that always remains popular. Researchers have
proven that the first embroidery appeared in the late Neolithic era. The peak of the fashion
for Vyshyvankas was in the twentieth century. Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko started this
fashion. Today we use a twenty-hryvnia banknote, on which the writer is depicted in national
clothes. Under the Soviet government, Vyshyvanka ceased to be relevant. But after gaining
independence, an embroidered shirt appeared in every household.

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All patterns and colors have their own meaning. The most common colors are red and
black. They were considered magical. Red testified to the life-giving energy of the sun and
love and joy of the earth. Black is by no means the color of death or mourning, as we used
to think, rather the opposite: it personifies many secret signs and appeals to the fertile soil,
which ensures harvest and abundance.
White symbolizes light and high spirituality; blue reflects cold and sadness; yellow reflects
freedom and happiness. As for green, it is the most favorite color among Ukrainians after
black and red. It symbolizes growth and development, the desire for life, youth and strength.
Brown in embroidery is identified with sown fields, and gray with balance and the fulfillment
of wishes.
Traditional patterns in embroidery are often geometric shapes and often include plant and
animal motifs.
Embroidery was my great-grandmother's hobby. It was she who taught me to do it. My
sisters and I came to her for our summer vacations. She started teaching us small and simple
patterns. Over time, each of us embroidered our own towel. An embroidered towel is an
element of Ukrainian traditions, which is used during religious and national holidays. Now
this towel reminds me of a carefree childhood and my late grandmother.
National traditions are a cultural heritage, and each nation has its own. Their histories
reach the depths of the ages, combines ideas about the world, attitude to religion and signs
of everyday life. For this reason, it is very important to learn, appreciate and talk about our
culture because people who do not know their own culture cannot respect the culture of
other peoples.

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July Melo
Colombia
The Barranquilla Carnival
In Colombia there´s a very important cultural celebration. This celebration takes
place in the city of Barranquilla, Atlántico. Each year in this city, the people have the
opportunity to share artistic expressions, music and typical dances.
This carnival is celebrated annually in mid-February or early March. The festivities last
four days and both Colombians and visitors come to the streets in a colorful celebration of
Colombian culture. In this amazing event, costumes and joy are the main theme. It´s a
mixture of cultures that sustain what we Colombians are as a nation, capable of uniting
hearts by making diversity a reason for celebration and seeing art as a symbol of joy.
There are many values that are manifested in the carnival such as beauty, harmony,
equality, joy and teamwork. When the people are there, it is impossible not to get carried

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away by the rhythm of the drums and everything that makes that celebration unique. The
Colombian rhythm of its special music such as cumbia, mapalé, porro, gaita and puya, allows
you to disconnect from stress and worries.
The people in Barranquilla start the celebrations with the Battle of the Flower (batalla de las
flores), a six-hour parade, where the queen throws flowers at the spectators and ends with
Joselito´s death. This is marked by a parade of widows dressed in black. Then there’s a final
show where you give thanks for life and of course for the opportunity to have participated in
this four-days celebration.
For all of the above, this is a party where adults and children celebrate and is a place for
all ages. It’s a party that allows everyone to break with everyday monotony and give way to
leisure and creative enjoyment.

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Liliana Evangelista
Mexico
Tortilla Race
I was born in Santa María Coapan Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico and would love to share
with you one of the traditions that is celebrated in my city. It is called the "Tortilla Race.”
This race commemorates the effort of the woman who get up very early every day, get
dressed in their typical dresses with an apron and prepare the corn and other ingredients to
make the tortillas by hand. Every day they have to carry 10 kilos of tortillas in a "tenate" on
their backs and thus sell them in the market or different parts of the city.
That is why this race is held every year and rewards the first 5 places in the competition. In
the community, there is a statue of the "Coapeña" woman as a symbol of the work they do
every day.
I am very proud to belong to a place where the importance of women for is recognized for
their hard work in addition to preserving their traditions.

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Luis Leal
Venezuela
Venezuelan Rum
Rum is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world, and Venezuela rum is
considered one of the finest rums in the world. Venezuelan rum has a distinct style that
makes it popular among rum lovers. Venezuela is known for producing high-quality rum.
The country has a rich history of producing rum that dates back to the 16th century. The
traditional method of making Venezuelan rum involves molasses, giving it a distinct flavor.
The country's tropical climate provides the ideal condition for aging rum in oak barrels
There are several types of rum. White rum is the lightest and most commonly used in
cocktails. Gold rum is aged for a short period and is golden from oak barrels. Dark rum is
aged longer and has a more robust flavor.

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The three best rums in Venezuela are Diplomatic Reserva Exclusiva, rum Santa Teresa 1796,
and Pampero Aniversario.
Venezuelan rum is a world-class spirit that has won several prizes and awards. The distinct
flavor and aromas of Venezuelan rum make it a favorite for many people around the world.
The ranking of the best rums is subjective and varies depending on the individual's taste.
However, the rums mentioned above are among the most popular and have won numerous
awards, making them a great choice for connoisseurs and novices alike.

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Judy Garcia
Colombia
Homesick for the Delicious Food of my Home Town
One day while I was cooking some dishes from my home town, I remembered my city
Bogota, Colombia. My town has so many things to offer, and one of these is our
gastronomy, which is very delicious. It’s very special as it can strengthen or preserve our
traditions, promote the development of a territory, become an attraction to tourists, and
especially, it can contain a whole cultural legacy of a region or country. Also, my home town
Bogota is the capital of my country Colombia and receives many people from different
regions of the country. That means that we have different adaptations of the food of each
region which enriches our culture even more.
Bogota has different tourist attractions, but the gastronomy is the best part. Even when
you go somewhere new you should always find some special food to try. One of our typical
plates is the “ajiaco”. This plate is one of the emblems or iconic dishes of our gastronomy. It
is typically made with chicken, three varieties of potatoes, and the herb Galinsoga Parviflora,
known locally as guasca or guascas and corn. It’s usually served in clay pots and
accompanied with avocados, capers and sour cream. Ajiaco is usually eaten during lunch.
Bogota also has other gastronomic charms such as the tamales, but not just any types of
tamales. My mind at this moment is transported to my beloved city, and walking around our
streets and smelling the different aromas of the town makes it special. The tamale made in
this region is different from others because the region has special and different ingredients.

43 | P a g e
The name of this kind of typical dish is Tamal Santafereño. There are many different types
of tamales in Colombia, but this one is typical of the capital city. The style is pretty awesome,
and the filling in Tamales Santafereños o Bogotános is usually chicken, pork belly, pork ribs,
carrots, peas, potatoes, chickpeas, condiments, masa (especial dow.) However, some people
also add a Colombian sausage called longaniza. All of these ingredients are then wrapped
with plantain leaves.
These delicious tamales are usually served with hot chocolate and sometimes pan de bonos
for breakfast. Breakfast is one of the most important meals in the daytime for the
Colombian people. And how can we forget from breakfast menu, the Changua, one of the
best kinds of breakfast we can eat.
The “Changua” is a typical breakfast in Bogota served with bread either in the soup or on
the side. It is also known to help with a hangover, so I think it would be great to have it for

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the day after a party in case you had drunk a little too much, or when you just don’t feel well.
It’s so simple to make. It has just a few ingredients like milk, scallions, cilantro, eggs and if
you would like, you can add fresh cheese.
For the end of a busy day, we can enjoy “Onces.” In Bogota, it is like a break from
something light and sweet between lunch and dinner, a time to gossip, and a time to catch
up with some friends. With Agua de panela or hot chocolate, there are cookies and all kinds
of sugared sweets, and coffee and aromáticas, and various bread related snacks. The story goes
that there were some Jesuit priests who invented late afternoon Onces in order to have a
cover to drink aguardiente to keep Bogotá’s evening chill at bay. The traditional area of
Bogotá for Onces was downtown where Salones de Onces (Eleven Tea Rooms) were
commonplace many decades ago. Some of these original Salones de Onces survive even
today, but nowadays you can enjoy Onces in cafes throughout the city.

45 | P a g e
Okpe Agoh
Togo
What A Day!
In 2008, I had an experience that will always stick in my mind. I will never forget that
day!
It was in January 2008. My husband and I traveled to Belgium for the holidays. We stayed in
Brussels for 5 days and decided to visit our friend, Tsevi, and his family at Louvain-La-
Neuve for one week. It is a small and beautiful student town situated 30 km southeast of
Brussels. Early in the morning we took a train at Gare du Midi, near the hotel where stayed.
I remember we were so excited about the trip and had planned everything. By train,
Louvain-La-Neuve is about one hour from Brussels. I sat down in front of my husband. He
put our suitcase and his hand bag on the luggage rack which was above my head. We talked
and took some pictures during the trip.
After one hour, the train arrived at its destination. We then got up and went to take our
luggage. Strangely, we only found the suitcase, but my husband's handbag was gone!
Somebody had stolen it. It was unbelievable! We tried to ask some people around us if they
found our handbag, but everybody just said ‘no’. They just advised us to go to the police
station and make a statement.
When we got off the train, we saw our friend Tsevi who greeted us joyfully, but his joy
disappeared when we told him about what had happened to us. All of us were sad because
we had a lot of important documents in this bag. Immediately, he took us to the police

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station and we made the statement, but the policemen were not optimistic with us about
getting our handbag back, unfortunately.
After leaving the police station, we walked to Tsevi’s home. He and his wife tried their best
to relax the atmosphere. We had a delicious meal and afterwards, we decided to go outside
to buy an international ‘call card’ to call our family in Africa. The shop where we bought the
card was near a beautiful place, so our friend asked us to take some pictures there, I handed
him our camera.
I don’t know what happened, but when he tried to take a picture of us, the camera fell out
of his hand, hit the cobblestone and broke. Both of us screamed. We were shocked. It was a
new digital camera which we bought only a few days ago; it was also expensive! Our friend
was so sorry and couldn’t explain to us what had happened. Misfortune never comes alone. I
then took the broken camera and told everyone that it was better we just went home to rest.
At home, our friend told us that his wife and he wanted to bring us to a dancing club to
relax and forget about this horrible day. We didn’t want to go out again, but they convinced
us. So, at 8:00 pm we went together to the dance club. It was a nice place, and we drank,
sang and danced. We were very happy. At 11pm, we were tired and decided to go home. It
was very cold outside, and we needed to walk what should have been about 15 minutes to go
back home, but we couldn’t walk quickly because there was black ice on the road, and the
wind was strong too.
We finally arrived at the front door of their home after 25 minutes. We waited there while
my Tsevi’s wife, Sylvie, tried to find the key in her pocket. After a few seconds, she
mumbled a few words of apology: “Sorry, I think I forgot the key at the dance club!” At we

47 | P a g e
thought she was joking, but when we realized she was telling was the truth, we were
shocked. I was speechless and tears ran down my face. It was like my heart was falling to the
floor. We needed to walk back to the dance club to get the key and come back home.
Silently we took off along the road again. Along the way, Sylvie tried to apologize, but
nobody spoke.
We then arrived at home very tired. It was a terrible day! At first, we decided to shorten
our trip because we were worried about what would happen to us in the next few days.
Afterwards, we decided not to give up. We really didn’t want to disappoint our friends too.
The next day, we decided to stay at home. So, our friend invited one of his friends for
dinner with us. Her name was Suzanne. She was a beautiful and friendly lady. She was a
successful business woman, and we had a good time together talking about business,
leadership and the law of visualization. Before she left, she gave us some business
opportunities which changed our lives.
So, we understood why we met a lot of obstacles before meeting her. This journey was
very rich in lessons for us. The principal lesson is whatever you’re going through, never
forget that ‘The darkest hour is just before dawn’. So never give up!

48 | P a g e
Xeniya Yakupova
Kazakhstan
Teacher: Wayne Kennedy
Dedicated Physician
«Per aspera, ad astra» - «Through thorns to the stars». I understood these words
completely after I had studied at my medical university for 6 years. In my years in medical
school, I encountered many difficulties and obstacles, but it was the most interesting and
exciting period of my life.
If you want to be a doctor you must be ready to postpone your life for a while. You
should forget about friends, parties and hobbies. Sometimes you can forget about just living
like a normal person. It’s corny, but you have to learn a lot, a lot of new information and
terminologies for your career. Moreover, most of the information will be in the Latin
language, so you discover a new language, the language of medicine. Additionally, you will
have to learn it very fast. Nobody will wait for you. I remember my first anatomy class. It
was September 2nd
, 2014, and I had just graduated from high school and was sitting in a
classroom waiting for the professor to explain the topic, like teachers in high school did. But
instead of this getting an explanation, I just got a test in Latin - a language which I had just
seen for the first time in my life. Furthermore, if I had gotten a bad score, I would have to
retake the whole topic. For this I had to read 200 pages in one day. Therefore, my
preparation took up all of my free time. It could be 3 o’clock in the morning, but I still had
to frantically read the remaining pages. In addition to this course, there were others that I
had to prepare for.
It was such a crazy quest. But despite all of these difficulties, I loved my program,
especially my anatomy class. This science gave me the opportunity to know the structure of
the whole human body. When I opened a corpse and looked inside the body, I was able to

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see how our organs looked. I can say that this was absolutely not what was shown in the
medical books.
I was a member of an anatomy group. There were students who dissected the corpse by
themselves. My area was a human brain. The most complicated part of our body. I made 8
anatomical exhibits and had them added to our text books. Now medical students who study
at this university can learn anatomy more accurately from the chapter of the human brain
using my exhibits. I spent hours and hours, sacrificed my days off, but I’m very proud of
myself because I made a significant contribution.
Another interesting, but difficult part of my education was studying medicine in
hospitals. In hospitals I had to deal with a lot of different patients with tremendous amounts
of diseases. My section was in pediatrics, so it was doubly difficult. I worked not only with
children, but with their parents. Also, when I was trying to help little patients, I had more
responsibilities. My mind always had to be analytical and cold. However, this practice helped
me to become a true doctor because during my education in hospitals I received a lot of a

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real experience. I was able to see different kinds of diseases, sometimes very rare diseases.
It’s very exciting.
Unfortunately, a major disadvantage in being a doctor is stress. Ironically however, stress
becomes your best friend because it helps you get through the whole program. Every test,
exam, lesson is so stressful and sometimes confusing. Sometimes you think you don’t
deserve this situation because you study so hard, don’t sleep, don’t eat but it’s still not
enough for professors.
There is a lot of injustice in this profession. And you will face this from the first day in
medicine as soon as you cross the threshold of a medical university. But if you choose
medicine, then you have a good goal - helping people and saving lives. It’s all worth it,
however, when you see the smile of a recovered patient. It’s then you will forget about all
the difficulties you face every day. After all, the life saved is priceless.
A dedicated physician is a person with a big heart, who gives his or her life, time and
energy every second of the day so that another life can be saved.

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www.csi.cuny.edu/eli
English Language Institute (ELI)
College of Staten Island/CUNY
2800 Victory Boulevard, 2A-206
Staten Island, NY 10314 - USA
Phone: +1.718.982.2100
Email: elistudy@csi.cuny.edu

ANTHOLOGIES - ELI SPRING 2023.pdf

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