************************* My Very Difficult Life by Ayiu Puih My name is Ayiu Puih. I was born in Vietnam on April 15,1983. I am not Vietnamese; I am Montagnard. My mom told me my dad died when I was 4 years old. I did not go school because she worked. Every day she took me to work with her. There was nobody to take care of me. I went to school when I was 11 years old. I started in first grade and went to school until fourth grade. I stopped because I was very sick. When I got well, I didn’t go back school because we had no money to buy everything from school. When I was 15 years old I started working. We planted vegetables and coffee trees. In 1999 I learned and trained on a sewing machine. One year after that I got married on December 27, 2001. We worked together in farming and then I had a daughter. Her name is Ayuyen. Her birthdate was March 23, 2003. On June 6, 2004, when my child was one year old, her father left to go to a Cambodia camp. He came to the United States in 2005. He sponsored me four years later. After the paper came we went to Ho-Chi-Minh City. They tested my body and put me in hospital for seven months. When I got well, I had a signed paper to get on an airplane. Two months later I came to the United States on July 22, 2009. When I came he told me he doesn’t love me and his child. He said he had a new girlfriend and he wanted to divorce me. I don’t know how to say it. I was very upset myself. For 5 months I lived with my sister. Then I married another man. He loves me very much and my daughter too. He helped me learn how to drive a car and took me to class. He understands me. We have a son. His name is Ronan and his birthdate is December 14, 2010. Now I am very happy. I have my father, mother-in-law and my sisters. I miss my family in Vietnam who are not yet free. It is important to me to be a US citizen because of freedom for the children and the future for me too. I am very happy to come to class and learn some things in a different way.

The insert and the final page of this newsletter are submissions from the current citizenship class.

These students will be taking the Citizenship test early next year. It is humbling to read about the

struggles and sacrifices they have made to come here. We thank them for sharing their past

experiences with us and wish them success with the test. We look forward to working with them.

*************************** Why I Want to Become a Citizen by Eh Lay My name is Eh Lay and I come from Ol Phum refugee camp, Thailand. I was born in 1975. I immigrated to the United States in July, 2008. I am married and have four kids, two girls and two boys. I want to become a citizen because I want to get freedom to stay and work in the US. Because of where I lived on the Thailand and Burma border, I did not have freedom or the opportunity to go to school or earn extra money. My teachers help me to pass my citizenship test, so I am very appreciative of the teachers who teach me in ESL class. Thank you and God bless you.

Read All About It! No. 43 December 2014

Craven Literacy Council’s Student Newsletter

Student Stories SEND IN YOUR STORIES

Write a story or poem for the next newsletter.

Craven Literacy Council 2507-F Neuse Blvd. New Bern, N.C. 28562

Phone # 252-637-8079 info@craven literacy.org

As this year draws to a close, the staff wishes all students, tutors and their families a very happy holiday season and a healthy, happy new year.

The Way it Works, by Omar Epps I read a good book named The Way It Works by William Kowalski. The story is about a young homeless man who started his own business. He slept in his car. Yolanda was his girlfriend. His business was to carry packages from one business to another business for money. I like this book because Walter never gave up in his struggles.

Anybody Can Be Mentored By Morro Keys Hello, my name is Morro Keys. I am employed at Independent Human Services. I’m writing this to let everybody know that anybody can be mentored. It’s a proven fact you are never too old to learn if you are willing to apply yourself. The opportunity will present itself. People should challenge themselves to learn some-thing new every day. My mentor mentors me and now I have the opportunity to impact someone else’s life. Things I have learned since becoming a mentor:

Being a good mentor requires a lot of patience.

You have to learn about the person you are mentoring.

Once you know the person, you can set goals and try to achieve goals.

For a mentor every day is different, but the challenge is very rewarding.

Uptown Business Craven Literacy Council partners with the Uptown Business and Professional Association (UBPA) of New Bern through the sharing of materials and teacher training. In their efforts to encourage entrepreneurship in the community, UBPA also addresses literacy concerns. We are happy to share these articles from some of their students.

The Reason I Come to Class by Tempie Johnson I come to class weekly to work toward getting my GED. I have been learning how to do math, reading, writing, along with having fun with the other students and the teacher. I want to better myself and become a better person in class. I hope to get a job later on down the line. I want to be successful by studying and completing my work for class. I also love my teacher and she loves us, too. She has fun with us from time to time. I feel that if she leaves us, I don’t know what to do without her. There is not another person around like her who is willing to put up with us. She spends time with us and shows us the right way to do the work. I know that when the day comes for us to take a pretest, we will be ready and she will be there with us. I know sometimes I upset her, but I love her no matter what and she loves us. We have fun from time to time but when it’s time to do our work, she doesn’t play around. She means business. We come to class on Wednesday and Thursday and we get tips to help us prepare for the GED. These are just a few reasons why I come to class weekly and it is helping me to get closer to my goal. That goal is my GED.

The Reason I Come to Class by Matilda Brown The reason I come to class weekly is to prepare for my high school diploma. Motherhood kept me from going back to school, and I never did. I don’t regret having my babies; I just regret not getting my high school diploma. Without my diploma, I had to work on the farm to make ends meet and had to be on welfare. That was not easy at all. This class is the most exciting. The teacher really makes sure I understand the material before she moves on to another subject. I plan to do my best and move on to the final part and start taking the test. This is why I come to the class every week.

The Reason I Come to Class by Linda Coplon The reason I come to class is to learn how to do all kind of things, such as

reading, writing and math. Our teacher, Ms. Harvey, is one of the best

teachers anyone could have. She takes the time to go over things that we

don’t understand. If you don’t know how to do something, she will take the

time to show you. She will also teach us how to have fun as we learn. In

order for you to want to learn, you will have to reach out and ask for help.

If it was up to me, I’d give Ms. Harvey the award for the teacher of the

year, because she is a winner.

Memories in Burma By Nai San Nyo I was a farmer in my village, Kobala, Mon State. I plant the rice and sometime I go catch the fish. When it starts the raining season, we use the cows to plow ground. We soak yellow rice for 24 hours, then throw into wet ground and let it grow for a month. Then we take the plants and put them in other fields.

When the rice grows up, then we use the cows to make the rice fall off the stalk. We take the

rice stalk out of the way and pick the rice and put it in the basket. We shake the basket to rub

the hulls off and the wind blows the hulls away. The rice falls on the ground. We put the rice in

bags and take it to machines to take the cover off. We feed the cover to the cows and chickens.

The white rice we put in bags to take home and cook to eat.

(We appreciate Nai Sany Nyo’s wonderful illustration to show us what the basket looks like!)

*****************************************************

George Washington by San Oo

George Washington is a man I would like to know. He was a

good leader. He was fair to the soldiers. His goal was to win the

Revolutionary War. He was called the “Father of our Country”

and became the first U.S. president. You can see George

Washington on every dollar bill.

Note: In connection with Tryon Palace the New Bern Preservation

Foundation is planning a re-creation of George Washington’s two-

day visit to New Bern in 1791. The event is scheduled for April 24-

26 and will consist of 3 parades, a 5K/10K race, children's activities

and a farewell celebration at Union Point Park.

*****************************************************

We honor another group of new citizens!

Greenlay Naw — tutored by Kathy Nelson

Naw Ku — tutored by Michelle Morneau and Gloria Schraud

Thet Hpaung Nyein — tutored by Michelle Morneau, Gloria Schraud, and Debi Lupia

Susan Wu — tutored by Debi Lupia

Day Seh — tutored by Jeff Allmon

Janya Sawangsri — tutored by Michelle Morneau & Gloria Schraud

Lorena Williams — tutored by Patricia Woodard

In our recent Path to Citizenship training class, tutors learned about the

process to become a US citizen. It is a lengthy process that requires real

dedication and hard work by the student — and the tutor. We congratu-

late our newest citizens. We’re very proud of you and your hard work.

Why I Want To Be an American by Htun Thein

My name is Htun Thein. I was born in 1956 in Ei Bhit village. My village is in Paung Township, Mon

State. I have three brothers and two sisters. I am the youngest in my family. My two brothers are

teachers. My younger brother is timber company staff. My sisters are farmers.

I finished high school in 1981 in the Karen State. I attended Moulmein University in Mon State. I fin-

ished school in 1986, graduating as a History major. I worked at the hospital in Hpa-an Township,

Karen State, I was a medical social worker. I worked in the hospital from 1981 to 1995.

My country’s constitution is not good. Civil war started in 1948. So civil right movement between

1948 to 2014. All people don’t get rights or freedom. Everybody wants to have religion, free speech,

and human rights. The economic system is not fair. Government may not obey the law. So I and my

family don’t want to stay in my country. My family arrived at a refugee camp in Thailand 2006. I

worked as a health care worker for refugee people in the camp. My family arrived 19 March 2009 in

New Bern USA.

Why I Want To Be an American by Thet Mon San

My name is Thet Mon San. I was born in1987 in Karen State. I have one brother named Ye Mon

Thein, and one sister named Thet Mon Nyein. My father is Htun Thein and my mother is

Khin Htay Win.

I finished high school in 2001, Karen State. I attended Hpa-an University in Karen State. I didn’t

finish the university because I moved to a Thailand refugee camp. I stayed 3 years in the refugee

camp.

I arrived in New Bern in 2009. I lived in Red Robin Lane. My first job was at Moen. I made water

sink assemblies. My second job was at Butterball. I made turkey sausage. My last job is at

Wheatstone. I make radios.

I married in 2012. My husband’s name is Nyi Nyi. He is staying with my home now. My whole

family is 5 people. I want to help freedom.

Why We Want To Become Citizens by Yo So and

Paw Ku

My name is Yo Su. I was born in 1980. My name is Paw Ku and I was born in 1981.

We come from Mae La Refugee camp, Thailand. In June 2007 we immigrated to the United States.

We are married and have two girls and two boys. We want to become citizens because we want to get the freedom to stay and work in the US.

Our teachers help us to pass the citizenship test.

Thank you.

My Search for Religious Freedom By Koi Ksor

My name is Koi. I was born in Vietnam. I have been in the United States for 12 years now. I have

six children who are all adult now. I left Vietnam because I wanted religious freedom. I grew up

with little education. I was in my teens when I first started learning and reading in Vietnamese. We

did not have school at the time. All we had was a study group. I went for three and a half years,

then I dropped out and I got married.

In 1990 I accepted Christ which has changed my family and me forever. Before we knew God,

strangers were not welcome to our home. There were families who fought over land and would

hate each other for the rest of their lives. We didn’t know love, or to forgive each other. Knowing

Christ changed our lives.

Being Christian was not easy. The government hated it. When we first celebrated Christmas, they

put me one day in jail and told me to turn away from God. The second Christmas year they put

me in jail for 15 days. Each year they increased the jail time. It did not stop me from worshipping

the Lord.

In 2001 at Christmas time, my oldest daughter left our country because she wanted a better future.

After a few months, my son left to go to where his sister is. In that same year, which was 2002, I

was being targeted one day. I had to leave my wife and my four girls behind. It was very hard. I

knew if I didn’t leave that day, it might be the last time I would

see my family. I escaped to a refugee camp in Cambodia.

In the camp I met my daughter and son. I was glad that they made it

safe. It was hard living in the camp with two eggs and a handful of

rice per week. Even though it was a hard time, I knew I can’t go

back home anymore.

We had a group of people, some of them just like me who want a

better future. We would keep walking. We didn’t know where

we going. We just hoped that the UN would see us. Our group was

lucky that we met the UN. Then the UN led us to their camp.

After four months in the refugee camp, we were blessed to

hear that my daughter, son and I would be sent to the United States.

It wasn’t the end of our hardship. We had to face a new challenge. We couldn’t speak any English,

except my daughter. She only spoke and understood a little English but it helped us a lot. She was

able to learn faster.

As for me I missed my wife and four daughters at home. My oldest daughter that I left with my wife

was only fourteen. I could not do anything but pray that God would watch over them. Over here we

were blessed to have an amazing church family that helped my family through this hard time.

In 2007 my wife and 3 daughters came to the United States. One of my daughters is still living in

Vietnam and she has family of her own. I am, as a father, glad that my daughter is able to go to

school here and have a better future.

Whatever kind of religion they chose to be, they don’t have to be afraid anymore.