Summaries of Student Presentations

In Yui’s presentation "Popular Foods of Thailand", she discusses popular Thai dishes in different regions. Every location in Thailand has a variety of food and different flavors. In the center of Thailand, it has Pad Thai,Tom Yum Soup, which is very spicy but Green Curry there was sweeter than the others. In southern Thailand, they have Yellow Curry and Massaman Curry. It is spicy too. In northern Thailand,they have Khao Soi and in the northeast they have Spicy Pork Salad. I think all Thai dishes are spicy and suit my flavor. Her presentation showed us the diverse food in Thailand and I really wanted to experience Thai food.      DUY

Steven’s presentation was about a book titled “Four Agreements” that has a purpose. It discusses making a different life for yourself in these four ways. It suggests that we be impeccable with our words and that we be positive. Some important suggestions that the author makes are don't take anything personally, don't listen to negative things, if you fall, start again and change your life. 

In my opinion his presentation was motivated because it helps us to understand that all people go through many situations and you always need to hear words that help you motivate.  GLESLY

In Duy’s presentation he talks about the tradition of “Happy Lunar New Year” in Vietnam.

It’s one of the most important holidays for Vietnam to celebrate with traditional parties, fireworks, and delicious food. Before the New Year, Dui and his family clean and decorate his house together, go shopping to buy new clothes, buy a yellow apricot blossom tree to decorate and they cook churry cake. On New Year’s Day at exactly 12:00 midnight all the people watch fireworks together and celebrate New Year. Dui’s presentation is impressive, because it’s beautiful to watch the fireworks together as a family. ASTRID

In his presentation Steven told us about a book he is reading titled “The Four Agreements”. It discusses four steps

that can change our lifestyle. Steven explained to us these four actions or ways can make our  life better.

(You should include these actions here) I think Steven shared with us this book because

he felt motivated and he suggested that we read it.  RAJMONDA

A popular celebration of a beautiful country was what Sara told us about in her presentation. "The Carnival in Ecuador". We learned how they celebrate Carnival in different towns. Guaranda has the most popular celebration, Ambato doesn't play with water as in other towns and Cuenca has the custom of the party of the "Compadres y Comadres". During this celebration you can find food like mote pillo, chicha, guagua de pan which are typical foods. I loved seeing and remembering this colorful and fun celeration in Ecuador.    STEVEN

In “Popular Thai Dishes“ presented by Yui she speaks about the food culture of her country.

Thailand is divided into four main regions and each one has its own favorite food.

Central Thailand region has Stir-Fried Noodles and after comes the Northern region with Kho Sai.

The North Eastern region is presented with Som Tom and finally the Southern region has Massamon Curry.

The Thail people look happy and nice and their food is delicious with a lot of colors like them.

ARDIAN

In his presentation Steven told us about a book he is reading titled “The Four Agreements”. It discusses four steps

that can change our lifestyle. Steven explained to us these four actions or ways can make our  life better.

(You should include these actions here) I think Steven shared with us this book because he felt motivated and he suggested that we read it.  RAJMONDA

Axel, LJ, Italo, Denisse, Timo,

Assignment Four: Summary of Stacey Kramer's "The Greatest Gift I Ever Survived"

 In “The Greatest Gift I Ever Survived,” we learn from Stacey Kramer that a brain tumor diagnosis, a seemingly devastating event, can be a life-changing gift. She illustrates how this unexpected situation led to positive changes in her life. She supports this idea by detailing the benefits she gained from her experience, such as deeper and more meaningful friendships, a strong sense of love and support, new vitality, and a deeper sense of spirituality. After learning her perspective, it is inspiring to see how she transformed a traumatic experience into strength and growth. She challenges people to reframe their own adversities and find the hidden gifts within them. This talk serves as a reminder that sometimes the most challenging experiences can lead to the deepest personal growth.      TIMO

In the Best Gift I Ever Survived” we learn from Stacey Kramer despite having bad times, and good times always come, she teaches us that her gift was a photo of her brain that had a tumor, but despite everything. You always have to have vitality and energy that we can meet new people and if something unexpected comes we can face it. in my opinion Stacey Kramer was very brave to be able to face. Everything that happened to her and despite that she was able to reunite with her family, see her friends from years ago and meet new people at the hospital. She feels very loved and admired. All this is like a rose that every time it withers we can revive it with water.

Astrid

In “The Greatest Gift I Ever Survived,” we learn from Stacey Kramer that a brain tumor diagnosis, a seemingly devastating event, can be a life-changing gift. She illustrates how this unexpected situation led to positive changes in her life. She supports this idea by detailing the benefits she gained from her experience, such as deeper and more meaningful friendships, a strong sense of love and support, new vitality, and a deeper sense of spirituality. After learning her perspective, it is inspiring to see how she transformed a traumatic experience into strength and growth. She challenges people to reframe their own adversities and find the hidden gifts within them. This talk serves as a reminder that sometimes the most challenging experiences can lead to the deepest personal growth.        STEVEN

ASTRID

In "The Best Gift I Ever Survived“, we learn from Stacey Kramer that she survived her brain tumor but while she was being treated she didn't focus on the negative but on the positive. As an example, she had time to think about what’s most important in her life. She had time to take care of herself. She had more time to spend with her family and her friends because she had not spoken to them in a long time. In my opinion, Stacey Kramer survived the brain tumor and she called it the best gift because it made her realize that she needed to appreciate all the good things that were already in her life.     YUI

In “The Best Gift I Ever Survived” by Stacey Kramer, we learn about her brain tumor and how it changes her life. It brings all of her family together, some people and some friends she hasn't met for a long time. She feels more belief and love in herself. She always has positive thinking when facing a dangerous diagnosis. Despite having a brain tumor, she was not afraid at all and saw it a meaningful gift to her life. Sometimes we have to deal with more things that we want, but we should accept it in a positive way and see it as a gift of life. She motivated me and more that the bad things that come, aren't really bad. Sometimes a bad thing is also a good thing. I feel more belief in my life after she shared her story, which is definitely meaningful for me.    DUY

In ”The Best Gift I Ever Survived” we learn from Stacy Kramer that she was

diagnosed with a brain tumor five months before . She chose to call it a "gift"

because it brought incredible things in her life. Stacy felt in this period like never 

before - she felt admiration, adoration, and she was motivated and with new energy. 

During this time her family was all together,  she was even reconnected with old friends that 

she hadn’t communicated with for a long time. She found faith in herself and trust in

her body. She started to meet new people and to have a healthy lifestyle.

This difficult situation for Stacy had helped her to appreciate every good thing that 

it brought back to her life.       RAJMONDA

In "The Best Gift I Ever Survived", we learn from Stacey Kramer who decides to turn a life-threatening diagnosis into something positive and an incredible way to see life in different ways. Without a doubt a gift does not need to be so big to change your life completely, as in Stacey's case family and friends came together, making her feel loved and admired. She knew how to carry out the long process of this change in her life, taking into account that no one prepares us for gifts like this. She knew how to see the positive side of the situation since her family was together again and she had the opportunity to see friends that she had not seen in a long time. My reaction to the main idea is that this story makes me reflect on those situations in life where I can complain about minimal things that are actually nothing compared to what happens to other people.     SARA

Assignment Number Two: Introduce Your Classmate

Precious is from Myanmar and she is 23 years old and lives in Hartford with her brothers. She wakes up everyday at 9 a.m. and stays home all day, and the only days she has to go to Gateway are Mondays and Wednesdays since she only has one class. In her free time, Precious loves to eat and sleep.   Timo

My classmate's name is Abdul and he lives in West Haven with his four kids and his wife. He goes to college on Monday and Wendesday from 5:30 until 8 p.m. Abdul goes to another college on Ruesday and Thursday from morning to afternoon. The other three days he drives Uber to make money for his family. Abdul is a hard worker and a good student.  Ardian

This is Rajmonda who is from Albania and is married. She works at 9:30 a.m. at catering school. Sometimes it is hard and she feels sensitive because her life is changing. She learned English in Albania, but British English, and now she is improving. She likes to walk everyday with her children after school and she cooks "byvek" which is Albanian food because her children love it.  Steven

My classmate's name is Ardian and he lives in Shelton with his two kids and his wife. His kids go to school everyday. His wife goes to work everyday, but he doesn't work. He tries to find a good job and to more money. He makes food at home for his kids.     Abdul

Sara is my friend. Sara lives with her parents, her sister, and her husband. She lives in Essex and she goes to the gym everyday. She loves to cook Ecuadorian food. Denisse

Italo works in construction with his friends. He cooks dinner everyday and his roomate cleans the house. Italo doesn't have a large family - just his father, his brother, and his grandmother. He studies English in Gateway.    Astrid

Denisse is from Ecuador. She lives and works in West Haven. She loves to play video games. Her hobby is to watch anime. She wants to study medicine. She really likes Ecuadorian food, especially enceballado.    Sara

Steven is a young boy from Ecuador. He doesn't live with his mother. Steven works from Monday to Saturday in an accounting company. He doesn't have many friends but he wants to make some and to practice English with them. Steven likes to go to the gym but his favorite sport is climbing. Steven likes cooking but he doesn't have time and he ususally goes to a restaurant.      Rajmonda

This is Axel's daily routine. He wakes up early, brushes his teeth and drinks coffee in the morning. After that he takes his sister to school, and when he goes home, he helps his mother to clean the house. He has a job in a restaurant and he works four days a week. In his free time, he loves going outside to relax and it makes him comfortable.  Duong

Glesly is my classmate on Monday and Wednesday. She works four days a week in a middle school and works one hour everyday in a store. She lives with her mother and brother. She likes to cook . When she has free time she likes to exercise and play piano.       Yui

Timo lives in Guilford with his parents. He works from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with his dad at his dad's company, which is near Guilford Short Lines. In his free time, Timo goes to the gym from 8:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. Also Timo says he has a large family in the U.S. because he has one older sister and one younger brother.  Precious

Astrid works cleaning houses in Branford with her family. She doesn't cook dinner everyday but she likes to clean the whole house with her sisters. Astrid is comfortable in the U.S. because she has a lot of cousins and uncles.   Italo

Nuy wakes up in the morning and eats eggs., but he doesn't like coffee. He goes to the gym then after the gym he goes home and plays video games. He works some days of the week and also in his free time he likes to walk in the park.   Axel

Every morning my classmate Duong makes eggs for his first meal. After he's done he takes the bus to Gateway Community College for his first class of the day. After class he goes back home to help his mom around the house.      LJ

Glesly?

Assignment Number One: Autobiographic Poetry

 Each of us comes from

     somewhere with blossoms.

                 by Victoria Chang

Violets bring spring in my country and children pick them for their teachers.      Rajmonda

I was walking through the center of my city and I saw red roses, so I bought them for my mom.       Timo

The tiny yellow fragrant blossom of Padauk reminds me of the Thingyan Water Festival.          Precious

Violets are one of my favorites because they are small, wild and awesome.     Ardian

When I see a hydrangea with so many colors, I remember my beautiful home in Ecuador.      Sara

My grandma's orchids are the colors of my mother's lips and my mother's roses are the color of my life.     Italo

When I see the huge purple jacarandas I remember how beautiful my town is.      Axel

I remember when I went on vacation and saw a tree with white leaves, and I felt peace.      Steven

The yellow apricot blossom is a symbol of the New Year in Vietnam. Duong

The white orchid reminds me of my grandmother's garden and my city of birth.     Denisse

The arun lily is a beautiful flower that my family gives on every occassion.    Glesly

The jasmine is a beautiful white flower that smells good and is the symbol of love and respect.      Kedparpha

When I smell Lavanda, it makes me feel that I'm there.      Astrid

Red flowers bless me with happiness and feelings of freedom.   Abdul

The hibiscus was a red spark of life around the house.    LJ

Assignment: My Immigration Story

MY IMMIGRANT LIFE by Paola 

 I am an immigrant because a year and a half ago I moved from my country of Ecuador. I was a dentist in Ecuador. All my life I have liked this career, but due to situations I had to leave everything behind in my country, When I got here, I thought life would be easier but I realized that it is not as simple as it seems. When I got here, I realized that I don't have friends or my maternal family nearby, who were the ones I grew up with. but I have a phrase that always makes me get ahead "EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON". This phrase has made me always get ahead of everything I have to experience. 

 In 2021, to enter this country, we had a three months limit. I had to leave everything behind in Ecuador because we got the residency and my family's dream was always to come live here, so it was three months of stress to leave everything there to start here from zero. I felt very excited to come to a new country to discover because my idea was always to come for only two years and then I was would do my specialty in pediatric dentistry in Chile. 

 We arrived in this country in December when the weather was cold all the time and we were locked up at home. It was the most frustrating thing that happened when we arrived in this country. The only places we went out were to the stores to see things but without money, because in reality I came without money. My parents brought me and I depended on them financially and it was very embarrassing to ask them to give me money. 

 Also, when we arrived here, I had to start working in something that I don't like - a warehouse in one of the largest companies in the world called "Amazon". I started in Pennsylvania where the work was boring but easy because we were only in charge of storing clothes in different bins. The people there spoke Spanish, something that was much easier for me because it is my first language. Months passed and we decided to get to know the state of Connecticut because one of my dad's cousins lives here and we really liked the place, so we decided to move here and make all the changes and start from scratch again. 

I took a job transfer in Amazon and I realized that the work here was heavier and more difficult with more technology in the area where I have training. There were days when things were too heavy here. I hurt my sciatic nerve and my shoulders, and I also started to get stressed, and I started biting my lips. because of the anxiety I had with all the changes I had been through. 

I am finally realizing that I must learn to prioritize my goals and my mental health, neither work nor any person should suffer stress or anxiety because these illnesses are too exhausting for life, but my immigrant story continues until I am able to standardize my career and be completely independent.

Assignment: A Mini-Research Paper

 Assignment Six was a much greater challenge. Though the students could choose any subject that interested them, it was also necessary for them to use a primary source in support of their idea. They were required to use quotes and understand how to incorporate those quotes, and to give proper credit to the author. As always, they rose to the task and surpassed my expectations.

Becoming a Vegetarian by Flor

  

I am a beginner vegetarian. six months ago, I became a vegetarian, and it is a big challenge for me. I started to get rid of meat and pork. but I am still eating the chicken and I know I can get rid of chicken soon. I searched information about how meat can affect our vibration, mind, and spiritual level.  I believe that our body can absorb all good and bad energies because of hormones inside of all these kinds of meats.  

 I think about how the animals are raised here in this country. they are very mistreated and suffer a lot. so, I realize always when I eat meat, I start feeling emotionally down and have stomachache. I am incredibly happy to have decided to change my life. I can tell my health is good and I am having wonderful experiences in energetic high vibration in my body.  also, I started feeling better emotionally and have a healthy body and mind.  I am a spiritual woman so I believe in this diet can change my life forever in effective way. 

 According to the Harvard Medical School website there are many advantages to being a vegetarian,” You can avoid obesity, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes and cancer.” cancer. hundreds of studies suggest that eating lots of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of developing certain cancers, and there's evidence that vegetarians have a lower incidence of cancer than nonvegetarians do.”  and it is especially important to have a balanced diet along with fruits, vegetables, plant based and beans. some of the vegetarians still eat fish and poultry because there are 5 kinds of vegetarians. Vegans (total vegetarians): do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any products derived from animals, including eggs, dairy products, and Gelatin.lacto-ovo vegetarians: do not poultry, fish, or dairy products, but do eat eggs. Partial vegetarians: avoid meat but may eat fish (Pesco-vegetarian, pescatarian) or poultry;78 (pollo-vegetarian). This is the reason I have decided to become a vegetarian. 

One of the problems eating meat can cause. “Heart disease. there is some evidence that vegetarians have a lower risk for cardiac events (such as a heart attack) and death from cardiac causes.” which explains how meat can cause other illnesses. In my country Ecuador, there a lot of eating disorders mixing carbs with carbs. like rice, potatoes, flour, and meat.  Getting introduced to a vegetarian diet has really helped me with my health. 

in conclusion eating meat can cause lower body vibration and negative feelings.  I have spiritual beliefs. and these same studies demonstrate that meat can cause a lot of illnesses, like cancer and heart disease. Now I am incredibly happy to have this new habit in my life. I am experiencing good health, and emotionally and mentally feeling great.   

 Gingivitus by Paola

Dentistry is an area that I have always liked, because I had the experience of following this beautiful career in my country where I was able to learn about several diseases that I did not know about.  I also see it in my patients that I had since five years in the university.  In the second part of my first year, I was able to learn about several diseases such as periodontal diseases, one of them is called Gingivitis, the same one that can cause bleeding in all the gums. 

Gingivitis is due to the accumulation of plaque or calculus inside the gums. This is also an important cause of dental cavities. If it is not removed from the teeth, over time it becomes tartar or also known as dental calculus due to the accumulation. calculus on the gums begins to irritate. This is called an inflammatory response, which is part of the body's natural immune response to invading organisms.

Gingivitis is a disease that we can make disappear completely. According to Doctor Kim in Science Magazine your initial professional “cleaning will include removing all traces of plaque, tartar and bacterial products, a procedure known as scaling and root planing. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. Root planning removes the bacterial products produced by inflammation, smooths the root surfaces, discouraging further buildup of tartar and bacteria, and allows proper healing. The procedure may be performed using instruments, a laser or an ultrasonic device.”

Also, according to Doctor Suley, procedures can be performed at home without having to use dentistry machines having a healthy lifestyle in your mouth such as: “brush your teeth twice a day or, better yet, after every meal or snack. use a soft toothbrush and replace it at least every three to four months. consider using an electric toothbrush, which may be more effective at removing plaque and tartar. floss daily. Use a mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth. Supplement brushing and flossing with an interdental cleaner, such as a dental pick, interdental brush or dental stick specially designed to clean between your teeth. Get regular professional dental cleanings on a schedule recommended by your dentist. Do not smoke or chew tobacco.”

This dental disease called gingivitis 75% of all people have it worldwide. caused by not brushing your teeth or by poor tooth brushing technique, which can be reversible if diagnosed and treated early. It can be treated with dental materials or with the instructions of a dentist so that it can be done at home depending on the severity of the condition. That is why it is always recommended to go for a dental check-up every 6 months to avoid periodontal diseases and maintain a healthy mouth. At the same time, you will be avoiding paying too much money by going to your dentist.

Crossfit's Importance In My Life by Mona

When I was 20 years old, in Medellín - Colombia, I started a very famous training program about how to get your body in shape faster. I got interested and I became an irregular fitness student, going back and forth. It was good because I got the results I wanted for my body. In June of 2021 I moved to the US. I was sad because I was new in the US and without friends and nothing fun to do and of course gaining more weight. There in June 2022  I found a Branford Crossfit place near my house and now I have been there 20 months straight.

CrossFit is a great community group of people working out together all of them are different ages between 17 to 75 years old, and also they have classes for kids.  It requires special coaches, is a high-intensity interval training and comparable to other high-intensity exercises, training time per day is approximately one hour. It's very modern and fun training. but to have a successful result you have to know the development, benefits and risks.

The workouts are intense but can improve fitness, build strength, and boost mental health, On the National Library of Medicine ¨Its popularity has grown worldwide over the past decade since its inception by Greg Glassman in 1996 in the USA with more than 15,000 affiliated gyms worldwid¨ but the risk is ´The most common injury types were spinal injuries, accounting for 20.9%¨about development ¨One of the main features of CrossFit is that the exercises are performed quickly and repetitively while there is limited or no recovery time between the sets¨.

I can say crossfit changed my life. I'm 30 years old and right now I'm doing moves I couldn't do before, like: handstands, pull-ups, burpees, climbing the rope, etc. I have become a disciplined person by attending Crossfit classes and eating 70% healthy. 

It totally helped me with my mental health, feeling the support of a group of people, feeling the good vibes and music while I'm doing the exercises, of course I met good friends who this year have brought great good moments to my life, and I feel proud of the results I have obtained and know that I can be better.

Bibliography:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7473349/

My Daughter's Autism Diagnosis by Katrina

           I never knew autism before in my life. I had no idea what it meant. I noticed my daughter had something wrong going on with her, but at that time no one could tell me what it was, not even the doctor. I noticed she didn't like to smile at around 6 months. She had not waved her hands for 15 months. She almost always ignored us when I or anyone called her name. Then the doctor let me make an appointment to check her ears. I knew that she had no problem with her ears because she would look at me when I played kids' music, clapped my hands or when there was any kid around her. But it was a very difficult process to get her diagnosed. It took me almost 3 years to get a result because of Covid.           

       Before I got the result my sister sent me a video about autistic children in Chinese. She told me indirectly to let me know that could be my daughter’s problem. At that time I was shocked because all I knew was what “autism” meant in Chinese, and that meaning gave me a headache in a couple days. My family was worried about my daughter, but no one wanted to hurt me so nobody told me my daughter had something wrong with her. They always said “she is just a baby and you think too much”. I already knew I wasn’t crazy, so I did what I could do for her without anyone supporting me. 

     Now that I have the result, I am not so shocked because I was kind of sure she had autism, but I still find it hard to believe and I wonder why it happened to me. But now I feel much better and I appreciate the fact that I don’t need to stay in pain not knowing what is happening with her.

           There were many signs that she was a autistic kid before I diagnosed her, but as I said I had no idea what autism was. The signs that I saw from my daughter by the age of 4 years old were reported on the NIMH website. On the National Institute of Mental Health’s website under Autism Spectrum Disorder they write ”making little or inconsistent eye contact, not responding or being slow to respond to her name, trouble with back and forth of conversation, having trouble understanding another person’s point of view, and difficulties adjusting behaviors to social situations and difficulties sharing in imaginative play or in making friends.”

           The report explains the causes that the scientific community believes currently, “The possible causes of it researchers don’t know the primary causes of ASD, but studies suggest that a person’s genes can act together with aspects of their environment to affect development in ways that lead to ASD. Having a sibling with ASD, having older parents, having certain genetic conditions (such as Down's syndrome or Fragile X syndrome) or having a very low birth weight.

    The report also discussed the possible treatment,  “The treatment for ASD should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis. Early treatment for ASD is important as proper care and services can reduce individuals’ difficulties while helping them build on their strengths and learn new skills. People with ASD may face a lot of problems, which means that there is no single best treatment for ASD. Working closely with a health care provider is an important part of finding the right combination of treatment and services. In CT many services, programs, and other resources are available to help people with ASD. Here are some tips for finding these additional services:Contact your healthcare provider, local health department, school, or autism advocacy group to learn about special programs or local resources.”

            I think I am so lucky to find out my girl has ASD around 5 years old but please any of you don't hesitate to talk with your kid doctor about autism if you think your kid has some autistic behaviors. There are many kinds of autism so don’t be scared or think that is something that needs to hide. ASD can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 2. It is important to seek an evaluation as soon as possible. The earlier ASD is diagnosed, the sooner treatments and services can begin. My angel is already in treatment and she is doing such a great job. I sent her to speech and occupational therapy in school at age of 4 so now I am so proud of myself for what I did for my girl. I can tell myself my girl will have a normal life having the career that she wants and build a beautiful family in her life.

Bibliography

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd