CISL Blog

To Wanda, “I’m sorry, I haven’t done my homework”… What is my excuse today? After three days, I’m still feeling jetlagged or maybe I should look for another explanation of being tired. As a matter of fact, I attend class all day long and in the evening I run to meet Bill and participate in the very diverse activities he proposes. So when could I find time to do my homework?

In our school activity, I went to the Castro theater to watch the primier of “Alice in Wonderland”. This was the first time that I went to an old style movie theater where an organist plays the organ before the movie starts. And I also saw a lot of people who dressed up in costume. (eg. the rabbit, soldiers, the Madhatter, Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the White Queen). I was surprised at how old they were. I really enjoyed the movie and Castro Street. And after watching the movie, I also had a chance to go to a restaurant with other school students.

The day I arrived in SF, I was nervous because I hadn’t practiced my English for a long time. I had to speak with a police officer when I arrived at the airport, so I was afraid about having difficulties understanding him. It was surprising when the officer talked to me in Spanish, and the guy who drove me to the residence club too. When I went to Jack in The Box to order a hamburger and everybody there were speaking in Spanish, my mother called me to find out my first impressions of the city. I asked her, “Will I learn any English here?”

This story happened the first week I came to San Francisco. The first time I went to an American restaurant for brunch, I looked over the menu and just selected an item which included eggs. I thought it was done but the waitress asked me “How do you want them?” All I know about cooking is rare, medium and well-done steak. But there was no steak! I was confused. So my aunt ordered instead of me and I realized that the question was about the eggs and there are many choices: scrambled eggs, over easy, over medium, over hard and sunny-side up. How specific it is! It’s interesting that there are a lot of ways for cooking even an egg.

Also the one thing still confusing me is the coins. Whenever I pay in cash, I forget which one I should give. So I spread the coins in my hand and then the cashier takes the money by himself. It makes me feel like being a baby. But I should use the coins because if I only pay with the paper money, my wallet gets heavier. Thus I love a debit card more. But whenever I have to pay in cash, I’m still a little nervous.

What is San Francisco for me??????

Before I came to San Francisco, I had decided to go to Boston to study English. Because I wanted to know how Americans study. But I didn’t go there. There were many reasons. One of them is that Boston is colder than San Francisco.

When I was flying over the San Francisco, I was surprised by the beautiful views. When the airplane was landing, I got excited and scared. Actually it was the first time out of my country. I thought many things like how to live, how to make friends, and what to do in emergency situation, but it was a good place to live and to study. Americans were very kind to me. After taking level test, I went to Bank of America to open my account. I didn’t know how to open an account in San Francisco. But it was so easy Because of the staff. They were kind and they helped me to understand about their account. After that, I took a walk for about 2 hours. There were many restaurants and cafés.  I was wondering about StarBucks. I went there and I ordered a caramel machiatto Grande, But it was the wrong choice. Because I hadn’t eaten anything, I got stomach ache. I had to go to my residence. I couldn’t do anything for a day.      I didn’t do many things in San Francisco, But I think I’ll get used to staying here. After one month, I will try to drink a caramel machiatto again.

Converse International School of Language.    –CISL-

Last Sunday I couldn’t help but go to CISL. I wanted exactly to know where it was. I had already seen it on Google. It was amazing that I see the road of the San Francisco on Google.

It is the first school of language for me to study English out of country. Everything was awkward. I couldn’t speak English when I got to class. Pronunciation that is not familiar is hard to listen to. But I think it will get better. I think it is the last chance to improve my speaking skills, writing and pronunciation. After studying in here, I have to prepare to get a job. I’ll really study English hard for 1 year. I want teacher to help me to achieve my goal. I thought it was lucky to come here. Because I met good teacher and friends.

In my case, I’ve never been to America. Before I came here, I was a little worried about what would be happened. I still remember my first day in San Francisco. Everything was so different from my own country that I couldn’t do well what I had to do. For example, when I had to take the Muni (bus), I didn’t recognize the stop that I had to get off, so I went to the Cathedral of St. Mary. Now I’m used to taking the Muni. I feel really sorry for raising the fare of Muni. It’s totally a tragedy! The current price is high enough.

Speaking of English, I don’t regret my choice. In Converse, I met a lot of people who came from different countries. I believe that you can’t master English only by books or lessons. Fortunately, the people who I met in Converse are funny. They know how to enjoy their own life. I always go out with them. I can feel that my speaking skill is pretty improved because of that. At the same time, I have unforgettable memories of San Francisco. (Also, I now know some fabulous clubs.) I live in my second home with my second family, whom I really love. I’m not sure the city feels the same way I do. But San Francisco, I love you!