The Intensive English students at Miami Dade College shared some of their childhood memories with the class. Some stories were funny, some were sad, and some just wonderful. We all enjoyed hearing about one another's lives and what we did when we were younger.
18 comments:
HAIRCUT DAY
One of my early memories is from when I was about four years old. I never had long hair because it was kept extremely short. This was cheaper for my father because then I did not need many expensive haircuts. Also, the barber was in the next city, Dalaman, and we could also save money because we did not have to travel there by bus for my haircut. We could have gone on our old donkey, but it was usually needed to work in the fields. My aunt had one of the first televisions in the village, and I saw that all the children had long hair in 1985, and I wanted long hair like them. I always tried to escape from my father on Tuesdays because that was “haircut day”, and my father was my barber and wanted to cut my long hair! I would go by sea near my village with my friends to hide from my father. There were different fruits there, especially pomegranates. We would have fun and eat them. Sometimes I even slept in a hut with the cows so my father could not find me. One time when my friends were gone and I was alone, I fell into a deep pond. I could not swim because at the time I was only five years old. My older cousin heard me and saw me, and she pulled me out by grabbing my long hair. After that, my father and his friends thought that having long hair was a good idea. It saved my life.
MURAT KARA (Turkey)
Speech 5
WhenI was 10 years old, I was elected to be on the play at school. I was extremely happy because I really liked to dance and act. The play was about food and fruits, so they choose me to be an apple(red).I invited all my family to the play.Every afternoon I used to use the costume at home to do all my activities as eat,sleep and ride bike.It was really funny because everytime my mom asked me to take the costume off , I didn't want.The day of the event I went to the hair salon to have my hair done and some make up on my face.I got dressed with my read apple costume.Then, my parents drop me off at the back of the teather.When the play started I was ready to go on stage, I started to dance and everything was incredible when BOOM!! I lost a shoe! It was terrible, and I was extremely sad.I felt like my own world gets down, so I started to cry and cry.. All my friends were looking at my , and that made me feel worse.I really ruined the show, so Mrs.Rodriguez took me of the stage. Nowdays, my brother put the video of that play and laugh about me.Its really a shame!
Carla
Venezuela
When I was 3 years old I got into an accident that I could never forget. My mom used to go to work and school and she dropped me off to the babysitter’s house every single day, but one day while I was taking the nap, the babysitter was busy doing the domestic work. She thought I was sleeping but suddenly I got up from the bed and I walked closer to the bedroom door. I didn’t realize that there was an old fan on the door, but there was not enough room to go getting my head stuck in the fan causing serious damages to the right side of my head. I had been taken to the hospital immediately where doctors made the decision to proceed with the surgery without anesthesia. They needed to proceed right away and there was no time to call the anesthesiologist to evaluate the case. One of the many things that I remembered is when my grandmother came into the hospital screaming, and how family panicked may and they looked at me horrified. That was the worse part of the story. Finally I had the surgery and every thing came out perfectly but I had to wear a helmet for about 3 months in my bed to heal the scars done by the surgery. My grandmother didn’t go to work anymore because she wanted take care of me. I’m still wondering how I could survive that day and be alive now. With this accident I learned that we need to be careful with children because they always are prone to danger.
My First Singing Contest
By: Alba Collazos
When I was 5 years old, I was in first grade of an elementary school in my country Colombia. There was a singing contest, and I was chosen from my class to represent them. I had to compete with other students from elementary, middle and high school. When I told my parents they suggested me a song to sing. It was "Los Pollitos", which is a children's popular song, but I refused to do it. I wanted to sing a famous song from the radio (I don't remember the tittle, but it was something about love). My parents thought it would be difficult for me, but it wasn't. I learned the lyrics of that song. Finally, I won the first place. From that moment on, I began my career as a singer, and my father became my manager.
My story was in 2002 when I was 12 years old. I was sleeping when I woke up and I saw my cousin, uncle and aunt in my house instead of being in their house. As soon as they saw me, they hugged me and my uncle told me your father had an accident in the U.S and he died. That was terrible to me because I had never thought that it could happen to me because I was almost a child when my dad died. Then my mom came to me and she told me the same thing. She was nervous and crying like me when I said to her my life will never be happy. She looked to me and told me your dad is in the heaven but you are in the Earth so the only thing that you can do for him is study and be a good boy. In the next two months my dad arrived to Cuba and he was holding a wake over and buring in that country. I will never forget that terrible day.
I am going to tell a story which happened in my childhood. One day afternoon, my grandmother’s friends and their grandchildren came to my house. The adults played cards in the hall, and the children played in the backyard. There was a girl called Kiki played with me in my grandmother’s bedroom. My grandma liked smoking so much, and there were a lot of lighter on her desk.I lighted the lighter as what I saw my grandma used to do. We were so excited to see the fire come from the little lighter. That was amazing,we both thought.We didn’t know when the mosquito net caught fire and how would it caught fire. We were shock and didn’t know how to do .Just stood near the bed like a bump. A strong smoke came from my grandma’s bedroom, my grandma and her friends knew something bad have happened,and they quickly came to the room. They were shock by the fire and asked us to stayed in the backyard with other children. They tried their best to put out the fire. In concrast, children were crying in the backyard.Fortunately, after four minutes ,the fire was under control,but my grandma’s bedroom was burned down by fire.Even though my grandma didn’t blame me, I still got a bad shadow about fire.
My childhood memory
When I was a child, my mother always took time out to go out with me and my sister. I remembered a lot of places could give me a lot of fun. But My favorite childhood place was my grandmother’s house. She lived in a big house far away from the city in a countryside named Cabarete. We used to go there in Summer. It was the best time to visit my lovely grandmother because all my family meet there at the same time. Sometimes there were 30 people in the house. Her house was close to the beach; It took five minutes to walk there. We swam in the water, built sand castles, played with my sister and cousin. If we felt tired, we just lied down on the beach and closed our eyes. We saw the clouds and counted the birds. The sand was very soft, the water was warm, and the sky was very clear.
My grandmother had a barn with chicken, ducks and cows, and we used to play and feed the animals. We learned how to make butter, Dulce de leche, and fruit salad.
The best time was in the nights when everybody especially my grandfather, started to tell some old or scary story. We played cards, Bingo and hide and seek, and everybody played, even my grandma and my grandfather. Twenty (20 ) or thirty (30) people playing together was amazing.
I remembered one night when my sister and I, tried to scare my cousin Carolina. It was very dark, at midnight and I put a blanket on my head. I started to cry “ Buuu
“ Booo I am the Devil ” “ I am a bad ghost and I want your soul ” My cousin immediately began crying and screaming at the top of her lungs.
She yelled “ Mom help me please, there is a ghost, It is the devil ” and my grandpa asked
“ Who is there ? ” and took out his Gun. My sister and I ran away and called my Mom, “Please Mom help! My grandpa is upset, he has his gun”. We woke up all my family, everybody started asking what happened, why everybody was screaming and my Mom explained to him what we tried to do to my cousin and my grandpa said “ I know, I heard their plan before. I was just trying to scared her, too. ”
After that day, I never scared anybody.
I miss my childhood, especially the beach and my grandma’s house, which give me a lot of unforgettable memories.
Paola Zaglul
Since I was a child I love soccer. I always watched it on TV, and play with my uncle but never practice it formally. At the age of 5, my uncle took me to a soccer club where he practices. That day I was very happy, my parents bought soccer shoes, and everything I needed.
I remember that day was a Tuesday, I was in kinder garden. I was anxious because I knew that, in the afternoon, I will go to practice. I arrived to the club, it was very nice. It has a pool, a restaurant, and 3 soccer fields. I was amused. We walk through the field, the coaches; say hi to my uncle and to me. My uncle said to them that I want to practice with them, and they sent me to one field with other children.
The practice was, very good. The coach’s name was Oswaldo. He gave us some balls, and taught us how to pass it, and how to shoot them. Also, we play a game 5 vs. 5, and my team wins that day. Since that day, I went to practice almost every day. Every time I go to Venezuela, I pass by the club to greet the coaches and practice with them.
Gustavo
Venezuela
My Memorable Gift
My memorable birthday gift is a dog that I got when I was 20 years old. It was from my parents.
Although over 8 years have passed, I still remember the day when I got this gift. That day was my birthday. I knew I would get a gift from my parents. When I came home from school, I saw a small box in my bedroom. I thought that it should be my birthday gift. I opened the box slowly and was surprised to find a cute puppy inside the box. Oh, I had my own pet now. “Do you like her?” my father said to me. I answered quickly “Yes, I like her very much and I want to know more about her.” My father told me she was a Dachshund, which was a short-legged, elongated dog breed. I said “Let’s get a name for her. How about QIUQIU after few minutes thought.” “That is great!” said my father.
Finally, QiuQiu became my sister and she played with me until now.
Tingting
Elizabeth
A Memory from my Childhood
I don’t remember almost anything about my childhood, but I remember one time that I could not walk for almost two months.
I asked my mother and she told me that I had a problem in my hip when I was around six years old. I had to stay in bed in order to get better, so I passed from the bed to the sofa and the other way around.
It is very difficult for all people, now imagine for a six years old girl than wanted to run and play outside. But I was a kid, so I only remember the things that were good for me. I remember the fact that my mother and my grandmother game more attention to me. I loved that I had a sister and they took care of my sister too, but I was the one that was sick.
I remember one occasion when my aunt came home to visit us she gave to my sister and a I two beautiful balloons and two Minnie Mouse dolls. I had forgotten that day and I kept the doll until I gave it to my younger cousin.
Another day that I had never forgotten was when my father came to the trip she was when I get sick. I was sleeping, but my mother woke up me. I kissed and hugged my dad.
He brought to us two games. One was a Lego box. And the other was a little house with a little woman and her kid and also a cat.
I remembered me setting the games up at that time in the night. My mother put a blanket in the floor for me and we play together because my sister was sleeping.
I will never forget that situation in my life.
MY Firts Bike
When I was seven years old,my parentes gave my first bike as a gift.It was pink because I love this color.I remember I just came from school and I was playing with my friends.My mom called from the yard.When I got there she told me:"close your eyes,I got a surprise for you."After a few seconds my dad brought the bike and put it right in front of me.My mom screamed:"open your eyes."OMG<whan I saw that beautiful pink bicycle,I began to jump and scream like crazy.I was so happy to see my bike.My parents were amazed to see that I loves their gift.Immediately my dad took me to the park and I rode it until I was got tired of doing this.My friends liked the bike and rode it too.riding my bike was like a routine,every day when I got home from school I always rode my bike at the park with my friends.I loved to do that!!But one day,I was riding the bike by my neighborhood and i hit a car which was in front of a house.I fell down on the street and I got unconcious.One of my friends saw me and ran to help me.One of my neighbors called my mom.My mommy was so nervous and scared,she ran to see me.My dad called the rescue truck,and it took me to the hospital.After an hour in the hospital,I woke up and the doctor told me what had happened. I was in pain,but thank God nothing serious happened to me.After the doctor made some physicall exams,i could go home.I took some pills for the pain and I rested in bed.The next day,I couldn't go to school,but my classmates visited me and made me feel so much better.After three days,i went back to school and I felt wonderful,but i couldn't ride my bike anymore.I was so afraid!!
Arlenis Arrascaeta
When I was five years old I got lost in a bus station in Cuba. I remember that I was with my parents waiting for the next stop and when I got off of the bus , it was so crowded, and I didn't see my parents. I couldn' t find them. So I started to cry a lot. Just that I remember is when an old woman took me to the Information Center. They wanted to know about my parent's name. Inmediately, they called my mother and my father through the speaker. Surprise , they suddenly appear! At the present when we are talking about that day, my parents tell me that they won't never forget this bad experience.
Maylet Merino,February 2010.
angie said
this is not a childhood memory,but its my most uforgatable moment
the day when my baby natalie borned
that was on dec 14 o 2006 when i woke up i was so tired becouse i could't sleept well , i remember that my mother-in-law called me a told me if i want to go to the mall to buy some christmas gifts so told her 'ok' so we got to the mall after afew miuteswe went to thw victoria secret store and i started to feel my contrations so itold my mother-in-law nd she told me 'lets go' s we went to her house and i called my doctor and he told me that i ha to g to the hospital inmidiatly s i called my husband and my bother in law took me to the hospital but we were lost becouse he was nervous so when i finnaly get to the hospital my husband who work at the airport was there long time ago so the nurses took care of me and after 30 minutes i finnaly knew my baby.
I studied three years in an internal high school. This had a pool, but it was broken for years, so the students used to go up to the water tank in the flat roof. All of us had to drink that water an took ashower from it, but we didn't matter about that. One day, when I was in 11 grade, my friends and I talked with a professor who had to stay at school that nigh to take care the students to help us to pass to the boy's dormitory to go up to the water tank. Around 12:00 A.M, some our friends went to my friends and I to help us to pass to the boy’s dormitory in the four floor. After that, they went
up to the flat roof. Then my friends and I had to climb to the sink and the boys took us to put up threw a hole that measured 4x4 inches. When all of us were in the flat roof, we had to ran with our
body down for the professor couldn’t see us and climb the stair to the water tank to swam. That was dangerous because it was close with a hole that measured 4x4inches and was very dark. When
we went back, we saw a professor, so we had to put down. Finally we went to the dormitory with an dangerous and unforgettable experience.
Greidy
Susie Arias:
When I was 14 years old, I went to catholic school in Colombia; witch is called El Carmelo de Sabaneta. I was in ninth grade and I have a group of 4 friends. We life a lot of moments together, I but I remember one in specific. One day we went to class normally and all people at my school were used to carry a thermos. I remember that I liked so much what Monica used to drink every day, so I asked her if I can drink I little bite of that. She said “off curse Susie you can”, so I got the thermos and drank. The problem was that the thermos didn’t contain the regular beverage that I wanted intend of, it contained Aguardiente. In the first moment I got angry, but 5 minutes later I drank it by myself. We drank about 5 shot each. Then one student of other class, who hated Julie one of my friends, saw us and she went to the principal office and told her that we were drinking Aguardiente in the school. The principal went to our classroom and asked to pull the all thermos in front of the class. We didn’t put Monica’s at front. We were trying to throw it away by the window, but we couldn’t. After she checked the all thermos, she called us and took us to her office. I was so scared!!! When we arrived in her office, she started to ask a lot questions and called our parents. She suspended us for one week. In that week we were in finals exams, so we get an F in two of them. One month later, she expulsed us and we had went to a different school each. I will never forget this day because it changed my life for ever.
" The unforgettable things "
I have a sad memory, get it during my infancy, at the age of 4 years old. I can’t remember the date exactly, but my mind captured the most important details from the event. Everything started a night that it would seem to be fun and quiet. My parents and I were in a cabaret- restaurant named “Los Rios”, (The rivers). Almost, it were midnight, the entertaining show with dancers, singers was the attraction in that place. I requested my mom go to the bathroom and on the returning way from it, we saw a lady from our neighborhood, who surprisingly asked to my mother what she was doing there? Maria (my mom) more surprised than her did the question, what’s going on? Something occurred to your nephew Jose - Alina (the lady) – answered. I don’t know if I’m being prudent or not, telling you this in this place, nevertheless, you have to be informed.
- Tell me, Alina, what happened?
- In the afternoon I talked with a person who is related to your nephew family. She said that he shot to himself when he returned to the military base where he is doing service as soldier.
My mom only could exclaim “Oh, my God!” and started to cry.
- Sorry, Maria, but you had to know. I’m sorry for that new!
She couldn’t say anything else because she was not in control of her emotions. She took my little hand and begun walking toward my father. I didn’t understand anything in that time. I felt scared and confused. When my father heard the story, proposed go to Pinar del Rio suddenly and find out with my mom’s sister in law what exactly happened.
By the time we arrived to Pinar, it was really late. My father thought, if it is truth, there is only one funerary where they might be. He drove straight to the place he supposed we might find them.
He was completely right. My entire cousin’s family, friends, were in there. Jose’s mother were disconsolately crying and screaming.
At this moment, the hardest part for my parents was not that one, they were thinking how explain the incident to my uncle, who was living in Chicago since 1980, 2 years before i born. I don’t know how they did it, although I realize, it was the most terrible new my uncle have never received.
Today, this is just a memory. When somebody is talking about it, there is neither crying nor screams; despite it is impossible to white out impressions from our mind, due to the fact that the persons we love are unforgettable for us.
Author: Aida Ferret
I have a sister with almost my same age, when we were children my mom use to dress up alike and give us thhe same hairstyle, and we almost share all the things. It was so funny because even though my mon did all this things we both were totally different. then in my childhood i used to play with dolls and barbies, i couldn't stop to play with them, unlike my sister who used to play with the children, ride bikes, play sports and all the things that i hated. When i was 8 years old my parents had the amazing ide TO Gve us a couple of bycicles for chritsmas. I remember it like yesterday! i couldn't believe that Santa was giving me a bike for chritsmas, but not because i liked it but it's actually the opposite. I remember my parents all the time insisted me to use that but i didn't care about it. They always were comparing me with my sister because i didn't want to use it, but they never got me to ride the bycicle, and the little pinkk bike was left for almost all my chilhood. And now i regret it because i never learned how to ride a bycicle and now i wish i have listenned to my parents.
by: Gabriela Castellar.
My First Ballet Recital.
I was only five years old when I started dancing ballet. I was in Vicky's Academy, which was a cultural arts academy. I was so scared on my first class, but I started liking it with the time. Vicky was my instructor and she was involved in every activity we had. I took classes with girls of my age, but the recital they planned was with different ages girls. I learned everything. I was the first girl who went out on the scenery. My aunt who is involved in TV media taught me how to lose my fears. Also how not to be scared in front thousands of people. So, I went out on the scenery. My mom, my aunt, and my entire family member were there for my first big experience. Also my mom's friends and other people that I did not know were there. I did everything the way they planned it and it was the most beautiful and gorgeous presentation. My mom was crying, my grandma, my aunt, and friends were crying too. I was so proud of myself and I continue taking classes for 9 years. After that, I started liking it a lot and enjoying every single class I took.
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