Feliz Día Internacional De La Mujer!!

English below Spanish.

El 8 de marzo de todos los años se celebra el Día Internacional de la Mujer. Esta fecha fue instaurada oficialmente en 1977 por la organización de las Naciones Unidas y es celebrada en casi todos los países del mundo.

A lo largo de la historia siempre hubo movimientos a favor de los derechos de la mujer, como la lucha por la igualdad de géneros, ya sea en el ámbito social estos es, derecho al voto, educación, etc. En el campo laboral, igualdad de salarios, etc. También en el ámbito familiar, especialmente contra el abuso físico y sicológico de la mujer en el hogar, muy arraigado en los países del tercer mundo y especialmente en nuestras comunidades latinas.

En los últimos años ha habido muchos progresos y triunfos en referencia a estas reinvidicaciones, pero todavía falta trabajar más. Por eso debemos reiterar nuestro compromiso y solidaridad con nuestras mujeres, especialmente con las trabajadoras y luchadoras.

¡¡Feliz día a todas las mujeres del mundo!!

Ernichan.

Happy International Women’s Day!

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8th. This holiday was officially established in 1977 by the United Nations, and is celebrated in almost all countries around the world.

Throughout history there have always been women’s rights movements, like the fight for gender equality, whether that be in the social sphere like the right to vote, to education, etc; in the labor sphere, equal pay for equal work, etc; also in the family sphere, particularly against physical and psychological abuse of women in the home, which is deeply entrenched in third world countries and especially in our Latino communities.

In recent year there has been much progress and many triumphs around these demands, but still more work is needed. This is why we must reiterate our commitment to and solidarity with our women, especially with women workers and fighters.

To all the women of the world, have a wonderful day!

Ernichan.

Photo by Ernichan

Mis compras

English below Spanish.

Mis compras las hago en diferentes tiendas. Busco donde estén las cosas más baratas por lo menos. La Walmart, en esta tienda compro mis cosas personales: jabón, champú, detergente, líquidos para los baños. En la tienda Mi Pueblo compro una parte de comida. Busco lo que esté en especial. En la tienda china compro la otra parte de comida y siempre busco lo que esté en especial. Mi ropa la compro en la Ross y sí, siempre busco o que esté barato, zapatos y ropa. Siempe me ha gustado economizar más mi dinero para que me alcance para todos mis gastos personales y familiares, pago de renta.

–Vilma

My purchases

I do my shopping in different stores. I at least look for where things are the cheapest. In Walmart I buy my personal items: soap, shampoo, detergente, bathroom liquids. At the store Mi Pueblo I buy part of my groceries. I look for what’s on sale. At the Chinese store I buy the rest of my groceries, always looking for what’s on sale. I buy my clothes at Ross, and yes, I always look for what’s inexpensive, shoes and clothes. I have always liked to economize and save my money so that it covers all my personal and family expenses, rent.

–Vilma

Día San Valentín

English below Spanish.

El día de San Valentín es una fecha muy especial para los enamorados y creo que para toda persona que tenga un amigo o amiga a quien expresarle su afecto y cariño. Una fecha que nos recuerda que somos queridos y recordados por la familia, o por alguien especial. Cosa que por supuesto se siente bonito y que nos hace especiales para alguien.

Pero a título personal yo sinceramente creo que deberíamos expresarnos cariño y afecto diariamente. Como seres humanos y como hermanos habitantes de este planeta llamado Tierra, y olvidarnos del materialismo y mercantilismo que se ha convertido el 14 de febrero, “Día de San Valentín.”

-Dannito74

Valentine´s Day

Valentine’s Day is a very special date for lovers and, I believe, for anyone who has a friend to express affection and love to. It’s a day that reminds us that we are loved and remembered by our family, or by someone special. It’s something that of course feels nice and which makes us special for someone.

But in my opinion, I sincerely believe that we should express love and affection to one another daily; as human beings and as brother and sister inhabitants of this planet named Earth, forget the materialism and mercantilism that February 14^th, “Valentine’s Day,” has turned into.

-Dannito74

Una Semana Para Recordar

Photo by Ernichan

English below Spanish.

Esta semana pasada fue muy agitada para mi y mis compañeros. Se acercaba el día de San Valentín y en coordinación con la profesora de música, Christine, y la directora ejecutiva del Day Worker Center, Sra. Maria, se acordó hacer una actividad a todo dar: un almuerzo y una actuación musical donde se incluiría una variedad de canciones como “The Last Kiss”, “As Tears Go By”, “Guantanamera”, “La Bamba”, etc. Las cuales tuvimos que ensayarlas muy fuerte con el grupo musical y en algunos momentos, estresante. Llegó el gran día, 14 de febrero. Se preparó el banquete a las 12pm y al terminar el almuerzo, se dio paso a los numeros musicales preparados por nosotros. Creo que fue una actuación regular, pero eso no acabó ahí. En esa misma noche tuvimos nuestra prueba de fuego, tocar en el prestigioso restaurante Los Charros de Mountain View, CA. Creo que allá fuimos más resueltos, con más confianza, sin nervios, e hicimos una buena actuación. Tanto es así que hicimos tres rondas de las canciones. Una grata experiencia especialmente para mi y ya que por más de 30 años no tocaba la guitarra, pero creo todo salió bien.

Photo by Ernichan

A Week to Remember

This past week was very busy for me and my fellow workers. Valentine’s Day was getting closer, and together with the music teacher, Christine, and the executive director of the Day Worker Center, Sra. Maria, we went all out in putting together an activity: a lunch and musical performance in which such songs as “The Last Kiss”, “As Tears Go By”, “Guantanamera”, “La Bamba”, etc would be included. We had to rehearse these very hard as a musical group, which was in some moments stressful. The day finally arrived, February 14th. The banquet was prepared at 12pm, and upon finishing lunch, it was time for the musical numbers we had prepared. I think it was an okay performance, but it didn’t end there. That same night we had our trial by fire, play at the prestigious restaurant of Los Charros in Mountain View, CA. I think that there we were more determined, with more confidence, no nerves, and we gave a good performance. So good that we did three rounds of songs. It was a pleasant experience especially for me, since I hadn’t played guitar for more than 30 years, but I think everything went well.

Dia De San Valentin

English below Spanish.

El pasado 14 de febrero fue un dia muy especial porque un grupo de amigos dirigidos por la maestra de musica Christine Chatwell tuvimos la oportunidad de participar haciendo una interpretacion coral.    Esta presentacion fue en un conocido restaurante a las 7 p.m. Estuvimos  como 15 personas del Day Worker Center y tuvimos algunos invitados como la encantadora presencia de tres estudiantes de la Universidad De Santa Clara.

Quiero dar un agradecimiento muy especial a Lauren quien estuvo cantando y tocando su guitarra, asi como a todas las personas que nos apoyaron con su presencia…….gracias……..

Fue una noche muy bonita porque nos atrevimos a hacer algo que no hacemos todos los dias y aunque estuvimos nerviosos al comenzar lo superamos. Fue una experiencia que no olvidare porque se que mi situacion no es facil y aunque estoy lejos de mi familia, aqui e conocido gente con gran calidad humana. Juntos hicimos que esa noche fuera un exito.

Gracias mil.

Valentine’s Day

February 14 was a very special day, as a group of friends led by music teacher Christine Chatwell had the opportunity to participate and perform musically. This performance took place in a well-known restaurant at 7pm. There were about 15 people from the Day Worker Center as well as some guests, like the wonderful presence of three Santa Clara University students.

I want to give a special thank you to Lauren, who was singing and playing her guitar, as well as to all those who supported us with their presence…thank you…

It was a very beautiful evening because we dared to do something that we don’t do everyday, and although we were nervous at the beginning we overcame that. It was an experience that I won’t forget, because I know that my situation isn’t easy. Although I’m far away from my family, here I have met some amazing, personable people. Together we made sure that the night was a success.

Many thanks.

“Secure Communities” S-COMM: Es seguro para nuestra comunidad latina?

Photo by linear85

El Dia 28 de Enero se dio un gran paso para la reinvidicacion de los derechos civiles especialmente para la comunidad latina. Ese dia se reunio una gran multitud en la catedral de San Francisco, California. Fueron aproximadamente 2000 personas venidas de diferentes organizaciones pro-inmigrantes y defensores de los derechos civiles del area de la bahia tales como PICO–PIA. (People Improving Communities through Organizing/Peninsula Interfaith Action).

Esta accion fue en protesta contra el programa federal llamado S-COMM “Comunidades Seguras” que se quiere aplicar al estado de California. Que con su sutil nombre es abiertamente un programa anti-inmigrante usado por ICE para la deportacion y separacion de familias de nuestra comunidad latina. Este programa funcionaria asi: la policia local aprovechando el perfil racial solicitaria documentos a las personas para verificiar su estado migratorio y al verificar que es una persona indocumentada. Esta seria detendida y derivada al departamento de ICE para su proceso inmediato de deportacion, accion injusta y cruel.

Fue grata mi sorpresa al saber que muchas autoridades religiosas de San Francisco como el arzobispo Niederauer apoyan nuestra causa justa y nuestras voces de protesta han sido y seran escuchadas. !!!!SEGUIMOS EN LA LUCHA!!!!

Photo by linear85 on wordpress

On January 28th, a big step was taken towards the reinstatement of civil rights, especially for the latin community. On this day, a large group met in the cathedral in San Francisco, California. Approximately 2,000 people came from different pro-immigration organizations and groups that defend civil rights throughout the Bay Area such as PICO-PIA (People Improving Communities through Organizing/Peninsula Interfaith Action).

This meeting was to protest the federal program called S-COMM “Secure Communities” that was approved by the state of California. With its subtle name it’s actually an openly anti-immigration program used by ICE to deport and separate families from our community. The program works like this: the local police take advantage of racial profiling to ask for documentation from people to verify their legal status and check if they are undocumented. Then they would be detained by ICE and begin the immediate process of deportation, an injust and cruel response.

To my great suprise, many religious from San Francisco like the Archbishop Niederauer supported our just cause and our voices of protest were heard and will continue to be heard. !!!!SEGUIMOS EN LA LUCHA!!!!

Ernichan

Teaching English is hard, even for the English Teacher

I teach a two hour block on Tuesdays of relatively advanced students. Having a two hour time slot has its challenges. We have time, yet I want to squeeze in as much as possible to make it worth their while. It never works that way.

I’ve been on this homonym kick lately (you remember those, right?). At the level of this particular class, where they can have a basic conversation at least, they’re more aware of English. Which means they’re more aware of its idiosyncrasies. Which means my 30 minute homonym lesson becomes a one hour and fifteen minute homonym lesson.

I got to the center today willing myself to keep it short and move on.,

I began with a basic: to, too, two

This reminded someone of the number four and its counterpart, for. I wrote on the board, “for, four”.

Have you ever tried explaining the meaning of “for”? They started throwing out examples for “for”. Like, “for example”, “for sure”, “I have something for you”. The dictionary didn’t help much; it had about ten different explanations for “for”. And it told me for is a preposition and a conjunction, which is great, except that is a whole other lesson, two in fact.

I went back to my list and we made it through “band” and “banned” without incident. Well, except for the minor set back of using the past tense of banned in a present tense sentence like, “It is banned to smoke here”. Again, several grammar lessons packed into that one sentence.

Another student said, “I read in a book the word “bank” and it wasn’t about where you keep your money.” We put up the words and talked about the place you put your money and a river bank.

“Like the picture on the wall?” he asked.

I said, “No, that’s a cliff. See how high it is? And that body of water is the sea, not a river.” I added “body of water”, “cliff”, “sea”, “ocean”, “shore” to the board. Tangent number three.

Just when I thought we could move on, a student said, “Bank means trust.” I said, “I don’t think so.” He said, “Yes, for example, I bank on the Day Worker’s Center to give me work.” Oh. Teacher gets taught.

So you can see why a simple English lesson is never simple. Even for the English teacher.