Raft

Lucia:

Dear Mum and Dad, I have recently graduated from the Chinese International Boarding School in New York. I'm now heading off to university but I can't speak English! There's no chinese universities here and I'm even having trouble finding an apartment to live in, because I don't have any money and even if I did I can't read the funny shaped letters that they use instead of characters. I can't get a job to pay for my university fees, this is because I cannot speak or understand the strange language that these "Americans" use. What can I do? It seems hopeless. I can't even book a flight online because I can't type in or chinese characters and the pinyin doesn't have tones! Can you please try and find a chinese university that I can go to because otherwise I'm going to be broke. My money is running out fast and I can't find the chinese consulate (partly owing to the fact that I don't have a car and I can't speak to the taxi drivers)! I can't find any English lessons---hey! What luck! As I was writing this letter I looked ahead and saw a small sign reading "English Lessons. Apply at chinese consulate's house. For details, see above" in our language, not in that crazy blabber.

Emily:

Dear brother,

Yesterday I arrived in New York(with a lot of trouble) to make my fortune. This morning I went to try out for the waiter job that I signed up for. They repeated a string of bumpy sounding words before I realized they were asking me a question! I did not know how to respond! There had been chinese people that had helped me communicate at the airport and on the streets,but now I was there and nobody spoke my language! Red-faced with embarrassment, I said to them haltingly" My name is Joe, this is my toe." Repeating to them what Ms. ma had taught me in English classes five years ago. Then, a man with hair as white as the rice that the family sends off to other countries every year stuck a sticker saying 'Joe' onto my blue turtle-neck shirt that MaMa had knitted for me. I felt like pulling it off and saying to him 'why you touch my shirt!' but I did not know how. He told me " now you never need to talk again!" After that I moved to China town because I knew that I could not get that job. I miss you Brother. You are so lucky you got into the English classes and can speak fluent English. Come live with me here in New York and bring Mum and Dad.

Love you, Angel

Marissa :

Dear God : Why I can't learn English again ?!?!?! You see, when I was 4 years old I lived in China ( I don't really know where , but I don't care ). My daddy's buss told him that he was so successful in his job that the buss send him to live in Canada to work and be even more successful. I already knew this was going to happen, my daddy is the best , he is like Superman. One day I was in home watching TV while my mummy was in the store buying clothes and more stuff, i was starving , I called my mummy and she said she will come back soon , then my daddy opened the door and he had a pizza in his hand ! he is my hero, without him I was gonna die ! i am lucky. Anyway, in Canada I learned so much English or enough English for the life , I really liked Canada. One day my dad came to home ,so exited he was carrying my mummy and singing ' Alleluia ' and he told me ' Manuel, finally , we can go back to home with your friends and family !!!!! we can go to China again, imagine , you , mum , and me , in China ' I don't really knew what was going on at that time. We moved to China again and I went to a Chinese school but they only speak Chinese ,now you see my problem ??? how can I still practicing my English, tell me what to do God please help me, you know I love you and I trust you. Than you Amen