Ambiorix E. BaretA Passion for the Gamewhy do the people in the Dominican Republic like baseball so much?Because it is part <strong>of</strong> our culture. We live with it.When I was a child, I learned about baseball from my mother. She watchedthe game on television all the time, when the electricity permitted, and I saw inother houses how the parents watched the game with the entire family.In the stadium, the parents, grandparents and children cheered for theirfavorite teams. When the season was almost finished and the final series began, thewhole country went crazy. Everybody was talking about “the game.”At night, every business—from bodegas to bars and discotheques—had thegame on television. It wasn’t only businesses that tried to attract people with thegame; many people also went to watch the game in the park, where there was a bigtelevision screen. The politicians tried to sway the people with a lot <strong>of</strong> commercialsand publicity because they wanted to be a senator, mayor or president.I liked the final series so much, especially when Las Águilas Cibaeñas, theEagles <strong>of</strong> the Cibao, were in the finals, because they were my favorite team. With 20championships, they are one <strong>of</strong> the most popular teams in the Dominican RepublicWinter League.During the season, for those three or four hours <strong>of</strong> each game, the peopleforgot all the problems they had, like no permanent electricity, political corruption,crime, drugs and rising gas prices.I have left the baseball-crazy Dominican Republic. I’m an American citizennow. But I am continuing the tradition.My son was born on November 17, 2010.I waited until November 30th to buy himhis first Yankees baseball cap. I will teachhim how to play, watch baseball gameswith him, and maybe he can become aPassing Down41AMBIORIX E. BARETThe whole countrywent crazy. EverybodyWAS talking about‘the game.’
pr<strong>of</strong>essional baseball player on one <strong>of</strong> my favorite teams, the <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> Yankees orLas Águilas Cibaeñas.I can’t wait to see my son catch his first ball, or take his first turn at bat andhit the ball, running the bases and scoring his first run or his first Home Run. Inthat moment, I am going to be so happy and proud to be his father.I dedicate this story to my son, Bryant E. Baret (B.B.). I love you, son.AMBIORIX E. BARET Passing Down42Ambiorix Baret, 28, is a native <strong>of</strong> the Dominican Republic. Having lived in<strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> for five years, he is a student in the Adult Literacy Program at theCity College <strong>of</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong>. Bonny Hart is his teacher, and he also wishes toacknowledge instructors Jim Kleinhenz and Paula Levine. “I wrote about my sonbecause I’m so happy to be a father for the first time,” he writes. “I also dedicatethis especially to my wife, Wendolyne Baret, for giving me this gift so special.”
- Page 2 and 3: The Gallatin School of Individualiz
- Page 4 and 5: CONTENTSINTRODUCTIONgallatin alumna
- Page 6 and 7: amanda rodriguez An Angel Without W
- Page 8 and 9: khady gueye The Best Job I Have Eve
- Page 10 and 11: IntroductionNext year, for the 10th
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- Page 18 and 19: LIVING INNEW YORK CITYkee fong liu
- Page 20 and 21: Josephine LamLifesaverlate one nigh
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- Page 26 and 27: Elena TarneaA MemorableWork Experie
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- Page 30 and 31: YanMing WuNew York in My Eyesnew Yo
- Page 32 and 33: New York City was torn apart.Our sp
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- Page 38 and 39: yacouba yeo The Hunt 38stacy (xiulu
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- Page 70 and 71: would not meet again. But they met.
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Finding Encouragement91AuthorFINDIN
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Last Friday, my husband came back h
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ana riosMy First Job,Far Away from
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mario perez“Take the Test in Span
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khady gueyeThe Best Job I Have Ever
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ming xian (cindy) linHelping People
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gabriela florestMyFirst Giftoday’
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ashanti robinsonEncourage YourselfE
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situation. I felt sad.Mr. Baker not
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Gaining Perspective109Author
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lined up. Behind me are beautiful d
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caterina gambinotChildrenTodayo be
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Kenneth PauljajouteReflections on t
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obert dolkowskiThe Sniffermy mother
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florence choiceOde to My Shiny Shoe
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Frankie mercadoOccasionallyOccasion
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Who am I? Who is the real me? I hav
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the key to success,the mistakes.Who
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PERSEVERINGlisa ng Journey to Freed
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water. The ring of light over Hong
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my mother. I told him, “Leave me.
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town. Perhaps my mother left the to
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and not harm my pets. I didn’t wa
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and listened to the radio all night
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minimum. Slightly embarrassed. Stil
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cynthia sotoiMiguel,I Want to Thank
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he had pulled my wife and son from
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Phipps CommunityDevelopment Corpora
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College of Staten IslandAdult Learn
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NYPL ESOL ProgramsOutreach Services