The International Students' Newsletter - Queensborough Community ...

MAINTENANCE OF F-1 STATUS
• Have a passport that is kept valid at all times, unless the home country is exempt from the passport
requirement.
F a l l 2 0 0 8
The International Students’ Newsletter
• Continue to carry a full course of study. (A full course of study is defined as at least 12 credits or the
equivalent each semester.) Students are not required to attend summer sessions.
• Follow certain procedures if the student must remain in the US longer than the length of time
estimated for completion of the educational program.
• Follow certain procedures required by Immigration & Naturalization Services (INS) to transfer to a
school other than the one originally authorized.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
• Limit employment, both on and off campus, to 20 hours per week while school is in session.
• Refrain from employment without authorization.
• Report a change of residence to the school and INS within 10 days of change.
• See an International Student Advisor on a regular basis to discuss academic progress. Students should
follow INS procedures when changing from one program or educational level to another, e.g., from
Computer Information Systems degree to Nursing degree, etc.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AFFAIRS & CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION
DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Tunde Kashimawo, Director
Queensborough Community College
The City University of New York
222-05 56 Avenue, Bayside, NY 11364
Library Building, Room 431 – Tel. 718-631-6611
QCC website: www.qcc.cuny.edu
Joi Marrano, Editor
World Trade Center Ceremony, 2008
On Thursday, September 11, 2008, Mrs. Kashimawo, Director of International Student Affairs & Center for Immigration
met a small group of QCC international students very early in the morning to travel into Manhattan for
the seventh anniversary ceremony of 9/11. These students had been asked to represent their countries at the ceremony,
reading off the names of those who died in the attack on the World Trade Center. Some of these students
spoke at the ceremony, while others remained alternates. What follow are their experiences that day.
HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT BEING PART OF
THE 9/11/08 CEREMONY?
By Sauling Liu
I am proud that I was an
alternate reader and I could
represent Queensborough
at the seventh anniversary
celebration of 9/11. On this
day, all readers and alternate
readers were to standby
in a tent, waiting for the
ceremony to begin. The
readers read the names of
those who died in the attack in alphabetical order. I
watched the ceremony on a television in the tent.
This was how I would know what names the readers
were up to. My heart felt the losses of these
people as I watched their families, who are all sad
and hurt. At the end of the ceremony after all the
names had been read, I walked to the WTC Ground
Zero area. I felt that these people are grieving for
their dead relatives. I could not believe that I was
so close to the spot where these people lost their
lives and the families were mourning. At the time I
was asked to participate in the ceremony, I felt very
proud. This 9/11 ceremony gave me a wonderful
experience to remember.
Sept. 11
Commemoration
at Ground Zero
By Sheng Tai Wu
I was invited to be a reader
at the September 11th commemoration
at Ground Zero.
On that day, we arrived at QCC at five o’clock in
the morning and went to Ground Zero with Mrs.
Kashimawo. Waiting in the reader’s tent, I met my
partner, who is a firefighter. His brother, who was
also a firefighter, died on 9/11. He was going to
read his brother’s name at the podium. He also
told me that on our list were the names of a crew
member and a friend.
When I was standing in front of so many people
at the podium, I forgot my nervousness and felt like
I was together with all those people. Even though I
came from a different country and I was not in New
York when the tragedy happened, I can still feel the
sorrow among the relatives after seven years. However,
I could also see when I was at the podium, that
there was earnestly hope in their eyes.
I am very proud that I could be a reader representing
Hong Kong at the event. I also appreciate
that the International Student Services Department
gave me such a great and unforgettable experience.
24

My Experience at the 2008 9/11 Commemoration
COLLEGE CALENDAR – FALL 2008
courtesy of The Queens Courier
By Melissa Dindial
My name is Melissa Dindial
and I am a proud fourth
semester student at
Queensborough Community
College. I will be graduating
in January, 2009 and
enrolling in Baruch College
to major in Accounting. I
am an international student and I miss my country,
Trinidad and Tobago tremendously. Given the opportunity
to represent my country at the 2008 9/11
commemoration ceremony at Ground Zero meant a
lot to me.
It was a great honor being able to read the names
of the victims, who innocently lost their lives. It was
an extremely emotional event, much different as opposed
to watching it on television. I felt the pain of
the families, whose tears flowed naturally. The crowd
was enormous and surprisingly, I was not nervous.
All I kept thinking about was what these families had
gone through and hearing their loved ones names
called was what they were waiting for. Being there
made me realize how much this tragedy had affected
America and beyond. Although I didn’t lose anyone
immediate in the unfortunate event seven years ago
and not being from New York originally, it tore my
heart apart a little. I must say that even though lives
were lost on September 11, 2001, it was refreshing to
witness that they have not been forgotten.
I extend my gratitude to Mrs. Kashimawo and the entire
staff at the International Student Affairs and Center
for Immigration office for giving me this opportunity. I
also have many thanks for my family and the Campus
Learning Center for their endless love and support.
November 27-30 - Thursday-Sunday – College closed, NO CLASSES
December 10 – Wednesday – Last Wednesday class
December 11 – Thursday – Last Thursday class
December 12 – Friday – Reading Day
December 13 – Saturday – Last Saturday class
December 14 – Sunday – Last Sunday class
December 15 – Monday – Last Monday class
December 16 – Tuesday – Last Tuesday class
December 17-23 - Wednesday-Tuesday – Final exams
December 19 – Friday – Last day to remove INC and ABS grades from spring 2008 semester
December 24-25 – Wednesday-Thursday – College closed
December 31-January 1 – Wednesday-Thursday – College closed
My Participation at Ground Zero
By Wai Man Chu
I am very glad that I was able to
participate in the seventh September
11th Commemoration at Ground
Zero, representing our college and
my home country. At the same
time, I felt miserable for those who
died on September 11th.
Even though I was just an alternate reader at the
commemoration, I will never forget the opportunity
I was given which may only happen once in my life. I
would never have thought about being part of such
an event. We should be proud of all of the survivors,
who went through terrible moments of depression
and sadness in the days following the tragedy. They
have become stronger and stronger. God Bless the
United States.
2
23

••
•• Christmas Around the World
9/11 Ceremony is a Great Experience
revolution, the celebration of the feast was suppressed.
During the communist years St. Nicholas was transformed
into Grandfather Frost.
In SCOTLAND, Christmas is celebrated rather somberly, The
Scots reserving their merriment for New Year’s Eve which is
called Hogmanay. The first person to set foot in a residence
in a New Year is thought to profoundly affect the fortunes
of the inhabitants. Generally strangers are thought to bring
good luck. Depending on the area, it may be better to have
a dark-haired or fair-haired stranger set foot in the house.
This tradition is widely known as “first footing.”
In TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Christmas is a very social time
with most people having parties. Both children and adults
go from house to house between neighbors and relatives
for food and drink. The Christmas day meal is usually
prepared throughout mid-December, and into the New
Year! The traditional Trinibagonian Christmas meal includes
apples and grapes, sorrel, ponche-de-creme (a version
of egg nog), ham, turkey, homemade bread, ginger beer,
pastelles (a version of tamales) and local wine. Trinidadian
Christmas fruitcake is traditional and is eaten in most
homes.
In THE UKRAINE, Sviata Vechera OR “Holy Supper” is the
central tradition of the beautiful Christmas Eve celebrations
in Ukrainian homes. The dinner table sometimes has a few
wisps of hay on the embroidered table cloth as a reminder
of the manger in Bethlehem. When the children see the first
Star in the eastern evening sky, which symbolizes the trek
of the Three Wise Men, the Sviata Vechera may begin. In
farming communities the head of the household now brings
in a sheaf of wheat called the didukh which represents the
importance of the ancient and rich wheat crops of Ukraine,
the staff of life through the centuries. Didukh means literally
“grandfather spirit” so it symbolizes the family’s ancestors. In
city homes a few stalks of golden wheat in a vase are often
used to decorate the table.
In VENEZUELA, Venezuelans attend a daily early morning
church service between December 16th and 24th called
Misa de Aguinaldo (“Early Morning Mass.”) In Caracas, the
capital city, it is customary to roller-skate to this service
and many neighborhoods close the streets to cars until
8:00 a.m. Before bedtime children tie one end of a piece of
string to their big toe and hang the other out the window.
The next morning, rollerskaters give a tug to any string
they see hanging. After Mass everyone enjoys tostados and
coffee.
In YUGOSLAVIA, those Yugoslavs who live in the country
fear bad luck if their Christmas log burns out and so
someone has to stand over the log all Christmas night to
ensure it stays lit up. A Christmas cake called chestnitsa,
contains a gold or silver coin and is said that whoever gets
it can expect lots of good luck. The Yugoslavs eat roast pig
as their Christmas dish and it must be carved a particular
way, according to old customs. Every household has a
Christmas crib.
By Hiroshi Okamoto
When I was offered the
opportunity to attend the
9/11 ceremony, I didn’t know
what to expect. As a person
who loves new experiences,
I wanted to be part of this
ceremony, even though I had
to wake up at 4:00 a.m.
I was not nervous about standing in front of many
people because I am used to being on the stage as an
actor and dancer. When it came to reading the victim’s
names, however, in addition to my English accent, I felt I
had to be very careful because reading the names is the
most important thing for the victim’s families. I can say
I was a little bit nervous.
When I arrived at Ground Zero, I realized I was an
“alternate reader”, who would be assigned only if a
“reader” was not present. I also noticed that most of the
QCC students were alternate readers. I couldn’t help
wonder why that kind of thing had happened to us.
I had no idea whether or not I could read the victim’s
names. The more time passed, the more I felt like reading.
As other students represented their countries, my
will as a Japanese and QCC student to read got greater
and greater. Every time alternate readers were assigned,
I felt disappointed and I even felt like challenging the
lottery being held to select the alternate readers.
When I heard the other student from Japan reading
victim’s names, I thought there would not be any other
chance to read. We were, however, told to still wait
until everything was finished. The readers who had
already read were allowed to leave. I felt like we were
birds in a cage. I wouldn’t have the opportunity to read
the names of the victims in front of the world. I felt let
down not being chosen to represent Japan and QCC.
I had to wake up really early and head to QCC
and now all I was doing was sitting and waiting to be
assigned. I believed, however, that it was not all in vain.
Even though I was not chosen to read, I was proud
of my country and QCC and I even appreciated my
parents for having raised me until now.
Seven years ago I watched what happened on 9/11
on television. I was a 17 year-old high school student in
Japan. Honestly, I didn’t think it was such a serious thing
because it happened so far away from where I was.
Now that I live exactly where it happened and I had the
chance to attend such an honorable event, I couldn’t
help but think about war, peace and people.
This great opportunity was a great experience and I
really appreciate the people who gave me this opportunity
and who were also involved with this.
Life is once. Time flies by. I will have as many
experiences as I can have. I realized this deeply on
September 11, 2008.
22
3

••
Academic Awards Ceremony
•• Christmas Around the World
On May 7, 2008 the Department of International Student Affairs hosted their annual Academic
Awards Ceremony in the Oakland Dining Room. At this ceremony, those students receiving the Distinguished
Scholastic Achievement Award, the International Student Honor’s Award, the Dean’s List
Award, the Achievement Award, the Special Achievement Award, the Leadership Award, the Recognition
Award, the Newsletter Article Award, the Appreciation Award, those receiving Special Thanks and the
Graduates of January, June and August were all honored. There was a moment of silence at the beginning
of the program as Mrs. Kashimawo presented the Family of Simon Kontos, an international student
who lost his life in December of 2007, with a plaque.
President Martí, Mrs. Kashimawo and Nino Alaidze
VP Hartigan and Eva Santos
ISA staff and Mrs. Kashimawo
Jae Kun Kim
In JAMAICA, Christmas is a very special time and like a lot
of other countries; radio stations play carols all through the
Christmas period. The Christmas day meal is usually prepared
on Christmas Eve. The traditional Jamaican Christmas
meal include fresh fruits, sorrel and rum punch and meat.
The Christmas Day breakfast includes ackee and saltfish,
breadfruit, fried plantains, boiled bananas, freshly squeezed
fruit juice and tea. Dinner is usually served in the late
afternoon and this may include chicken, curry goat, stewed
oxtail, rice and peas. Jamaican red wine and rum fruitcake is
traditional and is eaten in most homes.
In JAPAN, Christmas was introduced by the Christian
missionaries, and for many years the only people who celebrated
it were those who had turned to the Christian faith.
But now the Christmas season in Japan is full of meaning
and is almost universally observed. The idea of exchanging
gifts seems to appeal strongly to the Japanese people.
The tradesmen have commercialized Christmas just as our
western shops have done. For several weeks before the
day, the stores shout Christmas. There are decorations and
wonderful displays of appropriate gifts for men, women,
and children -- especially children.
In LIBERIA, most homes have an oil palm for a Christmas
tree, which is decorated with bells. On Christmas morning,
people are woken up by carols. Presents such as cotton
cloth, soap, sweets, pencils, and books are exchanged. Also
in the morning a church service is held in which the Christmas
scene is enacted and hymns and carols are sung. Dinner
is eaten outdoors with everyone sitting in a circle to share
the meal of rice, beef and biscuits. Games are played in the
afternoon, and at night fireworks light up the sky.
In NIGERIA, Christmas is a family event, a time when lots of
family members come together to celebrate and have fun.
Many families will throw Christmas parties that will last all
night long on Christmas Eve! Then, on Christmas Morning,
they go to church to give thanks to God. Homes and streets
are often decorated and most homes will have an artificial
Christmas tree. Children love to play with firecrackers at
Christmas. Christmas cards are sent to friends and family
members. Presents are exchanged amongst family members.
In addition to serving turkey, a traditional Christmas meal in
Nigeria may include beef, goat, sheep, ram or chicken. Other
dishes might include pounded yam, jollof rice, fried rice,
vegetable salad and some type of stew.
In PAKISTAN, December 25th is a public holiday, but it is
in memory of Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. During the
last week of Advent, in many Christian areas, carol singing is
performed by various groups. On Christmas Eve, Churches
are packed for the midnight or vigil-mass services. The
choirs sing very special hymns. After the vigil-mass, in some
places, there are fireworks which help celebrate the start of
Bara Din. People dance, exchange presents and enjoy the
special night. On Bara Din or Christmas day, Christians go to
Church again.
In PERU, nativity scenes with Retablos inside are very
popular. When priests were first taken to traveling they
would carry small altars around with them for festival days.
These gradually developed into portable boxes with saints
above the altar and scenes from everyday life below it. Now
the retablos depict Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, with local
people crowding around.
In THE PHILIPPINES, Christianity is chosen by the people.
This is the only Asian nation to have done this. Christmas
celebrations start nine days before Christmas with a mass
known as Misa de Gallo. At this mass the story behind the
birth of Christ is read from the Bible. The Panunuluyan
pageant is held each Eve. A couple is chosen to re-enact
Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter. Mass is held hourly
on Christmas Day so that everyone can attend. Religious
services include pastore, or play, based on myth of the birth
of the Christ Child. The pastore closes with a star from the
upper part of the church sliding down a wire and coming
to rest over the church’s Nativity scene. Serenading cumbancheros,
or strolling minstrels, end their performances by
singing Maligayang Pasko to the tune of “Happy Birthday”.
In ROMANIA, children travel from house to house singing
carols and reciting poetry and legends throughout the
Christmas season. The leader carries a large wooden star
called a steaua, which is covered with shiny paper and
decorated with bells and colored ribbon. A picture of the
Holy Family is pasted in the star’s center, and the entire
creation is attached to a broomstick or stout pole.
In RUSSIA, St. Nicholas is especially popular. The legend is
that the 11th-century Prince Vladimir traveled to Constantinople
to be baptized, and returned with stories of miracles
performed by St. Nicholas of Myra. Since then many Eastern
Orthodox Churches have been named for the saint, and to
this day, Nicholas is one of the most common names for
Russian boys. The feast of St. Nicholas (December 6th) was
observed for many centuries, but after the communist
4 21

••
•• Christmas Around the World
St. Nicholas Day and “der Nikolaus” brings some small
gifts, such as sweets and chocolate, to the children Carp or
Goose is often served for the main Christmas meal. Stolen,
a popular fruited yeast bread is eaten at Christmas.
In GHANA, on Africa’s west coast, most churches herald the
coming of Christmas by decorating the church and homes
beginning with the first week in Advent, four weeks before
Christmas. On the eve of Christmas, children march up and
down the streets singing Christmas Carols and shouting
“Christ is coming, Christ is coming! He is near!” in their
language. In the evening, people flock to churches which
have been decorated with Christmas evergreens or palm
trees massed with candles. Hymns are sung and Nativity
plays are presented.
In GREECE, on Christmas Eve, children, especially boys, often
go out Carol singing in the streets. They play drums and
triangles as they sing. Sometimes the will also carry model
boats decorated with nuts painted gold. Carrying a boat is
a very old custom in the Greek Islands. If the children sing
well, they might be given money or nuts, sweets and dried
figs to eat. People in Greece also celebrate Epiphany on the
6th January. Children get their presents either on January
first or on Epiphany, when Agios Vasilis (the Greek name for
Santa) comes, often arriving on a boat.
In GUATEMALA, throughout Christmas several religious
statues are taken for an elaborate procession. At the rear
of the parade is an image representing God, this whitebearded
man may also resemble a department store Santa
Claus. Marimbas and chirimias accompany the procession.
On Christmas Eve festivities end are midnight with a Misa
de Gallo or the Mass of the Rooster. Nacimientos or
Manger scenes are displayed in churches and public arenas.
The Christ child is added on Christmas Eve.
In HONG KONG, Chinese Christians celebrate Christmas
with Church services in Chinese. At the Anglican Cathedral,
some services are held in English, because Europeans who
live and work in Hong Kong attend them as well as people
from Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, people also send Christmas
cards, many of which are home made using Chinese
craft techniques. Poinsettias flowers and Nativity scenes
decorate homes, churches and public places, as well as big
red and gold letters from the Chinese alphabet decorated
streamers and paper chains. Father Christmas is known as
Lan Khoong (Nice Old Father) or Dun Che Lao Ren (Christmas
Old Man) in Hong Kong.
In INDIA, Christians decorate mango or banana trees at
Christmas time. Churches are decorated with poinsettias
and lit with candles for the Christmas Evening service.
In IRAN, formerly Persia, is the land where the Three Wise
men are believed to have lived when Jesus was born. Today
Christians in Iran begin fasting from animal products on
December 1. This is called “Little Fast.” “Big Fast”
occurs during Lent, the six weeks preceding Easter. After
Church service of December 25 they enjoy Christmas dinner
which they call “Little Feast.” A traditional dish is a chicken
stew called harasa. Gifts are generally not exchanged but
children get new clothes which they wear proudly on
Christmas Day.
In IRAQ, on Christmas Eve, Iraqi Christian families gather
together and one of the children read about the birth of
Jesus while other family members hold lighted candles.
Afterward the reading, a bonfire of thorn bushes is let and
everyone sings. If the thorns burn to ashes, good luck will
be granted for the coming year. When the fire dies, each
person jumps over the ashes three times and makes a wish.
On Christmas Day another bonfire is lit in the churchyard.
The bishop, carrying a figure of the Baby Jesus leads the
service. Afterwards he blesses one person with a touch.
That person touches the person next to him or her and the
touch is passed around until all present have felt the “touch
of peace.”
In IRELAND, people celebrate Christmas in much the same
way as people in the U.K. and the U.S.A., but they also
have lot of their own Christmas traditions and customs.
Christmas for Irish people, who are Catholics, lasts from
Christmas Eve to the feast of Epiphany on January 6th,
which some Irish people call ‘Little Christmas’. In some Irish
houses, people put a tall, thick candle on the sill of the
largest window after sunset on Christmas Eve. The candle
is left to burn all night and represents a welcoming light for
Mary and Joseph.
In ITALY, the popularity of the Nativity scene, one of the
most beloved and enduring symbols of the holiday season,
originated. St. Francis of Assisi asked a man named Giovanni
Vellita of the village of Greccio to create a manger scene.
St. Francis performed mass in front of this early Nativity
scene, which inspired awe and devotion in all who saw it.
The creation of the figures or pastori became an entire
genre of folk art.
Ki Hyun Kwon, Florence Kao Hung Lin, and Eric
ISA Staff and Ruth Kamona, Director, International Student Services, Central Office
Jae Kun Kim
20 5

International Student Honor’s Award Spring 2008
AKBAR, GHULAM REZA
ALPAIDZE, NINO
AN, SHIN HYE
BAE, BYUNG CHAN
BAE, SO HYUN
BAHRAM, NAHEED
BEDNAREK, MARTA
BOLOTOVA, ALISA
BROWN, PATRECE
CHANG, MILY
CHOI, JEONG EUN
CHONG, SUZETTE
DAVIS, NICKEITA
DINDIAL, MELISSA
DUQUE-POSSO, CARLOS
HOU, HAN CHUN
HOU CHANG, ROSEMARY
HWANG, HYUN-HEE
ISHIGE, TOSHIYUKI
JACKSON, KERITA
JEONG, HYON HEE
JEUNG, JONG WUK
KIM, DONG WOO
KIM, EUN SOO
Students on the Dean’s List for three consecutive semesters
ALPAIDZE, NINO
BEDNAREK, MARTA
CHANG, MILY
JEONG, HYON HEE
JEUNG, JONG WUK
KIM, ANN YOO JIN
KWON, KI HYUN
LEE, DONGMIN
Dean’s List – Spring 2008
KIM, EUN YOUNG
KIM, GI YONG
KIM, JONG GIL
KIM, YEHWAN
KIM, ANN YOO JIN
KIM, YOUNG HEE
KWON, KI HYUN
LAU, KA WA
LEE, DONGMIN
LEE, EUI KUYM
LEE, JI EUN
LEE, JUNG OK
LEE, YI-HSUN
LI, YEZI
LIN, KAO HUNG
LUO, HAIWEN
MOON, DONG HWAN
PARK, JIN HWA
PARK, MISEON
PARK, SEON-AH
PAYANO-ALMONTE, LAIS
PETERS, CARLYON
REIDBARNETT, NOVLETTE
REY-MATEUS, LINA
LEE, JI EUN
LI, YEZI
LIN, KAO HUNG
MOON, DONG HWAN
PARK, MISEON
PARK, SEON-AH
PETERS, CARLYON
WALTON, DANE
ROJAS-REYES, IBAN MIGUEL
ROY, ANURADHA
SAHADEO, SHARINA
SANTOS-TEJADA, EVA
SIRIMARTPORNCHAI, APISRA
SINGH, MRIDULENDRA
SMITH, LUKE
SUNG, EUN LIM
VELASTEGUI, PABLO
WALTON, DANE
WANG, XIAOMING
WILSON, CE’ZANNE
WONG, PUI SAN
WU, SHENG TAI
YANG, HUA PING
YANG, JAE HYEOK
YEUNG, ELIANE
YEUNG, WING SHUN
YIN, HSIAO-WEN
YOON, JU YUN
YUASA, AYA
YUN, YOUNG MEE
ZHAO, HILARIA
•• Christmas Around the World
In ARGENTINA, people go to the church with family, then
come back to a family gathering. At midnight after eating
they toast, then the adults’ dance while younger people go
out to see the fireworks. After this they go to sleep, but not
before opening the presents under the Christmas tree.
In AUSTRALIA, Christmas Down Under has all the glitter,
tinsel and razzmatazz of a Christmas in New York,
London Paris or Vancouver. The major difference is one of
WEATHER - Christmas Down Under is never white.
In BANGLADESH, formerly known as East Pakistan, the
Christian village men would cut down scores of banana
trees and replant them in pairs along the paths to churches
and outside their homes.
In BETHLEHEM, The little town where Jesus is said to have
been born is the site of the Church of the Nativity, which
is ablaze with flags and decorations every Christmas. On
Christmas Eve natives and visitors alike crowd the church’s
doorways and stand on the roof to watch for the dramatic
annual procession. Galloping horsemen and police mounted
on Arabian horses lead the parade. They are followed by
solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a
coal-black steed. Then come the churchmen and government
officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors
and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church.
Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto where visitors find a
silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.
In BRAZIL, the people are a mix from many parts of the
world, and as a former Portuguese colony, they have many
Christmas customs which originate from this heritage. One
tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word
origins from the Hebrew word “presepium” which means
the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem.
The Presépio is common in northeastern Brazil (Bahia,
Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Maranhão, Ceará,
Pernambuco, Piauí and Alagoas.
In THE BRITISH ISLES, many of our current American
ideals about the way Christmas ought to be derived from
the English Victorian Christmas, such as that described
in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. The caroling, the
gifts, the feast, and the wishing of good cheer to all - these
ingredients came together to create that special Christmas
atmosphere. The custom of gift-giving on Christmas dates
only to Victorian times. Before then it was more common
to exchange gifts on New Year’s Day or Twelfth Night.
Santa Claus is known by British children as Father Christmas.
Children write letters to Father Christmas detailing their
requests, but instead of dropping them in the mailbox, the
letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draft carries the
letters up the chimney, and theoretically, Father Christmas
reads the smoke. Gifts are opened Christmas afternoon.
In THE CONGO, preparation for Christmas begins when
some group is designated to prepare the annual Christmas
pageant. There are carolers singing, special clothes are worn,
and there is a worship service where everyone brings a gift
for Jesus. Now people have Christmas dinners after the
service, preparing tables out in front of their home and
inviting many of their intimate friends to share.
In THE CZECH REPUBLIC, children often get some small
presents on St. Nicholas’ Day, December 6th. The main
presents are often opened on Christmas Eve, in the evening!
A place is left empty at the Christmas Day meal in case the
Christ Child should come to the meal. A traditional Christmas
meal in the Czech Republic is carp.
In CHINA, Christians celebrate by lighting their houses with
beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas
trees, which they call “Trees of Light,” with paper chains,
paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese Children hang
muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom
they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which
means “Christmas Old Man.”.
In FRANCE, nearly every home at Christmastime displays
a Nativity scene or Creche, which serves as the focus for
the Christmas celebration. The Crèche is often peopled
with little clay figures called santons or “little saints.” The
craftsmanship involved in creating the gaily colored santons
is quite astounding and the molds have been passed from
generation to generation since the seventeenth century.
Throughout December the figures are sold at annual Christmas
fairs in Marseille and Aix.
In GERMANY, Christmas trees are very important. They
were first used in Germany in the Middle Ages. The
Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on
Christmas Eve, and that evening the family would read The
Bible and sing Christmas songs such as “O Tannenbaum”,
“Ihr Kinderlein Kommet” and “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”).
Christmas Eve is the main day Germans exchange presents
with their families. Father Christmas (der Weihnachtsmann)
brings the presents on December 24th. December 6th is
••
6 19

Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Merry Christmas Around the World
Latvian: Prieci’gus Ziemsve’tkus un Laimi’gu Jauno
Gadu!
Lausitzian: Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh (good New Year not
Merry Christmas)
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela
Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en
hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze
Narodzenie
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-
Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da
Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele or Craciun fericit
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is
Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Serbian: Hristos se rodi
Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serbian: Hristos se rodi.
Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth
Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or
Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil: (Tamizh) Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal (good
New Year not Merry Christmas)
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer
seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym or Z RIZDVOM
HRYSTOVYM
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho (good New Year not
Merry Christmas)
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye’dun!
Achievement Award – Spring 2008
International Students with 24 or more credits, who have achieved an overall GPA of 3.50 and above
AN, SHIN HYE 3.96
ANDERSON, TERAINE 3.89
BAE, BYUNG CHAN 3.82
BAE, SO HYUN 3.50
BEDNAREK, MARTA 3.92
BOLOTOVA, ALISA 3.61
BYON, HA DO 3.68
CHANG, MILY 3.92
CHOI, YOO HYUN 3.75
DAVIS, NICKEITA 3.67
DINDIAL, MELISSA 3.75
FERGUSON, DRALON 3.52
GRUBER, ROHAN 3.55
HOU CHANG, ROSEMARY 3.80
HUANG, HUEI HUA 3.87
HWANG, HYUN-HEE 3.89
JACKSON, KERITA 3.86
JEONG, HYON HEE 3.60
JEUNG, JONG WUK 3.57
KIM, ANN YOO JIN 3.98
KIM, CHARLES JEESOO 3.77
KIM, EUN SOO 3.82
KIM, GI YONG 3.72
KIM, JI SANG 3.51
KIM, JONG GIL 3.84
KWON, KI HYUN 3.71
LEE, DONGMIN 3.61
LEE, EUN MI 3.54
LEE, JUNG OK 3.80
LEE, MI NA 3.78
LEE, YI-HSUN 3.80
LI, SIN MING 3.65
LI, YEZI 3.92
LIN, KAO HUNG 3.92
LUO, HAIWEN 3.93
MASCOW, FRANCENE 3.70
MOON, DONG HWAN 3.67
PARK, JIN, HWA 3.66
PARK, SEON-AH 3.73
PAYANO-ALMONTE, LAIS 3.78
PETERS, CARLYON 3.80
REIDBARNETT, NOVLETTE 3.65
ROY, ANURADHA 3.82
SCHERER, RENATA CRISTINA 3.74
SIM, JANG BO 3.81
SIRIMARTPORNCHAI, APISRA 3.52
SMITH, LUKE 3.57
TANUWIDJAJA, CECILIA 3.75
WALTON, DANE 3.87
WANG, XIAOMING 3.97
WILSON, CE’ZANNE 3.70
YEUNG, ELIANE 3.77
YOON, JU YUN 3.82
YU, YAN 3.50
YUN, YOUNG MEE 3.83
YUASA, AYA 3.51
18 7

CUNY Essay Competition
Merry Christmas Around the World
This past spring, CUNY hosted an International Student Essay Competition. Queensborough had several
students who entered this. The students were to write about “My Life as an International Student at CUNY”.
Following are the essays of some of the students who won recognition at the competition.
My Life as an International Student at CUNY
My name is Hiroshi Okamoto. I came to New York
all the way from Osaka, Japan in August, 2007. Before
coming to New York, I graduated from a Japanese
four-year college and received four different kinds of
educational licenses including; kindergarten, elementary
school, junior high school, and high school. I also taught
dance to kids in a dance studio. I had wanted to be
a school teacher because I liked kids, expression and
teaching. I didn’t want to become a teacher right after
graduation because I thought I needed much more
experience for kids and for myself. I was also interested
in The Arts in New York like theater, dance, and music.
My other brother, Koichi Okamoto, who used to live
in America, encouraged me to come here by telling his
story of living in America. I just wanted to have some
experiences here that I couldn’t have in Japan. This is
why I decided to come to New York and Queensborough
Community College (QCC). I knew international
students couldn’t work off campus. I didn’t want to
depend on my parents so I took on seven different part
time jobs at the same time while I was in Japan to make
a living here in New York out of my own pocket.
After arriving in America at two o’clock in the morning
after an 18 hour flight, I was excited and extremely
exhausted. This was my first time coming to America
and experiencing living on my own. The very next day
after arriving, I came to QCC. So it is that for me, my
New York life is my QCC life. My QCC life is my New
Hiroshi Okamoto
York life. I didn’t know that to do or what to expect. I
didn’t even register for any classes. I dropped by the
International Student Office and met with one advisor
named Juan Carlos. He taught me that reading and
writing were difficult for Japanese. I had to study English
sounds which were not familiar to Japanese, especially
“l”, “r”, “th”, “v”, and some vowels.
As a first step, I took a “Voice and Diction” class lead
by Professor Lisa Yonker, who really supported me.
Other students in the Theater Arts major were very
talented. They asked questions without any hesitation
compared to Japanese students, who sometimes
hesitate. I tried to adopt their enthusiasm and I really
studied hard to keep up with them especially in terms
of English. Professor Yonker cast me in her play, “One
Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”, which we performed in
March, 2008. Although she knew I was an international
student with a problem with English, she chose to help
me. It was a great experience for me being involved
in a play and performing with other people. Now I
am involved in another play, “Momotaro” which is a
Japanese fairy tale. This will be performed in May, 2008.
As an international student majoring in Theater Arts and
being from Japan, being in such a play is a great honor.
That’s really what I wanted to do since becoming a QCC
student. Of course, this is not the end. Under many
supporters, I will do my best towards my goals as an
International Student at QCC.
Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian: Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Milad Majid
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Bosnian: (BOSANSKI) Cestit Bozic i Sretna Nova godina
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo
Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen
Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or
Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame
pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi
Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine
yn it Nije Jier!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri’cho o
Rish D’Shato Brichto
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar
Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Shub Naya Baras (good New Year not
Merry Christmas)
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar
Shekara!
Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon
nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Lao: souksan van Christmas
8 17

New York City Holiday Events
Holiday Lights at Retail Stores – view store window decorations throughout NYC
Lord & Taylor, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Barneys.
The Bronx Zoo’s Wild Winterland – Weekends in December & December 22-January 4 – 718-367-1010 –
www.bronxzoo.com
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular – November 9-December 30 – www.radiocity.com
“The Nutcracker” performed by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center – November 28-January 3 –
www.nycb.com
Holiday Lights & Train Exhibit – Thanksgiving through first week in January
Bronx Botanical Garden – Bronx River Parkway & Fordham Road
718-817-8700 – www.nybg.org
Celebrate KWANZA – December 26-January 1
Celebrations throughout the five boroughs
Chanukah Celebrations
Celebrations throughout the five boroughs
Holiday Ice Skating
Rockefeller Center – 212-332-7654 – www.therinkatrockcenter.com
Wollman Rink, Central Park – 212-439-6900
RexCorp Plaza, Uniondale – 516-683-0303
Christmas Tree Lightings
Rockefeller Center – December 3
RexCorp Plaza (old EAB Plaza) – Uniondale – December 6, 5:30 p.m.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Annual Christmas Tree & Neopolitan Baroque Creche,
Medieval Sculpture Hall – November 20-January 6 – 212-535-7710 – www.metmuseum.org
My Life as an International Student at CUNY
Change is often perceived as a challenge, at least
from an optimistic approach. In fact, depending on
one’s point of view, a change could be an occasion
for one to grow up or a deplorable catastrophe that
can only ruin one’s life. In 2007, at the age of 18, I
knew a big change was going to take place in my
life. I knew that I was going to be the subject of an
academic life-changing event that would happen
about 1975 miles away from the place where I grew
up and cherished for so many years. I was not totally
unfamiliar with this experience. Indeed, I have
watched close friends and cousins fly away from our
lovely country Haiti to study overseas.
At first, I did not know that CUNY would be the
place where my amazing college life would happen. I
did apply there during my high school senior year, but
this was more of a back-up plan in case the original
plan did not work. Everything was set for me to go
and study in Mexico. Fortunately or unfortunately, I
ended up not going there for some reason. My aunt,
who lives here in the United States, proposed that I
come here to study. I came to New York at the end
of the summer of 2007 and was accepted at CUNY
Queens College. Due to the fact that my financial resources
were very limited, I had to decline acceptance
there and go instead to a community college, where
I would have to pay less for a credit. As a result, I
switched to CUNY Queensborough and I am now in
my second semester here with a GPA of 3.84.
My first semester at Queensborough was not
easy and I had to face many obstacles in order to
succeed. The most important and stressful problem
encountered was neither academic nor cultural but
instead, linked to immigration. I had come to the
US on a B-2 visitor visa. I was extremely limited as a
student because of this status. As a matter of fact,
I was offered several jobs on campus but I could
not obtain any of them because of this B-2 status.
However, I did not let that discourage me and I was
still very active on campus, participating in several
clubs, groups and even joining the soccer team.
Olivier Noel
When I learned of the existence of the “International
Students Club”, I was really excited about joining
it and getting in touch with people who shared
characteristics and experiences with me. The day I
joined it something I consider miraculous happened.
At the end of the meeting, Mrs. Kashimawo, the
International Student Advisor, proposed to help
anyone with immigration issues. “If you have any
problem, come to my office. Don’t wait until the last
moment.” This is what she said just before leaving
the room. Right after class, I went to her office and
let her know about my concern. She explained to
me what I had to do and the process to acquire the
F-1 status. She also informed me that “if I had waited
for a couple more weeks to start the process, it
would have been too late and I would have become
an undocumented alien once my I-94 would expire”.
I was both shocked and concerned about her statement.
I was stunned by the idea of becoming an
undocumented alien and on the loose by knowing
that I could have prevented such a terrible thing.
After having done what Mrs. Kashimawo told me
to do, I was granted F-1 status by the United States
Immigration Department. A few weeks earlier, I was
issued a social security number and I soon became
a French tutor at The Learning Center with the help
of Mrs. Bonnie Cook, Coordinator at the center and
Professor Indra Avens, my French teacher. A lot of
other opportunities were opened to me and I’ve
gotten even more involved in the Queensborough
community. I am very grateful to the school for
what I have received from it, the valuable education,
the positive multicultural environment and the experiences
handling and overcoming obstacles. I am
especially thankful to Mrs. Cook and Professor Avens
for having been and continuing to be a source of
help, advice and motivation for me in my life here at
Queensborough. Sincerely, I have found this critical
change that has occurred in my life astonishing and I
can definitely attest that my freshman year couldn’t
have been better at another place.
16 9

My Life as an International Student at CUNY
Two years ago, I was studying in college in my own
language. I never thought that my dream of coming to the
United States would ever come true. One day a newspaper
published a scholarship program offered by CUNY in my
country, and I decided to participate. This is when my
journey started. When I was informed that I was accepted,
I could not believe that I was going to attend a college
in the United States. Although I was leaving my family
and loved ones to pursue my dreams, the excitement of
starting a new life overrode any uncertainties I may have
experienced.
Once I arrived in New York, I got caught up with the
excitement of being in a totally different world from what I
was used to. Before I started classes, I was introduced to the
person who was responsible for my academic progress during
my first semester. My mentor helped me to overcome
many obstacles, such as the language barrier, the frustration
of not being able to express what I felt, because I did not
possess the language skills to express myself. My mentor
also introduced me to other foreign students who later on
became my best friends. After the hard process of adaptation
and overcoming loneliness and homesickness, my
mentor and the other International Student Service staff,
elected me to be a member of the International Student
Club, which allowed me to become an “ambassador”
among my friends and other international students. After
two months at college, I needed to earn some money to
support myself, because food, transportation and entertainment
are costly in the US. Therefore, my mentor introduced
me to a wonderful person, who later became my boss. This
is how I obtained my first experience working on campus.
Because of my new job the language barrier was not an
obstacle anymore, since I started to work in my native
language. I became a Spanish tutor. My boss is a blessing
for me, because she always provides me with an advice and
always has a kind word in difficult situations. She is the most
unique thoughtful person that I have ever met. She makes
me feel at home, even though I am thousands miles away
from my home. She counsels me when I feel depressed
and discouraged and motivates me in positive directions
to complete my studies and adjust to all the pressures. She
also gave me the opportunities to become a member of the
Tutors Club. This is how I was introduced to the Student
Government Association of the school, which has been
Eva Santos
offered me opportunities to attend different conferences
on developing leadership skills, such as the International
Symposium of ATHGO and the CUNY Emerging Leaders
conference. “Everywhere I go I want to things to excel in
various areas of learning and to impact students and faculty
whom I encounter to make their live better.” This was my
main motivation when I first decided to become an official
member of the Student Government. This and other
reflections are the stimuli that through the experience of
working helped me to become engaged with student life on
campus.
In addition to my other involvements, I have participated
in church activities, which has influenced my outlook on
others who have needs. I joined a church group, which sent
me to Guatemala during winter session 2008. The objective
was to asset the impoverished towns in the mountains.
As one of the members I taught about God and engage in
other cultural activities like dramas, worshiping and dancing.
The experience was overwhelming positive and it made me
aware of the struggles of many of the less fortunate in the
world.
Finally, there is someone else who has had impact
my life. This person is my advisor and professor. He has
motivated me to pursue my dreams. He taught me that life
sometimes may not be in the way we expected to be, and
that might result hard to overcome the different situations
in terms of academic progress. But I always should look out
and remembered when I first came and who I am right now.
He also reminded me that there are many people around
the world that would love to be in my position today.
Therefore, he inspired me to achieve the main reason what
I came here for, to obtain a career and to make an impact in
others’ lives throughout my example.
It is true life is not easy. I still struggle to overcome the
daily obstacles of life, but deep inside the desire of becoming
someone and making it through college keeps alive.
I would say that I know a 65% of the people on campus,
including faculties, staff, students, and other; which allows
me to think that I am already making a difference. Lastly,
dear reader my essay might not be well written but use this
example to value more your life and give you the opportunity
of believing in a living God for whom everything is
possible.
Thank you,
New York City Events
Guided Tours – Various types of Big Apple Tours – year-round
Architectural – Municipal Art Society – 212-935-3960
Behind the Scenes – Carnegie Hall – 212-247-7800
NBC Studios – 212-664-3700
Radio City Music Hall – 212-246-4600
Boat – Circle Line – 212-563-3200
South Street Seaport – 212-732-7678
Staten Island Ferry – 718-815-2628
Bus – Big Taxi (Double-Decker buses) – 718-706-8687
Gray Line – 212-445-0848
Carriage – Central Park South & 59th Street – 212-360-2727
Foreign Language – Bilingual – 212-684-6144
Garden – Brooklyn Botanical Garden -718-623-7200
New York Botanical Garden – 718-817-8700
Helicopter – Air Pegasus – 212-563-4442
Liberty Helicopter Tours – 212-967-6464
Museum – Guggenheim Museum – 212-423-3500
Metropolitan Museum of Art – 212-535-7710
Whitney Museum of American Art – 212-570-3676
Walking – Chinatown Walking Tour – 212-619-4785
Dog Friendly Walking Tours – 914-633-6658
Hassidic Life Walking Tours – 718-953-5244
I’ll Take Manhattan Tours – 732-270-5277
Lower East Side Walking Tour – 212-226-9010
92nd Street Y – 212-439-1090
Free Tours – Federal Reserve Bank of New York – 33 Liberty Street, 212-720-6130, newyorkfed.org.
Central Park Conservancy – 14 East 60th Street, 212-360-2726, centralparknyc.org.
Grand Central Station – grandcentralterminal.com
Municipal Arts Society – 212-935-3960 – mas.org
Grand Central Partnership – 212-883-2420, grandcentralpartnership.org/
Times Square – Times Square Visitor’s Center – 1560 Broadway,
212-869-1890, timessquarebid.org/
Big Apple Greeters – 1 Centre Street, Suite 2035, 212-669-8159, bigapplegreeter.org/
Brooklyn Brewery – 79 N. 11th Street, Brooklyn, 718-486-7422, brooklynbrewery.com.
Battery Park City – 212-267-9700, bpcparks.org
Lower East Side Talking Street – 800-644-3545, talkingstreet.com/
Trinity Churchyard – 74 Trinity Place, 212-602-0800, trinitywallstreet.org.
10 15

“Helpful Information”
Living in NYC as an International Student
Websites
www.qcc.cuny.edu
www.cuny.edu
http://tipps.cuny.edu/
www.FAFSA.ed.gov
www.qcc.cuny.edu/advisement
www.qcc.cuny.edu/ISS/ACTreg
www.qcc.cuny.edu/ISS/CPEreg
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu:8088/Academic
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu:8088/StuActivities
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/CourseSchedule/CourseScheduleFormInit.asp
http://www3.qcc.cuny.edu/isswebt/ISSmain.aspx
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/HealthServices/
Important Numbers to know on Campus
Basic Educational Skills Department- (718)- 631-6378
Bookstore- (718) 631-4200
Bursar- (718) 631-6265
Career Services- (718) 631-6297
Counseling Center- (718) 631-6370
Financial Aid Services- (718) 631-6367
Health Services- (718) 631-6375
Campus Writing Center- (718) 631-6663
International Students and Center for Immigration- (718) 631-6611
Library- (718) 631-6227
Nursing Dept- (718) 631-6034
Registrar- (718) 631-6212
Security- (718) 631-6320
Services for Students with Disabilities- (718) 631-6257
Student Activities- (718) 631-6233
Student Government- (718) 631-6239
Testing- (718) 631-6358
Use
Queensborough Community College
Main City University of New York Site
Shortcut to Transfer Information and Program Planning
System
Free Application for Federal Student Aid Online form
Academic Advisement Website
ACT Writing Workshop Registration-Online
CPE Overview Workshops Registration-Online
Academic Calendar
Student Activities Calendar
Class Schedule
Campus Writing Center
Health Services
Tiger Mail Information
ATTENTION ALL QCC STUDENTS
You now have your own QCC Email Account
Your TigerMail address is:
USERNAME@TIGERMAIL.QCC.CUNY.EDU
USERNAME:
Your Username is the first initial of your first name plus your
full last name plus the last two digits of your Student ID.
For example if your name is John Doe and your Student ID
is 123-45-6789 your username will be JDOE89
Please note: If your name has an apostrophe or a hyphen
it has been removed.
PASSWORD:
When you first logon, you will be prompted to create a
new personal Tigermail password that will be good for the
entire semester.
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/QCCOnline/
studentemailprocedure.asp
The United States is a well-known country for
its educational facilities. Therefore, numerous
students from all over the world wish to continue
their studies in the United States. However, it is
not possible for everyone to become an international
student in the United States because it
requires huge financial support, an intellectual
mind, and the strength to live without beloved
family members. A person who is able to put up
with these factors can become a successful international
student. I am one of these people, who
can put up with all of the factors to become an
international student.
I have been living in New York City for four
wonderful years. I spent two years learning English
as an ESL student at LaGuardia Community College.
After two years, I realized that learning English was
not enough for me, so I came to Queensborough
Community College to find out what were my
possibilities for following a career in New York.
The very first time I came to Queensborough I was
scared about the obstacles I would have. Instead
Marlen Caicedo
what I found was a wonderful team who were there
to help me achieve my goals. Everyone was there
to help me improve my knowledge.
After a few hours, I realized that as an international
student with a bachelor’s degree from my country, I
could get transfer credits, saving me time and money.
I worked hard trying to get my credits transferred. I
enrolled into the Business Administration program,
following my dream. After two years, I am ready to
receive my degree in May, 2008.
Four years have passed since I left my family and
brought my dreams with me to America. I can say
that living in America is a fantastic privilege; living
in New York City is even better. New York City has
taught me who I am, what I can achieve, and that I
am strong and do not give up during difficult times. I
am a better person now, a person full of dreams, with
new goals to achieve every day. Being an international
student is a great experience that I am enjoying day
by day. I love being a Queensborough Community
College student because it is a great place to begin a
world-class education.
Reminder!!!!!
All International Students Seeking Academic Advisement Must Do So In
The International Student Affairs Department
14 11

In New York we live with so many people who
come from all around. When we walk on the street,
we see many signs in so many languages. People have
important experiences in their lives. Some people
think that marriage or a job is an important experience.
An important experience for me is school while
I am staying in New York.
As a student, I feel that education is the most
valuable and precious thing in life. I feel that it is
important to continue my own education by attending
a good college. I can take my studies seriously
and I can receive the highest degree of education
possible.
When I came to my uncle’s house in New York
City for the first time, I had to go to school to
learn English. I was bored at school because I did
not know how to speak English. When I arrived at
the LaGuardia Community College, a class member
made an English study group. We enjoyed our time
at the school. We sat around a table, talking to each
other and answering the teacher in English. David,
who is a class member and my uncle’s friend, asked
that we speak English. I could not do this because I
could not speak English. I was suddenly tired and I
went home.
An Important Experience
Eunlim Sun
I have been studying nursing at Queensborough
Community College (QCC) since the fall of 2007.
This has been the turning point in my life. I plan
to study abroad in numerous countries during my
college years, to expand my knowledge of different
cultures, traditions and languages. I also plan to
spend a semester in a foreign country participating
in a mission trip program. I believe that this is
important in order to experience nursing in a foreign
country. Since I am a prospective nursing major
myself and international relations are a large part of
being an American nurse, I feel this would be very
helpful. Prior to college graduation, I hope to work
as a nurse in a major city since as New York or Florida
where I can put my skills to use.
We have to have experiences in our lives. This
is a good experience in my life. In my opinion,
the college experience as a whole will improve my
communication skills, helping me to be more active
within my own community. For many areas, the lack
of communication is due to language barriers within
communities. In learning to speak English, I can freely
speak with people. Finally, my goal is to be a nurse. I
will keep my goals and aspirations in mind, hoping that
everything plays out as planned.
Your First Winter In New York City
Since it is getting colder, it’s time to share some
tips with you as you face your first winter. The first
winter is always the toughest one so read on…
It is important to learn to ‘read the weather”.
Make sure you know the weather forecast before
you venture outside, even if you are only going a
short distance. You can check the current weather
on sites like weather.com or weather.yahoo.
com. Most radio stations and TV channels carry
frequent weather updates.
Dressing for winter is imperative. Probably
the most important technique is to dress in layers.
This means putting layers of clothing together to
create a comfortable look where clothes can be
added or taken off, depending on the temperature.
A final outer shell is important to protect
against the wind, rain and snow. On cold and
windy days it is important to have a windproof
outer layer so that the cold wind does not literally
blow right through your clothes. Try not to wear
cotton since it absorbs moisture (perspiration,
rain, melted snow), takes a long time to dry and
causes one to become quite chilled (even resulting
in hypothermia – a drastic reduction in body
temperature). In the winter it is advisable to wear
fleece and wool instead of cotton, especially for
exercising and being outside.
While keeping the body warm is essential,
keeping the head, ears, hands and feet covered and
warm is perhaps more important. An important
process which carries heat from one part of the
body to the other is circulation. Parts of the body
receiving more blood are more susceptible to losing
heat if not well insulated. About 40% of the blood
circulation is sent to the head, primarily for the
brain to use. It is imperative to keep the head and
ears covered. Chapstick and lip balm help to keep
the lips from becoming dry and chapped. Take
extra care of your health in the winter. In addition
to sickness, accidents are increased in the winter
from slipping and falling on ice.
While staying indoors is a great solution to the
cold, this is not always possible. When walking
outside beware of icy patches and snow. There is
very often ice under snow so do not be fooled by
just snow. Also if it is raining and the temperature is
below freezing, ice may quickly form on surfaces.
If you are driving, be sure to have at least onehalf
tank of gas in case you get stuck somewhere
and have to keep the car running for heat. Never
keep the car running if you are in a garage or unventilated
area.
Maintain your home at a comfortable temperature
level. Constant switching on and off of
your gas heaters will result in increased heating
bills. It is a better idea to lower the temperature
when you are not at home or when you are
sleeping and increase it when you need more
warmth. This will also prevent your water pipes
from freezing.
12 13