I had never been to the United States until this past September. September, a time of beginning in the school year but also a time of ending; of remembering. My family is studying at George Washington University and we have been living in Virginia these past 10 months. I am already missing my unique American lessons learned at this small school of family, love and respect known as Mt. View.
Little did I know in those first 3 months of my time in Virginia that I would discover a place of such community to help me learn English. I came to Mt. View in January of 2026. I was nervous because I thought everyone spoke English better than me. I soon discovered there are others like me from so many different places. All of us came here with similar hopes and similar fears.
Here are my American Lessons learned at Mt. View.
- I come from a place of blended culture and nomadic peoples. Coming from Central Asia to America I now see that we are all seeking harmony on a journey.
- My goal was to learn English because I want to return to my country to become an English teacher. My time at Mt. View allows me to communicate in English in many ways. I think, I speak, I write in the company of friends and trusted teachers.
- I came with experience in theatre and found that I was in the right place. My interest was met with Mt. View’s “Theatre Without Borders” class where I learned confidence , focus and Spanish.
- In Government class I came with no knowledge about the USA and now I know the US Constitution as well as one word a day that helps me think differently about the language and meaning and power of “We the People” communicating. America is all of us.