Level 5 NYC: Rosalia's Audio Story

Rosalia has a special talent.  She can design and make clothing by hand.  In this audio story, Rosalia beautifully captures her memories with her mother, when she knew she wanted to make clothing too.  Through the theme of dress-making, we learn much about her life: from her education in Columbia to her move to New York City.  She even details the careful planning involved in designing the perfect dress for her clients.

Rosalia wrote and recorded this audio story in the fall of 2012.  

I'm happy to say that Rosalia is in my class again, and you can expect more stories from Rosalia in the coming weeks.

Below, you can hear Rosalia's recording, and read along with the text.

-Eric, NYC, USA


Rosalia's Audio Story





The Text

MY STORY 

My name is Rosalia, I’ve been living in NY for six and half years.

My mother was a dressmaker. I remember when I used to watch her working making dresses. I used to stay with her for many hours, looking at every move she made, designing the clothes. She was working on sewing one by one every piece of the dresses that she used to make; and that’s how I started getting involved in the art of the dressmaker.

Finally when I was about eleven years old, I began helping my mother to put the buttons and hemming the dresses that she used to make.

I remember when she was cutting the fabric into small pieces; and then she sewed it up piece by piece until she had finished the dress.

I watched my mom and I thought “some day I will be a dressmaker like my mom.”

Little by little I was enjoying everything I was doing, I remember at the age of fourteen, I sewed my first shirt, but it was after I got married when I went to study dressmaking, and then I specialized in “High Fashion” at “The Multi Cultural School of Fashion Design” in Cali, Colombia.

What I was most excited about was bride dresses, those special dresses for sweet sixteen and prom dresses.

My first clients were my sisters-in-law, then they introduced me to their friends because they were working in a big company, where there were many women. My sisters-in-law had a lot of friends, so in a few months, I got a very good clientele; and I was recognized, as the best dressmaker in my neighborhood.

The first thing I did when I was designing a dress was to ask my client, what kind of dress she needed; after I knew what she wanted, then I advised her, what type of fabric and what color goes well with her, considering the skin color, the height, the body shape, and the occasion for the dress she needed, and knowing the client’s style.

When my client and I were in agreement about a design and color; I began taking measurements of the customer.

A high dressmaker can design a dress, or can check out a fashion magazine or picture, to make a dress.

To make a dress I need to use some things like paper, pencil, rulers, pins, needles, chalk, tape measure, scissors, sewing machine etc. I start drawing the design on the paper, using the customer’s measures, developing the design she chose until the pattern is completed on the paper with accurate measurements, then I cut the pattern, and I put it on the fabric, finally I cut piece by piece until I have cut all pieces on fabric, then it was ready to sew.

When I’m designing a dress I concentrate on my client’s figure; considering how to design her dress in a way that; when she puts on her dress, she looks beautiful, comfortable, and spectacular.

When working personally with clients in the art of dressmaking, I could have some difficulties especially when a client wanted to look like the model of the fashion magazine.

To avoid these conflicts I used to talk to my clients, when we were choosing color and design, then I could do the exact design of clothing chosen, but a design does not always look the same on someone, like on a magazine model.

Fortunately I always had very good clients. Working hard and keeping my clientele to get comfortable with my system and my quality job, that’s how I kept my own business for over twenty years.

Level 5 NYC: Maria M's Audio Story

Maria M is one of my talented students.  In her audio story, which includes some great music, she shares about her life in Nicaragua (Central America), and the many difficulties she and her family faced after moving to the United States, first in Miami (Florida), to Connecticut  to New York City---All in the pursuit of her dreams. Education is clearly important in her life.  Her story reveals her dedication and persistence, continuing her university education even after the birth of her son.  You may even learn something about the job responsibilities of an accountant.  (I really didn't know what accountants do at big companies!) 

She completed her audio story in the fall of 2012. (I saw her again last Thursday, and received her permission to share this.)

You can also see Maria performing in The Christmas Truce, with our friends Karina and Madjid.

Below, you will find the audio story, and the text for the narration.  Travel with her from Central America and up the coast of the US!


Audio: My Story

My Story 

By: Maria M.

Many years ago, I remember my beautiful city of Esteli in Nicaragua, the country where I was born, my high school study in a convent school called (Our Lady of the Rosary College),

Where I had many good friends, great teachers. I enjoyed my classes especially in the field of Spanish where we had to do many exhibitions of books and dramatizations of some stories, was very dynamic, I finished my high school in the year 1992.

Then I study bilingual secretary for two years at a technical school, my career was not over, because I felt the need to seek a better opportunity for the future, even without financial resources, I had help from my mom to finance my career, who take the opportunity to make an application being classified in college in my second option Accounting and finance, because the first choice was Business Administration.

In 1995 I enters college in which the first three years of study in Estelí in public accounting and finances,The career heavy as it applies much mathematics, but mostly much financial analysis of any company, I most enjoyed was the management company, because it was very interesting and very important, Three years after I graduated technician in this career in the year 1997.

Then I moved to the capital of Nicaragua (Managua), where I completed two years of study to get a degree in public accounting.

In the year 1998 my dear son was born at 7 am on the 24th, one of the happiest days of my life. I remember I was going through Nicaragua Hurricane Jeanne, this caused much damage to our country, destroyed houses, bridges,cities were cut off, landslides, volcanoes which killed many people, buried in mud caused by torrential downpours.

After seven months of having my son, I continued my studies at the University, culminating in 1999, I receiving my B.A.

Then I did a job application for a company that was engaged in the purchase and sale of tires for vehicles of all kinds. The tires were from Guatemala, Panama, USA and Ecuador, the brands Goodyear, Continental, Firestone among others, I started working for this company as a bookkeeper where I had many jobs as cash accounts, processing checks for suppliers of the company, verify that all vouchers have complete documentation, record the data in a particular accounting system and do all that the accountant general and administrative department requested. But the area where most enjoyed was serving as Head of the Imports, which was to manage all customs formalities as documentation verifying that the goods were correct and complete payment of customs duties, warehouse service payment, once the merchandise enters into the hold of the company, this has to be prepared for sale, as posting it in the inventory of the company with their respective costs incurred, Check price lists and finally Put into the store for sale. This in itself was entire mechanism when it was concerned with Import.

After four years working in this company I was assigned as a counter, in which my work had much more responsibility to those I already had. I worked for this company for six years, in which every year, I received recognition for my work as well as increases in salary.


In 2006 we decided together with my husband and son to move to U.S.A, for the purpose of seeking the American dream. We first arrived in the city of Miami, which had many experiences. It is noted that it has been very hard. The first jobs are very physical that one acquires, due primarily to the lack of language proficiency. It reduces many opportunities, primarily what we did was to find a school for my son. I signed up immediately, my son came to dominate the language six months after.

My first job was in a factory where all clothing selected under very bad conditions, no air conditioning just fans. Eight hours I was standing, my arms rested not until it was time for lunch. I work one year in this place.

In 2008, we decided to move to the city of New York, in order to continue looking for better opportunities and also wanted to be near my husband's family. We first decided to stay in Connecticut, because there in lie my nephews who assured us work. After a month to live in this place I could not find work and frustration was eminent, then I found a job at a bakery on the recommendation. The schedule was super heavy. I came at 6 pm and did not leave until I finished pack all the bread out of the large ovens. Most of the time I was out at 3 in the morning. It was the same. my arms and legs with long standing pain.

At six months, we finally decided to move to my in-laws in New York, a small apartment, but we had no way out. After three months I got a job in a supermarket where I continuous working. I work six days a week, three days in the area of ​​Deli, two days a cashier, I cook a day, in this area is where I think a lot and I tell myself, I have to keep studying English for many years keep my studies.

We live in New York almost four years. We rented an apartment in which we live alone three. My son is about to start high school. I occasionally go out for a walk in Manhattan, the place I love most is Central Park , Time Square. I'd like the statue of liberate, museums, St. Patrick's Church and other tourist attractions.

Note that my goal is to master the language very well, to get a better job opportunity, and above all be able to go back to my country, Nicaragua, hug my mother with my brothers, to visit my old friends.

Level 5 NYC: Make-up Art

This audio story is from Karina.  In this story, Karina tells us how she began working as a Makeup Artist, and why this work is important to her.  You can find the text for this audio story below.

Karina and Madjid are currently working on new projects, so expect to see much more from them in the future!

-Eric, NYC

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MAKEUP ART

   Makeup Art has always been something that I liked. I like to see how the people chance the appearance by applies makeup.

  I started in the world of Makeup in my country Dominican Republic when I was in a modeling school. I took a makeup class for myself. Since that time I makeup my friends for special events.

  When I came to New York I decided to take it more seriously and I went to the school to take classes and I started work by my self.  This is a good job that can make good money but is not constant and often people are not willing to pay what the job is really worth.

 I like to do a makeup test one week before the event, I like to know the client, what the client wants, what time is the event, I like to know the client’s skin, color type and the client’s style.  

  Often the client knows what she wants that’s a difficult situation, because many times it is not really appropriate for the occasion and that is where the job became a little uncomfortable try to convince the client what is really best for, is not easy.   I have worked with different kinds of people, easy and very difficult, but this is a job that I really liked and enjoy, even more when I can see the happy faces when the customers see the final result.

  I have Two years to stop working makeup but I’ll return because this is a job that fulfills me.

Level 5 NYC: The Lost Dream

This audio story is from Hakima.  Hakima dreams of being a teacher, but life presents many challenges.

The text fo the audio is below.

-Eric, NYC

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The Lost Dream

Everybody has a dream and mine was teaching children so when I finished high school I sat at home for three years. I didn’t find a  job and because my older sister was working, I took care of her children. I felt like she needed  money more then me, so I decided to spend time with them and cook meals, clean the house. It killed the time, but it wasn't my objective in life. I was desperate because I needed to financially support myself and felt options were limited. As I started looking for a  job, I put my resume in every school I knew of, and hoped somebody would call me, so I could start realizing my dream of teaching.                  

After I was waiting for so long, they sent me mail. I was in the living room with my mother and my two sisters on a rainy day. I put on a heavy blanket and drank hot coffee because it was cold. We were  watching TV and enjoy being together when somebody rang the door. I remember my mother went to open the door and I heard my name. It was the mail carrier and he said: ''this is for Hakima ", so I jumped from the sofa, and I remember I started to worry and cry before I even opened the mail. I was surprised that they accepted me at the school as a middle school teacher. My job was to watch the children and help them to do the homework and explain the academic exercises when the teacher was absent.

I was very happy  when some time I couldn't get to the school  the children came to my house  and ask about me .They loved me and I loved them.

I teach too math and science for some kids in my house for less money.

After two years I got married. My husband was in the USA. I remember when he told me to stay at home  his reason was I didn’t need to work now because   he’s my husband now he could send money for me, but nobody understood  me. It wasn’t only about the money, I wanted to work. I said strongly “It’s my life.”  

            Sometime I talked to my self and asked many question, why nobody understood? Life is not only money. For me be myself was my purpose teach children and be with them made me the happiest woman in the world. So when I got to the USA, I was happy finally with my husband but sad too because I lived my dream and all my wishes in my country. For me it was like no more teaching, when I looked around of me, I felt like I was not useful, all the time at home did the same things, I tried to learn English by myself but it was hard. One day I decided to change my life, I knew I didn't have many choices, but I went to the mosque I was learning about the religion and memorizing Quran, so every last month we took a test, I had good score one day they called me to teach children.  I was so happy but I didn’t accept because I was pregnant and for the second time I had an opportunity to realize my dream but I didn’t get it .

So, I wish my two kids and every woman can realize their dream and I hope one day I will be the best teacher in my country .