Marina Lombard

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"I'm not finished yet my English learning. I need to speak more clearly so everyone can understand me. I'm a cake decorator and I need to speak to people who don't speak English well, so I'm sometimes translating for Spanish people when they order a cake. We are all searching for clues about meaning sometimes in our conversations. I'm from Russia, the republic of Mari-el and my city is Yoshkar-Ola. I went to college to become a professional cake decorator. I wanted to have a family and I was looking for a man to protect me and my child. I found it in an American guy I met and that's why I live here. My life has changed of course. Five years and six months ago I came here and I spoke zero English. We bought a home close to the library and I found Top Floor Learning and began learning English. I've made many friends at Top Floor Learning and found many people that give from the heart. I'm very happy here - it's like a second family. People have been so helpful. My last tutor helped me get an application for health insurance. I had no idea how to do it before. She helped me translate administrative forms. My husband is too busy to help me. My next step is to become a citizen. I love America. People are protected. They have more freedom here. It's important to learn about America - it's my future and for my daughter's future and for my career. My tutor now is so helpful - she's teaching me for the Citizenship test. Tony (ESL class teacher) gives a lot. He sees my eyes; he stops, he says, "Maybe you have questions?" He goes back over things. He's very patient. He's a good teacher. The staff here is very helpful. Every time I ask for help, with paperwork, with the bank, about my job, someone always helps me. And it's so cheap - we learn so much for the little that we pay."