National Adult Literacy Database

July 6, 2009

This week, we have a story written by Hewida Abdelmoaty, from Toronto, Ontario. Hewida is enrolled in literacy classes at Parkdale Project Read. She is married and has two children.

Story

by Hewida Abdelmoaty

My name is Hewida Abdelmoaty. I was in Sudan for a year with my husband and two kids. I decided to come back home to Canada. I call it home because it actually is my home. When I was in the airplane, the girl, she send me an application and she said fill it out. And I couldn't fill it out because I don't know how to read. I asked my nine year old son to read the questions for me. He was shocked and surprised and he said, You cannot read, mama." I said, No. And can you please put your voice low. I want you to please, if you don't mind, read the question for me and I will answer it." He did. I was very embarrassed and ashamed.

The first thing I did when I got back, I was looking for a literacy school. It took me over a month to find one. You don't know where to find one. Looking through the yellow pages is hard because you don't know how to read.

On September 6, 2006, I was taking my kids to Queen Victoria School. After I dropped my kids, there was a lady and I asked her a question. She was handing flyers for her school. I asked her what this school about. She said for people doesn't know how to speak English. I said to her, then I mean, it's not for me. She said, What are you looking for?" I said to her, I'm looking for reading and writing English school." She said to me, It's easy." I said, How come? I've been looking over a month." She said, Project Read is right across the street." I said, Where is this?" She said right behind the No Frills. I asked her if I can go there. She said, Yes, you can."

At that moment, I felt scared. Because I find what I need. But still, I'm not sure if they are going to accept me or not. When I went there, I met Mary. I asked her a question about me. How I'm going to work here to learn? Why they are going to accept me? I felt like she opened her heart for me. We start to talk about my history. She understand where I come from. She said, Come back. We are going to fill out an application and I will help you." She said, Come back to our program. I will give you a schedule." After, she give me the schedule. Before even I look at it, this is my proudest moment. To go back to school. To do something about my reading.

For four days a week, I used to go to their program. Until one day, Mary came to me and she said we have a tutor for you. When she said that to me, I was surprised. I'm getting my own tutor, and I'm going to read. At the same time, I was scared. She going to be some old lady. She going to think I'm dumb and stupid. Forty-one years old and she doesn't know how to read. But, I thought, it's her job. If I meet her and talk to her, she will understand. Everybody, in this life, have a problem. I was thinking for a long time, my brain is very slow. But, when I going to talk to the old lady, I think she will understand.

I'm asking Mary, What does my teacher look like?" She said, She's Chinese." I said, Oh, my God. If she's Chinese, I'm not going to understand one word." She said, No, Hewida. You will understand because she was born in Canada." I said, Thank God." She said, Give her a call." I said, Are you sure she going to understand me?" She said, Yes, she will. Don't worry. I make a good match. I think Diana will be perfect for you."

The day I called Diana, we start to ask questions for each other. I think she understand what I need. She agreed to meet me at Project Read.

When I first met her, I felt good because when I talk to her on the phone she make me feel welcome. When we start to work together, I felt every day is Wednesday for me. When I come to Project Read, I think I'm going to see Diana and we're going to study together. I want this Wednesday to come fast because I cannot wait to read. She said to me ...Don't push yourself...Don't rush yourself...It will take time. You have to breathe. If you don't breathe, you're not going to relax your lungs and you can't think. I try to breathe and I try to read. This is my proudest moment. To meet Diana and to learn to read.