Here in the U.S., May is the month for college and high school graduations.
It’s a time for celebration and recognition. All the hard work has paid off and as some greeting cards say, “The tassel was worth the hassle.”  I am sure there are many people who are happy including parents, grandparents, other family members, professors, friends, classmates, and many others. The process of learning requires to have the desire, the curiosity, and to put in the work and effort to obtain new skills and knowledge. One place that comes to my mind where anyone can start their journey of learning is the public library, to be more specific, Story time or Toddler tales as some places call it.

Yes, your local public library is the best place to take your little kids and introduce them to the world of books, where they can start their love for learning.

Coming from Mexico, I honestly didn’t have the experience of going to public libraries. Yes, I went to school, and I got free textbooks from the government. If you go to a private school, you need to buy extra books. I still remember going to the bookstore with my parents to find specific textbooks for some classes. Even though I come from a family where my dad is an engineer and my mother is a nurse, I cannot remember them taking me to any public library for story time. They did send me to the best schools they could afford, and sometimes I went to public schools too with my siblings, but I was never exposed to books to read just for fun, it was always books to study. After I graduated from college, I took a long break and read nothing. In my mind I related books with school and homework, and I didn’t see them as fun. How sad is that?
When I moved to the USA, my first experience with a public library was in Williamsport, PA. Someone recommended me to explore the local library and to take my little girls to “Story Time.” I asked if I had to pay money, and they said no. “Really!? Oh wow! Ok, I’ll see what this is all about.”
​
The James V. Brown library was my first experience with public libraries and the one where my girls got their first library cards. I got one for me too! When they told me that our library cards gave us access to books, I again asked if I had to pay something. They said no, but I had to return the books on time to not pay late fees. “We can get books for free. Are you for real?” 
​
See, for many of you who have been born in this country, you might take for granted these amazing public spaces, you might not, but for me, it was like going into an amazing world. I loved taking my girls to story time, because as a little girl I never had that experience! I was learning with them many new things like spelling, vocabulary, sounds, grammar, and it gave me time to sit down and enjoy the process of learning in a fun and inviting way. The librarians and the coordinators always gave me printed calendars and they showed me how to make a reservation for the different sessions.

There was one event where the author came and not only read her book, but she gave copies for free to each child that came! This author was Lindsay Barrett George. Her book “Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse” was used as part of the activities the kids and adults did that morning.

As I kept going back to the library, my favorite section was always the kid’s section, not only because my kids wanted to get books for their age, but also because I was enjoying reading the picture books myself! I was learning new vocabulary, expressions, and with pictures it was even better. Many years have passed since that experience of taking my toddlers to story time, because we moved to Iowa, and then Utah. The first thing I always did was to find the local public library. I am grateful to these libraries for providing a safe, inviting, and wonderful place to learn.
​
​When I published my book, I promised myself that I wanted to give back to the community and so far, I have donated my book to some public libraries. But the one that has a special place in my heart is the one in Williamsport. 
​
Last April 30th, I went back as an author, and I was able to read my book in English and Spanish to the little kids and give them a free copy of my book. Thanks to Nicole Rader, the Programming & Youth Services Director, we had a fun session with music, games, and crafts. And thanks to Emma Klopp, the Development and Marketing Assistant, we had great pictures and videos of that event.
As I was being introduced and I was looking at those little kids, I couldn’t help thinking about how the journey of loving books and learning began for my girls in that place. I told my audience that just like them, my girls were their age, but now they are college graduates!  
​
My oldest daughter graduated from the University of Utah last May 2023, and my younger daughter just graduated this May 2024 from Utah State University. I am so proud of them; I am grateful for my husband that began reading to them when they were babies. I am grateful for my parents that came all the way from Mexico to be at their graduations. I invite you to support your local public library, especially the programs for children. You never know how that will impact their lives and yours as well.

​En este día en que celebramos oficialmente el Día Internacional de la Mujer, no les daré una lista de mujeres que han tenido influencia en el mundo en los campos de la ciencia, las finanzas, el deporte o la política.
En cambio, quiero que pienses en lo que llamamos "mujeres comunes", sí, la mujer que es tu cajera en tu supermercado local o en la gran tienda. La mujer que conduce esa furgoneta que trae tus paquetes que compraste en linea. Las mujeres que trabajan largas horas en fábricas o almacenes donde se fabrican o envasan muchos de los productos que utilizamos. Las mujeres que limpian aeropuertos, centros comerciales y muchos otros edificios públicos o privados. Las mujeres que conducen los autobuses escolares, las señoras que trabajan en los comedores de las escuelas públicas o privadas asegurándose de que nuestros hijos tengan comida. Las mujeres que trabajan en los campos donde obtenemos nuestras frutas y verduras.
¿Y tus vecinas? Esa señora que sale todos los días a pasear con su perro, o con sus hijos o nietos. ¿Qué pasa con las damas de su iglesia o congregación local? La que siempre está ayudando de una manera silenciosa dando de su tiempo alimentando a los demás, ofreciéndose como voluntaria durante horas, días, y si haces un recuento, ella ha estado haciendo eso durante años.
¿Nos tomamos el tiempo para detenernos y reflexionar sobre la influencia positiva que estas "mujeres comunes" tienen en nuestra sociedad? Y para ser claros, no hay mujeres ordinarias, somos extraordinarias a nuestra manera, bajo nuestras circunstancias y haciendo lo mejor en nuestras diversas etapas de la vida.
No hay nada de malo en reconocer a las mujeres en las áreas que mencioné al principio, porque han hecho cosas increíbles para muchas. Pero ¿podemos también tomarnos el tiempo y ver lo que una madre que se queda en casa hace todos los días por su familia? Esa mujer que ahora también tiene que cuidar de padres ancianos, o de hijos con discapacidades que necesitaran atención de por vida. Desde la madre que vive en un barrio agradable y tranquilo, hasta la mujer que tiene que vivir en un campo de refugiados. A la mujer que tiene una educación que le permite mantener a su familia, a la mujer que lo ha perdido todo debido a la guerra y ahora tiene que encontrar la manera de sobrevivir cada día.
Hoy, al celebrar y reconocer el Día Internacional de la Mujer, no olvidemos que hay muchas mujeres que todavía viven en la opresión, en el miedo, en la guerra, en la pobreza, en un estado constante de crisis. Todavía tenemos mucho que aprender los unos de los otros y apoyarnos mutuamente.
Cada mujer fue alguna vez una niña, una niña con sueños, una niña que reía y quería crecer y cumplir cualquier sueño que tuviera. En esta era digital en la que podemos usar las redes sociales para saber lo que está sucediendo en otras partes del mundo, no nos olvidemos de nuestras mujeres más cercanas en nuestras comunidades. Recordemos a las mujeres jóvenes en nuestras comunidades, en nuestros sitios de adoración, y en nuestras actividades. Ellas son las que continuaran este legado de inclusión, amor, respeto y agradecimiento.
Todos queremos ser amados, incluidos, aceptados y sentir que marcamos la diferencia. ¿Podemos vernos? ¿Puedo verlos? ¿Te puedo ver? ¿Me ves? Gracias por las mujeres increíbles en mi vida, por las mujeres que me abrieron el camino para que pudiera estar aquí, por las mujeres que hacen cosas increíbles y hacen que mi vida sea mejor de muchas maneras todos los días.

On this day when we officially celebrate International Women’s Day, I won’t give you a list of women that had had influence in the world in the fields of science, finance, arts, sports, or politics.
Instead, I want you to think of what we call “ordinary women,” yes, the woman that is your cashier register at your local grocery store, or the big store. The woman that drives that van that brings your online shopping packages. The women that work long hours in factories or warehouses where many of the products we use are being made or packed. The women that clean airports, shopping malls, and many other public or private buildings. The women that drive the school buses, the ladies that work at the public or private school cafeterias making sure that our children have food. The women that work in the fields where we get our fruits and vegetables.
What about your neighbors? That lady that goes every day for walks with her dog, or her children or grandchildren. What about the ladies in your local church or congregation? The one that is always helping in a quiet way by giving of her time by feeding others, volunteering for hours, days, and if you make a recount, she has been doing that for years.
Do we take the time to stop and ponder the positive influence these ‘ordinary women’ have in our society? And to be clear, there are no ordinary women, we are extraordinary in our own way, under our circumstances and doing the best in our various stages in life.
Nothing wrong with recognizing the women in the areas I mentioned at the beginning, because they have made amazing things for many. But can we also take the time and see what a stay at home mom does every day for her family? The women that are taking care of aging parents or have a child that will need them for life. From the mother who is living in a nice quiet neighborhood, to the woman that must live in a refugee camp. To the woman that has an education that allows her to provide for her family, to the woman that has lost everything due to war and now has to figure out how to just survive every day.
Today as we celebrate and recognize International Women’s Day, let’s not forget that there are many women that still live in oppression, in fear, in war, in poverty, in a constant state of crisis. We still have so much to learn from each other and support each other.
Each woman was once a little girl, a girl with dreams, a girl that laughed and wanted to grow up and accomplish whatever dreams she had. In this digital era where we can use social media to know of what’s happening in other parts of the world, let’s not forget about our closest women in our communities. Let’s remember our young women in our communities, in our church congregations, in our activities. They are the ones that will keep this legacy of inclusion, love, respect, and a grateful heart.
We all want to be loved, included, accepted, and feel that we can make a difference every day. Can we see each other? Can I see them? Can I see you? Can you see me? Thank you for the amazing women in my life, for the women that paved the way so I could be here, for the women that do amazing ‘ordinary’ things and make my life better in many ways every day.

​When I was a little girl, I loved going to the little store that was just around the corner. If you grew up in Mexico, you know what I am talking about: “La tiendita de la esquina.” My mom used to send me and my brothers to get fresh corn tortillas to the “tortilleria” and if we had any money left, we could stop at Don Pepe’s store. His little store had all the candy we liked, especially candy with chili, spicy chips, sodas, gum, and all kinds of junk food! He had good things too, but for us little kids going to his store meant getting all the candy we could afford!
I moved to the USA in my late twenties, and ever since, I am always on the look for Mexican Markets. Usually, you can find Mexican markets in the big cities in the USA, but when you are in Northeast Pennsylvania, where most of the population is from the Dominican Republic, all you find are “bodegas” with a lot of “Goya” brand products I don’t use. I have very good friends from that country, and I learned that they hardly eat spicy food, so when I went to a ‘bodega,’ I couldn’t find my candy with chili.
A former coworker of my husband told me about this Mexican grocery store, and I went to visit right away! The store is cozy, clean, organized and has all the candy with chili I like! They even have a small bakery section, Mexican sodas, spicy chips, and many more Mexican brands. I talked to the owner of “Espinoza’s Deli & Grocery” and he told me he has been open for the last seven years. Say what!? I have lived in the area for the last three years and I have only found this store. But better late than never.
Something that it’s truly amazing for me is that no matter where you go in the USA, but especially if you live in a small town, you can always somehow find a Mexican entrepreneur that has a restaurant or a grocery store. To them I want to sa​y: “Thank you.” I invite you to say thank you and support these entrepreneurs that work hard every day to bring a little piece of Mexico to your table.
p.s. I am not getting paid to recommend this store, I just like to share information for others to have.

​Cuando era niña, me encantaba ir a la pequeña tienda que estaba a la vuelta de la esquina. Si creciste en México, sabes de lo que hablo: "La tiendita de la esquina". Mi mamá nos mandaba a mí y a mis hermanos a comprar tortillas de maíz frescas a la tortillería y si nos quedaba algo de dinero, podíamos pasar a la tienda de Don Pepe. Su pequeña tienda tenía todos los dulces que nos gustaban, especialmente dulces con chile, papas con chile, refrescos, chicles y todo tipo de comida chatarra. También tenía cosas buenas, pero para nosotros, los niños pequeños, ir a su tienda significaba comprar todos los dulces que podíamos pagar.
Me mudé a los Estados Unidos hace más de veinte años y, desde entonces, siempre estoy buscando mercados mexicanos. Por lo general, puedes encontrar mercados mexicanos en las grandes ciudades, pero cuando estás en el noreste de Pensilvania, donde la mayoría de la población es de la República Dominicana, todo lo que encuentras son "bodegas" con muchos productos de la marca "Goya" que no uso. Por cierto, tengo muy buenos amigos de ese país, y aprendí que casi no comen comida picante, así que cuando fui a una bodega, no pude encontrar mis dulces con chile.
Una antigua compañera de trabajo de mi esposo me habló de esta tienda de comestibles mexicana, ¡y fui a visitarla de inmediato! La tienda es acogedora, limpia, organizada y tiene todos los dulces con chile que me gustan! Incluso tienen una pequeña sección de panadería, refrescos mexicanos, papas fritas picantes y muchas más marcas mexicanas. Hablé con el dueño de "Espinoza's Deli & Grocery" y me dijo que ha estado abierto durante los últimos siete años. ¿Cómo es posible? He vivido en la zona durante los últimos tres años y apenas encontré esta tienda la semana pasada.  Pero más vale tarde que nunca.
Algo que es realmente sorprendente para mí es que no importa a dónde vayas en los Estados Unidos, pero especialmente si vives en un pueblo pequeño, siempre puedes encontrar de alguna manera un emprendedor (a) mexicano (a) que tenga un restaurante o una tienda de comestibles. A ellos quiero decirles: "Gracias". Te invito a que digas gracias y apoyes a estos emprendedores que trabajan duro todos los días para llevar un pedacito de México a tu mesa.
p.d. No me pagan por recomendar esta tienda, solo me gusta compartir información para que otros la tengan.

​¿Estás listo para decir adiós al verano? ¿Tenías una lista de actividades que pudiste completar?
Todavía recuerdo cuando mis hijos eran pequeños y estaban emocionados de participar en el programa de lectura de verano. Debo decir que el sistema de bibliotecas públicas en nuestra área fue increíble.  Viví en Utah durante diez años y la Biblioteca del Condado de Salt Lake tiene muchas bibliotecas en su sistema. Tienen un buen programa de lectura y, en el día, cuando tenía niños pequeños, era muy divertido ir y apuntarme a sus actividades de verano. 
Si no pudo ir a su biblioteca pública este verano, porque se estaba divirtiendo en la playa, la piscina, visitando a la familia o simplemente disfrutando de su tiempo de otras maneras, nunca es demasiado tarde para ir. Aunque el primer lunes de septiembre es el último día del verano, eso no significa que no puede seguir encontrando nuevos libros y actividades en su biblioteca local.
Si todavía tiene niños pequeños en casa, vaya a su biblioteca pública y vea todas las actividades divertidas que tienen disponibles. Tienen tiempo de cuentos generalmente en otoño e invierno, algunas bibliotecas tienen “La Hora del cuento para niños pequeños” y otras tienen “La hora del cuento para niños en edad de preescolar”.  También hay programas para niños y jóvenes en grados 6 a 12 que tienen actividades divertidas. Si le gusta aprender nuevos idiomas, pídale a su bibliotecario local libros bilingües, ya sea en español, francés, inglés o cualquier otro idioma que desee aprender o que desee que su hijo aprenda. Presente a su hijo pequeño un nuevo vocabulario, viaje con su imaginación a nuevos lugares y ciudades, y vea cuántas palabras nuevas pueden aprender juntos. 
Los días serán más cortos y fríos y esa es la excusa perfecta para encontrar un buen libro, una cobija suave y un espacio acogedor para leer. 

​Are you ready to say goodbye to Summer? Did you have a bucket list that you were able to complete?
I still remember when my kids were young, and they were excited to participate in the summer reading program. I must say that the public library system in our area was amazing.  I lived in Utah for ten years and the Salt Lake County Library has many libraries in its system. They have a nice reading program and, in the day, when I had young children, it was very fun to go and sign up for their summer activities.  
If you were not able to go to your public library this summer, because you were having fun at the beach, the pool, visiting family, or just enjoying your time in other ways, is never too late to go. Even though the first Monday of September is the last day of Summer, that doesn’t mean that you cannot keep finding new books and find activities at your local library. 
If you still have young children at home, go to your local library and see all the fun activities they have available. They have story time usually in the fall and winter, some libraries have Toddler Story time and others have Preschool story time. There are also programs for grades 6 to 12 and they have fun activities as well. If you are into learning new languages, ask your local librarian for bilingual books, either in Spanish, French, or any other language that you want to learn or you want your kid to learn. Introduce your little kid to new vocabulary, travel with your imagination to new places and cities, and see how many new words you can learn together.  
The days will become shorter and colder and that’s the perfect excuse to find a good book, a soft blanket, and a cozy space to read. 

¿Sientes que eres demasiado viejo para aprender un nuevo idioma? ¿Crees que tuviste que aprender un nuevo idioma cuando eras un niño pequeño? Si este eres tú, ¡tengo buenas noticias para ti! ¡Nunca es demasiado tarde para empezar a aprender un segundo idioma! Aquí hay cinco cosas que puedes hacer para comenzar tu jornada:
​
1. Deseo de aprender. Esto es una necesidad. Cuando realmente quieras aprender algo, pondrás el esfuerzo, el tiempo y la energía en aprender. Hay muchos beneficios de convertirse en bilingüe. Ese será un tema para otra publicación.
2. Práctica. Esto puede parecer obvio, pero es una de las cosas que marcará la diferencia en tu proceso de aprendizaje. Sé que no todos pueden ir al extranjero y aprender un nuevo idioma, pero puedes buscar en tu comunidad y buscar grupos de habla inglesa donde puedas ser voluntario y / o trabajar. A las personas les gusta ayudar a los demás cuando intentan practicar y aprender su idioma.
3. Encuentra herramientas de aprendizaje. Busca clases en colegios comunitarios, ya sea en persona o en línea. Hay muchas aplicaciones por ahí que tienen sistemas para ayudarte también. ¡Algunos de ellos incluso son gratuitos! Duolingo y Memrise son algunos ejemplos.
4. Ve a tu biblioteca pública y dirígete a la sección de niños.  Busca libros ilustrados en inglés. Aún mejor, busca libros completamente bilingües, los que tienen inglés y español. Te ayudarán a conectar el concepto con la palabra y las imágenes.  Aquí hay algunos libros que son completamente bilingües. Sé que hay muchos más, pero aquí hay algunos que personalmente poseo.
5. Ser consistente. Planifica en tu calendario qué días y horas apartarás para aprender un nuevo idioma, en este caso el inglés. Tómate el tiempo y hazlo.
Esta es sólo una lista básica de ideas para ayudarte a comenzar tu jornada de aprendizaje del inglés.  Sé que lleva años y práctica. La única manera de hablar un idioma es hablando, leyendo y cometiendo errores. ¡Sé que puedes hacerlo! ¡Nunca es demasiado tarde para empezar! 
​

Do you feel that you are too old to learn a new language? Do you think that you had to learn a new language when you were a little child? If this is you, I have good news for you! It’s never too late to start learning a second language! Here are five things you can do to start your journey:

1. Desire to learn. This is a necessity. When you really want to learn something, you will put the effort, the time, and the energy into learning. There are many benefits of becoming bilingual. That will be a topic for another post.
2. Practice. This might seem obvious, but it is one of the things that will make a difference in your learning process. I know not everyone can go overseas and learn a new language, but you can look in your community and look for Spanish-speaking groups where you could volunteer and/or work. People like to help others when they are trying to practice and learn their language.
3. Find learning tools. Look for community college classes in person or online. There are many apps out there that have systems in place to help you out too. Some of them are even free! Duolingo and Memrise are some examples.
4. Go to your public library and head to the kids’ section.  Look for picture books in Spanish. Even better, look for fully bilingual books, the ones that have both English and Spanish. They will help you connect the concept with the word and the images.  Here are some books that are fully bilingual. I know there are many more, but here are some that I personally own.
5. Be consistent. Plan in you calendar what days and time you will set apart to learn a new language, in this case Spanish. Make the time and do it.

This is just a basic list of ideas to help you begin your journey of learning Spanish.  I know that it takes years and practice. The only way to speak a language is by speaking, reading and making mistakes. I know you can do it! It is never too late to start!