U.S. Department of State
Russian
And Надежда Was Found in the Квартира
Megan, hailing from Modesto, California, is an alumna of the Winter 2022 Russian Virtual NSLI-Y program. Everything was gray. The cracked pavement was gray, and the sky was gray, and the cinder-block квартира that stretched one after another, after another, after another – they were gray too. And I doubted… Read More
Korean
Becoming the Translator at Work
Sofia is an alumna of the 2021 Korean summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. Hello everyone! My name is Sofia and I am proud to say I participated in the Korean Summer Program of 2021. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic,… Read More
Korean
Lost
Angela is an alum of the 2021 Korean summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. “Bring me one, please.” The 아줌마 (Korean term for a middle-aged woman) running the stand hung up the phone, waving her hand for us to sit… Read More
Russian
Kalmyk Connections and Conversations
Estelle is an alum of the 2021 Russian summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. 10:36 AM, Saturday, June 30. That was when I received the message from my VSI Coordinator, Gabe. It was a simple conversation about something cool he… Read More
Chinese (Mandarin)
A Sonnet for Study Abroad
Ingrid is an alum of the 2017 and 2018-2019 Chinese (Mandarin) programs. This poem was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. I stutter, sigh and wonder why I thoughtsignificance would not betray my words.When I decided language could be taughtI did not… Read More
Korean
Photo Books
Maya is an alum of the 2021 Korean summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. My grandmother loves to make photo books. Growing up my sister and I would be the first to see her latest publications: photos of my dad… Read More
