Before December, I dare not speak too much English,
for all of my roommates, whether comes from Canada, Germany, or Denmark can speak fluent English!
I only speak in irregular speed, conveying vague meanings.
In front of them, I felt myself stupid.
Whatever I said, I needed to say it twice.
I’d rather not talk.

In the end of December, I met Hiromi (from Japan) and Piotr (from Poland).
Among us, Piotr’s English was the worst.
However, we three still could communicate joyfully.
Piotr contributed lots for this happiness. Reasons?
It was very funny to see/ hear Piotr speaking English,
because he had to think for 3 seconds for every word.
But he still tried very hard ( I mean it!), with his big green eyes fixed wide.

Chatting with them, I began to feel confident.
I did not plan for one minute before I speak any more, for it was very ok to make any stupid mistakes in front of Piotr and Hiromi. We even enjoyed the mistakes.
Sometimes when I got crazy, I would say something funny to flatter Piotr;
That evening he even blushed twice, and that made him more difficult to think what to say next (sorry Piotr..I didn’t mean it).
The whole situation made everyone laugh! (I felt myself getting old to embarrass a young man!)
But Piotr learned very fast, I have to admit.
I really like the time everyone gathered in the kitchen…haven’t been so happy for months!

Actually Piotr is quite smart. I can tell that from the way he wants to learn every word new to him. He also remembers well what have been taught. He can even distinguish the accents of London from Manchester!
He told us today that he is the top 4 students in the exchange program of his department!
No wonder.

However, he always speaks English very soft and gentle. I wonder if he does the same in his mother tongue.
Today I asked him to speak Polish……..the result…was the same.
It has nothing to do with the English proficiency at all.


I found that we three had certain mystic chemistry.
We three is “a must” for joyfulness; we three with any others will still do (sorry, Toru, Makoto:>)
And the biggest happiness in the day is that all of us laughed in the small kitchen in cloudy Manchester.

I am quite sure we will never meet each other again in our life after this February.
However, I will still remember Mrs. Kokocinsca’s house, not because of her thick carpet, but the joy in the kitchen.

This English version is for Hiromi, Piotr, Toru, Makoto.

Ps: the picture is from Piotr…I like your drawing, and thanks for giving me confidence.

Lucy 0116 2005