The ESL (English as a Second Language) students bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to our VITA classes. Ricardo Acosta, a native of Hondoras, recently shared the account of his life before coming to America.

Ricardo grew up in Tegucigalpa,Hondoras. As a youngster,he worked after school in his father's tobacco sales business. During Ricardo's last year in secondary school a war between Hondoras and El Salvado wiped out his family's business. To earn money for college he worked at a Honduran government print shop that printed lottery tickets. Ricardo says the government in Honduras used lottery proceeds to raise money for the poor people of his country. After receiving his university degree in economics, Ricardo worked in several governmental and banking positions.

After Ricardo's mother-in-law moved to the United States several years ago,she convinced Ricardo, his wife, and three children to relocate in America. He is now a permanent resident and will be eligible for citizenship in three years. He would like to eventually start a business here and is practicing his English speaking and writing skills with that goal in mind. He is currently working in sales for a small business owned by a Honduran couple he met through VITA. Since starting the program, he says his ability to understand English and converse with Americans is much improved. "I was afraid to talk to American people. Sometimes they didn't have enough time to listen, it's much better now."