HOLLYWOOD ENGLISH

While in Iran, a young girl came up to me and began a conversation in broken English. Her family took photos of us as we spoke. She said she's been studying English for two years and uses Hollywood films and American songs to help her. She said her family is very proud of her. As I said goodbye, she ran to her family and started to cry embracing her mother. Her whole family began to clap for her - these were tears of joy and pride in her hard work learning a new language. Our simple conversation meant the world to her. This is her grandfather, who nearly shook my hand off.

Stephanie Hunt