Hi Deaf Friends,

My name is Esther, and I am 17. I’m deaf. I’m from Cameroon. If you know people from Cameroon just ask them from which district they are. I attend the high school which is the closest school to my house. I am in grade 11 and study Spanish. I’m the last of 6 children (their names are written below). My father used to work in an office but is now retired. My mother is a housewife. In Africa, men do not like to see women work outside the home.

Here is the composition of my family:

1. Amélie – She has 3 children who go to the school for journalism,

2. Michèle – She does not work,

3. Serge – He is doing an internship in electronics,

4. Willy – He is in business,

5. Mireille – She is learning how to be a secretary and to use computers,

6. Esther – She is in high school and studies Spanish.

I attend a school for children who can hear. This means I have a great deal of difficulty in the classroom. Some of my teachers only explain the lessons, and therefore I can only recopy the notes. I like to correspond with deaf people from other countries. In Cameroon nothing is done to help the deaf community. There are no specialized schools, and the National Association for the Deaf does nothing to help. I know that in the U.S. the deaf live in much better conditions than us. We need help here. I’m fond of all sports (soccer, handball, basketball, tennis, etc…), and I love dancing and music. In the future I will be a secretary. I included a picture with my letter. I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks a lot and "big kisses" to all.

What is your name and surname?

How old are you?

Do you practice a sport or have hobbies?

Where are your parents?

How many brothers and sisters do you have?

How are the deaf doing in the U.S.?

What do your parents do for a living?

In which grade are you?

Where do you live?

Good luck.

Esther Mbokop Mbetcha
Cameroon