I took my students to the diner on a field trip today! We’re in our fall term at the school where I teach English. I’ve been teaching at the Language Center for almost four years. I have students from various backgrounds and cultures. Some are from Europe, some from Asia, and some from the Middle East. My students would like to further their careers or earn additional degrees, and their goal is to better their English. 
We listened to an episode by NPR, and the podcast is hosted by someone who interviews people at an all-night diner it’s part of our curriculum design. The morning teacher that has this same section took his students to the diner two weeks ago, and I also wanted my students to experience that. Of course, some of them had already been to a diner before. But we had fun!
People sometimes ask if I speak any of my students’ languages. I don’t. My students know English, and they have traveled and been to other countries. They are just at different levels, some novice, some intermediate, some are advanced. This is my Advanced level, All Skills class.
My other job is one to one teaching for a global-language-training company, called Global LT. I teach English to business people, managers, and engineers living in the U.S. They are temporarily here on work assignments with their families. Global LT has contracts with automotive companies.
My two jobs make a full-time career, and with my writing I have become very busy. But I’m having fun! I’m so excited to have writing as a career now!
About Zina
Zina Hermez has authored the book Not Without God: A Story of Survival and has created the Spinal Cord Injury Solutions! on line website. Zina works as an English Language Instructor, and has been an educator for nearly fifteen years her thousands of students have been from many parts of the world and she’s worked with all ages.
Zina writes articles on faith and overcoming disability and her stories have been featured in Christianity Today, Spinal Cord Injury Zone, SCI Access, newsletters, and medical journals among many other various publications. To learn more about Zina visit http://zinahermez.com.
notwithoutgod.net 
Zina,
I was so happy to read that that things are going so well for you. Good luck at the conference in your home state-Michigan this time. I know that drive will be a special one as you will have some undistracted time to reflect on how far you have come in such a relatively short period of time.
Your class outing looked like a real nice experience for all involved. It must be fascinating to get to know your students and to learn a little bit about what people are like from all over the world.
It seems like just yesterday we corresponded about the need for people who have spinal cord injuries to have easy access to spiritual support. In particular it would have the maximum impact we agreed if written,from the perspective of someone who is similarly afflicted. Therefore, it was a real pleasure for me to go to Amazon’s online bookstore today and purchase “Not Without God”.
Zina, thanks again for stepping up and leveraging your substantial natural talent to write and have published your “story of survival”. I have no doubt, whatsoever, that in the not too distant future (if not already) a number of “Zinas” or a “Petes” will in his/her darkest moment search “God…Paralysis” (or similar) and buy your book. Result? Another soul will be saved from a period in one’s life that tests the limits of the human soul.
A gazillion kudos to you for having the courage, talent, and tenacity to share your story for the benefit of others
Best regards,
Pete
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Thank you so much Pete. I don’t know what to say, and your post brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for your kind words. I have worked so hard, and it is nice to see it all pay off. Thank you for buying my book! I really hope you enjoy reading it. I am very blessed to have met you, and all of the other wonderful people the Lord has put into my life. Please say hello to your beautiful family. God is good all the time! I am so thankful.
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Your students are so lucky to have such a caring and adventurous teacher! Learning a language can really come to life when the class goes “on the road”. 🙂 It sounds like you guys had a nice time!
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Thank you Bettina!! We did have fun! You’re right going on the road sometimes can be really nice. 🙂
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