gardeniahung's blog

gardeniahung's blog

Since September 1977, thirty-seven (37) years ago, I was involved in the French Club at Northeastern Illinois University, assisting and helping the Moderator Professor Dorette Klein when Bruno was the President of the French Club, and I was the Vice-President. 

One year after, I became the President of the French Club at Northeastern Illinois University in 1980-81.  The French Club at NEIU was very active in the campus community and Dorette Klein enjoyed hosting the International Food Festival, French concerts, Dance, and French Language Travel Immersion experiences to Oregon, Illinois, Montréal and Ville de Québec in Canada, for French Club members--when I was a college student at Northeastern Illinois University from 1977 through 1982, during five (5) years.  In addition, I was nominated for membership in the French National Honor Society at Northeastern Illinois University.

After years helping Dorette Klein, she recommended me for international language work in French, Spanish, and English at the Belgian corporate company called Groupe Européen S.A., also known as GESA Assistance, upon request from respiratory and pulmonary specialist physician Dr. Ben Carasso M.D. and his wife Dina Carasso who were involved with the Director José Poquet and the Executive Assistant Secretary Huguette Callaway from Glen Ellyn, Illinois USA.  While I worked for GESA Assistance, I helped to arrange corporate services for customers, clients, and the GESA staff events.  On several occasions, I was involved with the GESA Assistance staff arranging and planning holiday events at The Signature Room on the 95^th Floor of the John Hancock.

Figure 1 The Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the John
Hancock Center in Chicago

The Signature Room  on the 95^th Floor of the John Hancock Center is on top of the world,
overlooking the Gold Coast and the lakefront skyscrapers and high-rise residential buildings.
Located atop the John Hancock Center, The Signature Room  at the 95th® offers diners exquisite food, superb service, and a dazzling skyline view. The elegant wood designs and art deco interior create an inviting and intimate atmosphere, while the floor-to-ceiling windows exhibit the
stunning Chicago skyline and 360 degree views of the entire city.

Thirty-three (33) years ago, I began to work for Berlitz  Schools in Chicago, teaching English As A Second Language, Spanish, and French at 2 North La Salle Street. 

Berlitz is still a language teaching institution locally and globally—in Chicago, some people say “glocally”. 

Berlitz  is a global leadership training and education company with a comprehensive portfolio for building communications skills development, global leadership training and customized dynamic solutions for cultural competency, available via multiple delivery platforms. 

Berlitz Corporation is a global leadership training and language education company with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey. The company was founded in 1878 by Maximilian D. Berlitz in Providence, Rhode Island. Berlitz Corporation is a member of the Benesse Group, with more than 550 company-owned and franchised locations in more than 70 countries.

I worked for the Berlitz Schools of Languages in Chicago, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, and Schaumburg, as a Consultant for the Berlitz Schools 1981 – 1995 (14 years).

I worked as a Certified Teacher in Illinois. Professional Legal Interpreter and Translator in English, Spanish, French, etc. I worked at Berlitz, 2 North LaSalle Street with English as A Second Language corporate clients, when June was the Receptionist and Josefa was working there.  Milanka trained Berlitz Language Consultants how to teach foreign languages using the Berlitz method of questions and answers by inference, deduction, and logic.  Also taught for Berlitz at the Water Tower Place and also in Hinsdale, Oak Brook when Beth was the Director and Sally were working there and
the Berlitz Junior Program was used for the Brook Forest Elementary School Foreign Language program and for Butler Middle School. Taught for Berlitz in Schaumburg when Steve was the Director there.

Figure 2 Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue and Pearson
Street in Chicago, Illinois USA

I also worked teaching languages as a Certified Elementary School Teacher for the Berlitz Junior Program at the Brook Forest Elementary School, in Oak Brook, Illinois USA.  From September 1989 – December 1990 (1 year 4 months), I was teaching at the Brook Forest Elementary School on 31st Street and Summit, Oak Brook, Illinois US.  I worked as a Certified Elementary School Teacher for the Berlitz  Junior Program at Brook Forest Elementary School, teaching English, French, and Spanish by assignment for Berlitz  Director Beth, Assistant Sally, Receptionist, June, Steve, and other Berlitz staff in Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, Chicago, Illinois USA.

When I used to work for Berlitz at the Water Tower Place, across from the John Hancock Center, I used to park my car across the street.

Figure 3 John Hancock Center Parking in Chicago

When Mirtha Quintana told me one day that she had decided to plan her wedding reception at The Signature Room on the 95^th Floor of the John Hancock Center, I mentioned that I had dined at The Signature Room several times for the holidays and with my family.  So, I offered to help her make arrangements for her wedding reception at The Signature Room on the 95^th Floor of the John Hancock Center.  Afterwards, I had to visit The Signature Room to pick up the wedding reception menu prepared by the Belgian Chef who worked there, so that Mirtha Quintana, her Mother Josefa  and her fiancée Christopher Toomey with his family could look at the menu and decide which were the best wedding dinner menu choices available for their special wedding day.

In addition, Christopher Toomey wanted to lease a Rolls Royce for the wedding day at the Lakeview Presbyterian Church.  Since Christopher Toomey was from St. Louis, Missouri, he was not familiar with the corporate services available in the Chicago area.  Mirtha Quintana and Christopher Toomey asked me for assistance to help them arrange their wedding day reception and transportation leasing of a Rolls Royce for the wedding party.  I also helped Mirtha Quintana find her Wedding Dress and drove her in my Nissan 200SX Sports Car to pick up the Wedding Dress at David’s Bridal in Norridge, a western suburb near the Harlem and Irving Plaza.  Then drove Mirtha
Quintana back to her Chicago home on Richmond Street near Grace Avenue.