Even in cramped quarters, Jacob Sie was thrilled to be back in the English instruction classes he's been taking since arriving in New York City.

Up until January 24th, he and dozens of others were enrolled in courses offered by the Chinatown Manpower Project or CMP. It's an agency that works to improve the overall life of immigrants acclimating to life in the U.S.

"CMP taught me how to speak, how to write, so I can little bit talk with people and I can make some new friends," said Jacob Sie, a student with CMP.

But he's been lost since CMP's home of almost five decades, at 70 Mulberry Street, went up in flames.

"When I heard fire and I feel, I’m so surprised, it’s just so unbelievable," said Sie.

Up until now, all ESL or English as a second language courses had been suspended. Tuesday, they resumed in a new space at the Oversea Chinese mission on Hester Street.

ESL instructor Peter Gu says it’ll take some time to settle in. He’d been teaching at the old CMP since 1994.

"I've been teaching in the classroom, it has never changed. It’s the same room for almost 25 years," said Gu.

And while most of CMP’s computers and textbooks were wiped out in the blaze, their new home has almost all the amenities they used to have.

“The students, we find them they are happy, we regroup and we have like CMP, we have a rebirth,” said Gu.

Finding the space wasn’t as hard as some CMP officials imagined. Their executive director was making calls even before the fire was extinguished.

“We’re so happy to find this place. It’s great location. The building has been recently renovated. We have almost the 7th floor to ourselves,” said Dong Yang, Senior Program Director, CMP.

It’s what they are calling their new long-term, but temporary home.

They are still hoping that one day; they’ll be able to return to their old location, just in a brand-new building.