Pics to enjoy with Charlie's gift

My days without you...my classmates

I cannot stop thinking about all of you, my friends, my pals, my fellows, my brother and sisters, my classmates. I'm studying and I'm thinking about you. It would be easier to send you a message, but you know me...I don't want to bother you, maybe you are studying and you don't want to be interrupted...I have some things to share with you...
My laptop broke my heart last Friday...in fact it was as if I had shot myself and let my body bleed quietly till the end. A glass of water fell on the keyboard while I was putting a folder in order...in my desperate insanity, I unplugged everything... the web connection out, mouse out, electricity out... I turned her upside down and shook it to remove the poison...but some drops were still there, refusing to abandon ship. As I said, I was desperately insane...I started crying because my laptop was my arm's extension, as my brother says. I'm still owing money I borrowed to buy it...she is young, like a baby...on December 7Th will be only 6 months old...I'm a murderer! When I saw that those drops wanted to enter between the keys I really wanted to die...I didn't know what to do... Air...I need some strong air to dry them all...the hairdryer...warm not hot, in case heat burns the keys...it was not getting dried...I put it closer, but I couldn't see the keys...
When I put the hairdryer out...the beginning of my real misery was in front of my startled eyes... the keys were melting!
I called my brother...crying. My father picked up the phone at the other end of the line. 'Daddy, is Rober there?'...'Yes, but what happens? You don't sound well'...I told him about my stupidity and he seemed distressed. My father woke up my brother, and my brother just wanted to kill me. The only thing my brother kept repeating was 'COMMON SENSE! WHERE'S YOUR COMMON SENSE? I thought you were intelligent! How could you be THAT stupid?!'
I remained mute, I didn't have the strength to answer, I didn't have anything to answer. I couldn't explain even to myself how could I have been THAT stupid...
The computer was working, and I didn't want to turn her off, in case she didn't want to start again. Only the volume keys stopped working, the rest from that deadly corner where loose and waved, but working properly.
My brother wanted to kill me, but started making phone calls to Buenos Aires and Bahía Blanca, where the best experts he knows are. After some minutes, he called me to say that we should send my baby to Bahía Blanca to have her full keyboard changed. The cost...around $450... and I still owe money! What could I do?
My beloved father, who has always been my angel, told my brother to do whatever it takes on his expense.
Meanwhile, I also found out that the video I made for our graduation dinner was broken during a formatting of my computer the day after the dinner, and I couldn't fix it. I tried for more than 3 hours to do it again, until the programme got stuck and I lost everything again. When this happened I was overwhelmed by such misfortune, but a light came down from heaven and I remembered that I had copied the video on Raquel's pen, just in case my laptop didn't work with Charlie's projector.
I called Raquel praying for her not having erased it, and thank God...she still got it.
Mi nick on messenger was: 'I would kill for a time machine...but I've just seen a weak light at the end of the tunnel'
Recovering the video that took me months to prepare, was a sign that not everything was lost.
Don't worry my friends, I have already recorded our video on a DVD so it is finally safe.
In what's related to my laptop, I'm writing on her at this moment, but having some difficulties with 'P' and 'Erase' keys which are not working as easy as they used to. Today my husband took her to an engineer which is working with him and maybe...I have a happy solution soon!
See you!
Keep in touch, and enjoy your days as much as you can...you never know when stupidity strikes you!

The first Part of the video

Here it is my dear friends...the first part of our graduation video. Enjoy it until I manage to post the rest.

Love

Pato

P.S. In case you want to include it as part of your blog, this is the address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEp2bZ1oFyw

A week's nightmare

I'm starting school tomorrow, first grade, and I'm quite excited to meet new people. I hope my new teacher is as good as my kindergarten teacher. And my classmates? Are they going to be nice with me?. Anyway, I'm going to sleep now, my mom is telling me off because it's 11.30 p.m. and I'm not sleeping yet.
‘Good morning Miss Maria!!!’ Miss Maria told us that we have to greet her everyday in the same way, to show respect, you know. Oh! I'm the tallest in my class...nice! I look older than the rest! I can reach places which are forbidden for the short ones, but I don't like sitting in the back row of our class.
What is that? I'm listening to Miss Maria, but I cannot see what is she drawing on the board. Maybe if I close my eyes a little bit I can see better... Yes, I can! But it's tiring to be all the time like this...I'll take Carolina's seat, she is supposed to be sitting two places in front of me, but today she didn't come.
I'm a little better, but my teacher told me to go back to my place...I'm sad, where's my mummy? That woman... Miss Maria, you know, she is mean! She doesn't like me because my mother is not all the time at school. My classmates' mothers are...Marcela's mother is here, Laura's mother is also here, where's my mother? I really want to cry...but I won't. I won't cry because I'm not that weak. I'm going home now and I'll be better tomorrow.
Today I got dressed in a hurry and asked my father and brother to hurry too, because I want to arrive at school before the rest of my classmates. I want to sit in a better place. After all, sitting at the back I feel like a shadow. Miss Maria only talks to the girls sitting in the first three rows.
Nice, this is my chance, there's nobody else, I can choose wherever I want to sit!...’ No, Marcela, I want to have this seat, go to the back and sit in my place!’ Oops! Marcela is crying... I don't care, I didn't do anything wrong! Marcela's mother is coming! My God, she is a tall woman! I hope she won't dare to hit me, I'm afraid now. My chest sounds as if I had horse galloping inside. I’m trembling. I’m sweating. I'm trying to explain to this woman that I cannot see quite well from my seat, I understand that I'm as tall as a tree, and the little ones sitting behind me only see my back. I need someone to listen to my excuses. I've been suffering from a similar misfortune since the first day. My notebook is almost empty, I'm tired of being told off at home because I never finish taking notes in class. I really want to learn, I want to learn how to read. I don't like waiting for my parents having time to read me a short story! I'm tired of just imagining a story from pictures! I want to read!!! At the back I'm not learning...where's my mum?
My teacher is coming and Marcela's mother is rushing towards her! What is she going to say?...I'm in trouble...Oh, my God! I've been naughty, and if my mother finds out, I'll lose my dolls! I don't want to lose my things, I just want to learn! I'm desperate, I want to cry... I've never cried when my mother abandoned me with Miss Maria. I'm not a cry-baby, but Miss Maria is coming to tell me off...OK, I'm already crying...’No, Miss Maria...I just want to sit here... because I cannot see the blackboard... from the place I'm supposed to be sitting, I'm sorry, I didn't do anything...please, don't call my parents, I promise I'll go back to my place...PLEASE, don't call my parents, they'll be upset with me!
Nice! The horses are disappearing. Apparently, she understood everything! Marcela is sitting behind me... but I'm having a note to my parents. What does it say? That's why I want to learn how to read. I don't like not knowing if I've done something wrong. What's the note about?
My parents are coming with me to school. Miss Maria asked us to copy some words from our book, while she speaks with my parents... I’ll finish in a hurry to go and see what is happening outside... "Mi mamá me ama, mi mamá me mima, mi mamá amasa la masa"... Ready! Now I want to know what they are talking about! Oops, my parents’ faces are not so good. What have I done wrong? If she understood everything yesterday, why is it that my parents are looking at me as if I were about to die?
We are at a doctor's office now. Am I sick? I don't feel anything. In fact I'm feeling quite good. Why am I here? No, doctor, I don't know how to read yet, I cannot learn anything because I'm sitting at the back. Oh, but I know that drawing! It is an "A", yes, and that other in an "E"...Mom I know how to read! I already know how to read! It’s great, isn’t it?... But the tiny ones are blurred. I cannot see them. I'm sorry, I'm a complete ignorant... Glasses? No, I don't need glasses, no doctor, I don’t want them!... OK mummy, don’t be upset. I’ll try them on... Oh! I can see the tiny ones now. Yes doctor, I can see perfectly well. That's a "P" which is my name's initial, and an "M" like the one I need to write "Mamá". Thank you doctor, it didn't hurt.
I'm happy now. I'm the only one in my classroom with glasses. I'm special. I can sit at the back without problems.
Marcela, you've been a mean person. Stay in your ugly place, I don't like it anymore. You are mean and I'm special. I have glasses and you don't.

Four Funerals and a Wedding

I've been blessed in my life in many ways, but the one I'm more amazed about, is the little amount of important loses that I've suffered.
Four funerals and a wedding may seem a satire to the title of Hugh Grant's movie, but it's not. That's the real amount of important events that I experienced in the last eleven years.
In 1996, My father's mother died after suffering for three months due to an intra-hospital virus. Everything started on March, 3rd, a day before her 51st wedding anniversary. She went to her living room to put the China on the table, because she wanted to have a perfect celebration the next day, but on her way through the long corridor of the old train-like house, she missed a step and fell down breaking her hips.
Her wedding anniversary was beyond her expectancies. She spent it hospitalized. But with the whole family around her. Some days later, she went on surgery to try to fix her broken bones, and it seemed to be perfect. She was sent to her house, and the doctor advised her to start walking as soon as possible. She tried. She walked in pain for a week, until my mother and my father's sister realized that something was wrong with her injury. She was admitted again in the same private hospital, but the doctors discovered that she had a serious infection, and they had to remove the gadget that was implanted in her hips to help her walk again.
From then on, everything went down, she never went back home, she only travelled from I.C.U to a common room and back. On June, 24Th 1996, after a strange dream I had in which she cried to me asking for relief, at 1 p.m. she died in peace.
On February 5Th, 2000, I got married. Against everyone's predictions and expectations, I got pregnant and neither my parents, nor my husband's parents could refuse the idea anymore. They agreed on the decision we'd taken eight months before, when we secretly got engaged. My life was great, I was in love, I was pregnant, I was finally getting married. I would stop lying to my parents in order to have a moment with my boyfriend. I would have the freedom of sleeping whole nights, end enjoy my sleeping without worrying about arriving home before 5 a.m. I would sleep with him...not only serve the natural needs. I was absolutely happy, until the wicked witch (known as my husband's mother) started spreading her intrigues. Anyway, that's subject for another entry.
On December 26Th, 2001, after celebrating Christmas with my in-laws at their house in the countryside, and due to the big crash in economy some weeks before, my beloved father-in-law left us alone in this earthly world. The news knocked me, because he was the fresh air I needed every time I went to their house. He received me as the daughter he never had. He was constantly thinking about my welfare and my son's. In fact, some days before he died, he was thinking about buying me a car "to avoid the risks of handling with my son in buses." He was also my husband's pillar. They used to go hunting and fishing together since my husband was five. They had a close-knit relationship. They felt at ease when they were together. My father in law was human, he was full of flaws, but no one can deny that he was a great man, extremely generous and always thinking about others. I've never seen such a long line of cars accompanying a coffin. The worst part is that I had to carry out with the organization of most of the things when he died. My husband's mother was shocked, as well as her two sons, and nobody in the family was willing to. I still miss him, especially in the countryside house where I saw him alive for the last time. That's one of the reasons why I don't go there as often as my husband wishes. He was 49, and died from a heart attack.
On August 12Th, 2002, I didn't have a funeral for the baby I lost, because it was on its early stages, but I knew it was alive when they showed me the fetus' heart beating in the same study where my doctor said it was an ectopic pregnancy, and I needed urgent surgery to remove it.
The third funeral was my mother's father. To tell you the truth, I don't remember the date. He was old, he was not my grandfather, he was just my mother's father. I never had a grandpa-grand daughter relationship with him. In fact, some time after his death, I heard that my mother's mother told one of her friends that "I stood at the door looking at his dead body as if I were looking at a dead dog." My first thought was: "She has to be kidding!" but then a strong anger appeared. I didn't know that man when he was alive, I was there because of my mother. When I had the chance to meet him, he was flying on a distant star because of his hydrocephalus disease! He didn't know me! However, I'm not a monster, I'm just reluctant to see dead bodies. I went there because of my mother. I accept that I didn't spill a tear for him. I didn't know that man. But I never looked at him as she thought.
The last funeral was on October 2nd, 2006. Our Lola Mora's Headmaster died out of the blue. He was a doctor and I still wonder why on earth he couldn't cure himself as he may have done with others. I remember that I used to think that he was too serious. I used to believe that he was unreachable. In time I understood that he was a great man. He was the one who supported Jesi and me when we were preparing Halloween in 2005. Against all odds, he encouraged us to continue with our project without paying attention to the stones we had on our way. He was the strong figure that we knew the very first day of classes walking through our school's long corridors. He was the one who showed me his pride when he learnt that Jesi and me were presenting a lecture in a conference. He was the one that treated Jesi and me as if we were special. He used to make jokes to Jesi and me. He was the one who let us waiting for him forever. I regret now because I didn't want to bother him when he was hospitalized. I really wanted to see him and tell him that for me he was my "uncle Albert," that I was so happy of having met him, that he was the perfect driver for the big Lola Mora Airplane.
Uncle Albert, you were my last big loss, and sometimes I find myself looking through our classroom window, as if I were waiting to see you walking and smiling at me as you used to.
The pain will go in time. At this moment, I still spill a tear when I stop in my everyday rush, and reflect on the ones that are not with me anymore.
Hoping that all of you are better where you are, once again...GOOD BYE!

Impotence

I don't have a different word to refer to my state of mind. I feel impotent towards some people's actions. Today, after three months of having resigned to my position as English teacher, I learnt about some negative comments that my former bosses have been spreading.

The school's owner out of ignorance, stupidity or who knows, gave the order of not calling me never again. Not even for one day.

After listening astonished to the person that was telling me this, I stayed in shock. For a micro second, I wanted to hit a pair of women. I couldn't believe that they were that bitchy. That pair of witches. I'm so stupid!

I'm so naive in terms of jobs, that I never thought about the truth behind their threats. One of them told me very serious that I should think what I was doing, that I would regret it in the future. I never thought that she would be as mean as to close another door for me. She knew me since I was 13! She knew me for more than half of my life! How could she!

I'm thinking about talking to the school's owner, but just talk to her. At this point, I don't want to discuss anything, I don't want a debate. They were criminals, they should be grateful that I resigned and never consider the possibility of making a bigger mess in the Education Secretariat.

Now I wonder why this is happening to me. Why is it that I have to deal with all this before I even get my degree? Why didn't they ignore me? Why do they keep on trying to destroy my image? Why is it that I'm so important for them? I've just chosen not to go on with their bad movements. I preferred stepping away, silently, without saying anything, just preserving my integrity.

Please, I need someone to explain their attitudes, so I can understand why is it that they are being so mean to me. Please God, give me the strength to keep on living as I live, without trading my values for a monthly payment, without gifting my possibility to keep on sleeping well, with a clean conscience and with the pride of knowing that I've never done anything wrong.

Good bye blog assignment

Last night my classmates and me received the great news of being relieved from completing our daily blog assignments. At that moment, I felt a huge happiness due to the fact that I had already fulfilled the minimum number of entries. However, when I got up today, and turned on my laptop while preparing breakfast as usual, a strong nostalgic feeling hit me.

After giving it some minutes of reflection, I discovered that even when the compulsory aspect disappeared, my inner need of writing didn't sink with it.

At this point, I'm in love with my blog. I have put so much of me on it, that I don't really know if I will be able to abandon it. I've spent long hours trying to change its layout, its template, the colours, music, etc and I'm not so sure about leaving it aside that easily.

Who knows, maybe I don't write daily entries, maybe I let it rest for a while, or maybe I keep on writing randomly...who knows...only time will tell.

At this moment, I have to thank my teacher for being so considerate with us by stop pressuring with this, but I also have to thank him because he woke in almost all of us that sleeping writer that lies within.

Last class was the kind of class that I enjoy. Even when my writing was a natural disaster, I felt really happy of being corrected. The relaxed way in which he conducted it, was exactly what I was talking about on my previous entries. I felt overwhelmed. I finally enjoyed my English Language IV class. I felt that I was learning significatively. I'm happy. I don't have much to say because happiness sums up my feelings at this moment.

Thank you C! Last night, maybe without noticing it, you have pulled down the huge iron wall that lied between us. I'll be grateful for ever.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

A curse

"That's the problem when you are a natural organizer, everyone tends to relax and wait until you have everything done." This was one of my teachers' reaction yesterday, when I told her about the anger and impotence I felt towards some people in our institute.
The thing is that since nobody was moving a finger about our graduation dinner, a pair of classmates and me started looking for a place. We spent almost the whole week coming and going from one place to the other, feeling helpless when someone answered "we don't have any available service until February," or "everything is already booked for November and December."
Frustration, that was the prevailing feeling among the three of us. Anyway, in the end, we found a pair of nice places. The real problem came when we had to discuss our findings with the students of the other teacher training careers. Last Friday, we walked through our institute corridors speaking about it, explaining which were the services and their respective pros and cons. One group answered that it was really expensive, the other that they didn't like the date, and the last ones, that they wouldn't participate in the dinner party. COME ON! ARE YOU KIDDING US?
My idea of consideration towards other people's work is to give an alternative when I say that I disagree. Disagreement without solutions is just a plain careless attitude.
By Monday, almost everyone agreed, but when I called to check if the date was still available, the person in charge of it, told me that fifteen minutes ago, someone had already paid for it. The only available dates were November 16th and late December.
No doubt, we were in a hurry. Thanks God, when I told everybody the news, they finally agreed on the necessity to decide at the moment. A group of us, including people from the three careers willing to participate went to talk with the person in charge of giving us the money for the booking...and we got it!
On Wednesday afternoon, while I was enjoying the view of Jujuy through my bedroom window, the girl who was in charge of booking called me and gave me the great news that we already had our place on November 16th.
My happiness was indescribable. Everything was on the go. We had a place to celebrate our four years of effort.
Anyway, in the end, I have to recognize that my horizon became clearer much sooner than I thought. After all, being a 'natural organizer' is not that bad...isn't it?

Out of your mind, not out of your body

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9682520

Reading Report 30

Title: Out of your mind, not out of your body
Source: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9682520
Date: Aug 23rd 2007

Vocabulary:
Rang out: sound loudly
Concur: To be of the same opinion; agree
Fodder: A consumable, often inferior item or resource that is in demand and usually abundant supply
Rambling: Lengthy and digressive
Dusky: Characterized by little or inadequate light; shadowy
Tenured: appointed for life and not subject to dismissal except for a grave crime
Gyrus: Any of the prominent, rounded, elevated convolutions on the surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres.
Prodded: An incitement; a stimulus
Vault: a strongroom or compartment (often made of steel) for safekeeping of valuables

Summary:
Scientists agreed on the fact that consciousness is a biological thing. According to their researches on the topic, a pair of scientists, have found that consciousness can be inducted by delivering a special amount of electricity to the body. Moreover, it can also be triggered by using virtual reality googles, by which the person being studied has a positive response. This response is measured by the amounts of sweating when they feel threatened in one way or another.


Personal Reaction:
Astral projection is mentioned here, but is not taken into account when they discuss the topic of consciousness. Anyway, I find it interesting to think about the possibility of being in many places at the same time. Not everybody I talk to in relation to this state of consciousness can say that they have had at some point some experience like this. However, there are a few, who agree with me in the fact of having felt at one point as id they were out of their bodies.
In my particular case, it has happened to me that one of my former students asked me why I hadn’t greet her in a restaurant where she was having lunch with her family, and when I answered that I wasn’t there, she started describing my clothes and my hair style. Everything matched with the look I had that day at that particular moment...but I wasn’t there. In my opinion, this is more related to astrology that to any other serious science, and at this point, I believe that we unconsciously ‘travel’ to some other place either when we are extremely sad, or when we feel threatened. This is done, as if our sub-consciousness would be running away in order to protect our soul. If this is true or not, I don’t know, but it’s interesting to learn that some studies are being done in order to explain some weird facts which can affect our daily lives.

Sex, shopping and thinking pink

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9682588

Reading Report 29

Title: Sex, shopping and thinking pink
Source: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9682588
Date: Aug 23rd 2007

Vocabulary:
Bargain: An agreement between parties fixing obligations that each promises to carry out.
Gathering: The collecting of food that grows wild, such as berries, roots, and grains
Merry: Full of high-spirited gaiety; jolly
Stalls: A booth, cubicle, or stand used by a vendor, as at a market
Deviation: Statistics The difference, especially the absolute difference, between one number in a set and the mean of the set
Hues: The property of colors by which they can be perceived as ranging from red through yellow, green, and blue, as determined by the dominant wavelength of the light
Binary: Characterized by or consisting of two parts or components; twofold
Pliable: Easily influenced, persuaded, or swayed; tractable

Summary:
Based on similar studies conducted by two different groups of researchers, it has been proved that women are better at remembering special places than men. These discoverings were based in both genders ancestral capacities to hunt and to gather food. When women are specially gifted about remembering food stalls, men are more practical in remembering the way to go to some place or another.

Personal Reaction:
It’s interesting to see how great scientists spend money and time, to say the least, in doing research about frugal things. Instead of being using the resources in finding the cure for a mass-killer disease, they waste everything trying to solve the mystery of Who is quicker in finding food?. Come on, we need greater things to be done, how can you burn money and human resources on such stupid issues!

A living mess

I'm a mess today. I don't know how to explain this twisted state of mind, but I'm full of feelings. I'm afraid, I'm nervous. I just want to quit. But quitting means treason.
I've been upset and anguished for a long time. However, it was today when I couldn't manage things. I couldn't control myself. I spoke in a rude way to one of my classmates, and even to one of my teachers. I was so far away from politeness. And I'm sorry. Were was my controller?
I really fight everyday against my big flaws. But on days like this, I really don't know how to handle everything. I've just escaped from one of my classes. The space was becoming so limited, my teacher's voice started to fade, and I was lost. I just wanted to cry. Desperately. But tears refused to appear.
I don't like being myself today.
Everyday I come to school wishing I were somewhere else.
I'm so tired.
I've lost so many things to reach to this point, and the only thing I want is to run. I just want to run nonstop.
"You are not so concentrated today", he said. "No", I replied. "OK", he concluded. The only thing he cared about was his class. I was not being myself. I'm a mess. And he only cared about my disturbance in the class. We all have bad days, we are all human beings. Please switch off your teacher's alarm for a moment. Put away that mask. Help us to enjoy. Show us the way. We are all adults, but we are also a sensitive group. We need to be embraced with caring attitudes. I urgently need someone to tell me I'm not useless. I need someone to refute my thesis statement, as convincing as to make me change my mind.
Help me. I'm feeling at the edge of falling down into a black hole.
My classmates are my pillars, but today I'm feeling lonely. Having my pillars is not helping me. I don't know exactly what I need, however, I know I need something, right now.
I'm sorry again. I don't like feeling this way. I know that what I need is inside me, but I cannot find the strength to look for it. Help me. Help me in my encounter with a more positive view of my future.
I don't like being myself today. I know I'm wasting time. I should be enjoying the moment as I enjoyed my fifth year at secondary school. I can't do it. What's more, at this point of desperation, one feeling is added: FEAR, the same one I've always felt when I knew for sure that I would regret about not having enjoyed something. This moment will disappear, and I really need to enjoy it now while I'm living, when I'm healthy, and when I have time to do it.

Untitled

Sadness.
Anguish.
I feel the emptyness as a roaring tiger.
Missing things,
Missing people,
Deceiving myself.
Self betrayal.
Unfulfilled expectations.
Too many things left behind,
Too many people abandoned,
Everything for my own sake.
And now this hole.
This infinite black space.
It's too much,
It's just too much.
Every day is a burden,
Every hour is a different fight,
Against my will,
Against my fears.
At this point words are not enough.
I'm on a rollercoaster.
I want to get down,
from this never ending trip...
Just one step away,
Everything is different.
Every face becomes unknown.
Years devoted to try,
Try harder,
and try over and over again.
I'm just one step away from the finishing line,
And I wonder,
What will I find
When my moment comes,
And I have to jump from the cliff.

Is the good life killing you?

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article2287520.ece

Reading Report 28

Title: Is the good life killing you?
Source: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article2287520.ece
Date: August 26, 2007

Vocabulary:
Booze: to drink alcohol, esp. to excess
Sloth: habitual disinclination to exertion; indolence; laziness
Womb: the uterus of the human female and certain higher mammals
Lavish: using or giving in great amounts; prodigal
Gooey: like or covered with goo; sticky; viscid
Foodie: a person keenly interested in food, esp. in eating or cooking
Scoff: an expression of mockery, derision, doubt, or derisive scorn
Tipple: to drink (intoxicating liquor), esp. repeatedly, in small quantities
Teetotallers: One who abstains completely from alcoholic beverages
Chute: an inclined channel, as a trough, tube, or shaft, for conveying water, grain, coal, etc., to a lower level.
Smear: to spread or daub (an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance) on or over something


Summary:
This article is a detailed description of all the things we may do every day which are potentially dangerous for our health.
It starts with a close relationship between food, obesity and cancer, then goes on with alcohol, sloth, sun, and sex. The more you do in your life, the higher your possibilities to suffer from many types of cancer.

Personal Reaction:
My personal reaction might be explained in many words. However, I was so upset for such pesimistic point of view, that I really wanted to kill the writer.
If we had to take into account every single thing which is mentioned here, my friends and me should be dead by now. Come on! We might die even while walking, and this doesn’t mean that we are not going to walk anymore. We might slip in our bathtub and die of five shots in our head, but this doesn’t mean that we are not going to take a bath anymore. I really hate this type of articles, as well as those e-mailing chains warning us about all the dreadful things we might suffer if we just decide to live our lives.
At the moment, I prefer not to write anymore, just in case I suffer from a finger cancer for typing too much.

The maladies of affluence

http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9616897

Reading Report 27

Title: The maladies of affluence
Source: http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9616897
Date: Aug 9th 2007

Vocabulary:
Maladies: any disorder or disease of the body, esp. one that is chronic or deepseated
Heapes: A group of things placed or thrown, one on top of the other
Lurid: gruesome; horrible; revolting
Ailments: A physical or mental disorder, especially a mild illness
Bears down: to press or weigh down
Endowment: Funds or property donated to an institution, individual, or group as a source of income
Levelled off: to become stable; reach a constant or limit
Swiggers: to drink heartily or greedily
Inoculate: to implant (a disease agent or antigen) in a person, animal, or plant to produce a disease for study or to stimulate disease resistance

Summary:
Since the 1600s rich countries have been infecting poor ones. From the times of colonisation, poor countries have been suffering from different diseases which were brought by people coming from richer environments.
Chronic diseases kill more people than infectious ones. The heart attack death rate is one example. More people die from heart attacks than some other infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria put together. However for the last decades, the average life expectancy has been raised from 50 to 65 years of age due to the health care programmes and investments.

Personal Reaction:
I think that in our rushing times we are more likely to have an unhealthy diet. We are becoming accustomed to eating more junk food and faster than ever. We are not taking care of our long term health, which means that we don’t care much about suffering from aheart disease down the line.
I believe that it’s not just a matter of blaming others for our own faults. In other words, I partly agree with the article. It’s true that in the early stages of colonialisation, the newcomers brought many diseases with them which were not part of our systems, but, I don’t think that they can still be blamed for the bad choices we make in our eating habits.
Heart diseases are not taken seriously. The bad part is that it is a silent killer. Most of the people suffering from disbalance in their bodies, don’t realize about it until it is too late. The same happens with diabetes. Diabetic patients don’t know that they suffer from it until they have to follow a strict treatment to manage their problems. Even when they know about it, they seem to be reluctant to take special care of themselves. I know many people who suffer from diabetes, but they just seem not to care much about it. They are grown ups behaving as childs, hiding themselves to eat sweets or highly dangerous food.
Everything is a matter of attitude. In my personal case, I’m overweight, and I know that it is quite unhealthy, but whenever I’m asked for a blood test, doctor find that I’m a perfectly healthy fat girl. My levels in everything are near the lower numbers in the scales of health. That is why they are all the time asking me why is it that I don’t lose weight. The answer is as simple as painful. I hate exercising.

Meanness

I used to think that families fighting over money was something that happened to others. Nowadays, I have to recognize that it's a disease that has recently touched mine.
Some years ago, my father's father lost his sight. At the beginning we thought he was not completely blind, because he could manage to do some things which required sight. Out of his blindness, he started to behave in a violent way. At that moment, his doctors recommended giving him some pills to calm him. My aunt refused categorically. Then, my father and my uncle suggested to bring him to a place where he could receive the special attention he needed, but my aunt refused again, and offered herself to look after him.
Things were good, until the house where my grandfather used to live was sold last year. The money they got for the sale, was divided into four equal parts, one for the father, one for each brother, and one for the sister. When they made such division, my father agreed with his siblings to leave my grandfather's part untouched, until they decide to admit him in a good resting place which might demand more money than the full amount of his pension.
This agreement was great. My grandfather was still living with my aunt, and nobody complained about it.
Out of greed, nonsense, or whatever reason I don't care much at this point, my aunt came one day this year, gathered her brothers, and informed them that she had spent all her money, plus my grandfather's money. My uncle wanted to kill her, because he was counting with that money for the moment his father passes away. My father was shocked, and started worrying about his father's future.
When I learnt about this woman's deed, I told my mother that from then on, was a matter of time the moment in which her father would become an impossible burden in her life.
Sadly, only four months have passed, and last weekend my father's sister called him to say that she is suffering high blood pressure and she cannot have her father with her anymore. What's worse, my aunt said that my grandfather should be put in an institution here in Tucumán (she lives in Santiago del Estero) because she is moving to Buenos Aires to live with her oldest son.
Are you kidding me? How can you be such an awful person? My God!
She spent every single cent of my grandfather's fund, and now she simply flees?
The worst part is that my father is the only one who succeeded in having a life, which is why, as always happens, the one who never bothered others, the self-sufficient one, is that who has to take care of everything when things go wrong.
At this point, I only hope that my father's health is not put into any type of risk, or else, I don't know what am I capable of doing.
I've been taught that whenever I choose to do something or not do anything, I have to be responsible enough as to carry on with the unseen consequences that all that may have. That is why I don't understand this woman's reaction. What's more, I cannot understand why she sends me messages saying that her house's doors are fully opened for me if she is being such a bitch with my father, and was worse with me last year in relation to other issues which are too long to mention at this moment.
I suffered a lot with my mother's family because of their meanness, that's why I don't care about them, in fact I don't consider them part of my family anymore. Apparently, to avoid being hurt again, I will have to do the same with my father's family. And I wonder why do they have to be like that? Why should I build a shell around my loved ones to protect ourselves? We are family for Christ's sake! Why are you being such a pain in the ass?

A bomb? Are you kidding me?

I'm amazed about people's lack of consciousness. Yesterday we were in our Language class discussing some issues, and a man entered the room saying that we had to leave the building. They had received a message saying that there was a bomb in our school.
WHAT THE HELL THE TWISTED MIND WHO CALLED WAS THINKING WHEN IT DID SUCH STUPID THING??????
Once more, I proved myself to be a balanced person when something goes wrong. But when I was at home, after kissing my son, who was already sleeping, I started shivering, and my heart wanted to jump out from my chest in despair.
I have to recognize that at the moment in which we were asked to leave the building, I only cared for one of my closest friends to be calmed. I didn't want to loose her in the crowd, because I knew that she was shocked.
This was the first time in my 28 years in which something like this happens to me. Of course I have heard many times about practical jokes like this, which were done in some institutions. However, since we are among adults, I couldn't believe people's stupidity. The news of a bomb threat came to us when the building was almost empty. We are in a wing which is almost forgotten. So, if the bomb really existed, I wouldn't be here writing at this moment.
I wonder how can someone be as careless as to threat people in this way.
When I decided to start writing about this, I was quite upset, my nose was bleeding out of rage. I couldn't understand anything. I was too upset to think in my own health. I felt impotence at its highest rate, I wanted to find someone responsible for all this, and punch his or her in the face.
Now I'm calmer. However, I still cannot understand the situation, and this is not good for me. I always look for understanding everything, even when I do not accept it... I need to understand, I need a rational answer for everything that happens (or not) to me and to the ones I care for.
Does anyone have an answer? I would be quite thankful if someone explains all this in a reasonable way.

Finally...I passed

I passed my Language exam, and of course, I'm happy about it. Even when I didn't consider the possibility of passing, I never lost faith. I believe only three of us passed it.
I felt at ease, but I also felt anxiety again. I have studied. I have studied the four units of our course book. The vocabulary and the grammar. I even made a list of words and idioms on a special notebook. I studied a lot. I passed my language exam. I still cannot believe it.
The bad part is that I will have to sit for a final exam on December. Exactly what I didn't want to do. The idea of having my whole family and friends knowing that I'm going to sit for the last exam to have my teacher's degree, is like a lot of pressure on my shoulders. I really hope this pressure doesn't become a mountain on my way. I hope this pressure vanishes from now until the day I have to sit for my final examination. I'm full of hope. I wish I finish my examination with a nice 'congratulations colleague' from the exam board.
I'm already dreaming about that day. I'm having awful nightmares as well. I hope this becomes one of those things you laugh at when you recall them.
The ultimate happiness would be that all of my classmates sitting for the same exam also pass it. We will be partying without end.
I really, truly hope that every stone on our way vanishes, or at least gives us the chance to pass it through. I believe that our effort will be rewarded in the end.
By now, having received a "Good discussion Patricia" as feedback for my essay writing is like the hand I needed on my shoulder to encourage me to go on. Those three simple words meant the world to me. It was the satisfaction of finally doing something good. They were an open door that leads me to keep on improving myself. Even when they were only three words, only twenty letters...they were more motivating than if my teacher would have written something more elaborated. I don't expect more from him. He is a great teacher, but I still believe that I'm a pain in the neck for him, that he doesn't like me at all. However, I know for sure that I will be absolutely certain that he will never gift me a passing mark. If I have one, it's because of my effort, it's because I have earned a passing mark.
I don't deny that I would like that we could build a bond that unifies us in a close teacher-students relationship, but in time I have learnt that not all of my teachers can do it. I mean, I don't want us to become friends, but at least feel the freedom of being comfortable in our classes. I don't know why, but whenever he crosses our classroom threshold, my affective filter is higher, as well as my anxiety.
I wish this can change before we finish our classes, if not, it was a pleasure having met such a great teacher. Thank you for pushing me hard enough as to help me become the best English teacher I can.

August - Just a windy month?

There's an old urban legends which says that August takes some lives away. I've always laughed at this, but this year the legend is being frighteningly near some relatives.
Last week was a different week. On Sunday I realized that my son had chickenpox. I was quite worried, sad and desperate because I'm not accustomed to have my son sick. He is a healthy boy who only got minimum flues and some coughing from time to time. So, having him with blisters all over his body, and even worst, in his throat, it was pretty unbearable for me. I didn't know what to do to help him feel better, he wouldn't eat anything because of the pain, but he was hungry anyway. I was helpless. I bought him some yogurt, and part of the problem was solved.
By Thursday, my husband's mother called him to say that a healthy relative had just passed away. We stayed puzzled. The woman who died, was not one of my favourite relatives from my husband's side, but she was a person, a healthy person. Why should she die? And more important, why should she die out of the blue? Without notice, without being sick, out of the blue. She started feeling a strong stomachache a week before, and the doctor advised her to have some medicines. She took the medicines and started a healthy diet. At 4 a.m. on Thursday, she told her husband that she was suffering a splitting headache, and by the time her husband went to look for the car keys to take her to the hospital, she lost consciousness.
The weird thing is that the whole family was expecting the husband to pass away, because of his diabetes and the problems he has had for not being careful enough with his health.
Anyway, by Friday, my husband went on a minor surgery from one of his toes. So, instead of having one Leo male sick, I had TWO. Leo males are quite demanding when they are sick. They tend to be extremely attached to their mothers, which meant that I had my husband's mother more often than I wished. What's worse, I had my husband's mother 'suggesting' ways of treatment for her son and her grandson. My God! I thank everyday for the patience I have. If not, I would have sent her to hell and I would probably have had many quarrels with my husband.
Of course, I didn't go to school on Friday, but one of my friends sent me a message asking about my family's health and told me about one of her friends' father who had died that day.
For this series of unfortunate events, I started wondering about the urban legend that I've always heard from old women about this strange characteristic of August. Is it true, or just a weird coincidence? As i said, I've always laughed at this and every urban legend, but this year I decided to doubt, and not be one hundred percent certain of the non-existance of such possibility.

The Arctic - Drawing lines in melting ice

http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9660012

Reading Report 26

Title: The Arctic - Drawing lines in melting ice
Source: http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9660012
Date: Aug 16th 2007


Vocabulary:
Swathe: an enveloping bandage
Seabed: The floor of the sea or the ocean
Icebound: obstructed or shut off by ice
Foray: a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder
Cacophony: a discordant and meaningless mixture of sounds
Trodden: to set down the foot or feet in walking
Hobbled: to impede; hamper the progress of
Preclude: to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible
Retorts: To reply, especially to answer in a quick, caustic, or witty manner
Tiff: a slight fit of annoyance, bad mood, or the like
Gravel: small stones and pebbles, or a mixture of these with sand
Intractability: not easily controlled or directed; not docile or manageable

Summary:
The Artic is becoming a fashionable destination for tourism. The problem comes when the different countries want to gain possession over it. It is well known the richness of this region, but thanks to the soil’s intractability, this remains safe from exploitation. Nevertheless, day by day The Artic is melting down, which would make possible for the fishing industry to go deeper, and make it a profitable area due to its many resources.


Personal Reaction:
It’s a quite sad image the one that shows a humongous greed over the planet’s virgin soil. Sometimes I cannot believe the way in which the different countries go to war over a piece of land, over its richness. Greed is a capital sin. I wonder why it has become a common disease nowadays.
Sadly enough, I believe that some day in this race of conquer, the biggest countries will end up destroying some parts of the planet for the sake of their own interests. The part that they won’t be able to set their flags on, will be destroyed to avoid someone else’s ownership. I hope the already mentioned greed doesn’t end up killing the beautiful place in which we are living.
Also by exploiting virgin soil, I think we are running out our own resources for future generations. This is closely related to the fact that these countries are drying out all their reservoirs which feed them, and they’ll only realise about the huge damage when it’s too late to revert such consequences.

Adiós to poverty, hola to consumption

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9645142#top

Reading Report 25

Title: Adiós to poverty, hola to consumption
Source: http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9645142#top
Date: Aug 16th 2007

Vocabulary:
Winding: bending or turning; sinuous
Depots: A warehouse or storehouse
Amid: in the middle of; surrounded by; among
Grinding: To shape, sharpen, or refine with friction
Ubiquitous: existing or being everywhere, esp. at the same time; omnipresent
Ply: a unit of yarn
Plethora: overabundance; excess
Nadir: the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair
Remittances: The sending of money to someone at a distance
Abjured: to avoid or shun
Clawed: To scratch, dig, tear, or pull with or as if with claws


Summary:
During the last years, Latin American governments have maintained an average stability which allowed a big amount of poor people to improve their lifestyle. These people have reached a new level among social classes, broadening the circle which embraces a middle class community. Those who are now part of this middle class society are the ones who spend more money consuming goods. The sad part is that in the same way, lot of people suffered a top-down change by becoming poor. In Latin American countries the main problem resides in the incredible fragility of the economic system.


Personal Reaction:
I don’t know quite much where lays the dividing line between middle class and poor people. In my particular case, my husband has a great salary, I think. We can live our lives worrying less than others about reaching to the end of each month. If needed, we can borrow some money, knowing that we will be able to give it back in short time. We have our own house and van, which also is more than the average expected. Among the people we know, none of them being our age have neither the things we already have, nor the possibility of having them soon. In fact, even when my husband doesn’t have such positive perspective, he is free to go hunting and fishing every other weekend, or several times a year. What’s more, I can also decide going to seminars in other provinces without doubting if we would have the means or not. Of course, I agree on the aspect of living in a time of high consumerism, but if you don’t take advantage of the possibilities you may have, what’s the sense in saving forever and ever, by depriving your family and yourself of things that, urgently needed or not, provoke some kind of pleasure which is priceless.

Are We Failing Our Geniuses?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1653653,00.html

Reading Report 24

Title: Are We Failing Our Geniuses?
Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1653653,00.html
Date: Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007

Vocabulary:
Stringing: to connect in or as in a line; arrange in a series or succession
Witty: possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression
Squandering: To fail to take advantage of; lose a chance for
Tabulated: to put or arrange in a tabular, systematic, or condensed form
Battered: damaged especially by hard usage
Acuity: sharpness; acuteness; keenness
Aloof: reserved or reticent; indifferent; disinterested
Akin: Having a similar quality or character; analogous
Unbidden: Not invited, asked, or requested; unasked
Peremptory: leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperative
Promontory: a prominent or protuberant part
Cliquish: associating exclusively with the members of one's own clique; clannish.
Traits: A genetically determined characteristic or condition
Pitfalls: An unapparent source of trouble or danger; a hidden hazard
Chafed: to irritate; annoy

Summary:
This article is about gifted students whose IQ tests are higher than average. It criticizes the way in which schools do not allow gifted students to skip courses. In this article, we can also find a contrast between the amounts of money spent on below standard students, and on highly gifted ones. It says that the programme “No child left behind” is actually doing a lot of harm on those who need to skip courses.
Gifted students in the U.S. have the possibility to attend a school especially created for them, in which the curriculum is divided into three levels, instead of the many courses regular schools have. Anyway, it has been argued that in this way, those students are still being isolated; they are still being treated in a different way which is not completely healthy for them.


Personal Reaction:
I’m not quite sure about the reason, but I have always felt pity on little geniuses. Maybe it’s because they are almost one hundred percent of the times living in environments in which they are not at ease. It’s as if they could never find the perfect place in which they can feel comfortable.
I remember when I was a child; I truly wanted to be different, more intelligent than the rest, to know more, and to be able to pass my courses without much studying. This wishes lasted until one day I came across with an article which described gifted children as potentially crazy people, with a great tendency towards having some kind of mental disorder.
I think that we are all different in a way or another, but being that different must be a real burden in someone’s life. It seems that there are opposite realities between those who are really smart, and those who are gifted at some sport or artistically. The first ones have a higher risk to suffer from discrimination. The last ones have greater opportunities to shine.

Reaction Paper on Jaim Etcheverry's presentation

We were undeniably there - From left to right: Patricia Romano, Jesica Suparo, Carlos Lizárraga and Raquel Soria


When Dr Jaim Etcheverry started his presentation, I felt at ease. The pace of his talking and the rhythm of his voice were captivating. From the beginning to its end, the talk was great. He said things that caught my attention, and some others in which I couldn't agree more.

When he said he would start with a parable, I thought he was going to do something like a mass, where the priest starts reading something from the bible, and then comes the whole sermon. However, I was nicely surprised when I realized that he had changed the parable to make it fit in the main topic of his lecture.

With this parable, I remembered all the things that we have been learning in some of our subjects at teacher training college. Lesson plans, projects, contents, etc were all known to me, but in his words, they sound like a real burden for the teaching practise.

My classmates and me were the youngest people in the audience, which left me with a big question mark in front of my face. I started wondering about the big amount of people who would have been benefited for such incredible, real, and rough comments on Argentinean education system.

All in all, he didn't say many new things. It was the way in which he said everything that was really shocking. I mean, we all know about the divorce between the institutions of family and school, but it's like one of those secrets that everyone knows, although no one does anything or even speak about it.

Personally, seeing education as a way to dimension our own possibilities, was adding one good aspect of it in my life. In other words, for me education is essentially needed and I have never considered it in the way Dr Jaim Etcheverry put it.

I couldn't agree more with the fact that schools have become an accreditation agency, in fact, this was the main reason why I resigned my job two months ago. I tested my students' knowledge and put them the marks that they deserved. In some particular cases, I decided to gift them an opportunity by not giving them the absolute failing mark. Anyway, the head of the English department, in alliance with the school's principal, decided to change almost 80% of the marks of the two courses in which I was in charge. The worst part is that I found out about this criminal act, because of my students' naiveness when they thanked me for giving them a passing mark on their reports even when they had a plain one in the two tests they did.

Another shocking thing is the realization of a black future without education. The fact that we won't be able to live our lives in a safe environment due to others' ignorance and fearless attitude is anguishing. As I always say, my biggest worry is related to the world in which my son will have to live. It's not only caring and being concerned about our future, it's pre-occupying, and actually doing something, for the sake of those younger than us.

It was a great talk. In fact once more, we as a group at teacher training college, have been using our power to ask for more useful education. For example, yesterday we gave one of our teachers some suggestions in relation to a subject that we have during this term. We asked for a better quality in the material used, in this way we will improve our knowledge.

Although Dr Jaim Etcheverry said that he prefers to be quite optimistic regarding our future. At some point I see educational improvement as nothing different from an idealistic utopia. On one hand, because of governments' lack of interest on the topic, and family's tendency to be on the fast lane. On the other hand, because if we want to change the system as it is, we have to start by modifying people's minds. Education takes time, and sadly enough, day by day we find less people willing to accept those conditions. I tried to stand against the system, and the system ended up closing one of its doors to me.

Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry's lecture

Dr. Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry is a doctor who has written a book called "La tragedia Educativa", and who has devoted his life to teaching and to neurobiology investigation.

We went to one of his talks about the Argentinean educational situation yesterday, and he started it with a very funny parable, which says something like this:
"In those times, Jesus came to the mountain, sat on a stone, and let his disciples and followers approach him; 'Happy those who are hungry and thirsty of justice, the merciful, the chased because of justice...'That was when Pedro interrupted him to say: 'Do we have to learn it by heart?'; and Andrés said: 'Do we have to write it down?'; and Santiago said: 'Are you going to test us with that?'; and Tomás said: Do we have to write a monograph?'; and Marcos said: 'And what is this useful for?'. So one of the followers present there, inquired Jesus about his lesson plan, and in front of the master's amazement, he queried in these terms: 'What's the name of your classroom project?; Which are the strategies?; Which are the conceptual, attitudinal, and proceeding contents?; Have you given encounter spaces to coordinate transverse actions?.' Jesus eyes were full of tears; he looked towards the sky, and said: 'Father, why is it that you have abandoned me?'

After the laughing of all the audience, Dr. Jaim Etcheverry referred to the need of reflection on the broken bounds between the school and the family, he said that we are experiencing an increasing carelessness towards the teaching process. It seems that there's a fear to teach.
Sadly, he explained, society is influencing the teaching practise, and our society nowadays is embracing the idea of youth as a goal, not a phase, which everyone wants to achieve.

Youth applies to the ones who are chronologically young, nevertheless, the rest is constantly seeking for it. It is said that young people already know everything, which in a way leaves an obsolete mark on education, but we have to reflect on this because we can all agree on the fact that in the technological field they have a greater knowledge. However, we can also agree on the fact that nowadays, a biggest intellectual capacity is required to write something than to handle technology.

We are urged to understand which our responsibility on education is. We have to think that we are putting in the young ones' hands a huge inheritance, which is the whole creativity corpus that we have been leaving to them.

The education is a way to dimension our own possibilities, with a correct education we can answer questions like: What can we do?, What are we good at?. Its acquisition is worldwide admitted to be mainly fruit of our own personal effort, which gives in other words a maths operation as the following:
Personal effort + Teachers = Long term satisfaction.
The problem in this society is that satisfaction is required immediately, which generates a big obstacle to the ones who want to teach.

Nowadays the main goal is to make the learning process something fun. We are losing the real aim of going to school. Students should go to school to be interested, to allow teachers build interest on them, not to have fun.
The problem is that there are no students neither willing nor with a positive attitude to learn, and parents have become allies of their children against school. What's more, secondary school has become a long preparation for their final trip to Bariloche.

This crisis lives within our houses' walls. The school is nowadays only an accreditation agency, in which the conquest of a certificate is the main goal. Both, parents and students only want to have a passing mark in every subject, they don't care about learning. That is why the level of knowledge is decreasing faster than ever before.

There's a decapitalization of knowledge, well backed up by psychological theories which state that knowledge grows faster than the learning process, which is why when students finish studying something, that something is already old.

Even to be a rebel, you have to know. This is not taken into account anymore. If you don't know about the problem, how would you know why or against what are we rebelling to.

Today the teaching practise is rejected because of the asymmetric relationship that this requires. This crisis in knowledge transmission is the basis of the problem. Teacher's authority is biggest than what is thought. The teacher has to be responsible for the world that is being transmitted to the students. So, the teacher should transmit knowledge, but in our modern schools a teacher is only a group entertainer.
The worst part is that not even the ones who are in a position to value their education, are willing to do it. Students, whose parents can aspire to a better education, also hold the already mentioned tendency to find relief by passing the subjects without knowing anything. In fact, those in need are the ones who consider education as a possibility of improvement.

Our Argentinean society is a reluctant society towards rules, and education is essentially a teaching of rules, which is why, our youth is having less knowledge every day.
People who have learnt in the 'old-fashioned way', can easily adapt to the new technologies because of the background knowledge that they have.
Egalitarian democracy is not suitable for all types of institutions. In the family, and at school, you cannot have a democracy, because equality will kill them.

Unfortunately, teachers are baby-sitters. Nowadays, schools are seen as a nursery where parents leave their children to have someone taking care of them. Teachers, of course, are those entitled for such job. The most important goal of going to school has been lost.

Every child has the same possibility to be taught. One of the big problems in our society is related to the exclusion of poor people. This exclusion is not applied to poor people who are still hopeful of finding a way out. This exclusion refers to those who have lost all their possibilities to improve. Sarmiento said: "If you don't want to educate them for charity, at least do it for fear." Some years from now, we will have a society which will be impossible to hold, because we would have created a group of people who have no values. Our life depends on the quality of the ones we have in front of us. If we don't take care of those, we won't be able to live our lives, because we would have created people who have nothing to lose.

We have to give people the elements to think, and to have an approach to reality from different perspectives. No one knows what is going to be used and when, because the education tries to build up every person as complete as possible, plus give them tools to find a way to get a place in society.

If we keep on thinking that today is good, and what was before is useless, we will end up having an empty life, because today we are the past of our future. That is why we have to effort ourselves to construct in the best possible way the future children. We have to save them, and save ourselves from the black future that presupposes having ignorant people around us.

Dream or nighmare?

I was talking with you, it was a sunny Spring day. We were discussing some important issues regarding the topic that concerns us, world’s education. You asked me to join in a four block’s walk towards your house. Your right hand was holding a little girl’s hand. In a strange way, that little girl’s face was familiar. It reminded me of myself when I was 5 years old. I agreed on your plea, and we started walking side by side. I was by your left side, and after the fifth step…you held my hand.
For a microsecond, my heart stopped, and a freezing feeling traveled through my veins from top to bottom. I kept on walking, speechless looking at an imaginary horizon. What was I doing? I’m married, and you’re not my husband. Am I cheating on him just by letting you hold my hand? What is happening? Why is it that you held my hand in such a tender and synergic way? Is this a symbolism of you willingness to help me go on? Is it that you already know that day by day my unwillingness to continue is becoming stronger? What is this? What am I doing? You’re not like this, you’re a nice guy, but you never show your feelings. Why are you doing it with me? I’m married, and you know it. You have to know it.
The four blocks seemed endless, our first block was endless. Our silence seemed an ocean between us, and your silence was deafening. I decided to continue walking in the same speechless way. I started looking at the people around us. Would anyone recognize me? Would any of these people tell my husband that I was walking hand by hand with another man? What would I say to him? I felt I was the worst cheater in the world, just by not cleaning my hand out of yours. At some point you stopped walking, as if in the previous steps you were trying to find sufficient confidence. You stopped, released your hand from the little girl, and looked at me. You were speechless and I was quite uncomfortable. My feeling of guilt was increasing at gigantic steps. My heart was beating as a steam machine that was about to explode. You didn’t want to look at me, and you seemed embarrassed by something I couldn’t get.
Softly, your warm and tender left hand released mine. I didn’t want to look at you. I started feeling shyness as part of me. My heart had the same butterflies that I used to have in my teenage days. The same butterflies that were coming and going through my stomach. I’m married, I’m married, I’m mar…
Your lips approached mine in the most delicate way. You said “I’m sorry”, but your words were flying in the air, far away from me. I wanted to kiss you back, but I’m married, we are in the middle of the street. What am I doing? Why did you do that? Am I losing my mind? Why are you doing this to me?
Tears caressed my cheeks, and as a contagious disease, your eyes started to show a mist of tears. We stayed there looking at each other in anguish, as if we knew for certain that we were hurting someone else.
Our sad eyes finally encountered in an unbreakable bond, and my only need was to hug you, and have you hugging me back.
In that emotional embrace of souls, as fate decreeing that we would never find each other again, my alarm clock started ringing and I woke up this morning feeling bitterness at its biggest extent.

Cinderella of the 21st Century - Glossary

Bimbo: Plural Bimboes/Bimbos. Slang. An attractive but stupid young woman, especially one with loose morals
Iniquitous: Characterized by injustice or wickedness
Cinderella: A person or thing of merit, undeservedly neglected or forced into a wretched or obscure existence
Brainy: Intelligent; clever; intellectual
Manolo Blahnik: Famous shoe designer. In the year 2000, the popularity of the HBO TV series Sex And The City makes Manolo Blahnik a household name in the US
Infatuation: A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction
Stylish: characterized by or conforming to style or the fashionable standard; fashionably elegant; smart or chic
Nerd: Slang. Pejorative applied to anyone with an above-average IQ, who knows what's really important and interesting and doesn't care to be distracted by trivial chatter and silly status games.

Sources:
http://dictionary.reference.com/
http://www.designmuseum.org/design/manolo-blahnik

Cinderella of the 21st Century

There was once a very busy businessman whose wife, tired of his constant trips, asked him to choose between his family and his traveller miles. The couple divorced after thirteen years of marriage and one beautiful daughter.
The businessman married again two years later. The second wife was a very pretty and shallow woman who already had a pair of bimboes as daughters, who were as pretty and shallow as herself. The businessman’s first daughter, whose custody he gained after a long legal dispute, was a sweet, intelligent and well-educated girl, just like her real mother.
The new wife hated feeling inferior than her stepdaughter, because she was as perfect as to make them look ugly and stupid. So the iniquitous woman gave her the hardest work to do in the house, the flawless girl was ordered to make her stepsisters look smart.
She slept on the floor between the stepsisters’ beds, and after the day’s work was done or the sisters were tired, which generally happened first, she was obliged to sit and watch silly soap-operas at her eyes’ ends. Because of this, the two sisters decided to call her Cinderella.
When Cinderella was 21, she saw her opportunity to run away from the torture she was suffering day after day with the two sisters. She thought about fleeing to a different country in which her father could visit her during one of his trips. Sadly, the stepmother learnt about her intentions, and stole her passport. By this action, this mean woman obstructed Cinders plan to find relief.
The week after the robbery, an invitation to a dance arrived at the house. It was sent to the family, and since neither the stepmother nor the two sisters had learn to read so well yet, Cinders opened and read it. King Charles invited all the important people in the country with their unmarried daughters, because he wanted to find a wife for his older son William.
The sisters couldn’t decide what to wear.
“I’ll wear my Versace’s Pink quilted silk satin, silk georgette with long lace,” said the eldest.
“I’ll wear my Armani’s black viscose evening gown with a sexy open back, and beautifully beaded detail,” said the youngest. “Of course, Cinderella must help us get ready and talk brainy.”
So Cinders worked hard for her stepsisters, rushing to the drycleaner’s, downloading updated information from the internet, and trying to match their dresses with some shoes and jewellery. She even arranged their hairdressers’ appointments for them, and although she was secretly longing to go to the ball herself, she didn’t once complain that she had been left out.
As the sisters left for the royal palace, Cinders sat down in front of her old laptop, and while visiting The History Channel on the web, she began to cry. She had so wanted to go dancing and meet the prince.,,
Suddenly, her mother appeared. She was wearing a Jacky Kennedy’s suit and a beautiful pair of matching-with-the-purse shoes.

...TO BE CONTINUED...

Cinderella of the 21st Century(cont)

“I’m your mother, what is your wish?” she said.
“If only I could go to the ball,” whispered Cinders. “But I have no dress, no car to take me, and my credit cards have been cancelled.”
“I can arrange that,” replied the mother. And she sent Cinders into the wine cellar to look for the best bottle she could find. The mother made some calls with her cell phone, and instantly a white Rolls Royce appeared. Six unemployed police officers became proud servants to escort her in case someone wanted to abduct her and ask for a reward, and the friendly butler became her chauffeur.
“Oh, but that is wonderful,” gasped Cinders pouring some wine, and serving it to her mother. “But I have nothing to wear!” she said, looking at her torn old blue jeans.
“Nonsense child!” cried the mother. And with another phone call Oscar de la Renta appeared helping Cinders with the most beautiful white crystal embroidered gown with tulle full skirt, and sterling satin ribbon, from his spring 2008 collection. On her feet were the daintiest diamond encrusted sandals you have ever seen, especially delivered by Manolo Blahnik.
“Go and enjoy yourself,” said the mother. “But remember! You must be back before midnight, otherwise all your fine things will be taken away by the entire police force. Everything has been lent you only for a few hours, if you don’t come back, they will think that you want to steal them.
When Cinderella arrived at the palace, there was a sudden hush in the hall. No one knew who this beautiful lady was. Prince William saw her at once, and sent away all the top models that were around him. The music suddenly changed from hip-hop to the sweetest soft melody ever. Prince William asked Cinderella to dance with him, and for the rest of the evening they danced the whole time together, while talking about their preferences in music, art, and many other things.
Just before midnight the guests went to eat at a wonderful feast prepared by the most prestigious cook in the world. The prince was so infatuated with Cinders that he insisted on fetching food for her himself. But as the clock began to strike, Cinders remembered the mother’s warning. With a cry she ran out of the ballroom and disappeared into the night, leaving one of her expensive sandals behind.
The prince was astonished to see her go, and sent someone to find her. However, he stayed shocked wondering what was wrong with him to cause such reaction. The guards at the gate said they had only seen a nudist girl trying to cover her “parts” with some bushes, and the palace servants could only find a diamond encrusted sandal.
So the prince began to search the whole country for this beautiful woman he had fallen in love with. On national television, he announced that he would marry the owner of the stylish sandal. Princesses tried on the sandal and then all the grand ladies in the region. Then all the daughters of rich gentlemen in the town also tried. But none could squeeze their foot into the tiny shoe.
Finally the royal messenger arrived at Cinderella’s home and offered the slipper to the stupid sisters. Neither one could fit it on her foot, in spite of all their pushing and pinching. Cinders then came forward and asked if she might try the sandal on.
“Of course not!” exclaimed her stepmother. “This shoe is not for nerds. Go back to the library where you belong!”
But the royal messenger looked at her carefully. He saw how pretty she was behind the glasses, messy hair, and ragged jeans, and how small her feet were. He gave her the shoe and watched as Cinderella’s foot slipped into it perfectly.
The sisters cried out with jealousy and anger as Cinders brought the other shoe. So that was who the mysterious beautiful woman was…their very own Cinders!
In a magic second, and at a wave of her cell phone, the mother once more gave Cinderella a Beautiful dress, and when she met the prince he immediately asked her to marry him. When Cinders answered a shy “I’ll think about it”, they agreed on start dating first and think about marriage some time later.After a year and a half, Prince William and Grace (Cinderella’s real name) set a date, got married in a luxurious wedding, and lived happily ever after.

- THE END -

(I’ve written this story for a pair of great teachers who honored me by asking for it)

Feeling Proud of myself

Yeasterday one of my former teachers asked me a favour that even when it requires a lot of work, I'm so proud that she had thought about me for such task.
The idea is that she gave me the original version of the short story "Cinderella", and asked me to write a modern version of it. Can you imagine my proudness? And that's not the end. My version is going to be presented in a lecture next week!
I can't believe it...
Of course this is a great challenge, because I was given an enormous responsibility, but I cannot feel other thing than happiness. I love writing, and I love writing modern and funny versions of old and gloomy things.
I hope her expectations are fulfiled by my job. I've been thinking about some ideas I could include in my writing, and who knows, maybe it becomes a nice piece of work.
With things like this, I start wondering why is it that I experience so many feelings at the same time. On one hand, I cannot pass an exam which was basically writing, and on the other hand, a teacher asks me to write something for her, based on my previous works.
The fact that at least one of my teachers has such a good concept about me, is like a tender caress to my heart. It's like putting a hand on my shoulder to push my soul to go on. As if they were telling me, "Come on! You can do it! You can overcome every obstacle!"
I really wish I can do it as I'm expected to.
I feel honoured...
When I finish writing my new version of "Cinderella" you'll have it posted. Until then, I may disappear (or not) for a few days.

Self boycotting

During my three years of psychotherapy, my shrink tried and tried to help me avoid this damaging tendency of self-boycotting myself.
At that time, I thought I could overcome such need, but yesterday I realized I didn't. For the last months, I thought that my academic life was great. A lot of hard work which was giving its fruits. However, yesterday I started to think about the unthinkable. I'm not going to get my degree neither when I wanted, nor as I imagined.
I'm having a little tiny stone on my way which is in fact a big mountain for me. Since anxiety has become my worst disease, the idea of not having passed one of my exams is just killing my soul.
I know for sure that I'm wrong. I should take this as it is: just a little tiny stone on my way...but I can't.
I deny the idea of thinking too much about something, because in general terms, everything ends up being something one hundred percent different. But in terms of getting my degree, I think I've been dreaming for a long time. And I shouldn't. This is not due to a high level of negativity in my blood, but because I started to believe in the idea of dealing with things the best way I can at the precise moment in which they happen to me.
I wish I could be different in this aspect, I wish I didn't have this tendency to self-boycotting, but what can I do? Everthing has been so difficult to get, that sometimes I cannot believe that my life is a great gift. I cannot understand why God has given me so many good experiences to be proud of. There's something wrong when the world becomes a perfect rounded circle.
Someone said yesterday, that when you really want something, and you think about it, it is almost certain that you're going to get it...I don't know if I'm completely wrong, but I don't think so. My experience tells me that it's not that easy. It's not only a matter of sending "good energy" and receiving back your wishes accomplished...
I should be a rabbit mum, full of children if that was the case.
I don't know, I don't want to be pesimistic, because I know that my friends are going to tell me off, but I don't know what can I do.
Today my mother was very upset when I told her about my exam. She almost shouted that I was an intelligent person, and I shouldn't be so worried until I have certainty. I don't know...maybe she's right. But my experience writing essays in this subject hasn't been encouraging. Almost every written production that I presented was a failing mark.
Which are my possibilities to pass this exam?...
Almost zero
Time will say.

This is Just to say

Feeling sick
With aliens in my stomach
I call you
But I don't want to find you
I don't like hurting your feelings
My body is shaking.
I want to see you,
But I don't want you to see me.
And I try to write.
I write endless words in this vicious air,
Surrounded by towels and soap.
I look at the sky trying to find relief.
I breathe,
I take a deep breath...
Speaking is a difficult task.
The mug in my hand spills some tea.
You look at me in amazement,
You wonder what's wrong.
I don't want to hurt your feelings...
I stare at you,
And borrowed words flow aimelessly.
This is just to say...
I don't like your cuisine.

Friend's day

For many years I've had many possibilities during friend's day to go to parties. I don't know if I'm too old for parties, or my life has turned into a different thing, but I prefer the quietness of having only one possibility to go out.

These year I've decided to enjoy that day with my closest friends from school. They have become my pillars for the last years, and if we are lucky enough, we won't be seeing each other every day next year.

I've been pleased to spend the evening with them. I didn't want anything else. Even when I received other invitations for bigger celebrations, I really wanted to be with them. They are like my little brother and sisters. They are always there for me when I'm about to freak out, and I'm always worrying about their well being. We share a careful concern towards each other. We know for sure that we can find in the other, a willing shoulder to lean on when needed.

We are good friends...

We share many things...

Sometimes we do not agree with each other, but show respect in every step of our way. We are respectful of each other's personal space.

Respectful of personal space...

I've always said that this is the real basis of our friendship, of our brotherhood. We are not invaders or intruders who want to be 100% of the time with the other. We are like one, but without losing our individuality. Each of us has his or her life, his or her duties, his or her need to be alone...and we are respectful. For example, we don't burst into Chezik's place just because she lives near school. If it's not agreed on, or really necessary, we don't go there. I'm the one that has more possibilities to go whenever I want, but I have my house, and that's HER place. Why should I spread my "roots" there and be an interference in her everyday lifestyle?

Of course, we have our differences, but I don't remember having big arguments with any of them. We had our little conflicts, but none of them were as important as to break our bonds.

Once more, thank you my friends!!!!

I'm living this last period of the year with the anxiety you already know, but having you by my side is the relaxing pill that I need. I hope my angst doesn't bother you that much.

Love you!!!

Kisses and hugs

Am I a bizarre alien?

I don't understand people's need to mix groups in birthdays or similar celebrations. To my great bad luck, my husband is one of those. He is delighted having huge celebrations, with many...many...MANY people.
I've had the opportunity to show him that when you ask too many persons to come to your house, you end up serving everyone, and you don't have the opportunity to enjoy the moment. You have to be in a hurry, being certain that no one needs anything else, either food or drinks. You have to be continuously checking that everyone is pleased to be in your house.
Here comes my big question: WHY? Why do you need to be like a waiter in your own birthday? Why the need of becoming a slave in your own house?
When I talk about mixing people, I'm saying that if it's not enough to be serving everyone, you have to split your time (because you cannot split yourself) to be at least some minutes with each group!
Thank God I could almost always avoid that feeling of being in your wedding day or your sweet fifteen party, where you want pay attention to everyone so nobody is upset about being in your party without you.
For my birthdays, I never invite anyone. I prefer seeing who remembers my birthday, and who really wants to come. Either way is the same, I'm fully pleased when I have many friends in my house, and I'm not angry with the ones that only call, send a message, an e-mail, and cannot come. Of course this doesn't apply to my dearest friends, whom I'm waiting until I go to sleep.
Last year, my birthday was quite calm, only 9 friends came, and I was happy. I could talk to all of them at the same time, I didn't have to separate my soul and break my heart in several parts to share with all of them. I was happy and enjoying of a great easiness.
Some minutes ago, I received a call from my husband, he told me that at the last minute, he decided to invite more people to celebrate his birthday...TONIGHT!!!
At last minute...we have neither enough food nor drinks.
What the hell are we going to do?????
He cries like a baby that he doesn't have money...and he compels us to spend what we don't have!!!!
Am I a bizarre alien when I ask him to live according to our standard of life? Not to spend 20 when you work for 15? Not to invite many people to your house when you have to relax and enjoy the moment?
I have to pay my laptop and he prefers to feed some friends??????
GRRRRRR!!!!
I'm losing my temper and a killing migraine is knocking on my head's door
...
He has just arrived...
All these words for nothing...
All this acrimony is now wasted...
He gave the thing a little though, and has decreed that he would not invite anyone...
Nice...
I'm feeling a little bit guilty now...it's his birthday after all...
Yes, I have just come to agreement with myself...
I'm definitely, completely, and absolutely a funny bizarre alien.

Too old to be Skinny

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article2222740.ece

Reading Report 23
Name: Patricia Romano.-
Date: August, 2007.-
Title: Too old to be skinny
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article2222740.ece
Date: August 9, 2007

Vocabulary:
Piling: to accumulate or store
Skewing: To look obliquely or sideways
Onset: a beginning or start
Stigma: a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation
Outlawed: To place under a ban; prohibit
Outright: complete or total
Emaciation: abnormal thinness caused by lack of nutrition or by disease
Ratcheting down: move by degrees in one direction only
Striving: to exert oneself vigorously; try hard
Mindset: A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations
Emote: to show or pretend emotion
Backlash: a strong or violent reaction, as to some social or political change
Entrenched: To provide with a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying or defending
Faze: to cause to be disturbed or disconcerted; daunt

Summary:
Anorexia has a broader target nowadays. Due to the image show in famous TV series, and worldwide known actresses, the age of women suffering from this disease has increased up to numbers never imagined before. Some women are reluctant to accept they have a problem, because the majority of the ones interviewed take such eating disorder as a way to control every aspect which is not ok in their lives. They tend to feel that by controlling their eating needs, they are good at least in something. However, it’s been scientifically proved that it’s not only a matter of low self-esteem, but also there’s a gene in some women which increases the probabilities of having an eating disorder.


Personal Reaction:
It’s incredible how influential television can be. Sometimes I surprise myself by thinking about things I wouldn’t consider if I hadn’t seen them displayed on the silly box. However, I’ve always thought, and science has proved my belief, that there’s something else than public images that contributes to eating disorders such as anorexia.
You need to have this inner tendency, this inner need to stop eating. I’ve always been really obsessed with my own perfection, but I could never stop eating per se. Of course some would laugh at this, saying that it’s quite evident, but I sustain still today, that my overweight begun by eating a lot when I was pregnant and continues nowadays due to my extremely sedentary life.
Leaving aside my physical appearance, it’s unbelievable how grown-ups can be easily influenced by popular culture. I used to think that when you are 40, your ideas are more down to earth, and your self-esteem is strengthened in a way. It’s really sad to learn about these things.
Eating disorders have always been related to teenagers and young women, especially top models. The average woman in her forties was not part of this aberration.
It seems that not only prices are rising alarmingly, but also mental diseases among older people. It’s out of this planet to learn that a 68-year-old woman suffers from anorexia. Isn’t it?