San Francisco

Hello!
This is going to be a very special post...or maybe, a post to a very special person..no,no, let me rephrase: this post goes to a good imaginary reader...the one that is usually real, but that I can contact only virtually for the next months: Raphaella! Well, this is just to show you I don't think you're fiction at all...even though, sometimes...just kidding!
So, Raphaella is now working in San Francisco and...I envy her a lot! I wanted to be there, too...it doesn't need to be San Francisco, but somewhere in the US. Who doesn't dream of going there some day, right? Well, I must admit that my favourite destinations would be New Jersey, Michigan, New York and those states near there ...but I'd also love to go to Seattle! Raphaella, now that you work there and you're paid in dollars ($$$$), don't you want to buy my ticket? hehehe

Ok, this was just to say: Raphaella, take lots, lots, lots of pictures, ok? And keep visiting my blog...^.^

Now, a question to my other imaginary reader(s): if you could choose, what state would you like to visit in the US? why?

Harry Potter

Ok, calm down! My intention is not to spoil any surprise for anybody! Really...I hate when people tell me things about books and movies, so my intention is to keep the secret... So, there's a part in the book which is very sad because...just kidding, just kidding!

Well...I have been silent for a few days, haven't I? and the reason is Harry Potter! I got my hands on the 6th book, finally, and this time my dream came true: I read the English version! I will not say it is better than the Portuguese one, but it is different to read it in English...it seems more magical, more close to JK Rowling and her world. Yeah, because, you know, of course JK Rowling based her book on the British culture, so... Well, the fact is that this 6th book is great! I'm saying that because I didn't like all the books, and I found especially the 5th one very boring: Harry was boring, the story was quite still: nothing exciting happened! When the 6th came out I wasn't very eager to read it, but when I got hold of it, I just couldn't stop reading! This is the Harry Potter I like! So, this is just a bit of an advertisement to "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince": read it and love it!

Well, since I was so busy reading the book and shopping for all those Xmas gifts, I really didn't have time to update my blog. Again, I don't know who I am apologizing to: maybe my imaginary reader? ok, just kidding (or maybe not)...

Let's focus: this post goes to Harry Potter! So, actually, I should talk about him/it! Well, we have the movies too, right? Here in Brazil the 4th has been released! Of course, I saw it! And this time I was very curious to see it, because...well, I personally didn't like the 1st and the 2nd, but I loved the 3rd...so I was curious: would be the 4th as good as the3rd? It turned out to be as good as or even better, so I was pleased and I walked out of the movies with the feeling that my money was well-spent. Which is good, isn't it? What about you, (imaginary) reader? Which movie did you like the best?

And what about the books? As I told you, I loved the 6th...but I still think the 3rd was the best book. Let me know your opinion, ok?

studying more

Well, as I told you, I'm on holiday now. I still keep addressing to an immaginary reader, and I'm really starting to think that my reader is an imaginary one...in fact, wasn't it so, probably I would gather more comments than I actually do. So, I stopped and thought: does anybody really read this that I'm writing? And, if nobody does, why do I keep writing? Is it a kind of selfreflection on my...uh...life? Is this thought too deep? Am I doing this for my English? Am I doing this for myself? Am I doing this for any reason at all? And WHAT is exactly this that I'm doing? Do you feel dizzy now? Don't tell me about it...Well, ok, I don't have any answer...as Eugenio Montale said: "non chiederci la parola che squadri da ogni lato l'animo nostro informe....etc etc... Codesto solo oggi possimo dirti, ciò che non siamo, ciò che non vogliamo". Ok, right, I know he was talking about poets and I'm not a poet at all...I'm not trying to put myself as a poet...I'm just trying out an analogy here, ok?

Anyways, does this really matter?

Let's talk of something else...what? My course!! Did I mention it? I'm taking a great course...why? Well, first of all because my curriculum doesn't have any worthy extrascholatic activity, and since I'm trying to make it look richer than it does, then I decided to include this course into my life. And it was a great decision! It's not easy to wake up early and spend 4 hours in a classroom, but I'm actually learning how to use games and understand the dynamic of a group. This will be incredibly helpful in my lessons (at least I hope) because:

1. I will include more games and practice activities

2. I'm learning so much about the roles of students and teachers, and the psychology behind their behaviour, that I'm really hoping to be a better teacher next semester.

I think the psychologic side of the coin is being particularly enlightening because I am such an emotional person, and I tend to take everything personally. For example, when a student misses a presentation and doesn't say anything, I think this is a lack of respect to me, so I get pretty mad at the student...now I'm learning that being emotional is not the case in the classroom...you have to be rational first of all, think of what you are going to say, the facial expression you are going to take, etc.

Ok, in short: I'm trying to become a better teacher, and this is something that is making me feel happy! It's good to try to improve ourselves, isn't it? Well, this is what I'm planning to do throughout my whole life...

holidays!

On holiday, at last! I couldn't stand this semester any more...but I can't complain much about it. The courses I attended at university were almost all great! My literature course was not as good as I expected, but I learned a lot from it too. My experience as Italian teacher was great! I'm not saying that everything was as good as I hoped it would be, but we always learn from our mistakes, don't we? I hope to learn from mine and keep on giving my best next semester. My private student...well, I have only one now and she gave me quite a lot of troubles. But her English and Italian are going well...she improved so much since when I started giving classes to her and I'm very proud of her. She keeps saying "I hate English", but I can see she doesn't mean it for real...! Of course, if she were more frequent, her improvement would be simply astonishing! Well, one big step in my semester was improving my computer skills...I hope I succeeded in my task...what would you say? Well, I do have a blog now, and a web narrative, and a webquest on the net, and a webpage (no recent updates, but the webpage is there)...
How did I spend my first "holiday hours"? Well, first I read the 4th manga of Fruits Basket (I told you I loved this manga, didn't I?)...I can't wait to read the 5th, but it's so expensive! Then, I checked all those fwd e-mails...hehehe...you know, I never read them because most of them finish like that "if you don't send this mail to at least 10 people, you will have bad luck for the rest of your life"...I really don't like these kind of messages! I only like those funny fwd messages. Why did I say all of this? Well, just to warn you: please, don't send me boring and annoying fwd messages: probably, I won't read them! hehehe ^.^ What else did I do? Well, I watched a little TV, I read an italian book, a very interesting one: "La donna della domenica". I didn't read it all, just a few chapters. This book is interesting but it's HUGE: 425 pages! It seems the endless story....hehehe. Ok, I'm being boring, aren't I? I'll keep you informed about my holidays later, ok? I hope to write more, and more interesting things in the next days...
bye
PS. I know I never put any real photo of mine in this blog...but it's because I don't like photos, specially when I'm in them...^.^ Anyways, for those who'd like to see some photos, here is my boyfriend's multiply address: http://alzivi.multiply.com/. There's no much yet, but there will be more photos as soon as he finds time to put on the web...now he's too busy playing World of Warcraft...hehe ^.^

new things...

I know, I know...I'm late again! Well, there is something you need to know about me: I'm always late! I use to make jokes about it saying that my life is a huge delay...it's a joke, but it's in fact the pure truth!! ^.^ Well, I wanted to tell you that there is something new on my blog now: my links! If you click on the "learning english" one you will find all the story of all my life from the perspective of English learning. It wasn't easy to write it...and it won't be easy to read it: it's huge!! (oh my gosh...I'm getinng so old...) But I hope this won't discourage you: please visit the site and read a bit of it (make my efforts be worthy)...I allow you to skip a few lines, if you want... =D
The other link I included is a webquest I created. I didn't know anything about webquests ( not even that they existed) before creating this one and I have to say that they are simply amazing!! It's unbelievable what an important tool it can be for teaching and leraning! If you don't know what a webquest is, click here and find out!

Hello!!

Well, I think you have understood by now that I am quite a big fan of manga and anime... this weekend I read an amazing manga and I'm here to make a bit of advertisement :D. The manga is called "Fruits Basket" and it's simply amazing. If you have the chance, you really should have a look at it! I can't wait to see the anime now...:D

Ok, I'm pretty busy these days...I have quite a big presentation next week and I have to prepare a poster (I've never done such a thing in my life and I'm scred to death of making some mistakes).

hope I'll participate more in my blog after the presentation...:D

cheers!

Today is the greatest

Today is the greatest...it's been exactly 4 years that I've been dating my boyfriend Alexandre! I don't need to say he is the sweetest person I have ever met and my best friend!

To prove you that I really am a great fan of the Samshing Pumpkins, here go the lyrics of one my favorite songs:

Today

Smashing Pumpkins

Today is the greatest

Day I've ever known

Can't live for tomorrow,

Tomorrow's much too long

I'll burn my eyes out

Before I get out

I wanted more

Than life could ever grant me

Bored by the chore

Of saving face

Today is the greatest

Day I've never known

Can't wait for tomorrow

I might not have that long

I'll tear my heart out

Before I get out

Pink ribbon scarsT

hat never forget

I tried so hard

To cleanse these regrets

My angel wings

Were bruised and restrained

My belly stings

Today is

Today isToday is

The greatest day

I want to turn you on

I want to turn you onI

want to turn you on

I want to turn you

Today is the greatest

Today is the greatest day

Today is the greatest day

That I have ever really known

Speaking of disarmament...

Smashing Pumpkins

Disarm

Disarm you with a smile
And cut you like you want me to
Cut that little child
Inside of me and such a part of you
Ooh, the years burn
I used to be a little boy
So old in my shoes
And what I choose is my choice
What’s a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you
My love
I send this smile over to you
Disarm you with a smile
And leave you like they left me here
To wither in denial
The bitterness of one who’s left alone
Ooh, the years burn
Ooh, the years burn, burn, burn
I used to be a little boy
So old in my shoes
And what I choose is my voice
What’s a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you
My love
I send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you

referendum

It's been a while since my last post! I'm terribly sorry about that, but these days have been just crazy! Well, this post is not going to be a long one (are you feeling relieved?) because today I don't have much time. Ok, the fact is I have so many things I want to post here, but no time to do it...but, it's been a while since I wanted to post something on a big event that we had here in Brazil: a referendum. For those who don't have a clear idea on what this is, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Referendum. What was this referendum about? It was about disarmament. If you agreed with disarmament (i.e., if you didn't want people to have guns at home any more), you had to (and when I say HAD TO, I really mean it, since here in Brazil the vote is not a right but a duty of the citizens) vote YES; if you were against disarmament, then you had to vote NO. Guess who won? The NO, of course, and I'm not very happy with it. I really don't think disarmamente would have been a solution, but I don't agree with people carrying guns wherever and whenever they want to. I bet you guessed by now that I voted YES. Well, I just hope Brazil won't get more violent than it already is (in spite of evidence showing the contrary)... What do you think about it? If you were a Brazilian, what would have you voted for? Post a comment on it! (if you want more info on that, just go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/brazil/story/0,12462,1599331,00.html)

Children's day and Teacher's day

More posts! I was briefly researching on the holidays of October 12th to tell a little about it to my ibunka friends, and I found such interesting things, that it might be worthy sharing with you all (by saying this, it seems thousands people visit my blog, which is certainly not the case, at least for now ^-^...but you that visit it, this is just to let you know how important you are!). So let's start with Children's day: here in Brazil it is celebrated on 12th October. It was "invented" by a politician (Galdino do Valle Filho) in the 1920s. However, it really started making success in th 1960s when a Brazilian toy factory promoted the event with advertisement. Nowadays all Brazilian children get plenty of toys from their relatives on this special day and many schools take the whole week off. Brazilians just love holidays...=)
October the 12th is also an important day because we celebrate "Nossa Senhora Aparecida", patron Saint of Brazil. This saint has a quite interesting story: in 1717 some Brazilian fishermen were fishing in the Paraiba river, but they were out of luck: they kept throwing the nets in the river, but when they got them back, there was nothing. Once, at getting the nets back, they found an image of a saint, but without the head. They kept "fishing" and they found the head of the saint. They went on fishing and a miracle happened: thousands of fish were coming up with the nets. This is considered her first miracle. A curious thing about "Nossa Senhora Aparecida" is that her skin is black. If you want to know more about it, go to: http://www.portaldafamilia.org/datas/criancas/diadascriancas.shtml
Finally, I recently found out that on 15th October we celebrate Teacher's Day. Everything started back in 1827, when, on 15th October they created the first "General Law" for the elementary school. In this law, some issues concerning the teachers were also dealt with, and this is why the 15th October is now remembered as Teacher's Day. (For more info you can access: http://www.sabido.com.br/artigo.asp?art=1383). On this day students should give presents to the teacher, OF COURSE ^-^! And I can't complain because my students took a great "focaccia" to my class =) Sometimes being a teacher really pays off...=)

Anime Festival

...I almost forgot!! I was there speaking of "interculturalism" and Japan and I remembered that this weekend there is the Anime Festival here in Belo Horizonte. I went there yesterday: it was very good. Sadly, it was a bit expensive so I couldn't buy everything I wanted. There were plenty of Manga there and I bought three (Sakura Card's Captor, of course!), but I wish I could have bought some Slayer manga too...and Slam Dunk... and Peach Girl! Yeah, ok, you can see I'm a big fan of mangas and comics in general...
Ok, for those who can, go and check it up! There is also a "Pump it up" tournament...

Ibunka

Today I decided to post something because next week it will be hard for me to access the blog. Hum...I didn't think on what to write, but, since a friend of mine seemed interested in the ibunka project, I'm gonna talk more about this experience. Ibunka is a Japanese word and means "different cultures". Actually, this project is intended for university professors, because to participate you need to have a classroom... Well, so, if your teacher decides to participate, what happens is that you have some tasks to do, like talking about university in your country, talk about culture, news, everything that is actually related to you. There are no tough tasks that require a great deal of research.
After you post your task, you should also have a look at what the other people posted about themselves and their countries and reply to them, ask questions...know the other people! The idea is to "enlarge our horizons", I think...well, in this globalization era things such as boundaries and prejudice between countries and cultures shouldn't exist any more, so I think this project is "tudo de bom" :) (very, very good!). I learnt a lot about Japan (and Japanese food) and Taiwan, but I also wish to make contact with Mexican people.
I think this experience is great! I tried to do something similar with my students (;)) this semester, and I hope they'll like it as much as I do...=D
Well, in short, the experience is great and worthwhile, so, if you are interested, go and tell your teacher!
see ya!

Here I am again to talk a lttle bit more about my blog. Yes, because, as I told you, this blog wasn't my idea, and I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for my professor Vera Menezes, who asked us to. But, of course, I bet many of you are wondering what a subject makes you create a blog! Well, I must say this is quite an unusual course and it's one of my favourite this semester. It's an online subject - which is good because we can "attend" classes from home, relaxed in confortable clothes, drinking an iced drink and sitting on a comfortable chair (we don't have such a thing as comfortable chairs at university). But, there's also the other side of the coin - the not so positive one. First, we have to learn dealing with Pc's, and I think many will agree that sometimes it's not easy at all. I have already lost hours of work...but now I learnt the lesson: no matter how you enjoy the task, you CAN'T forget reality, i.e. computers lose your work sometimes! So keep saving your work minute after minute! It's the only way to prevent you from having bad experiences and traumas. Well, I depicted this side as a "not-so-positive-one", but I think I might be mistaken. The reality is that nowadays we need computers more and more, and we have to learn how use them in order to become better professionals. My area is teaching, and it's amazing how much help, ideas, support and information you can take from the internet. This course is helping me to overcome my fears against technology, and I must admit that now I'm even enjoying working with my PC a lot! I can't spend one day without checking my inbox.

Ok, now don't think that these tasks we have are all easy ones. They require a great deal of patience, interest, creativity and time! It's good doing them, learning new and different things, make contact with different cultures...but it's not easy! Of course, this is not so bad also, because, in my opinion, if you don't make any efforts to get something, you will probably never REALLY get it! You only give value to things you struggle for...don't you think?

Some of the tasks we had in this subject were: learning how to use computer engines properly, learning how to search the internet for cliparts, researching about hyperlink and netiquette, writing a narrative about our English learning, preparing a classroom activity exploring language functions...well, these are the ones I liked the best. I also love the project we are engaging on: IBUNKA, that is an intercultural exchange of ideas, culture and general information between student of different university from several countries (Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, Namibia). I will write more information about it in my next posts. For now, that's it!! bye!!

The brothers Grimm

Hello! I told ya I would be back soon...the fact is that from what I understood so far, a blog is a kind of journal online, so it is up to me tu put something we can discuss or talk ora that could be of any interest for anybody. Well, so here it goes: my first experience after creating my blog!
I've just come back from the movies: I saw "The brothers Grimm" and...well, it was a fine movie...but I must admit I was expecting something more than that. The special effect, the quality of sounds and images were good, but the story, the plot, the actors...I think it could have been better. The basic idea was good: putting the Grimm characters insiede the story...it should have been developed or explored more deeply, in my humble opionion...
what do you think? If you like the movie and want to convince me that it was not bad, well, just post a comment! It will be very welcome :)

myself

Hello!!
Who am I? A very simple girl, actually. My name is Adriana, I'm 21 years old and I live in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Why am I starting a blog? Actually, I must say I wouldn't do it if I wasn't attending an online subject at university...but I'm actually loving it. I know, I know...how can I love something that I haven't even started yet? Well, I don't know, but it seems so interesting to share my life with everybody that wants to come and see it...talk about things I like and that others may like too...find Smashing Pumpkins fans all over the world...finda Sakura Card captor's fans too...
I'm sure that'll be nice! Beside, my blog will be in English, this meaning here is another chance I have to improve my skills in this language that I love and I'd love to speak and write properly!! Hope you guys will help me in this task...
Well, actually, to be completely honest with you, I have no idea of how a blog works...so I count on you for this too, ok?
Well, that's enough for now...I'll write more later...bye!!
adriana