Using blogs in the English Class

I think the blogs have been a good tool to learn English, due to I have enriched my vocabulary and I have improved my grammar. Also this has been a very entertaining way to learn, especially the topics that we have written,were very entertaining and motivating, this has never been a tedious job. I liked the topics, because we wrote about our experiences, for example, travel, Christmas, a song from memory, your favorite place in Santiago, your outdoor activity, etc.

In relation to the blogs of my classmates, first I read the topic, if this was interesting for me I continued reading, I do not remember that I liked a particular blog, however I liked all the blogs read by me, due to I can read about other experiences, some stories were very entertaining.

Also I enjoyed reading the teacher's blog, I remember your piece of art, and his journey in his youth, and his memorable visit to “La vega Chica", ahahah. I liked that the teacher wrote in his blog.

In general, I delayed a long time to write the blogs, especially when I thought about what topic to write, the task was easier for me once I had decided the topic.

I would liked to have had an evaluation or assessment of my blog, class to class, for to see my mistakes and improve them, however this English class was the best I have had in college, the classes were very dynamic and playful. Also the teacher was not guided to the book of English in class as it was when I studied this subjet with other teachers. I would liked to have been more prepared for this class.

Don Quixote By Pablo Picasso

I do not know much about art pieces, I like more other art forms, for example; music, magic and dance. I will comment about an art piece, that I love, called "Don Quixote of La Mancha". This is an sketch of 1955 painted by Pablo Picasso, an exponent of cubism art movement. In this painting are Don Quixote, his horse Rocinante, his squire Sancho Panza and his donkey Dapple, the sun, and several windmills.

Although I have never read the book, due to it’s very boring old castilian language. When I was in first grade of secondary, I saw some video chapters of Don Quixote, I liked theirs characters. Then the first time I saw this painting was in second grade high school language class. I loved it!

I like this art piece, on one hand because it represents Don Quixote and Sancho Panza two very opposite characters. Sancho Panza through history that gradually turned "Quixotize" and that Don Quixote turned seemed to Sancho. Also I like the bravery and courage of Don Quixote and he always wants to defend the justice.

On the other hand, I like the simplicity of this painting monochromatic on which the artist used only one color. This sketch illustrates a lot of movement on the painting. This work break with the traditional painting, the perspective disappearing traditional art. In my opinion, this is very similar to the way a child's drawing, but with more technical.

I love this painting very much, I have a table with the blade of this art piece in my room.

About Santiago

I was born in Santiago and always I lived here. I think I'm used to this life.
In this city, I have all the services I need: The best medical centers in the country, the largest universities and many commercial and cultural centers. Also, there are many places of entertainment: restaurants, cinemas and many bars. I like to visit beautiful and nice places, for example: Hipodromo Chile, Forestal Park, “Quinta Normal”, O'Higgins Park, Mahuidahue, Central Market, etc, but the most important reason for me to live in this city is because my friends and family live here. If I would not live here, I would not see them.

I dislike this city because there are many poorly planned buildings and streets, for example, the building in the intersection of Puente Street and Catedral Street breaks with the architecture of the place.

Another thing I dislike is public transportation. This is possible to use until 11 p.m. approximately. After that time the transports practically disappear and the streets become dangerous, this seems a "curfew". In addition, you can not ride a bicycle in this city, there are few cycle paths and those are not respected by the people.

In this city people go in a hurry always. Some people are much altered. In addition there is little communication between people; usually you do not know your neighbors. If i could change something about the city, I would like people to know more, so this city would be safer.

Now, If you visit Santiago I would suggest you were to eat the seafood central market, and to know the city you can visit the old town. I recommend you visit Pablo Neruda’s House called "La Chascona". Worth to visit it!

If you want some entertainment, you can go to Barrio Bellavista, you will find many pubs, discos and cultural centers. But if you go to a bar typical Chilean urban popular culture, you can visit "The Piojera".

My Chinese Horoscope

I don´t believe in the oracle, neither in the chinese horoscope. I don’t know about this kind of things, the only thing I know is that I am tiger… I have laughed very much with it. My brother and my father are rat and I tell them “You will be crushed by the Royal Bengal Tiger”, ahahaha… They tell me “the rat is the most intelligent animal” but it was just jokes…

Now, I have learned more about my sign. I think the description of my sign coincides with my personality, is that tiger is Born to lead. I like to make decisions about important things.

Also, the tiger is not motivated by money or power. I think my instinct motivates me, and I enjoy the simple things.

Other similar aspect with my personality is the way of relating to the people. The Tigers are expressive, polite and trustworthy. Also they tend to dominate their relationships. I think I have always dominated in my relationship, maybe it is for my strong character and not for the Chinese horoscope ahahahaha…

The funniest part was the employments recommended for the Tigers. They recommend those who lead them towards the positions of leadership. “Some suitable careers for Tigers are: advertising agent, office administrator, agent of trip, actor, writer, artist, pilot, auxiliary of flight, musician, comedian and chauffeur ". This is totally ridiculous. I think that when one proposes it can have leadership in some career.

I think there are some things that are similar to my personality, but this is just coincidence, I do not believe in these kinds of things.

My Christmas 2011

The Christmas 2011, I was spent in my home with my family, brother,mom, dad and boyfriend. My mother, my boyfriend and me cooked meat, salads and duchesses potatoes. We drank wine for dinner. I cooked duchess potatoes for the first time. This was a disaster at first,the potatoes exploded in the pan, ahahahahah. Then I kept trying until I managed to cook a few potatoes.

At 12 o'clock, we hear cries of children and some fireworks near my house. 10 minutes later we began the delivery of gifts, we take pictures, but my mother appeared in almost these, because she was who received more gifts than all of us...

Later, my mother prepared us a cocktail, potato chips, olives, peanuts, etc., and my family drank "Cola de Mono". I do not like it , only in my childhood I liked it. Then I went bed about 3 am, because the next day I had to get up at 7.30 am. My boyfriend, his family and me went to the swimming pool in Isla de Maipo, located 60 miles from Santiago.

Christmas 2011 was in family and tranquility. The next day was exhausting, I spent the whole day in the pool, I had a funny day!

My favourite beach

My favorite beach is “Playa Blanca” beach, located on Caburga lake , near to Villarica volcano, in the Ninth Region of Araucania, Located 22 miles west of Pucón and 132 miles southeast of Temuco. The name of this place is due to their fine white sand.

The first time I went to this place was the last summer with my boyfriend, his sister and her sister's boyfriend.

This place can be reached by bus, on the route between Temuco, Freire, Villarrica, Pucon and Lake Caburgua. I arrived in my sister in law's car from Pucon, where we were staying ...

This place is beautiful, because the lake is covered of a natural surroundings, with old growth forests that grow mostly in Nature Reserves and National Parks in the sector. You can install under the trees to protect the sun.

I loved this place to swim. Its fine white sands and water crystalline and warm, this is possibly by thermal springs in its depths. In the zone is unusual in having white sandy beaches; most of the nearby lakes have black beaches due to the volcanic sand.

We had a great time, we do not want to leave the lake, ahahaha...

I'll be back next year!

My Favorite Outdoor Activity

I like many kinds of outdoor activities, for example: trekkinng, football, running, cycling, but my favorite is swimming. I love this sport since I went to the beach in my childhood in the summers. This was in the fifth region. Also I practice it in winter, but the sea water is very cold, so I swim in a heated pool of the university. I like to practice in this place, but I prefer practice this activity outdoor, especially in some lake or river. I love Caburga and Lican-Ray lakes, because its waters are crystalline, clear and warm.

I think the most exciting place to practice this activity is the beach, because I can leap into the waves. The only bad thing is my eyes get irritated much in salty water and its taste is disgusting for me.

When I swim outdoor I get relaxed a lot. I like do not think about anything. I utilize this activity for stress release...

I practice swimming outdoor in the summer and long weekends too, all days, even in cloudy days. I can be the entire afternoon in the water. I get out of there just to take a brief break, ahahahah...

When I realice this activity outdoor I feel good!

Hey Jude By The Beatles

Today I will write about a song of the past. The song is titled "Hey Jude". It is a classic song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney to John's son, Julian, then five years old, when John got divorced from his first wife and Julian's mother, Cynthia. Originally titled "Hey Jules", the song’s title was later changed to "Hey Jude" because it was easier to sing.

The first time I listened that song was in elementary school, in English class, when the teacher played the song from an audio cassette. Then, my classmates and I sang chorus. The lyrics were easy. The funniest part of the song was when we said, "Then you can begin to make it better, better, better, Oh..." We were very out of tune, ahahahaha.

I remember that shortly after, the English’s teacher died. I knew her for a short time, but I loved her classes, especially when we sang together. Until the present day I remember this beautiful moment.

The video-clip of "Hey Jude" is magical. Teens, adults, grandparents and little kids all standing up and singing together at the end… it’s an epic picture.

I think “Hey Jude” is the best song written by Paul McCartney. I like very much to hear this song because brings to me very good memories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD3ovfZXO5Q

Face to face with Violeta Parra

I like to have a face to face with Violeta Parra, because she is my idol. I believe Violeta Parra is the greatest exponents of Chilean music.

She was daughter of a music teacher and a singer/guitarist, Violeta was influenced by her parents since being a child. At the age of nine, she started singing and playing guitar, soon composing traditional Chilean music

Her work included not just music but also paintings, ceramics, crafts, poetry and tapestries. Apart form being a great composer, Violeta was one of the greatest researchers in Chilean folklore, a visionary artist, She explored a lot of platforms for her message of peace and social justice, from music to poetry and painting.

Violeta Parra committed suicide with a gunshot to her head in 1967. It is ironic that just before this she composed one of her most famous songs "Gracias a la vida". Her most famous songs are still hauntingly relevant after her death.

Violeta parra brought recognition to our folkloric tradition, who inspires us to feel proud of our roots...

The “face to face” would be in my little house on the beach with her guitar during a bonfire, I would ask:

¿What do you think about Chilean public education?
¿Who do you admire?
¿Why you committed suicide?

My best travel

I love to travel. My best trip was when my boyfriend and I went to the south of Chile in the last summer, during about a month.

I started this journey in Santiago. There I took a bus to Salto del Laja. Then I started to hitchhike. Then I toured: Pucón, Caburgua, Villarrica, Licán-Ray, Panguipulli, Los Lagos, Puerto Varas, Saltos del Pethohué, Lago de Todos los Santos, to finished in the Chiloé Island. In this place I visited a lot of places.

This trip was exhausting, specially when we had to return to Santiago, because we ran out of money. We left Cucao-Chiloe at 12 a.m. We arrived at Puerto Montt about at 8.00 p.m . Then we got a 2-tons truck at about 10pm in Frutillar. The driver did very sympathetic and kind.

When we were traveling, the truck busted one wheel. I thought that could be a fatal accident but only was a scare. Slowly, we went to a service station at about 4 am and we spend the night there. At the next day, a mechanic repaired the truck and then we left the service station at 8 p.m.

During the trip we made a lot of stops because the truck’s motor got overheated. This trip with the driver and my boyfriend seemed like a reality show, LOL.

Close to the midnight the driver left us about 350 km from Santiago. In this place we took a bus.

In brief, our return to Santiago lasted about 42 hrs, an undesirable and tiring way to go back. However, this has been my best travel, because I known a lot beautiful places and gently people.

The Metropolitan Park of Santiago

I think the city of Santiago has several nice places, for example: Equestrian Club, Hipodromo Chile, General Cemetery, Forest Park, “Quinta Normal”, O'Higgins Park, Mahuidahue Park, Metropolitan Park, Mount St. Lucia, "La vega", Central Market , “La Recoleta Domica”, Brazil neighborhood, etc,. My favourite place is “The Metropolitan Park of Santiago” is popularly referred to as San Cristobal Hill.

The park offers areas for picnics , swimming pools, viewpoints with the best views of the city beautiful gardens and hiking, international restaurant, crafts centers, children playgrounds and a zoo.

The first place I visited in this park was in Santiago's Metropolitan Zoo. Remember I saw the elephant "Fresia", was the most emblematic animal of the zoo. I enjoyed watching and learning about many different animals. I loved reached by a funicular.


Other fun activity is go to the Tupahue swimming pool during the summer. I love this place for I meet to sunbathe and share some pleasant time with my friends.

This place is fantastic ! , you can practice outdoor sport, for example, trekking, run, cycling. I prefer the trekking from Pio Nono to finish the top of the mountain. This place is crowned by a giant statue of The Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepcion. I relish the view of the city from the terrace balcony under this image. Worth to visit it!!

"The biggest curanto in the world"

I will relate about an exhibition i went to, "The biggest curanto in the world" This was in Calbuco, "The city from the blue waters", it is between Puerto Montt and Chiloé.

This event receives visitors from around the country and foreign, which has become the bigger traditional gastronomic event of tenth region. The cultural tradition is the most important touristic atractives. For that, this event is called “The biggest curanto in the world”.

The big curanto was founded on 2001 in the celebrations of the 400th city. The activity is organized every year by the Municipality, but has the support of diferent organizations. From sports clubs, schools and neighborhood associations, churches, folk groups, to committees and groups.

Each year this event has increased not only visitors, but also social institutions involved in this true "Minga" in the which offers more traditional cooking food of the city. This curanto is 150 meters of tasty cooking, but the funny thing is that it takes a “U” shape. This´s amazing!

But the big curanto was not just food, this event included a folk shows with different groups of the region. From pascuense dance, chilote dance, guaracha dance, etc. I love this music !! .

This event was funny, people could dance, eat, drink and enjoy the beauty of the landscape. Also I had never eaten a curanto, it´s delicious. Now it´s my favorite food!!

Natural Phenomenon

A desire I have for the future is to see an aurora borealis, but first I will tell other phenomena of nature I have seen this was in my life.

I remember when with my family went from home, we arrive at golf babyfootball, and we had only a pair of special glasses to see the solar eclipse. So we share this. Meanwhile the sky darkened, around noon, was fantastic !

Another phenomenon that I have seen is the green flash on the horizon, this happens just before sunrise and shortly after sunset. This consists, in a small green flash on the contour of the sun, instead of an orange flash. This´s amazing, but this phenomenon lasts only a few second…

In relation to the phenomenon that I would like to see more in life is an aurora borealis, this occurs near the magnetic poles. The phenomenon , also known as the Northern Lights, are naturally occurring lights that create intriguing and spectacular displays in the sky. This activity is cyclic, peaking roughly every 11 year. The next peak period is 2013.

In relation the best place to watch the lights is in the northwestern part of Canada, particularly in Alaska. It's my dream to see it there !