segunda-feira, 27 de junho de 2011

Wish

Guys, my birthday is coming and I was checking my emails yesterday and there was one that called my attention.


It was about using my birthday as a way of raising money for a cause.


So I have completed all the steps and sent to my contacts by email, most will think it is a virus, but it isn't.


Here you have the link Birthday Wish


So, my choice was
Charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 


Please, also check this video to know more about it!


You can help by donating any amount!

Feel free to check it out and help if you want to!


terça-feira, 21 de junho de 2011

CEP 1

My CEP1 students have done an amazing job!


Some of them have sent me their entertainment ads by email and so I want to share them with you.


Here you have just a few, but all of my students were great!






I want to thank all my students the dedication and also Let me tell all of you that this great ads were produced by David, Rachel and Riba!

quarta-feira, 15 de junho de 2011

Heroes

I've asked my students to write about their heroes. I have read many good compositions because their words had come from their hearts.


There was one in special that has caught my attention and I want to share it with you.


Don't be fooled like I was... At first I thought it would be an OKAY composition because I am not a fan of her heroine, but then it ended up being a great story!


"MY HERO


The dictionary describes the word hero by a wonderful man, his history, and his value. On the other hand, I describe the word hero by just one name... Demi Lovato!
Demi was born on August 20, 1992 and today she is a famous actress, singer, and songwriter. Demi starred in a lot of movies and series on television like Barney & Friends (when she was just 10), Camp Rock 1 and 2 (with jonas Brothers), Sonny With a Change, As the Bell Rings, and Princess Protection Program. Demi still got 2 albums named "Don't forget" and "Here we go again". Demi has the life of every girl's dream of her age, but her life isn't as pink as it seems.
When Demi was still a child, she suffered bullying from her school "friends" for being a little overweight. This made the girl spend days crying and very sad. It had got so serious that she started studying at her house.
When Demi became a teenager, it all got worse. Demi became a girl with bulimia, started showing signs of depression and cutting herself. As Demi didn't want anyone to know what she was feeling, she hid everything from the media, friends, and her family. That only made the situation get worse.
In 2008, when Demi was in a premiation, cuts were viewed in her arms, showing her biggest secret to the whole world. Luckly, demi came up with a story and said that it was only a mark left by a bracelet.
Everything was alright again, but not for so long.
Demi has always been the Jonas Brothers' best friend and in 2010 she has admitted a relationship with one of the band members, Joe Jonas, well known for stealing the girls' hearts and hurting them. With Demi, it wasn't different, after two months of relationship, Joe broke up with her making her level of depression goes from bad to worse.
As Demi would go on tour with Jonas Brothers, she had to pretend she was feeling good, that her relationship with Joe was of best friends again and that she could handle it all with Joe and his new girlfriend by his side. Once again, Demi was wrong. She was so nervous about this situation that she hit one of her friends in a small fight. It was too much for Demi, so, on November 1 of the same year, Demi entered into a rehabilitation clinic. Demi stayed there for 3 months just seeing her family. On January 22, Demi went out of the clinic and she was feeling really better about herself.
Today, Demi acts in a campaign called "Love is louder than the pressure to be perfect" and she tattooed on her wrists "STAY STRONG" just to remember everyday that no matter what, she has to keep her head up.
Demi is my inspiration and my hero for showing the world that no matter the physical characteristics or problems you have in your life, if you really love and waht something, you'll get it. She taught me that we shouldn't care about what others say or think about us, this doesn't lead you anywhere. She taught me that everyone can talk a lot, but it won't change who we are on the inside, taught me that the real friend will believe us and the others, well, you don't need them to believe you. she also taught me that nobody is perfect, but we all have something special t show everyone, taught me that in life we'll have to face a lot of things, but we shouldnt give up about what we really want. Finally, she taught me to believe in my dreams and STAY STRONG, NO MATTER WHAT!".






I am not a fan of Demi. However, this composition was written with passion and I had to share it with you!
I hope you get inspired and follow her message.


I would like to thank my lovely student who allowed this post! Thanks, girl! You did an amazing job when you wrote this composition!

segunda-feira, 13 de junho de 2011

American Visa

Let me be honest with you all.


I've never wanted to go to the USA because of the bureaucracy.
A lot of people say that if you are between 20 and 30 and you are not married you don't have great chances...

So here I am to talk about it. I believe that some people think they way I used to... (well, I still think it is a pain in the @$$).



First step -> PATIENCE
You are going to fill a form full of questions that really sound stupid. Don't pay anyone to do it. Although it requires patience, you are able to do it by yourself, even if your English isn't good. Put the mouse over the question and it will be translated.
You also need to submit a picture. I've taken 3 different pics and none worked, so I decided to take a new one there in São Paulo.

Second step -> PAYMENT

You need to schedule an interview in São Paulo, Rio, Recife or Brasília. In order to do it, you have to pay R$38,00... (yes.. just to save a day... you and hundreds of people).
After that, fotocopy all documents that can prove that you won't stay there and have money to afford everything.



Third step -> PAYMENT
(Again) Before going to the interview you need to go to Citi Bank to pay the visa tax. If you are a tourist it costs USD140,00. You have to take your passport when you decide to pay and you can only pay in cash. It cost me R$238,00, less than I'd thought.



Fourth Step -> PATIENCE AND PAYMENT
When the day of your interview arrive, remeber that you should wear comfortable shoes. You'll stand for hours! The whole process took me around 3 hours standing and I was wearing hills.
When the most terrifying part started I decided it was better if we could speak in Portuguese so I could explain better my dad's job if it was asked.

The interview started like this:
-Bom dia, Lígia, qual o motivo da viagem?

 - Turismo.
-Você trabalha?
 - Sim.

- O que faz?
 - Auxiliar de ensino.

- English teacher?
 - Yes.
-Where are you going?
 - To New York.
- Who are you going with?
 - My mother.

- How long have you been teaching English?
 - For 2 years.

- Okay, put you right index finger on that machine and pay the sedex tax before leaving.


I had a file full of documents and stuff like that and nothing was needed. He didn't even asked me who was going to pay for my trip... Maybe he thinks teachers are rich! LOL
To be honest, I think he felt a sense of relief when he was able to speak English and that made him not ask me any proofs. All the people I talked after told me that they had to show some documents.

Well, it is hard to predict what will be asked. I heard some asking if the person had been abroad to any other country, some asked papers to prove that they had car and houses.
It is a matter of being lucky. Anyway, I don't think some people had their VISA rejected today while I was there waiting. The line to pay the SEDEX was just huge!

I don't know if I will be granted a 3, 5 or 10 years visa, but as soon as I receive it, I'll post here to tell you.

Now that all the stress is gone, I do need to save money!!!

quinta-feira, 9 de junho de 2011

Fun facts

This week I am really stressed 'cause I am separating all documents that I might need to get my VISA next week.

I just need to make some copies, pay the tax, and wait for the interview next week...

Well, I'll talk about it in another post.

I've decided to start this one like that to get to the point... 

The only reason for that is my mom. Yeah...   One day she woke up wanting to go to NYC. 


So I am planning the trip... I've made all the reservations myself and in order to make it, I had to search a lot.

Here you have some facts about the city that doesn't sleep (according to Frank Sinatra):


  • New York's Central Park is larger than the principality of Monaco.
  • New York bought the land for Central Park and removed about 1,600 immigrants and African Americans who lived there.
  • Located  between 59th and 110th streets, and 5th and 8th Ave.
  • Area: 843 acres (3.41 km2).
  • It has a zoo with 130 different species like giant and cutPolar Bears.
  • During summer you can even take a ride on a Gondola! (O sole mio... )


  • There are 6,200 subway cars that stop at 468 different subway stations.
  • An average of 4.9 million people ride the New York City subway each weekday.

  • Around 790,000 companies operate in New York City.

  • Over than 250 feature films are shot on location in New York City each year.




terça-feira, 7 de junho de 2011

Arcaísmo!

Por definição, arcaísmo é o uso de palavras ou expressões que caíram em desuso.

Agora fica a pergunta... Será que isso acontece apenas no português?

I don’t think so...

Assim como o comportamento, as palavras também mudam ou se adaptam para poder acompanhar a evolução. Algo plausível, não?

So, some people were kind of upset about that and they’ve had a bright Idea! Why not making a list of the words that might be “extinct” and ask people to adopt and use them?

That is the idea behind 
http://www.savethewords.org/

I’ve already adopted mine and here you can see the process:

First you can browse through the words and pick one.



When you click on the word, the meaning appears with an example (what is just perfet!)


If you like the word, you can adopt it just like me!


Do your part and SPREAD THE WORD!

segunda-feira, 6 de junho de 2011

Let's start!

O semestre está quase terminando... É hora de todos ficarem estressados, quer por não terem estudado e levado à sério o ano todo ou por serem extremamente responsáveis e se preocuparem demais com provas, avaliações...

Por este motivo todos ficam extremamente cansados e muitas vezes desestimulados. Escolhi a dedo uma citação para inaugurar o blog.

"If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it." -  Herodotus (484 BC - 430 BC)
So be responsible but always remember: You have to live your life! Dedicate yourself some hours. Enjoy life because you will live this life only once!