Crazy Day

That day at noon I remember that I was helping a friend to study English we were so bored, just telling jokes and eating some junk food at her house, his brother was playing world of warcraft and he looked like a zombie just like other WoW players.

I'm a fireworks freak so I told her: Hey Marta why don't we go and blow up some fireworks? and then she told me- Well... sometimes it scares me but we're doing nothing here so why not?. Try to wake up my brother from his WoW-asleep and ask him if we can go. After minutes of shouting at loud on him he noticed that I was calling him. He didn't say anything at first but I don't know if he died on his game or what but he turned off the computer and said "OK Let's go".

That night everything was really cold, and when we got to the center of the city and asked some places that sells fireworks we noticed that they now call the funny fireworks "illegal", so we were there without fireworks and bored. Minutes later I remembered that I had a friend that sells the "funny" fireworks so I called him and he told me that he had some, so we went there and bought what we where searching for.

Late that night we were blowing up the fireworks all around San Ramon, that was the moment that the "BEST" idea of the night came to my mind, and I said "Hey look at that house with the windows opened lets blow one of the most little (the one that we exploded I don't know the name but it makes a high sound and the explodes)", they said: Hmm it's dangerous but exciting LET'S DO IT!"

Now I don't have the time to write the rest of the story but if you enjoyed it tell me and I'll be posting it as soon as possible!

PD: The final thing of the story is better than the rest.

SCARIEST PHOTO YOU HAVE EVER SEEN!

People don't usually believe any story at all until their eyes receive a proof of what someone is telling them, and I have it.

This picture was taken during a normal model photo shoot or at least it seemed like "normal" some nude pics for a calendar... boobies and you know. When the photographer finished the photo shoot he went home and took a look to the pics he took that day on his laptop but a picture had something weird that seemed like looking at the camera at first he thought it was only his finger on the picture or something, but in that moment he said to himself "come on... I've been working on this for 20 years it's impossible for me to make a mistake like that" and when he zoomed the picture he founded out that it wasn't nothing that could be cathegorized in the concept of "normal" months later of the incident the photographer was found in the Psychiatrist Hospital of London until the today nobody have never explained the picture.

*If you're susceptible I recommend not to see the picture*


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/staticxess/photobombdog.jpg

Thanksgiving

What is thanksgiving?
It's basically a day to share with the family on the fourth day of november.
Who were the pilgrims?
The pilgrims were a small group of people who sailed to North America in order to start a new life.
What is the Mayflower?
The Mayflower is the ship that the pilgrims used to sail to Nort America.

Who are the Wampanoag?

The Wampanoag are people from North America who were here long before any Europeans arrived, and have survived until today. Many people call them "Indians" but they prefer to be called native people.

What happened to the Pilgrims during the first winter?
This was very bad timing as the Pilgrims did not have time to plant food for the winter. The first winter was very harsh for the new settlers. The cold temperatures and snow interfered as the Pilgrims tried to construct their settlement. Out of the original group of Pilgrims, only about half survived the first winter.

What did the Wampanoag do for the pilgrims?
The wampanoag taught the pilgrims how to hunt, fish and grow corn.

What did they celebrate the first Thanksgiving?
They celebrated because they had a succesful harvest so they had food for all the winter, for that reason they invited the indians to join in the celebration and also because they were who taught them how to survive.

When is Thanksgiving Celebrated now?
In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

Talking about what I learned it is pretty much because I have never heard about it maybe in Internet or T.V shows but not so much and learning about its history is very interesting and I guess that there may be people that celebrate it and even they don't know all of this.

Ilegal Thing

Well to start my topic, this is about police pursuits. Everyone has at least once seem a police pursuit, this happen when a guy is being followed by many police officers or even a police helicopter and if that's the case also a news helicopter, most of the times because of something pretty stupid like speeding up, sometimes it's because of something more serious like robbing a bank, drug traffic or even terrorism but that's once in a million... The case is that most of the times when police pursuits occurs is because of speeding up and then the guy freaks out and the traffic starts to crash and then the police gets stronger.

That's the pursuits that we are used to watch on T.V or internet but the reason why I've choosed this video is because it's in some ways completely different. But I won't kill the interesting parts, go on and watch it.

The New York Post reports that $10,000 in cash was found on Tuesday evening in one of the area's donation boxes. The newspaper writes that no face or name has been attached to the stash of 99 100-dollar bills and five 20-dollar bills deposited for collection. If the donator has attached his name or photo he'd be recognized as a hero or something.

French unions called Thursday for two more days of protests against government plans to raise the retirement age. If the French government raise the retirement, people that have already retired won't have to worry.

The quake, which registered at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers), was centered between southern Baja California and the Mexican state of Sinaloa, about 65 miles from the city of Los Mochis in Sinaloa. If the eartquake had been closer to Sinaloa people could had been injured.

Thick black smoke and flames were shooting out of the roof of a California shopping mall Thursday afternoon, hours after a man started the fire and barricaded himself inside a video game store. He was later arrested. If the man hadn't been arrested he'd be proud of it.

Highly decorated Canadian military commander Col. Russell Williams was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences Thursday for the murders of two women, several sexual assaults and dozens of so-called fetish burglaries. If the man hadn't been caught he might be doing worse things.

Thirty-three miners were trapped underground when part of the San Jose mine in Chile Atacama desert collapsed on 5 August 2010. If they hadn´t been working that day, they weren´t in that conditions right now.

A monument to John Lennon has been unveiled in Liverpool by his first wife Cynthia and son Julian on what would have been the star's 70th birthday. If he hadn´t been murdered, possibly this monument haven´t been create.

One of the world's leading tea-producing nations, Sri Lanka, has just become the scene for a new world record - the largest cup of tea. If someone had done a larger cup of tea before them, they wouldn´t have this record.

More than 200 passengers were rescued from a Baltic Sea ferry after it caught fire near the German island of Fehmarn, maritime officials said. If the firefighters hadn´t been so eficient, people could have died.

Two twin male panda cubs have been born in Madrid Zoo after being conceived through artificial insemination. If the technology haven´t been so improve, they haven´t been born.

My Profile (By Elga)

Sergio lives in San Ramon, he's 16 years old and currently is finishing the high school.

Sergio's greatest achievement is to have loved people beside him in difficult moments, the living person who he admires the most is his mother , because she is always taking care about him.

Sergio's favorite trip is just to go to some place with a nice company person, the best decision he has ever made was to start studying the bible, moreover the worst decision he has made was hurting someone for his own benefit.

In relation to an amazing place where Sergio has been, he didn't refer to a specific one, whatever park or place could be pleasant if he has done something special there.

Sergio believes happy moments depends more on the decisions that everyone takes , in fact he says "Is obvously that perfect happiness doesn't exist" he thinks we need just look and find it.

He didn't comment the reasons because he's learning english , but I suppose that speaking a second language might let him to take advantage of better jobs opportunities in the future.

Sergio didn't add a talent , "I'm happy myself" he says; during the interview he expressed something like: "What do you study or work a lot , if in whatever moment you can die? it supports my idea that he's a little conformist , even is true someday we'll die for me every life's second is a gift from God , so we must value it being a better person every day and doing good actions in humanity's benefit , besides while we live in this world is important to trace goals and to strive for getting them .

Something Sergio really objects to is people that makes relationships just for fun , also chracteristics that Sergio dislikes in people are: false or liers , on the other hand he really admires sociable people.One of his greatest ambition is to make someone feels the most valuable for him.

The words that sums up Sergio from my point of view are: a stable and humble person , he keeps a possitive attitude even in troubles , however he wishes he were more emotional strong sometimes.
I consider he has a spiritual personality which makes him to think more in solutions that in obstacles, he prefers simple things , in small details he can find realization , for example in questions related trips he only thought in spending a good time with friends or family without taking care about superficial or material things around him, actually his most treasured possession is health.

Elga

One of the most descriptfull words for her is "Study", she's the kind of person that will always answer with her job or carreer when you make this question "What makes you who you are?".

She says that her greatest achievement is have gotten a license degree, and her best decision was changing the carreer ( the bad thing is that I don't remember what carreer was) and also the worst decision she has ever made was finishing her bachiller in San Jose. Her single best moment of her life was have gotten her bachiller.

I think she thinks or even worry so much about study... I mean, you just have to take a look in their biggest decisions in her life it's all about study. two word that sums up her is book smart.

Her idea of perfect happiness is harmony, love and spirituality, she value learning more languages and many things every day.
One thing that she admires in a person is dedication (Ow... she doesn't admires me haha...)
Her greatest ambition is having a nice house and a happy family.

"Confidence in oneself is the first key to success"
"Happiness sometimes depends in our decisions"

My planet

Sector Happiness

Here people don't have to worry about problems because when they get there it's like magic because they forget every bad thought such as violence, hate, selfishness and enmity...
Any person can live in this planet because resources are infinite so they don't worry about what to eat or the drink they just take it from their houses and something that makes them more happy is that pain and sickness doesn't exist! Real peace is what governs this planet.

They are concerned more in people that is important for them, they're never complaining about anything they fix it by "themselves" but because of how they are... they are never alone because they support each other as their lives depends on it!

I think ha people (Sector happiness habitants) are more like venusians because they're always supporting each other and they really value love and harmony.

They're not like martians!

Universal:
1. Superstitions: For example breaking a mirror, a black cat etc... I was at home and I opened my umbrella and my mother told me that was for bad luck...
2. Study: In the most of the world people think that a good person or happy is who has a nice job or a good career... I think I don't need examples.

Personal:
1:External Control:When it's raining hard I stop in some place until it stops raining because I don't like to use umbrellas.
2:Informality: Since I got my first low haircut I can't keep it long because I feel like I'm disordered.

Cultural:
1:Language: When someone is mute they use signs language.. But even it's for mute people they're different in every country so a mute person can't talk to a foreigner... In my highschool there are four mute people.
2: ( ? ): I don't really have a name for this but it's when the education is different because of the country or better and harder or worse and easier... I was talking to a friend from Mexico and he told me that there since tenth you don't go to highschool they go to something called "preparatory" where just tenth and eleventh graders go and they don't celebrate anything like us with funny things in their last year.

Something that I observe, well not really observe but live is Saving face. When I make a bad joke and I'm with a friend or friends they sometimes laugh just because they don't want me to look like an idiot.( yes I know very sincerer)

Being someone important
Lots of Costa Ricans think that wearing with nice clothes, using brands, or the greatest one for me is when people criticize other to be more appreaciated by others or recognized.

I always listen people that I know criticizing their "friends" , they do that to say something like "hey man, look he's really bad at sth that I do with a hand" for example.
Bill: Hi Moe how's it going?
Moe: =(
Bill: what happened?
Moe: My girlfriend is dating with another guy!
Bill: oh man! you should do the same, what about going out tonight?
Moe: No thanks, I still love her I couldn't do that.

Bill:=O! did you notice??
Henry: what?
Bill: Moe's girlfriend is fooling around with another man haha!
Henry: really? thought she loved him!
Bill: Haha love? that doesn't exist, the poor didn't want to go out and meet the gals that I know... etc

Informality.
Well there are uncountables ways of being informal but I'll mention the informality in Costa Rica's highschools, boys use shirts that are supposed to be inside pants, girls the same but we can see even their belly bottom. But something really really informal is when girls use their pants like a streaptease star... I mean they are pants not jeans, they really look awful.

A. What advice would you give to a friend suffering from culture shock?
Tell him that being in another country is not an oportunity that many people have, so he better take advantage of it. For example going out and meeting people from that country so he will learn about the culture.
B. What personality traits do you think could help prevent culture shock?
The main trait that could help is being open minded in every aspect. From food to people habits. And learning about the culture of that country before going there.
C. What variables might make culture shock more or less severe?
Something that would really make culture shock less severe is keeping on contact with friends and family from your own culture and making it more severe is obviously doing the opposite.

A. Why is culture important in studying language?
Because language is a part of a culture and a real important part of it, but it is not all. There are things that are called"culture" that are really in a country like things that maybe are normal for you but not for that country. For example is not appropiate to kiss on the cheek in some countries a person that we have just met.
B. What aspects of your culture are most interesting for foreigners?
The are lots of them. But an efficient way of finding interesting aspects is knowing Costa Rican people, because they are who make most of the culture.
C. What aspects of your culture are most challenging (difficult) for foreigners?
I'm pretty sure that many of my classmates have mentioned this but the MOST challengings that I can think of are "Costa Rican's directions" because they are confusing even for us, and if an idea is confusing in our minds make sure that it'd be the double confusing when telling it and the triple in another language.
D. What do you like best/least about American culture?
What I like best about American culture is technology because it is something that benefits everybody. What I don't like is that white American people or the most of them minuspreciate black and latin people.
E. What do you like best/least about Costa Rican culture?
There isn't anything that I like best, because I like a lot of things about Costa Rica tourist places, people, traditions... I think I wouldn't finish today if I tell you all of them but what I don't really like is people that don't really care about getting at time at any place, and they say that everyone does it. But for that isn't an excuse.
F. What would you change about Costa Rican culture if you had the chance?
I'd change the poberty and make like a economic balance beetween people. I know that finishing at all with poberty is impossible but if it was I also know that it wouldn't solve every problem in Costa Rica, but it would be helpful.
NOTE: guys I know that these are the answers for the week 2, and I'm sorry I'm actually really busy studying for a really important exam that is tomorrow.Also doing personal stuff. I promise I'll do week 3 homework as soon as possible.

Journal Entry Questions

1. What do you like best about English?
Learning it, because it lets me do more things with English.
2. What do you like least about English?
TOIEC.
3. What are your strongest language skills?
I think it's writing because I ain't that good when speaking.
4. What are your weakest skills?
Maybe when doing a test or a presentation because I forget everything that I've learned.
5. What do you most need to improve and why?
I need to improve every aspect because none of them is full improved.
6. What activities are most helpful?
Practice and practice, how?
Internet( chatting, playing online, social networking webs etc.)
Friends -If they know English talking with them and sharing skills.
-If they don't know you can help them understanding the language.
Also doing the boring practices in the books works.
GOING 2 CLASSES.

What do I want to learn in this course?

As in other courses that I have took what I want the most is to improve my English and learn about the culture of countries.Also I'd like to get along with my classmates and also learn from them.