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.