guys
i have read your comments. what about the following for term 2 ...
1. more exam stuff. I was thinking in January that for one month we could do nothing but exam work. one saturday do a reading paper, one saturday do a use of english etc. just for the month of january to show you the standard required and do some stuff on exam technique
2.more writing homework. no problem will set more homework. a lot of people also said that they didn't mind doing writing in class as they didn't have time at home. no problem. more writing in class it is.
3. more speaking activities. no problem. but you have to realise that i can not listen to everyone at the same time. just because i am not listening to your group should not be an excuse to slip back into portuguese... it is highly likely in the future that you will speak english to a non english speaker - e.g. an Italian - so you should always speak to each other in English
4. a film for the last 30 mins. instead of a stupid game, we could watch a film. i quite like this idea for two reasons. firstly i don't think anyone can concentrate for 3 hours. Secondly films have great language presented in a context to assist with meaning. what do you think ?
5. a weekly topic for the blog. fine. you guys can choose the topic.
6.marking. guys i don't know if i have made this clear or not, but when i mark your home work the stuff in green is good, and the stuff in pink or orange is bad...
comments please
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
job satisfaction
guys - here is a list of things that affect job satisfaction. Put them into the order that is most important to you, and then try and work out your ideal job. In no particular order ...
challenge,meeting people, security,colleagues respect, working conditions, status in the organisation, learning new things, personal freedom, being part of a team, exercising power, helping people, being praised, social status, being promoted, making money
challenge,meeting people, security,colleagues respect, working conditions, status in the organisation, learning new things, personal freedom, being part of a team, exercising power, helping people, being praised, social status, being promoted, making money
the worst job I have ever done
when i was 17 , i left school and joined a bank. i was sick of studying and doing exams, so i decided not to go to university. At the bank i was the most junior member of staff so i had to do all the crappy jobs. In scotland, as you know, we all probably drink too much, and a consequence of drinking too much is throwing up. People occasionally threw up over our cash machine - and i would have to go out and clean it ! This is probably the worst job i have had to do .... but i got my foot in the door, and then worked for 12 very interesting years for them in 4 different countries, so i can't complain.
xmas homework
You have been asked by the womens institute, a very powerful womens organisation in the UK, to write a report on the situation of women in the portuguese workforce. Write a report (300 - 350 words) highlighting good points and bad points.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Proposal
The city of Lisbon has, in the past, been a reference point in Europe due to the most important role it had during the discoveries period. Nowadays, Lisbon is also known for its modernity, excellent weather and friendly people.
In the last few years, the city has also proved its merit in the organization of major international events, such as Expo 98, 2004 European Football Championship and the presidency of the European Union.
During this period, a significant effort was made to modernize and create new infrastructures to guarantee a unique and flawless experience for our guests. We proudly recognize that this effort paid of and, without a shadow of a doubt, we are sure that, in the future, we will keep the exceptional standards we have set ourselves.
We are aware of the high importance and critical aspects of a conference such as yours. For this reason, we would like to stress that our experienced staff could be very useful with the logistical aspects of the organization and, with the dedication and hard work of all, your conference in Lisbon can be the best you have ever held.
One of the main issues is related to the conference location. In the attached documents you can find information about 5 possible exceptional locations. We, nevertheless, dare to suggest the “Pavilhão Atlântico” (Atlantic Pavilion) located in the Expo 98 Area. This multipurpose facility is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Lisbon, near the river and near to all the major transport infrastructures. This is just 2 minutes walk from the prize-winning Orient train station and 5 minutes (taxi, bus or car) from the International Airport of Lisbon. You can also use the subway to get to any other part of the city.
The Expo area also provides numerous hotel alternatives (all the main international hotel chains provide accommodation here) and several entertainment possibilities.
We must also mention that this solution, despite its fabulous quality, is very affordable for students that, in other conditions, wouldn’t be able to attend.
At last, and of major importance, we would like you to consider that Lisbon is a very safe city in Europe and, if needed, has a state-of-the-art health care system (with a modern hospital also located in the Expo area).
For these reasons, we consider that Lisbon can be a first class location for your conference and can help you to provide an exceptional event.
In the last few years, the city has also proved its merit in the organization of major international events, such as Expo 98, 2004 European Football Championship and the presidency of the European Union.
During this period, a significant effort was made to modernize and create new infrastructures to guarantee a unique and flawless experience for our guests. We proudly recognize that this effort paid of and, without a shadow of a doubt, we are sure that, in the future, we will keep the exceptional standards we have set ourselves.
We are aware of the high importance and critical aspects of a conference such as yours. For this reason, we would like to stress that our experienced staff could be very useful with the logistical aspects of the organization and, with the dedication and hard work of all, your conference in Lisbon can be the best you have ever held.
One of the main issues is related to the conference location. In the attached documents you can find information about 5 possible exceptional locations. We, nevertheless, dare to suggest the “Pavilhão Atlântico” (Atlantic Pavilion) located in the Expo 98 Area. This multipurpose facility is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Lisbon, near the river and near to all the major transport infrastructures. This is just 2 minutes walk from the prize-winning Orient train station and 5 minutes (taxi, bus or car) from the International Airport of Lisbon. You can also use the subway to get to any other part of the city.
The Expo area also provides numerous hotel alternatives (all the main international hotel chains provide accommodation here) and several entertainment possibilities.
We must also mention that this solution, despite its fabulous quality, is very affordable for students that, in other conditions, wouldn’t be able to attend.
At last, and of major importance, we would like you to consider that Lisbon is a very safe city in Europe and, if needed, has a state-of-the-art health care system (with a modern hospital also located in the Expo area).
For these reasons, we consider that Lisbon can be a first class location for your conference and can help you to provide an exceptional event.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Do we really change? is the world changing?
"Change". Just a word. And sometimes words make all the difference. As a noun, this word means a change in something. For instance, " a change in Portuguese policy" or "what we need is a change of attitude on the part of politicians". As a verb, "change" means exactly the same, that is "when something changes, it becomes different". For example, "politicians should change laws to make the world better."
The main issue is to realise that every single second, we change and everything around us changes to. For worst? For better?
Recent studies show that as far as the Earth's climate is concerned, Man has done absolutely nothing to change it. When it comes to contaminated land sites, pollution of watercourses, household waste production or the huge amount of new roads and new housing which are under construction, the idea of building a fair society and a strong economy is without a shadow of doubt a kind of private joke heard among Members of Parliament and Prime Ministers all around the world.
Given the fact that the Earth's climate is changing dramatically and seasons are becoming wetter or hotter, Man shoul act immediately. Yet to ACT or to CHANGE is slightly different. In order to ACT, governments must ACT which means that they have to create solutions and putting them into practice. Does this really happen?
Portugal is an extraordinary example of the lack of creativity, commitment, truth and work. It is a territory where everything can happen and no one, absolutely no one, especially the governments, is punished. In the seventies, a dictatorial regime was replaced by a democracy (a very young one unfortunately) and still, the social and economical situation is far from being resolved. Education and Health are perhaps the two major problems. Despite the number of reforms which has been taken place, the results have been catastrophic. The authority has been taken away from the teachers in a ferocious way in this last decade. Discipline, study methods are no longer important. The most sophisticated IPOD, DVD or mobile phones and parents without any control over their children are a reality. Students are always right, even if they don't study. The fault is automatically given to the teacher who wasn't able to "reach the mind nor the psychological problems" of the poor kid! Hospitals and Health Centers are being closed every single month. As a consequence, five thousand people waiting to be put on a waiting list in a Health Center in Lisbon is just an example. Basically, governments have been promising to give back "some" authority to teachers or to cut hospital waiting lists , but in reality it is exactly the opposite. People are constantly being deceived by those who pretend to govern their countries.
To sum up, we really have to ask ourselves if something is being done to change societies. Man think that he is changing the course of Humanity by innovating, accelerating science or technology. However, all this high life change is just an illusion. By being overwhelmed with such changes, Man can't adapt himself to this new reality. Anger, anxiety, apathy, depression, despair, fear or fright are the REALITY. The Earth is indeed changing but those who inhabitate it are no longer having control over it.
So, is the world changing? For worst? For better? Are we really prepared to face these changings?
Maria Antónia
The main issue is to realise that every single second, we change and everything around us changes to. For worst? For better?
Recent studies show that as far as the Earth's climate is concerned, Man has done absolutely nothing to change it. When it comes to contaminated land sites, pollution of watercourses, household waste production or the huge amount of new roads and new housing which are under construction, the idea of building a fair society and a strong economy is without a shadow of doubt a kind of private joke heard among Members of Parliament and Prime Ministers all around the world.
Given the fact that the Earth's climate is changing dramatically and seasons are becoming wetter or hotter, Man shoul act immediately. Yet to ACT or to CHANGE is slightly different. In order to ACT, governments must ACT which means that they have to create solutions and putting them into practice. Does this really happen?
Portugal is an extraordinary example of the lack of creativity, commitment, truth and work. It is a territory where everything can happen and no one, absolutely no one, especially the governments, is punished. In the seventies, a dictatorial regime was replaced by a democracy (a very young one unfortunately) and still, the social and economical situation is far from being resolved. Education and Health are perhaps the two major problems. Despite the number of reforms which has been taken place, the results have been catastrophic. The authority has been taken away from the teachers in a ferocious way in this last decade. Discipline, study methods are no longer important. The most sophisticated IPOD, DVD or mobile phones and parents without any control over their children are a reality. Students are always right, even if they don't study. The fault is automatically given to the teacher who wasn't able to "reach the mind nor the psychological problems" of the poor kid! Hospitals and Health Centers are being closed every single month. As a consequence, five thousand people waiting to be put on a waiting list in a Health Center in Lisbon is just an example. Basically, governments have been promising to give back "some" authority to teachers or to cut hospital waiting lists , but in reality it is exactly the opposite. People are constantly being deceived by those who pretend to govern their countries.
To sum up, we really have to ask ourselves if something is being done to change societies. Man think that he is changing the course of Humanity by innovating, accelerating science or technology. However, all this high life change is just an illusion. By being overwhelmed with such changes, Man can't adapt himself to this new reality. Anger, anxiety, apathy, depression, despair, fear or fright are the REALITY. The Earth is indeed changing but those who inhabitate it are no longer having control over it.
So, is the world changing? For worst? For better? Are we really prepared to face these changings?
Maria Antónia
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
HOMEWORK
Your homework tonight is to watch Celtic beat Benfica ! , and to savour the atmosphere of football in Scotland - a full stadium, everybody singing, (everybody drunk) and hopefully no fans running on to the pitch this time ! good luck to all my benficista students - but i don't mean it - i am just trying to be nice . GO ON CELTIC !!!! (Mcdonald to score one, maybe 2)
Saturday, October 27, 2007
fashion scene in portugal
oh good - something else that i know absolutely nothing about... as you can probably see by the way i dress - i simply don't care. i think 50 % of guys are like this - please tell me if i am wrong. Maybe i did one day, but because of my size it is very difficult to buy things that i like and in my size. It is difficult in Scotland, it is next to impossible in Portugal. XL in Portugal is too small for me, and with size 48 feet there is only one shop i can buy anything in and that is TIMBERLAND because it is an american brand. But I hate clothes that have logos on them. Why pay an extra 30 euros for a shirt with a small crocodile on it, when that shirt was made by slave labour in China or the Phillipines or somewhere like that. I really recommend a book called NO LOGO which tells you all about the practises of big clothing companies. Ever sine then, i refuse to wear any clothes with a logo on it if i can help it. I frequently cut the brand label off my clothes and constantly hunt for clothes that don't have any silly bloody animals on them !!! anyway enough of my rantings - over to you...
MUSIC SCENE IN PORTUGAL
well , as requested, here is a post about the music scene here - of which i know nothing . It is strange... i used to be right into music. I used to go to 60 concerts a year, i used to read a magazine called Q (i don't know if it is still on the go), and i knew everything about everything... and then one day, i woke up and i simply didn't care any more - maybe when i was about 25 . So i don't have much to add to this post. I find it sad nowadays that there seems to be very few bands that have a hit after hit. in my day it was quite exciting waiting for the new single of a well known band e.g. the jam. they would tell you what day it was being released and eveyone would rush out and buy it, and it would go straight into the charts at no. 1 . Nowadays it seems to be one hit wonders, and all the songs are just remixes of old songs anyway... god i sound old - i am beginning to sound like my father. the one thing i find really interesting about living here is that i have heard lots of differrent types of music that i would never have heard if i was living in the uk e.g. brazilian and african music. I open the post up to all you music lovers ... by the way - you don't need to write a new post, just click on comments and then add your thoughts there
Thursday, October 25, 2007
It’s all about safety!
Everyone can point out several moments in history that were characterized by important changes in individuals, society and the world. Take, for instance, the industrial revolution. For those who lived during that period everything seemed to change faster than they could keep up with… changing from the country side to cities, from the fields to industrial plants, from the fresh air to pollution…
There’s no doubt that many mistakes were made and that many people suffered from the side effects of change… but yet the society survived and the world (although we still suffer from the increase in pollution) also survived.
This leads us to today’s issue: Given this previous experience with change, why is our society so worried about its effects? In my opinion, it’s clear that change is now faster than it was in the industrial revolution (so is our society in general)… But aren’t we better prepared for it? Are we not aware of the existence of negative side effects? Aren’t our governments and NGOs making important efforts to help the “change-excluded” people?
The main point, as I see the problem, is that one of the basic needs of an individual nowadays (take, for instance, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and given that the basic needs such as food and shelter – physiological needs – are provided) has to do with safety.
Safety is, without a shadow of doubt, the core of the problem. Change is affecting safety in many different ways. For instance, we no longer expect to have the same job forever and we worry more than ever about security (ourself, our family and property).
In conclusion, it’s my believe that change is raising this much discussion and concern because no one knows exactly what’s going to happen in the future and, for the time being, the predominant feeling is of deep concern, fear and anxiety about the future.
Ricardo
There’s no doubt that many mistakes were made and that many people suffered from the side effects of change… but yet the society survived and the world (although we still suffer from the increase in pollution) also survived.
This leads us to today’s issue: Given this previous experience with change, why is our society so worried about its effects? In my opinion, it’s clear that change is now faster than it was in the industrial revolution (so is our society in general)… But aren’t we better prepared for it? Are we not aware of the existence of negative side effects? Aren’t our governments and NGOs making important efforts to help the “change-excluded” people?
The main point, as I see the problem, is that one of the basic needs of an individual nowadays (take, for instance, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and given that the basic needs such as food and shelter – physiological needs – are provided) has to do with safety.
Safety is, without a shadow of doubt, the core of the problem. Change is affecting safety in many different ways. For instance, we no longer expect to have the same job forever and we worry more than ever about security (ourself, our family and property).
In conclusion, it’s my believe that change is raising this much discussion and concern because no one knows exactly what’s going to happen in the future and, for the time being, the predominant feeling is of deep concern, fear and anxiety about the future.
Ricardo
Hi Graham and everybody,
It's the first time I'm doing a homework on the net. I really don't know if at the end of this task, you will receive this. I hope so! I have just 15 minutes to do this. It's quiet a challenge to me!
Anyway, I really hate not to do what I am asked to do. So I'll start with the first homework. I think that it was writing about ourselves, wasn't it? The worksheet Andy gave us was called "C2 - getting to know you". There were 40 questions and we had to choose 10 to talk a little bit about ourselves. As I read some of your homework, I understood that it was probably the same worksheet.
I really would like to have time to choose 10 or even more questions to talk about myself. I will do it (probably this weekend) because I think that it will be funnier instead of saying that I am just another teacher suffering from the enormous amount of changes from our different governments during these last years. They don't understand (or they don't really care about it) that something must be done. I have to confess that I am really tired of being a teacher (especially for the last years as I have many groups of 30 students). Being a teacher in Portugal is really a hard job as the system has being falling down year after year. Today, a teacher doesn't have any sort of authority in a classroom or outside it. I am not saying that all the students are alike but the great majority can't distinguish a teacher from a friend or even from his/her parents. This is the Portuguese reality. Students don't fail even if they don't know anything. What really matters are statistics at the end of the year. This government really likes statistics and the Portuguese believe in them. I don't.
I know that what I wrote was not very enthousiastic. But time is up. I have another class of 30 students this afternoon. But I will meet all at 7 o'clock.
Graham, I promise that I'll complete this homework and I'll do the other one.
So, see you in a few hours,
maria antónia
It's the first time I'm doing a homework on the net. I really don't know if at the end of this task, you will receive this. I hope so! I have just 15 minutes to do this. It's quiet a challenge to me!
Anyway, I really hate not to do what I am asked to do. So I'll start with the first homework. I think that it was writing about ourselves, wasn't it? The worksheet Andy gave us was called "C2 - getting to know you". There were 40 questions and we had to choose 10 to talk a little bit about ourselves. As I read some of your homework, I understood that it was probably the same worksheet.
I really would like to have time to choose 10 or even more questions to talk about myself. I will do it (probably this weekend) because I think that it will be funnier instead of saying that I am just another teacher suffering from the enormous amount of changes from our different governments during these last years. They don't understand (or they don't really care about it) that something must be done. I have to confess that I am really tired of being a teacher (especially for the last years as I have many groups of 30 students). Being a teacher in Portugal is really a hard job as the system has being falling down year after year. Today, a teacher doesn't have any sort of authority in a classroom or outside it. I am not saying that all the students are alike but the great majority can't distinguish a teacher from a friend or even from his/her parents. This is the Portuguese reality. Students don't fail even if they don't know anything. What really matters are statistics at the end of the year. This government really likes statistics and the Portuguese believe in them. I don't.
I know that what I wrote was not very enthousiastic. But time is up. I have another class of 30 students this afternoon. But I will meet all at 7 o'clock.
Graham, I promise that I'll complete this homework and I'll do the other one.
So, see you in a few hours,
maria antónia
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Hi guys,
I'm writing this just an hour before our class, so Graham won't have a word to say about a possible miscommitment to the class. I guess i'm the kind of person who likes to work under pressure.
Moving on, Benfica will beat Celtic so I don't understand why Graham even bothers talking about it.
Related to the topic Graham posted on the blog, my opinion is that women should stay at home bringing up the children. At least that's what I would like it to be at my place: I want to have a big family, so my wife must be an old-fashioned woman. But, if she isn't, I will accept that.
I think Portugal is a great place to live, because it has the best of both worlds: the sunny weather of most of he 3rd world countries and the economics of a developed one (although in less quantity - this goes for both). Anyway, I would rather live here than in Scotland, for example, where it rains all year round, or in Brazil, where I can get killed if I wear something a little fancy.
My favourite sport is rugby. Altough I quit playing a couple of years ago, I still care about my club and, obviously, for the portuguese national team. In Portugal, rugby moves much less money than football, because it is still an amateur sport. I think that's why it's such a fair sport.
I would describe the British people as too polite for my taste. Portuguese people, being part of the latin people, are much more passionate than the british. If you're in an argument with a british person, you cannot refuse his opinion without adding a «mm-mm» or a «oh really?!». If I did that whit my friends, I would be considered a bit sissy.
I would prefer money to time. I actually have a lot of free time by this point of my life, but I don't have enough money to enjoy it. Against Graham's way of life, I actually need money to have fun. You can´t buy anything using time as a coin.
Like Marta, I just finished reading "Por Amor da Índia". Funny coincidence. I didn't like it, but I do understand she did. It's really a women's book.
That's all for today.
I'm writing this just an hour before our class, so Graham won't have a word to say about a possible miscommitment to the class. I guess i'm the kind of person who likes to work under pressure.
Moving on, Benfica will beat Celtic so I don't understand why Graham even bothers talking about it.
Related to the topic Graham posted on the blog, my opinion is that women should stay at home bringing up the children. At least that's what I would like it to be at my place: I want to have a big family, so my wife must be an old-fashioned woman. But, if she isn't, I will accept that.
I think Portugal is a great place to live, because it has the best of both worlds: the sunny weather of most of he 3rd world countries and the economics of a developed one (although in less quantity - this goes for both). Anyway, I would rather live here than in Scotland, for example, where it rains all year round, or in Brazil, where I can get killed if I wear something a little fancy.
My favourite sport is rugby. Altough I quit playing a couple of years ago, I still care about my club and, obviously, for the portuguese national team. In Portugal, rugby moves much less money than football, because it is still an amateur sport. I think that's why it's such a fair sport.
I would describe the British people as too polite for my taste. Portuguese people, being part of the latin people, are much more passionate than the british. If you're in an argument with a british person, you cannot refuse his opinion without adding a «mm-mm» or a «oh really?!». If I did that whit my friends, I would be considered a bit sissy.
I would prefer money to time. I actually have a lot of free time by this point of my life, but I don't have enough money to enjoy it. Against Graham's way of life, I actually need money to have fun. You can´t buy anything using time as a coin.
Like Marta, I just finished reading "Por Amor da Índia". Funny coincidence. I didn't like it, but I do understand she did. It's really a women's book.
That's all for today.
The SuperMothers!
I’m going to pretend that I didn’t see that football post... Who cares about that??? Hummm, maybe the same people (men) that don’t help enough at home and, in this way, prevent women the chance having a good career… This is just a thought!
Well, regarding today’s main issue, in a general way, people at work are being evaluated for the amount of work or amount of hours spent working. Although many talk about different performance measures, in the end what is being recognized is if one works more or less than others.
What I believe, is that raising kids and taking care of the home can be a very demanding task… no wonder in the same newspapers we can find so much news about abused children or other family problems… Not all are up to the task and, in this new nuclear family concept, it’s not possible to count on mothers, aunts or other family members to help out.
More and more women feel pressure to be just perfect… raise perfect children, have the perfect home and the perfect job and appear with perfect hair and nails… This is not real… it isn’t possible! But they are not complaining!
If we consider the time spent on “domestic” tasks, we find that women work much more than men (and, again, they are not complaining) and take many high responsibility decisions during the day… Companies should bear this in mind and stop misusing these very talented assets!
I strongly believe that we should find (and implement) different measures to evaluate women's performance (which is very important when considering the career issue) and that husbands should have a more active role at home!
Well, my time is up! See you later!
Ricardo
Well, regarding today’s main issue, in a general way, people at work are being evaluated for the amount of work or amount of hours spent working. Although many talk about different performance measures, in the end what is being recognized is if one works more or less than others.
What I believe, is that raising kids and taking care of the home can be a very demanding task… no wonder in the same newspapers we can find so much news about abused children or other family problems… Not all are up to the task and, in this new nuclear family concept, it’s not possible to count on mothers, aunts or other family members to help out.
More and more women feel pressure to be just perfect… raise perfect children, have the perfect home and the perfect job and appear with perfect hair and nails… This is not real… it isn’t possible! But they are not complaining!
If we consider the time spent on “domestic” tasks, we find that women work much more than men (and, again, they are not complaining) and take many high responsibility decisions during the day… Companies should bear this in mind and stop misusing these very talented assets!
I strongly believe that we should find (and implement) different measures to evaluate women's performance (which is very important when considering the career issue) and that husbands should have a more active role at home!
Well, my time is up! See you later!
Ricardo
BENFICA V CELTIC NEXT WEEK
I'm sorry if you don't like football , but the biggest thing in Portugal next week is obviously the benfica/celtic game !!!!
a few weeks ago i was very confident because we have a better team this year than we did last year - but over the last few weeks we have been decimated with injuries.
we have 3 right backs injured - so we have no idea who is going to play there
we have 2 midfield players injured - hartley and Brown ( probably our best player ) and our striker Venegoor of Hesselink is out too ... !
no matter what happens, it can't be as bad as last year, when we played as badly as i have ever seen Celtic play...
I reckon it will be a draw. what do you think Benficistas ? you probably have to win if you want to qualify.
Can you give me the low down on your team please - i hear you have a few injuries, and your new signings are not as good as you first thought.
a few weeks ago i was very confident because we have a better team this year than we did last year - but over the last few weeks we have been decimated with injuries.
we have 3 right backs injured - so we have no idea who is going to play there
we have 2 midfield players injured - hartley and Brown ( probably our best player ) and our striker Venegoor of Hesselink is out too ... !
no matter what happens, it can't be as bad as last year, when we played as badly as i have ever seen Celtic play...
I reckon it will be a draw. what do you think Benficistas ? you probably have to win if you want to qualify.
Can you give me the low down on your team please - i hear you have a few injuries, and your new signings are not as good as you first thought.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
A women's place is in the home
There has recently been a lot of discussion in the newspapers in the U.K. that women can not have it all (as they used to think ) . They can have a good career, or they can stay at home and have kids - but both is impossible. What do you think ? please support your opinion with some ideas...
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Hello everyone,
I’ve tried a couple of times before publishing something in the blog, but I don’t feel too comfortable talking (or writing) about myself. Don’t ask me why… I’ve been like this for so long that I don’t really remember why I act like this. But, since this is our HW, and I always try to comply with what it’s expected from me, I really feel the need to make this effort.
What can I say about me that helps you to understand what I'm like? I thought about it several times… one valid option was to follow the guideline Graham gave us in the first week. But, in the end, I’m tired of following guidelines at work, so it would be better to try a different approach… that’s why I’m just going to give you some clues about my life at the moment.
I woke up this morning with the same throat hurting symptoms I had last night. I don’t get sick very often, but I panic over the smallest symptoms… As today (once again) I have lots of work to do (but I managed to find 10 minutes to write this post) there was no way I could call in sick! I decided to drag my body out of bed and drive to work.
Last week I changed office (after 8,5 years in the same – river view – office) and this one is a mess. I really love having my stuff in perfect order but the former “tenant” left lots of belongings in here and doesn’t care a bit about others well being. I almost can’t reach the office window. Things will get better… I hope!
In about an hour, as my wife is out working, I'm going to have lunch with one of my best friends. He is the kind of person that “is always there” when you need a friend… due to my workaholic tendency I don’t meet up with friends as often as I should, but as all of them have the same problem, we manage to understand each other.
Well... I have to get back to work. See you tonight!
Ricardo
I’ve tried a couple of times before publishing something in the blog, but I don’t feel too comfortable talking (or writing) about myself. Don’t ask me why… I’ve been like this for so long that I don’t really remember why I act like this. But, since this is our HW, and I always try to comply with what it’s expected from me, I really feel the need to make this effort.
What can I say about me that helps you to understand what I'm like? I thought about it several times… one valid option was to follow the guideline Graham gave us in the first week. But, in the end, I’m tired of following guidelines at work, so it would be better to try a different approach… that’s why I’m just going to give you some clues about my life at the moment.
I woke up this morning with the same throat hurting symptoms I had last night. I don’t get sick very often, but I panic over the smallest symptoms… As today (once again) I have lots of work to do (but I managed to find 10 minutes to write this post) there was no way I could call in sick! I decided to drag my body out of bed and drive to work.
Last week I changed office (after 8,5 years in the same – river view – office) and this one is a mess. I really love having my stuff in perfect order but the former “tenant” left lots of belongings in here and doesn’t care a bit about others well being. I almost can’t reach the office window. Things will get better… I hope!
In about an hour, as my wife is out working, I'm going to have lunch with one of my best friends. He is the kind of person that “is always there” when you need a friend… due to my workaholic tendency I don’t meet up with friends as often as I should, but as all of them have the same problem, we manage to understand each other.
Well... I have to get back to work. See you tonight!
Ricardo
Monday, October 8, 2007
Press publish :-)
Hi Everybody!
This is just a reminder because there are several messages saved as drafts. You have to hit "publish", otherwise the rest of the world won't be able to see your posts. :-)
Have a great week.
This is just a reminder because there are several messages saved as drafts. You have to hit "publish", otherwise the rest of the world won't be able to see your posts. :-)
Have a great week.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
All about me (Marta)
Hello!
My name is Marta. I am 16 years old and I am studying in high school, at least pretending to be. As I was told to present myself, here is some basic information about me.
Although I haven't got any specific plans for the future, I am quite an ambitious girl. All I know is that I want to have a big family and a nice stable job, probably related to management. In the near future, I'd love to do voluntary work in Africa, as well as to start travelling more often.
In my opinion, ambition is not necessarily related to money. Thus, even though I think that I am an ambitious girl, I prefer time to money. All I need to do most of the things I'm into is time. In fact, whereas you can make money with time, you cannot make time with money.
I strongly believe that Portugal is a nice place to live, especially for foreigners. Not only is its weather very nice, but the country is also very peaceful and cheap. And, above all, the people is amazing.
If I were the mayor of Lisbon, I would foccus on rebuilding the old part of the city (Baixa, Rossio, Chiado), and on organizing the traffic. Replacing cars by bikes is an easy way of reducing congestion in the city. In addition, I would create more gardens and other public outdoor places.
Besides that, being very feminine, it is obvious that I would rather be a woman than a man. I actually cannot understand women who want to become man.
I am a scorpio, but I don't care at all. Signs and horoscopes mean nothing to me.
The last book I read for pleasure was "Por Amor da Índia", a wonderful novel about India written by Catherine Clément.
Now, I'd like to start reading more English books. I reckon that learning English is essential. To me, it is the international language with which one can communicate all over the world. That is the main reason why I am learning English.
To have or to be? Definitely, to be.
Well, that's a part of me.
Marta
My name is Marta. I am 16 years old and I am studying in high school, at least pretending to be. As I was told to present myself, here is some basic information about me.
Although I haven't got any specific plans for the future, I am quite an ambitious girl. All I know is that I want to have a big family and a nice stable job, probably related to management. In the near future, I'd love to do voluntary work in Africa, as well as to start travelling more often.
In my opinion, ambition is not necessarily related to money. Thus, even though I think that I am an ambitious girl, I prefer time to money. All I need to do most of the things I'm into is time. In fact, whereas you can make money with time, you cannot make time with money.
I strongly believe that Portugal is a nice place to live, especially for foreigners. Not only is its weather very nice, but the country is also very peaceful and cheap. And, above all, the people is amazing.
If I were the mayor of Lisbon, I would foccus on rebuilding the old part of the city (Baixa, Rossio, Chiado), and on organizing the traffic. Replacing cars by bikes is an easy way of reducing congestion in the city. In addition, I would create more gardens and other public outdoor places.
Besides that, being very feminine, it is obvious that I would rather be a woman than a man. I actually cannot understand women who want to become man.
I am a scorpio, but I don't care at all. Signs and horoscopes mean nothing to me.
The last book I read for pleasure was "Por Amor da Índia", a wonderful novel about India written by Catherine Clément.
Now, I'd like to start reading more English books. I reckon that learning English is essential. To me, it is the international language with which one can communicate all over the world. That is the main reason why I am learning English.
To have or to be? Definitely, to be.
Well, that's a part of me.
Marta
Friday, September 28, 2007
All about me
Hello everyone - this is Graham and welcome to our blog. What I would like you to do is to write here a little bit about yourself, using the questions we used on thursday night so that the other people in the class can read up about you. I'll go first to show you what I mean...
My name is Graham, I am 40 although I know I don't look it !, and I come from Scotland. Here is some information about me. I am afraid of flying ! I really don't like it, so every time I go back to Scotland I usually get the train through Spain, and then the boat to England. It takes ages, costs a lot of money, but is great fun.
If I was mayor of Lisbon, I would clean the streets more - there is dog poo everywhere ! I really like Lisbon, but the dog poo does annoy me
If my house was on fire, I would save my bicycle. I am not really into things and don't really have anything valuable in my flat. I use my bicycle all the time, so I would save that.
If I could change one thing about me, I would change my ears ! I think they are too big and stick out too much - I actually play football with a plastic surgeon here in lisbon, so maybe one day I will get them done.
I am a gemini, but I don't really care and I never read the horoscopes in the newspaper.
As I mentioned earlier dog poo really annoys me. Spitting, and cars parking on pavements irritates me as well.
My perfect day would be going cycling in the morning, having lunch on a deserted beach at lunchtime (in winter), then watching my team , Celtic, win a game in the champions league.
I would rather have time than money. All the things I like doing , I don't need any money for - all I need is time - to play football, to go cycling, to play chess
when I have nothing to do, I usually go and buy the Independent newspaper( the British one ) and go and have a beer...
and finally , the worst place I have been to was Lithuania about 20 years ago. It was awful. It was really cold, the people were very poor, there was nothing to buy in the supermarkets and the food was horrendous. I hope it is better now.
Well , that's me. Now it is your turn to add some information about you.
My name is Graham, I am 40 although I know I don't look it !, and I come from Scotland. Here is some information about me. I am afraid of flying ! I really don't like it, so every time I go back to Scotland I usually get the train through Spain, and then the boat to England. It takes ages, costs a lot of money, but is great fun.
If I was mayor of Lisbon, I would clean the streets more - there is dog poo everywhere ! I really like Lisbon, but the dog poo does annoy me
If my house was on fire, I would save my bicycle. I am not really into things and don't really have anything valuable in my flat. I use my bicycle all the time, so I would save that.
If I could change one thing about me, I would change my ears ! I think they are too big and stick out too much - I actually play football with a plastic surgeon here in lisbon, so maybe one day I will get them done.
I am a gemini, but I don't really care and I never read the horoscopes in the newspaper.
As I mentioned earlier dog poo really annoys me. Spitting, and cars parking on pavements irritates me as well.
My perfect day would be going cycling in the morning, having lunch on a deserted beach at lunchtime (in winter), then watching my team , Celtic, win a game in the champions league.
I would rather have time than money. All the things I like doing , I don't need any money for - all I need is time - to play football, to go cycling, to play chess
when I have nothing to do, I usually go and buy the Independent newspaper( the British one ) and go and have a beer...
and finally , the worst place I have been to was Lithuania about 20 years ago. It was awful. It was really cold, the people were very poor, there was nothing to buy in the supermarkets and the food was horrendous. I hope it is better now.
Well , that's me. Now it is your turn to add some information about you.
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