THREE MAIN PROBLEMS MY CITY HAS HAD FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAT HAVEN’T BEEN SOLVED YET

INTERVIEW

The first respondent of this interview is my son, he is 24 years old. He had studied, Environment Control in IFRN, for 4 years. Now he has been studying Computer Engineering and Technology; he is middway through the course. During the interview, when asked about the problems of the city, he talked about the lack of sanitation. In his opinion, many governments had promised taking care of sanitation. Even those leaders that had begun to put pipes under ground, never finished their work. Otherwise, Hanoch has commented about the traffic problems. In his opinion, the improvements made untill now, would not be enough to accommodate the amount of cars on the streets of Natal. More else, the third problem discussed by him was education. He defends good pay for good teachers.

The second interviewee was my third daughter and she is 29 years old. She had finished business administration undergrad course since 2008, and currently, she has been taking her phd degree in educational management in Porto Alegre. By the way, she said that publics institutions should have stronger purposes and should be less corrupt during project execution. In her opinion, the authorities should not put on makeup above the city and, in fact, solve the problems like floodings in the rainy season or drought. Otherwise, they have been distorting their discurse just to get votes. Politicians and their staffs should bring fast and profound solutions for public transportation, health and education for the entire population.

Silvana is my friend. She got her bachelor degree in architecture in 1984 and now she is studying to take her phd in urban planning and development. In her opinion, there are several projects aiming to improve the city and the quality of life, although there has never been political interest in running them. A government does not give continuity to what others start. There is no interest in maintaining what has been accomplished by the previous government. She said that, supposedly, there are plans to build public places such as parks, sport fields and recreational places, but the plans are never executed. Another issue to be careful is the green environment, there are not enough trees in the city, it has poor sanitation and  the garbage collection has been inefficient since forever. There have been several challenges of selective collection, but always the priorities are directed to electioneering practices. Silvana has been worried a lot about these issues.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR BODY IN GOOD SHAPE

People haven't taken care with their health, more than this, they have abandoned their body at day by day. Therefore, we might ask: how to keep our body in a good shape? First of all, to keep your body in a good shape you must get some good habits. If after work, you stay on the couch eating processed foods, watching TV, your body is
claiming health. On the other side, if you have been taking a brisk every day, have done exercises with weights by training mass muscles and have been eating brown rice, fruits, whole grain and lean meats, so your body have been grateful and you're knowing how to keep your body healthy on the top.

RE- WRITING - What do I think about?

What do I think about? I think about a lot of things like you. My brain is always turning on, working, sometimes productively sometimes not.  I think a lot about my job, how to improve conditions. I think about how hard it is to keep a company in my own hand with so many obstacles and no solutions to problems. I think about my children (they are not children any more), if they are feeling well, if they have a good structure to lead their lives by themselves  (it’s my job to do this), if they are happy and take their life seriously.  I think a lot about food, about eating or not eating - I love eating. I don’t think enough about money and the way to multiply it. I don’t think enough about guys because I don’t appreciate them to fall in love. At this moment I’m thinking about my research for my master’s and I think that is a very solitary thing. I think about friendship and I care about some friends. I think about this writing and I guess it’s a failure, but that’s it. bye 

RE- WRITING (FICTION) - About this picture

Who doens’t want to keep a moment of happiness forever?  Smiiiiile! That’s it. The moment  you take a picture it looks as if you are able to freeze  time and  never lose it. Sometimes this happened with me. Concerning this trip, since this picture was taken I have been happy.   Once upon a time, mom decided that the whole family would take a trip by bike while she would ride a horse. She never learned to ride a bike. Before we left, mom had prepared sandwiches and juice for everyone and Dad, my brother, my sister and I had filled the bicycles’ tires.  We left at 7 o’clock and after this we were traveling  all day. The way wasn’t easy for a child like me. I was just seven years old and I had already changed my little bike for a big one. For Dad, it was a big challenge to keep the whole family together. Now, all that is left is this picture, a rusty bike hung in my garage and the feeling of happiness.

TO MY FRIENDS FROM JAPAN

Dear friends from Japan, HIA and San Diego

I’m here in Brazil listening to the news and I’m really shocked about the catastrophes in Japan. For this reason, I’m spending a lot of time  thinking about you.  I imagine how sad the students in HIA are and the teachers too. Here in Brazil, I’m following the news and it seems terrible.  Every  time the pictures of Japan are splashed on tv  I am  far away physically although I am near at heart.  So, I hope that your families are in good condition and that soon you will be able to be together.

Lots of love,

Priscila

RE- WRITING (FICTION)

Different from other animals in the San Diego Zoo, this little tiger named Cookie wasn’t born in the cage. Because Cookie has been orphaned, he was adopted by the Zoo. The little tiger was brought from Malaysia straight to San Diego in California.  His mother was killed by the hunters. Cookie was lucky. At the time his mother died, Jack was in Malaysia. As a result Jack is taking part in Greenpeace's Organization; he has been protecting animals around the world. At the time he was in Malaysia, the mother tiger was found by Jack. He soon concluded that the dead tiger was breastfeeding a baby. Therefore, a group of native people was gathered to search for the little tiger. In this way, the baby would be found. Thus, it was exactly what happened. Finally the baby was found. On the way to the San Diego Zoo, Cookie was nursed by Jack. Now, the baby feels good in his new house and Jack returned to Malaysia to look for unprotected animals.

  

Only two rabbits in a Cajadada

 

(Google’s translation of the title – Dois coelhos numa cajadada só)

 

I had never seen my new nephew from Hanford and the Sequoya Park. For this reason my last weekend  was a good opportunity to know both of them.  My little nephew is a cuddly, fluffy and nice baby. He is friendly with everyone. And what about the Sequoya Park? My niece and her husband took us by car to a long trip to visit these wonderful park. We met all  full of snow and the view was fantastic. So, I’m very grateful    for this moment. Although I’ve been  playing and enjoying a lot in the snow, I still remembering that I love to live in Natal. There is the real paradise where the snow never, never fall.

AFTER THE TEST

Amtrak - Pacific Surfline - San Diego, CA. USA

Hi.  Tomorrow I will be doing a test in English, because all Friday I have a test about I have been learning during the week. For this reason, I’m using some special words. I don’t want be showy.  By the way, I still love the experience in San Diego. The teachers in my course are really good, so I have been learning a lot.  At this moment, I’m doing new friends.  Martina became from German for a month to study English like me and we are planning to go around the city for fun. After the test, I’ll get on a Troiler (metro) straight to the Amtrak Train Station. Consequently, I’ will be get on a train at 12 o’clock to Hanford, to my niece’s house. I just I’ll be arriving there at 7 a.m. It will be a long path!  I’m leaving you now, since I have to get up early and I have a long day waiting for me. Bye  

THE FIRST ESSAY

Life is difficult for everybody, but it could be easier if you share your experiences with another people. By comparing a specific condition of life with another people, it could be easier to understand, and that could help you to open your mind and your heart.

About the sensitive Jamaica Kind’s experience, when she was a child and she came from a Tropical country to live in a strange and cold place, I could feel how difficult and sudden it was to her.

From another point of view, Amy Tan wrote about her mother, a Chinese immigrant. She described how difficult it was to her mother to explain herself with her “broken English” and to get respect of the people. As her daughter she felt confused about all this situation, but later she  appreciated more her mother’s attitudes than the wrong words that she had pronounced.  

After the guests that we receipt in our classe to tell us about immigration, I could think more about all of this. In the case of 1,5 immigrant like Amy ( from Taiwan), it was interesting to listen how she feels a foreign even she was born in USA; how she lives with her Chinese friends and how she must help her mother  to write e-mails. Otherwise, I think that for Stefania is all easier in USA. For her to come to live in USA  it was a spontaneous decision and she knows well to transform  difficulties in good things.

So, to be part of those cases, reading and listening about immigration, were very important to the success of my experience, however not so long, here in USA.

MY MOTHER'S HOUSE

Oh, I’m sorry, but my last post it was a long time ago. Today is Sunday, the 9^th of January and I’m in my mother’s house in Irvine, just for the weekend. How to explain you about  my mother’s house in a blog conversation? Ummmmm, let me see. Oh, I found a good way to represent that. Put your mouse up and take a watch? What do you think about?  

MY NEW FRIENDS

Nobu (Japan), Keiri (Japan), Groni (Korea), Me, Sara (teacher) and Guchi (Japan)

CONTACT WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES

  

                      
A picture is worth a  thousand words

DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME

I don't have too much time, but today a feel better after class. I'm going now to a conversation English meeting. My teacher, Sara, invited me. Great. I'll tell more about my new day today another time.

I'M MISSING YOU

What could I say?  It’s not easy to be in a strange country alone, leaving in a strange family, far from my nice house, from my confortable bed, my car, my beautiful and warm  beach, my happy dogs,  far from my good and especial food, from my friends, my job, my family. What do you think about?  I’m not complaining, I’m just saying, what the hell I’m doing here? Ok, I know that I have to be patient, and that my main is to improve my English. Ok. I choose the hard way, but I bet will be better.  Pay attention how it’s hard: Today I took a bus to come back home. I even did not know how to pull the bell for the bus stop. Instead, I pulled   the seat belt and I pushed something else but nothing happened, so I missed the bus station, until an angel  boy helped me. Here in San Diego, I’m not just learning a language, I have to learn everything, the customs and how to survive.

I AM IN SAN DIEGO

I arrived in San Diego. The initial shock was overcome with a good host.

SHORT HISTORY - "Wait For The Brick"

Yesterday, I read a short history  about a man that has a Jaguar, and when he was passing near few boys playing on the street, a brick smashed into the side door. The man grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car. The little boy told him that he needs a help, because his brother rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair, so He can't lift him up. The man hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair. The driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!

My mother knows about the blog

Today I showed my blog to my mother. Obvious she said that I'm thinking in portuguese when I'm writting, and blablabla. So what!!! Mother is always mother. Than, I changed subject and I talked with her about this book "Manual da Paixão soliltária". Fantastic book from Moacyr Scliar. It's worth reading!

NEW E-MAIL TO DEANN

Dear Deann

I'm here in Irvine in my mother's house. I tried to call you by phone this evening, but nobody answered. Doesn’t matter, tomorrow I'll try again. Just to let you know, I'm planning to get to your home on Sunday around three o'clock. I remind you that on Monday, I'll begin my class at nine o’ clock. If you want to call me back my cell number is 217 602 1546 and my mother's number is 949 823 1856, her name is Esther.

I wish  you and your family a Happy New Year!

Best regards,

Priscila

I'M IN USA

I came to USA and now I’m at my mother’s house. It’s great!!! If I’d say that I have the real opportunity to speak in English would be a big lie.  My mother, my stepfather, my daughter ... all speak for me.Yesterday I watched a movie  “L'Auberge Espagnole”  spoken in French, Spanish, and in English e and I asked to place the subtitle in English. As for the movie, I loved, it’s talk about students learning a second language and their lifes in a strange country, in Barcelona. An interesting thing to tell, was seeing the arrangements that my brain does to make contact with three different languages which I know well or ill. It’s was interesting to hear tree different languages and understand the history and have fun. If you are interested in the movie take the hint, it's worth!

my reaction from the first reaction

stepfather, isso mesmo, pronto era isso mesmo as pessoas vão me corrigindo, sacou: stepfather, stepfather, stepfather... agora eu já sei