The Gift

I don't really celebrate Christmas. Well, I do have dinner with my family, because for me that's the only tradition worth keeping. I'm an atheist and I'm selfish, so I don't like spending money in gifts that I never like in the end, being embarrassed because I didn't find what I wanted to give, or just going crazy like everyone when I don't even believe in the supposed reason why people buy gifts in the first place.

Although I must admit I do buy a gift for my boyfriend, but only because he, leaving his libertarian lifestyle aside, does consider necessary to give me a gift, whether I give him one or not.. so I'm kinda obliged to get him one...

I don't usually get many gifts anyway. My eldest sister always gets us something anyway (she's a very generous consumerist). My parents don't usually get us things anymore... I guess it's because we're already too old for Christmas things... but anyway. We enjoy having dinner together. Food is one of the most important things for us, so whenever there's food involved, I'm in!

Today you have to write about Christmas gifts (you chose this topic, just in case you wonder).

In your entry you may include:

- Do you like giving people gifts?

- Do you like receiving them?

- How much money do you spend in Christmas gifts?

- When do you buy your gifts?

- Do you always know what to give people?

- If you don't get gifts, why don't you do it?

- Do you get lots of gifts? How does that make you feel?

- Etc.

Word count: 280 words

Leave comments on 3 of your classmates' entries.

Include a photo or video.

The Village Green Preservation Society

Today we're going to get green, but not the JGM green! The other green, the one that concerns the environment...

This means you'll have to answer the following question in your blog entry:

HOW GREEN ARE YOU? (huh?!)

In order to do so you must use the following questions as a guide. And I mean it!! ¬¬

- Where do people learn about enviromentally friendly practices?
- Have you incorported recycling into your habits? Describe
- Do you use a bike or your legs instead of a car?
- Have you joined or supported any eco-organisations? Why/Why not?
- What else have you done /would you like to do?
- What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint?
- What's missing in our society/Santiago regarding this issue?

Include an image of something catchy, somewhat related to the topic...

Number of words: 250 - 280
Don't forget to make comments on at least 3 of your classmates posts.

Away From The Numbers

Travelling is something I really like. Unfortunately, I've travelled more in my mind than in real life... I've postponed all the important trips I've always wanted to take because of my studies... Mainly because I had to pay for them, so I haven't been able to afford going away to all those countries I'd like to visit. Now I'm saving for my own flat, so I guess that's another excuse not to spend my money on plane tickets...

If you make me choose between a sunny beach or a beautiful historical place I'd have to choose the latter. I like cities, I like walking, trying the local food and sightseeing. I like 'picadas', going to traditional restaurants, trying the greasiest most traditional dish of them all. 

What I'd really like now (that I'm utterly stressed due to my two jobs and Master's studies) is going to a country where they speak another language, study the language there and work as a waitress or something. In my free time I'd go to the park or just walk and watch everything around me, without having to plan lessons, correct tests, read and write papers... Why in another country? I don't know, maybe because there I could afford being something completely different from what I am now... away from the rat race of the job market and professional development.

If I were in this other country, for example France, I would spend my weekends travelling to other nearby countries. I'd go to Prague, Portugal, Germany, anywhere!

Travelling is something that's always called my attention, unfortunately I've postponed it for too long.

What about you? Do you like travelling?

I don't really care if you do, because you HAVE to write about it :PPPPP

In your entry you can mention:

- Whether you like it or not. Why.
- The type of trip you prefer (backpacking, sightseeing, safari, cruse, beach holidays, etc.)
- A place you'd like to go or you wouldn't like to go.
- A great trip you remember
- The place you're visiting next
- Etc.

Word count: 230-250
Leave comments on 3 of your classmates' entries

Strange News from Another Star

Hi all! This week you'll have to write a summary of a newspaper article. So don't get confused and remember that a summary is what in Spanish we call a 'resumen'.

Now, here's the task:

First, go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Then you'll have to:

* Select a piece of news connected to your area of studies/future career
* Write a summary of it.
* In the entry you must include the link to your piece of news, so I can check it.
* Do all of this in 200 - 230 words

* Leave a comment on 3 of your partners' posts.

Let me know if you have any questions!!

Music Is My Radar

Music means a lot to me. If it wasn't for music I wouldn't be here writing in English, I wouldn't be the person I am... Who knows where I would be if I hadn't discovered music!

When I first started listening to the music I like now I was 13 years old. Back then I discovered my first favourite band, and they are still one of my faves. I remember I used to listen to them every morning and, as we only had one radio at home, everyone was obliged to listen to them too. That's the reason why my parents and sisters at home know them so well and like them too, even when back then they used to complain because I would take over the radio and wouldn't let anyone else listen to other music at all. They hated me, but I didn't mind.

Anyway, I guess you voted 'music' because it means something to you too, so that's what this week's post is going to be about.

What you have to do is write about Music and how it affects your life. You could mention:

- What music means to you

- When you first started listening to the music you like

- Why you like it/What it makes you feel

- Your favourite band/musician/singer/album/genre

- Who first introduced you to your favourite band/singer

- etc...

In this post you MUST:

- Write 180-200 words.

- Include a photo or video of your favourite band/singer/musician.

- Comment on 3 of your classmates' posts.

Cemetry Gates

I remember the first book I tried to read when I was little (because I had to, of course, I've always been shallow). It was Papelucho something and I just couldn't finish it. I don't even remember what it was about, I only remember how difficult it was for me to finish it because I couldn't be quiet for too long back then... I didn't finish it, actually.

I also remember when I once tried to read a book on the bus for the first time. It was impossible for me because I couldn't hold it still, so I couldn't read anything at all. I thought reading on the bus would be impossible for me and I would never be able to do it; however, it wasn't, and at some point in my life I mastered the art of 'bus reading' and since then I just couldn't stop.

When I lived in Maipu and went to school in Providencia I used my time on the bus reading the books I had been assigned for school. I remember reading Brave New World by Huxley on the bus and the smell of lavander I once felt when reading it... I think it was Le Sancy soap, not real lavender, but anyway, whenever I feel that smell I remember that book, which is one of my favourite books, by the way.

I also like Orwell's books, such as Animal Farm and 1984, they're two of my favourite books, actually, and he's one of my favourite authors... I bought Homage to Catalonia some time ago, but I haven't been able to read it yet :/

Of course there are other books I like, although I find it very difficult to read these days (mostly because I'm tired all the time). For example, I really like The Catcher in the Rye and The Trial, among others. If you ask me, the first book I really liked because I thought I had found myself in it (when I thought I was oh so special) is Demian, by Hesse. I love that book, though I haven't read it again ever since. Still, I think that book is responsible for making me the person I am now... or I was, at some point in my teens until I became really shallow and started to read LUN and my brain fossilized.

Anyway, as you probably realised, today you have to write about books. How do you feel about them? I guess you like them because you chose this topic, so write on!

If you don't know how to start you could mention things like:

- Why do/don't you like books?

- What's your favourite book?

- What's the first book you read?

- Who's your fave author?

- What type of books do you enjoy most?

- Etc.

• You have to write about 120-150 words
• Include an IMAGE or VIDEO, please.
• Leave comments in 3 of your classmates entries

Here's a video of a song by The Cure inspired by The Stranger by Camus, another book I really like:

Down In Albion

When I was 16 all I wanted in my whole life was to learn English, go to England and work there doing the dishes at some bar or restaurant. Seriously, with my friend Veronica we used to daydream about this (well, I'm not sure she daydreamed about the 'washing the dishes' part, because she's never liked doing dishes in the first place, but she certainly dreamt about being there with me).

We were so silly, really, because we had this strange idea that life there would be different and funnier than life here (as if there was no Sunday in England or something) and that we would meet Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, and Thom Yorke so easily just because we were Chilean, hence, exotic (yeah, right) and we would have their thousand babies and all.

Well, our original plan didn't really include the washing the dishes bit as part of our goal, really. What we wanted to achieve once there was higher education and stuff. We wanted to study film making and become film directors and make movies and meet Ewan McGregor and have his babies also (OK. We didn't really want to have their babies, but we wouldn't have minded...) I know we were kind of desperate back then, but that's one of the things that can happen when you study at a girls school... among other things I'm not going to discuss here. :P

For us, England was a dream. We were young and shallow (the latter I still am, though), we didn't care about imperialism, we thought our lives would change if we spoke English, we wanted to go to England and visit all those places we'd heard about...

I think we were stupid, really, but one is allowed to be stupid when she's in her teens, I think... so I don't feel embarrassed about it at all.

Now, what you have to do today is tell us what country you'd like to visit. In your post, include the following:

- Which country would you like to go to? Why?
- What do you know about it?
- What would you like to do there?
- Would you like to study/work/live there? Explain.

Remember to:
- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts
- Word Count: 150 - 180 words

Ask me if you have any queries!!