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!!

I Love Your Friends They're All So Arty, Oh Yeah!

Hello again! I was thinking about art and its different expressions and I got to the conclusion I don't know what to write about. Probably I should write about music, because music is the artistic expression I'm more familiar with, even when the only musical instrument I know how to play is my dad's musical calculator... Seriously, I played the flute at school but the simplest one and I didn't even know how to read music, I had to write the musical notes under each symbol...

Anyway, when it comes to music; actually, to listening to music, I guess I could choose my favourite artist, although I have more than one and I wouldn't really know what to say about each one of them, because I don't know the right words to refer to their (supposed) talent or skill, being only a listener who follows her gut when it comes to liking something, as opposed to some learned knowledge. However, since you're arty artists and all and you study art and probably are more familiar (in a nerdy way) to some other artistic expression... and also considering the fact you chose this topic, I'm sure you'll have more to talk about... sorry, to write about.

Now, these are 2 photos of my favourite dummer. Her name is Maureen Tucker and she's only six years younger than my grandma, that's one of the reasons why I admire her, because she was playing the drums and 'rocking' the world when women didn't use to do that (not that much, at least). I also like her because I like the sound of her drums... I don't even know how to describe it, but I found this explanation of her playing style on Wikipedia (a source I'm embarrassed to quote but this is only a blog not a Dissertation for a PhD, so give me a break!)

"Tucker's style of playing was unconventional. She played standing up rather than seated (for easier access to the bass drum), using a simplified drum kit of tom toms, a snare drum and an upturned bass drum, playing with mallets rather than drumsticks. She rarely used cymbals; she claimed that since she felt the purpose of a drummer was simply to "keep time", cymbals were unnecessary for this purpose and drowned out the other instruments."

Here's a video with very poor quality and, honestly, it sounds like rubbish, but it's old so there's nothing to do about it. It was either this or another video like those that people make with moviemaker who knows why:

Today you'll have to write about an artist (that's how we called the topic and you said it could be any artist: painter, sculptor, singer, musician, drummer, flute player, doorbell ringer/player, writer, etc).

You can write about an artist you like or dislike...

You can mention:

- Why you like/dislike him/her/them.

- What artistic expression they are related to

- When you first got to know him/her/them

- Etc.

You have to write 120-150 words

Additionally, include a photo or video link or something that can show us their art.

And don't forget to post comments on 3 of your classmates posts.

I'll be checking your last posts, but you can still ask me if you need help!

Leave Me Alone!

This term is a weird one... usually it begins earlier and lasts longer... For me as a student it is a short term also, but we began classes a lot earlier than you did so we're finishing in January, unlike you are. 

When my term began I had lots of expectations. I thought classes with the undergraduate students would never begin so I took 4 courses at my Master's, thinking I'd have plenty of time to study and all working only at one place. I had more time than I used to, but then everything changed and your term began and my life became chaotic... It was really silly of me to assume you would never start the term, but what can I say? I really thought students were united this time and things were going to work out... Pity!

Even when I've had lots to do both at university and my two jobs, the Master's been great and I've been able to do all the things I've been asked to do. I've had lots to read and write (I should be writing an essay as we speak, but I'm finding it difficult to concentrate) and I like what I'm studying, even when the subjects are similar to the ones I'd already taken when I was an undergraduate student myself. I actually like that... it's been great to refresh my knowledge, because, honestly, I'd forgotten most of those contents by the time I was back at the university...

Now, it's weird to be studying during Christmas and summer and stuff, but I don't really care about it. Usually, in the summer, I get bored to death, so it's kind of good having things to do these boring days... I hate the heat, though, but what can one do about it? Not wear a tie to work?

Enough about me! I want to read what you have to say about this term, so please, follow the instructions here:


In this blog entry you must write about:

- Your expectations for this new term

- The subjects you are taking

- How you feel studying in summer/christmas time.

- Others

Number of words: 120 minimum

Leave comments on 3 of your classmates posts.