Are you Spying on Me?

Traveling around the world

2011-02-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here and now all I want to do is share a bit of the marvellous experience I had with this amazing group.
We were 14 to start with. 13 students + me.

The Trip

We were the Cult Trip group of 2011. So far so good. Simple.
Not so simple when you think I would have to take them on a trip to England, where we would stay for a whole month!
AH! Yes, so exciting and thrilling, but at the same time really scary! The responsibility of having to take care of 13 teenagers was on my shoulders. I thought: "I CAN DO THIS!" and our journey began.
The departure date was 15th of January 2011, but we started off much earlier with group meetings so we could know each other a bit better before we could share a month in a foreign country together.

The meetings started in September 2010, and 3 meetings later (between Caxias and Porto Alegre), we found ourselves trapped in a 12-hour flight to Heathrow.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Then after hours waiting at the Immigration queue we finally went to the coach that took us to Bath. Just a little problem to fix: where were we going to put all the luggage? LOL
The coaches in the UK don't have a big luggage compartment and Brazilians don't pack light, to top up, we were sharing the coach with another group of Brazilian students - 30 more students plus 2 group leaders... MAN you should've seen the amount of bags we had. But we were able to stick all of them inside and moved on.

When we got to Bath we had to wait for a few minutes at the Coach park, then a few families started arriving to oick everyone up... and our adventure begun.

Adventures in Babysitting

Please comment on your experiences and keep connected for more of CULT TRIP

Are you good at recognizing different american accents?

2010-12-04T12:36:00.002-07:00

I dare you to do well in this quiz!!

http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/map/map.html

Click on it, when the page loads click on the letter to hear the sentences then place them on the region you think speaks like that.

Pretty simple and difficult hahahaha
Let me know how much you score!!! Put it on the comments! Thanks!

American Accents

2010-11-23T05:28:00.001-07:00

Still on the subject of accents, moving to the US, I've come across the website below in one of my classes thanks to Teacher Adam Shoemaker:
http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have

After answering the quiz you are able to see what kind of English you actually speak. And believe it or not it's pretty accurate.

It's an amazing website to figure out how you sound.

And it also makes you feel more secure about your own english regarding pronunciation.

When I lived there in the US people used to tell me I sounded like a New Yorker...
Check below my results from the quiz:

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Northeast
The Midland
Philadelphia
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

What did you think... Was it as accurate for you as it was for me?

Cheers!

Accents

2010-10-06T08:01:00.003-07:00

cAre you worried about your accent when you speak english???

Well you're not the only one hehehe we ALL do!

I have received this cool vid from @italopetini, and I'm now sharing it 'cause it's loads of fun. Be beware, the guy curses A LOT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABo_DCIdpM

I surely didn't get everything he's said, but I have to admit, he is good!
Before watching it, I haven't realized how big the variety of accents in English is. I'm amazed. and maybe one day I'll be able to impersonate at least half of them!

Accents: A Manual for Actors- Revised and Expanded Edition

That's all for now, Enjoy the crazy vid!

Phantom of the Opera

2010-10-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm soooooooooooo excited!!!

My students from Thursdays evenings agreed to go to UCS next class, in order to enjoy a play in English. Some of you may say - so what? - but I really think that taking the English outside the classroom into the REAL world is a step forward in students education.

Search Amazon.com for phantom of the opera

I'm also thrilled because we are going to watch not just any play, we are going to watch the most famous musical in the world "The Phantom of the Opera". I think it will be great. Wish me luck!

;)

Cheers.

Best Friends

2010-10-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

I love having them.
People you can call anytime that they will do everything they can to help you.
Friends that know they can count on you if there's anything you can do.

Tonight some of my friends came over and we just hanged out for a couple of hours having a few subs. We caught up with what going on in each other lives and I had so much fun!

Thanks every1 for coming!

I don't have the pictures here with me now, but as soon as I get them I'll post them.

Besides that I went voting today. Hard to choose to say the least but I always try to keep in mind that every vote counts, and I really think we can make a difference.

Hope you did the same.
;)

PEANUT BUTTER - How to make!

2010-08-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS

Makes about 1 1/2 cups of peanut butter.

2 cups peanuts

1 1/2 teaspoons peanut oil or vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon sugar (if desired)

pinch of salt

STEPS

Roast the peanuts if they aren't roasted already. - Allow the peanuts to cool after roasting.
Pour the 2 cups of roasted peanuts into a food processor with a metal blade attached.
Add 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil. Cover the bowl with the food processor lid and chop up the peanuts continuously for 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture forms a ball.
If the peanuts seem stuck, scrape down the food processor bowl. Continue processing the mixture until it is of your desired consistency. For smooth peanut butter, you might have to process the mixture for a longer period.
After 2 to 3 minutes, stop the food processor and get a close look at texture of the peanut butter. Once it is as smooth as you like it, pour the peanut butter into a serving dish or storage container.
Taste the freshly made peanut butter and add a dash of salt, if needed.
For crunchy peanut butter, chop some additional peanuts. Pour them into the bowl, and stir them into the peanut butter. Spread the peanut butter on your favorite bread for a delicious snack at any time of the day.

Sue as a teacher - MY PROFILE

2010-08-10T13:44:00.002-07:00

Just another english teacher trying to make the world a little better by sharing what I've learnt. :-P

Hello everyone, I'm Sue, I work at the Caxias do Sul Branch, I'm sort of a new teacher at Cultura... Yes, sort of... I've worked at the Cultura from 2006 to 2008 then I left here to go and live abroad, which was the most rewarding experience. Right after I was back in the city I contacted my manager and happily came back to my old new job!!!

As many of other teachers, I've always dreamt about being a teacher. I used to pretend I was teaching my little brother to read and write (he was about 4 and I was 7) and he actually learnt it!! Though English was not my first choice back in the days, it makes me happy realizing that for almost 10 years I've been helping people speak it.

My first choice was actually Computing, where I graduated - twice if you count I'm a technician. My knowledge in English is completely self-taught. Or better was. After I started working at Cultura and attending all training and seminars I can't say that anymore! (BTW thanks to all of you guys that come here, get cold, and share all your knowledge! ;-) )

See you around!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2010-07-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Want to know more about it: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/

Estava eu cá, sem nada melhor para fazer, twittando, claro, quando eis que surge nos TTs (Trending Topics) - Luna Lovegood e Dolores Umbridge.(?!) Ahn?!

Sim sou fã do Harry e sua turminha, mas os TTs eram das pessoas mais improváveis do livro. Afinal quem liga a mínima pra Dolores? Tá ela é uma megera que não sabe direito o que faz e todos odeiam ela. E a Luna? Tá ela é legalzinha e pirada, super divertida e sempre feliz, mas ela contribui pouco pra história no final das contas!

Se eu vou na estréia do primeiro filme do último livro da série HP??? MAS É CLARO!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

Ao contrário do Eclipse, citado no post anterior, os livros do HP eu li todos!!! E ainda gostei. Aliás, comecei a gostar mais dos filmes depois que eu li os livros, pode?

Adorei como a Autora JK Rowling retratou os sentimentos do adolescente meio cheio de dúvidas, meio cheio de coragem, todo atrapalhado que vai deixando a vida levar ele... me identifiquei muito, a não ser pela parte da mágica, é claro!

Já me disseram que posso esperar até dezembro pro filme chegar até as nossas bilheterias... até fiquemos com o trailer. ;)

Eclipse

2010-07-04T19:35:00.002-07:00

"Um eclipse é um evento astronômico que acontece quando um objeto celeste se move para a sombra de outro."

Yeah RIGHT!!!

Mas se você vive num mundo de adolescentes, saberá que Eclipse é muito mais do que isso!

De fato, “Eclipse”, o terceiro filme da saga “Crepúsculo”, baseada nos livros de mesmo título escritos em 2007 pela americana Stephenie Meyer – fenômeno literário com a série romântica que recolocou os vampiros na cultura pop – "Eclipse" gira em torno da escolha definitiva de Bella pelo amor de Edward. O que implica em abandonar a existência humana por uma eternidade ao lado do namorado morto-vivo.

Já pensou ter que viver por toda a eternidade com aquele magrelinha sem graça, ou ainda a vida inteira do lado de um cachorrinho pulguento??? Eu é que não gostaria de estar na pele da Bella hehehe. E você, quem escolheria?

Pixar Fun Intro Animation

2009-10-22T08:58:00.001-07:00

I just watched this video and thought it would be good to share it. Loved it. Funny and short.

Based on the Pixar Intro Animation, this video shows how people can be creative!

Click on: College Humor , and check more fun videos out.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

A Little Austrian Town

2009-10-10T08:46:00.002-07:00

First I would like to thank my friend Carla for forwarding this to me. Luv Ya Girl!

Little Austrian Town Named.......

The newspaper article below is even funnier than the sign !

Are the residents called Fuckers?

What are the mothers called?

What would you be learning at the Fucking High School ?

Does the Fucking Hospital help you with anything else?

If your friend came from another town, he wouldn't be your Fucking friend.

I didn't believe this was true .. So did an Internet search. It's TRUE!!! Here's more pictures and info .

Now, this one is really good! The sign says 'Bitte! Nicht so schnell', which in English translates to 'Please! Not so fast!

More tidbits, and it gets even funnier! ..
Pronounced 'fooking'
The little hamlet of Fucking is named after the man who founded the village in the 6th century.
His name? Focko.

NOW YOU CAN FORWARD THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS
WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE FUCKING TOWN.

Fortaleza.

2009-10-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to such a beautiful place as this one?

Well I am going to be there by tomorrow night. Envious? HA! You shouldn't be.

When one thinks about places like these, first thing comes to mind is: WOW what a great place for vacation, partying and relaxing. Sorry to disappoint every1, but I'm only going there to take a test. A very-hard-to-pass one.

Now, don't get me wrong! Of course I'm going to try to have at least SOME fun! I'm not crazy or anything! And thanks to my friend that lives there and it's providing me shelter and a tour, I will have a chance to get to know the city pretty well.

If you guys have any suggestions to make about places to visit and things to see while I'm there, please speak out.

See yah fellows - Have a great holiday!

--- Coming back next week! ---

Lua nova - New Moon

2009-10-01T09:58:00.004-07:00

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

This is only a Teaser Trailer, but you can get the feeling of what's about to happen.
I'm excited about this movies... the whole saga, I mean.
At first I thought it would just be another vampire movie, but then I watched it and liked it. Funny isn't it?
Well, here's the teaser with subtitles. Enjoy it!

Home, sweet home

2009-09-28T07:46:00.004-07:00

Well, I'm finally home, after all that travelling with my mom.
I actually got home 3 weeks ago. And I had a GREAT reception from family and friends. S2 YOU ALL.
Check it out:
Now, that things were getting a little easier, I was being able to put everything away and get settled, GUESS WHAT!
Yeah, I was back on playing volleyball and on the 2nd match I hurt myself, badly. Apparently, that little slip at the begining of the match was enough to sprain the ligaments on my right foot. Of course I didn't feel anything during the entire 2-hour match... But after all this - OMG. What a pain. My mom had to rush me to the ER because I couldn't stop crying out of pain.
Well... It was my first time on a wheel chair, and I can tell you - it's kind of fun - but you don't really enjoy it if you're in pain!
As a result of all this, I still can't put my foot on the ground and I may have to put it on a cast for extra support and faster healing.

That's all for now folks - have a great week.

Missing home

2009-07-21T07:25:00.002-07:00

Well, as every1 knows (or should know...)
I'm coming back home in September!!! yey!

So far so good.

I have had some adventures on the east coast that I haven't published yet. But I will soon satisfy you with more content.

Thanks DAD for buying me the HP book collection. =) I really loved it.

Thanks my friends from SF (QUARTETO) for keeping in touch and not letting me felling left out! Love you girls!

xoxo

I soooooooooo want to go...

2009-06-01T13:42:00.001-07:00

Anyone up for going with me?
PEARL JAM's concert in SF Golden Gate Park
Great music, great philosophy.

Great friends worth a lot.

2009-05-10T20:45:00.004-07:00

Girls... I simply love you.
Thanks for always been there for me. Actually for each other too. It's really nice to know we have someone to call family here when we are so far from our families.
Chris and Josh, congrats! Hope you can enjoy every little bit of your new life together.
I hope we can all get together in this last month I will spend here in California!

MOM! I'm excited that you're coming!
I will make my best to put an awsome trip schedule together for us. PRACTICE YOUR ENGLISH!

I miss BRAZIL! MISS HOME!

And to all of you there... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Really bad weather?

2009-05-03T21:47:00.001-07:00

What to do? Well... one of the options would be to stay home eating and watching something on TV (what a couch potato!!!).
The other option is to go out shopping with the girls... (more interesting)
And if you have time, money, and patience you can get away for a couple of days... (not bad, huh?)

Well, since I'm travelling on the 16th already, I think I'm going to go with option number 2. San Francisco is a great place for a shopping spree and one of my friends is getting married next week, which leaves us the perfect excuse!

And while I do all of this, my system is still working for me. Enter http://ping.fm/mtjYF for more info.

Hope you have a good one.

2009-05-03T13:29:00.001-07:00

Meeting friends here to beat the really bad weather...

Hawaii Hotel

2009-05-02T22:54:00.002-07:00

Hahaha you can't believe how lucky I am...
I'm posting a link to the hotel we are going to stay in Hawaii...
Dreaming about it evry night!!!

;)

check it out: http://www.diamondresorts.com/Ka%27anapali-Beach-Club-Photo-Gallery

What do you know about Hawaii?

2009-04-27T11:33:00.001-07:00

I'm flying to Maui in a couple of weeks... Can anyone enlighten me?
I don't know much about the place and woul really appreciate suggestions about what to do there.

;)

Heat wave? Seems to be over.

2009-04-22T22:53:00.003-07:00

Ok... Didn't fill up the tub with icy water last night... good though, because the temperature here dropped 19 degrees since last night... ODD. VERY ODD.

But it's time to celebrate!!!!

I'm going to Hawaii!!! Just bought my ticket!

=)

Heat Wave

2009-04-21T20:47:00.001-07:00

Who wants to be home with nothing to do during a heat wave???

HA! I'm melting here. Doing nothing and still melting.
I've been thinking in filling the tub with icy water for a while now...

Upset

2009-04-18T22:14:00.003-07:00

So... Dana moved out. I lost my phone. I don't know if I will have money to travel to hawaii next month (and I haven't got to pay for the hotel)...
*sarcastic mode ON* Yeah! Today is great to be me. *sarcastic mode OFF*
On our last day together in SF, we went to Ocean Beach and she made this funny video of me washing my feet after we came off the sand!

Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=1124923091741