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Sweet 18

It sounds strange but I can say I’m eighteen years old! Well… I can anything has changed, but I hope in time I could see some changes in my life.

Even it was on Wednesday and I had to go to the high school, it was a really special day. I was with all the people that I love and I have to say that it makes me the happiest person in the world. 

My family gave me a really special gift that I didn’t expect it; it was a Parachute jump!! Since I was a child I’ve always wanted to do it and now they have given me the opportunity to  I have been thinking and I’ve decided I will do it in June, after “Selectivitat”.

On Saturday we celebrated Eloi’s birthday and mine with all our friends. We did a dinner and after it we went to a party, it was a fantastic night and we enjoyed a lot. I want to say they made me a video with some photos since I was a child until now, and it was really nice and it made me cry a lot. 

Indian headshakes

During this week has been uploaded a video that has got an awesome viwer on Youtube. It was made by Paul Mathew, a writer and director from India. On the video we can see how Mathew shows the peculiar way they act and especially, the Indian headshakes they make to answer any questions, how they react in a situation, etc... For example, she explains the headshakes they make to say: “yes”, “no”, “thanks”, “maybe”, “what’s up”, ...

He says that she didn’t expect to have this popularity because there is something to improve on the video. It’s named "Indian Headshakes, what do they mean", and on it we can see two men acting. And about the reviews which are about the video; most people thinks it’s original and reflects the reality.

- MY OPINION

From my point of view, I think this video isn’t so original as most people think.  On the one hand, it’s funny how they act and what they say, but on the other hand I think all the headshakes have been exaggerated and with some comic effects, as Mathew admits.

Even though, I think it could be a popular idea and project around the world.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-26390944

viral: (de virus)

sceptical: escéptico

foreigners: estrangers

Tough EU smoking rules approved

One of the most important and dangerous problem we have in our society is the smoking.  Yesterday, the European Union approved a legislation in order to decrease the number of the people who smock in United Kingdom, concretely. 

An alarming number of deaths which are caused by the smoking have to make us think about the really negative effects it could cause. The European Union estimated that 700.000 is the number which shows us how many deaths are caused across the EU by smoking. 

This legislation includes some rules like: put some pictures covering the packets of cigarettes, a ban on a mental, fruit or vanilla cigarettes, or a ban on promotion elements which aren’t saying the truth. 

Especially, the European Union wants to reduce the number of teenagers which begin to smoke really early and this is an alarming and so prejudicial thing we have to consider.  It’s really important because it an issue that concerns the whole world and we have to pay attention with people’s health. 

On the news, it is said that this legislation will be introduced in two years. 

- MY OPINION

On one hand and as all we know, smoking is a really dangerous addiction that a lot of people are affected by. Nowadays, I think that people begins to smoke so early, most of them being influenced by their friends or another people around them, and for example I want to add that I know people who are under 15 and they smoke every day.

On the other hand, I want to say that I think to smoke sometimes (not every day and for example in some moments you want to be relaxed) it’s not a really bad thing, and also everybody can try it once. But even though, there are some people who after trying it one day, then they can’t help to stop smoking in their live, and this is the main problem.

ban = prohibició 

trade= comerç

flavoured= gust

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-26355419

Influences

Choosing one person who has had a major influence on my life is really difficult. Since I was born I have met thousands of people and I have lived a lot of periods of my life where I have had really different type of person next to me. 

However, if I have to mention one (except my family), it would have to be my teacher at primary school. She’s Marta, is from Tenerife and I met her when I was six. Since the first time I saw her I knew she would be a fantastic teacher, and I wasn’t wrong. Even I was only six years ago, I noticed she loved her work, we could see her passion and enthusiasm for what she did. She was my math’s teacher and I have to say that she rubbed off on me her passions of mathematics, and now I love this subject. 

Also, I remember one day that I fell in the corridor and I broke my leg. That day I had to go to the hospital and my parents were at work and they couldn’t come to the school. I remember it was Marta who stayed next to me all day in the hospital and she gave all the support that I need. Now, she is working in another town, but we keep meeting us from time to time and I’m really proud of it. 

Social classes

Since always we’ve lived in a society which is divided into different social classes. Concretely, if we make a reference to Price and Prejudice book we talk about the privileged class which was so popular in England some centuries ago. People from this social class are really recognized by the origins and their family, and of course they are also well known by their popular and traditional income.

On the one hand, I want to talk about one of the most important things related to this type of social class, it’s the education. Well, rich people from this society are recognized by having really good manners; they take care of how they have to act in front of the others and what they have to say, they are really known by the way they speak. Also, this type of people can afford to have a good education, and this issue is not allowed for everybody. In my point of view, this is one of the unfair things we have in our society. I also want to refer to these people who don’t have the origins but they do their best to have a good education and a social and cultural class.

On the other hand and as we can see in Price and Prejudice, relationships aren’t moved by real feelings. In my opinion, they search for a person who also has the origins, manners from recognized family. I think, most of the times they don’t search for a person to fall in love with, I mean a real love. The only thing they are interested in is the wealth and the kind of family belongs to. This is reflected in the film with the love stories between for Elizabeth and Darcy or Charles and Jane. 

Facebook to buy messaging app WhatsApp for $19bn

Last week Facebook, the most important social networking service, grew up. It bought WhatsApp, it cost about 19.000 dollars and this decision was known around the world. 

WhatsApp  is also recognized as an important social networking, but it’s more used in Europe than in America, for example. And this was one of the reasons Facebook did the inversion, it’s because now more people around the world will use WhatsApp. It’s important to add that WhatsApp offers a free service avoing to pay fees, even though there is also some people who pay 1$ per year in order to use this service. 

On the other hand, the co-founder of WhatsApp will be member of Facebook’s group of directors. And they think that it’s not essential to make advertisements about text messing systems because it won’t be useful.

- MY OPION

About this news I have to say I’m really interested about it. Why? Well, mainly because I’m a user of WhatsApp and Facebook and I agree that as the time goes by Facebook is losing users and WhatsApp is being more used.

On one hand and in my opinion, years ago I used Facebook a lot and everybody did it, it was something really new that everyone was fascinated with. Now, it’s true there is a lot of people using it too, but this number of users has decreased. 

On the other hand I want to talk about something which is an important thing to consider because it could be prejudicial for a lot of people. I’m talking about the privacy, because it’s said that now, when WhatsApp has been bought by Facebook, there will be less privacy with the chats, and everything shared in the social media. So, be careful and informated about the privacy system. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26266689

- Deal=agreement (acord)

- Fees= payment (pagament- taxes)

- Track= group

Can Internet change for the better?

Nowadays, we're living a period of time where tecnoloy has become an essential element in our lives. Yet, are we really awal of that?

On the one hand, being connected to the whole world means you can be also informed aout anything it's happening at the other end. And of course, it gives you a lot of information that you can use however you want. Most of the times, you're allowed to search about everything and everyone you want.

Nevertheless, this connection it's now around the world can create such a dependency that can take away our privacy and from my poing of view, it's awful. Especially, with all the teenagers under 18 that use Internet everyday. They are not informed about all the negative consequensces can Internet have and they are not controlled form their parents, and this is the most negative effect. 

All in all, even all negative things about Internet, we have to accept that we can't help living a part of this connected 

world.  

An experience in Myanmar

Yesterday I met Laura, she was one of my best friends when I was 5 years old, and she explained me a lot of things she have done and lived since we get separated. 

One of these stories she explained was about a trip she did three years ago, Laura lived an experience that she will remember all her life. It took place in Myanmar (concretely in the middle of the jungle). As a good traveler, she was there with her parents for two weeks enjoying and spending their holidays. 

One afternoon, while she was in the toilet making her up , she didn’t notice that she had a huge, big and horrible spider near her. Even though it was her father who warned her shouting “Look! A spider on the wall”. Without thinking twice she shouted: “Kill it”. 

At first, they didn’t know what to do because it could be poisonous and they were really afraid of being hurt. All we know that it’s not strange to see such a huge and big spider in the jungle, but it took them by surprise. 

After thinking about what to do, they decided to call the receptionist and ask for some help. Luckily, the receptionist was so kind and he didn’t doubt to come and help them. 

The moment when Laura opened the door was really funny because she didn’t expect to find out five men. As they were used to doing these types of things, they caught a ladder and without any problem they made the spider fall off. While these men were working of it, Laura and her father were standing right there watching the situation really surprised. 

Anyway, now after knowing all about the story, it’s time to think about what it could have happened if Laura’s father didn’t see the enormous and horrible spider. 

Just different from the others

In this post I want to talk about one of the most special person I have meet in my life. He’s a difficult kind of person to be described, but I want to have a go and I will try to talk a little bit about him.

I have met him three years ago and since then we have remained firm friends. There is no one around me who would be such a nice person like him. Everybody who has met him for the fist time says he’s a cold persona and doesn’t have so many words to say. Well, he’s so shy and he has the difficulty to talk to unknown people, but it’s only for the first time. Then I can say he becomes a warm friendly person to whom you can keep talking for a long time. 

He doesn’t know how to hurt a person (I’m not kidding), he always tries to find the best side of his friend and that’s why I love him. Since I met him, he has always remained next to me when I have had a problem, trying to make me happy and help me to carry on with my life, and that’s been very tactful of him. 

He’s an amount of generosity and tolerance and I’m sure I won’t find another friend like him. 

Don't be afraid to say it

The other day in the English class we saw a video that it made me think a lot, it’s named “20 Things We Should Say More Often”.

Well, first of all I have to say I really agree with all the things the kid says on the video, and of course I love how he says them, it’s really funny!
When I started watching the video, and when I thought about one thing that we have to say more often, I thought about one word that it isn’t on the video. I’m talking about one of the most beautiful words we can hear; even it’s something most of us don’t say a lot, I’m talking about the word “I love you”. 

How many times we have wanted to say such a nice thing, even though we haven’t said it? Why? Is it shame? It could be… Even though, I want to say we have to be brave enough to say it to the people we really love (friends, members of the family or that special person that you are thinking about). Sometimes, we don’t care about that but then, when we really want to say it, it’s too late. 

All in all, “I love you” it’s a word I think we should say more often. (Well, I’m talking about real feelings, and I’m not saying that you have to say it to the first person that comes to you, that I think it’s one of the mistakes a lot of people make).

Research paper abstract

This project studies the tertiary sector’s evolution of Castelló d’Empúries in a context of crisis.   

Taking into consideration it’s a town situated in a recognised zone in the world, la Costa Brava, I wanted to know how it’s being affected by this important period of crisis that we’re living nowadays.

After work with some data given by the Town Hall of Castelló, I could get results and conclusions. What I have seen it’s that this high influence of tourism has helped a lot to the service sector not to being affected. 

Castelló, a special town

Do you want to spend your holidays near the beach? Or do you want to go somewhere near the mountain?

Since I was born I have lived all my life in Castelló d’Empúries, and I have to say I’m so proud of it. Well, Castelló d’Empúries can give you the opportunity to live near the beach and the mountain at the same time. It’s situated in a recognized zone" La Costa Brava", and here you can find a lot of activities and chances in order to live new and incredible experiences.

It’s between Roses, a fantastic worn that offers a multitude of beautiful beaches, and Figueres which is the biggest commercial city of the zone. Here you can practice great variety of water sports, as well as walking around the mountains, the “Aiguamolls de l’Empordà” or the Natural Park of “Cap de Creus”. Even this multitude of activities, there is also where you can take your time and be a part of the world, relaxed, as long as you want; in a forest without any noise or in the middle of the beach with the breeze.

All in all, I recommend you a lot to come and visit this amazing zone of Catalonia. Personally, have to say next year I will miss living here a lot, because I will have to move to Barcelona in order to study and start a new life. 

Exercise in class

Last day in class I write some writings for the exam, and this is one of the letters I did in one exercise:

Hi Lauren,

Nice to hear from you. About the arrival, it doesn’t matter, because I have thought I can take the train or the bus. Also, it’s better for you, because I will probably be late and you would have to wait alone at the airport.

As you have said, we can meet in the center, but you have to tell me where, because I haven’t been here before and I will get lost... (You know I’m not good at looking for anything around your city). I will probably arrive at 12 o’clock (more or less), so when can we meet?

About going to a café I want to say I would prefer to go at home first, I will be so tired because I will not have slept so much. You know it, travelling is so tired for everybody...

In the evening it’d be a good idea to go out because I will have had a shower and I will have had a rest for a while too. Perhaps we could go to a musical bar where we could chat and listen to music.

Best wishes,

Lídia Tarrats Costa

Self Evaluation

For this term we’ve done an individually presentation because it has been about our research project. In my case, I’ve talked about the tertiary sector’s evolution of Castelló d’Empúries.   

Well, this has been my last presentation in the high school and I think I’ve improved a lot since I did the first presentation some years ago. Even though I also think I have some things to improve.

- I use a power point as a support and I think it was a good idea; I tried not to put a lot of text on it and I think it was well structured. 

- About eye contact and body language I want to improve my movements, I have to learn and practice how to pose in front of the audience. 

FINAL MARK: 8.2

(About the video I have to say that I have had some problems with it and I can’t upload it. Even though, I could watched and evaluate myself)

Obesity quadruples to nearly one billion in developing world

North America is still the country that has the highest percentage of overweight adults, specifically at 70%, but nowadays there are more and more cases of obesity around the world. For example, in North Africa, the Middle East and Latin America the percentage is increasing.  

The majority of this increase has been in countries which are developed, because people can eat food that they like. The ODI’s future diets report says that a lot of people have changed their diets to consume more fats, sugar, oils and animal produce.  

Experts say that the case of this increase was that living in urban centers and to be so much worried about work, people don’t take much physical exercise and that’s the most important problem we have nowadays. 

MY OPINION 

In my point of view to talk about overweight is not easy. There are a lot of people who have really problems with obesity and it’s not their fault. They have to learn to live with it because it’s something they have born with. Even though, there are also a lot of people who don’t take care about their selves and don’t think about all the problems they will have in the future. They eat all they want and they are getting out of shape and losing vitality.  

“The number of overweight and obese adults in the developing world has almost quadrupled to around one billion since 1980”, says a report from UK and I think we have to be worried about it because that’s something really dangerous for our health. 

Under-nourishment: desnutrició
Provide: proporcionar 
Household: casa 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25576400

Michael Schumacher, former F1 champion, critical after ski fall

Last 30 of December in the French Alps, especially in the French ski resort of Meribel, it took place an accident of Michael Schumacher. 

He’s in critical conditions after to fall mean he was skiing with his son. He wore helmet but his head hit against a rock and he suffered a brain trauma. 

"He suffered a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention.” Said a medical of the Hospital of Grenoble where is Michael Schumacher. 

He was attended by two persons of sky patrol, which is the largest winter organization in the world. 

Most of the F1 drivers from the entire world were in shock when they listened the news and they noticed the accident. Michael Schumacher is the seven-time Formula 1 champion and he’s well known around the world by his records and all he won. 

MY OPINION

To hear that someone like Michael Schumacher is in coma and in critical conditions is really horrible. Well, to hear something like this of anyone is horrible too… But Schumacher, as I said before, is recognized around the world and now his conditions are really alarming. 

He’s 44 years old, in his life has beat records and has won important races. This way the whole world is expecting how he’s and if he can get better. 

Shaken: commogut, pertorbat 
Sky patrol: Organització de rescats 
Severe: intens

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25545993

The intouchables

The intouchables is a French comedy-drama which has become a hit in France. His release date was on 2011 and it’s a story based on real facts. This film is directed by Oliver Nackache and its stars were François Cluzet and Omar Sy, both are the main characters of the story.

It’s one of my favorite films, when I saw it I was really surprised and it made me think about life. I love it because it’s incredible to see how a person con change, and specially see that it’s sometimes appearances can be deceptive.

The story is about a quadriplegic middle-aged man, Philippe, who needs someone to take care of him. He’s quite special and the choice becomes so difficult because he doesn’t find anyone who he really likes. Nevertheless, everything changes when he meets Driss, a young poor man who needs to work for a living and has a lot of problems with his family. Finally Philippe decides to contract him.

At the beginning, taking care of another person is so embarrassing to Driss, but as time goes by they become closer. Philippe learns how to live in a different way and he’s happier. Dress has changed his life.

Even though they are so happy together, Driss has to bear in mind he has a poor family with a lot of problems, especially his little cousin, who is becoming a trouble-maker.

In the end, Philippe says to Driss that he has to return with his family because he can’t live all his life taking care of him. 

Environmental effect

Nowadays, the environmental effect is increasing more and more, even though we haven’t taken conscience about it. Or well, in another words, that everybody says they’re worried about this negative effect even they don’t do anything to solve it.

I think the Public Transport is a good example, because if we use it we are helping the planet not to increase that green house effect. Even though everybody is available to use it, there is only few people do it. Why?

In my case, I use it from time to time for one reason, it’s so expensive. How do they want us to use this transport if it costs a lot?

Another important point to talk about is the timetable. If you don’t live in an important city, you will have problems with it. In my case, I live in a small town where buses pass not so many times during the day, and I have to say some times I have had problems with it. 

All in all,  I think public transport has to be more organized and cheaper, because it’s an important way to reduce the environment.  

Santa's helper shot on toy giveaway in Washington

On 24 of December a Santa Claus’s helper was shot in Washington. Mean he was with a group of children who were waiting for some presents and sweets; somebody shot him in the back.  

“Somebody shot me in the back…, I think somebody shot me with a pellet gun.” he shouted out. Luckily, a TV crew recorded the moment and the police have more possibilities to discover what happened.

It took place just in the moment when he was saying “Merry…” he couldn’t finished the sentence because it was when someone shot him.

MY OPINION

Well, I think it’s really sad to read on the news that in these days when everything is magic and everybody is so happy, someone wants to do such an horrible thing like shut a man who’s dressed as a Santa.

For the children who were amazed to be in front of someone who’s the helper of Santa Claus and to see that he’s shot, I think it’s like a trauma or something like this… XD. It’s really sad…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25512594

Giveaway: “ganga” o promoció.

To deliver: repartir.

Pellet: perdigó.