The truth is that I'don't remember when or where I first learned about environmentally friendly practices, but I suppose that I was always taught in my house about throwing my garbage or packaging in a garbage can, and that I always have to do things to preserve and no to pollute the environment  I also learned  a lot about things in relation to this topic when I was studying Agriculture in the Campus Antumapu; there they taugtht  me things like what the greenhouse effect is , solar and wind energy, deforestation, among other things....ahhhh. and I also learned how to make compost!!!!!

Although I find important to do things to preserve and not to pollute the environment, I don't recycle...maybe  it is because it is too hard to do it if there aren't people around you that do it too. If you live in a neighbourhood that is organized for recycling, is much easier....

At least I like to walk when I have the time (I'm from Valparaíso and my family don't have a car) but I would like to have a bike....it is a really good way to go to any place you want to, and you do exercise  at the same time  that you do a good action for the environment.

I have never joined or supported any environmental  organization...I don't know why; maybe it is because I  have never heard about one that persuaded me...and I don't think you necessary have to be a part of an organization to make a change.

About my carbon footprint??????...I don't know if I ever did or do something to reduce it...well, at least I don't throw garbage where I don't suppose to, or use things that come in aerosol cans (because they have  chemical  compounds that are bad to the Ozone layer), or leave the water running when I'm using tap water... the other day I saw in the supermarket a container recycling store bags, and I have a lot in my house; so I'm going to start recycling plastic bags!!!!!

I think that here in Santiago, you can find many ways to recycle, but the people (including me), don't give themselves the time to do it...the air and noise pollution are awful in this city...that is why I always miss Valparaiso (it isn't the cleanest city in the world but at least it is nicer than Santiago)

...a reflection upon election day

We are near  a district election. I must confess that, when I was younger, I used to believe in Democracy. My grandfather is a politician (since he was very young) so he suffered a lot during the military dictatorship (because he belonged to the socialist party). That is why I always thought that it was my duty to register myself to vote; that it was an important responsibility as a Chilean citizen, Who was born in the 86' (when it still was  dictatorship time) and a way to recognize all the   effort that my grandpa made for the people that he represented. So, obviously, when I just turned 18, I registered myself to vote. 

The truth is that now I'm not so sure about all the things that  I used to think. Now, I don't believe that my vote can make a difference; I don't trust in any politician or political party....I'm starting to believe that all the things that  were supposed to happen with the democracy were a lie...so, I hate all the electoral campaigns...there are a waste of money and resources; a way to elect a person who doesn't have a real interest in making any difference in the system, and if he/she wants to, he/she can't make it. Besides, during the campaigns there are a lot of dishonest things that the candidates would make to win the elections...

Moreover, in my opinion, there isn't a real good politician, someone who makes a real representation of the people's needs and  works to make a change.

...at times, when I look all the things and effort that my grandpa made, sometimes I think that maybe I could have a career in politics and make a difference (like him)...but no...politics is too corrupted....

The Guardian article: GCSE controversy

Well, first I'm going to explain what GCSE is. This acronym , is the abbreviation of the The General Certificate of Secondary Education, an academic qualification that the kids in UK can get after finishing secondary school; it's  like our PSU.
The news that I chose is about a big commotion related with this exams, specifically with a boundaries raise in the English test, between January and June. The problem with this, is that a lot of kids  who took it, during the last examination, obtained really low results (lower than expected). That is why now, a great amount of students, 45.000 according  to The guardian, opt to resit during the next month (November). Headteachers of all the Brittish territory claim that the students didn't have any fault in this problem, because they say that all the confusion was cause for the raised of boundaries, so they are asking for a re-graded of all the exams. Besides that fact, there is an alliance of schools, students, professional bodies, etc that were claiming and submiting for a judicial review of the case, which achieve the re-graded of the English exams.
To summarize, there is a big polemic about the English GCSE because the number of students re-taking the test is higher than the expected, trouble cause for a raised of boundaries of the exams...that is why now 45.000 kids are going to resit since november.

Here is the link to the article (if you want to read it):
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/oct/11/gcse-row-headteachers-gross-injustice-resit

My two best friends

Well, I must say that I'm a person of very few friends but really good ones. If I have to choose which is my best friend, I think that my "BFF" place is divided between two persons: one is a male and the other a female. Their names are Paulo and Evelyn. The first time I spoke with Paulo we were 11 years old. The teacher made us sit together because I was the "good girl" and Paulo was the "trouble kid" (maybe the teacher thought that I would be a good influence to him...or something like that). We didn't like each other and I must confess that I didn't want to speak or lend my pencils and other stuff to him. But after a time we formed a really tie bond and became the best friends ever...we have been friends for almost 15 years!!!.  The best memory that I have with him, is the one that I have of my 24th birthday. I was really sad and I didn't want to celebrate, but he made me do it...and it was one of the best birthdays that I've had!!!!.
My other best friend is Evelyn. We are classmates and although I know that I just met her (since last year) it's like we were old friends. We always do funny thing and go out to interesting places. Our favorite place to go is Rosa street, where we go to buy things to make ourselves jewelry and other accessories. We are never tired of talking with each other...even when we are at home after class we start to chat on facebook!!!!.
They are always there when I need them and the best of all...they always make me laugh!!!.
I'm a very lucky girl because I have the best friends ever <3

Trip to Perú

The best vacation of my life was during the summer of 2008. With my boyfriend ,back then, named Luis, we made the decision of traveling to Perú in February, specifically to Cusco and Machu Pichu. To achieve that goal, we had to work during the month of december and January, cause we needed enough many to be able to afford the bus tickets, the food, a Hostel and the tickets to enter to the different indian ruins that you can find on Perú.

At first, the trip was awful because we went to Arica by bus and it took us three days to get there!!!...to stay sitting such a long time is unbearable. But when we arrived to Perú, everything  was so much better. Before going  to Cusco we traveled to a little town name Puno that is about 4000 m. over the sea level. There we made a boat trip in the Titicaca lake and we saw the Uro's islands. These islands are artificial, made by the indians (man-made).

Cusco is a very beautiful city that mixes elements of the Spanish and the Inca culture. In some places you can see and compare constructions of both...

This trip was really important to me cause I always dreamed to be in Machu pichu...and I made it!!!!!. Moreover, during my time then I learned a lot of history, and  I meet a lot of people of other countries.

I never going to forget that summer...it was the best ever....

The country I MUST visit

well...althouhg I would love to visit countries like France or Italy, I must say that the one place that I have to visit before I die is Rumania. My obsession with this land (I think), cames from my interest in horror literature. Since Bram Stocker wrote "Drácula" based in the famous prince of Wallachia, Vlad Dracul III, this country became a "must-go" destiny for the fans of this book. I would love to see and walk around  the Bran Castle that is near of Brasov, house of this bloodthirsty prince, who is known for impale people (especially of the Ottoman empire). Maybe I would go to the house where he was born too...among  other places!!!!!!. Of course, I would love to learn about the language and the culture in general too...not only about the things related with Vlad!!!!!. I don't know if this reason would be good enough to visit Rumania for another person...at least is a powerful reason for me .Until then, I must dream about foreign lands and castles, and smile every time I see the magnet of the Bran Castle that my mother gave me when she returned from Eastern Europe.

First semester experience

What I remember of the first semester?... well, the first semester was really hard, with a lot to studied and many assigments. The truth is that the winter vacation didn't seem enough to rest and gain new energy, but I have to admit that the first semester had really  interesting subjects from which I learn a lot of thing. I must confess that my favorite ones where three: psycholinguistics, social pedagogy and children's imaginary. Althoug I didn 't really had a lot of free time, is always necessary have some extra activity besides the study. In my case was the bellydance cause to dance is the best way to spend energy, to exercise and to relax; that three aspects are essential in times of stress. Now, thinking in all the things that take place during that time, I can remember a lot of moments of stress, but the truth is that now I can't name any problem or challenge in particular... well, maybe are things that is better to forget.