Chile o:

Today I’m going to talk about Chile 2010. Well, I’m sure that you all have a strong opinion about this subject, because now we’re celebrating Chile’s bicentennial year.

I should have to say that in my family, September 18^th isn’t the great celebration of the year that is in others families. I don’t know why, but that’s the way it is. So I don’t really pay attention to that time, but this year I think it wasn’t possible to omit it. Just because it was the “bicentennial year” doesn’t mean that Chile is better or worse than every year before… Don’t you think so?

My opinion isn’t very kind or popular considering the “special year” where we are. I think that all the people make a lot for nothing. Is just another year, is just another September 18^th. Well, obviously knowing that it was the 200 hundred birthday make a difference and makes people want to go back and describe what happens in this country. Things have changed, but that always have good and bad sides; if Chile wants to be a country more powerful and influential, it still needs a lot of progress. Okay, a lot of stuff is improving right now (like technologies or exporting), but at the same time million things are worse every time (global warming, traffics, public health, etc).

Now, for this celebration we all kind of forget the bad things and I’m not sure if this is something good. We need to focus. It’s all right to be proud of the improvements that we have reached till this moment, but we also need to realize that not everything it’s fine and better than ever. If we only think about the good stuff, we all are going to lose the critic viewpoint that it’s really important in those matters. We need to help to improving this country, and also to continue with the good things that has (and Chile has good things, don’t get me wrong. I love to live here).

I can conclude that I don’t love this thing of “Chile’s bicentennial year”, but I’ll always be very proud of this country. Obviously there’s a reason why people of other countries came here to live, migrations are a matter that became really important lately. It’s just that I don’t believe in these types of celebrations. But in spite of this, I really enjoyed the extra holidays this year. 

Home sweet home...

Well, in Curicó, I lived in 2 houses. But I stay like 1 year at my first home, so I can’t remember how it was.

My current home it’s so beautiful. It was near to my college and my friends, but the problem was (and still is) that public transportation don’t arrive to my place. So, when I was little I depended of my parents for going from there to another place. The bright side was that I have always a good friend’s house to stay when my parents has no time for pick me up.

There I live with my mom, dad and my older brother. We also have a dog: Kala.

My neighbors are very nice; in fact we have little doors that connect our houses. They are friends of my fathers.

My bedroom is a mess, but I really love it after all. A few years ago I painted it with my favorite color, and there I have so many good memories.

I love the fact that my house have a big garden, I enjoy it all the time that I can. The final touches are the hammock and the swings.

Well and here in Santiago I have something like my second home. I live in a flat with my aunt and my brother.

But although my bedroom is a lot bigger than in Curicó, I have to say that I don’t like it here very much because it is far away from the underground (and here I don’t have a car that I could borrow), there is no garden and we can’t have pets.

 It’s hard to adjust to a big change of environment like it is go from a big house in a town to a apartment in the capital.

I definitely prefer to live in a house. Is much comfortable, there are fewer problems with the neighbors, more privacy and you could have a big dog if you want to (I really don’t like small dogs…). I think a house is more yours, than a piece of floor in a common flat.
P.S: The photo is from a beautiful sunset at my home in Curicó.

Art (:

Well, I really love art.

Art is important to me because it surrounds me since my childhood. My grandfather used to paint, draw and sculpt all time; in fact he was an art teacher. And my mom is always doing something artistic (like a painting or sketches), now she is going to art lessons (again). My dad also loves photography, and he takes very nice pictures.

Obviously I enjoy art, and this is a common interest that I have with one of my best friends. I’ll always be a little bit jealous of her, because she had the chance to go on a journey to Europe. She traveled all over the most famous museums, like the Louvre, for example.

 I love going to art museums and stare all the time that I want. I need to make some time to go to the museum here in Santiago, because in Curicó there are not many art galleries or museums.

I do draw and paint. I’ve made three paintings, but just because I must to, for school. But I always draw by myself, and I love to try new styles in different materials.

Sometimes I’ve been jealous of someone else’s artwork, but then I realize that I can do really nice stuff too, and the jealous become admiration.

Ufff… I love so many painters, but I will have to say that the time of the impressionists is the one that has always attracted me the most.

There are two painters that I would have to name: Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.

From Monet I like the landscape, mostly outdoors with bright colors. I like too the devotion that he has for his first wife: Camille. He made a lot of paintings of her, even one when she was dying. My favorite painting of Monet is one of Camille and his son Jean. It’s so peaceful and bright.

And, from Van Gogh I admire the passion, including the insanity. I just love the image of him insane and creative at the same time, making the most beautiful and powerful paintings of all the times. One of my favorite paintings of him is “Starry night over the Rhone”; I love the stars and the reflections.

America reveals its sexual secrets !

Hi (:

Today I have to write about a career-related article from the Guardian (an online newspaper).

Well, I choose a article named “America reveals its sexual secrets”. ¿Why? I really love relationships subjects, and sex is an important matter in it. So many couples based their relations in sex, and a huge number of others ends theirs because of it. Also psychology has a hole area for these subject, called sexology.

The article talk about a research made by the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) of USA, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study reveals that people are now more honest about their sexual activity, and more adventurous, innovators. But studies doesn't reveal much into reasons why our sexual behavior is evolving in this way.

But the honest responses and the encourage to be more open are probably because the new survey was carried out online.

Then, an specialist said that American society continues to view sex “primarily in negative terms”. Also that “We have a sexually dysfunctional society because of our limited views of sexuality and our lack of knowledge and understanding concerning the complexities and joys of humanity”.

I think that this is very important, and is enough of taboos. The are so many diseases and unnecessary worries derived of the prohibition of have an open, frank conversation about sex. 

The original link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/05/sex-us-american-attitudes-survey 

Movieees

Well, today’s post is about movies. I have to say that I love going to the cinema, but it has a bad side: the prices. That’s why I don’t go very often, and the other reason is that my city (Curicó) has no cinema for a long time.

The last time that I go, it was to see “Despicable Me” with my boyfriend here in Santiago. We have a great time.

I don’t rent movies now, just because it’s so expensive and it’s so easy to download them from internet. But my dad buys some of his favorite’s movies like: The death poets’ society, Alien or Laghaan.

I think that I don’t have a favorite movie, but one that I have really loved is Tim Burton’s film “The Big Fish”.

It’s about a son trying to connect with his dying father. The father tells him all the time wonderful histories, fantastic histories about himself. Will (the son), never believed in his father and these was a reason for not being close to him. But at the end… Well I’m not going to tell you the end, if you haven’t seen it yet (:

I’ve seen it just a few times, and one of the good points of this movie is that it makes you think about it. At the end, you keep thinking about the father, what was a lie or true doesn’t matter anymore, Will and how he finally understands the whole thing.

It’s just a great movie, a little bit fantastic, but still serious. You must see it!

P.S. Another movie that I love is UP. Great movie too (: So cute and peaceful, and funny at the same time.

What to do in Santiago.

Well, the first thing I would have to say is that I was born in Santiago but just because my grandmother lives here. I grew up in a city called Curicó, in the 7^th region. I love Curicó, is the best place to live! It has not smog, all places were close (no more of 30 – 40 minutes) and people aren’t in a hurry all the time. You may think that’s a boring place, but if you had good friends you’ll be always pleased to live there.

I had to move to Santiago after I graduated from High School, because there are no many universities near to my city. That’s why I really don’t know Santiago, I just arrived this year.

I don’t like it here, but I have to recognize that Santiago has so many great things to do that you can’t ever do in a city like Curicó.

Things that I have done here and I recommended:

First, go to a concert. Big artist usually came only to Santiago, and just a few times. I have to say a concert is one of the more exiting experiences of all my life, it totally worth it.

Go to a park. People from Santiago actually don’t go. They don’t appreciate the beauty of those places and they have so many lovely parks here. You can go alone, or with your couple. But do it with daylight!

The event that I have never ever loosed in my entire life is “La Feria del Libro” of Santiago. I came every year with my family, we all love it. If you like books and readings you can’t miss this fair. There you can find all mayor publishing companies, and of course a great variety of books. If you want a book, you’ll find it there. Also came well-know writers each year.

You should do some cultural stuff. Go to a play, to an art gallery or to a nice restaurant; places that you know you can only go here.

And finally, go to the mall. If you are interested in technology, for example, you’ll find some interesting things there.

And, that’s all. Now, my final question is:

¿Why you can only do those stuff in Santiago? ¿Why not in regions?

Just Music (:

Is very important in my life.  In fact, I listen all day.  I can’t have a day without music, and the gift that I loved the most, was the mp3 that my parents gave me. Music makes me feel good, happy. Sometimes it makes me think about problems or situations that I lived and people that I met.  I loved that I can always listen to music anywhere: when I walk, in a car, in my room, while I cook. It can go with me, like company.

I loved all kind of music: classic, pop, rock, metal, grunge, romantic songs, instrumental music, etc. And also I hear music in English and Spanish.  

I dislike music like reggeaton, some like that. Sometimes in parties there are not bad, but I can’t listen to them all day.

My problem is that I like so different types of music that I can't decide for only one band or singer.

But I have been in one concert recently, this past September 14^th. I went to see Scorpions with a friend, and it was one of the most spectacular experiences of my life. Also was the final tour of Scorpions, so it was my final and only chance to see them.

I think that it will never be the same to have a real CD that download music from the internet, that’s why sometimes after I have download some real good CD I buy it, when I have the money of course.

Some people tell me that I have a good ear for music, but that I don’t do anything with it. It’s true, I don’t have the patience to learn how to play a musical instrument and I sing only with my friends.

I think that it will be some much sadness and sorrow in a world without music. Music is one of the most common ways that people use to express their thoughts and feelings, and it’s so easy and simple (:  .