My last blog post

I think that knowing english is absolutely important on these days. Is more important if we are studying things related to comunication and language and we have to talk to people about different subjects and obviously they have to understand us in any place around the world. A journalist has to be able to talk in english and to understand english because most information on the web, and important articles, etc, are in this language and also we have to know what's happening all over the world and is very likely that we can find it in english. 

I always had good experiences on this subject at university, I have a great time, I laugh and is a moment to relax among all the stress of the career subjects. In my case, I'm not so good talking in english, I'm way better listening in english, so that's why I think that the blog is very useful. I mean, for people like me. I really want to learn to express myself better.

Anyway, I believe that the things I learned are not enough yet, so I hope to continue learning to talk in english. How? Well, doing more often the things that I do now: music, movies, books, internet, talking in english with people I can to, etc.

There are some friends with whom I can practice my english and we try to do it because it's useful and funny. At home I also watch films and series in english and listen music in english too, and all that stuff. Maybe it will be great if I start watching movies without subtitles and if I start translating the song lyrics.  

I'm saying goodbye now. Maybe it will be a good idea to continue writing in this blog. But I think I'll take a break. I really liked this course and I appreciate have the opportunity to know my classmates better, it was a great group!!! And I believe that the teaching methods were fine and funny too. 

Bye, people!! I hope you all improve your english in the future!!

Black Swan

Just one movie? Hard to say...
A few days ago I was talking with my brother about movies and we both remembered when we saw Black Swan. Black Swan is an american film of Darren Aronofsky from 2010. Is a psycological suspense movie starring by Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis.

This is an AWESOME movie, I mean, the way it makes you feel is hard to achieve. It mades me feel uncomfortable and I think that one of the best things about this film is the way the director deal with the eroticism. Natalie Portman's performance is amazing too. The way she can represent an obssesive and repressed person, and her transformation through the movie is amazing. And what about the end? I'm not gonna tell it to you but it really took me like 10 minutes to react.

I saw it at the cinema in 2010. The movie is about a young dancer of a famous ballet company of New York. She has some personality issues and a lot of troubles with her mom, who is a retired ballet dancer, manipulative and very demanding. Her mom can't accept that her daughter is not a child anymore. The thing starts when the company is about to do a new Swan Lake show and the director is looking for someone who could star black (bad) and white (naive) swan. Nina (Portman) is perfect for the white swan, but she needs more passion to star the black swan. In that moment Nina starts a fight with herself and starts an unbelievable transformation. This metamorphosis ends on the most unexpected way.

Please watch it?

¿politics?

Ok. I believe that politics is an important thing because the way we live is largely defined by it, but I also believe that at the moment there are very few trustworthy people.

When I turned eighteen the first thing that I did was becoming on a real citizen. I was really interested on voting and I really used to believe in democracy. But with less hope on a big change I still voting because I think that is the only way to make a tiny change at the moment. If i don't vote, anyway someone else are going to do it and also is going to choose somebody who make decisions that necessary are going to affect me. And although I believe that every politicals are like the same thing, there are a few worst than others.

Is because of all that stuff that I sorry that so many people didn't vote. But in other way I respect their deicision because our political system isn't very good. The politicals, the binominal system, the poor variety and the little concern about the real problems like education, health and all that stuff that is sooooo important, BASIC stuff!

I have to admit that the bourough elections were exciting. I'm from Ñuñoa and it was very tight between Sabat and Maya and I was really nervous because I really wanted that Sabat left de townhall. That day I really felt that my vote worth it!!!

Who's the greatest Chilean of all time?

Ok. There are many interesting, good and cool Chilean in the history of the country. But I prefer to tell you about someone I know and not because someone told me about him or because I read something about him.

The thing is that this man gave me a lot of joy when I was a kid and until not long ago! Who am I talking about????????????????? Please, take a look at these pictures:

    

Yes, who else! José Marcelo "Matador" Salas Melinao. He's a Chilean footballer who played soccer at the Chilean Selection of soccer, River Plate, Juventus, Lazio (with Leonel Sánchez <3) and, OF COURSE in Universidad de Chile. I was like eleven when my Universidad de Chile fanaticism started. So, that was by his second time wearing the blue shirt, when he was coming back from Argentina (since 2005). Those were his last years playing soccer.

Salas is now retired from football, which is official since 2009. But he's considered one of the best strikers in the history of our country. In fact, with 37 goals of 70 assists or appeareances is the best scorer in the Selección Chilena de Fútbol history!!!

If I could have the opportunity to met him and to chat with him, I'll ask him: what are your feelings for Universidad de Chile? And obviously I'll ask him if he continue following Universidad de Chile unconditionally. And if his children are Universidad de Chile fans too.

He is the best "blue" idol or hero, with Leonel Sánchez!! And he's the reason of many of my happy and special moments :)

Thank you, Matador!

About today activities I had some good things and some horrible things. The reading activities was better than the others by far. And the vocabulary wasn't bad either. I think that my worst performance was on writing activity, part 1: 3 of 7 :(.

On the vocabulary thing I was very quick but I made five mistakes. But they were 20 questions so I think that's OK!!! I'm very good at listening in english and this wasn't an exception because I only made one mistake.

Anyway I think this gonna help us for the exam, so it's fine!!!!

Best gift ever

Every birthday, my mom wakes me up in the morning singing the Happy Birthday song. Sometimes she brings me a cake or something with a candle on the top and I make my first birthday wish.
On 2010, she woke me up with many presents in her hands. One bag was bigger than the other. It was red and with tiny little hearts on it. When I opened it, my life changed. What a surprise! It was an awesome camara!! I had always wanted one of them because I love taking pictures every where I go and I also love travelling around the world and obviously, taking photos is a very important thing when you're in a place you have never been before. Because after the trip you can remember it and show the photos to everyone. The remember thing is beautiful and very important for me.

The present was actually from my mom and my stepdad, not only from my mummy. Now, my camara is exactly in front of me. I still using it everytime. I use it even in my job. It's like my life partner and it gives me the possibility to freeze every beautiful moment, place, people I love, people that I don't know and other stuff. I love taking pictures and I hope you love too because is a wonderful thing. Thanks, mom and stepfather!!!!!

My first day at the university

Ok. Join into the university wasn't my dream at all. In fact, even now I'm not happy studying. But I have to admit that my first year was better than now. What I mean is that I was more motivated at the beginning. I'm not good at remembering things but I’m doing an effort.

I live really near from my university. So, as always, my first day I came here walking. Obviously I was a little nervous and excited because of my new friends and challenges. I was very lost about my timetable and that’s why I found my first friend in the ICEI.

I was walking, probably with a strange face, looking for someone who can tell me where was my class or who was my teacher. There I found Gabriela. She was at the same situation and we tried to solve it together. Then we started to get closer. Obviously, by the days I also started to speak to other people and made other friends.

I remember that I loved my teachers and all the plans they had to make during the semester and the syllabus seemed to be fun. My classmates showed being very smart and I felt afraid of seeming stupid.

I could lie about what I did exactly, but I prefer to admit that I didn’t remember. Actually, I luckily remember what I ate yesterday. The worst thing is that it doesn’t even mean that I had a great day, because I don’t remember the bad things either. Let’s think that it was awesome!

Fiestas Patria's homesick

I believe that there isn't a celebration of Fiestas Patrias that I specially remember, but Fiestas Patrias is a special celebration for me since I was a child because my grandpa always enjoy it so much. He was born in the countryside and loves the traditional dances, food, games and specially the rodeo. He loves horses deeply and I always remember riding with him at the hills during the weekends. When I was 9, he joined into Club de Huasos de Las Condes. There we still doing the same thing and he bought me a horse too. My grandfather participated in the rodeos every Fiestas Patrias but I really didin't like it because the animals made me feel sad.

In the club there were always fondas. That means a lot of drinking, dancing and eating. We used to go together. Also my mom, her boyfriend and some friends. My grandma used to stay at home because she didn't like Fiestas Patrias because of the drunk crowd. We did the same thing for around four years and there I tried with some difficulties to dance cueca and played with my "huasos" friends all night long. I obviously didn't drink anything because of my age, but I ate a lot and had a very great time.

These are some of my best memories but I hope next years bring me better things and experiences. I hope you had a very fun and memorable time too.

A good friend

Today I would like to tell you about Camila Ramírez (Ponpon) who’s my best friend since I was thirteen. She was from my school but a year older and I met her because my first boyfriend was her classmate. By those years we got very close and also we went on vacation together.

Later, we had some issues and disagreements and we were apart for a couple of years. But our circle of friends made us being together again. Two parties were enough to recover our friendship and love each other like nothing had happened between us.

At the time, Ponpon is finishing her psychology’s studies at Universidad Diego Portales and lives near from my home so we really don’t have many troubles to hang out together. Both of us have free days in the week so there’s always time to see her at least once a week.

We love happy hours and food, specially the sushi, but sometimes we don’t have money to buy something for eat and just meet for chat and laugh all day long.

Ponpon always has the greatest advice and is very good at listen to people. It’s funny, loyal and smart. These and other things make me love her deeply!

About the WikiLeaks scandal

About the the issue that has been in vogue this weeks I got some things to say. I think that what WikiLeaks do is a very important work to the humanity because they make possible to common people to know many privileged information that affects many people all over the world in a bad way. In that way I think that Assange is a man who's with the people and with the truth so he doesn't have to be a prisoner or suffer persecution because he (and WikiLeaks) is just unmasking fake or corrupt people and making that knows by too many people. Also, I think the Ecuatorians were right offering him political assignment because of the same thing. We have to backing him because he's doing the right thing. The problem is that ecuatorians may have issues with England and other powerful states or persons. Anyway, I think that's justified.

As a journalist, if I had the opportunity to interview him I'll ask him why he decided to found WikiLeaks and take the risk of messing up with the powerfuls, knowing all the big and small problems this could bring and which otherwise are happening now.

I believe that if people continue pressing on the witch-hunting of Barack Obama and more people begins interesting on this case, that pressure could make this scandal ends good to Assange, WikiLeaks and the truth that we all need.


  

My blogger experience

I have never interested on be a blogger. I'm not a techie person so I didn't even know how to use a blog and stuff. But in this English class I learned to post and I really liked it. Actually, I created another blogs to continue in this blogger path.

I think that as a way for learn is very useful, because most people understand the English when they hear it, but only a few can talk or express ideas in this language. In that way, for me this experience has been very useful and now I feel more prepare to speak in English to anyone, watch movies without subtitles and learn a lot of songs without searching the lyrics.

Besides is a fun way to learn!!! And it helps me to knowing my partners too because we talk about ourselves and at the university we don’t have the chance to do that.

I think that the blog sessions didn’t have disadvantages. In every way they were useful, funny and relaxing. I hope to continue writing in this blog, and I would like that my classmates do it too because in that way I could comment their posts and still knowing them.

The best man in the earth

It was on 2006. I went on vacations with one of my best friends, Ponpon, to Alagarrobo. One of our common friends called us begging for a place to stay one night. He was with five more people. Ponpon accepted them in her house, but that “one night” became in a whole week. In that group was Yota, the person who will be my best friend until now. So we really met there. Because he was from my school and we had seen each other several times at parties or stuff like that.

Yota (José Ignacio) is my best friend because of too many things. He’s a great person, very loyal funny, generous, shiny, kind, bubbly and he loves to help people, integrate them to our group, and cheer up all his friends. He has accompanied me in every hard moment in my life: when my grandma died, when a boyfriend cheated on me and other difficult situations. When I am sad, he always try his best to make me happy. He takes me out and figures something out to distract me. We spend really good time together.

Is so hard to pick just one best memory with him. But obviously the vacations and the moments that we have supported each other are some of my treasures. We go to the mall together, to parties, on vacations, we met for lunch, eat sushi, and a lot of things more. My family loves him and his loves me too. I hope to be always with him because my life would be very different if he wouldn’t be on it.  

Wanting to go to London!

Well if there's something I love to do is to travel. I try to do it every year, and if it's possible, do it twice. Obviously, there are some places that I wouldn’t miss for anything. But that places are too expensive to visit them at the moment. London, New York, India and New Zeland are just some of the unmissables on my infinite list.

But dreaming is free and today I’m gonna tell you about one of them: London. Maybe is music’s fault. Many of my favorite singers live in England. I don’t even know how to explain why I would love to go to London. I think that it goes with my personality. Since I was a child I have dreamt about that. The telephone booths, the red buses, people, weather, music, music…. I really can’t explain.

If I could go I’ll go to the London Eye, I’ll walk through the streets, and I don’t know, I would like to let it flow. If I would have the possibility to travel to London, I’ll do it by myself because I think that it allows you to do different things, knowing more and in a different way. Travelling is a great way to knowing yourself and stuff like that. I absolutely picture myself there, walking down the street, looking around in peace, feeling cool and happy.  

When I finish my career I intend to get a part-time job, doing some money and travel to Europe to see my sister who lives in Barcelona. In that way I will travel around that continent and arrive to London. I think that it’s very possible and I hope I am not wrong. But at the moment, I just have to wait.    

Inking yourself with culture!!!!

Today I’m gonna talk about one of my favorites websites of journalism. There are many funny and  interesting websites about it, but I decided to write about Con Tinta Negra (www.contintanegra.cl) because I consider it very different. It was created a couple of years ago in my university by a group of students. They created it because of a class work in the reportage course. Today is still being managed by the people of Instituto de la Comunicación e Imagen and the career students write for it.

The main goal of the website is to show today stories, places, dreams, grievances and cultural stuff. All from the point of view of the future journalists of Universidad de Chile. They define themselves like independent journalism with a special view.  Every two weeks they publish a new edition which includes chronicles, reportages, reviews, interviews and stuff. 

This edition of the online magazine.

Obviously I always read it and I recommend everyone to read it too. You also can comment in the website, write to the editors and stuff like that. In that way you can make an input to build this project. 

My God

Ok. I'm studying journalism so if I wouldn't like to read I'll be screwed. Obviously there are books or authors that are more pleasant to me. I love reading poetry too. There are two argentinean writers that make me marvel and wonder. They are Julio Cortázar and Mario Benedetti. But today I’m gonna tell you about the first one, definitely my favorite.  

I discovered Cortázar’s literature when I was studying at school. Some teachers made us reading his stories and since the beginning I was impressed and shocked with his way of writing. He had a special rhythm and used amazing words. He used to write in a poetic way. And obviously, the things that he says with his stories are so deep and speak too much about life. He opened and blew up my mind from the start. I don’t even know how to describe what he makes me feel. It’s impossible for me to pick just one of his books or tales cause all of them are wonderful and have something unique. So there’s no more to tell here but suggest to read his stories. He’s fantastic and you won’t regret it. In fact, you will be grateful. Don’t waste more time and dive into his art!!!!! 

Love ya

It's hard to choose just one photograph when there are too many of them that are very important for me. Because of the people, the moments or because of what them inspire to me. But I like this and I decided to put it here because I'm with my mother and my grandma.

Both of them have been with me since always. But now, my grandma is with me in a different way. On 2010 she passed away and leave us with a huge pain and sadness. But she's still with us. And that makes me feel better. This picture was taken by Richard, my mom's husband, on Christmass, three years ago.

I don't have much words to explain how I feel about this photograph. We're all smiling and we're together. I think that it speaks by itself so the words are not needed.

Who's that girl?

Everything started when I saw 500 days of summer. It was like three years ago when my love for The Smiths made me see this movie. In the trailer I heard Morrissey's voice and Zooey Deschanel talking about his band and that was it. I saw the film and I fell in love with Summer. Actually, with Zooey. Since then I became a huge fan of her work. I started watching her movies, reading about her life, listening to her band and other stuff. So, when I knew that she was going to make a tv series, obviously I started to watching it. 

New Girl is a Northamerican sitcom premiered on FOX on September 20th, 2011 and created by Elizabeth Meriwether. The tv series is starred by Zooey Deschanel (Jess), Jake Johnson (Nick), Max Greenfeild (Schmidt), Lamorne Morris (Winston) and Hanna Simone (Cece). The pilot starts the story with Jess, an offbeat, cute, adorable, shiny and bubbly teacher in her late 20's who caught her boyfriend cheating on her in their house when she was trying to give him a surprise. 

Then, she is determinated to move on from her relationship and she was forced to looking for a new place to live, far from his mean ex boyfriend. She saw an ad on Craigslist where she meets and moves in with three young men: Nick, Schmidt and Winston. Nick is a bartender and frustrated lawyer; Schmidt is a white-collar professional, womanizer, fancy and metrosexual young man; and Winston is a basketball player who used to be Nick's best friend from childhood and the fourth roommate of the apparment. After Coach, a personal trainer with rage issues, left the loft, Winston moved back in.

I love this sitcom because of Zooey Deschanel and her character. Jess is very funny, naive and childish, she sings along all the time and I think that sometimes I identify with her. People usually tells me that I'm a little bit crazy because I'm laughing, singing, jumping and telling stupid things all the time. Now I'm feeling understood by someone. 

 

Really, you have to watch this tv series! Zooey Deschanel is the best, Jess is the best! And I honestly hope that Nick wake up soon and realized that Jess is the love of his life. 

Long life to computers!

I'm not a technology person. I've never been. I'm that girl who doesn't know how to fix things and not even a handbook can help me. I just don't understand technology. But I have to admit that's very useful. Computers are a clear example. I had my first computer when I was nine. It was my birthday gift. I used to use it only for doing school stuff. A couple of months after, I started to buy games and chat to people. I had a lot of Sega games and I was (still being) a huge fan of The Sims. Oh my god, I could spent all night building houses and living virtual people's life!! 

My next goal on life is getting a Mac, I think they're great!

A couple of years ago I bought a laptop. Ok, my mom bought it for me because of my birthday again. It's just like old computers, but smaller and portable. I believe that today it's common to have one, so I think that everybody knows them. Now I'm using it for playing games and doing university stuff. And of course, for using Facebook and Twitter at least three times on a day. I communicate with my friends and family by Facebook chat and I share everything I'm doing and feeling on Twitter. This social network is amazing! It's the most useful to know what's happening around the world right now. 

This is a techie family

So I use my laptop everyday for searching information, reading news, books and articles, playing, chatting, ETC! That's why I love computers! Because you can use them for everything! Seriously, and I'm not proud of it, I think that I couldn't live without them! And if you ask me, I believe you either.   

Lollapalooza Rocks!

I think that music is very important in each person life in their own way. I like many kinds of music, but definitely what blows up my music mind was my actual boyfriend who's a truly melomaniac. Last month he invited me to Lollapalooza, an alternative rock, punk rock and rap festival which was originally created by Perry Farrel (from Jane's Addiction) in the United States in 1991. This version of Lollapalooza in Chile was held at Parque O'Higgins. There were six stages all over the park and people everywhere.

The experience was really cool and I'm very grateful of him for inviting me cause I love MGMT, Friendly Fires, Cage the Elephant, Foster the People and that kind of bands. He's a huge fan of Foo Fighters and I learned to like them too. But the greatest thing for sure was the atmosphere. Lying in the grass with the sun on our faces listening to music we enjoy, was undoubtely the best. Also there were a lot of food stands of any kind including pizza, falafels, ice cream, sandwiches and other stuff.

My husband and me

There was also the chance to participate in differtent contests and activities. For example, a dates website placed an altar where the lovers could get married. And that's no all: who led the ceremony was Elvis Presley. I was with my boyfriend so I couldn't missed the opportunity to promise being by his side for ever, until the death do us apart.

After my first time at Lollapalooza I can tell that's de coolest gig ever. Really, I have to recommend it. So if you take my recommendation, without a doubt we're gonna see each other there next year.

Some words about me

I'm Camila Paz Rebolledo Rojas. From Santiago, Chile. I was born in 1991, so now I'm 20. I live in Ñuñoa, near to Estadio Nacional, which is very important for me cause i'm a huge Universidad de Chile's fan and that's where they play. I studied in a religious school and now i'm studyng journalism at Universidad de Chile. I have two sisters and three brothers. Two of them live in Panama and my oldest sister is currently living in Barcelona. I'm not good at talking about me so I'm just gonna say that I like listening music, cooking, watching movies, smoking, hanging out and I'm also a cat lover. Mine is called Pichicha and she loves eating and sleeping.