The President of Uruguay is one of the most atypical political leaders nowadays. Well-known for having legalized marijuana, with the intention of reducing the flow of money to criminal gangs in South America, as well as for being a mediator in armed conflicts such as the one in Colombia, Mújica donates 90% of his salary to Uruguayan charities. The scene we have been able to watch, striking though it may be as we see Mújica in his hacienda with no sign of opulence, makes us aware that another model of politicians is possible. What is more, he is not willing to set an example in spite of the fact that he has done it.
I would like to summarise this interview with a quotation from this charrúa, "(One has to) live in accordance with how one thinks." If Western-world political leaders were only said this once a day...
Monday 31 March 2014
Tuesday 25 March 2014
ABOUT ADOLFO SUÁREZ
If I had to describe Suárez, I would call him "the fair politician" (nowadays' synonymous phrase for "nobody"), one who really wanted to be useful for the population. A father of our constitution of a really brave man - he showed it on 23rd February, 1981.
Adolfo Suárez meant the Spanish to be free and had the intention to rule a country with the policy of consensus. He resigned from his position without being forced to. Only could it have been possible in our country!
Adolfo Suárez meant the Spanish to be free and had the intention to rule a country with the policy of consensus. He resigned from his position without being forced to. Only could it have been possible in our country!
ABOUT MONOLOGUES AND DIALOGUES
It's been quite long since I last wrote something here. My apologies but the large pile of exams, waiting to be corrected, have prevented me from catching up with the blog.
Last week's mock exam dealing with somepractice of simulation of orals were not but a touchstone for Thursday's exam and, in longer term, the official one. We could become aware of all the situations that surround it. Congrats to all my mates. You did it very well!
Last week's mock exam dealing with somepractice of simulation of orals were not but a touchstone for Thursday's exam and, in longer term, the official one. We could become aware of all the situations that surround it. Congrats to all my mates. You did it very well!
Tuesday 4 March 2014
REVIEW OF "THE SAILOR-BOY'S TALE"
The Sailor-Boy's Tale is a short story by the Danish writer Karen Blixen, the author of Out of Africa.
On the way from Marseille to Athens, the sailor-boy, Simon, spotted a bird that stuck in the main-mast of the ship. The boy climbed up in order to free the bird, a peregrine falcon. Two years later, while on another ship on the northern coast of Norway, Simon stabbed a Russian sailor to death, for he tried to prevent him from meeting Nora, a girl who had promised to give him a kiss the previous day. Simon could meet Nora in the end, and she kissed him. Simon was eventually taken in by Sunniva, a Lapp-woman who avoided his capture for murder by pretending that he was her son. Then she explained to him that she was the falcon she had rescued, and she did nothing but return him the favour.
The story is an allegory of fate: what comes around goes around. The appearance of the supernatural creature, the old woman that becomes a falcon, provides the story with a fantasy element which I kind of dislike although it helps to convey the message in a more appropriate way and makes it more enjoyable.
On the way from Marseille to Athens, the sailor-boy, Simon, spotted a bird that stuck in the main-mast of the ship. The boy climbed up in order to free the bird, a peregrine falcon. Two years later, while on another ship on the northern coast of Norway, Simon stabbed a Russian sailor to death, for he tried to prevent him from meeting Nora, a girl who had promised to give him a kiss the previous day. Simon could meet Nora in the end, and she kissed him. Simon was eventually taken in by Sunniva, a Lapp-woman who avoided his capture for murder by pretending that he was her son. Then she explained to him that she was the falcon she had rescued, and she did nothing but return him the favour.
The story is an allegory of fate: what comes around goes around. The appearance of the supernatural creature, the old woman that becomes a falcon, provides the story with a fantasy element which I kind of dislike although it helps to convey the message in a more appropriate way and makes it more enjoyable.
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