Blog 8: English Language Challenges

Well, this is hard to talk about. Mostly you don't make a big deal out of learning English. But I think that comes from the base you grow up on. In the two schools I went to, I never had any real incentive other than the embarrassment you get when you pronounce something wrong. So I don't like English as a college subject.

That doesn't mean I don't like English at all. Just that my experiences have never been good. I'm always very embarrassed and frustrated to have to speak "in public". So instead of enjoying it, I get too stressed out trying.

That only happens to me when I try to speak English, or the pressure of school/college. Because when I've had to write these blogs I'm not stressed at all. I actually like doing it. Plus it's helped me write better in English, I think haha.

Well, as you can tell, my weakness is speaking in English, because I find it very difficult to pronounce well, besides which I was never taught to do it well since I was a child, and when I look for how to do it alone I also get frustrated haha, because they speak very fast and I can't hear the pronunciation of the words well. I believe I will eventually learn, find online courses and do more of my part to make it happen. That's among my objectives haha.

In fact, I still try hard outside of class, I really like watching movies and series in English, sometimes with subtitles and sometimes without. I've been surprised at the times I see them without subtitles, because I've managed to understand everything they say and of course I manage to understand the plot of the film as well haha

I would have very much liked to have learned as a child, because I didn't have so many things to do and I could have given it the time it deserves and needs. But it's never too late.

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BONUS: I also think that the way English is taught in Chile should be changed. I remember that once a teacher made us write two paragraphs in English (at school) and we had never been told how to make sentences or simply write in English. And he gave the whole course a red note. I find that there is a lot of difference in how English is taught between the different schools, because there are friends who like English because of the way it was taught to them as a child, and my bad experience has made me very embarrassed to learn. 

Blog 7: Music

Well, I consider myself a music fan. I'm always with my headphones on. I find that in public transport it is the ideal place to use headphones and enjoy good music. I think that since I was a child I like to music, it's a family thing. My life without music players would be sad and stressful 😣, I would not like to hear all the conversations and noisee of the street.

In that sense, since I like music a lot, I listen to everything a little bit. Music of memory, cumbia, reggaeton, pop, romantic, trova, and many more.

Of the songs of memory I like to listen a lot to Rocio Durcal, Leo Dan, Juan Gabriel, Raphael, among others.

My favorite cumbia band is Santa Feria, and my favorite song is "La Espina". I've been to many cumbia concerts, I find them to be a very good form of distraction.

And as a trova singer I like Silvio Rodríguez, Fernando Delgadillo, Sabina, among others.

I think that the taste for music in memory is because my parents always listen to it when we go on a trip or they put it on TV. So in the meantime, I learned them all and I enjoy singing them. Besides, some of my friends know them too, so it's nice when we sing them together haha.

And the music of troubadours I acquired from my brothers. They are both singer-songwriters, they have their own songs and they also make tributes. Then it was the same as with my parents, while listening to them sing, I learned the songs and began to like them.

And finally, I think that the other genres of music like cumbia and reggaeton I like because of my age I guess. It's something you hear at parties, so it would be great if I didn't know any haha.

Blog 6: Postgraduate Studies

I think that since I entered university I've been thinking about doing a postgraduate degree after finishing my degree in Sociology. Always I wanted study something associated with Psychology, so I think my postgraduate will be related with that. 

Also, in these years of university, where I have done several investigations, I have been very interested in the issues of gender and migration. And in the social sciences faculty of the University of Chile there is a postgraduate course called "Master's Degree in Gender and Cultural Studies with a mention in Social Sciences" that I would love to do. 

So, even though I've thought about it a lot over the years, I don't know what I want haha.

I think that studying in Chile or abroad depends on what I like best at the time. (Although remember that my dream is to take my mom to Italy, and studying graduate school in Europe is a good chance for that haha). 

I have taken several courses online, and I have also seen that they offer master's degrees in that modality. But I think I'd like something classroom-based and part-time. 

The truth is that I still see everything as far away, because with time things change, I think I will have to work hard to achieve it. I just hope that at some point in my life I can achieve the goal, and if not, with what I have achieved so far (where I am still a student) I am happy. I feel that in one way or another you can always contribute, and a degree does not define that. 

Blog 5: My future job

I always imagine myself working in a group and for the community. I think that university research work has accustomed me to working in teams, although I must admit that on the one hand it is exhausting to coordinate people haha, but on the other hand it is also enriching.

Well... I must also admit that I consider myself an unsociable person, so I don't know if people will want to work with me as a team hahaha. I think is a point important to be considered 😅.

I'd like to work both outdoors and indoors haha. For example, since I would like to work with and for the community, the ideal is to be in the field (outdoors). But there will also be times when I have to be indoors to think and write. I think that along with working with the community comes the dream of traveling a lot. I would like to "travel the world" helping people and/or doing research. But... for that you need money haha

And ... speaking of money. I admit that when I entered college I expected big things haha. But on the first day of classes a professor said we shouldn't expect a sociologist to get paid well 😆. So, from then on I've just been hoping to get enough and focus on working on the things I like.

Well, they were able to deduce above that I study sociology. I like to study issues of gender, migration and social movements. But obviously I'm still inexperienced and the can change the tastes with the time.

This is the biggest team I've ever worked on.

And this is our logo as a "study center".

Blog 4: Pets

My doggy Oddie

Hello! I'm very happy to be able to tell you about my pet today. He's a dog and his name is Oddie. 

I've known Oddie since he was born, he was a beautiful ball of hair! I brought him home when he was three months old. It was a challenge! He cried three nights in a row, I think he missed his dog family a little bit. The first month at home he would not leave my side. The vet said it was stress from arriving at a new home. I think that's why he's so spoiled, but he's so sweet!! They treat him like a child in my house. Everybody loves him and takes care of his needs. When he gets sick everyone worries about him a lot.

I remember one time I was out partying, it was 3 a.m. when my mom called me to come home because Oddie had gotten sick and was down. According to her he didn't want to go to sleep because I wasn't with him. I had to go back quickly 😣 haha.

Oddie was born between a quiltra female dog and a mestizo poodle. They both live in my aunt's house. Oddie has two brothers: Luna and Teo. As you can see Oddie's dog family is also part of my family, so he sees them very often. They love each other very much, even though they always fight over toys haha 

Oddie's five now, but to me and the family he's still a baby. He always cries for food, for love and attention hahaha

I love everything about my dog, he's crafty and loving. He always complains when I give him love, but when I don't pay attention to him he starts looking for me. I think he's the cutest company in the world. 

Blog 3: Favorite Series or Movie

My not favorite series

I don't think I have a favorite series or movie. I have a hard time deciding when I'm asked to choose something, you may have noticed it in the other two blogs haha. 

To tell something, I'll tell you a series that I find leaves a lot to think about. I think it's very complete, as it deals with various complex issues. He talks about the poverty in which countries of the African continent are submerged, he tells about the problems of the LGBT world, about gender violence and political problems. The series I'm talking about is called Sense8. 

The series basically tells the story of eight strangers from different countries, cultures, races and sexual orientations. Although they have never met in person, they are mentally and emotionally connected. With this connection they are able to communicate, to feel. Knowledge, such as language, martial arts and other skills can be transferred. It is not the most important part of the series, but it is explored through their lives and sexualities, with emphasis on their different cultures. 

There are three characters that I like the most: Sun, a Korean woman who does kickboxing, who has to deal with gender issues during the plot. Another character is Nomi, a lesbian transsexual who has to face family and political problems because of her sexual and gender orientation. And finally, Amanita who is Nomi's girlfriend. 

The series has two seasons with 12 chapters each. I've only seen it once, but I recommend it whenever I'm asked about a series.  

Blog 2: The best vacation or concert ever

My trip to Peru

It is difficult to think of the best holidays. Because none can be considered less special. They always have a magic touch, don´t they? ... So I'm going to tell you about my trip to Peru, which was special because of personal wealth.

Last year with five friends from the university we went to Lima, Peru. We had to go and present at a sociology congress. This congress lasted five days, but we went for two weeks.

During the congress we met many people from other countries and became friends with them. Then we were no longer six friends walking the street of Lima, we were any more!! We went to the beach, to the most famous squares, to bars, discos. We really had an incredible time, we were a giant, tight-knit group. We were with our colleagues from other countries for about 5 days. It was sad to say goodbye to them, but very nice to have met them.

When we separated from them we went to visit the oasis of Peru "Huacachina". A wonderful place! I swear I felt like an ant among all the sand in the dunes! We took a buggy ride there and I also did sandboarding.

All I can say is that it was an incredible experience all along. And I'd love to tell you everything I did, but that would make a text too long haha.

I just want to add that I grew up as a person, I got to meet wonderful people and beautiful places. A great working vacation (10/10)