A frightening experience:
I've never had a frightening experience because since I was little my parents taught me not to be afraid of ghosts or anything like that. I can watch horror movies and I'll be probably afraid of it, but in real life, I don't remember having experienced any frightening experience.
Showing posts with label Weekly Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weekly Journal. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Weekly Journal 32
Your worst habit:
Generally, I tend to have bad coping mechanisms and habits. However, I am trying to replace them with positiveness and mental health. I think my worst habit is blaming myself for everything. Everything that happens in my life I tend to blame it on me. For example, if something doesn't go as expected, I blame it on me because something must have gone wrong in my organization. If I can't make friends or meet people easily is my fault because I am too shy. If I weigh more, is my fault because I've eaten too much. Despite all of that, I don't really try to remediate it: I don't force myself to speak to people nor eat less.
Nowadays I am trying not to blame myself for everything and not to blame anyone because some things are no one's fault.
Generally, I tend to have bad coping mechanisms and habits. However, I am trying to replace them with positiveness and mental health. I think my worst habit is blaming myself for everything. Everything that happens in my life I tend to blame it on me. For example, if something doesn't go as expected, I blame it on me because something must have gone wrong in my organization. If I can't make friends or meet people easily is my fault because I am too shy. If I weigh more, is my fault because I've eaten too much. Despite all of that, I don't really try to remediate it: I don't force myself to speak to people nor eat less.
Nowadays I am trying not to blame myself for everything and not to blame anyone because some things are no one's fault.
Weekly Journal 31
A special day or event in your life:
I remember clearly the day I got my final marks the last day of Bachillerato. That year had been sorrowful and depressing for me; I hardly went to school or home. I didn't want to go to class because the only thought of seeing people and being with people there was a nightmare. The first two trimesters went quite well; I studied Science Bachillerato because my family wanted me to become a doctor even if it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. However, the third trimester I was really unmotivated to do anything. I didn't go to school or meet my friends, and my mom and teachers were really worried about me and my future. They decided to take me to the school counselor so she could see what happened to me and all that. What I wanted to study was something related to languages because I am crazy about them. It would be really hard to get mark enough to enter Translation and Interpreting, but English Studies really caught my attention. Since I was really tired mentally, I decided to take a year without going to college, but working and saving up money so the following year I could prepare myself to enter English Studies.
That trimester I failed four subjects in the end. Nonetheless, I felt really motivated to recover all my mistakes and keep trying to do what I really wanted to do.
The last day of school, I went to see my qualifications and my average mark. What a surprise when I saw that my average mark was a 9 and I got a scholarship for my college's first year because I had been one of the highest marks in my school.
It made me really happy that I remember that day clearly. I called my mom to tell her that I wanted to try and do Ebau that year and go to college because that event motivated me to keep going.
Right now, I am here, studying what I wanted and, even if going to college with all that people is hard because of my social phobia, I am trying to overcome whatever hinders my way and my dreams.
I remember clearly the day I got my final marks the last day of Bachillerato. That year had been sorrowful and depressing for me; I hardly went to school or home. I didn't want to go to class because the only thought of seeing people and being with people there was a nightmare. The first two trimesters went quite well; I studied Science Bachillerato because my family wanted me to become a doctor even if it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. However, the third trimester I was really unmotivated to do anything. I didn't go to school or meet my friends, and my mom and teachers were really worried about me and my future. They decided to take me to the school counselor so she could see what happened to me and all that. What I wanted to study was something related to languages because I am crazy about them. It would be really hard to get mark enough to enter Translation and Interpreting, but English Studies really caught my attention. Since I was really tired mentally, I decided to take a year without going to college, but working and saving up money so the following year I could prepare myself to enter English Studies.
That trimester I failed four subjects in the end. Nonetheless, I felt really motivated to recover all my mistakes and keep trying to do what I really wanted to do.
The last day of school, I went to see my qualifications and my average mark. What a surprise when I saw that my average mark was a 9 and I got a scholarship for my college's first year because I had been one of the highest marks in my school.
It made me really happy that I remember that day clearly. I called my mom to tell her that I wanted to try and do Ebau that year and go to college because that event motivated me to keep going.
Right now, I am here, studying what I wanted and, even if going to college with all that people is hard because of my social phobia, I am trying to overcome whatever hinders my way and my dreams.
Weekly Journal 30
A special gift you have given or received:
I love dancing and I've always loved it. To me, dancing is like breathing, I need it to survive. When I was a child I didn't like to go to academies because I was too shy to dance in public and I don't make friends easily either. I always danced in my room, very careful that no one had seen me. The only person that had seen me dance was my sister.
As I was growing up, my interest in dancing remained the same, but I wouldn't say to anybody. My first experience dancing in public was in the last year of school and I got told that I danced well. However, when we performed I kept watching the floor to avoid people's gazes.
In high school, the first two years, there were some activities related to dance in which I put a lot of effort. I got recognized as a great dancer by my classmates and that felt really good.
One of my best friends told me once to join her in a dance class in an academy and I loved it so much that I went home and told my mom how cool it had been.
The following month, my mother told me that, even if it was a little expensive for us, she wanted me to dance in that academy and I was really euphoric.
Notwithstanding that, as the year passed by, I developed asthma and dancing became quite difficult for me because my lungs couldn't stand much effort. Also, I started having pains in my feet without a reason. I decided I was going to do the final performance and then, quit.
Even if it was hard for me to quit dancing, I knew that asthma, the pain and the money we could save were more important. For me, it was a really special gift that my mom gave me for a year and I will never forget about it, even if it was ephemeral.
I love dancing and I've always loved it. To me, dancing is like breathing, I need it to survive. When I was a child I didn't like to go to academies because I was too shy to dance in public and I don't make friends easily either. I always danced in my room, very careful that no one had seen me. The only person that had seen me dance was my sister.
As I was growing up, my interest in dancing remained the same, but I wouldn't say to anybody. My first experience dancing in public was in the last year of school and I got told that I danced well. However, when we performed I kept watching the floor to avoid people's gazes.
In high school, the first two years, there were some activities related to dance in which I put a lot of effort. I got recognized as a great dancer by my classmates and that felt really good.
One of my best friends told me once to join her in a dance class in an academy and I loved it so much that I went home and told my mom how cool it had been.
The following month, my mother told me that, even if it was a little expensive for us, she wanted me to dance in that academy and I was really euphoric.
Notwithstanding that, as the year passed by, I developed asthma and dancing became quite difficult for me because my lungs couldn't stand much effort. Also, I started having pains in my feet without a reason. I decided I was going to do the final performance and then, quit.
Even if it was hard for me to quit dancing, I knew that asthma, the pain and the money we could save were more important. For me, it was a really special gift that my mom gave me for a year and I will never forget about it, even if it was ephemeral.
Weekly Journal 29
Music that is special to you:
The music that is special to me is the one whose lyrics get to my heart or those I feel identified with.
Since I was young I've liked listening to pop music and artists like Ed Sheeran, Little Mix, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, etc. However, two years ago, by casualty, I discovered BTS. I was really depressed at that time and, after an argument with my friends, I went home and got locked in my room. When I feel sad, I usually watch videos on YouTube or series on my phone and that day I watched a video of one of my favorite YouTubers in which she was reacting to K-pop (industrialized Korean music). The only group that caught my attention at that time was BTS.
Even if I didn't know what their lyrics meant, their sound caught me. Then, after reading their lyrics about loving yourself, speaking up, fighting against unfairness and mental illnesses, I fell in love with them.
Since then, their music relieves me every time I listen to them. I have become a better person and I have entered a fandom which everyone says is toxic, but I don't think so. BTS and the music they write, produce and compose, inspires people to do better things, to do humanitarian and environmental projects to help the world.
In conclusion, their music means a lot to me and makes me really happy and motivated to do everything I propose myself to do.
The music that is special to me is the one whose lyrics get to my heart or those I feel identified with.
Since I was young I've liked listening to pop music and artists like Ed Sheeran, Little Mix, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, etc. However, two years ago, by casualty, I discovered BTS. I was really depressed at that time and, after an argument with my friends, I went home and got locked in my room. When I feel sad, I usually watch videos on YouTube or series on my phone and that day I watched a video of one of my favorite YouTubers in which she was reacting to K-pop (industrialized Korean music). The only group that caught my attention at that time was BTS.
Even if I didn't know what their lyrics meant, their sound caught me. Then, after reading their lyrics about loving yourself, speaking up, fighting against unfairness and mental illnesses, I fell in love with them.
Since then, their music relieves me every time I listen to them. I have become a better person and I have entered a fandom which everyone says is toxic, but I don't think so. BTS and the music they write, produce and compose, inspires people to do better things, to do humanitarian and environmental projects to help the world.
In conclusion, their music means a lot to me and makes me really happy and motivated to do everything I propose myself to do.
Weekly Journal 28
A favorite possession:
It may seem too materialistic, but my phone is my favorite possession because of many reasons. Since I am a lover of music, inside my phone I have more than 450 songs that I can listen to wherever and whenever I want. Also, with it, I can locate myself in order not to get lost anywhere. Moreover, with my phone, I can watch multiple movies and series. Not only that, but I also read books or communicate with other people. Furthermore, I use it to make lists of the things I need to do and be more organized. Finally, since I like to write books and stories, inside my notes I write all my ideas and plots. To conclude I want to say that nowadays, having a phone as your favorite possession doesn't mean you're a materialistic person, of course, I appreciate other things like my family, friends or pets, but I don't consider them a possession, so if I have to choose something, it is my phone.
It may seem too materialistic, but my phone is my favorite possession because of many reasons. Since I am a lover of music, inside my phone I have more than 450 songs that I can listen to wherever and whenever I want. Also, with it, I can locate myself in order not to get lost anywhere. Moreover, with my phone, I can watch multiple movies and series. Not only that, but I also read books or communicate with other people. Furthermore, I use it to make lists of the things I need to do and be more organized. Finally, since I like to write books and stories, inside my notes I write all my ideas and plots. To conclude I want to say that nowadays, having a phone as your favorite possession doesn't mean you're a materialistic person, of course, I appreciate other things like my family, friends or pets, but I don't consider them a possession, so if I have to choose something, it is my phone.
Weekly Journal 27
A story from your childhood:
Today, I would like to tell the story about when I learned to ride a two-wheeled bike. I was really young, about 6 or 7 years old. My dad always encouraged me to do sports and close to my town, there was a really small village called "Pueblo Nuevo".
We started going there to play football or basketball because there was a velodrome where you could practice whenever you wanted.
The day my parents bought me my first bike, I was so happy. It had four wheels because I still didn't know how to ride it. We would go there every weekend with my new bike and I started to learn little by little.
One day, a few months later or so, we went there and I saw a boy riding a bike with only two wheels and I told my dad I wanted to try, so when we came back home he unscrewed the two extra wheels my bicycle had.
At first, he helped me a lot holding it from behind so I didn't fall. However, that bike became too small for me and we went to buy one considered for big kids and I was so excited to be one of them. I loved that bike and still do. I fell a lot of times, but when I finally managed to control it, I used it to relieve stress or bad concerns. I would ride around the velodrome really fast for a lot of time while my dad took care of my sister in the playground.
I remember that experience as one of the most memorable of my childhood.
Today, I would like to tell the story about when I learned to ride a two-wheeled bike. I was really young, about 6 or 7 years old. My dad always encouraged me to do sports and close to my town, there was a really small village called "Pueblo Nuevo".
We started going there to play football or basketball because there was a velodrome where you could practice whenever you wanted.
The day my parents bought me my first bike, I was so happy. It had four wheels because I still didn't know how to ride it. We would go there every weekend with my new bike and I started to learn little by little.
One day, a few months later or so, we went there and I saw a boy riding a bike with only two wheels and I told my dad I wanted to try, so when we came back home he unscrewed the two extra wheels my bicycle had.
At first, he helped me a lot holding it from behind so I didn't fall. However, that bike became too small for me and we went to buy one considered for big kids and I was so excited to be one of them. I loved that bike and still do. I fell a lot of times, but when I finally managed to control it, I used it to relieve stress or bad concerns. I would ride around the velodrome really fast for a lot of time while my dad took care of my sister in the playground.
I remember that experience as one of the most memorable of my childhood.
Weekly Journal 26
A belief you have or used to have:
When I was a younger, about four or five years ago, I used to believe that there wasn't sexism in the world. I was blind, of course, because when you are born in a patriarchal society, it is difficult to realize it.
I used to believe that women had the same rights as men. Also, I judged women who wanted to show more skin and women who felt free to speak up. I competed with my own friends in a lot of senses and I felt obligated to be pretty. At school, a girl who had a boyfriend and male friends at the same time was a whore, and a girl who still didn't have her first kiss was a prude.
When feminism rose, TV and social media showed it as something bad, "feminists are those women who get naked in front of buildings protesting against God knows what". I didn't want to be a feminist because society taught me that it was something to be ashamed of, and "feminazis" was a term I used to hear everywhere and still do.
However, in 2017, luckily, I started to become interested in feminism, I didn't want to believe what others told me about it, I wanted to create my own opinion after research. Honestly, I was tired of competing, of feeling oppressed, of being laughed at by my male schoolmates because once, I wanted to wear a pretty neckline or a skirt.
As my female friends and I started to become informed about feminism, we realized it was the only hope women have to survive in our society. During school breaks, we would debate and consider different opinions as well as learn; we learned a lot.
Now, my friends and I are feminists with pride, we feel freer than before, but still oppressed and we are going to fight against the patriarchy that wants us dead and not becoming who we really want to be.
When I was a younger, about four or five years ago, I used to believe that there wasn't sexism in the world. I was blind, of course, because when you are born in a patriarchal society, it is difficult to realize it.
I used to believe that women had the same rights as men. Also, I judged women who wanted to show more skin and women who felt free to speak up. I competed with my own friends in a lot of senses and I felt obligated to be pretty. At school, a girl who had a boyfriend and male friends at the same time was a whore, and a girl who still didn't have her first kiss was a prude.
When feminism rose, TV and social media showed it as something bad, "feminists are those women who get naked in front of buildings protesting against God knows what". I didn't want to be a feminist because society taught me that it was something to be ashamed of, and "feminazis" was a term I used to hear everywhere and still do.
However, in 2017, luckily, I started to become interested in feminism, I didn't want to believe what others told me about it, I wanted to create my own opinion after research. Honestly, I was tired of competing, of feeling oppressed, of being laughed at by my male schoolmates because once, I wanted to wear a pretty neckline or a skirt.
As my female friends and I started to become informed about feminism, we realized it was the only hope women have to survive in our society. During school breaks, we would debate and consider different opinions as well as learn; we learned a lot.
Now, my friends and I are feminists with pride, we feel freer than before, but still oppressed and we are going to fight against the patriarchy that wants us dead and not becoming who we really want to be.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Weekly Journal 25
A movie star or singer you like:
If I have to choose one of my favorite artists of all times, it would definitely be BTS. They are a boy group from South Korea composed of seven members. I like them not only because of their music but also because of all the things I've learned since I am their fan. They debuted in a small poor music company with only two artists called Big Hit in 2013. At first, the path was rough and they were ignored in their own country and received hate from the fans of other groups of K-pop. Nonetheless, nowadays, they are one of the most popular boy groups known worldwide with millions of fans and they got their first Grammy nomination this year.
First of all, we have Kim Namjoon (Kim is his last name, which in Korea goes before the first name). His stage name is RM, he is 24 years old and he is the leader and English speaker of the group. Moreover, he is a rapper, a composer, producer, and songwriter. He likes reading books, going to museums, going for walks in the streets of Seoul, etc. In addition, he also gave an interesting speech in English at the United Nations about self-love, peace, and hope. BTS has recently collaborated with Unicef in an anti-violence campaign, especially for youth.
Then, we have Kim Seokjin, whose stage name is simply Jin. He is 26 years old and he is the eldest of the group. He is one of the singers of the group and he likes also playing the guitar, modeling and acting, but sadly he still hasn't been offered a role in any movie or series. Furthermore, he loves cooking and eating, that is why he has a section called Eat Jin, where he does a live video talking to fans and answering questions while he cooks or eats. Also, he is one of the funniest of the group because of his dad jokes. However, even if he acts that way, as the eldest he always shows his maturity when it is needed.
In the third place, there is Min Yoongi (Suga is his stage name because of his pale skin which resembles sugar). He is 25 years old and just as Namjoon, he is a rapper, producer, composer, and songwriter. However, his lyrics are darker in the way he talks freely about mental illnesses that he has suffered such as depression in order to help people with them understood. He loves writing and composing music and he spends his free time locked in his studio called Genius Lab. He talks and understands English very well, but he is too shy to show it, so he prefers acting as if he doesn't know that much.
Next, Jung Hoseok is the third and last rapper of the group. He is 24 years old and as the other rappers, he also produces, composes and writes songs. His stage name is J-Hope because he always radiates positive energy and wants the others to feel hopeful and happy. He is the main dancer of the group and always cares a lot about the other members of the group. What's more, he lightens up the mood in every situation, except when he teaches choreographies to the members, he is a strict and methodical teacher.
In the fourth place, there is Park Jimin, who is a singer and one of the main dancers of the group. He is 23 years old and he loves dancing and singing more than anything. Moreover, he is the member who cares the most about the other ones because he always tries to support and help them in anything they need. He shares a lot of videos, pictures and feelings with fans throught social media, mainly Twitter. Although he is very insecure about himself, he doesn't feel ashamed of sharing it with the world and he he's still working on it.
In penultimate place, we have Kim Taehyung who is another singer and dancer in the group. His stage name is V and, d
ifferently from Jimin and Jin, his voice is the deepest in the group. He likes songwriting and acting. He appeared in a historical Korean drama called Hwarang. Recently he has adopted a dog named Yeontan (which means coal in Hangul). Also, he has been added to the "dance-line" of the group, composed of the members who dance the best. As Jimin, he shares a big part of their daily life and thoughts on social media to communicate better with fans.
Last but not least we have Jeong Jungkook. He is 21 years old and he is the youngest of the group. He is the main singer of the group and also part of the dance-line. At the beginning of the group back in 2013-2014, we could hear him also rapping in some songs. For all of this, he is called the "Golden Maknae" (maknae means youngest in Hangul), because he is good at everything. Furthermore, because of being the maknae, the other members have always cared about him and babied him the most. He loves recording videos and editing them under the name of G.C.F (Golden Closet Film).
In conclusion, I am proud to be a fan of BTS. They are humble and hard working artists who fight against all the inequalities in this world, trying to inspire everyone and make people happier. They have taught me so much that I don't care being called a crazy fangirl, because those are only empty words coming from ignorant people who don't know what is beyond.
If I have to choose one of my favorite artists of all times, it would definitely be BTS. They are a boy group from South Korea composed of seven members. I like them not only because of their music but also because of all the things I've learned since I am their fan. They debuted in a small poor music company with only two artists called Big Hit in 2013. At first, the path was rough and they were ignored in their own country and received hate from the fans of other groups of K-pop. Nonetheless, nowadays, they are one of the most popular boy groups known worldwide with millions of fans and they got their first Grammy nomination this year.
First of all, we have Kim Namjoon (Kim is his last name, which in Korea goes before the first name). His stage name is RM, he is 24 years old and he is the leader and English speaker of the group. Moreover, he is a rapper, a composer, producer, and songwriter. He likes reading books, going to museums, going for walks in the streets of Seoul, etc. In addition, he also gave an interesting speech in English at the United Nations about self-love, peace, and hope. BTS has recently collaborated with Unicef in an anti-violence campaign, especially for youth.
In the third place, there is Min Yoongi (Suga is his stage name because of his pale skin which resembles sugar). He is 25 years old and just as Namjoon, he is a rapper, producer, composer, and songwriter. However, his lyrics are darker in the way he talks freely about mental illnesses that he has suffered such as depression in order to help people with them understood. He loves writing and composing music and he spends his free time locked in his studio called Genius Lab. He talks and understands English very well, but he is too shy to show it, so he prefers acting as if he doesn't know that much.
ifferently from Jimin and Jin, his voice is the deepest in the group. He likes songwriting and acting. He appeared in a historical Korean drama called Hwarang. Recently he has adopted a dog named Yeontan (which means coal in Hangul). Also, he has been added to the "dance-line" of the group, composed of the members who dance the best. As Jimin, he shares a big part of their daily life and thoughts on social media to communicate better with fans.
In conclusion, I am proud to be a fan of BTS. They are humble and hard working artists who fight against all the inequalities in this world, trying to inspire everyone and make people happier. They have taught me so much that I don't care being called a crazy fangirl, because those are only empty words coming from ignorant people who don't know what is beyond.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Weekly Journal 24
Smoking in public places
Smoking is something harmful to people and which I do not support. However, everyone has the right to do with their health what they want so I do not mind people smoking, I even have friends who smoke.
Notwithstanding that, smoking in public places is a totally different argument because you are not only polluting but also harming people around you (passive smokers). Many people do not mind other smoking around them. Nevertheless, since I am an asthmatic person, I value so much the clean air.
For example, when I'm at a restaurant and someone is smoking around me, I can't avoid scrunching my nose and trying to ventilate the air with my hands because if I don't do that, the air closes my windpipe and breathing normally becomes harder.
In conclusion, I would like to ask smokers to consider the fact that some people are not comfortable when someone is smoking around them. If you want to smoke near a person, ask them first and set a bit apart from them controlling in what direction the wind blows. You can harm yourself freely, but that doesn't mean you can harm others in the process.
Smoking is something harmful to people and which I do not support. However, everyone has the right to do with their health what they want so I do not mind people smoking, I even have friends who smoke.
Notwithstanding that, smoking in public places is a totally different argument because you are not only polluting but also harming people around you (passive smokers). Many people do not mind other smoking around them. Nevertheless, since I am an asthmatic person, I value so much the clean air.
For example, when I'm at a restaurant and someone is smoking around me, I can't avoid scrunching my nose and trying to ventilate the air with my hands because if I don't do that, the air closes my windpipe and breathing normally becomes harder.
In conclusion, I would like to ask smokers to consider the fact that some people are not comfortable when someone is smoking around them. If you want to smoke near a person, ask them first and set a bit apart from them controlling in what direction the wind blows. You can harm yourself freely, but that doesn't mean you can harm others in the process.
Weekly Journal 23
The best car to own
To start with, the best car to own would be the one that is adapted to your necessities. For example, if you have children, it would be preferable to have a big car with many seats. On the other hand, if you do not have children and use the car to go to work, you would need one adapted to that situation and so on.
In my case, I've always liked cars in general. They're not a topic I would introduce in a conversation, but if someone brings it, I wouldn't have any problem talking about it. My taste for cars is probably a heritage from my father, who is in love with them and has always talked about them to me.
Right now, my ideal car is a big one (even if I'm not thinking of having children) just because I like how they look. The color would be black, white or blue and the reason is that I'm a lover of monochromatic colors. I'm not the type of person who'd like to brag about their car being a famous brand or not, as long as the car works well, I'm not exigent in that sense.
Finally, I'm going to include a picture of what my ideal car would look like.
To start with, the best car to own would be the one that is adapted to your necessities. For example, if you have children, it would be preferable to have a big car with many seats. On the other hand, if you do not have children and use the car to go to work, you would need one adapted to that situation and so on.
In my case, I've always liked cars in general. They're not a topic I would introduce in a conversation, but if someone brings it, I wouldn't have any problem talking about it. My taste for cars is probably a heritage from my father, who is in love with them and has always talked about them to me.
Right now, my ideal car is a big one (even if I'm not thinking of having children) just because I like how they look. The color would be black, white or blue and the reason is that I'm a lover of monochromatic colors. I'm not the type of person who'd like to brag about their car being a famous brand or not, as long as the car works well, I'm not exigent in that sense.
Finally, I'm going to include a picture of what my ideal car would look like.
Weekly Journal 22
Your favorite food
All my life I have been quite delicate in terms of nutrition. I would not eat an extensive list of food, neither healthy nor unhealthy, and that had caused me some nutrient deficits such as anemia.
However, as time passed by, I started eating more food, but I still hadn't a variety in my meals. For example, I would eat meat, dairy products, bread and pastries without any problem. Nonetheless, with respect to fruits and vegetables, I would only eat potato, cucumber, apples, pears, grapes and watermelon, anything else.
When I reached my adolescence I still refused to try new food other than what my mom and family cooked for me. It wasn't until my exchange in France that I had to try new food forcefully. I first tried "tortilla de patatas" when I was 15 years old and also discovered that I didn't really like raw tomato in salads.
Little by little I started trying new meals and dishes mainly because I got tired of eating always the same. Last year, the 28th January 2018 I decided to become vegetarian because of my love towards animals. Some people, especially my family, went crazy when I first told them and thought I wasn't going to resist since my favorite foods had always meat: hamburgers, kebab, Moroccan dishes, breaded chicken...
Now, almost a year later, I have started to eat quite healthier compared to before and I'm happier because I know I'm not eating animals. (Disclaimer: Even being vegetarian, I do not judge those who eat animals as long as they are conscious of what the livestock industry does to them and the conditions they live in).
Since I am a lover of Italian food, all my favorite dishes would be related to pasta or pizza. Right now, my two favorite foods are "Harira Hamda" and cannelloni.
On the one hand, Harira Hamda is a traditional Moroccan / Arabic dish (I do not know well its origin) typical eaten in Ramadan. However, I love it completely, especially my mom's recipe, and I eat it even not being Ramadan. It is made of tomato sauce, spices, coriander, chickpeas, lentils, egg, and fideua noodles; it is perfect when you need nutrients to recover from the fast.
On the other hand, cannelloni is my other favorite food. I eat it from time to time and when I became vegetarian I thought I wouldn't be able to eat it again (because I was not going to eat it with vegetables, Miss Delicate). Nevertheless, I discovered "seitan" and I asked my mom if she could cook it with it (which has a texture similar to mincemeat) and the result was that I loved it even more! Since then, it became one of my favorite food.
To conclude, it is necessary for me to talk about other of my most liked foods which are: pizza (4 Formaggio), spaghetti, Mexican fajitas (with textured soy, mushrooms, and red pepper) and tortilla de patatas.
All my life I have been quite delicate in terms of nutrition. I would not eat an extensive list of food, neither healthy nor unhealthy, and that had caused me some nutrient deficits such as anemia.
However, as time passed by, I started eating more food, but I still hadn't a variety in my meals. For example, I would eat meat, dairy products, bread and pastries without any problem. Nonetheless, with respect to fruits and vegetables, I would only eat potato, cucumber, apples, pears, grapes and watermelon, anything else.
When I reached my adolescence I still refused to try new food other than what my mom and family cooked for me. It wasn't until my exchange in France that I had to try new food forcefully. I first tried "tortilla de patatas" when I was 15 years old and also discovered that I didn't really like raw tomato in salads.
Little by little I started trying new meals and dishes mainly because I got tired of eating always the same. Last year, the 28th January 2018 I decided to become vegetarian because of my love towards animals. Some people, especially my family, went crazy when I first told them and thought I wasn't going to resist since my favorite foods had always meat: hamburgers, kebab, Moroccan dishes, breaded chicken...
Now, almost a year later, I have started to eat quite healthier compared to before and I'm happier because I know I'm not eating animals. (Disclaimer: Even being vegetarian, I do not judge those who eat animals as long as they are conscious of what the livestock industry does to them and the conditions they live in).
Since I am a lover of Italian food, all my favorite dishes would be related to pasta or pizza. Right now, my two favorite foods are "Harira Hamda" and cannelloni.
On the one hand, Harira Hamda is a traditional Moroccan / Arabic dish (I do not know well its origin) typical eaten in Ramadan. However, I love it completely, especially my mom's recipe, and I eat it even not being Ramadan. It is made of tomato sauce, spices, coriander, chickpeas, lentils, egg, and fideua noodles; it is perfect when you need nutrients to recover from the fast.
On the other hand, cannelloni is my other favorite food. I eat it from time to time and when I became vegetarian I thought I wouldn't be able to eat it again (because I was not going to eat it with vegetables, Miss Delicate). Nevertheless, I discovered "seitan" and I asked my mom if she could cook it with it (which has a texture similar to mincemeat) and the result was that I loved it even more! Since then, it became one of my favorite food.
To conclude, it is necessary for me to talk about other of my most liked foods which are: pizza (4 Formaggio), spaghetti, Mexican fajitas (with textured soy, mushrooms, and red pepper) and tortilla de patatas.
Weekly Journal 21
Discrimination
If there is something that should be condemned without a doubt it should be discrimination. From my viewpoint, people that discriminate do not deserve any kind of respect, why? Because they are not respecting the people they discriminate either. See the paradox of tolerance from Karl Popper, if you are tolerant even with the intolerants, that tolerance disappears. That is why, we should not be tolerant of the intolerants, and we should not be respectful with the disrespectful.
When you are not part of any oppressed minority, you are not fully conscious of the rights that you already had since you were born. Me, as a female, I know I do not have as many rights as a man has. However, I still do have more rights than transgender or racialized women, even being half Moroccan, just because of my paler skin I am more privileged. Me, as a bisexual woman, I know I do not have as many rights as a heterosexual man and maybe I am not discriminated because of my ethnicity, but I am because of my gender and my sexual orientation.
There are a lot of types of discrimination, not only physical but also psychological, and sincerely? I do not know which one is worse. Nevertheless, a proper education is the key to solve all these problems that we have in our society. Notwithstanding that, is really difficult to re-educate people right now, especially ignorant people. Ignorance is the one that makes people be controlled more easily. If you do not cultivate yourself in order to know in what kind of world you live in, then it is impossible to change it.
Not only in my country but in the whole world, fascism is rising as if we had not learnt of our history. As George Santayana said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". While people are sat in their couches not voting (a right we worked really hard to get), fascists, neo-nazis and right-wingers are organizing themselves to vote and to destroy all the progress we had made since the end of Franco's dictatorship.
Is that what we really want? To let discriminators win? Maybe I am not the most fighter person, but I will not sit and see how the world where I live is being destroyed knowing I did not make anything to stop it. Because if we want to be heard and seen, we have to raise our voices and speak ourselves.
If there is something that should be condemned without a doubt it should be discrimination. From my viewpoint, people that discriminate do not deserve any kind of respect, why? Because they are not respecting the people they discriminate either. See the paradox of tolerance from Karl Popper, if you are tolerant even with the intolerants, that tolerance disappears. That is why, we should not be tolerant of the intolerants, and we should not be respectful with the disrespectful.
When you are not part of any oppressed minority, you are not fully conscious of the rights that you already had since you were born. Me, as a female, I know I do not have as many rights as a man has. However, I still do have more rights than transgender or racialized women, even being half Moroccan, just because of my paler skin I am more privileged. Me, as a bisexual woman, I know I do not have as many rights as a heterosexual man and maybe I am not discriminated because of my ethnicity, but I am because of my gender and my sexual orientation.
There are a lot of types of discrimination, not only physical but also psychological, and sincerely? I do not know which one is worse. Nevertheless, a proper education is the key to solve all these problems that we have in our society. Notwithstanding that, is really difficult to re-educate people right now, especially ignorant people. Ignorance is the one that makes people be controlled more easily. If you do not cultivate yourself in order to know in what kind of world you live in, then it is impossible to change it.
Not only in my country but in the whole world, fascism is rising as if we had not learnt of our history. As George Santayana said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". While people are sat in their couches not voting (a right we worked really hard to get), fascists, neo-nazis and right-wingers are organizing themselves to vote and to destroy all the progress we had made since the end of Franco's dictatorship.
Is that what we really want? To let discriminators win? Maybe I am not the most fighter person, but I will not sit and see how the world where I live is being destroyed knowing I did not make anything to stop it. Because if we want to be heard and seen, we have to raise our voices and speak ourselves.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Weekly Journal 20
Your first day in the United States:
It had been a really long flight, at least longer than those which I was used to there in Europe. It was a whole new continent, a whole new country and a whole new adventure for me because I was alone. When I arrived, it was almost night time there, which I was grateful for because it was going to be easier to overcome jet-lag. I left at 7 pm Spanish time, and I arrived at 6 pm in Los Angeles' airport. Since I was feeling really tired, I took a taxi to the first cheap motel I saw and I notified my parents and friends, as well as the agency, that I was safe and that I prefered to go the next day to my residence, which was a few hours away from where I was.
The next day was officially my first one in the US. I took a bus early in the morning and I arrived at my residence 2 hours later. At first, I met a few people who were already awake and I blushed everytime they told me I had a good accent. Then, I unpacked my things in my bedroom: I was going to share it with another girl, but she was going to arrive the following week. After taking a rest, I went to the cafeteria to buy a Green Iced Tea and I met two girls, one called Chaeyeon and the other one Sakura, who were Korean and Japanese respectively. I got along really well with them because we had the same taste in music and other things in common. After a little talk, they told me they had arrived the day before, so we decided to take a walk around the campus of the UCLA, our new university.
At the end of the day, I could easily sleep because I was really tired of walking all day long. Notwithstanding that, I was so grateful I could make friends like Sakura and Chaeyeon because that was one of my biggest fears, not being able to befriend anyone. Now I guess we have multiple adventures ahead.
It had been a really long flight, at least longer than those which I was used to there in Europe. It was a whole new continent, a whole new country and a whole new adventure for me because I was alone. When I arrived, it was almost night time there, which I was grateful for because it was going to be easier to overcome jet-lag. I left at 7 pm Spanish time, and I arrived at 6 pm in Los Angeles' airport. Since I was feeling really tired, I took a taxi to the first cheap motel I saw and I notified my parents and friends, as well as the agency, that I was safe and that I prefered to go the next day to my residence, which was a few hours away from where I was.
The next day was officially my first one in the US. I took a bus early in the morning and I arrived at my residence 2 hours later. At first, I met a few people who were already awake and I blushed everytime they told me I had a good accent. Then, I unpacked my things in my bedroom: I was going to share it with another girl, but she was going to arrive the following week. After taking a rest, I went to the cafeteria to buy a Green Iced Tea and I met two girls, one called Chaeyeon and the other one Sakura, who were Korean and Japanese respectively. I got along really well with them because we had the same taste in music and other things in common. After a little talk, they told me they had arrived the day before, so we decided to take a walk around the campus of the UCLA, our new university.
At the end of the day, I could easily sleep because I was really tired of walking all day long. Notwithstanding that, I was so grateful I could make friends like Sakura and Chaeyeon because that was one of my biggest fears, not being able to befriend anyone. Now I guess we have multiple adventures ahead.
Weekly Journal 19
Your last day in your country:
When I decided to travel abroad a year ago, I didn't know how hard it would be to say goodbye to my friends and family, especially to my mom.
I woke up really early that day, even having my flight late in the afternoon; I guess I wanted to have time to do my favorite activities before leaving. My suitcases were already made, all my winter and summer clothes packed tidely in those green boxes with little wheels.
I took a really long and relaxing shower because I knew that I wouldn't feel as comfortable as I felt in my own bathroom wherever I had to live from now on. Then, I went to the kitchen, where the delicious smell of toasts pushed its way through my nostrils; oh... How much I will miss my mom's cooking. She greeted me with a big smile on her face and asked me whether I was nervous, of course I was, but I didn't admit it. While I was having breakfast and little talks with my mother, my cat appeared by the kitchen walking with grace and elegance. Cleo (my cat's name) started to rub herself with my legs affectionately while purring; I was also going to miss her so much.
After that, I brushed my teeth and I revised my notifications to see if my friends were still going to meet me or not, but I didn't receive a single message; "maybe they are asleep", I thought.
However, I decided to go to my friend's house, which was really close to mine and I only had to walk a couple minutes until I arrived. Everything was so quiet in the streets, making obvious the fact that it was still quite early, 9 am to be more precise. Then, when I finally arrived, I knocked the door a few times, hoping it wouldn't be necessary to call at the doorbell because it might wake up her parents.
Suddenly, when I was about to ring, a sleepy Sasha opened the door while yawning. She asked me what I was doing there and I had to remind her that I was leaving in a matter of hours for a whole year. That was the moment when she laughed and told me to go in. Everything was strangely dark and when we arrived at the living room, someone turned on the lights and all my friends were there throwing confetti at me with a big cake on their hands; they prepared a suprise farewell party for me.
Late, my mom and sister joined the party and I spent the rest of the day with all my beloved ones until I had to go to the airport. I don't know whether it was the best party ever, but I know for sure that it only matters the fact that I could celebrate it with all my family and friends, the best memory I could take with me to my new adventure.
When I decided to travel abroad a year ago, I didn't know how hard it would be to say goodbye to my friends and family, especially to my mom.
I woke up really early that day, even having my flight late in the afternoon; I guess I wanted to have time to do my favorite activities before leaving. My suitcases were already made, all my winter and summer clothes packed tidely in those green boxes with little wheels.
I took a really long and relaxing shower because I knew that I wouldn't feel as comfortable as I felt in my own bathroom wherever I had to live from now on. Then, I went to the kitchen, where the delicious smell of toasts pushed its way through my nostrils; oh... How much I will miss my mom's cooking. She greeted me with a big smile on her face and asked me whether I was nervous, of course I was, but I didn't admit it. While I was having breakfast and little talks with my mother, my cat appeared by the kitchen walking with grace and elegance. Cleo (my cat's name) started to rub herself with my legs affectionately while purring; I was also going to miss her so much.
After that, I brushed my teeth and I revised my notifications to see if my friends were still going to meet me or not, but I didn't receive a single message; "maybe they are asleep", I thought.
However, I decided to go to my friend's house, which was really close to mine and I only had to walk a couple minutes until I arrived. Everything was so quiet in the streets, making obvious the fact that it was still quite early, 9 am to be more precise. Then, when I finally arrived, I knocked the door a few times, hoping it wouldn't be necessary to call at the doorbell because it might wake up her parents.
Suddenly, when I was about to ring, a sleepy Sasha opened the door while yawning. She asked me what I was doing there and I had to remind her that I was leaving in a matter of hours for a whole year. That was the moment when she laughed and told me to go in. Everything was strangely dark and when we arrived at the living room, someone turned on the lights and all my friends were there throwing confetti at me with a big cake on their hands; they prepared a suprise farewell party for me.
Late, my mom and sister joined the party and I spent the rest of the day with all my beloved ones until I had to go to the airport. I don't know whether it was the best party ever, but I know for sure that it only matters the fact that I could celebrate it with all my family and friends, the best memory I could take with me to my new adventure.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Weekly Journal 18
Shopping
Nowadays, we live in a consumer society affected, especially, by capitalism. People want always more than they already have to the point of developing disorders related to shopping addiction, and companies or enterprises do not seem to care about people's health as long as their products are sold and they become richer.
In my opinion, I have to admit that occasionally I feel the urge to buy things in order to feel relieved. Sometimes, I'll only feel pretty if I wear new and trendy clothes, I'll only feel cool if I have the latest phone or the most famous mobile brand; that is how it works. Society is so shallow-minded that physical appearence will always be more important than how healthy we are mentally and it is so hopeless to live this way... The important thing is to realize that this is a current issue, as poverty grows, consumerism also does and we need to change that, or at least try to. You can wear that cute dress, but you will feel so ashamed thinking about the little girl's sore hands who made it somewhere where people do not care about, where people are starving and there's no life, only darkness... However, we can change it if everyone realizes and their eyes' bandage is removed, maybe we might see a little hope in a broken world.
In conclusion, I do not know if there would be a solution to this way of living to be honest, shopping a few things may not seem something harmful, but it is when those who fabricated the things you buy have been starving for a week or more. Guns and knives are the most obvious weapons, but how about the blind and ignorant human being?
Nowadays, we live in a consumer society affected, especially, by capitalism. People want always more than they already have to the point of developing disorders related to shopping addiction, and companies or enterprises do not seem to care about people's health as long as their products are sold and they become richer.
In my opinion, I have to admit that occasionally I feel the urge to buy things in order to feel relieved. Sometimes, I'll only feel pretty if I wear new and trendy clothes, I'll only feel cool if I have the latest phone or the most famous mobile brand; that is how it works. Society is so shallow-minded that physical appearence will always be more important than how healthy we are mentally and it is so hopeless to live this way... The important thing is to realize that this is a current issue, as poverty grows, consumerism also does and we need to change that, or at least try to. You can wear that cute dress, but you will feel so ashamed thinking about the little girl's sore hands who made it somewhere where people do not care about, where people are starving and there's no life, only darkness... However, we can change it if everyone realizes and their eyes' bandage is removed, maybe we might see a little hope in a broken world.
In conclusion, I do not know if there would be a solution to this way of living to be honest, shopping a few things may not seem something harmful, but it is when those who fabricated the things you buy have been starving for a week or more. Guns and knives are the most obvious weapons, but how about the blind and ignorant human being?
Friday, November 9, 2018
Weekly Journal 17
A good friend:
Having friends who understand you and support you in whatever you do is the best thing ever. It is not necessary to have twenty friends if no one cares about you, as it is said, it is better quality than quantity. I may not be a person with many friends or, at least, not many I can trust, but I am absolutely lucky because I have really good friends.
One of my best friends is called Alicia. She's a year younger than me and we met not so long ago. Our story is quite funny because I was her 'fan' before we became friends: Alicia likes recording videos of her surroundings or landscapes and she puts music in the background. "Everyone does that", you may say, but she edits them in such a personal and creative way, added to the fact that she doesn't speak or show directly her face on them, that they are mesmerizing. At first, I only knew her because of her videos, however, in june 2018, a friend we had in common introduced us. Since that day, we haven't stopped talking a single one.
What is so special about her? She understands me like almost no one does. Moreover, she is a very caring person who has supported me in everything I do and plan to do. Also, we have the same sense of humor because we love being sarcastic and ironic. However, although we get along so well, we do not have almost anything in common: we don't like the same music genre or the same kind of movies. But that is not important when we understand each other so much.
This year, I moved to Murcia to study here and she stayed in our hometown, but the distance and our different schedule are not a problem when we are always talking and sending funny pictures to each other.
Having friends who understand you and support you in whatever you do is the best thing ever. It is not necessary to have twenty friends if no one cares about you, as it is said, it is better quality than quantity. I may not be a person with many friends or, at least, not many I can trust, but I am absolutely lucky because I have really good friends.
One of my best friends is called Alicia. She's a year younger than me and we met not so long ago. Our story is quite funny because I was her 'fan' before we became friends: Alicia likes recording videos of her surroundings or landscapes and she puts music in the background. "Everyone does that", you may say, but she edits them in such a personal and creative way, added to the fact that she doesn't speak or show directly her face on them, that they are mesmerizing. At first, I only knew her because of her videos, however, in june 2018, a friend we had in common introduced us. Since that day, we haven't stopped talking a single one.
What is so special about her? She understands me like almost no one does. Moreover, she is a very caring person who has supported me in everything I do and plan to do. Also, we have the same sense of humor because we love being sarcastic and ironic. However, although we get along so well, we do not have almost anything in common: we don't like the same music genre or the same kind of movies. But that is not important when we understand each other so much.
This year, I moved to Murcia to study here and she stayed in our hometown, but the distance and our different schedule are not a problem when we are always talking and sending funny pictures to each other.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Weekly Journal 16
The right age to get married:
During history, marriage has been an important issue to create alliances and consolidate kingdoms. A lot of young girls have suffered all their lives because of arranged marriages and, now that we are able to choose who we marry and when, many people discuss what is the right age to get married.
Straight to the main point, I do not consider there is a right age to get married. Men and women should be able to choose the time they are most comfortable with to do it, without any social pressure. Socially, it is judged whether women should take that step before they are left on the shelf. Of course, there should be a limited age to walk down the aisle and for me it would be the arrival of adulthood, with 18 years old, because I do not consider lawful to minors espousing at such a young age, when they may not be mature enough to take that decision.
In conclusion, people shouldn't feel pressured to get married because we are in the 21st century and, as much as we presume to be very advanced now, we should be able to choose whether we want to marry or not.
During history, marriage has been an important issue to create alliances and consolidate kingdoms. A lot of young girls have suffered all their lives because of arranged marriages and, now that we are able to choose who we marry and when, many people discuss what is the right age to get married.
Straight to the main point, I do not consider there is a right age to get married. Men and women should be able to choose the time they are most comfortable with to do it, without any social pressure. Socially, it is judged whether women should take that step before they are left on the shelf. Of course, there should be a limited age to walk down the aisle and for me it would be the arrival of adulthood, with 18 years old, because I do not consider lawful to minors espousing at such a young age, when they may not be mature enough to take that decision.
In conclusion, people shouldn't feel pressured to get married because we are in the 21st century and, as much as we presume to be very advanced now, we should be able to choose whether we want to marry or not.
Weekly Journal 15
Teenagers:
Ever since I was a child I haven't heard anything but negative points of adolescence coming especially from adults. But, why is that so? Why do adults think so negatively of teenagers?
By way of introduction, I'd like to say that I've seen all kinds of teenagers: mature, childish, responsible and lost ones. First and foremost, people may say that we are all lazy and demotivated, that we only like partying, drinking and taking drugs. It is true that it's becoming quite normal drinking and taking drugs as a way of coping with life, but isn't that alarming?
On the one hand there are teenagers whose only purpose in life is having a good time and spending their money on useless things. Notwithstanding that, most of us cannot aspire to a good job or a good life because rich people are the ones who get to know what success is, and only a few lucky poors. Because we are so sensitive that we cannot stand watching what is happening in the news. "The offended generation" is what some call us, but, at least, we care about discriminated collectives and how racist, homophobic or sexist jokes feel to them.
To sum up, we are glad to be the offended generation, because if offended means caring and empathetic, yes, we are that, and we are going to keep fighting against injustice so when we become adults, teenagers at that time can enjoy life in its fullness instead of trying to fix society.
Ever since I was a child I haven't heard anything but negative points of adolescence coming especially from adults. But, why is that so? Why do adults think so negatively of teenagers?
By way of introduction, I'd like to say that I've seen all kinds of teenagers: mature, childish, responsible and lost ones. First and foremost, people may say that we are all lazy and demotivated, that we only like partying, drinking and taking drugs. It is true that it's becoming quite normal drinking and taking drugs as a way of coping with life, but isn't that alarming?
On the one hand there are teenagers whose only purpose in life is having a good time and spending their money on useless things. Notwithstanding that, most of us cannot aspire to a good job or a good life because rich people are the ones who get to know what success is, and only a few lucky poors. Because we are so sensitive that we cannot stand watching what is happening in the news. "The offended generation" is what some call us, but, at least, we care about discriminated collectives and how racist, homophobic or sexist jokes feel to them.
To sum up, we are glad to be the offended generation, because if offended means caring and empathetic, yes, we are that, and we are going to keep fighting against injustice so when we become adults, teenagers at that time can enjoy life in its fullness instead of trying to fix society.
Weekly Journal 14
Cell phones:
Everybody knows what a cell phone is and almost everybody has one at present. Having and using a cell phone has become a moot point between people, but why? What is the reason why there are so many people for and against them?
From children to elders, you can see all kinds of people using a cell phone. However, it is important to know that they are full of advantages and drawbacks. First of all, you can communicate whenever and wherever you want with everyone. Also, you can listen to music, read books and watch movies or series with your own cell phone. Moreover, there is Wi-Fi everywhere for you to connect and use it. You can have every knowledge you want quickly!
On the other hand, the bad use of cell phones can lead to serious consequences. For example, spreading private information of certain people without their consent. There have been a lot of cases of cyber-bullying because of the spread of personal images and videos too. Furthermore, controlling and stalking has become very usual between youngsters, especially in toxic relationships, through phones.
In conclusion, we should all know how, when and where to use cell phones. There are basic manners and we should be able to understand and follow them easily. Finally, it is necessary to be careful with cell phones because as well as they can be our best allies, they can also be powerful and dangerous weapons.
Everybody knows what a cell phone is and almost everybody has one at present. Having and using a cell phone has become a moot point between people, but why? What is the reason why there are so many people for and against them?
From children to elders, you can see all kinds of people using a cell phone. However, it is important to know that they are full of advantages and drawbacks. First of all, you can communicate whenever and wherever you want with everyone. Also, you can listen to music, read books and watch movies or series with your own cell phone. Moreover, there is Wi-Fi everywhere for you to connect and use it. You can have every knowledge you want quickly!
On the other hand, the bad use of cell phones can lead to serious consequences. For example, spreading private information of certain people without their consent. There have been a lot of cases of cyber-bullying because of the spread of personal images and videos too. Furthermore, controlling and stalking has become very usual between youngsters, especially in toxic relationships, through phones.
In conclusion, we should all know how, when and where to use cell phones. There are basic manners and we should be able to understand and follow them easily. Finally, it is necessary to be careful with cell phones because as well as they can be our best allies, they can also be powerful and dangerous weapons.
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