Youthpass, cultural awareness and expression

Hey shells! How you doin'?

This is (for real) the last post about Youthpass (if we don't count the one about the next training in Nottingham. And I don't count it because it will have things about everything, not only Youthpass so... Last one!)

Last one, and my days are going to an end. I have a looooot of plans for the last two weeks and a half. But my first one is to finish the posts about the Youthpass and the write the real one.

Today compenteces are cultural awareness and expression. How I found the host country, if I had any cultural problems, how I expressed myself during the project, if I used verbal comunication or not, if I used creativity like drawings or other forms. Let's go to the questions!

How willing was I to get involved in new forms of cultural experience?

I tried to get involved as much as I could but it was difficult because of the timetables. I used to have my lunch or dinner too late for this country or I went out with my friends and everything is closed at 3. It was really difficult.

When was I able to use different media and forms of expression (e.g. verbal, drwaing, body...) to express myself in different situations?

I'm lucky because my project was about media. Although, I didn't express myself, studients from CWP did. The use the media to say whatever they wanted to say. I just tried to comunicate myself with words, talking or writing this blog.

Which skills did I improve?

I improved my technic skills related to video or graphic design (or layout, I don't really know where I fit in this world). Also, I improved my writing in English and I'm more open-minded (I know it's not a skill but it's useful anyway).

Which differences and similarities did I identify between the host country's culture and my home culture?

This question reminds me my first writing for my English classes here. It was more than eight months ago! But my summary about the differences is this: workers here are kind but not in Spain, it's difficult to make friends in Preston if you are not studient. Here, they live to work but not in Spain. We work to live. We go out late and if we have to get up early next day it doesn't matter. We cook but here it's more about take aways. Something similar? Download from the Internet.

Did I experience situations where I could not understand/deal with the host country's culture? How did I resolve this situation?

I really REALLY HATE that evertything is closed at 6. Really. I can't understand. I tried to do everything I need before that time but it makes your day eternal. You feel like you have been awake for ages! At 7pm, you feel like it's 10pm and you want to go to bed but you don't because it's a shame! Other days, you don't know if some restaurant would be open at 3 because it's too late to have lunch in this country. But everything is open on Sundays. Not everything is so bad, I guess.

Did I increase my ability to cope with new situations?

Definitely. I did papework, I stayed at home becuase I had to wait for the postman, the plumber or the electrician. I went to the bank to deposit a check (A CHECK!). I made videos without understand at 100% what they were saying. I traveled alone. Definitely, I did increase my ability to cope with new situations.

Which major changes have I become aware of?

Everything I said before and more. Like I don't really mind what is in my plate when I eat (only if it's red onion. I hate red onion). I realize I like to walk alone on the streets. Also, I don't mind if I go out and there are people that I don't know or if I have to wait alone in a pub (although it doesn't happend a lot because I'm always late). I changes in a lot of different things.

What does it mean for my life in future?

Simply, I'm more independent now. Although, I won't say no to my mom's meals because I hate cooking. See? Another thing I learned during my project. Before, I was only lazy. Now I hate it.

Ey, it's not that bad for the last one, is it? And my conclusion is that I'm more self-sufficient. Look at me! I'm a grown girl now! (sometimes).

Next post would be lighter! I will tell you what I'm doing now in CWP and my weekend in Blackpool and what I expect for the next week (with the training and my journey to London).

We will read each other in Preston (con amor).

Youthpass, sense of initiative and entrepreneurship

Hey there! I'm back!

This is almost the last post about Youthpass (YEY!). You can't say that I'm not working hard in the blog (everything I didn't do during summer time...)

So today's post is about initiative and entrepreneurship, and the name it's cool because I don't have to explain what I'm going to say about it. But I'm going to do it anyway. They want me to say if I did my own project during mi EVS (because you know that EVSs have the oportunity of doing another project by themself). If I've done something out of the general project. Can we start with the questions?

Wich tasks did I take up during the EVS project; did I propose things that I could put into practice - my 'own' project?

I thought about it. You know that I thought about it and I had a list with interesting themes to do the documentary I had on mind. But then, CSV closed and my 'own project' change and I didn't do it anymore. But you know that I do half of the things that I say I'm going to do.

How did my understanding of the practice and principles of project management increase in the EVS project?

My undersanding of the practice increased a lot. And my principles of the project management were like I thought they would be after my interview with my sending organization. More or less.

When did I take risks? And what did I learn in the process?

I took the risks the same day I decided I was going to do an EVS project in another country. And I've learned a lot. It doesn't matter if things don't go well in the beginning, there is always another way. Oh God, it sounds like I'm growing up. DON'T LET ME GROW UP!

What chances did I take to express my creativity, to use new knowledge and skills gained during the EVS project?

I always try to take advantage of the things that I learn (that's why I learn them). I don't like loose my time. And I think that I've learned that I am creative. Like, so creative. I only have to learn how to use it.

How will I use the concepts of other working styles, cultures and innovation in future?

I can't see the future (for now). But I will use them as best as I can.

Did I see and seize opportunities for cooperation or networking in the future? Make contacts that could be useful for my future - (job related, common projects, etc.)?

Everyone you meet could be useful in the future, why not?

People! I'm so bored writing posts about Youthpass I wanna die right now. But don't worry, the next one will be the last one! FINALLY!

Youthpass, social and civic competence

Hello shells! You alright?

I promise, this is almost the last one. I'm sure you find this boooring (and I'm sure because it's booooring write it so...) Today we are going to talk about social and civic competences. You know, friends and interculture. This is going to be great, let's go to the questions.

*Social and intercultural competences

How did I make new friends? What went well? What did not develope well?

Basically, coachsurfing. And it works, everything went well.

How did I identify different habits in the host community? How did I cope with them?

I identified them observing and looking around me. And I cope with then as best as I could. Like, going out without coat, or don't eat bread, or don't ear a lot, or have lunch at 12 and dinner at 7, or drink a lot, or have always an umbrella near me, or put the rubbish out only once per week, or don't have Colacao... I do what I can.

Did I take the initiative, go towards others and support others?

I don't think so, I don't think it's my style.

When was I most succesful in communicating with others here?

I'm not going to put this on my Youthpass, but with a beer on my hands. Meeting people in pubs is the best idea ever!

How did I present my own cultural background in the host community? How did I experience theirs?

I tried to change and stop comparing Spain and England all the time (like, everytime I'm doing something and I said, "oh, this in Spain is different"). We all do it and it's not cool because you realize how many things you miss. And that's not cool. And my experience with English culture is a love-hate relationship. But I think most of this kind of relationships are. I mean, there are things about this country that I love but there are much more that I don't. For example, I love that people here don't kiss each other everytime they meet. But I don't like to shake hands when you are introducing yourself. I'm special.

How was my intercultural learning process during the EVS project?

IT WAS AWSOME!!! I mean, I've met people from a lot of different countries, with different culture, different language, different food and different religions. Really. It's one of the best things I got from my EVS. I have friends all over the world now! HOW COOL IS THAT

 How did I deal with the cultural shock (if I faced one)?

Drinking (another thing that I can't put in my Youthpass) with friends.

How did I deal with conflicts? How did I resolve them?

I don't think I had social conflicts. But if I had, I changed the issue and that's all. 

How did I improve my ability to work in a team?

With pacience. Really. But I learned that I can do good things if I'm pacience. And that's good because I didn't even know that I could be pacient. 

Which other social competences did I develop during the year?

I've learned that I can ask someone when I don't know something. Although i'm really bad with questions in English. Why the hell do you have to change the sites of the words?

To what extent did I increase cultural self-awareness: being more aware of my own cultural values, norms and stereotypes and the effect of communication with foreigners?

Everything changed. I left Spain hating it but now I miss it. That doesn't mean that I love it  now (because that's not happening. NEVER). Also, I thought that foreing people would think about us differently (in a bad way) but not. Stereotypes exists: paella, sangría and siesta. That's all.

To what extent I develop intercultural sensitivity, flexibility and an enhanced understanding of difference?

I always try to work in my tolerance because I consider it necessary for everyone. And it's not easy. But this EVS has helped me with it.

*Civic competences

How much was I actively involved in the EVS project?

I don't think I'm the one who has to answer this but I tried to help as much as I could, in things not related to my project too. That's why we are volunteers.

Did I find out how to influence developments in the organization/in the community? Did I use this knowledge? 

Not at all. 

When did I participate in decision-making within the EVS project?

I have no idea. I don't think I have decided anything in my project.

How did I take into account different opinions? How did they change my view of my own country,  of the host country, of teh European developments?

It depends. If the opinions are about my or something only for me, I don't care. If it's working in a team, I try to listen to everyone because I want the job with a little bit of everyone on it. My view has changed, I said this before.

How did my knowledge of national and/or local/National/European policies and structures increase?

My knowledge about Europe and UK has increased a lot, but that wasn't difficult because I didn't know anything about them. About my country, nothing new, it's rubbish and the goverment is doing it worse.

So, I wasn't this kind before my EVS so it has change me in a good way. I have more friends from more places. I have new knowledge about UK. I drunk beers and (sometimes) cyders (puaj). And then, I discoverd that I can be creative and I can tolerate other people's opinion (although I don't really mind...).

It's not taht bad, is it?

Youthpass, learning to learn

Hey shells!! How is it going!?

I'm back with more Youthpass. The good news is that we are near the end. The bad one is that next week I'm going to my mid-training in Nottingham, so I will write more posts about this. I'm sorry but this things happen. You have to think that this is our last month!

We can start with the next competence: learning to learn. It sounds like a tongue-twister but maybe if I explain myself better you will see that it make sense. If you read the Youthpass website (again, I know), learning to learn is about your learning process during your project, how it was, if that new knowledge will be useful in my future. That kind of things. Let's go to the questions.

What does learning mean to me in general? What are my experiences so far?

 I've been studing all my life until now and I don't think it's going to change (and I don't know if I want to). Maye it's because I want to find a job because of my skills and right now I don't feel like I can. I'm feeling useless and I want to try to improve to find a good job. And if that day arrives (because, you know, I'm Spanish and all...) who knows what will happend. Anyway, my experience so far has been more or less good. I mean, my knowledge is because of good teachers that I don't remember. But I can tell you exactly the names of the teachers that made me loose my time. And that is unforgivable.

What are/were my learning goals within my EVS project? How did they change (if at all)? How will/did I reach them?

My first goal was to learn English and I know that I could have done that somewhere else and not in a EVS. But I found a project about my degree and I thought that it would be the perfect moment to do it. And it was the best decision ever! Once I arrived here, my goals changed and I was more interested in media. My English is much better than the first day but now I know much more things about record and edit video, so I think I reached my goals!

How do I want to learn? How did I learn?

At this point of my life, I don't want to learn studing. I want to learn and that's all. I want to learn living. No more text books for me (although I wouldn't mind study Filosophy). I've learned with a book in my hand all my life and it doesn't work anymore. I need one step more!

Which activities in the EVS project motivated me most in my learning?

Everything related to media. Cameras, edition, production, sound...

Where did my skills and knowledge improve?

Especially, my skills. Althoug if you want to improve your skill, you need the knowledge first. So, technically, I improved both. I don't know. I improved both. ¿Or what? ¿Can I say this? Both is good.

Which methods do I want to/ did I use to evaluate what I learned?

Methods? Things go well or wrong. I don't have any method. If the TV Show goes well is because we have done it well. If you can see and listen to the video properly it's because my work is good.

Which learning style do I prefer: learning by doing, by reading and thinking, by observing? How did I experience new ways of learning due to limited communication?

Learning doing things is always better (wink). But I don't think I've learned something in a different way because of limite communication. I'm a good oberver, you know...

How did I explore different ways of learning compared to learning in school and university?

Is it me or all questions are the same one but written different? Sooooooooo, you know, more practice and... Yeah. I think I've said this before... 

Why is this learning importante for the next stages in my life?

I think learning is important in general, to know something more will make things easier.

How did I use what I learned?

I'm Spanish, I don't really know if I will be able to use it in the future.

How did I deal with challenges in my learning process? How do I motivate myself to deal with obstacles and continue learning?

This question is too deep for me. I don't know mate. I try to solve my problems searching in Google (bless you, Google) because Google knows everything. I don't need motivation, I just need to finish everything I start, And if I can do it perfect, better.

Definitely, I've learned a lot. A LOT. Congratulations, your money was worthy. Although I think I will have to write a longer paragraph for my Youthpass... Damn it...

Youthpass, digital competence

Hello shells! How you doin? Today, we start with the interesting thing! 

Today's competence is my favourite competence EVER: digital competence. YEY! If you read the Youthpass website, it says that you have to talk about how you use the communication technologies related to your background and your knowledge. So I will love it. Not just because most of us spend most of our time using computers but because my project is about media. This is going to be amazing!

What information sources did I use to prepare myself for the EVS project?

My best one was my friend Gallo, who send me the application for this project and who did her EVS in Sweden. I used Google too (is Google a source or is the way to get the source? Anyway, you know what I mean). Also, I found a lot of information about EVS in my sending organisation website, Mundus.

*This is my friend Ga, just in case you don't know how she is. I tried to find a proper picture about us but it was surprisingly difficult. So, I just pick two of them and if you put them together it looks like one good. So cute my Ga...

To what extent did I communicate with the sending and the host organisation using the internet before the EVS project?

Everytime I talked with them (both of them) was through the Internet. Because the phone is oldfashion and I don't know how to use Skype properly. Althought, I talked with my sending organisation using Skype twice or three times, I think. So lovely.

Did I use communication technologies and communication during the EVS project? How and what did I learn?

Yes. It was the most important part of my project. I tried to help as much as possible preparing a TV Shown from time to time and with everything related to media in general. And I've learned A LOT, most of it in practice. Because you know how University works, you finished with a lot of books but any practice. This project was really really helpful, with how to use cameras and editing video and photograps. Also, I learned a lot writing this amazing blog (although I would have learned much more in Wordpress but I like easy things, don't blame me!)

To what extent did I communicate with my family, friends or other volunteers durin the time I spent in the host country?

Most of my communication has been through Internet (it's free!) with my family and friends. But with other volunteers that I met in our training in Nottingham as well (and I hope to see all of them in out next training next week). But Internet was the key in my communication, at least until today

What did I learn about computer use in other countries here?

Is not the same? I don't know. The English keyboard is rubbish because you can't put accents with it and I look like an idiot writing in Spanish. 

How did I deal critically with knowledge available on the Internet?

Really? I studied Audiovisual Communication. If they teach you something in that deggre is:

1) Wikipedia is not everything.

2) Copy is bad. (And illegal, sometimes).

3)Not everything that media says is true. You have to contrast it.

4)Not everything in Twitter is true. You have to check it.

This question offends me.

How did I learn to use online resources for my EVS project?

I learned them studing. A lot. But believe me, nobody studies because they want to do an EVS (I'm not complaining about anything, it's just that I wouldn'y be here if I would have a job).

So, digital competences. They were the most important part in my project here, in Preston. Also, I studied most of the communication technologies in University, so I have improved my knowledge here. And I feel very proud of it! Will it be useful in the future? Who knows, probably not as much as my vague English. But it's always cool to learn something new!

So, do you know which competence will be the next? Learning to learn! Yeah! It sounds HORRIBLE! Don't let me alone, see you in the next one!

Youthpass, mathematical competence and basic competence in science and technology

Hello shells! I'm back!

Yes, you are reading right. Mathematical, scientific and technological competences. Yes, I studied humanities. Yes, I've got no idea what to say in this competence. This is going to be funny.

If you read the Youthpass website, this is about how you solve your problems with logic and deduction during your project. Or something like that, I have no idea about this... So, let's go to the questions!

When did I use my mathematical competence during the EVS project?

First of all, I don't have a mathematical competence at all. Second, I tried to use my non-existent mathematical competence when I went shopping but I didn't understand anything so I just started paying with notes (only with notes).

How did I solve problems/challenges related to the EVS project when I faced them? Which skills did I use and improve?

Well, with the problem paying only with notes, I solved it keeping coins of 20,10 and 5 pences that I will never use and they are heavy as hell. But possibly, I'm more patient. Wait, is the pacience a skill...?

Could I use logical thinking in specific situations? How did I use them?

I guess that you can use logical thinking for everything. Do I use it? Maybe, probably not. Or I don't use it knowingly. What if a programme doesn't work? The logic thing is to restart it. What if one of the students has a bad day and doesn't want to work? The logic thing is leave the student alone for that day. What if your kitchen is full of smoke? The logic thing is open the window, but our window has a wall so the logic thing is to open the door. See? I'm super logic!

Did I learn to use strategic thinking when I developed parts of the project? How did I use it?

Let me think... I've been always really bad with strategic. I think I didn't use it during this project. But, does it count if you think how to organize yourself to not use the stairs at home more than twice per day because you are lazy and you HATE stairs? I think so, don't you? I hope so, because I'm quite proud of it...

How did I deduce logical conclusions based on practical arguments/experiences? And how did I test a `theory´in practice?

I've read the question five times in English, and then I've translate it because I didn't understand anything. I'm still reading it and I still don't understand it.
If I have a conclusion from my experiences here? Yeeeeeeees, there is always someone with bigger problems than yours. Does it count? I guess the correct answer is something like "I realize that if you start working soon enough, you have time to get a proper work and without stress about it" or something like that. But I already knew that so...
And theories? I have a looooooooooot of theories. And all of them are really good (do you remember my theory about lips? Maybe I should translate it) But I don't want to test them because I'm happy with my theories and I don't want to ruin them. Let me be happy with my theories!

How did I learn to use technology availabre for specific parts during the EVS project?

ForGodsake, now that we are in the technological part, it's the last question... I've learned to use a loooooooooot of diferent junky things! Projectors, scanners, printers...

In the end, I think I'm not going to put this part on my Youthpass... What do you think?!

Youthpass, communication in foreign language

Hello shells! Here I am again with more Youthpass. I'm sure you love it! (Irony)

Today, I bring the second key competence of the Youthpass: communication in foreign languages. And this is the moment when I have to feel very very very very lucky, because my project is in England and it's not in another country (where I should have studied a new language). I only had to improve my English (because when I arrived here I thought that my English would be good enough but it wasn't). I'm going to sum up a little my relationship with English. Questions:

How well did I use the host country's language?

Well, I'm doing my bests...

What difficulties did I experience in communicating? How did I overcome those difficulties?

As you know, I had problems with the accent from here, And as you well know, I used my partners as translators. (Not sorry).

How creative was I in explaining things if I didn't find the correct word?

A little bit of Tabú here and a little of mimic there. But if you really need it, you can always maje yourself understandable. And if they want, they will understand you.

Did I also have a go at writing?

My writing is so much better than my speaking that I'm not worried about it. I have much more practice with it and I spend a lot of time reading in English It helps a lot.

Where did I identify most differences between my mother thongue and the newly learned language?

Especially, with the tenses (they get me crazy), possibly with phrasal verbs too (most of English people don't know what a phrasal verb is, I HATE phrasal verbs) and how you put the words in a sentence. But nothing that I can't improve quickly.

Did I learn something in terms of my communication style?

My English in general is OK and it has improved a lot, so my communication style is better. But if I have to talk about something particular, as you know I have a little freak inside me, and I would like to say that my listening has improved so much that I can watch TV or online interviews without subtitles and also I can understand songs without look for the lyrics on the Internet. And I'm REALLY proud if it.

Did I learn something about cultural aspects of communication in the host country?

I learned that most of our gestures don't mean anything in UK, I learned that when they are kidding they say that they are kidding, and the use too mucho words like thank you or sorry. So nothing that I didn't say before in this blog.

In the end, after half of your life studing English, you arrive at UK thinking that you won't have any problems with the language, and then you realize that neither you don't understand nor speak at all. And then, your English improves in one month much more than it improved in ten years. And then you go back home and forget everything. It's life!

Don't worry, the next key competences are funnier. I promise! For now til the end, it will be everything unicorns and rainbows! Wait and see!

Youthpass, communication in the mother tongue

¡Hello shells!

As I told you yesterday, I keep working on my Youthpass because I want to finish it before I go back home. Also, you know that I want to write about everything I have learned during my EVS Project here.

As you can see in the Youthpass website, they give you some guides to help you writing the document, so I will be answering that questions just to make this as less boring as I can. After the questions, I will add one paragraph suming up the principal idea. I promise, I will try to do this entertaining.

I want to remind you that the Youthpass has eight key competences and the first one is communiation in the mother tongue. And you are wondering, why do they have one competence about the mother tongue if you are in a different country with a diferente language where you are not using yours? Good question. I have no idea. And the worst thing is that Bob explained us this part in our training in Nottingham, but I can’t remember anything because I was going out every night with the other EVS. I just remember Bob asking the same question, why the Youthpass has this part? And that is my final memory. Well, not the last one. The last one is myself thinking “I should write this, it looks important”. And here we are! Six months later!

Anyway, let’s go back to the principal issue here. If you read the Youthpass website, I understand that, in this competence, you have to share how you have used your mother tongue in UK and how you think in your language, now that you are learning another new one. Let’s move to the questions:

 What difficulties did I experience in communicating? How did I overcome those difficulties?

I’ve been really lucky since the beginning so every time I had a problem I sorted it out easily. At first, I had problems with the Prestonian accent but, lucky me, most of my partners in the project were Spaniards. Yes, I used them as translators. But, you know, I’ll scratch your back and you’ll scratch mine. I’ve been translating things for someone else too, and I’m quite proud of that!

 What opportunities did I have to use my mother tongue? How well did others understand me?

Well, I’ve been living with Spaniards so, I had a looooot of opportunities and we understand each other perfectly. But I had the opportunity of speak Spanish with people from different countries and, surprisingly, we understand each other as well!! My Spanish is on fire!

 To what extent did I develop my communication skills in general? In what way?

My communication skills have improved aaaa loooot. And the reason is that you have to find different ways of explain yourself to someone who doesn’t understand you, using different words or simply using non-verbal communication. I’m such an artist!

 How did I adapt my language to the level of the people I was speaking to? Did I make other people fell OK?

One of the most important things I’ve learned here is to not feel ashamed if you need to ask someone to speak slower because you don’t understand them. I mean, I didn’t need it with my partners because we all had the same spanish level but, if I was speaking with other people in Spanish, I tried to speak slowly because I know how hard it is. And I don’t think I made them feel bad. When someone speak slow is becuase they are trying to make themself understandable and, believe me, I’m very grateful when someone does that! Never feel bad if you need to ask someone to repeat something they have said!

About not speaking perfectly, what was – for them- a foreing language?

Spanish rules!

Has benefited me that most of my colleagues were Spanish? Definitely, but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t have problems trying to communicate with someone.

Finally, and advice. If you think that the people who have English as their mother tongue are lucky: yes they are. But most of them don’t speak another language. Don’t forget that you can make yourself understandable (almost everywhere) with your Spanish and your 4-words-English. But, if you don’t feel that way, don’t stop there. Try to learn and improve. KEEP MOVING!

La cuenta atrás: Youthpass

¡Hola caracolas! ¿Cómo va eso? ¡Feliz entrada de octubre para todos! Mi cuenta atrás para mi vuelta a casa ha comenzado. Y como los días de este blog están contados (lo sé, lo echaréis de menos, yo también) quiero pasar sus últimos días escribiendo entradas un poco serias, en inglés y en español. 

Como muchos sabéis, al final de un EVS, los voluntarios tenemos que escribir una especie de memoria de proyecto (llamado Youthpass) que trata de recoger todo lo que has aprendido durante tu voluntariado: nuevos conocimientos, nuevas competencias y habilidades, etc. 

El Youthpass se divide en ocho diferentes partes (que ahora listaré) y tengo la suerte de que la mayoría de esas partes son sobre comunicación (que ya sabéis que es lo mio).  Con cada punto de la siguiente lista, escribiré una entrada resumiendo lo que quiero poner en mi Youthpass y después, todas ellas irán enlazadas con esta misma entrada (para que podáis acceder desde aquí a la entrada que más os interese).

1. Comunicación en la lengua materna.
2. Comunicación en lenguas extranjeras.
3. Competencias matemáticas y competencias básicas en ciencia y tecnología.
4. Competencias digitales.
5. Aprendiendo a aprender.
6. Competencias sociales y cívicas.
7. Sentido de iniciativa y espíritu empresarial.
8. Conciencia cultural y expresión.

¡Ya veréis que bien nos lo vamos a pasar!

*English version under the cut!

Aprendamos todos juntos

¡Hola caracolas! 

Bueno, bueno, bueno... Espero que disfrutarais muy mucho de la entrada que escribió mi Ga. Yo creo que fue la caña. Pero aquí vuelvo yo a la carga, aprovechando un poco de tiempo libre en esta locura de mes. 

¿Recordáis que en mi última entrada os hablaba sobre las cosas que había aprendido? Pues he pensado que en esta os voy a hablar de lo que quiero aprender. Porque todavía queda mucho camino.

Lo primero es lo primero. Y lo primero que quiero aprender es a hablar inglés. Porque yo creo que voy a peor. Qué daño hace vivir con españoles. Ya se que dije que el idioma no lo es todo (porque no lo es) pero molaría mucho poder hablarlo, para qué os voy a engañar. Aunque me entienden. Y yo les entiendo.

Quiero aprender a trabajar sin música de fondo. No porque piense que es malo, si no porque cuando no tengo música de fondo, solo puedo pensar en ponerla y no me concentro. Y hay momentos en los que no puedo estar escuchando música. ¡Maldito cerebro!

Quiero aprender a hacer maletas ligeras. A poder vivir nueve meses con cuatro cosas y que no me importe. Irme de ruta un mes con una mochila y sobrevivir. Quiero dejar de amontonar cosas. Vale que yo las considere recuerdos y sea incapaz de tirarlas, pero a este paso voy a necesitar cuatro maletas para llevarlo todo a España. La parte positiva es que, si tengo tantas cosas y tantos recuerdos, es porque esta aventura ha merecido la pena.

Quiero aprender a llevar mis ideas a cabo. Porque sí, es genial ser creativa, pero si después las ideas solo se quedan en ideas, la cosa deja de tener gracia. Porque de mayor quiero ser artista.

Quiero aprender a tocar la armónica, a dibujar y a montar en monociclo. Y quiero aprender a vestir pantalones de talle alto, porque es muy british.

En definitiva, tengo muchas cosas que aprender, muchas cosas que ver y muchas cosas que leer. Pero vosotros no dejéis de leerme que vuestras visitas me llenan de orgullo y satisfacción.

Un enorme heart para vosotros. Nos leemos en Preston (con amor).

British Everywhere 5.0

¡Hola hola caracolas! ¿Cómo estáis?

Aquí os vengo con más cosas curiosas que voy encontrando por aquí. Cada vez me cuesta más encontrar diferencias, así que disfrutad, que puede que sea la última ;)

• Parkings: cuando vienes a Inglaterra, es terriblemente complicado encontrar un bloque de pisos. Y cuando lo encuentras y piensas "por fin algo alto en este país", entonces te das cuenta de que ese bloque no son pisos sino parkings. Porque aquí los parkings no son subterráneos. Son edificios.
• Carreteras: creo que en alguna ocasión os he comentado que aquí no hay pasos de cebra y que el coche tiene preferencia. Pero no se si os he comentado que es imposible cruzar una carretera de una vez si haces caso a los semáforos. Primero cruzas un carril y después el otro. Cuando uno está en verde, el otro está en rojo. Vamos, que o te lo saltas o te estas toda la tarde esperando.
• Cementerios: otra cosa que me ha llamado la atención, aunque suene un poco oscuro, es que los cementerios son super cuquis y en algunas iglesias están en la puerta. Tienes que cruzar el cementerio para entrar. Curioso. En mi cabeza me he hecho a la idea de que ese tipo de iglesias son protestantes, pero como no entiendo nada de nada, probablemente no tenga nada que ver.
• Single: esta es solo una teoría, no una curiosidad en sí misma. A veces tengo la extrañísima sensación que en este país está prohibido estar soltero. De verdad, parece que a los 24 ya tienes que estar a medio casar. Que depresión tan grande, otra razón para estar soltera toda la vida. Ir contra el sistema.
• Tea: esta seguro que ya os la sabéis y/o la he puesto en otro British Everywhere anterior pero es que sino se me queda un poco corta la entrada. Los ingleses hacen el té con un poco de leche. Ala, ya está.

Por ahora, esto es todo amigos. Volveré con más paranoias y vivencias. Y estoy pensando seriamente en abrir una sección nueva en la que habrá gente que escriba sobre el voluntariado y no seré yo. Ojo fuego.

Nos leemos pronto (en Preston, con amor)

Can you help

DARLINGS! I have missed you so much! But I'm back. No creáis que me he olvidado de vosotros, que no. Estaba haciendo un montón de cosas. De verdad. Ahora os lo voy a contar todo.

Llevo un par de días ayudando a Hilary (mi querida Hilary) con un grupo de gente que ha venido de diferentes partes de Europa del este (Eslovenia, Eslovaquia, Rep. Checa, Rumanía, Alemania, Malta... Bueno, vale, algunos no países no son de Europa del este, pero no me podréis negar que no estén al este de UK y de España, ¿no?). Forman parte de una organización (creo) que se dedica a enfocar los voluntariados desde un punto de vista más laboral (o lo que viene siendo lo mismo, no tengo ni idea de lo que hacen).

Algunos de ellos llegaron ayer a Preston y estuvimos visitando la ciudad (Harris Museum, market, Black Horse, Avenham Park...). Después fuimos a ver una casa muy antigua a las afueras (Samlesbury Hall) en la que no me enteré de mucho porque estaba un poco desconectada en general, pero que recuerdo que tenían algo relacionado con el Titanic (no me culpéis, era domingo). After that, nos fuimos a visitar Hoghton Tower (según Google, en North Preston). Es una casa fortificada en mitad de una montañita que tiene mucha historia pasada con reyes y escritores (Dickens y Shakespeare). Un sitio muy chulo, un guía muy aburrido y un frío del horror (porque solo a mi se me ocurre llevar vestido).

Esta mañana. Bank Holiday. A las 9 en el CSV para enseñar un poco lo que hacemos, después visitar Preston con alguno de ellos (mientras el resto del grupo trabaja en un report). Resultado: Avenham Park, Harris Museum, Black Horse, market... ¿Os suena? ¿Podéis adivinar dónde hemos estado esta tarde? BINGO: Hoghton Tower, pero esta vez, con un guía con una voz genial, que se le entendía todo y que era divertido. Algo es algo.

No puedo quejarme, estoy teniendo la oportunidad de conocer gente de sitios tan diferentes y estoy teniendo la oportunidad de aprender cosas tan geniales como que en Malta la educación pública es gratuita y que, no solo es gratuita, si no que te pagan por estudiar en la universidad. Sí, el cielo del estudiante existe y está en Malta. Con sus playas y eso.

Mañana será mas interesante porque vamos a visitar algunas charities donde nos van a explicar cómo funcionan, así que estaré encanta de contároslo todo después. Hasta entonces y para acabar, mirad lo que nos ha regalado un señor de Eslovenia esta mañana a todas las mujeres. Ojo, que pinta.

Nos leemos en Preston (CON AMOR)

PD: Acabo de cumplir mi tercer mes en Preston, ya solo me quedan 6.

You and me

Hey darling! How are you doing? :) I'm bakc with a post in English!

I was talking with Liv and Letizia the other day about how hard is to be you in a different country, with people who speak different languages. It made me think. And maybe it's true.

I have my way of speak in Spanish (with some expressions that I use a lot) that I don't know how to say in English (yet). On the other hand, I'm lucky because I can be "more myself" in other countries. I'm lucky to be more expressive with my face and my gestures than with my words. And I'm lucky because I was reading Menéame and I found an article about this theme.

It says that people who speak different languages, have a different personality for each one. It talks about some studies where linguists and sociolinguists found out that people answer different things for the same question when they use one language or another. It's quite interesting and it makes me feel like I'm not alone in this theory. It's really really difficult to be the same person when you can't explain yourself like you would do using your mother tongue.

Anyway, I leave you the article here. It's in Spanish but you can translate it with Google if you are interested in knowing what it says.

I know, this post is short. I know, I'm sorry, i should write more in English. Don't worry, I will come back with more things, I promise.

See you here, next time. In Preston (con amor)

We are the wild youth

Hello everyone! I'm here again! :)

Tengo millones de ideas para contaros aquí pero y millones de cosas que quiero decir. Se me está empezando a acumular información. Increíble.

Lo primero de todo, mi semana de vuelta en el CSV. Me está gustando, aunque no tengo mucho que hacer porque hay pocos students (a veces parece que hay más staff que learners), pero la parte positiva es que ahora estoy trabajando con algunos de ellos en concreto ayudándolos con sus tareas. Por ejemplo, ayer estuve con una chica haciendo retratos de algunos de nosotros para que después ella los convierta en animales haciendo una animación. Hoy he estado con otra chica buscando música que se escuchaba durante la Primera Guerra Mundial y después he ayudado a un chico a terminar un poster. Poca cosa, pero al menos estoy trabajando con ellos mano a mano. Y es bastante complicado explicar que tiene que hacer con términos técnicos que no tengo ni idea de cómo se dicen en inglés. Así que ¡aprendemos todos!

Ayer os hablé un poco de los documentales que empezamos a ver sobre la Primera Guerra Mundial y de cómo la idea de ir a la guerra me parece una idiotez. Pues hoy, casualidades de la vida, he encontrado una entrada en el blog Quinta Temporada que habla sobre una miniserie alemana basada en la Segunda Guerra Mundial y el primer párrafo me ha parecido bastante apropiado para lo que dije ayer:

Lo más inquietante de Hijos del Tercer Reich es darte cuenta de que serías capaz de lo peor. De que dispararías a personas como tú en el frente, fusilarías a familias enteras de inocentes a la orden de “fuego”, delatarías a una judía que lo oculta, quemarías casas de civiles, dejarías pasar los trenes de la muerte. Lo harías, sí, aunque ahora no lo creas, aunque te resulte inconcebible, lo harías si la circunstancia te empujara a ello, si el contexto no te diera elección, si estuvieras bajo gran presión y temieras por tu supervivencia. “La guerra te hará un hombre”, le dice su padre al soldado Friedhelm Winter; pero el chico le responde rotundo: “La guerra sacará lo peor de nosotros”. Es así.

Así que ahora, además de querer ver la serie y de ponérmela en pendientes en Series.ly, me hace reflexionar mucho más de hasta dónde somos capaces de llegar por nuestra supervivencia. Eso sí, ¿hablarán del motivo que nos lleva a ponernos en esa situación límite? Veré la serie y volveré con más cosas para contaros. 

Dejemos las guerras de lado un poco y seamos positivos. Hoy ha vuelto Hillary y sus clases de inglés. De verdad que me encantan. Es lo mejor del CSV. Me mata de amor. Eso sí, tengo un montón de tarea de inglés para la semana que viene (todo writings). Además de los tres writings para ella, tengo que escribir una entrada para el blog en inglés (sobre cómo algunos de nosotros creemos que no puedes ser tú mismo con gente que no habla el mismo idioma que tú, o al menos hasta que consigues dominar su idioma) y tengo que escribir el guión para mi vídeo sobre la estación de buses.

Hablando de mi vídeo, estoy pensando en incluir fotografías de la estación en el "pasado" (lo entrecomillo porque fue constuída en 1969, que tampoco es que tenga demasiada historia a sus espaldas). Lo que estoy pensando es si quiero hacer las cosas bien y pedir permiso para usar las fotografías o jugármela y hacerlo a lo loco. Por ahora he encontrado muchas fotos que me sirven pero creo que será difícil encontrar a quién las hizo. Qué estrés. Y definitivamente, creo que prefiero que alguien de habla inglesa locute mi vídeo. Todavía estoy por decidir si quiero que lo haga una chica o un chico. Pero primero tengo que grabar.

¿Qué más contaros? Que he recuperado mi cuenta de Spotify y que, para celebrarlo, estoy pensando en crear una playlist con las canciones que me manda Carl. Pero primero tengo que buscarlas todas y buscar como puedo poner la lista fija en mi blog (sin tener que ponerla en una entrada).

¿Veis como estoy a tope de cosas? ¡No me puedo quejar!

Prometo volver con más cosas, no me abandonéis :)

PD: Hoy es el último día para que me enviéis vuestros diseños para el concurso. Dentro de poco colgaré todos los diseños y la encuesta para qué votéis cuál os gusta más.

Nos leemos en Preston (CON AMOR)

Terminar o empezar

Hello there! How you doing! (Wink)

Esta semana os voy a meter cañita con el blog porque seguro que la semana que viene me da un bajón de visitas (las cuales pienso recuperar con mis entradas sobre Londres en cuanto vuelva). Considerad la semana que viene como semana para que rematéis el diseño que me vais a mandar para participar en el concurso... ¿Eh? ¿Eh? :)

Lo primero de todo. Ventajas e inconvenientes de ser impulsiva:

• Ventaja: no pierdo el tiempo pensando en las cosas que hago.
• Inconveniente: hago estupideces
• Ventaja: que me voy a pasar un finde de fiesta en Londres en octubre, antes de volver a Burgos.
• Inconveniente: seis horas de viaje de ida y seis horas de viaje de vuelta en tres días.
• Ventaja: como el concierto es en octubre y estamos en abril, el viaje me va a salir super barato.
• Inconveniente: lo que no me gasto en el viaje, me lo voy a gastar en conciertos (esto no se si es un inconveniente, en realidad...).
• Ventaja: voy a ver a Vetusta en Londres. Y seguro que a alguien más.
• Ventaja: mi reencuentro con Gracia después del training :)
• Ventaja: nunca me arrepiento de mis arrebatos imprevisibles.
• Ventaja: a saber a qué más lugares me llevo a mi misma.

Y parece ser que hoy ha sido mi última clase de inglés en UCLAN (un saludo a mis chicos españoles que han ido a todas las clases de inglés, incluidas las que yo me saltaba. Si me seguís leyendo y queréis hacer un finde de fiesta española por Preston, mandadme un privi al Facebook). Estoy super triste, ya no volveré a ver al profe buenorro y además ya no voy a aprender más inglés (que es totalmente secundario). Que noooo, que es bromi, que eran super útiles. Sobre todo porque la mayoría era sobre media y aprendía un montón de vocabulario del mundillo. Lo echaré de menos.

He descubierto que Kling hace envíos gratuitos a Inglaterra. Va a ser mi perdición, sobre todo teniendo una Visa que brilla. Tengo que elegir entre 21 cosas que me gustan y de las que solo puedo comprarme, como mucho, tres. Voy a llorar descartando prendas. ¿Cómo lo hago?

Por cierto, empiezo a estar obsesionada con una cosa que nos dijo Bob, que al principio me pareció graciosa y ahora me llama mucho la atención porque antes del training no lo había notado. Y es que resulta que los ingleses son unos vagos hablando y no pronuncian las "t" cuando están en medio de una palabra. Simplemente hacen una pausa y parece que se estuvieran ahogando. Cosa que me parece mucho más difícil de hacer que pronunciar la "t". Por ejemplo: en vez de bottle of water ellos dicen bo-el of wa-er; en vez de computer dicen compu-er, en lugar de button ellos dicen bo-om. En fin, locuras inglesas. Pero ahora cada vez que lo escucho lo noto mogollón. Pero mucho, mucho. Eso y que, aquí, el acento no les permite pronunciar las "us" como si fueran "as" que es lo que nos enseñan en el colegio de toda la vida. Por ejemplo, dicen pub (literalmente) en vez de pab, o dicen yung (young) en vez de yang, o dicen husband (literalmente) en vez de hasband. Y eso es lo que voy aprendiendo, seguro que vuelvo con acento en inglés, ¿os imagináis? Vosotros no lo notaríais pero seguro que sonaría graciosa...

Y ayer estuve hablando con Lorena de los chicos ingleses y de cómo no nos gusta (jajaja) y ella que tiene alma de cougar (aunque todavía no lo practique) soltó una expresión que me hizo mucha mucha gracia y que veo totalmente necesario dejarla plasmada en este blog: "Le di un par de besos y sabía a bebé". GRANDIOSA, de verdad. Muy fan de Lorena. Quien, por cierto, también termina proyecto esta semana.

Lorena y yo. La peor foto de la historia pero somos amor

En fin, me voy despidiendo que mi hermana me ha mandado tarea que hacer para la semana que viene, antes de nuestro reencuentro en Londres. Después me voy a Mad Ferret al open-mic (es un vicio) con Liv, Letizia y Xavi. Me faltan horas de vida, ¡por fin! ¡Que emocionante es esta nueva sensación para mi! 

Nos vemos en Mad Ferr.... Preston, en Preston CON AMOR.

PD: Gracias a mi hermana por enviarme mis velitas de frutas del bosque :)