Rage

…rest of the buyers to cancel the open event on Sunday. I let my boss know about that. “What’s the problem with you?”-he yelled at me-.
“Why can’t you be more committed to your job? You used to be a better salesman. I’m so dissappointed with your attitude, I find myself in the situation of transferring must of your clients to someone more efficient”.

I left the office very upset and when I arrived home, I noticed that my mother in law was there. “Hi honey”-my wife said-. “I was about to going to the supermarket, but since you’re early, ahy don’t you go then”.

I waited a long time in the line because the old lady in front of me was paying with lots of change. After the old lady finished paying, it was finally my turn.
The cashier frowned at me and multered a well-rehearsed “Good Evening, sir”. “I have to count all this” -she told me mechanically-. “You should go to anoher line”. Two teenagers laughed at me, and I gave them a despising look while I directed my steps to the line.

Suddenly, I started realizing that everything was going wrong, since the moment that Mrs. Creenshaw prefered to stay home with their relatives first than attending to our meeting. If she would be more kind, my boss wouldn´t get angry with me, therefore I would arrive home when my mother in law would be already on her own home.

Having all these thoughts –inspired by my pure anger- I got aparted for two or three minutes of the reality. I got back pretty late! Two persons walked faster than I did and they were already in front of me, formed on the line that I was supposed to be the first one.

“Nevermind” I thought. “The things won’t go worse, I guess this is my limit, so I rather be a patient and calmed person”. You wouldn’t guess who was the couple that steal my turn on the line. The marvelous Mrs. Creenshaw was with her husband, having on their car supermarket any kind of stuff.

I said “Not again”. The lady turned to me and say with the most unpleasant voice I ever heard:“Oh, is only you Mirsky, Ithought it was someone important. You see, I have need to buy these as faster as I can”. I was struggling myself for not strangling that woman with that mousy voice. But the worst was about to come.

She almost got killed by myself when she told me “You know, I received a phone call from your boss and he made me some questions about you. He asked me if I supported you as a good salesman, but unfortunately I have to tell him the truth. I’m so sorry Mirsky, but I don’t think you are a person committed with your job”.

I decided to take away myself of that situation. I smiled bitterly to that woman, gave up to buy the things for my home. I left the supermarket, to make it company, were my patience and my calm that decided to abandoned me.

At that moment the last thing I want was calling my boss to hear his veredict. “Guilty”he would say with a huge smile on his face. I knew I was fired, so I kept walking, trying to find some peace and some explanations about how my horrible day had begun.

I was so focused on my “peace of mind” state, that I never realized the two guys behind me. When they grabbed my head and took my money of mi pockets, I recognized their faces: they were the laughing guys that found amazingly funny my adventure at the supermarket.

“This is it” I thought. Then I became a horrible person, with all that rage inside flowing on my veins, I discharged it on these boys, by yelling them in so displeasing way, that they got frightened and ran away.

I arrived home pretty angry, my mother in law fortunately had gone, but my wife had preparated me a little surprise. She told me that, after all these years, she had been trough enough, she couldn`t get more so she will be leaving me. She found unforgivable that I “disrespected her mother” (by dissapearing all the evening), so she saw pointless continuing a relationship with me.

I’m writing this while I’m on my way to get completely drunk. I don’t know even now why my day went so bad. Would it be a terrible idea to direct myself to the Mrs. Creensahaw’s home? She would be very surprised...No, she would hear me, is my turn to tell the truth to her. Good idea, then I would go to my mother in law’s home, she needs to pay what she did to me...

Day Five

One chance, one book.

I got the opportunity finally of start reading one of my most expected books: "Cien Años de Soledad" of Gabriel García Márquez. I wanted to read it since I was on the Faculty, but I hadn't had the enough time of reading it, like a constant activity.

I enjoy so much reading, actually is one of my most favorite activities and I always have a book with me, so if there's a lot of traffic, or I have some free time I can take advantage of that by continue or starting my reading.

One of my best friends borrowed me the book. As a condition of borrowing books I always say: "If I am about of lending you a book, I would only do it if you borrow me one as well". Therefore, I lended her a Rosario Castellanos' book, and she gave me "Cien Años de Soledad" and "Como agua para Chocolate" of Laura Esquivel.

I personally think that is a little difficult to find someone that has the same interests that you have, and also have favorite authors in common. I met Alejandra three years ago on my Italian class and since then, we have been friends. She told me, like a million times by the way, that I must care her book, because is her favorite one. I felt immediatly anxious of start with the reading of her precious book.

I got confussed with some parts of the books because the names of the main characters are used all over to name the new members that arrived to the story. In spite of that I really like the book (as far as I read), the personal style of writing of García Marquéz is exquisite and I'm really loking forward to finish it!

Day Four

Eduardo Galeano with his readers.

The last week I was very thrilled because one of my favorite authors visited our university to give a little talk about his last book and also share with the students the ideas that came along of his personal way of analising the current reality of the world.

I'm talking about the Uruguayan writter Eduardo Galeano, who came to Mexico to a several activities, one of them was presenting his book "Mirrors" (obviously the name in Spanish is Espejos) on Veracruz, on The Museum of Fine Arts, a quick visit to the editorial of the journal "La Jornada" and finally on Sala Nezahualcóyotl here in UNAM.

It was on my class of Political Geography on high school when I read for the first time a book of him. It was "Las venas abiertas de América Latina", and I was shocked by the way he describes the situation that the Latin People live as a product of their common history of being colonies of other countries. I felt strongly interested on reading more books of him and it was kind of surprising for me noticing that he has currently published more than fifteen books! And I knowing only one of him I felt a little embarrased for not having read before his works.

Sala Nezahualcóyolt was over the top, I bumped with the fact that I was not the only one who was impatient of seeing him and hearing him speaking. What was he thinking in the moment of noticing the huge number of people that was clapping when he entered? HIs face reflected the emotions that he explained later.

That evening was unforgettable, his ideas sounded refreshing and with a different sense without loosing their strong. I felt completely sure that if we want some changes, that posibility is actually on our hands.

Day Three

Have you ever attend to a demonstration?

I started feel interested on attending to some demonstrations, when I was on high school. First of all, I have to admit that the first times I did it to satisfy my curiosity; I was intrigued because I didn't understand why the people feel motivated to attend to this kind of reunions, even if there's gonna be for sure crowded, noisy, hot and with a very unlikely posibility of getting solve the problems that they were demonstrating.

I am aware that not a few people actually disagree only when they face the simple idea of the demonstrations, and not only that they are strongly convinced that most of the people that a attend the demonstrations are paid only for being there. Well, that's not completely true but neither is completely false.

I went two months ago to a citizen meeting where was supposed to arrive Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in order to march with all the other citizens against the public policy done by the president regarding the oil. I'm not gonna talk about the whole movement, but being part of it I can say that fortunately, that there still a large number of people that actually believe on the importance of demonstrating against the things that just doesn't work on our country.

Two weeks ago, I attended a reunion where the same character that I mentioned before arrived, and I can say even now that a demonstration per se would not make an immediate change but is an effective tool to make people realized that they are actually the ones who have the capability to make a change by means of organisation and an increasing consciousness.

Day Two

On my way to the pyramids of Teotihuacán

On these tiny vacations that I had, on my head there was a strong desire to do a small trip, even if I was about to do it on my own. Luckily, my boyfriend wanted to travel as well, so we decided to go to Teotihuacán (even when there were holidays for the rest of the people too!).
Personally, I really enjoy visiting these kind of places -I mean archeological ones- that preserve a very important part of our identity as a true mexicans:the remains of the history of our ancestors and their cultures. When I was young, and I was focused on reading about Mexican History (because my mother studied History, she provided to my sisters and I some very valuable books), I was delighted with all the information about those cvilizations that inhabited the very same place on which we currently live on now.
When I had the possibility later to visit some archeological places I felt completely excited, but at that time I didn't realize the damage that some architectural pieces have, and I didn't notice as well that the damage is not only because of the time, the pollution, etc. It's so dissapointing see that many people do not feel any respect or simply they just don't care about preserving this places in the best way as possible, for the next generations.
On my visit to Teotihuacán I completely enjoyed the landscape, and of course climbing the pyramids was awesome, but I couldn't help noticing the great dammage that some stupid people has done to the pyramids. And I'm talking about the person that decide to promote turism to Teotihuacán by making some works and changes on the pyramids, damaging them deplorably. We should stop ignoring this activities, and promote a change on our way of thinking by showing some respect to those who come before us.

Journal

DAY ONE
1. Finishing an important issue of a part f my life

Some people say that the most important thing about starting a new activity is accomplishing it. In this very moment of my life I'm finally doing the things I should had started like a year ago. I finished my major a year and a half ago, but I hadn't presented my language exams nor even started my social service; maybe because I thought on that moment that I still had plenty of time to do it, that's why I only wrote my thesis protocol without thinking about to dedicate real time for do that.

I feel very happy because this week I finally completed my 480 hours of social service on the Institution where I did it, and not only that, perhaps there is a possibility that I can stay there for doing proffesional practices with a nice amount of money. Don't get me wrong; I'm not like "running to catch the more money that I can get", I'm planning to go to another place to live on my own, and for doing that is obvious that I need a money entry. Nevertheless, I know that everything goes little by little, so I try not to rush in.

When April finishes, hopefully I would have my exam passed, and I'm expecting to register my thesis on August. With the experience provided by my social service I realized that there so many things that there still lacking on my formation, but I like saying that, at least, I have one point on my favor, and it is that I am always willing to know new things.
This week had new experiences, some of them nice, others not that so, but I really want to prove myself that I can do a progress, by paying attention to the only things that matter; I tend to be a person a little pesimistic, so the purpose that I will try to achieve these days will be try to be more patience, and to fulfill the current objectives that I have made with myself.

Dear Amy:

In my neighborhood there's a woman who lives in the same building as my family and I, and she turned out to be a huge problem because she has very serious alcohol issues. She has been through several problems because of that-she has even lost her children-, but it seems she doesn't want to get over it.
The man she is currently living with, hits her and makes her suffer a lot. The problem begins when she and their male "friends" start drinking because they get very agressive; my sisters and I have tried to solve the problem by calling the police, but it turns out that the guy who lives with her is actually a cop. So, they didn't do anything. What should we do? The other neighbors seem not to be worried about that.

My most treasured objects

Having a big desire of going to Cuba, and not being able to travel there yet, it is very refreshing to have things from the island. In spite of every kind of feelings that everyone can have, I still have a huge interest of knowing the places where my most treasured possessions come from.
My most treasured possessions include: a great book about the most important interview given for Fidel Castro to Ignacio Ramonet (“Cien Horas con Fidel”), a little sculpture of a dancing girl -that is made of wood-, some Cuban cigars (“Romeo y Julieta” is the accurate brand), postcards, and a tiny bottle that has inside the Cuban flag that has the face of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, with the legend “Seamos realistas, hagamos lo imposible”.
I have always loved History, and when I started reading about the Cuban Revolution I felt completely attracted. That’s why a friend of mine who currently lives in Cuba (making her medicine studies), always brings me presents and ‘souvenirs’ that of course, I treasure.
Many people used to think that the value of their possessions comes from the economical aspect, but there are others that just don’t think that way; most of the times the ‘value’ actually depends on the emotional meaning that each one give to their things.
Nowadays we are actually invaded for so many messages sent by the mass media, whose final objective is make us believing that we really need the things that they are selling to us, that we have to live our lives the way they tell us; in a nutshell, the more things we have, the better persons we are. I do not share that way of life, I think that is up to us not believing that trash, and not give them (mass media people) the power to decide which things we supposedly need in order to have a “great life”.
I think I deserve 15-17 / 20.

My Profile

My full name is Claudia Fabiola Paniagua Esquivel, I'm 23 years old and I have to say that I have always liked writing, not only in Spanish, but also in other languages, like Italian and of course English. That´s why I feel interested on taking this course, I think is very important having a good preparation, not only on our majors; on every knowledge as well.

I studied Political Science and I`m just starting with my thesis. I love my major, even when is kind of difficult finding a real job that fits on my profile. The problem is, if you don`t know the right people, is very hard to succeed and not finishing working on something totally different that you were thinking. Anyway I know that life doesn't reduce to one opportunity, so I´m working to find something that I feel comfortable with, and develop on my major.

I began studying also Law, but since I'm just starting, I would only say that is very important having a full view about the problems that are into the topics that we as students are discussing. Sometimes it happens that the people tend to focus only on what proffesors say, and kind of lost the point of view of their own.

My hobbies are reading books, watching sometimes TV (not TV series), hang out with my friends, spend time with my boyfriend, and when I'm in a really nice mood, cooking some things, but I'm not a big fan, actually. My favorite authors are Rosario Castellanos, Isabel Allende, Simone de Beauvior, Marguerite Yourcenar, Stephen Zweig, Michel Foucault, E.M. Cioran,etc.

Letter to a Canadian person

Hey, how are you doing?

First of all, let me say that I feel very excited because of the opportunity that I have to make contact with you; I had always wanted to have communication with other persons, not only from my own country, but also with others that, even tough talk a different language, there is the possibility to keep in touch with them, so I hope this really works, and you can understand what I say.

My sister went last summer to Canada, and she told me plenty of things very interesting about your country, in fact, one of the topics attracts my attention: according to what she saw there, the feminismin Canada turns out to be a huge success, but in real terms, is it really the empowerment of the women, or it is a practice that maybe can be a little elitist? If you are really interested in this matter, and also if you have some free time, please help me with these doubts. (Who knows?, maybe my sister lied to me, or misunderstood something…).

We mexicans know that abroad our country do not have a good reputation, but what do you think? Would you like visiting Mexico, or have you ever come here? I personally do think that this place has things that it is worth to visit and see; having the right information and a well organized schedule, I can assure you can have a real great experience.

I would like to know the things you are into, perhaps there are some coincidences that results in a good friendship, don’t you think? I hope to receive some answers, please let me know if I am capable to express, in an understandable way, my ideas in a foreign language, as english is. (a difficult task, no doubt about it, but definetely it is worth it).

Greetings

Fabiola Paniagua
fabiss2@hotmail.com

My expectations

When I started attending CELE I didn't know really what to expect about the language courses that are given here, because I had heard many variated opinions about the quality of this language center.
Honestly in the intermediate levels (since third to sixth) I didn't have good teachers (except for one, actually), but I have to say that I even thought once that it was kind of aste of time, because I wasn't doing better than I already did. The thing is I do not say that there was a progress in my overall level.
In the advanced courses it was a little bit different, but I realized that several teachers do not really think that we as students can do something more than we normally do. That was a little depressing, but also gave me one more reason to do my best on this new level.
Therefore, I expect to be able to improve as a student, to invest real time studying and attending classes, and above all, improve, in a significant way, my writing skills, not only to pass this course, but also for being a better student, and have more resources in order to have better opportunities in the future.