The most Ridiculous Fact I encountered today.

This morning I encountered with something that tickling my sense. It was one of my fellow Indonesian Fulbrighters’, Masykur, books. Can you see the picture? Guess what fact that is so true about this book?

 Have you noticed it? Yeah, I like the fact that it will lasts all year and they gave a guarantee for it. In my cynical perspective, somehow they know if I bought that book I will never write on it because I am too lazy to take any notes. So all of their statement will be absolutely true.

"I can write the saddest lines tonight..."

I love literature. I can easily lose myself among the pages of a book and I read pretty much about everything: poetry, novels, biographies, comics, magazines, you name it. The title of my contribution to the blog tonight has to do with poetry. For those familiar with Latin American literature, the line "I can write the saddest lines tonight" is from the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's 20 Love Poems and A Song of Despair.

Now, you might be thinking I am heartbroken, hence the title. Plain and simple, I miss home. My actual home with my parents, my two brothers, my dog Lola, and our goose, Ganso. I do not miss Panamanian food just yet, I think I eat more from McDonald's, Subway, KFC, Pizza Hut, and other chain restaurants than I eat at home so there is nearly no big difference right now. But I do miss what home smells like, Ganso making annoying noises every morning, hearing the parakeets fly by every afternoon, playing video games with my little brother (although we always fought about who would use the main controller and who got to choose the game); wait a minute, I do miss grandma coming over on Sunday with yummy food. Do not judge me!

I love this blogging thing. It makes sharing so much easier. I have not had time to read all recent posts but I am sure some of you might have blogged about homesickness. I do not blame you. It is not my first time in the U.S; however, it is the first time I feel like this in such short amount of time. I talked to Marilena (the lady who presented on Sexual Harassment and Feelings & Emotions) about it and she suggested that I work on two little projects. Perhaps her ideas may interest you. Marilena suggested that I start a scrapbook for my family about all my little adventures here. Also, she advised me to pick five places in NYC that I have never been to and visit them before it is time to move to Texas. So here I am... about to start brainstorming side-by-side with Google. But that would make another blog entry :)

For now, buenas noches! (Good night!)

where are the street's dogs???

I enjoy my walks in Manhattan.. and something that I am looking in the streets, it is that the 99% of the dogs here are beautiful dogs... where are the ugly dogs?? where are those dogs that we call in Central America... "chuchos", "perro nativo", "perro callejero", "zaguate", "tinaqueros", "perro criollo" and so on??

You know... I do not have anything against the beautiful dogs, but the ugly dogs also they give us love!!!

So, if you want one day to buy or adopt a dog... I recommend to you the opportunity to afford one of those dogs.. in other hand, if you love the fashion... now there are a world campaign for the ugly dogs...

Finally, the love they are going to give us is not directly related with their beauty.

"And span the length of the isle of Manhattan"

Before I flew to the U.S, I have been a long admirer of American indie rock groups. To name a few, I always enjoying music from the like of Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, etc. since I was a junior high school student. I always imagined delving myself into the places or cities where their songs are made and or originated.

Hence, the opportunity to participate in the Pre-Academic program in New York City really put myself into the places and spots I was always looking into. The experience to immerse myself with the city brings the tune and lyrics I was once only able hearing from far away came into a life. Without a doubt, the city sightseeing twilight cruise was perfect to trigger the feeling as if I live inside this song; Death Cab for Cutie - "Marching Bands of Manhattan."

So here it is, few pictures I have captured during the twilight cruise around the isle of Manhattan.

*Title taken from the lyrics of Death Cab for Cutie's song - "Marching Bands of Manhattan"

City Sightseeing Cruises: Twilight Tour

The natural beauty mixed with the men made building beauty gives us the beautiful New york. Last Saturday we went in a twilight cruise. we could see New york with all the big famous buildings and the statue of liberty.
Traveling in a cruise in the Hudson River was so exciting and inspiring to me. i enjoyed every minute. I enjoyed the weather. It was sunny with a small clouds in the sky a cold winds that plays with my hear.
We had lots of fun. We took some pictures. Also it was also a good chance to know more about each other geographical areas.

The Hunt

Today's Scavenger Hunt was a real adventure. That was the first time for me and now I understand why all my friends like it so much.
The questions were interesting and tricky.
Even though my team didn't win, we were the best.
Marc surprised me being a fast runner. I presume all people from that Haiti-Jamaica region are like that (starting with Usain Bolt))).
Rio has got excellent orientation skills. He could tell right direction without map or compass. Still an astonishing fact - how could he get lost?)
Ana has got great handwriting and she also knows Roman numbers.
Maria was good at speeding us up.
And big thanks to Shea who made lots of wonderful pictures and Tejan who helped us with English.
And thanks to everybody! I'm glad we were determined enough to "hunt" despite the rain.

The struggle for become a better writter

When I did my TOEFL my worst grade was the writing!!! Now, thanks to Paul and Dorothy I begin to feel that definitely I could become a better writer.  I love write, so it is fun to me this struggle. Nevertheless, I feel fears about that, so much rules, so much details... but Veronica... step by step... I understand, thanks to the professors, that it is not easy, but it is not impossible... one of my dreams is really to write well... more than well! excellent!! because I love to express myself by the writing too...

I want to share with you that when I become older and I had already raised my kids and I had did something good to my country, I want to become a writer and thanks to these classes I am learning not only rules of grammar, orthography, but to put my ideas more clear and concise to make others understand and feel what I want to transmit!  Thanks OWL web page! Thanks englishpractice.com! and thanks you Paul and Dorothy...!