7th Post

- Where do people learn about enviromentally friendly practices?
- Have you incorported recycling into your habits? Describe
- Do you use a bike or your legs instead of a car?
- Have you joined or supported any eco-organisations? Why/Why not?
- What else have you done /would you like to do?
- What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint?
- What's missing in our society/Santiago regarding this issue?

Number of words: 240
Don't forget to make comments on at least 3 of your classmates posts.


Well, the first question you can handle on your own. As for me, I do recycle, but not as much as I could. Sometimes because I don't make the effort and sometimes because it's impossible. I take all glass bottles and jars down to the bottle-bin and the plastic bottles to their bin too. I also take my old clothes to the market, even though the people are reluctant to take them. I would like to do more but I don't have room for a compost and I don't know where to recycle paper.

I use a bike every day, normally around 150km per week. I do everything possible not to use public transport. I don't mind it but it's really tiring and not nearly as fun as a bike.

I haven't joined any eco-organisations because I don't know any organisations I like. I prefer to be conscientious and participate in local ecological projects; my friend has a garden on her roof.

I have plants on my balcony, I don't buy imported/frozen fruit or vegetables, I only eat food that corresponds to the season, I don't eat red meat or chicken and I put a brick in the water tank of my toilet. I would like to have a compost heap and a vegetable garden with chickens.

I have done nothing to reduce my carbon footprint, I think I do a reasonable amount already. Let people who travel in airplanes all year make the sacrifice.

What's missing in Santiago, infrastructure and long term policies. Quelle surprise!

Post 5 - Article.

Go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

> Select a piece of news connected to your area of studies / future career.
> Write a summary of it.
> Provide the link to your piece of news.
> Leave a comment on 3 of their partners' posts.
> 220 words

EXAMPLE BELOW

http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2012/oct/03/embedding-skills-in-higher-education

The article I have chosen is related to education, more specifically to the importance of non-academic skills, in this case those learned at University.

The article talks about the current economic climate and how high unemployment has led to many Universities only concentrating on forming a graduate that has everything necessary, on paper at least, to go on and get a job.

But, the article raises the question of, 'what is education for' and goes on to argue that the non-academic skills are just as important as getting good grades and writing a good c.v.

It argues that Universities should participate in forming graduates who will be able to go on and learn throughout their lives. It also suggests that 'wisdom', that is the ability to learn from our mistakes, is an important characteristic to learn from University.

HB

Post 4. Free theme - Painters

Today is a free theme so the class unanimously decided to write about Painters.

You should write about your favourite, or an important, painter.

• Explain a little about him (biography)
• Talk about his/her style
• Say why hes/she is your favourite / important or why you chose him / her. 
• Upload a picture
• Put comments on your classmates' blogs.
  
  120 word minimum.
  
  HB 

Class blogs

Here are the blogs of your classmates. If you are not on the list please tell me.

All blogs finish in '.blogspot.com'


www.thediegosblogspot.blogspot.com
www.cloudorez.blogspot.com
www.saturninelunatic.blogspot.com
www.hesterin.blogspot.com
www.thewomanwiththedeadtatto.blogspot.com
www.pastadeosobuco.blogspot.com
www.eemptybrains.blogspot.com
www.alittleeggblogs.blogspot.com
http://tirodeltigre.blogspot.com/
http://alejandro-myfirstblog.blogspot.com/
http://ornitorrincosenlacasa.blogspot.com
www.brainstormdada.blogspot.com
http://nrlated.blogspot.com/
http://thewavetrip.blogspot.com

Level 4 post 3

Write about your best holidays. Say:

- when they were
- people you were with
- where you travelled
- things you did
- reasons why these holidays were so good
- include images

> Don't forget to write comments on 3 of your partners posts.
> Wordcount: 190

For me, holidays are not necessarily when you travel off to some exotic place but can be just a time relaxing or doing things in your home. The important thing is that you are free from the stress and obligation of work.

I always have lots of thing to do so I'm quite happy to spend the summer holidays in Santiago, away from the crowds and crazy prices.

However, two summers ago I had an incredibly break in the mountains near San Carlos. I went with a very good friend of mine, Armando as well as his wife and an American friend, Greg.
   We were looking for a new place to go climbing in a little explored area of Chile, so we took all of our climbing equipment down to San Carlos and then up to San Fabian de Alico and finally through the native forests to a secret place we had found one month before.
   We set up base camp in the forest next to a beautiful stream and then, for the next 5 days, tried to climb a big wall (250m) next to the camp. It was very tiring but it was such a beautiful place that everyone was happy. We saw lots of plants and animals, at one point the condors were flying just 5 metres away.
  Well. It was an incredible experience and finally we managed to get to the top of the wall.

Level 4 post 2

 Which country would you like to go to? Why?
- What do you know about it?
- What would you like to do there?
- Would you like to study/work/live there? Explain.
- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts
- Word Count: 170 words


There are so many countries I would like to visit. Finland is fascinating, Canada has wonderful people, India has delicious food, Uruguay interests me sociologically and politically. Today however I would like to talk about The United States of America.
It's probably the most famous country in the history of the world and everybody has an opinion about it, perhaps since the second world war it has received a lot of bad press, a lot of it probably justifiably, however it is also the land of film makers such as Wes Anderson and The Coen brothers, actors such as Clint Eastwood and Bill Murray, musicians such as The Ramones, Blondie, Nina Simone and Iggy Pop, writers such as Joseph Heller and John Steinbeck and Bukowski and great thinkers such as Noel Chomsky and W. D. Snodgrass. All of these have played an important part in my life and I believe the world would be a poorer place without them.
I would like to hire a car and drive around the states, a typical dream but really it's a country made for driving. Also, each state seems to me to be so unique, and have its own amazing history, that I would like to see them all.

I would drive around, talk to the people, eat and eat the food (and probably put on at least 10 kilos) and film everything for a documentary.
I'm not really interested in studying there formally. Just talking to the people and seeing their lives would be an education in itself.

Level 4 - Post 1

Write about your experiences during the first term of 2012.
Describe:
- what you learned/studied
- the sports and free time activities you did
- the challenges/problems you had to face
- Others (family, friends, etc..)
- Word Count: 150
- make comments on at least 3 of your classmates posts.

I will write about the blog class but you are free to interpret 'experiences' as you want. 

So here we are again. We have one semester of blogs under our belts so now we know the score.

It's been a great experience watching you work on your blogs. You are all really interesting people so for me it's been a great learning experience. I've learned about famous south american journalists, photographers, movies, directors, and so much more.

The challenges I had to face were all really enjoyable. Trying to convince you about the learning value of using Wordreference rather than Google Translate was perhaps the most common.

As for family and friends, well. That question isn't so relevant to me and my work, but I can say that it's been great meeting you all and I'm looking forward to another semester working with you.

HB