Some thoughts about bullying

As Chilean, I have notice along my life that we have a teasing culture, the wrong habit to "joke" about others, until very annoying points. I'm not the kind of person that jokes around about people attributes or lack of attributes, but I growed watching it ocurred everywhere: first at school, between friends, between my relatives, in my own home; but I also notice that it happens at very different levels I mean, my brothers teasing each other about silly stuff its very funny to see, miles away from watching a friend suffering because of unscrupulous classmates. 
Maybe american culture has influenced a bit our society and has been a trigger for the expantion of bullying in Chile, but we can not "charge" them the blame for it. At some point in our recent History something has change and there has been increased physical and psichological violence, specially between children and adolescents, where in crowd drive violence to a small group of them or to a single person, with diverse impact on all of them, generally negative impact.
Fortunately, I have not been a bullying target neither a bully, but  I did saw friends been disturbed by other classmates, since kindergarden, and its something hard to see. Friends from high school even had to get medical help (psychiatrical), because of the extended acts of bullying performed by people of my same age, and I believe I never going to understand them, why they did that? did they enjoy hurting people like that? 
Over the time I have saw some of the bullies, at university for example, and they seem have the same attitude that they had in high school : they behave like they didn't did anything wrong. It's shoking.
I hope this popular behavior ends someday, or stop being so popular so kids don't learn to do it, and they do not become adult bullies.

Santiago

Santiago is Chile's capital city. It is also the most populated city of the country, around six million people live in a 641,4 km² area, so is a very crowded city surrounded by a high mountain range, very distinctive of the city.

It is administrative and financial capital of Chile; most companies, Chilean and foreign, have their offices in the North East area of the city, commonly known as “cono oriente”, where also live the richest part of Santiago and Chile’s population.

In the outskirts of the city are most of manufacturing industries, while majority of services are closest to the urban area, that is to say, farther away from centre and/or “cono oriente” you get, farther you are from good quality services.

This unequal use of the city causes transport problems; public transport system it’s a low quality one, especially on suburbs and downtown. Underground and bus are the most used kinds of transport in this city.

There are many places to eat and drink in Santiago, many restaurants, cafés and bars in the commercial areas, but a typical place to visit for this matter could be La Vega Central, it is located near the city’s centre, to the north side of Mapocho River. It is well-known as a traditional and big market, and it has a lot of places where they sell typical Chilean food with accesible prices, but I think that the best of it is the friendly environment.

Other place you have to visit in Santiago is San Cristobal Hill, at Parque Metropolitano de Santiago. It has a zoo, two swimming pools, a Japanese-style garden, a funicular, many green areas where is possible to do sports, and a sanctuary dedicated to the Immaculate Conception on the top of the hill, with a statue that can be seen from almost any place near to Santiago's downtown.

Santiago has many cultural and entertainment centers, like musseums, theatres, galleries and cinemas, its just a matter of taste choosing where to go and enjoy.

Hi ! I would like to tell you about a song I like; it is Nirvana’s version of The man who sold the world. Originally, this song belongs to David Bowie, but I think Nirvana’s performance is better, so sorry Bowie’s fans xD

In 1994, Nirvana played an unplugged tv concert for MTV, in which they played fourteen songs, some of their most emblematic ones and covers from other bands and musicians. The most interesting aspect of this show was that the songs were played on acoustic version, that made stand out Nirvana member’s musical skills.

I like all songs that were played, but my favourite as I said before is The man who sold the world, I love the the sound of doublé bass on background, the soft drums and spectacular guitar performance and melancholic  singing of Kurt Cobain, who I also love hahahah

I think it is the kind of song everyone knows about , even if they do not like this type of music; must be a classic rock song since it was released. It is definitely one my favourites of all time. I even have it as ringtone of my Smartphone.

San Cristobal hill

Hello :D I’d like to write about a place that I like in Santiago: it is San Cristobal hill.

San Cristobal hill is located in the centre of the city, on the north of Mapocho river. It can be seen from almost all parts of the city joined with Immaculate Conception monument on its peak are a city’s symbol.

With Tupahue hill form the Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, which is I think the biggest urban park of the country. It is a beautiful part of the city, very touristical. There is a zoo, places to do barbecue, Immaculate Conception sanctuary, a Japanese Garden, etc. It’s a nature wonder and it’s also a fantastic place to do light trekking, running or mountain bike.

I used to go all the time when I was younger because I lived in Santiago’s downtown, ; now, miles away from this place so I haven’t be there since my first year of college. Back then we planed a reaunion before classes started so we could meet and didn’t went alone to faculty activities xD It was an enjoyable time.

My favourite place of San Cristobal hill it’s the Japanese Garden, because its quiet and beautiful, is how I imagine Japan is.

Crime and Punishment

Hi everyone ! Today I have to write about a book I enjoyed reading. First, History: when I was younger I was an assiduous reader, I read different kinds of books, I didn’t chosen them based on topic, but just for what I’ve heared of it or if it had and interesting title. So I read novels, historical novels, fiction, biographical, etc. My favourite genre was (still is) magic realism by Gabriel García Márquez, even Isabel Allende.

But the book I’m going to write about is one that surprised me, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I readed  The brothers Karamazov before and I hated it, it was just too tedious, so I didn’t think I’d like this one. I only started to read it to give a second chance to Dostoyevsky, I remember  I thought “he is so famous, it must be for something”.

It was a wonderful surprise. I finished it very quickly because it is a very catching story about a young man in a low economic situation who plans to murder and steel money from a unpleasant old lady who has a lot of it. The book explores moral, dreams and all sort of main character, Raskolnikov, personal implications, with a detailed description of his insides and surroundings, in mid XIX century Russia, for what I remember at list. I readed it when I was 14 years old xd

It’s definitely one my top five books of my adolescence :)

The wild Thomberrys

Hi! Today I’ll tell you about a tv show I loved when I was a child (I must say I still like this programme): The Wild Thomberrys.

I don’t remember exactly since when I started watching it, I just know that it was on around noon when I was at elementary school. Back then my school day started at two o’clock pm, which alow me to watch morning cartoons everyday  :D

The one I liked the most was “The wild Thomberrys”; it was about an Australian family who traveled to exotic places around the world because of the parent’s job: they were wildlife documentary filmmakers. So they traveled with their two daughters, a wild child they adopted and a chimpanzee, and had the craziest adventures every episode.

My favourite part of the show was the catch of it: the main carácter, Eliza Thomberry, who is the youngest child of the family, had a wonderful secret: she was able to communicate with animals!! Literally, she spoke to animals, and they warned her about the danger she was put on, or helped her to solved the episode’s trouble, it was amazing.

Besides, I liked that it showed (drawn, of course) many exotic places of the planet: Madagascar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, etc. The first time I knew form the Kilimanjaro was in this show when I was about six years, aldo I corroborated the information about it with my dad later, at that time he was my Geography guide.

A famous person I'd like to meet

Hello everyone, now I'll talk to you about a famous person I'd like to meet; I'd like to meet many of famous people, nevertheless this choise was an easy one... the famous person I would like to meet since I was a child (yes, a child) is Kurt Cobain.
I do not remember when I heard my fist Nirvana song, I just know that I had love him all of my adolescence !
All articules about his life mention that he wasn't a sociable person, but I know in my heart he was nice.
If I could meet him I would not talk about his music and fame, because he didn't like being famous, I just talk about music in general, I'd ask him if teach me play the guitar and staff like that, and just admire him playing and talking about anything. We could also have party, but I would not follow him in his drugs stuff, because I don't like it. Also, if I could travel in time and talk to him in the past I'd tell him not to marry with Courtney Love, I think she's a mean person and didn't help him or care about him at all.
I imagine all good music he would create if he still be alive, I guess I have to accept his fate and just enjoy the Nirvana records as the most important part of Kurt Cobain's legacy to world music and his fans, like me.

A great family trip

Hi readers ! Today I'm going to tell you about a great trip I made with my family. It was when I was about ten years old, me and my parents went to Temuco, in the south of Chile, to stay on my grandparent's home. We had a lovely time with every member of my paternal family, and my mother, who is a extroverted person and always had the best relationship with my parental relatives, with one of my aunts came with this awesome idea: a family trip to Villarrica and Calafquén lakes.
So they take care of everything very quickly (we women are so naturaly efficient hahah), and we traveled in a private minibus, me, my parents, my aunt Graciela, my uncle Lincoyán, their three children and their grandchildren.

Our first stop was Lican Ray and later we visited Coñaripe, both places on the north of Calafquén lakea; then we arrive to Pucón, a little town on the east side of Villarrica
lake, with pretty houses and a crowded casino, but mots importantly a beautiful bay where me and my cousins swim and enjoy the lake's lukewarm water. It was so nice to be there, we stay on the lake even when it started to rain ! and we didn't get sick because of it, that pleasant is the weather in that area.
The thing I liked teh most about this trip it was the company, I had never traveled with my uncle and aunt and cousins, so it was a splendid trip, and a have a wonderful memorie about it.

Hey readers !  On last Monday I did a London Webquest for the class, so now I’m going to tell you about one of the places I write down I would visit in a study trip to London.

If I’d visit this city the first place I’ll go it be the Hampton Court Palace. It is one of the Historic Royal Palaces, located in the south west of London, next to the River Thames. To get there I’d have to take the train from London Waterloo to Kingston, and then take a bus from Kingston to Hampton Court Palace; the tube is not available there because the palace is out of the city.

The ticket prize for full-time students like me costs £14.85, which could be lower if I get the ticket online.

This palace was Henry VIII’s favourite, so the visits are planned to learn about him and his court’ s life there.

I’d like to visit Hampton Court Palace precisely for that; Henry VIII must have been the most eccentric monarch in UK’s History, I think, because of his multiple marriages and the church’s schism. In my opinion Monarchy its scandalous in a negative way, but Henry VIII is the scandalous king  in England’s History, leaving out the decapitate people, his story its pretty juicy.. I hope it doesn’t  sounds too cruel, I say it with all due respect  xd

I'd like to talk to you about a good friend of mine. Her name is Anaisa, we met at primary school in 5th grade.
We went to the same school since 1st grade, but in different groups, so we became friends when  we were put together in the same group.We became friends because our similar personality and music taste, besides our love for animals.
We thought that our friendship could suffer when we graduate in 8th grade from primary school but It didn't, the first grade of secondary we went to different schools but the next year her parents put her in my school because they believe the other school wasn't a good one, so luckily we saw each other every day until we finished secondary.
Now in college we see each other less then before but we still are close, I think. xD She's the kind of friend that you know is still there, even though we can´t get together very offen. I always have thought that friends we made at school are the best, because knowing a person since infancy or adolescence allow you to see every facet of them, and they know everything too. When we go to college its harder to find friends like that, a proof of that is that I met my best friend Yannira at school too.
So I hope Anaisa and me will be friends for many years, and when she graduates and become the best best vet on our country xd she will take care of our other best friends, our pets.

La Casa de los Diez

Hi, I want to tell you about a building that I like, more precisely, a building that I love… It is “La Casa de los Diez” in Santiago’s downtown. It is located at Santa Rosa Avenue and Tarapacá Street.

In the past it was used by Chilean artists as their “friendship house”; they met there for social gathering, they also discussed and created art and conformed a new and own Chilean art that according to them didn’t exist until that moment, it was just a copy from European art. This crew was form by over ten chilean painters, writers, musicians, architects, journalists, etc. like  Pedro Prado and Augusto D’Halmar. Aldo the mansion date back to 1850, they modificated to the actual state after 1900.

I don’t think that people know about the house history, it was declared as a national monument by Chilean State but it isn’t open to visit. As you walk around there you can see the contrast that it cause against the other buildings that are for residential use. I think their very ugly hahah.

I like the building because of what it represents, when I walk over there I imagine all the great things that the distinguished people who lived there made, how they symbolize the beginning of actual Chilean art, non an imitation of foreign one.

Hi ! I'd like to tell you about one of my favorite photography’s, and I actually took it on my tenth birthday. It was a festive time (obviously), and I was taking pictures of everything and everyone. Back then, a new family member had arrived about two months ago; it was my dog. Her name was Almendra and she was a really beautiful puppy, and she did seem to enjoy the party too, playing and running all over my house, so in a moment she was running in my direction  and I grab and focus the camera really quickly and ¡FLASH! .. I thought that I had not taken it well, and I didn’t know it was a great picture until it was developed and print, because it was and old camera we had at the time.So when my mom brought my birthday pictures to my house and see Almendra’s one it was an hilarious moment, it appears to show Almendra floating in the air and her ears are lift like cat’s ears xd I like the picture because its really funny to see and also because she isn’t with us now, she’s in dog’s heaven :)

Hello readers, I want to talk to you about a trip I had made every year since I can remember.

I was born in Santiago and I lived here since then. My mother is from here too but my dad isn't. He arrived here in late 80's from Temuco; he's from the south outskirts of that city known as Maquehue.

So when I was about two years old I started to travel there with him every summer and spend about a month visiting my grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins that live there and in other cities in La Araucanía region.

In Maquehue live my grandparents; in a small piece of land they raise animals and cultivate vegetables, fruits and wheat.

The place has fantastic landscapes around it. I never get bored there because there are always things to do; feeding the animals, go to the river near by the house or just take a walk its very entertainment and relaxing for me.

Therefore, I wait long for the day of the trip came, and I will enjoy the magnificence of nature on that part of Chile and of course, my paternal family company.

Hi, this suppost to be the first post on my blog, but I forgot to do it ... haha. So, I'm Bernadita, a Geography student from Chile, I'm twenty one years old and I hope that you like what I'll be posting. 
Today I'm going to tell you about my cat's stress week. I had to move from my former house into a new one, and it wasn't a pleassure trip for no one in my family, aldo we move to a house in the same neighborhood. The most affected was my cat, apparently cats are very territorial animals, they make their houses and surroundings their "kingdoms". The day of the house moving we take everything to our new home and I carry my cat in the end, so he could see all of our staff and didn't be scare.. We hoped, and we were wrong; he was so frightened that he try to scape and when we arrive he didn't move at all.
After that, he didn't eat or drink water and we thought that he was sick. Me and my mother we're very concerned so we forced him to at list drink some water. 
A few days later he return to life like nothing had happened and we were very relieve about it.. we return to life with him.

My favorite piece of technology is... my smartphone.

I never had ultimate technology objects because their very expensive, so I usually got them when their price was lower (like my computer, music players, and of course, cell phones),. But last winter I lost the cellphone that my dad (with so much effort I must say) gave to me on my birthday in January. I was devastated, because of been irresponsible I had no cell phone, I was disconnected from the world.. Ok, it may sound like I'm a drama queen, but that was how I felt about it.

I thought that I had gone back to using an ancient cellphone but my parents, as always came to my rescue and bought me the amazing smartphone that I have actually. I worship it really; it's beautiful and it allow me comunicate with my friends and relatives that I haven't seeing in a long time. Sometimes it gets kind of slow, but I forgive him because it's a wonderful piece of technology.