domingo, 21 de diciembre de 2008

This is one of my favourites for Christmas:
silent night

Esta es una de mis preferidas me recuerda a mi infancia:

noche de paz

Saludos especiales, ma.ma.

Songs for Christmas

Christmas is coming and here is a video to help you practise Jingle Bells

Hope you like it.

miércoles, 26 de noviembre de 2008

Teaching Tips

You will find interesting teaching tips here.

Thank you Fabián Zelada for your contribution.

A big hug to you all, ma.ma.

lunes, 17 de noviembre de 2008

MInd Mapping and using both sides of the brain

This is a video of Tony Buzan, the creator of mind maps.
He speaks about using both sides of the brain here.

Hope you enjoy learning about it.

A big hug, ma.ma.

miércoles, 10 de septiembre de 2008

BBC Videos The Teacher

You will find this site BBC The Teacher contains tons of materials for listening and active watching practice.

Enjoy it!

Learning needs practice (Materials at About.com)

In order to learn something, we need to practise and language is no exception. We need to have opportunities to communicate our ideas, thoughts, feelings, information. We also need time to rehearse possible answers and different ways of saying the things we mean. Practice makes and important part of the learning process.


In About.com you can find a site called English as a 2nd Language. You can find lots of exercises and materials you can use to make your students practise different topics, lexical items and grammatical structures. You can also download listening materials.

Go to http://esl.about.com/b/2008/09/03/study-skills-make-english-learning-a-habit.htm

Hope you find these materials useful.

Love, ma.ma.

domingo, 6 de julio de 2008

Finding Strength- Fuentes de Fortaleza

Dear all,

It's been a long time. But we all know, "time" and "space" are quite relative concepts.

I have been connecting to my all-time sources of strength and vitality.


Here go some you can also share in moments of need.

Visit Unity,
Pray with Daily Word and read interesting articles in Unity Magazine

Lots of love, ma.ma.









Queridos míos,

Pasó bastante tiempo, pero ya saben: "tiempo" y "espacio" son bastante relativos.

He estado conectándome con mis fuentes de fortaleza y quiero compartirlas con Uds.

For each and every day prayer visit La Palabra Diaria.


Si quieren saber más sobre Unity...




UN ABRAZO DE OSA, ma.ma.

miércoles, 21 de mayo de 2008

Passion

Hi from Washington DC again!

Since María Martha and me always like to share our passion for teaching and learning, I thought of her and her blog when I came across this quote that puts it so very nicely. Hope you enjoy it, too.




"Call me in my office any Friday night and I’ll tell you the secrets of my success. The truth is, I’ve worked hard, I’ve been lucky, I’ve had a wonderful set of mentors along the way, and I now have a very dedicated set of people I’m working with. My parents gave me a piece of advice that I took to heart: find something you’d want to do anyway, and let somebody call it a “job” and pay you for it. It’s great advice!"

Randy Pausch, 2007

The summer is round the corner here, and I love it! Sunshine, green leaves and tons of flowers and birds are all around. We all look happier, too. I can't wait to go back home to Argentina with my husband, Scott in a few weeks. We'll be there on June 6th. I'll also take a class in Resistencia, Chaco and, while I'm there, I'll visit the Iguazú falls. I'm thrilled. I haven't been there in a long time.

That's all for now. Hope you are all having a wonderful May.

Hasta pronto,

Monica

Mónica Domínguez Mulholland
www.key2spanish.com
www.spanishisfun.wordpress.com

martes, 20 de mayo de 2008

On achieving goals- Sobre llegar a las metas propuestas

Last May 8th, my friend Vicky and I, passed our final examination by defending our thesis entitled "The socio-cultural aspects of the acquisition of a hegemonic language (Spanish) by learners whose L1 is a heritage language (Mbya Guarani): Bridges or walls?" at UNL (Universidad Nacional del Litoral- Santa Fe).

It was not an easy task since it involved attending seminars and writing papers and then, organizing and carrying out the research that became our thesis paper.

In this process we learnt a lot as we shared our learning experience together and that is the content of this message. I consider that growing and becoming a better professional go hand in hand with becoming more reflexive and generous. Giving out what you have learnt helps you develop an interaction that nurtures you as part of a vital circle that is fed with what it feeds.

Learning with my friend and achieving a goal together has been one of the most wonderful experiences in my life. We not only shared discussions and reflexions but we grew as our friendship became tighter and deeper.Life rejoices when we honor friendship being able to LOVE with capital letters.

We did not quit when difficulties came and kept on writing and working on our tasks bit by bit. We always saw that we could make little steps; and now, when we look behind, we can see we came a looong way!

--------------------

Hace unos días, el 8 de mayo pasado, mi amiga Vicky y yo aprobamos la defensa de nuestra tesina titulada "Los aspectos socioculturales en la adquisición de una lengua hegemónica (español) por alumnos/aprendientes cuya L1 es una lengua originaria (mbya guarani) en la Uiversidad Nacional del Litoral. (UNL-Santa Fe)

El camino no fue fácil, si consideramos que hubo que asistir a muchos seminarios, aprobar trabajos para cada uno de ellos y finalmente, embarcarse en un trabajo de investigación que dio como resultado la elaboración y redacción de la tesina.
De todos modos y a pesar de las dificultades, muchas de ellas relacionadas a que durante todo el tiempo seguimos trabajando al mismo ritmo frenético de siempre, alcanzamos la meta que nos propusimos.

Lo mejor de todo, fue ir descubriéndonos como personas y afirmándonos como profesionales (y como amigas) en un círculo de retroalimentación en el que dar y recibir fueron siempre de la mano. Este aprendizaje nos permitió conocer a muchas personas, que se brindaron generosamente y colaboraron para que nuestro trabajo fuera fructífero y valioso.

Estaré siempre agradecida a todas esas personas y por sobre todo a Vicky, que generosamente, compartió conmigo discusiones, lecturas, escuchas, escritos y todo lo que fuimos aprendiendo juntas. ¡La vida se regocija en actos tan hermosos llenos de AMOR, con todas las letras!


Saludos a todos y todas, ma.ma.

miércoles, 23 de abril de 2008

Fotos de la clase abierta 23 de abril de 2008

 
 
 
 
Posted by Picasa

Día del Idioma- Shakespeare's birthday- 2008-Año Internacional de las lenguas

Hola, buen día a todos y todas!

Hoy es un día especial para los amantes de las lenguas. Hoy, 23 de abril, en los países de habla hispana, se conmemora el "Día del idioma", en honor al día del fallecimiento de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, autor del El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha, que se considera la primera novela moderna de la literatura universal.

Desde 1995, la UNESCO, determinó que hoy es, también, el "Día mundial del libro y los derechos de autor.

Curiosamente, en este mismo día los angloparlantes recuerdan el cumpleaños de William Shakespeare (23 de abril de 1564-23 de abril de 1616).

Leyendo información para documentar este "humilde homenaje" a estos maestros de las letras, descubrí que Garcilaso de la Vega, escritor y cronista peruano nacido en 1439, también moría ese mismísimo día, 23 de abril de 1616.

¡Qué habrá pasado ese día que los cielos se los llevaron a los tres juntos! ¿Cómo habrá sido el camino, las charlas y los delirios?

¡Qué no daría por haber sigo los ojos y oídos de Dios por unos minutos para poder contarles!

De una cosa estoy segura: ¡EL MUNDO ENTERO LLORÓ !


Como recuerdo hoy, ofreceremos una "clase abierta" sobre las lenguas en el Instituto Superior Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, en Posadas (Argentina) donde trabajo.

Comparto las diapositivas que usaré.(si las puede incluir)

Los abraza, ma.ma.

domingo, 20 de abril de 2008

Drama in Education - El teatro en la educación

I have been using drama techniques in my English language classes for quite a long while. Some of the most memorable moments in my career are connected to sketches or songs we acted out with my students of different ages.
After many years and some reading, I can explain why when different areas of the brain are activated and serotonine is produced because pleasure is felt, knowledge is stored in learners' long-lasting memory.

In 2004-2005, I formed a theatre group with my students at the Teacher Education College, "Instituto Superior Antonio Ruiz de Montoya" in Posadas, Argentina. It was called "Creactivity" (a play-on-words: creativity, act, activity). In 2004, in our first performance we recited Shakespearean Sonnets. In 2005, we prepared a play based on Carolyn Graham's version of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears". We used to rehearse once a week and in October 2005, we performed after one year of preparation. The scenery was also our own creation.

Young students from local primary schools and private institutes were invited. On that day, the Auditorium was full of children, teachers, parents and friends. It was a great success! Children wanted more!

Unfortunately, the students who had been part of the group did not have enough time in 2006 and I decided to stop for some time. But my interest for acting and creating did not fade away; I kept on believing that one day, students would feel that the experience of performing helps them develop areas of their selves, and, sooner or later, that makes them better educators.

Last year, I took a course with Roberto Vega, a well-known actor and playright in Argentina, whose field on expertise is "Theatre in Education" as a methodology to overcome conflicts or teach contents. I studied his theories and wrote a Project which was approved. Through this experience I became better skilled in coordinating educational drama projects so, last Friday, I felt that it was time to use the technique in class.

I asked my students of Special Didactics who were learning and reflecting about different teachers' roles to form groups of 6 or 7 and prepare a scene in which they showed one of the previously analysed roles. They had had to read the bibliogrphical material at home. Apart from that, I told them that they were not going to be able to speak words, only sounds and gestures.

They took about 20 minutes to prepare and then, each of the 4 groups performed and the audience had to say which role had been chosen. They shared their feelings and fears as a closing activity. Finally, I read some citations from Vega's book "Teatro y derechos de niños y jóvenes." Students were engaged in the activity and according to their own comments they had never had a similar experience. Only in the Preparatory Course,3 or 4 years ago, Prof. Herheluk, a colleague and friend, used to include this type of activities in her classes.

After the class finished students asked me to revive the old Creactivity Theatre Group. We are on the road again! I felt so happy and rewarded!

*****************

Mi interés por incluir técnicas de teatro en mis clases en distintos contextos tiene larga data. Muchos de los momentos más memorables de mi experiencia docente están asociados a este tipor de actividades que niños y jóvenes disfrutan tanto.

Después de muchos años y no menos lectura, puedo intentar explicar desde las corrientes psicolingüísticas y cognitivas actuales porqué con estas actividades colaboramos para que el conocimiento se guarde en la memoria a largo plazo. Las actividades lúdico-teatrales logran que varias áreas de ambos hemisferios del cerebro trabajen mientras se produce serotonina (la hormona del placer) porque la estamos pasando bien.

Por ello, entre 2004 y 2005 formé el Grupo de Teatro del Profesorado en Inglés del ISARM. Al principio ensayamos poemas y sonetos de Shakespeare que presentamos en 2004en lo que llamamos Shakespeare's Spring Festival. Luego, en 2005 nos dedicamos a una obra para niños, "Ricitos de Oro" que adapatamos de la obra de Carolyn Graham. Ensayábamos una vez por semana, de Abril a Septiembre y en Octubre la pusimos en escena. Nosotros mismos preparamos la escenografía, con muy muy poco.

El día del "estreno" (hubo una sóla función) el Auditoriun estaba lleno de niños, teachers, padres-madres y amigos. Fue un éxito, los chicos querían más! Lamentablemente, al año siguiento esos alumnos ya no pudieron seguir formando parte y no hubo más interés, por lo que decidimos suspender la actividad.

Pero yo segúia convencida de que el teatro y la actuación ayudan a romper barreras y conocerse mejor para a la larga estar mejor formados.

El año pasado tomé un curso-taller con Roberto Vega, un renombrado formador de actores y escritor de nuestro país. Después de esa experiencia, me sentí aún más preparada para coordinar proyectos de teatro educativo tanto escolar y comunitario.

El viernes pasado, en mi clase de Didáctica Especial, incorporé está metodología por primera vez en el Profesorado.

Los alumnos y alumnas habían tenido que leer sobre "Los roles docentes" y entonces los dividí en 4 grupos de 6 o 7 integrantes. Cada grupo tenía que representar un rol a elección pero sin usar palabras, sólo podían emitir sonidos. Después de un rato de preparación, cada grupo actuó su escena y los demás tenían que decir qué rol era.
Luego siguió una reflexión general y para cerrar les leí algunas citas de "Teatro y derechos de niños y jóvenes" de Roberto Vega. Fue interesante poder ver el entusiasmo que pusieron los estudiantes. Según manifestaron desde que cursaban el Curso Preparatorio con la Prof. Herheluk hace 3 o 4 años, no habían realizado actividades de este tipo. La actividad fue motivadora y participativa en un 100%.

Al finalizar, me pidieron si podía revivir al Grupo de Teatro que alguna vez coordiné. ¡Fue muy gratificante! ¡Me sentí feliz!

Bueno, esto es todo por ahora...

Acá pueden ver unas fotos de 2005 http://picasaweb.google.com/mamaes/Goldilocks
Cariños, ma.ma.

martes, 15 de abril de 2008

Learning takes time- Aprender toma tiempo

Hello, everybody!
It's been a long time but I am happy to be able to communicate again!
Classes started on this corner of the world and since that happened I have been busy with plans and classnotes and books and all that jazz.

As I read Monica's recent post some issues on learning-living-teaching came to my mind.

As I see it, learning is a process that takes time but we can never know how much time learners may need. Each of us has different "biological and cognitive clocks" and teachers or parents can never plan exactly at which moment the piece of "new data" will fit into the old and together form the new "map of the world". Some people may even never learn but that is something we cannot control, either. Anyway, all of us can and will learn something, a part of the whole infinite corpus data that makes "knowledge".

As educators, we are responsible for providing motivating learning experiences, proposing engaging topics and tasks and for setting up the best environment (physical and psychological) for learning to take place. We must also be able to assess our students development and achievement but we must be aware of the fact that for some goals some learners may require more time and dedication.


Perhaps, those decisions are the most crucial since they define the course of action and consequently, the future of many people. I am convinced that most of our success as educators depends on affective and social variables. Efficient instructors become "true educators" once they can couple knowledge of the subject with them.

Well, "that's all for now folks!"

A big hug, ma.ma.

-------------------

Hola, todos y todas!
He estado muy ocupada con el inicio de clases, que en este rincón del mundo empezó recientemente. Preparación de planes, apuntes, notas, lectura y re-lectura de libros me mantuvieron fuera de esta actividad que tanto me gusta. Estoy contenta de haber vuelto y eso se lo debo a mi amiga Mónica Domínguez Munholland que nos dejó el post anterior.
Leer su post me hizo reflexionar sobre cuánto uno aprende con el pasar del tiempo y cómo hay saberes que llevan más tiempo para ser aprehendidos-aprendidos porque se van desarrollando las ideas y complejizando los conocimientos. Con respecto a ésto, creo que los tiempos de aprendizaje no son los mismos para todos. Cada uno de nosotros tiene su propio ritmo cognitivo así como tenemos un ritmo marcado por nuestro reloj biológico.
Son muchas las variables que convierten en estos complejos procesos de aprendizaje/s. Cada uno de nosotros tiene una matriz cognitiva y afectiva que hace que los tiempos que necesitamos para aprender sean diferentes. Estos tiempos no son los tiempos del año escolar marcado por bimestres, trimestres o cuatrimestres, ni siquiera por fines de año. ¡Cuántos alumnos han venido a nosotros a fin de año o al año siguiente a decirnos. "Recién ahora entiendo lo que Ud. nos decía en tal o cuál ocasión".
Sin embargo, como educadores tenemos la responsabilidad de crear las condiciones y proponer acciones como para que estos procesos se vean facilitados y así, lograr las metas y objetivos en los tiempos estimados. También somos responsables de evaluar estos procesos y el alcance de los objetivos por lo que en los instrumentos de evaluación debemos ser realistas y pedir conocimientos que serán necesitados a largo plazo, que serán aplicados a la vida cotidiana, dejando siempre un lugar para que más aprendizaje tenga lugar con el tiempo y la experiencia.
Como educadores tenemos que ser conscientes de todo ésto sin perder objetividad. Los verdaderos educadores son los que pueden sumar valores humanos y comprensión por las limitaciones y fortalezas del otro-aprendiente, a la vez que conocen su área y tienen expertez en la instrucción en nuestro caso, de la lengua extranjera inglés.
Bueno, creo que esto es todo por ahora.
Cariños, ma.ma.

lunes, 14 de abril de 2008

Hi from Washington DC




Dear Ma. Ma, family, friends, colleagues, students, and co-bloggers,




This is my first post on Ma. Ma’s awesome blog, and I want to start by thanking her deeply for inviting me to join it.
My name is Mónica Domínguez Mulholland. I met Ma. Ma in May of 2002 when she kindly invited me to facilitate a two-day workshop on Multiple Intelligences at the ISM in Posadas, Misiones. As the years went by, I have been fortunate enough to have found a dear friend in her, for which I am extremely thankful. Over the last few months, Ma. Ma has brought Misiones and its incredible beauty to my students in the USA by writing on my blog. We definitely love all her contributions, and are always hungry for more!

I have been reading the posts Ma. Ma. has written here to share with you all, and I have found them very enriching and stimulating. I know, with no doubt, that we both share a passion for teaching and learning. That’s why we say that the motto that best describes our friendship is “Birds of a feather flock together”.

Like her, I find that learning brings enormous joy to my life. I have studied the English language almost all my life and I’ve taught it for over twenty years, but since I moved to the USA six years ago I have been teaching and studying Spanish, and I absolutely love doing both.

Something else that brings happiness to my life is my dear husband, Scott. We have made our home in Northern Virginia, just a half hour drive from Washington DC. It’s just the two of us here but I have made several friends among colleagues and students. That amount has multiplied phenomenally thanks, in large measure, to the beauty of technology.

I don’t want to say goodbye without commenting briefly on Ma. Ma’s last few posts and her header. I was deeply touched by her fable on happiness; it’s SO true! And I completely agree with Theodore Roethke’s quote about the fact that teachers continue their education in public. I personally feel that, as a teacher, every day I learn much more than I teach.

As to their 25th Wedding Anniversary, to M. Martha and Rick, CONGRATS! Way to go! Keep shining together. You are both awesome! By the way, thanks for that unforgettable tour of your province; I treasure it in my mind and heart.

Once again, a world of thanks for this invaluable opportunity to share experiences and thoughts with you guys.

I am looking forward to more exchanges in the near future.

Love and Peace to the breathtakingly beautiful Tierra Roja,

Monica

PS: The picture depicts one of the most beautiful events in the city: the Cherry Blossom Festival by the Potomac River, the cherry tress (a Japanese gift) bloom every year right at the start of Spring. It's definitely something to see.

jueves, 27 de marzo de 2008

Aprendiendo Ortografía en Español

Para los que quieren mejorar su ortografía o practicarla con alumnos...

http://www.ejerciciosortografia.com/html/menu.htm


Cariños, ma.ma.

viernes, 29 de febrero de 2008

Para renovar la esperanza

Antídoto

A los “come-sueños”
los combaten
los “con-sueños”
a los que se los
reconoce porque tienen
ojos de nubes y
brillo de amaneceres,
traen la brisa
y los arco iris
en las manos;
Y sienten en la piel, la inocencia.

En los pies descalzos
y las manos curtidas
Ven nuevas esperanzas,
Y tienen sonrisas
Que iluminan el horizonte.

Los “con-sueños” somos vos,
Yo y todos, los que
abrigamos en el alma
una aurora de Paz y
un mañana de Armonía.

(Después de “Come-sueños” de Roberto Vega.)

Maria Martha Espíndola
Ára Poty, Yvy Pitâme. (Primavera en la Tierra Roja) 2007.-

miércoles, 27 de febrero de 2008

English Grammar Exercises

This is for students at the Introductory Course at ISARM!

And for all those who need simple on-line exercises on different grammatical items!


http://englishonline.sites.uol.com.br/english/intermediate.htm

Good luck!

Friendly, ma.ma.

martes, 26 de febrero de 2008

How to reach happiness- Sobre cómo alcanzar la felicidad

After all the warm comments and greetings of my friends, I feel tempted to believe that I am entitled to write on what happiness means to me.

Anyway, as I am a better story-teller than a philosopher, I will resort to a tale I read when I was a child.

This is how the story goes: "Once upon a time, there was a little cat who was just beginning to go out on his own at night. He left home one starry night and went downtown. After walking for some time, he decided he wanted to learn about how to get happiness. He walked and talked to different cats that night but no answer satisfied his curiousity. When suddenly, he met and old cat who seeemed VERY happy. So, he went nearer and asked him: "Dear old cat, you look really happy. Can you tell me what happiness is?"
The old cat, looked at our young curious cat and replied: "My dear one, happiness is for cats like our tails." "Our tails?" asked the young one very surprised at such a simple answer. "Yes, dear, our tails. If you deliberately want to grab it with your paws and make that the only objective in your life, you will go round and round in endless circles and you will never be able to reach it and keep it with you; but, on the contrary, if you go about life doing what is right to be done, your tail, happiness, will be following you gracefully all the time."

Did you like my story? I hope so!

Let's do like our old cat, let's go along life doing what we have to do...

Lot's of love, ma.ma.

---------------------

Después de los hermosos comentarios que he recibido, me siento tentada a creer que puedo escribir sobre cómo alcanzar la felicidad.

Pero, como soy mejor cuenta-cuentos que filósofa, prefiero recrear una historia que leí hace mucho tiempo, cuando era niña.

Acá va:

Cuenta la historia que una noche estrellada, un gatito que recién comenzaba a vivir la vida y salir de su casa para aventurarse en los placeres gatunos nocturnos, decide que ya es tiempo de aprender cómo alcanzar la felicidad. Entonces, se prepara especialmente, y sale convencido de que esa noche aprenderá a ser feliz.
Después de mucho andar buscando la respuesta sin encontrar una que realmente lo satisficiera, y, cuando creía que ya no encontraría esa noche la respuesta, ve a lo lejos un gato viejo que paseaba por un tejado meneándo su cola con mucha gracia y elegancia. "Este gato viejo, parece muy feliz, él sabrá darme la respuesta, " pensó. Se acercó y le pregunto: "Gato viejo, vos parecés muy feliz, ¿Cómo puedo alcanzar la felicidad yo también?
El gato viejo miró tiernamente al joven y le respondió: "Mi querido joven, la felicidad para los gatos es nuestra cola. "
"¿Nuestra cola?", respondió el gatito asombrado ante tan natural respuesta.
"Sí, hijo mío. Es como nuestra cola, cuando corremos detrás de ella y tratamos de alcanzarla, damos vueltas y vueltas y nunca lo logramos. No podemos agarrarla y mantenerla entre nuestras manos por mucho tiempo, se nos escapa. Pero si vamos por la vida haciendo lo que tenemos que hacer, nuestra cola, como la felicidad, va con nosotros por detrás."

Amigos, espero que les haya gustado el cuentito. Los invito a que aprendamos de este viejo gato y hagamos lo que tenemos que hacer en la vida...

¡Felicidad y Paz para todos!

Cariños, ma.ma.

Waterblog: Observation and reflexion on blogging

Waterblog: Observation and reflexion on blogging

lunes, 25 de febrero de 2008

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25 years

Today, My husband Ricardo and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. Some people say "20 years is nothing" ("Veinte años no es nada") and to that I reply, 25 years is enough time to realize you really love someone. We have come a long way and after all this time I can look backwards and say: "It was worthwhile!"
I can say many things about 25 years (Imagine!) but I would like to point out some reflexions about living, learning and growing up together.
We were very young when we got married; I was 21 and Rick was 25! (Today we would have been considered almost teenagers!) And as time went by, we underwent several changes, difficult moments, happy experiences, but I consider we evolved and matured together. We needed patience and understanding coupled with love and affection.
Of all these, I think that understanding and sympathy for each other are the main ingredients. If you really love someone, you have to put yourself in his shoes when crisis arises.
So growing up isn't easy but if you find the right person and have patience enough to try again and not to give up at once, love can make that growing, a celebration!

Cheers to our love, Rick!
------------

Hoy es un día especial: Ricardo y yo cumplimos 25 años de casados! Bodas de Plata!

Muchos dicen, "20 años no es nada" (creo que es el título de un tango) pero yo digo que es mucho, tanto como para darse que cuenta que uno ama a alguien con toda el alma. Miro atrás y pienso, en cuánto crecimos desde 1983! Pasamos muchas cosas juntos y el camino no fue fácil.
Tuvimos momentos de felicidad, de crisis, de duda, de goce, de dolor, de gloria, de enfermedad, de salud, de todo.
Éramos tan jóvenes (él 25, yo, 21) casi adolescentes, y eso significó muchas cosas, pero sobre todo que tuviéramos que crecer y evolucionar juntos hasta formar esta pareja, esta familia que somos hoy. Formar una familia y criar a los hijos(en nuestra caso, Eugenia), no es tarea para flojos. Se necesita mucha valentía, mucho coraje, para afrontar ese desafío de prolongar nuestra historia, de re-crear la vida día a día. Pero, vale la pena!

Pienso que a través de los años, los dos hemos dado prueba de que nos amamos, en la salud y en la adversidad, en la alegría y en los momentos difíciles, en la duda y en la certeza.

Les pido que levanten sus copas y brinden conmigo por el amor, bess, ma.ma.

domingo, 24 de febrero de 2008

Learning brings pleasure

Learning new things gives us a lot of pleasure. I can't remember a time when after having gone through the experience of learning I didn't feel a sense of full achievement.
When we set up to learn something, the final goal may seem too far away and the "light at the end of the tunnel", unreachable.
But, as we struggle along and advance step by step, we feel lighter and lighter and if we try hard enough, we get what we wanted at the beginning. Then, the feeling of an enourmous joy invades us as a whole! Our self-steem grows and we feel we are ready to achieve even more.

This experience of creating my blog, is making that effect in me. I feel that as I get along, I can get to do more and my mind dares to dream of even more.
I am very greatful for this!

Today, I've decided to write my posts in Spanish, too. Even though, the texts will be similar but not exact translations.

Love to you all, ma.ma.

_________


Aprender algo nos da siempre un gran placer y un sentido de realización plena. No recuerdo ninguna experiencia donde aprender algo no me haya hecho sentir bien, y, los logros no me hayan ayudado a aumentar mi auto-estima.
Cuando nos decidimos a estudiar o a aprender algo nuevo, la "luz al final del túnel" puede parecer distante y los escollos en el camino, abrumadores.
Pero, a medida que avanzamos en el proceso y vamos obteniendo pequeños logros, un sentimiento de felicidad enexplicable nos invade y sentimos que podemos lograr aún más.

Hoy, he decido escribir en castellano/español también para aquellos que quieran compartir sus reflexiones conmigo en esta lengua.

Para todos y todas, un cariño, ma.ma.

miércoles, 20 de febrero de 2008

After the storm...

One more thing I can be sure of now is that after every storm there comes sunshine, always, no doubt. At times of uncertainty, you may feel that you are at the bottom of the ditch and that nothing can be worse than how you are feeling that but believe me: "There is always something good waiting for you tomorrow when the sun comes up again".
I had many moments in my life when I really thought I could not bare any more and I went to sleep with eyes full of tears but life taught me that we only have to give it time and the wounds alsways heal.
Time and love, unconditional love, are the answers.
Love, ma.ma.

lunes, 18 de febrero de 2008

About learning and teaching all the time

I know that I may be saying something you have already read or heard about, that we are constantly learning and teaching. But let me tell you that as time goes by I become more and more aware of this truth. These two processes seem to be so connected that one cannot be separated from the other. It is a law of Physics: the more you give, the more you receive. The more you need, the more you give.

My friends are constantly reminding me that this is so when they come with the right words at the right time. For some time now, this new blogging experience was making me feel quite frustrated and when I was almost going to give up for good, my friend Vicky came across with the question "Have you started your blog yet?". Maybe for her it was a usual question, but it was just what I needed in order to go back to this blog of mine which is just my first try at it. I immediately sent her what I had and she wrote my first comment for which I am very greatful.

Now, this brings a song to my mind: "That's what friends are for..." so I will dedicate it to my friends, to all of them but especially to Vicky.

I do not know how to include a video here but I will try.

Love, ma.ma.