The Habit of Being Different… Day after Day

It´s shown who wake up at the same time on a daily basis to do the sort of things they do day after day are keen to fall into routine and, consequently, waste their intellectual potential. For such reason the worst medicine for ideas man is called routine. Unfortunately It´s unavoidable pretty often in positions that demand to turn into a robot… Although there is always gaps to introduce diversity even in routine jobs, making them less boring. You will see it´s possible the habit of being different day after day.

Let me compare the mind as a muscle you can train and maximize in a serial of easy steps. For instance since the moment you change the order to switch on lights of the office your mind is working differently and keeping it awaken. Probably you pay attention stuff you were never aware of its existence.  A brain that periodically receives new stimuli is fit. But everything in its fair measure, as an uncontrolled bombing of messages generates confusion and chaos. And what I purpose is technique not to lose individual identity but to enrich it.

The ways of feeding your brain and, definitely, creativity, are infinite. Drop some of them below:

· Learning new languages, sports categories, discovering hobbies.

· Reading a wide range of topics (for example, biographies, black novel, poetry, natural science, instruction  manual, philosophy… and different mass media to compare views of journalists). It sounds very intellectual  but the interpretation of any billboard will help you.

· Listening the most varied spectrum of musical likes.

· Varying the diet (besides avoiding nutrient deficiency).

· Reinventing the route to get your workplace…

And a list of new activities you are thinking about right away. Remember not to let them take control of brain. It´s the most valuable possession you have. Keep in your mind the curiosity of a kid. The more you know the more aware of your potential you will be. 

A matter of Perceptions

It happens to me that I feel I live in other dimension quite more times than I'm aware of.  Or it's a matter of perceptions, such as the following short story. 

Not only she didn't answer my messages, but I paid 20 bucks for a ticket without drinks. No sooner had I reached the bar than I paid 7 more dollars to have my nerves under control and recover my self-confidence. It always tends to come after some drinks. Don't be in panic, you are alone in a new club crowded with people who look for people of the same gender. I pretended to dominate the situation with my costly beer. Hardly had I finished drinking when I inspected the dance floor only to make sure she wasn't there. On no condition was I encouraged to dance alone. Not until a shela approached me while I looked at the mass of dancers from my seat for dull and drunk spectators. Enjoy the weird atmosphere! It seems to be the slogan of the night after standing up by Redlipstick. That woman took my hand to dance but I didn't gave her desire. Only after accepting her apologise she sat beside me. Such was her inebriation that I gave up asking her name. Had I known what would happen little after I would have refused to dance with her. The fact is that I was abducted by her charming of tireless dancer. I thought, as had either sober person done, that she was completely interested in me. So mistaken was I to my surprise. We performed sexy dances and approaches for a while. You know the perception of a drunk is just perpendicular to the reality. So wasted I was. Scarcely had I danced a couple of songs when I realized she was flirting with other men. It's high time to leave the club but my curiosity held me prisoner fifteen more minutes. Far away the dance floor pretending to talk by phone with somebody, I spied her movements. She looked like to be finding me because she stopped dancing and kept an eye on me while I had my imaginary conversation on the phone. 'Too late darling', I told to myself.   

Conditionals

The bad weather didn't help me to arrive the appointed date in time. If it hadn't been for my GPS I wouldn't have found your house. It would have been impossible otherwise. If I were to arrive an hour late, what would you believe?

No matter what you think now. We have a deal and it's vital we both respect the rules of the game provided they don't goes against our principles.

I will keep on talking unless you want to butt in me. I dare say you are tired of hearing the same speech every week but the reminders allow me not to lose the sight of my goal. If we are here is because of  a fundamental mission to be accomplished while there are thousand teenagers trying out synthetic drugs out there, having risky relations and making an attempt on their own lives. It's not our business to stop them although you can't avoid seeing yourself as a accomplice of their circumstances.

In the cold light of the day it's easier to analyse the facts clearly. There's not way out until the head of this system and its supporters are defeated. They are feeding themselves by means of a politic utterly opposite to the promises the citizens hear from them. It happens our memory is so weak than we aren't able to remember what they promised us because we are in good hands or we think so at least. Even if we didn't forget the lies with which they persuaded us it didn't change anything. What a relief!

And at the same time we jealous of them. Supposing most of the people could chose they would accept to be part of the management of the political system only to perpetuate its working and benefit from it. That's the painful truth that makes them hypocrite. What makes the difference is the fact that neither you nor I have choice and it doesn't mean we are heroes. But for citizen's laziness we are in this mess. If not ask them. 

Stronger than Cold Weather

Cold seems determined to spend a season at least in this portion of land despite the recent sunny mornings. I don't remember when it was the last rainny day. During the previous month I have been working at a inconstant pace while I received several job offers. That's how it goes sometimes. 'This is my month!' I told myself. Most known mates are back to their mother towns and, not surprisingly, I'm more concerned about making my way in this removed island.

I feel more confident and able to speak English but I sometimes feel Spanish is necessary, as a outlet, to express my feelings. 

It's early to understand all is happening around me because, at present, I get on learning new things everyday and not always they goes by enough slow to get them properly.

This is a big country compounded by a mix of nationalities, so there are many people in my same situation, learning English and trying to get a great reason to live or spend more time here. They work hard day after day to upgrade and leave behind their current positions because many of them work in areas without connection with they studied to

I see there is a fierce daily challenge in the city as if it grew at two speeds. On one hand Australian versus second generations of migrants who talk English perfectly and develop qualified jobs. On other hand migrants who are from undeveloped countries and able to work for over 12 consecutive hours each day at any price in the most extreme case. They don't have any competitor in certain areas opposite workers who are losing their jobs because they aren't as productive as those former. I'm referring Asian people, but students are also becoming the new cheap labor cost because they generally must work to pay their living cost.

The disappointment or desperation to get an appropriate job which allows to save money is what makes most students leave this country when they finish their study. But there's another hidden reason, the nostalgia of the family and friends.

Cold reminds many of us there are important people wanting us to return back home. Whether or not they are close to us we will enjoy a beautiful sunrise tomorrow.

The Time Machine

It seems incredible to see how time flies in Brisbane. Seven months have elapsed since I arrived here and I could assign each one a day of the week. I have realized my English is more fluent, I´m less shy and  time runs faster. For that reason, when I write I feel I am travelling in the time machine to write about my life.  

During my last excursion I met by chance a Dutchwoman. It was in Noosa National Park. She started talking about the turtles we could catch sight from the cliff. They were surfing in the sea and then, without being an expert, it is possible to see them for a while before they sink.

She is artist and she travelled to Australia a long time ago from her town. In a first moment she was living in Sydney but seeing how high the competition in her area was she decided to come to Brisbane. She joined Nimbin movement in the sixties, when population got to stop the tree felling successfully for the first time during a long protest.

The conversation was so relaxed that I forgot why I was in the middle of those sights. She soon referred a previous anecdote, which involved me. I asked an Australian couple if they wanted me to take them a picture. That fact reminded her a past time, where she was an European backpacker. When she started talking about the extroverted attitude of Spanish people in comparation with Australian I got confused. “I travelled to Spain alone but I have never had dinner alone, because Spanish invited me to stay with them. It is impossible to happen here”, she told me to my surprise.

In that moment I realized why my perception about Spanish people was so different from it. They aren´t who have changed. I am the main responsible for that change. During seven months I have been forgoting day after day what I left behind me when I went out of my country. Being 17 years old something similar happened to me, when I moved to Madrid from a small town called Aspe to study journalism and afterwards to work in a printing press company. I easily adapt to the new situations and that´s good because I spend few time to miss people, places, food and activities.
When I decided to leave my country I promised myself to avoid getting in touch with hordes of Spanish because I consider speaking Spanish is good but only exceptionally. It´s very tempting to make Spanish friends for a newcomer. However I prefer asking for help to “ayuda” or advise to “consejo”.

My last trip was an exception as I spent it with my Colombian family. But I am here with you again, dear loyal reader. I meet you on the next post.  

            

Interview with Gareth Morris, teacher of English at Brisbane

Gareth Morris is an English teacher in Brisbane for over five years, but  he has previously been teaching in Japan and Taiwan. He is from Shrewsbury (United Kingdom), the same town where Charles Darwin was born. Probably if Evolutionary Theory explained the capacity to survive of the humankind depending on the rate of happyness Gareth will be adapted to Brisbane. His love is shared among this city, his girlfriend, sports, and open spaces.

Q. Along your experience as a teacher, could you tell me where the students more disciplined are from?

A. Japanese are the most hardworking students. They always do their homework before the following class. If you have a look here (library) you will see most of students' nationalities are from Japan. That´s the best indicative.

Q. What´s the biggest handicap you have found to teach English?

A. Grammar and vocab is always difficult to be taught, above all in the lowest levels of English.

Q. Shrewsbury, Tokyo, Taipei, Brisbane... What’s your favourite city to live?

A. I choose Brisbane, because of its lifestyle, the quality of the weather, the opportunities to do outdoor activities or the simple fact of breathing fresh air.

Q. Tell me, which romantic place or places of Brisbane would you recommend to the newcomers?

A. The Cliffs in Kangarro Point, next to the riverfront, are an ideal place for a picnic with champaigne and smart cheese.

Q. Do you prefer Australian or British gastronomy? (Suggest a Restaurant of Brisbane)

A. Australian cuisine is more modern than British. 
It´s a fussion of Asian and Western style cookery, which I like more. Tukka* is my favourite restaurant. It´s located at West End. In Tukka you can eat Australian and native food, for example, emu, cocodrile, kangaroo, berrish, seeds...

                                                                    *Tukka is a distorsion of “tucker”, which means  food in Australian slang.

Q. Human being tends to associate cities with smells and sounds. What sounds Brisbane to?

A. For me the sound of Brisbane is the sound of the wild animals like the possums and kookaburras.

Q. What´s the most you love about Australia?

A. I love watching sports, and in Australia it’s possible to attend matches almost every weekend because it´s accesible and cheaper than in my country. I like watching football, rugby, criquet, tennis, horse races...

Q. Which 5 adjectives describe better an Australian?

A. Lucky, noisy, agressive, accepting and funny.

Q. Why would you stay in Australia?

A. My girlfriend -she was the main reason to travel to Australia- and the high quality of life are enough reasons to stay here.

Q. Why would you leave Australia?

A. If  any member of my family got sick I would come back home obviously.

Recommendation to newcomer students

Get outside and leave your residence, go to the beach, do barbies, explore new natural places... 

There are many pending places to be known.

“The Sound of the Birds is Undoubtedly Connected to Brisbane"

Arturo López comes from the same country that the writers Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes or the international rock band Maná. Probably it’s enough to guess he’s from México, where the gastronomy is inevitably linked to chili, tortilla, guacamole and nachos. But it´s also a place well-known due to the beauty of its beaches, the hospitality of its inhabitants and three most popular drinks: beer, mezcal and tequila. It´s not a bad choice to make friends, but I promise it wasn’t necessary to do this interview.

Q. When did you start planning your trip to Australia?

A. The trip was’nt a new idea since I intended to travel to Australia 5 or 6 years ago. In that moment I was studying at university International Trade and after being graduated I held a Master in Logistics. For that reason I didn´t take my trip until now.

Q. On having United States so close to México, what boosted you to fly so far away from your hometown?

A. I could have decided United States to learn English, it only takes 8 hours by car, or Canada, where I have already been, but I was specially interested in living a different experience which I’m having in Australia. In particular, I chose Brisbane because its population size is closer to Ciudad de Querétaro, where I comes from, than Melbourne. I don´t have a keen interest in living in big cities.

Q. In what way the learning of English will be good in your daily life?

A. Currently English is highly demanded by companies. For instance, I held a bad position in my previous job because I wasn’t able to talk good English.   

Q. Each city has a caracteristic sound to be associated with. Which is the sound of Brisbane?

A. The sound of the birds is undoubtedly connected to Brisbane.

Q. What 5 adjectives define an Australian?

A. I would say they are tolerant, rude, honest, two-faced and sometimes agressive.

Q. Will you be able to suggest a restaurant to eat Mexican food?

A. I recommend Guzmán & Gómez, although it isn´t a traditional place to eat authentic Mexican food.

Q.What´s your favourite pastime?

A. Living in West End I love strolling along the river bank at night while I’m listening music and getting relaxed.

Q. Why would you stay in Australia?

A. I would stay here because this is a country where you can earn good money working a few hours. There is a radical contrast in comparation with México.

Q. What would you love doing before leaving this country?

A. My unresolved matters are to know more Australian people and visit big cities, such as Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns.

Q. Is Australia a country to come back?

A. Not for me, I´m more interested in knowing other countries.

A recommendation

If you want to know the traditional Mexican culture I recommend you to visit the old historical area of México, a unique place to be visited, where emerges the most modern part of the city mixed among historic buildings.  

Techniques to Steal Cellular Phones in the center of Madrid

I have been informed about techniques to steal cellular phones in the center of Madrid. The thieves are using a technique not very known by the citizens. My friend was one of the victims of these robberies. The thieves robbed her of an iPhone. Police and employees of the establishments nearby confirmed that these robberies are a regular occurrence everyday.

The technique that these thieves use is, as follows; The thief, with a newspaper or a note in his hand approaches their targets at there tables, and lament about their poor economic situation. The thief then distract the victim by putting the newspaper or note over their belongings so that it is not visible to them anymore. In that moment the thieves steal the victims belongings, while the victim is totally unaware of what is happening. The victim only realises what has happened once he/she start looking for his/her property.

I believe there is a way of preventing these thefts, and it is mainly by informing the public. I do not wish to be an alarmist, but have to warn you of new stealing methods being used frequently by the thieves these days.

For this reason, always keep your belongings close on you and don’t leave them on the tables of any establishment.

If you link this post or recommend it in forums you will be helping people not to fall victim of these crimes... We all together should avoid thiefs stealing cellular phones.

The power of the imagination

- What´s your favourite possession? Why it´s special to you? – A man asked to me.

- If I had to say you what´s my favourite possession I would choose my imagination because of many reasons, but mainly because it lets me look for unusual and different solutions for a problem. To use the imagination is a recepy recommended by the psicology specialists when a problem hasn´t got a solution at first sight. It´s showed that if we use similar methods for a same problem we don´t find different answers and it can be the true problem. Therefore imagination isn´t neither big nor small, it depends on the person and it isn´t heavy, so you can transport it easyly. The possibility of inventing a new world or an story that you only know is a show of the nice things human being has.

When a door is closed another is opened

Mark could never imagine that this telephone call would change his life forever. It was Monday morning and Mark was sitting on the sofa at home when the sound of the phone interrupted his dream.

- Good morning. Is Mark at home? – A voice of a man said.
- I am. Who is?- Mark answered him.
- Well, my name is Thompson, executive chief of ‘True stories editorial’. I have been reading your articles in ‘Chicago Newspaper’ about the life and death of Marguerite Suatzon. In other words, me and the Company that I represent admire you and we would like to meet you for a job offer only if you want, of course.

Mark couldn´t believe what he was hearing. After being fired by the director of ‘Chicago Newspaper’ because of his daily publications wasn´t interesting, in the director´s opinion, now an editorial was interested in his articles. A sentence says when a door is closed another is opened, and now Mark was seeing the opened door.