My Experience in Calgary

       My experience here in Calgary was the better as possible. I had the opportunity to visit many places and to know a lot of people in the university and outside, the begins for my host family, my classmates, and teachers. It is impossible for me to describe my gratefulness for all. Places that I visited are many. On the top of Calgary Tower I could enjoy the beautiful view of the city. In the Glenbow Museum learn about the history of the city and in the Drumheller Museum about the dinosaurs. In the Heritage Park I had a meeting with a history and in Banff with the natural beauty of Alberta. For finish the tradition of Calgary Stamped. Without mention the Theaters, Pubs, etc. How talk just about one if of all I keep good memories. Thanks guys, thanks a lot for my great experience here with all of you.

Honeymoon in Fernando de Noronha

       In Brazil, Fernando de Noronha is one of the most popular destinations to go during the honeymoon. Fernando de Noronha is located in the State of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, and there, nature is in charge of giving the romantic tone of the trip. In the archipelago, the weather is pleasant, with high temperatures during the day and refreshing night. The place really has an extraordinary landscape, with prominence for Two Brothers Island, the Bay of Pigs, Sancho Bay, Atalaia Beach and Frade's Island. In Fernando de Noronha the theme is: feel free to do what you want.

Curiosities About Wedding

       For this blog, I selected some traditions or superstitions about weddings. The first curiosity, the English believe that a spider found in a wedding dress means good luck, or that, according to the English folklore, Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day despite the fact it is the most popular day of the week for marry. For the Brazilians, there isn't an unlucky day, but an unlucky month, August. Moroccan women take a milk bath to purify themselves before their wedding ceremony, while in Holland, a pine tree is planted outside the newlyweds' home as a symbol of fertility and luck. Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart. Some traditions are interesting because reveal why things are as they are, and read about these curiosities was fun. There are many others, do you know any?

Carpe Diem

       One of the best movies that I have ever seen is Dead Poets Society. The film tells the story of a traditional college for men (Welton Academy), where the treatment is hard and with many rules. This school receives an ex-student, John Keating (Robin Williams) to be a new literature’s teacher. However, his teaching methodology is quite different from the other teachers, instigating his students to not just absorb knowledge, but pick it up and question him. With his talent and wisdom, Keating inspires his students to pursue their individual passions and make their lives extraordinary. The change in student behavior causes families’ reaction with terrible consequences. This movie was made in 1989 and for me is one of the most thought-provoking movies that I have ever seen. For this reason, if you no yet had the opportunity to see, I recommend.

Tourist Tip

              If you are looking for a wonderful tourist destination for your next summer’s vacation in Brazil, you need to visit Armação dos Buzios. Located about 180 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro, Buzios is today an international tourist destination. The peninsula has around 22 beaches, each one with its own style. Geriba Beach, for example, is a territory of surfers and flirting, while Azedinha Beach is an ocean of tranquility and Ferradura Beach attracts family with children. Water sports enthusiasts as windsurfing and kitesurfing enjoy the beaches Rasa and Manguinhos. Buzios is famous for its nightlife, that start in the Pedra’s Street and extends to the waterfront Bardot, in honor of French actress Brigitte Bardot who presented the resort to the world in the 60s. There you will find many restaurants, bars, music and fun for everyone, as well as a commercial area full of upscale boutiques. The charm of the old fishing village might explain the impressive number of foreigners residing there; almost 50 different nationalities live in harmony. I spent my last vacation there and I can guarantee it is hard to resist the charms and beauties of Buzios.

Speaking Spanish

Most Latin Americans need to learn a second language, except Brazil, where most of the population needs, in addition to English, also learn a third language, Spanish. First, Spanish is, after English, the second most used language as an international vehicle for communication, especially in trade. In the United States and Canada, Spanish is the second most popular language. Second, for Brazil, the reason for this is that the main Latin American countries and trade partners of Brazil in Mercosur (South Common Market) speak Spanish. Only three small non-Hispanic countries, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, at the northern end of the continent do not speak Spanish, all other countries in this market speak. However, beyond South America, also in Central America and Mexico dominate Spanish. In conclusion, learn Spanish has become highly valued in the Brazilian labor market, after English, for those who need to interact with this gigantic market for reasons of work or culturally.

Time is Money

What to do, if you suddenly win a large sum of money? Something likes $10 million. I think that many people have you thought in some moment about it. In my case, I think my first reaction would be to say, "Ok! Now I own my time.” In addition, I would use this time to think about how to make the best use of money. The first thing everyone thinks of doing is changing house, buy a new car, help friends and family, make that dream trip, etc. As if, money would never end. However, how to make money work for me? What are the best productive and financial investment opportunities to make money multiply? Consult an expert in finance of your confidence is a good way to begin to answer these questions. Only after these issues resolved I would start an adaptation process to a new quality of life. Because the easiest thing you have is to spend money, mainly spend without discretion. There are many stories of people who were millionaires, and suddenly lost everything. For these reasons, I would say to myself, "Relax, use the time to your advantage. You now have all the time in the world."

Fraud-False Kidnapping

One of the most common frauds in Brazil is the fake kidnapping fraud. Mainly prisoners or criminal gangs organize them. Generally, it occurs in two stages. The first, criminals call to a family member and with some excuse (which is the telephone company and need to make controls against cloning) can get several personal information (used to convince the family that the person being kidnapped), including the phone of the victim who will receive threats. In addition, with the excuse to carry out the controls against cloning or something, ask to leave the phone off, for one or 2 hours, or make direct links to the number of supposed kidnapped, to keep him busy, and not be possible for the family to know if he is in fact kidnapped. Meanwhile, another member of the gang calls the family informing the kidnapping, and that, if not deposited a certain amount (usually between one and five thousand dollars) immediately, will be injured or killed. In the second stage, the theatrical performance of fraudsters often includes background screams and details of the person allegedly kidnapped to frighten and convince the family to pay quickly. The frightened victim usually acts fast for anything to happen to your family, and usually, does not check the veracity of information. After performing the payment of ransom and get in touch with the family reportedly kidnapped it is that you realize that was a victim of fraud, but, the financial loss had been consummated and usually cannot identify the criminals.

No, because I do not like radical sports, although I admire those who do. Extreme

sports are sports that involve a high degree of physical risk, given the extreme

conditions in which are practiced, such as height, speed, physical strength, high skills

and require a lot of training of its practitioners to minimize the risks. Despite the high

risks involved, extreme sports increasingly attract  practitioners in search of adventure

and move an entire industry through the development of materials and equipment,

generally expensive, and that give added security and comfort to its practitioners.

Therefore, although I am not a fan of this kind of sport and prefer conventional sports I

admire its practitioners.

Hello and welcome to the My Experience in Calgary blog! I'm going to post each week's topic, as well as links for extra information about my experience here. I hope that you enjoy the blog. I arrive in Calgary on April 09 and I will stay here until July 23. I'm here to study English and went to talk about this important experience for me in this wonderful city.