Article of the week, by Alida

A short story. Jessie Munroe "IF"

If I was a car I wonder what I would be. Would I be the hot red sports car with leather interior, and automatic luxury? I doubt it. I think an old reliable, 1981 Volvo with chipping blue paint would fit me the best. I would only have about 24 thousand miles, which means I am dependable. I would have AM FM Radio and even though it’s no CD player I get you want you want. I think I would be a manual with a tricky clutch, because I tend to not like change that much, it just bothers me. There would be a few dents that express interesting stories on how and when it happened. The chipping paint lets people know I have given myself to others. My accessories are in pretty good shape, for example; my window wipers are fresh and new symbolizing a new start to wipe away the rain. The engine would have some problems because of experience, but other then that it would be honest, and would keep on giving as long as it could. The body might look like it needs some work, however, it just symbolizes the experience and growth of an old car. I wouldn’t be that jealous of those red hot sports cars flashing their selves around the streets, because they tend to run out faster, and a little rough on in interior. They might be full of luxury however, they always depend on being high maintained. Another thing about those red-hot sports cars you can’t just jump in one wearing your pajama pants. If you sport the car you have to play the role. This means you cannot ever be yourself or people would think you don’t deserve the red-hot sports car. Plus, their parts are just way too expensive, and the car is just too picky about everything. At the end and for the long road cars like me, we tend to carry our passengers wherever they want to go for as long as they want to go for.

My best friend by Lluís

I want tell you about Gabrielle. He's 45 years old, an he's an actor. He's from Roma, but he's lived in Catalonia for three years. In my opinion, he's very sensible, incredibly creative and very responsible in his work. I have seen him in some plays and he is a great actor! He's very sociable and a really good friend, but he's also cautious and reserved with his personal things.

As I said before, Gabrielle (Gabi for the friends), is a very sensible and creative person, so he loves seeing films, the theater and whatever form of artistic expression, like photography or painting.

The only negative things I can think of are that he's a bit quiet and shy, and he has a big problem with the cooking, and as a good Italian, he's very obstinate and very meticolous in the kitchen. It's a pleasure to cook with him and you'll learn a lot, but you must remember to change the proportions and never make improvisations if you don't want to see your lunch in the garbage!

How to set a beautiful Thanksgiving table!!

Hi!! I've seen this article in my facebook page, and today is Thanksgiving day. Enjoy it and use this ideas for Christmas or an special dinner!!
See you later!!

Article: "Creating a beautiful and modern Thanksgiving Table!!

Creating a beautiful and modern Thanksgiving table

By LINDA WHITE, Special to QMI Agency

Set the scene for an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner with a dining room table that exudes style and atmosphere, enhancing not only the menu but the conversation you’ll enjoy with loved ones.

“A beautifully set dining room table is the appetizer because it ultimately sets the tone and theme for the evening,” says Cheryl Torrenueva, one of the designer hosts of Restaurant Takeover on Food Network Canada. “It becomes part of the memory and is definitely a great complement to the food.”

Reds, oranges and browns are traditional autumn colours but she suggests putting a refreshing twist on your table décor with one of the following styles:

• Minimalist: Clear glass, mirrors, creams, silver and gold create a calm, serene, luxurious ambiance.
• Refined rustic: Layer neutrals like taupes, creams and beiges with lots of pattern and texture, such as herringbone or chevron, and a splash of metallic contrasted with things like bark and branches.
• Organic roots: This modern, saturated palette of indigo is mixed with plums, greens and golds and is inspired by autumn vegetables like cabbage and red onions.

As you celebrate nature’s bounty, there’s no need to spend money on faux decorations from a craft store or purchase graphic table clothes, plates and napkins that scream Thanksgiving, advises Sonya Kinkade of Sonya Kinkade Design in Ottawa, Ont.

“Stick with the simple things – the things you see outside in nature every day and use what you have already in your home. Simple white plates, linen tablecloth and napkins, wine corks with slits to insert place cards, and raffia with a few berry twigs tied to the napkins,” Kinkade says. “All these things will make a stunning table and the cost to do so will be only time.”

A large bouquet of flowers is a traditional centrepiece but again don’t be afraid to mix things up. Clusters of three or five arrangements – such asartichokes as candleholders – can be placed asymmetrically on the tabletop.

Another idea - herbs in mason jars. “They add a nice fragrance to the table and allow guests to add whatever herbs they want to their meal,” says Torrenueva.

A harvest table in the autumn edition of LCBO’s Food and Drink magazinefeatures a row of pillar candles down the centre of the table in lieu of flowers. Small gourds and pumpkins painted in silver and white metallic complete the look and is a trend editor Jody Dunn predicts will be popular for holidays. “Scented candles are an easy way to set the mood for a dinner party,” she says.

Avoid creating clutter on the table by decorating with items that serve double duty. One of Dunn’s favourite ideas is a thank-you card that serves as a place card, with the name of guests written on envelopes. Inside, let them know why you’re grateful to have them in your life.

“It’s time consuming but adds a special touch to Thanksgiving,” Dunn says.

Centrepiece ideas

Interior designer Sonya Kinkade suggests two centrepieces for your Thanksgiving table:

• Place tall cut branch maple stems in red, green and orange in a large clear vase. Cut off the leaves in the stem area in the vase and ensure branches are tall enough so they don’t block eye contact between guests.

• Fill three antique silver pitchers in different shapes and heights with green pepper berries and foliage, lemon leaves and under-ripe Persimmon.

Visual Shoe Dictionary

Hiii everyone!
I've found this pic today, it makes me remember the class of yesterday haha
 If you want to learn more vocabulary about shoes...

Question Tags

Rosa, my best friend

Rosa is my best friend. When I think about friendship, her face appears on my mind. We learnt at the same primary school, but our lifes crossed some years later, when we were twenties. First of all, I met her older sister and her friends. They used to say me that I was looking like her, physically and in our way of thinking. So, Carmen, her sister, decided to introduce each other. In fact, the chemistry emerged at the first moment. The more we talked, the more we felt this strong feeling. We started to share all the things that appeared in our ways, our loves, our friends, our parties, our everyday things…

As you can see, she is wonderful to me! She has a precious face, with a big smile that makes me feel confidence and tranquility. Her hair is brun and sightly waved, it makes her green eyes stand out.

Roseta is very talkative and open-minded and she likes knowing new people. When I have a problem, she listens carefully to me and advices me. She is a very honest person and always says what she thinks. She takes care of her people, I feel so good when we are together. Now, we live in different cities, she lives in Cullera, our town in Valencia, and I am here working as a teacher. The first thing we do when we meet is to embrace each other. I like her smell and warmth, remind me what we have lived together. The last time we meet was her daughter’s day of birth, last 3rd of November. Claudia is her little princess, and I love her in the same way as her mum.

Finally, just say that I really like her personality and if I could, I wouldn't change anything of her. I like she the way she is and nothing could break or change the feeling we share.

My best friend by Alida

My best friend is Idoia. I met her about ten years ago. We know each other because she was friend of my husband’s best friend.

We met at a birthday’s party where I don’t knew nobody and she started to talk with me. In fact, to talk a lot with me because she is very talkative. We get on very well so we started to see us very frequently. She’s very sociable, helpful, reliable, affectionate and how I said before very talkative too. But this is not a problem because I’m very shy so we complement us each other.

We normally met twice a month, even more. Moreover our children are very friends too.

She’s fantastic for me.

My friend Judith (by Vanesa)

This is Judith and is one f my friends. We met in high school and ever since we separated. Judith's cheerful and friendly and always have good mood. She's very balanced, open-mind, confident and hardworking who has succeed in his professional and family life. What I like is that she is very loyal and generous with everyone. When I've had a problem she always been there, with his optimism and his good heart, so she is one of my best friends.

She's tall, slim and very attractive. She has a long blonde hair and a nice smile. She 's very pretty but mostly she's beautiful inside.

Judith is very active and loves do things with her family and friends. She loves traveling and dancing. 

Judith is a lawyer and she loves his job.

We've been through a lot together and we lives with intensity every time: our adolescence, our loves and disappointments, sorrows and joys, work, marriage, the birth of our children...

An magical moment for us was when my daughter Martina was born. Judith was very excited because she's her godmother. Be the godmother of my little daughter was my way of thanking and showing how important she is to me.

She's a good friend, a fantastic mother and a great person. I'm very lucky to have a friend like her.

My friend Àngels (by Mònica Arjona)

She’s my friend Àngels. Well, she’s one of my best friends. Àngels is 31 years old. She’s tall and slim; she has long blonde hair and brown eyes. I met her when I was in Secondary School. The first three years we were in the same group of friends but we didn’t speak much. One day we discovered that we had a similar sense of humour. Joke after joke a good friendship began. But... when I definitely knew that she was a very good friend, was when I had an important problem and she helped me a lot, more than anyone. Since then, I trust her and I know she’ll be ever in my life. She’s a kind person, responsible, open-minded and cheerful. She’s very sensitive, she cries easily watching a film or talking to someone who is sad. She likes listening to music, especially Radiohead and Muse. She never misses a concert of them. She’s a good cook, her salads are delicious!! I meet her, at least, twice a week for jogging or doing yoga.

Funny Thanksgiving Song

Video of the week by Ana Mª Cañadas (History of Thanksgiving Day)

My friend ( by Eva Gómez )

In Memoriam 

          

I have been thinking about my friends all this week. All this time I have remembered a good friend from when I was at the university: Meritxell Suriñach. It’s difficult for me to write about her because she is dead but I realize that I still miss her.

I met her during my first year but not at the beginning, because she was a friend of a friend friend .Together we spent a lot of time in different libraries, in the university bar and speaking on the phone about exams and homework. She was a blonde, blu really pretty woman with blue eyes. She was clever, brilliant and hard -working and she used to be always ready to go to a party or celebration. She used  to be also in a hurry to do everything because she didn’t want to miss anything.

 She showed to me how to hitchhike, that's how we used to go home from the UAB. It was faster, cheaper and we never had any problem. She also taught me catalan  because she was from Camprodon and for five years I could learn more catalan than in all  my life. I know that she learnt from me spanish because she told me.

I met her family, and my boyfriend and I went to Camprodon several times. My boyfriend, nowadays my husband, and I could meet a real catalan family because we came from Andalusian emigrants sons and we had never shared food or conversations with people who we understood although they spoke another language to ours. We forgot forever all the stereotypes about catalonan people. She came home many times as well. Once she came to Badalona to go to the “ Cremada del Dimoni” celebration. We had a great time because she was really funny, extroverted and talkative.

She was such an adventurer that she passed away in Mont Blanc. She had an accident; she slipped and fell down a precipice. I can’t say anything bad about her because she was an angel. Rest in peace ,my friend.

http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1998/08/28/pagina-19/34615114/pdf.html

A GOOD FRIEND: MARY (by MªCarmen)

This is Mary. She lives in Madrid. I know Mary for many years. She’s one of my best friends because she always help me when I need something. I think we get on well because we know each other so well. We spend much time together because she has always vacationed in Jerte (my village). In the village we have the same friends and we enjoy doing the same things. We celebrate our birthday together because it’s the same month. We don’t live in the same town but we see each other very often. Often she comes to visit me at Barcelona (she loves BCN). We talk by phone every week and when I travel to Madrid the first person I call is always Mary. A part from being an attentive and nice person. She’s hard-working, open-minded, sweet, funny and sensitive. She has a big heart and she’ll never say not to anything! I think that I’ve found a good friend to share my problems and give me good advices. I love her a lot!!! However, she’s not perfect. She’s a bit shy, reserved and innocent. Therefore many people abuse the good person that she is.

A very good friend (by Angel)

This is Joxan one of my oldest friends. We were together at secondary school but in different class - I’m one year older than him. I think that the first time we met was at the school choir trials. We shared so much time practising together that we knew each other’s voices perfectly and that’s why we discovered a new kind of mutual understanding. Besides, we had the opportunity to go abroad and know different cities in Spain and Europe.

Usually, Joxan and I shared the same room when we stayed at the guesthouse or at the family house that put us up. Joxan is a loyal friend and a wise person. He’s also cheerful and, even if something doesn’t work or the weather isn’t so good, he is always smiling.

Now, I live in Barcelona, far away from my old friends, but we haven’t lost contact. I usually go back and then we meet up for a beer or for dinner. Next Christmas, I’m sure we’ll meet again and we’ll talk about the good old days, as usual. 

My best friend (by Patri)

This is Angel. We knew each other in 1999, when he became my instructor at the "esplai". At firt, we didn't get on well, because I wanted to be an instructor and it seemed like he was taking my place away. But, at once, we started to be good friends. We studied toghether at University and now we share a flat with another common friend. 

Angel is a very inteligent and charming person. He's pretty ambitious and imaginative at his work. But, at private life, he is so reserved and calm. 

He has a heart of gold. He'll always help anyone with everything. He's very loyal, he's always there when you need him, and you can trust in him. He have helped and suported me everytime I have had any problem. Also, he's good fun and I laught a lot when I'm with him. 

However, he's a little bit stubborn and bad-tempered when he gets ungry. Still, he's my best friend, and I hope we'll be friends for years and years!

A very good friend (by Clara)

This is Cris. I met her in 1992, twenty years ago ,while we were travelling in Thailand with our husbands Jose and Miguel. At First, we didn’t get on well because she always knews  it all! And also , they were  from Madrid and everybody knows, about the rivalry between Madrid-Barcelona... However, I discovered that we had a lot of things in common.

She is very sociable, friendly, talkative and optimistic. Her slogan is "Don’t worry, be happy!" Sometimes she’s a dreamer and she has her head in the clouds! When I am with her, all is perfect and happy. She is so cheerful!

The only negative things I can think of are that she’s such a chatterbox when she’s on the phone, and she’s  the Real Madrid fan, but  nobody is perfect!

We get in touch often, because after that  summer of 92 we have been meeting with our families twice a year, one at Chistmas in Madrid and one in summer here, in Barcelona. They love Barcelona, Costa Brava and “pa amb tomàquet”,  and our children became great friends. 

My best friend (by Marta Garcia)

 

 

This is my best friend Marta. We met just four years ago at the school where we were working. The first time I saw her, I knew that we’d get on well because we had lots of things in common. Actually, in a short time we connected a lot and became best friends. 

She is 26 years old, like me. She’s nervous, optimistic, open-minded and very affectionate, loyal and funny, you can trust always her. If I have a bad day, I know that she is going to make me laugh.

However, she is not perfect. She’s stubborn, quite untidy and sometimes she talks too much (she explains things that she shouldn’t).

She is my partner in whatever I do. We have travelled together. We've been to Madrid, Asturias, Belgium, Ireland... but the best trip was going to Vancouver. We spent some weeks there and the experience was awesome. I've never thougt that I would go so far away. I could go till the end of the world If I went with her. 

In fact, she’s the sister I’ve never had.

A very good friend (by Nica)

She is Mónica. I met her I don't know when, because we were very young, perhaps we were 12 or 13 years old. Her mother helped to my grandfather in a market shop, so our families met a lot of times. We were friends inmediatly, and we did everything together. At the age of sixteen, we started to go out with another people, but she always was my best.

She is very beautiful, I always envied her curly hair, although she now looks straight hair. About her personality, you can speak about everything with her, she is very open-minded, and she never judges you. She is smailing all the time, so stay with her is very great. A part of being very pretty and cheerful, she is very attentive and creative. After work, she sews dresses, bags, and all you need. I love her designs. You can trust with her. She is the kind of person that helps you always she can, and always is near when you need to talk.

Nowadays, she lives in Oliva and I live in Barcelona, so we only meet twice a year. I miss her a lot.

My best friend (by Teresa Campins)

This is Dulia. Manuel, a mutual friend, introduced us twenty years ago. Soon, we knew we had a lot in common. We have enjoyed good times together and shared many interesting experiences. She is forty-two years old. She studied Audiovisual Communication, but now she is working in her parents' bakery. She is good for business. She is incredibly well-balanced and assertive. Besides being good at supporting her friends, she also tries to help other people. She has a heart of gold. When I need advice, she is always a great help for me. However, she's not perfect. She's quite stubborn and narrow-minded. We, both are a bit reserved, so sometimes it's difficult to know what are everyone thinking. I love her so much, but she lives in Valencia, so we meet up at Christmas, Easter and especially in summer. On our last holiday we have been at Finland and enjoyed it very much.

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK (by Núria Ricart)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/17/opinion/for-congressional-republicans-lessons-still-unlearned.html?ref=todayspaper

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK (by Núria Ricart)

http://eoibad4pia.blogspot.com

My friend Ana (by Yasone)

This is Ana. I met her because she was a friend of my brother. They are singers and they knew each other because they used to give concerts together. Ana came to my house often to record new songs and so we met.

The first time that we went out, we went to the cinema and watched “Cloudy with a chance of meat balls”, a 3D animation film. We had a very good time, because Ana is very cheerful and good fun and we laughed a lot. After this day, we got to know more and she has become a great friend. She is loyal and wise and I can tell her my secrets and problems and she tries to help me.

We have done some travelling together; we visited Madrid, Bilbao, Seville.  Last trip we did was last summer to Fomenter (oh! a relaxing week in the beach).

What I like about her is that Ana is self-confident and calm but she’s not perfect, sometimes is a bit unpunctual and impatient.

Even so I love her and I’m happy that we are such good friends.

MY BEST FRIEND (by Núria Ricart)

Montse has been my best friend since we met  at  primary  school. The  teacher sat me next her and immediately we got on fine. I remembered us playing with dolls in schoolyard. Moreover,  we kept our secrets! When we were about eight,we took up swimming. At first, we swallowed a lot of water, but, finally, we managed to learn.

However the happiest time was the teenage, because we shared a flat in Barcelona. Due to our parents stayed in Vic, we were completely free to do everything. Although  we used to study four hours in the afternoon, we had fun. Three nights during the week , we went out. And, of course, we fell madly in love with two classmates. Furthermore, in summer we spent a month travelling around France.

When we had finished university, we started working as a teachers. Now she lives in Vic and I do in Barcelona, but we have always kept in touch.

I like talking with Montse because she enjoys being with other people and you can trust totally in her. In addition, she’s very funny. The only negative  things  I  think of are  that she’s a bit untidy –in Barcelona her room was usually in a mess-  and that she can be little stubborn to admit  certain errors.  In spite of these details, Montse is really nice.

 In fact, there’s a great bond of friendship between us. This year we celebrated our 50^th affection anniversary: a lifetime sharing unforgettable experiences.

My best friend (by Ana Serra)

I‘ve been thinking about who is my best friend since Eva asked us to write this composition. I have a lot of friends and I sincerely can’t choose only one of them, so, I've decided to give you three names: Eugènia, Mari and Rosa.

I met them a long time ago in our children’s school, when they were 3 or 4,. We started our relationship going to the park or to birthday parties, but after a few weeks we started going out for dinner or for a drink and then was when our friendship really started.

Since then, when one of us feels lonely, stressed, bored… she just needs to send a message saying “how about dinner tonight?” to meet the others.

However, they are very different to me, Mari is the most creative in the group, she is a very trendy woman and has her own wearing style. Rosa is a wise and conscientious woman, she always gives good advice, we always joke saying: “when I grow up I will be like Rosa”. Eugènia is self-confident an assertive but a little bit impulsive. However, I’m sure that we share the same quality:  loyalty. That’s because we’ve been friends all this time.

THIS IS MY FRIEND ALICIA

This is my friend Alicia. I met her in 1988 when I started BUP in Salle the Gràcia School. The first year, I only spoke sometimes with her, she was a simply colleague. But, in the second course, when I sat next to her, we started a good relationship. She was an excellent student and helped me when I needed something.

We and another girl, Cecilia, set up a fantastic friendship. Together know the philosophy, the literature, together met life, boys and love... and spoke about everything that concerned us.  

In 1192 we finished BUP and COU and started university; Alicia was doing Biology when I studied Philology. Five years later we finished college and we met the workplace. In 2000, we were both independent and we rented a flat. I went to live alone in Sants, and she went to live alone in Gràcia. The live and years have passed, and we have experienced together all the changes that fate had prepared us: the love, the heartbreak, the motherhood, the death... To have a friend it’s wonderful, and I know that Alicia will be my friend all my live.

My fantastic friend! (by Lorena)

This is Meri. I met her four years ago. I had just finished my degree and I started to work in a primary school. She was working there too and, like me, she had been studying in that school when she was a child.

  Every day we went together to the dining room and little by little we got to known each other better. She helped me a lot during my first days, she was charming. She is extremely attentive and affectionate but she can also be sttuborn and independent. Sometimes I think that there are two different women in her body . During these years I have learnt so much about her and I have discovered that she has a strong character.She is a brave person and often, in this society, all of us also need to be courageus.

 She likes dancing “flamenco” and studying English. She helps me sometimes when I have some problem with pronunciation. But the best thing that we can do together is “go shopping”, every year we go shopping together the first day of the sales,it is the best day of the year.

I love her, I think that I have found a good friend to share my secrets, talk about my problems, laugh…I wish we were friends for all our lives and that we grow old together!!

MY FRIEND ANNA (By Rosa Tavira)

This is my friend Anna. I met her in 1996 at the gynaecologist. Both were pregnant and the nurse was making us a glucose test. Anna didn’t feel well, she was very dizzy and she finally fainted and fell on the floor. My father and I helped her and there began our friendship.

Four months later, fate wanted that our children were born on the same day and at the same hour. Now we are like a family and our sons are friends too. She is a fantastic person. She is conscientious, well balanced, loyal and helpful. She has a golden heart, she is very generous with everybody. However, she is not perfect because she’s very untidy and very pessimistic. She always thinks bad things will happen. I tell her to be more positive, but there is nothing to do: she keeps thinking she is very unlucky, even though she has a lovely family and many friends.

We have passed too much good time together. I hope our friendship will last all the life because I need her.

My best friend(by Pilar)

For me is very difficult talk about my best friend.
In this moment, like all the people I have a good friends of work. This is not always easy.
Also a few goods friends in relation of my private life.
But my very good friend, a french woman that I Knew  one month of July in a EOI of Drassanes, more or less, therty years ago, was Nadette. Your name was Bernadette but she don`t like this name.
She was confident and warm.
If we don't see in a year, always call me in 12 of october. Was one excuse to connected another time and go to a coffee or a restaurant ant talk, and talk about our ilussion, ours projects, ours problems.
She always had been a very problem of relationship with your olddest son.
Was your big sadnes.
One day of setember, after our holidays, when I arrived of work I have a message, the voice was the image of one persone who was suffering.
Two months later she died to a very agressive cancer.
I have she always in may mind.

MY BEST FRIEND (BY TONI)

MY BEST FRIEND (by Toni) In my opinion it´s very difficoult to know who is my best friend. And it isn´t easy because I don´t  have a lot of them. It is because, everyone who I have, has one aspect that is necessary or required. Firstly, if I could choose the most friendly I´ll try Javi. Javi is a good gay. More or less has the same age as mine.We studied together at the same primary school and although our lives are very different we always were in contact. We have the same kind of aims like the style of life. He isn´t  very good at showing his feelings as mine. We use a lot of our free time talking about things that are important to us. Secondly, in my life is interesting that you know the existence of a woman called Maria. Maria is my cousin. She is two years more older than me. She is very consciensciously, self-confidence and reliable. She´ll always help anyone with anything. She has a baby and she is the most responsable person that I never met . Really both of these two friends that I have explained to you are the only ones who I accept and I listen if I need an advice. And that´s all. As you can see I don´t have many friends but in my opinion those I have are enough.  Nobody knows, do they??? jaja

My friend Susi by Imma Reoyo

Finding Susi was a great present for me. We worked together in 2005 because I was working part-time to take care of my daughter. She was the person which made the rest of the time in my class.

She was only 22 years old although she was very responsible and hardworking. We were very different and complementary
at the same time. She was quite shy and she never liked to speak a lot or in a big group of people. But sometimes, when we were alone, she seemed cheerful and confident especially with me.

She was incredibly affectionate with the children and she liked to play with them as if she were one more but, when necessary, she could also be strict and serious.

She liked going out with her friends to chat, to listen to music or to dance. But what she liked most was to sing with her band. When she was on the stage, she seemed another person, she changed a lot and we could see a charming and a self-confident girl.

I’ve never seen anything negative in her except that she may be too demanding on herself and that can put pressure on others.

Now she’s living in Vic, her town. Still we are in touch and we always meet when she comes to Barcelone.