Emerson, Marilda and Aboré asked: What's Libya like?

Well, Libya is in north Africa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It's between Tunisia and Egypt. The Sahara Desert covers most of the country.

The weather is dry and hot most of the year. It holds the world record as being the hottest place in the world. It was 57.6°C once! Usually the weather is quite nice. It doesn't rain very often and hardly ever snows in the winter.

Daise and Simone asked: Why do you like to live as a Lebanese?

The nationality of the people of Libya is Libyan, not Lebanese. Almost all of the people in Libya are Muslims. I became a Muslim in 1982, about six years before I came to Libya. But you don't have to be a Muslim to live in Libya. There are many ex-pats (people who live and work in another country) who live in Libya and are of many different religions. They live here peacefully with the Libyan people.

Emerson, Marilda, Aboré, Daise and Simone asked: What's life in Libya like?

Libya is a peaceful country. The people are very friendly and kind here. They like people who come to visit their country. Libyans speak Arabic and many people can speak Italian and English. Most people live and work in the cities that are on the coast. The south of Libya is mostly desert and not many people live there.

In the cities there are many shops and restaurants. There are schools and universities. You can find internet cafes in the cities and many people have internet in their homes.

The weekend in Libya is on Friday and Saturday. At the weekend most people visit their families and go on picnics in the countryside or to the beach in the summer.

Daise and Simone asked: What do you like about Libya?

I came to Libya in 1989. I've lived here for 17 years. I'm married, my husband is Libyan. We have 6 children. We have a flat near the centre of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, and a farm in the countryside. I like the quiet life here. No one is in a hurry and I can spend time with my family.

I teach English at a school near the city centre. Most of the students are Libyan. I like teaching Libyan students. They make me feel very welcome.

Emerson, Marilda and Aboré asked: What do you like doing in Libya?

I keep very busy with my family and my job, but I have many hobbies too. I like to go out in the city and the countryside and take pictures with my camera. I like to play on the computer and I have a blog and a website. I don't like to watch TV - I'm too busy to do that!

I don't really like sports, but I do like to walk. Sometimes I go for long walks. I usually take my camera with me so I can take pictures along the way. Then I post them on my blog for my friends to see.

Teri, an American living in Lybia said, "Being an American in Libya and raising my family here, Tripoli has been pretty much my world since 1989. I have come to learn so much about the Libyan people, respect their culture and beliefs, and share their hopes and dreams for the future."


___________________________________

Dear Teri,

This is what we want to know about you:










What do you like about Libya?
Why do you like to live as a Lebanese?
What's life like in Libya?

questions by Daise and Simone

______________________________












What's Libya like?
What's life in Libya like?
What do you like doing in Libya?
Why do you like Libya?

questions by Emerson, Marilda and Aboré

Boulevard of Broken Dreams


Check out the lyrics of Green Day's song.

Watch the song video here.

Then, in the "Comment" area, write your impressions.

• How could this song be related to teenagers?

Waiting for your deep thoughts on the topic!

Carla

Welcome Back, Top Flex 6 Students!



Our topic of the week is 'TEENS'. Much has been discussed about them, their lifestyles, their preferences, tastes, as well as the advantages/disadvantages of being a teen nowadays.

Well, let's get deeper into the subject.



Read this USA Today article
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2006-06-28-generation-next_x.htm

Then, go to the comment area and express your ideas about it.

Who is this "Generation Next"?
What are the main characteristics of those emerging adults?
Are they very different from their parents' generation? How different are they?
What are the biggest challenges for this Generation?
Finish your comment with a question for the others.

Hope to see your contributions soon.

Carla

How We Met Each Other

We were from different tribes. Rodrigo was the good boy, wearing fashionable clothes from well-known Brazilian brands. I was kind of hippie, not the one from the 70's at all, but I wore "alternative" colorful clothes and I had long curly hair. Rodrigo was into Economics while I was a fan of the Anthropology and Sociology Department at UNB. He dated a Middle School colleague of mine whom I have to admit was not my closest friend. At that time, our lives couldn't be so apart.

Time went by. Both of us passed a public entrance exam and started taking a four-month course, eight hours a day, with tests every single week. In order to pass, we had to start helping each other and a study group emerged from our need to go through those tough times. The group of students became close friends. We studied hard. However, as any young people, we had also much fun together after long hours of discussions and readings. We played tennis, ran, had parties, sang together. The boys played the guitar and I fell in love with Rodrigo. I couldn't help myself. He was dedicated, intelligent, witty, talented...Everything I would expect from a man. He played the guitar and my heart pounded at 1,ooo miles/hour!

One day I promised it would be the decisive day! We went out together, just the two of us. It was a famous bar in Brasilia, Libanus. We talked about all the frivolities one could ever imagine, including the Aquarius Era! I drank two huge glasses of powerful "caipirinhas". I was walking on air having Rodrigo by my side. I was embarrassed, but that was my only chance. Well, the night was perfect. Our first kiss was magic. I wanted the moment to last forever.

However, Rodrigo started acting strangely. When I talked to him about our situation, his reply was that he wanted to have fun in life and he didn't want any serious relationship. My heart sank and I decided not to bother with someone who didn't care about us. We kept hanging out with our friends, but I ignored Rodrigo. I wanted him to be part of the past. He started calling me to check how I was. Once I told him on the phone that he was a chicken, he didn't have the courage to be happy, etc... We went to a party, Rodrigo told me he had a song to show me, he played the guitar and sang the most romantic song ever and we started dating. We've been together for 10 years, we got married two times - the civil ceremony was in 1997 and the religious one was in 2002 together with our youngest son's baptism.

I feel the luckiest woman in the world to have met such a wonderful husband and father for my two kids! Life couldn't be better.

Carla Arena

How about you?

Tell us about how you met a special person in your life or You can share a love story of your parents, relatives, close friends...

When was it? Where were you (or the couple you're talking about)? How did you feel (how did the couple feel about each other)? What happened? Are you still with this person (Is the couple still together)? How do you feel now about this person (What are your impressions about the couple's life together)?

I'm anxiously waiting for your romantic stories!

Carla

Dear students,

I'm very proud to be posting these three excellent, unique poems written by Sérgio, Karen, and José Henrique, the brave ones! They took the risk and I wanted to share with you these masterpieces of English.

Who's gonna be the next?

Share your impressions on the poems with your classmates. I'm sure they will love to know what you think.

Carla

Equation

We learned that one plus one equals two
When we grow and become wise
We discover that one plus one can sometimes be zero
Or one, or three, or several people at the same time
One plus one can be a good memory
Or a big mistake
Can be a soft breeze traveling around your body
Or a sweet and fast pressure on your chest
One plus one can be a funny laugh
Or an endless silence
Can be a calm hug of a person that you love
Or a fast sexual adventure with someone that
You won't see again
One plus one can be a life project
Or a surprising decision
Can be a sunset
Or a sunrise
Can be a sigh, a relief
Or a whisper, an anguish
Can be a request like, "Please, stay with me"
Or a difficult demand like, "Please, go away"
Can be a short meeting
Or a long farewell
Can be a little moment
When you close your eyes
And let your imagination take you away

Sérgio

If I were a Scientist

If I were a Scientist
I'd create the time machine
I'd go back in time
If it were possible to see you again

We'd be together again
Just like we used to be
And I could talk to you again
If it were possible to hug
But only...

If I were a Scientist
And could create
I'd say how much I love you
I love you Dad.

Karen

If I were a Bird

If I were a bird
I'd fly all the time
Making long trips
Trying to know a new place each day

If I were a bird
I wouldn't be alone
I would fly followed by many birds
Just worrying about the wind and rain
Feeling the world as one

José Henrique

Dear Students,

Violence has been everywhere, but it seems that it will never reach us. We've been facing a very delicate moment in São Paulo and other states in Brazil which is very close to us.

Read this New York Times article ,"5 Days of Violence by Gangs in São Paulo Leaves 115 Dead Before Subsiding", Click on "Comments" below, and give your opinion on the issue.

Online Dictionary

• What happened in São Paulo?
• Do you think there was any kind of deal to cease violence there?
• What would be effective measures to minimize the problem?

I hope to read your thoughts on this topic, which is part of our reality and an important social and political issue in Brazil.

Check what Bee Dieu, a teacher in São Paulo, wrote about the situation in São Paulo:

"Sao Paulo city (and state) have been suffering a series of synchronized and coordinated attacks since Friday evening.Toll - 81 deaths in 3 days - half policemen, half gangsters and about 4 civilians who got caught in the middle. Mutinies are happening in manyof the main state prisons. About 60 buses were burnt early this morning and 10 bank agencies were bombed or shot at."

And then in another email:

"The violence that erupted was a confrontation between one of the main gangs in SPaulo and the police. There were 251 attacks in all, mutinies in prisons all over the state and about 132 people died (mostly policemen and gangsters).Fortunately, the city is slowly going back to normal and nothing else has happened since last night. Our school was not affected and our students are safe.Although our country is beautiful, blessed for all its natural resources, warm and friendly people, the immense social disparities, corruption and weakened educational system make it a fertile soil for this parallel world to emerge and threaten to control. We will not let them and many of us are working hard to bridge the existing gaps!"

Some of Barbara Dieu's students wrote about the problem in São Paulo. Interact with them!

http://nathalia.eslblogs.org/

http://lucasf.eslblogs.org/

http://loli.eslblogs.org/

http://julie.eslblogs.org/

http://felipema.eslblogs.org/

http://derhen.eslblogs.org/

http://laurag.eslblogs.org/

http://laura.eslblogs.org/

http://alice.eslblogs.org/

Hope to hear from you.

Carla

Happy Easter!

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Dear Students,

Happy Easter! May this time be of loving and sharing the good moments with the special ones in our lives. May this time be of learning how to have a pleasant and fullfilling life.

Let this time be of joy and much sweet feelings!

The Pictures above were taken during breakfast in my house on Sunday. I always try to make it a special moment for everybody in the family.

Beijos,
Carla