Saturday, March 27, 2010

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. - Lao Tzu

As the quote above says it’s much more valuable teach how to fish than give the fish. Do you agree with that? And more than that: Do you think we are doing this when we give someone a spare change in the traffic light or when we help those TV programs by giving money so They can help needy children?

Everybody knows that we live in a world full of poverty, injustice, illiteracy, cruelty, littering and so on. From the very basics, as food and water to social needs as education and work, people are asking for help.

Nowadays it seems easy to help needy people. We actually don’t need to do anything that would change our daily routine or would require so much effort from us. By only giving money for the beggar or donating clothes that are not being used anymore we can think that we are already doing our part and we can sleep in peace. But is this totally right?

Volunteering is seen as a noble act, but shouldn’t everybody does your part on this matter and more than noble, it also could be effective? It is not only about sharing the bread but it’s also about doing something that would change someone’s life. When you do that you are not only changing a life, but you are also changing your life. Helping others is an amazing way to help yourself as well!

For example: Have you ever donated blood? It's safe, fast, you can eat for free delicious snacks and you can also take the day off without any descount in your monthly outcome. Isn't it amanzing?

Do you speak a second language, but you don't use this language in your job, but you really would like to practice it? Why not giving free classes once a week or a month, depending on your schecule avalability!

Are you a math genius? Or a freaky fan os sciences? You can also teach these subjects in a illiterate programa for adults! It's so rewarding when you see those simple people learning something that you have taught!

You are not a fan of teaching? Ok, this is not a problem! Do you cook well? Gather some friends, cook some rice, beans, pasta, soup, whatever you want and go on the streets to distribute the meal! You can imagine how many people you can help!

Do you love animals? Do you want a pet? Try to adopt a stray animal instead of spending hundreds by buying a pedigree one! They are all animals, and they are all asking the same: LOVE!

As an educator I always wanted to help people to acquire knowledge. Not only teaching them English or Portuguese but also giving them the eager for knowledge. So as soon as I had graduated my aim was to teach in public schools. There would be the place I could help those children and teenagers crave for knowledge. And I got completely frustrated. They weren’t interested in learning at all. They had much more urgent needs so it was pretty hard to encourage them that school is where everything would change. Thus, I couldn’t help and I couldn’t do what I had planned.

I am still looking for something that I could do in order to help the world. Things like giving Easter eggs for needy children, recycling, sharing my knowledge, voting consciously. I will keep trying until the end and I am sure, some how I will do my part.

I don’t know what can you do, and even if you want to do something. However there are many things that we can do to help someone and it is not related to giving money. Think about that and I hope I have started a little fire inside your heart!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

2010 "wishing-list"

Ok ok! Higor inspired me! I was reading his blog and I remembered how nice was to write here freely about things that I like, love, hate, or even things that I couldn't give a name to it.

And another thing his blog had done with me: I didn't do a "wishing list" for 2010! No kidding! Isn't it strange??? I am the listing-girl, everybody who knows me a bit would call me as a freeky-list-person! And amanzingly, this year I haven't done a single one YET!!!

But now, I will do it! Let's start!

In 2010:

I will or even better - I am going to lose all the kilos I've put on! It's unbelievable how huge I am and the full wardrobe I have with nice outfits that I cannot use ! But I won't be crazy about this! And I AM NOT GOING TO take drugs to help me! I will do that bravely just by myself, just by stop eating junk and crap food!

I will study! I have to do that for myself! I need to put my face inside the books and start doing something about my English! I can't stay exactly where I am, I need to improve, I need to feel more confidence about it, and the only way to achieve that: STUDYING! I know, I know, I know...

I will be a better girlfriend/fiancee/wife. Rafa deserves that and last year I was a terrible company. I don't know how he've managed to live with me, because God, 2009 was a disaster! But things have been different so far, and I hope I'll keep this way!

I will do volunteering work! It was always a necessity for me and I really need to do something about it! I have already started! This Easter we(Rafa and I) are going to an orfanage to give some Easter eggs and play with the kids. It will be only the beginning and I really want to continue doing it!

Work less. Last year I had worked for an entire life and I didn't get any rich so what is the point??? No no no! Less work, less stress, more studying, better life. That's the "mantra" for 2010

And finally I won't spend so much money! Better than this: I won't spend the money that I DON'T have!

Well.. That's it! My very first list in 2010! WOW!! Who would say anh??

I will post here if I am achieving everything I said!

Keep in touch! Cheers

Just a Hello

I've been required to write here in order to practice my English! But this has been a difficult task as I am not studying as I should and I am feeling more and more unable to write correctly. It's been hard! To study English again in such a high level class! But it has also been a great time! I am making new frieds, who share the same wishes as mines, I am learning many good things and I've managed to read more nowadays! Not that I am like my teacher Higor, but for a person like me that really never was a fan of reading I am doing fine! I still need to study more, because I do have time so there is no point of wasting it! Well I know this was almost an insignificant post! I also need to write for cls blog, God help me on this! See you around! Alline

Monday, February 22, 2010

Who would say anh?

Here I am!! Who would say that this little shy blog would become a tool for studying English!! Hope I have the patience,the time and the inspiration to be here more often! Today, for example I don't have any subject in mind and in 20 minutes I have to face the crowd subway and go to school! So see you around! It's nice to be back!!!