The end...?

Now I realize I don’t want this to end. I know I’ll miss going to the Institute every day and learn from the amazing teachers we have and from my incomparable mates. The truth is that I don’t have time to stop and reflect about my feelings; which are many. On one side, I want to finish my career and spend some time doing nothing at all! But then I think that the new stage brings new responsibilities; not being a student anymore and being in charge of my own students.  I hope I have taken the best of the people I met during these five years; their patience, their motivation, their perseverance, their positivity, their knowledge and so on. I feel blessed because of this experience and the opportunity to grow as a person and as a future teacher. Some people don’t appreciate what they have, but I´m thankful because I can do what I like. I remember when I started the teacher training program I wasn’t so sure of what I wanted. I just liked the language and that was it. But with the years I realized it was bigger than that; I was studying to be a teacher. And then I understood the role teachers have in our lives and how some simple actions can change someone’s day or even a life.

I wouldn’t like to be a mediocre teacher as I have seen many times;  I would like to be a creative, caring and respected one. I know I have still many things to learn; things which are not only related to the language but which are related to values and experiences which will make my classes more enjoyable and positive. Right now, I feel tired and I wish for the holidays to come, but I know that next year I will miss the afternoons at IFDC learning and sharing moments with my mates. I hope those moments won’t go so easily from my mind. I know this is the end of something, but the beginning of another stage in my life which I want it to be as enjoyable as possible.

Be happy!

Natalia.

Think about it...

What would you do if you weren’t be afraid? I saw that question in a wall today and I seriously started thinking about it. One answer came immediately to my mind: I would go. Yes, that’s what I would do if I weren’t afraid at all. I would try living in another city or maybe another country. I wouldn’t think about it much, I would just pack my stuffs and go. That’s one of my dreams; spending some time living in a country and then moving to a different one, knowing different places, people, languages.

I know there are many things we don’t do because we are afraid; afraid of failing, of losing what we have, of leaving the security of our house, and so on. But, wouldn’t it be great just for one day not to be afraid? As you know it’s in our nature to think and consider things before doing them, thinking that we will have plenty of time to do them in the future. But, nothing is for certain. So, mainly if we want to say someone that we love them, we shouldn’t hesitate and we should try to say the things we feel for the others; our lover, our sister, our mother, for instance. I think we shouldn’t be so rational all the time and be more as children; they say what they think and they don’t lie. I hope you feel less afraid and braver to do what you want in the future!

Be happy.

Natalia

Home Sweet Home

Hello! How are you people? I’ m enjoying the last hours of a very hot Sunday. Last week I was thinking what I could write about and I couldn’t think of any idea which sounded interesting. Finally, I decided to write about one of my passions which is interior decorating. I know it may sound stupid to some of you, but it’s something I really like and enjoy watching and doing. One of the reasons why I like decorating is because sometimes we complain about the place where we live: it’s small, old, ugly, boring, etc. But there are many different ways in which we can change that place, and even with just few elements. Nowadays I live in a small apartment we built some years ago behind my mother’s house. It’s very small, but it is extremely cozy. I really appreciate it because it’s a space I have for my own and in which I can show my interests and style. I love keeping things that belonged to my grandparents, pictures, smells, colours, plants, and everything that make me feel like I’m at home. Most of the things I have at home are recycled or gifts from my family of things they used to have at their houses, so they all have a special meaning for me.

 I don’t know what you think, but I believe that our houses, or bedrooms, are a reflection of our personality. I know that sometimes we dream (or at least I do) with huge and radiant houses by the sea or in the mountains, but I also believe we should take advantage of what we have in this moment and try to make the place where we live as pleasing for ourselves as we can. After all, that’s the place in which we can share with family, friends or just with ourselves, and we deserve to feel at ease with it. So, I hope you feel inspired and show some love to your homes; sometimes it only takes us a few minutes to change something that can make us feel better for a long time.

"A person who never made a mistake,never tried anything new"

Hello! How are you? 

I wanted to share with you this quote by Einstein. Whenever I find a quote I like, I take notes. But this one really caught my attention and made me reflect about my own mistakes. I think that I have grown up, because in the past I used to think a lot about the mistakes I had made and how I wished things were different. But now I realize that mistakes are part of our everyday life, and we need them to learn and to establish our personality. Although in the previous post I talked about having a time machine, we know that what happened yesterday is over and there is no way of coming back to undo it.

That is why it is important for us to understand that mistakes are part of living and of trying new things. Maybe they will make us feel bad for a moment, but they are part of the learning process. Besides, if we stay home not doing anything, we are committing the worst mistake of all which is not living and enjoying the beautiful things in life. Of course, as you know, not everything is marvelous, but we must dare to do the things we like, even if in the way we are scared of what may happen. For example, the first time I fell in love with someone I gave to that person all what I could give, but the other person didn’t answer in the same way. For a long time, I felt terrible; I felt it was my fault to have trusted someone that way. But then, I decided that things had to change, and, although I made a lot of mistakes during that dark period of my life (so dramatic) I also learnt a lot and that experience taught me many things about myself and life in itself.

 Obviously, you all know about this, but it’s not bad to take some time to think about our mistakes and to see them as something positive. For example, to see that we were capable of overcoming them, to see that we are not going to do the same thing again and to see that they make us realize that we are alive.

Be happy!

Natalia

Bad vibes

Hello people! How are you? This week I have been thinking about those people who are always ready to ruin your day no matter why or how. I tried to find a similar way of saying what we call is Spanish “mala onda”. I found some interesting things. For example, you can say bad vibes when you want to talk about a situation which creates negative energies or unsafe feelings. You can also use it as a verb, for example when you say Stop, you are badvibing me! In this case it means to worsen a person’s mood, to annoy or to cause discomfort.

But the thing is, that sometimes when you are in an extremely and inexplicable good mood, there are people in charge of killing all your energy and your spirit in just a few seconds. It is the case of those people who always tell you what you do wrong, but never something positive about what you have done. Or those who are in a bad mood and because of that they want to ruin your day too, so that they are not the only ones feeling miserable. This also happens, most of the times, with people who have more power than we do (in terms of hierarchy) and who think that our lives and feelings are not so important, so they dedicate themselves to humiliating and mortifying others.

My question is; why don’t these people go and try to do things that make them happy, instead of being all the time trying to make others feel unhappy? It can’t be that hard. Just go to the countryside, meet your friends, make love, eat some ice-cream. Come on! Let’s try it before ruining someone else’s day. I’m sure this also happens to you, right?

Let's stand up and say: Stop badvibing us!

Be happy!

Natalia.

Time machine

Hello people! Today I woke up decided to dedicate some time to my plants. The truth is that I love gardening, but I don’t know much about it and I don’t dedicate as much time as I would like to. Although now it’s raining, this morning was perfect to tidy up my humble garden.

But the thing is that, while I was doing this, I starting thinking about the reason why I enjoy being in the garden working with plants and flowers. And that reason is my grandfather. Despite the fact that he is not with us anymore, I think I could really take advantage of the time I shared with him. He was the most peaceful and patient person I have ever known, and his big passion was gardening. He loved bonsais and orchids. He used to spend whole afternoons teaching us how to take care of a plant.

What I realize now is that I would love to have a time machine to go back and spend some moments with him and ask him questions and learn more things. I know that this is not possible, but it’s an idea I always have in my mind. Is there anything you would do if you had a time machine?

Hope you have a great weekend. Be happy!

Natalia

What about you?

Hello, hello! How are you! The topic today is about women, and our role in this life. About a month ago, one of my best friends told me she is pregnant. This week I found out that other of my friends is pregnant again (she has a 3 year-old boy and a 2 year-old girl). Besides, in my group of friends I’m the only one left without children, and they all start asking: What about you? That is something that completely annoys me. Please, don’t misunderstand me, I love children and I want to have a lot (four at least, ha ha!), but it’s my decision when to have them and what I’m doing with my life. And what if you ask that to a woman who cannot have children? A question like that would be devastating, imagine!

But, the point is that, why are we, women, in the world? Just to have children? What about our dreams and plans? Because, let’s be realistic, when you have a child you have to give up many things; probably your job, career, travels, etc. I know it sounds selfish, but I consider that the decision of having a child should be more responsible and not just a whim (when you really, really want something). I still need some time for myself and to enjoy the time I have with my boyfriend, friends and family.I know I'm still young and that eventually I'll feel ready to have a baby. 

 Happy students’ day!!!

Be happy!

Natalia.

(they are sooooo lovely!!!)

A different perspective

Hello! How are you? I’m really happy because last Wednesday was the Teacher’s Day and the first one I could experience as a teacher and not only as a student. Because, although I still haven’t finish the Teacher Training Program, I have started working this year and I felt really happy because of all the people who greeted me and also because I could share a really gratifying moment with my future colleagues.

But well, what I wanted to share with you is something that is really important for me. Since last April I don’t eat meat anymore, and I don’t think by the moment I will in the future. The reason why I tell you this is because sometimes it’s difficult to explain to others my decision. I don’t do it because it is something fashionable nowadays. But because, since some time ago, I have decided to dedicate some time to my spiritual life. With this I mean to reflect upon some things in my life that maybe in other moments I have never paid attention to.

Consequently, I realized there were some things that I wanted to change, and one of them was the fact of not eating meat anymore. This is mainly due to the fact that I love animals and I hate seeing them suffer. So, after some time thinking and considering my options, one day I took the decision and at least till today I haven’t had the need of eating an “asado” any longer. Of course, this wasn’t a matter of one day to the other. The truth is that I have never been a meat lover. Actually, I love vegetables and the idea had been in my mind for many years.

 I don’t pretend others to do the same or to change the world by doing this, but I would like people to try to understand that we are seeing the world from a different perspective. If you haven’t seen this video, you should. It’s very sweet! It's about a little boy who explains why he doesn't want to eat meat anymore (better that me, haha).

Have a nice weekend! Be happy!

Natalia 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJNntUXyWvw

A gift...

Hello! Today I’m writing with a simple purpose. I’m just writing to say “Thank you”. While I was coming home this afternoon I was thinking about how little we appreciate the things we have. And I started thinking that I should be more thankful for each day God gives us. We always complain when we have a bad day or when we have many things to do, but we never actually see a day as a gift. In this way, we could be more aware of the fact that we are healthy and we are able of doing all the things we have to do. So, I’ thankful for the health of the people I love, for the job and the studies I’m doing, for my house and especially, because God is in my life guiding in every moment of my life. I wish you all the same feeling some day of your lives!

Be happy!

Natalia.

This is not a love story...

   Hello there! How are you? I'm great. Finally finishing this long week. One of the things I like doing after an exhausting week is to prepare something to eat and sit on the couch to watch a movie. I really enjoy those two or three hours (if the movie is good, of course) in which you can enter a new world and inside a story, fall in love with characters, hate others, and so on. For me is the perfect escape from the real world.
   One of the movies I love is "500 days of summer". This is not a master-piece or something like that. I have seen it many, many times and I don't get tired of it. In short, the story is about a boy who falls in love with a girl. But is not as simple as that, and is not as ordinary as that. Summer is an eccentric and anti-love girl, who starts dating him but eventually leaves him. Tom, a naive believer in eternal and honest love, thinks his world is over and starts recalling all the moments they spent together in those 500 days to see what the problem was. With time he realizes life continues and ends up finding his true passion.
   But the point is, that sometimes we believe we have found what makes us happy and we hold on to it thinking all would be perfect for the rest of our times. However, sometimes destiny has something different prepared for us; and we see it as someting terrible and unfair. Eventually, the unfortunate moment will pass and we will realize that life's plan for us may be much greater than the one we thought it was the only possible. So, I guess we must always have faith in the future and remember that "Every cloud has a silver lining".
Be happy!
Nati.

(you can watch the movie trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM)

To reflect upon...

The only thing I could think after watching this video was: "Wow! What am I doing sitting here?". The video is about one of the speeches Steve Jobs gave at Standford University (retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd_ptbiPoXM) in which he speaks mainly about some experiences in his life, but also about life in itself.
Many of the things he said are known by many of us, but we never take a minute to reflect about if what we are doing is what we really love or if we are wasting our time on useless and shallow things. That's why, in my opinion, from time to time, we need an overdose of the ugly truth (with this I mean that our time is short and that dead may come at any moment) to realize that we should take advantage of the moments that really make us happy (which should be a lot!).
Another important thing Jobs made me think about if the fact that not every moment is beautiful and pleasing, but that there are times in which we think that life is cruel and terrible. Nevertheless, that shouldn't be a reason to stop believing in ourselves and in having faith in the future that things will get better. So, in my opinion the most important thing is to have faith in ourselves, in what we do, in the people we love, in the world in it self. Because, if from the start we don't believe in what we are doing, it won't have any sense to continue. There is always hope. We have to learn how to find it, even in the darkest moments.
Be happy!

Nati.