French stereotypes

FRENCH STEREOTYPES 

Cyprien's video

Watching Cyprien’s video about the stereotypes of Spain, I‘ve decided to write about the stereotypes of France. I’ve been in France so many times that I could say that I know more about French people than from any other people with a different nationality. It’s for this reason that I’m going to write about their stereotypes from a very close point of view.

In relation with food the first stereotype that I realise when I’m in France is that all mornings, even if it rains, they go to the nearest bakery of their neighbourhood to buy a baguette for their breakfast, wearing a kind of beret and usually smoking. Another funny stereotype that I realise when I’m travelling by car in France is that every midday, especially during the holidays, they all park their cars in a service area to have what they call “le midi” (a very relaxing picnic that all the family use to have). And I think that the best known stereotype of French people related with food is that in all their dinners they must eat cheese with a glass of wine before dessert.

Apart from this type of stereotypes, there some others, for instance those which are related to their personality. Friends of mine say that the typical French man or woman is really arrogant, not very sociable and even apathetic, but it’s only because when they “travel to France” they only visit one place… Paris, and I agree with them in this point, because Parisian people can be arrogant and sometimes a bit self-centred, believing to be the centre of the world. However, in fact, the rest of France is extremely different from them, they are usually quite helpful, polite and quite happy, although I find they are not as open-minded as Spanish people are and they use to say that everything is okay when in fact, it’s not. Moreover, another aspect that I notice is that they use to idolatrise their sport players, even if they finish the second or third position (fact that Spanish people don’t do and I really appreciate it).

In conclusion, I think that I have a very different point of view from most of my friends that think they “have visited France”, but I find quite interesting what other people from other nationalities think about France when I’m in “l’Alliance française”, because they have truly visited France. And I reckon that these are the main stereotypes that I’ve confirmed during my stays in France.

Diabetes

DIABETES

Today I am going to write about Diabetes, but first of all we must know in what it consists. Diabetes is the condition that results from lack of insulin in a person's blood, or when their body has a problem using the insulin it produces (that’s what Wikipedia says). But, how can a diabetic person be cured? Has Diabetes got a cure? Is Diabetes the Biggest Epidemic of the Twenty-first Century?

According to the Diabetes International Federation, based in Belgium, as of 2015, an estimated 415 million people have diabetes worldwide. This represents 8.3% of the adult population, with equal rates in both women and men. And about 18 million people die every year from cardiovascular disease, for which diabetes and hypertension are major predisposing factors. 

This disease can be inherited, but most of the times it is caused by eating fast food. Because of this, Diabetes is usually related with obesity. Overweight usually produces this lack of insulin and this, added to not doing sport increases the possibility of a serious case of Diabetes. 

At my school there were a few students that had a big Diabetes and they must take three times a day insulin (which is too much). However, they handle the disease much better and they don’t have to go to hospital too many times, (only for revisions), because they are now doing a lot of sport and eating healthier. In my opinion, even if recent studies say that they have discovered the cure, I think that we could prevent it, simply eating more healthily. 

BREXIT. A sad day.

BREXIT. A SAD DAY.

Today, 24^th June 2016, the UK has decided to leave the European Union. Yesterday, with a 51.9% the Eurosceptics voted not to stay in Europe anymore and with this, the UK would probably become the first country to leave the EU. However, how will this affect us? What advantages and disadvantages are we going to have?

First of all, we have to talk about which countries in the UK are for and against leaving the EU. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted against leaving the EU, while Wales and England voted for it. As a result of this, Scotland and Northern Ireland want to have referendums to decide if they want to leave the UK or remain. In the case of Scotland, for example, they want a referendum to leave the UK and stay in the EU, especially because that was the reason  England used to convince Scottish people to stay in the UK, “If Scotland leaves the UK, they will also leave the EU”. And in the case of Northern Ireland they would want a referendum to belong to the Republic of Ireland, which is in the EU.

Secondly, we have to know the main reasons why they think that it’s better to leave the EU. Leaving the EU, they reckon that they would make stronger trade deals with other nations, they would have more freedom to control their national borders (having fewer problems with immigration) and they also think that they would restore Britain’s special legal system.

Thirdly, how will this affect a European country like Spain? On the one hand, this will have an economic impact: in our commercial trades with England which are really important for our economy, in tourism (English tourists are the ones who visited our country the most last year). And on the other hand, it will affect the Spanish people that are now working or studying in England. Moreover, this will also affect us at school, because until now, English was the official language in Europe, but now, we don’t know if it will continue being it.

Another important problem would be Gibraltar, a little region situated in the South of Spain that belongs to the United Kingdom and that voted with a 94% to stay in the EU. They voted for staying in the EU, because its main economic source is their commercial trades that they do with Europe and England, and now they could even decide to join Spain.

In my case, it will probably affect me directly, because in two years’ time I will have to decide where I’m going to do my Erasmus, and I’ll probably choose Ireland or Scotland rather than England. For me it’s a sad day, because I love England and I would have liked them in the EU, but I respect their decision. Nevertheless, I have travelled to all the UK (except Northern Ireland) and I know that British people are a bit more arrogant than for example Irish or Scottish (don’t misunderstand my words) for example having a different currency from EU or a different manner for driving…, but I would have never expected this. It’s true that there would also be some advantages, such as the fact that England would be cheaper. However, as I said before, today is a sad day.

Foxes never quit!

FOXES NEVER QUIT!

Only one month ago, one of the humblest teams in the Premier League, was proclaimed champion. This team, which last season slipped to the bottom of the league table with only 19 points from 29 games, has won one of the most prominent and toughest leagues in Europe. However, did anyone know them before this happened?

In fact, not many people in the world knew the existence of an English team called Leicester, which last season had had so many problems to survive in the English Premier League one more year (I included myself). Nevertheless, at the beginning of the season the commitment they made to do their best has ended in such an incredible achievement. Another important variable has been their players, many of whom played in the second division in other European leagues, or even in the English seventh division!!! before joining this team, as Jamie Vardy). They have given us a lesson of team sport and bravery.

This team has reminded me when our football national team (before winning all that it has won in the latest years). Nobody trusted that we were even going to go through the quarter finals of European Team Cup of 2008, and they won it, and then the World Cup of 2010 and afterwards the European Team Cup of 2012 (and far more to come). 

All in all, now I’m not going to say that I’m an unconditional supporter of Leicester, only for winning the Premier League, because that would be dishonest (and my favourite English team is Liverpool), but apart from that, I think that everyone who likes football now has a small part of the Leicester team in their hearts, as Ranieri said “Why can’t we continue to run, run, run? We are like Forrest Gump!”

A real friend

A REAL FRIEND

It’s a well-known fact that in your life you will meet a lot of friends. However, not all these friends are going to be part of your life and not all of them will be forever. So, how can find “a real friend”? Do they exist?

In many countries having a good relation with your friends means that you’re a sociable person, and in Spain it also does. Nevertheless, more and more young people reckon that this fact is relates with social networks like Facebook or Twitter. That is to say, they think that having more “followers” on Twitter or more “friends” on Facebook, they’re more sociable and popular. And they’re totally wrong, because the majority of these “friends” don’t even know them.

Other people however, prefer having fewer friends, but with whom they are closer. They usually have a better relation with them and what is more important, they can do many things together: going to the cinema, playing a film… It’s true that if they lost them, because one of them goes abroad or they have an argument, they can end in a bad way, but in my view this is the best type of friendship.

In my case, I don’t reckon I have lots of friends, but I think that I can always trust them, so for me, it’s enough. Moreover, I could say that I have a real friend, because even if we are very different and he isn’t still at the university, we get on really well since nursery school, so I think that is the best way to know if you have a real friend.

SPORTING HEROES SHOULD TRY TO BE GOOD ROLE MODELS. DO YOU AGREE?

SPORTING HEROES SHOULD TRY TO BE GOOD ROLE MODELS. DO YOU AGREE?

There are many people who like sports (mostly men, but also women). And most of these people like watching their favourite sports on TV. It’s for this reason that many sportsmen influence young people, but how much influence have they got? Are they a reference for them?

It’s a well-known fact that teenagers like looking like their sporting heroes: having the same haircut, wearing the same clothes and imitating their movements. Therefore, even if sportsmen don’t intend to be a reference for them, they have a lot of influence on them. Because of this, if a sportsman doesn’t behave as well as he should, he gives a bad image to their fans.  However, we also have to think that they are humans and there are moments in which they can behave badly.

Moreover, people usually watch more team sports on TV than other types of sports, so fellowship is also an important fact that young people see when they are watching their idols. Nevertheless, especially in football, we don’t see this fellowship in the biggest teams.

In conclusion, I personally reckon that they should at least try to behave as well as they can because they are a reference for them. It’s also true that this is also a lot of pressure for them because they can be distracted and even more if their fans also have bad behaviour towards them: jeer rat them in matches or throw things at them if they don’t play well.

Great books and "trash": The Canon wars

GREAT BOOKS AND “TRASH”: 

THE CANON WARS.

We could say that “Canon books” or “Canon authors” are the most important books or authors of the global literature that have become a reference for the current literature and that have inspired writers to make the literature of our days. In spite of this, I think that Canon literature has always been changing, that is to say, current authors haven’t always been inspired by “the Greek Canon”. I think that the society of the epoch has also influenced in this Canon, because if it weren’t like this, all the novels would have the same plot. For instance, it isn’t the same an Ancient Greek book than other from the Middle Age. An ancient Greek book is not the same as another written in the Middle Ages.

Moreover, I also think that this Canon is “fading” as the author says, because we have a very large kind of readings that traditionalists wouldn’t include in this “Canon”. In my opinion, you do your own Canon from the moment you begin to read. It’s obviously true that every young child should read first all these classics to make his own Canon in order to be a good reader. In addition to this, I think that it’s a pity that comic books, magazines or detective books aren’t considered as a “Canon” since I really enjoy them. Fromm y point of view, The books that traditionalists consider as “trash” have also inspired good novels or films, which could be considered as a “a Canon or a a Classic”, like for example The Adventure of Tintin (Les Aventures de Tintin) or in Spanish “Mortadelo and Filemón”, which I reckon they should be part of these classics is a few years’ time. But, the best example we have got in Spanish literature is “El Quijote”, which is obviously considered a canon, but whose origins are based on chivalry book. These books were considered as “trash” literature at that time.

All in all, I think that “my Canon” is not the same as that of others. And you, what is your “Canon”?

Example of an application letter

Example of an application letter

Young people of 18+ to become activity instructor with an International summer school. Experience is not important, as training will be given. Love of sport, energy, enthusiasm and an ability to relate to young people is essential.

     Dear Sir/Madam.

     Following the recent advertisement in your website, I would like to apply for the position as an activity instructor.

     At present I am studying English philology at the University of Granada (Spain). One of the main reasons I am applying for this job is that I would like to improve my English and spend some time using it in in your International summer school. As well as English I am also learning French, so, if it is required, I could also help.

     I have no much experience in these kinds of job, nevertheless I love sports. I swim twice a week, I play tennis on the weekend and during the summer I do a lot of trekking. In addition, I have enthusiasm and ability to relate to young people, because I look after my parents aren’t at home.

     I would be grateful if you could send me further details of the job. I enclose my CV. I can be contacted … at any time. Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. After the end of the university year I will be available if I am required to come for an interview.

Yours faithfully

Alberto Romero.