I am next, Carla and Mary! After reading your inspiring posts about
Mary’s “5 things you don’t know about me” and
Carla’s, I decided not to postpone my own post for one single minute!
So, here are some curious, peculiar things about myself. This is a fun reflective activity that made me travel back in time and space:
My Italian family and roots.
I was a rebellious teen and young adult. So, after living in the US for a year in Washington State when I was 16, at 19 I headed to Italy. I lived there for some months at my cousin’s house, became fluent in Italian, and wanted to study Hotel Management there. Also, it was a search for my own roots as my whole father’s family is Italian, including my dad. However, there was a problem with my High School diploma. As I graduated as a Senior in an American high school and being a foreigner, they didn’t give me a real diploma, but a Certificate of Conclusion. When I got back to Brazil, I went through a process of equivalence of what I had studied in the US so that I didn’t have to take again the senior year in Brazil. In Italy, they wanted just the high school diploma, though I was about to conclude my University studies in Brazil. Well, I decided to go back to Brazil to finish my course. The Italian University wanted me to take two more years to finish high school there and start my course! No way. I headed back to Brazil after driving my mom crazy for some months! Then, I decided to stop studying for 6 months in Brazil and worked as a shoe seller!
Although I’m a passionate educator, I graduated in International Affairs at University of Brasilia. I wanted to be a diplomat, but after being an intern at the Ministry of International Affairs, I gave up. It was really not for me! Besides, my profile didn’t fit what they would expect from a diplomat. Sometimes I’m not very well-behaved, I tell people what I think, and can be even indiscreet with my big mouth(poor husband!), and my laugh is way too loud! I’m trying to behave myself better now!
I passed two public entrance exams and I worked for the government, but just as Carla, my clone, I hated it! People didn’t want to work. They just pretended they did, there was always politics, and I could never see the result of what I was doing. So, I quit and decided to become an English teacher. I’m happier than ever before! Some people in my family still think I’m crazy…
Every vacation, I try to do something unusual not related to teaching or computers. My husband always sighs in anticipation wondering what I will be “creating” for the summer!One of those years I decided to learn how to make tile mosaics. I must say it’s just a wonderful therapy. My mom says she can’t believe it I could be so minimalist!
When I was 9, I was crazy about Frank Sinatra and his song “New York, New York”. So, I took a cruise to Argentina and would walk at “Calle Florida” looking for his CD everywhere. I would make little performances to my family singing it!
I danced ballet for 10 years. I was really passionate about it, but could see I wouldn’t really succeed as I was too “voluptuous” for a ballerina! My thighs were not the thinly ones expected for a professional dancer, I was taller than my friends (at that time! Now, I’m exactly the height I was when I was 13. 1,63m). Every year, our performance was assessed by a British teacher who would come straight from the “Royal Academy of London”. I decided to quit when I was 13 and to start playing volleyball. Again, my mom went crazy, but, you know, my rebellious side…I had much fun playing the volleyball season and we won the Championship in Brasilia! I’m still passionate for ballet, I still have my classical music collection of vinyls, and I’m an old fan of Baryshnikov and Nureyev. Two years ago, my husband gave me a wonderful present, going with me to watch The National Ballet of Cuba in Brasília. An amazing presentation.
Well, Carla and Mary, as always you take me to wonderful journeys with amazing challenges.
Thanks for sharing your bits of personal lives.
Hello Carla,
You know, when I read your post, I tried to picture you. I must say that I think you are a very funny person. You might be the sort of person who makes us laugh a lot, and then we try to stop but can’t. Did I guess right?
Kisses,
Angela
Dear Angela,
Sometimes I make people laugh, but sometimes I drive them crazy, too, and I don’t think I’m funny at all!!! hehehe
There are so many stories with my clumsy, Italian way. Well, I must say that I just want to have the best of life, taking it easy. People say it’s because I’m an aquarian with big dreams never in this planet! I don’t know if it is my zodiac sign plus the combination of genetics from my mom’s and dad’s side. My motto is just to live each day and have fun in life with my family, friends and students!
I’ll try to make a selection of my Halloween photos for your to check my funny side.
How about you? I’m dying to know the 5 things I don’t know about you!
Cheers.
Wow Carla!
Those were SIX amazing stories! I knew about your endless energy and sense of adventure, but I had no idea you had been engaged in so many things. As regards our coincidences, don’t forget the Italian heritage!!
Hugs, Carla R.
PS. I still have to learn about trackbacks!
Oh, yes! Italian heritage! True!
I got so excited about this post and all the challenge thing that I didn’t even noticed it was SIX little life anecdotes. I’ll Change the title of my post!
Well, it was just some little stories about my endless adventures in this world. Poor mom! She has three adventurous daughters, each one living in different corners of the world.
Besos.
dear carla, i’ll join all the others in saying they were all amazing stories. like many of us here at b4e, you’ve had an amazing journey so far, i can tell, with twists and turns. i’m glad to hear you’re finally found the job that makes you happy. rock on!
and many thanks for your help,
andreea pele
Andreea,
Yes! Twists and turns! That’s the fun in life, isn’t it? I bet you’ve had tons also. All looking for happiness, inspiration…
What have been the turning points in your life, Andreea?
Hi Carla,
The b4echallenge was a great idea for a week three task. Already I have learned so much more about the co-moderators and participants in Blogging4Educators. As always, I enjoyed reading your reflections, and learning about your antics! Let me tell you — I cannot wait to meet you in person in New York!
We talked about creating unique tags for our classes in the Wiziq session tonight, and I think this activity has modeled just what kinds of results you can get when you design an interesting and engaging learning task! Kudos to you and Vance!
You’re right, Marysita! This b4echallenge has shown the impact on blogging, how we can connect people in the blogosphere in such unique, special ways. I’m certainly learning a lot about you and with you.
Can’t wait to be in NY with you, as well!
wow Carla!
What a great story. I had no idea. It is really interesting to know this kind of tings. They are not related to the circumstances in which we interact, but somehow they complement what we already know.
I admire your courage and strength. you are such an intelligent and enthusiastic woman. So full of life and so active. that’s the way teachers ought to be to be able to stimulate students to find their way in their learning path. I am glad the web has connected us!
beijinhos
Cris
Dear Cris,
Just like you mentioned, I feel the same about you, learning more from your life stories. We are so connected, and yet there’s still so many discoveries to be made from one another…Amazing how blogging opens our souls, makes us navigate in memories and explore our inner selves…If I were a blogging fan in the past, much more now that I’m totally hooked to all of you!
Dear Gladysita,
I’m dying to read the five things I don’t know about you! I’m sure you are even more intense than I am with such a hectic, full of motion life you have! Did I ever tell you that my friend Claudio Azevedo said we look alike???
I’m here waiting to read your post full of energy and wonderful stories, I bet!
You did my day very happy. I love know how crazy and wonderful the people can be. It´s a good task for all. Thanks for share with us!
Sandra,
Thanks for your feedback! This was an interesting self-reflective post. Many people in my educators’ group did the same and it was really interesting to learn things about our friends we didn’t even dream of.