PARTY IN ROOM NUMBER 6

Roommates! Holidays are coming... I think it's time for organising a big PARTY in our room. Specially because some of us are leaving... Not a pyjama party... A dinner ... And if we don't wanna clean the room later, there's always Bairro Alto... What do you think?

(and we can still go bodyboarding if anyone wanna join the club;))

bye bye *

This is a letter to say goodbye. I don’t think I’ll be with you on the next semester. I only know some of you, but I did get to know others better because of their works. And I was very happy with your interest in mine. Thank you.
Thank you Allyson in some ways you helped me growing.
In the next two semesters I will be working and having other kind of experiences. Then I intend to study again probably in 2º semester 2009 in Allysons class. I hope I don’t meet any of you there!!!

Good luck everybody.

* 4. Should people adapt to the cultural ways and values of the host country when professional living and working there

The discussion around the issue “should people adapt to the cultural ways and values of the host country when professional living and working there” has always been an important mater. Some people think they should, other disagree.
In my opinion they should, because if they don’t, there will be a ways and values shock, when talking about a small community, if they are a big community they also should adapt because otherwise the culture of the host country is in danger. For example: if a small community of American immigrants in Sudan don’t adapt there will be a shock, but if they are a big community like African people or Chinese people in Portugal, that don’t adapt and keep some of their ways and values, they put the culture of Portugal in danger because of the multiculturalism.
Another important point to consider is that if they don’t adapt they will not feel integrated and that lead to discrimination and conflicts and everybody will be losing with that situation.
On the other hand, if we put in the situation of the immigrant we know we would like to maintain our ways and values.
To conclude: I really think the people in a host country should adapt because that is the best to everyone and we have to make choices, if we want to maintain our ways we stay in our country.
One of the reasons I would like to change country is because I would love to live other realities I see no reason for keeping mine.

* kiss, blank canvas, criminal charge ...

Our love has always been like a painting: coloured, happy, harmonious, that everybody appreciated.
She first kissed me at the Gulbenkien, after we had visited “arte antiga” museum; we both loved art galleries.
I had never felt so happy and completed.
5 years passed and we were together as one. One day, she said she was leaving, “I want to have new experiences, I’m leaving for Turkey!”
I could not bear it; I spend 2 nights trying to make a plan so she wouldn’t leave.
“Eureka!” I must kill her… I went to her house, I… I did it… and dropped her body in the sea… now I feel more alone than ever, I feel like a blank canvas…
Now I’m in jail, they found her body; I was arrested and charged for her murder.

* «What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist» Salman Rushdie (1990). Discuss.

Freedom of expression is one of the most significant but also debatable freedoms within society: is freedom of expression the full right to say whatever we want or need to say? Or should there be limits?
Firstly, from a historical and political point of view, supporters argue that freedom of expression is the first to be overruled by any dictatorship. Therefore, its system and its leaders cannot be criticised and people cannot contest those who control or manipulate them. On the other hand, opposers may say that discrimination is of the cases where freedom of expression can turn into a weapon against a minority. For example, Afro-Americans were and still are common victims of racism, because people consider freedom of expression as the unlimited power to express anything they want.

Secondly, from a both moral and social perspective, it can be said that freedom of expression is necessary in its full dimension in order to have not only an open minded society but also a well informed one. For example, the art of comedy is based on criticising and, consequently, offending ways, beliefs and people’s actions, but it is something we can learn from and become aware of social problems, as well. Nevertheless, it might be said that there is always a time when freedom of expression offends other rights, such as the right to privacy, the right to be respected and so on; they argue that we don’t need to offend in order to express our opinion.

To conclude, I believe as Salman Rushdie does, that freedom to offend is a price worth paying for the freedom of expression to exist. It is a basic need so that a person finds their place in society; it must have no limits in order to prevent us from other harm. Martin Luther King expressed his opinions and dreams, though they might have offended some, they saved an entire community’s life and pride.

* Zoos are cruel and unnecessary

Are zoos really unnecessary? Why do so many people visit them? First of all, surely to see all types of animals and above all the exotic ones which have come from very far. This is the main argument to keep a zoo but there are more.
A zoo does a lot of work to help the animals and to improve their quality of life. The idea behind a zoo is of course to show the animals to the world so that no doubt can be left.
But nowadays zoos do a lot more for other animals like adopting ill and old animals to treat them, for example animals from a circus.
But on the other hand were those animals really being better treat? They are living closed in cells and not in their natural state. A further reason is the problem of their natural instinct, which can’t be followed. This situation not only makes the animal ill but it also can depress him and finally kill the animal.
Nevertheless, human beings can also help some animals to survive. There are a lot of animal types which are in danger because of their existence. Some just exist in small numbers and in certain parts of the world. With the help of human beings and our science we are able to help those animals in producing a new generation.
All things considered, I really think that zoos do not necessarily have to be cruel. It depends on many things like the size of the zoo, their financial situation and also their ability to handle the animals. If those conditions are given, I think that a zoo can be good way of learning a lot and showing what the animal world is like.

* Dubious torture or essential investigation?

Testing new drugs, vaccines and surgical techniques on live animals is never justified.

Is it really necessary to test on animals? This is the question I want to discuss; therefore I first want to distinguish two types of animal testing. There are tests for the cosmetic industry, which is not justifiable. Why should animals suffer just for our beauty? On the other hand, there are animal tests made for an improvement in science, biology and medicine. These types of animal testing are those I want to discuss.
The main argument for these tests is that without them we wouldn’t be able to survive so many diseases, especially with all the current viruses and infections. It would be just unethical to test on human beings but tests have to be done.
Nevertheless not all tests always have results. It is necessary to experiment several months sometimes even years till they could be applied on humans. It is also known that there have been several examples of substances causing death or injury to human beings because of inadequate animal testing.
A further argument against animal testing is that not all test results could be use for human beings, there is always a risk above all considering that some results are depending on the conditions in which the tests are made, because of the stress caused to the animal. Exactly to impede those kinds of mistakes it is important to keep testing and improve our science and medicine.
As a result of investigation we can state that our science has advanced in the last century. Progress can only be make by doing experiences, investigations, tests and by examine our environment and that includes also the animals. Human testing is also being practice but it is just irresponsible to do it, when it becomes dangerous for their lives. In addition to this we can also state that our science is already at a point where they have developed animal tests without pain.
All things considered it is important to highlight again, that we need those tests to survive the consequences of our lifestyle, which often cause diseases. But if these tests could be done without pain, hurt or kill animals it is even better. At the moment there are some new techniques on the market like testing on cells, tissues or ´in vitro`, which give us hope to prevent animal torture in future.

* A kiss, a blank canvas, criminal charge...

A kiss. Then I saw nothing. Darkness. Everything black around me. I felt her lips running away from mine, I didn’t feel her anymore and I don’t know exactly how much time I laid there, standing in the middle of the gallery. Of course, in any way, I had to wake up, but this wasn’t the better way. The alarm fired and the police came into the room with my chief screaming and gesturing. It was all a fuss and then I remembered my position in the gallery: I was supposed to sweep that room. The broom was on the floor and my body was still warm of desire.
-Where’s the painting?-scream my chief, the owner of the art gallery.
(You must be thinking it is a well-known gallery, but no. I can’t tell you exactly the name, but see it as a permanent exhibition of modern local art, just like the ones you can find in a special corner.)
Only then I realized one painting was missing: A blank canvas that used to be unnoticed for most of the people but not for her. It was her who stole the painting. Many things crossed my mind, specially the fact that she was crazy, but I already knew that for a very long time. This was something she has never done, this could have criminal charge… And what was the purpose?
I put my hands in my pockets and found a note: “From the blackness of the night comes the dawn.” And she was gone. Forever.

* Meet Griet - in 2007

An interview with Griet, “the girl with a Pearl Earring”

1. Hallo Griet, it’s so nice to meet you. How do you feel?
Hallo Tom, I’m feeling great today. I was looking forward to this interview. It is the first since many years. I also have to admit that I’m pretty nervous, I don’t´ like to be the centre of attentions, I’m an introverted person.

2. Okay, I only have a few questions, so it will be over very fast. The first thing I want to know is how your life was like, after the exhibition of your painting?
Well, you know, I had become famous very fast, so everyone knew me. It was difficult because of the mentality of the XVII century, so I had to leave my town - almost forced - to reorganize my life. The culture and lifestyle were completely different at this time. Nowadays people have so much freedom and rights, that at some point it is hard for the younger generation to imagine the world I used to live in.

3. Do you have any regrets about your past? Is there something you won’t do again?
Yes, of course, there is always something you wouldn’t do again. In my case, I think I would try not to fall in love with Vermeer but while we were doing this painting everything had seemed so normal for me. It is obvious that this “romance” couldn’t go very far. I think that finally everything happened like it should be.

* 4. Professionals living and working in another country should adapt to the cultural ways and values of the host country.

Nowadays, cultural differences between people are causing a great deal of controversial debate, especially in a global society where lots of people choose to live and work in a foreign country. The big issue is, should these people adapt to the ideological beliefs and behaviour of the host country, or, doing that, are they consequently denying their own identity and refusing their values?
Firstly, it can be argued that the best way to assimilate and understand a different culture is to pay attention to its customs and acquiring knowledge in terms of, for example, political, religious and traditional background. For example, making a genuine effort to find the positive contributions of a society, learning a few polite expressions and appreciating the food or music of another country, not only will enrich you as a person, but will also create the conditions for the social acceptance.
Secondly, the interaction with a different culture prevents problems such as racism, stereotyping and generalisations. For instance, in many occidental countries, various communities like the Chinese are well integrated, continue to maintain its country’s traditions and contribute to the global knowledge of oriental customs.
However, the adaptation in another culture can have negative consequences, especially when its ideological system contradicts your beliefs. The fact that a UK teacher, Gillian Gibbons, was arrested in Sudan accused of insulting religion for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad is an example of this cultural crash.
Another point is, with the integration in another culture and the practise of its uses you can progressively begin to lose your own identity. For example, in the autobiographical book “Persepolis”, Marjane Satrapi illustrates her inner struggle when she moved from Iran to Austria and as she is more and more accepted in the occidental culture, the more she became all she didn’t want to be.
All things concluded, adaptation is not only needed for social acceptance, but also as a way to know a different culture. However, it should not be made at the cost of your own beliefs.

* 4. Professionals living and working in another country should adapt to the cultural ways and values of the host country. Discuss.

Immigration is not a new phenomenon. In the past, the penalties of war forced many people to move from their countries while others saw immigration as an interesting opportunity to enlarge their knowledge by experiencing different cultures.
Nowadays, in addition to the previous occurrences, we face a new kind of immigration, caused by countries’ contrasting levels of economic development. Thus, there are an increasing number of people that choose to live and work in another country. This subject raises an equally interesting and controversial question: should these people adapt to the cultural ways and values of the host country?

Firstly, modern society lives in a world based on globalisation; the protection of a multicultural reality should be everybody’s concern. It is vital for us to keep our own traditions. Nevertheless, contact with other cultures is essential because, in contrast, the lack of it brings ignorance as a harmful effect and, consequently, fear will take place. Having foreigners living in our country is great chance to trade and to learn each others’ customs.
Then, from a political and economic point of view, immigration is highly profitable for the host country. Welcoming immigrants will not only improve the political relations of the host country on an international stage but it will also mean progress, considering the rise of many industries and other economic sectors. For instance, Portugal has many eastern European immigrants that besides being highly skilled, also have a great work ethic, not minding hard work because, in spite of having received a high level of education, their only worry is to have better living conditions so, it’s often felt that if they want to live accordingly to their culture, we shouldn’t interfere.

On the other hand, the fear that immigration causes in people of the host country it is common and explicable. They see it as a threat to their living standards and a menace to their beliefs, resulting from the falling rates of employment, the increasing criminality and violence, the appearance of ghettos and the existence of several and sometimes divergent religions. For example, in France, the use of veils by school girls was the starting point of a collision between opposing beliefs and opinions regarding the women role and place in society.
Furthermore, it is often said that immigrants’ matters should not be an extra responsibility for the government to endure, since it can’t even manage all its other main duties. Moreover, they’re considered an economic burden as well.

Overall, I think that we should respect and embrace our cultural differences because they can only enrich our understanding. Cultures are not bad or good, worse or better, they’re just different. We must esteem human rights such as: freedom of speech, freedom of choice or religious freedom. If we were all tolerant, the expression “adapt to” would not be needed. We should be thankful for having the ability to lend a hand because no one knows if someday they will to need a hand too.

* KNOCK KNOCK Room Number 6 *

Hi girls!
How did the test go? Ok, I hope :)

I’m writing you this post to warn you that the group blogs are going to be evaluated next week. So, we’ve got to update our blog - as soon as possible!

Please, check the list (below) of the work that has been done so far, the works that are missing, etc. If you have to update your posted works, you have the weekend to do it.

By the way, I’m not sure of the list I made and if you have any remarks, please inform the whole group (by commenting this post, e-mailing, or even posting…).

Thank you!

* Merry Christmas

The Room Number 6 wishes you a Merry Christmas.

Let this special night be filled with gifts, happy meals but most of all, with love!

Enjoy your Christmas Holidays with the ones that love you most!

* Madrid’s “OCULTOS”

Madrid offers a wide range of exhibitions, most of them revealing the new angles of photographic art. “Ocultos” is a good example of that: a photography exhibition dedicated to the back part of our body.
The “Fundación Canal” opens its doors from the 3rd October to the 6th January, with no admission fee, to any curious eye who wants to see the work of 67 celebrated photographers, exploring human bottoms in all shapes and sizes. The idea, as organisers say, is to show “the multiple artistic possibilities of the human body seen from behind". The photographers have portrayed in their works the part of the body that isn’t so common to be seen in the artistic field. We can appreciate through four small rooms various appealing pictures that proof that capturing a face isn’t everything in photography. The collection includes important names in the photographic world, such as Cartier-Bresson, Mapplethorpe, Man Ray, Lucien Clergue and the spaniards Joan Colom, Rafael Navarro, Ramón Masats, Isabel Muñoz, among others.
The name of the exhibition was inspired by the legendary private studies where art collectors secretly stored their “hottest” works.
A suggestion for those who enjoy appreciating different art works from the beginning of the XXth century until today, in a cosy gallery in the centre of Madrid.

* Centre Pompidou collection in Lisbon

The exhibition „Centre Pompidou novos Media” in Lisbon will be on exhibition until January in the “Museu do Chiado”. You will find 23 pieces from 19 artists from all over the world. It is a display about the story of television and it is split into four themes: “For an imaginary television”, “Search for identity”, “From monitor to installation” and “After-cinema”. You should expect a big exhibition because of all the international artists like Stan Douglas, Valie Export, Bill Viola, Bruce Nauman or Pierre Huyghe but it will be over in 45 minutes. It is a small exhibition but a very entertaining and interesting one.
However, it is a precondition for everyone to inform themselves before visiting this exhibition, so that it will be quite easier to interpret every single piece. Indeed it is really worth seeing because of all the curious pieces and techniques like the figures from Tony Oursler, which have real faces beamed onto them and so look not only amazing but also real. The project “The third Memory” form Pièrre Huyghe, where he combines live TV footage of the original robbery with excerpts from the film „A dog day afternoon“ is also a wonderful example.
It is a great exhibition in general but particularly for those who study the science of media.

* A rainy day

I had been looking at our photograph for hours. It reminded me how happy we were together. I looked outside, through my window, and realised it had been a long time since the day I first saw you...

It was raining.

The rain kept me thinking about that day, that moment in the photograph. It was a day just like today. We had been sitting at the beach, with the rain pouring on our faces, feeling the cold breeze that was coming from the sea.

I really missed you.I had been trying to figure out how to let you go but I didn't seem able to do it. I held the photograph close to me and I held it tightly, like I was holding you in my arms.

The rain started to fall violently and, as I reached my window to close it, a sudden wind left it open. So, without a warning, our photograph, which I held so carefully, flew away with the wind.

We were gone.

Written by Vanessa Oliveira

* The kiss

I was looking at a blank canvas.

My inspiration had vanished! I had too much going on my mind.

How was I going to help my mother with her criminal charge?

This thought had been hunting me for weeks.

Today was the day.

I put my brushes aside and dressed myself. At 9:30 o'clock I was at 'The Poet' expecting Michael, the lawyer my friend Laura had recommended. Finally, at 10:00 o'clock, when I was thinking about leaving, he showed up.

"You're late" - I said.

There were no excuses or appologies.

He started talking about my mother's case and what the worst scenario could be, but his dark blue eyes kept observing me, distracting me.

Then we started talking about ourselves, putting my mother's charge aside, and seduced ourselves.

We were numbed!

I said I had to go. He said that he had found me and now he wouldn't let me go. I argued thar we had met eachother only for a few hours. He said it didn't matter.

"How long does it take to be in love?" he asked me.

I was speachless.

Then, without a warning, he grabbed my arm and kissed me.

It was raining and I left 'The Poet'.

"It had been love since the first moment". I had finally realised it.

And that answer dissolved with the rain.

Written by Vanessa Oliveira

* Odalisc

There I was, lost in that strange country, trying to run from the nightmare of the loss of my mother and all the bills to pay.
Back in France I had no inspiration, no money, no love... And here, in India, I started beeing protected by a monk, living in his palace, using all hisfortune and slaves; I was having the time of my life, he appreciated my work.
On one of those amazing nights I noticed one of the odaliscs was staring at me and the night after that and the next...
The next day I decided to call her and ask her name. “I don’t have a name” she said “I’m a slave”. Her eyes captured my attention from the first moment, and after this time I was still amazed by them. “I will call you Akino”, I said, she smiled at me and kissed me. We went to my room and she said: “ paint me” and started taking her clothes off. I felt more inspired than ever. She was laying on my bed looking at me over her shoulder.
I started painting her, all that green background and her skin tone...Perfect!
A few hours later it was done, I felt that that was my masterpiece, she looked at the painting and without saying a word left the room, that was the last time I saw her.

Written by Mariana Almeida

* My Life (so far) in a Mural

If one of these days I become a very important person, world wide respectedand admired I would like to have a mural to honour me instead of a statue.
In that mural there would be photos of my friends and I, my family and my dog, because they mean the world to me, my favourite artistic photos, paintings from “neo-classic”, “romantic”, “surrealism”, “hiper-realism” … painters, lyrics from my favourite songs, my favourite poems, and graffiti from the Portugal best writer ‘Odeith’ and my friends.
All together we can say that all my passions would be represented in that mural, but there are some that are missing like travelling, sports, cinema and theatre but that can not be represented in a mural…
Telling the story of my life is not interesting because only a few years ago have I discovered these passions that have coloured my life, this passion for ART, and knowing my passions you understand my life because I like to be alive and enjoy every minute. This idea grows stronger in my mind every day “a vida é umas ferias que a morte nos dá”.

Written by Mariana Almeida

* A Arte e Cultura no Império Russo nas colecções do Hermitage – de Pedro, o grande a Nicolau II

- The Decadence of the Romanov Dinasty at the Palácio da Ajuda

Around 600 pieces of the Hermitage Museum are presented in this unique exhibition in Lisbon. Walking into the Galeria D. Luís I of Palácio da Ajuda, we enter the luxurious era of the Russian czars. All the paintings, sculptures, costumes, jewellery and furniture are arranged in chronological order, with a colour for each period of reign.

The exhibition is unnecessarily divided in two, since the first part consists only of a banquet-set table filled with golden decorations and with the finest china – a scenario which shows the shocking reality of that time, when the decadent lifestyle of the emperors would contrast with the Russian people’s pitiable conditions (poverty, famine,…) – while the other one contains the great majority of the pieces exhibited.
Here, in the second part, the paintings in focus show us more about the Romanov emperors. The other objects, such as costumes, jewellery or furniture, allow us to picture the daily routine of the royal family in a more realistic way, which is not possible by merely admiring photographs or paintings.

The items that captivate our attention the most are, possibly, the sofa on which the family was photographed for the last time and the two sleighs: a little one used by the children and a bigger one used in formal ceremonies. These are the final items to be seen in the exhibition and leave the visitor with a strange impression of having visited a far back gone fairy tale.

Rated 4/5

* If Only She Had Listened

It’s 2 am and I just can’t fall asleep.
I’m sitting on the roof, looking at the bright stars in the sky, with the memory of that night burning in my mind. I can still see her tearful blue eyes breaking my heart.
I had invited Clarice to come to my house to see a movie the day before, but she smiled and said she would give me an answer later in the evening. I was so excited with the idea of having a chance to be alone with her and to finally express my true feelings.
The dinner was on the table when the phone rang ‘Pete, I’m so happy! James D. asked me out for a street race! Can you believe it?’ – actually, I could. My best friend, that was also the girl I was in love with, would rather be with the typical bad boy – Mr. D.
We argued; I said it was a terrible idea, that street racing was dangerous and that she shouldn’t jeopardize her life just because she had a crush on some stupid guy; but she wasn’t listening to a word I said. I didn’t even mention our plans, I just didn’t want her to go on that silly race with Mr. Danger.
It was late at night and I was staring at the TV screen, angry with myself because of my impotence, when I received a text message that would make my world collapse.

« Clarice and JD had an accident.
Come FAST »

I ran out of the house in panic and a few minutes later I arrived at the scene of the accident – I froze when I saw the state that the red car was in.
In a little while I was already standing on pieces of broken glass, holding her blonde head in my in my arms and I soon realized that my hands were all bloody...
“I love you” were my last words to Clarice while hers were “I’m sorry”; but my last thought will forever be like her painful scream, if only she had listened.

! Upgrade Yourself !

I found out some cool and interesting music groups...

Check out and sing along:

Mazgani

Beirut (I just love "Elephant Gun")

* My life

My name is Clara, I’m twenty years old and maybe, if everything goes right, you’ll see my name, in the future, in the news, in the press or even in an exposition like World Press Photo. Well, I’m a little bit ambitious, but, in fact, I’m going to need a lot of ambition. So, let me tell you a little bit about myself…
I live in Lisbon and have lived here for all my life. My house is in a quiet quarter called “Campo de Ourique”, right in the centre of the town, near the beautiful garden “Jardim da Estrela”, where I walk my dog Mao everyday. He follows me in everything I do: he sleeps while I’m reading, he listens to the same music as I do (from The Doors to Ali Farka Toure, world music and many genres, from a smooth jazz song to a vibrant drum&bass rhythm).
I’m finishing this year my Journalism degree, which I hope will open many doors to pursue what I want to do: photojournalism. In fact, next year, I hope to complete my academic education with a Photography course abroad and apply myself to a Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation scholarship. In order to do that, I have to develop my personal portfolio, that’s why next week I’m going to Madrid and Barcelona to capture the concept of street art.
Travelling is one of my biggest passions. Me and my friends are always doing crazy low-budget trips, which lead us all over the world, sleeping on beaches and parks, surfing (I simply love bodyboard, plus I’m lucky to live close to the sea), cooking in amazing monuments, meeting different people and having good moments to remember and share.
“Life’s a beach and then you dive”.

* telling lives.... that´s mine!!!

When I was born, in 1985, my mum was 19 and my father 20. It was a very difficult situation. They didn’t finish school and they were far away from being responsible. Only eleven months later my little sister Cheila was born and the situation got even worse. My mother moved to her parents-in-law and my father went to Switzerland to earn money. I’m sure that this period of life was extremely hard; their financial condition wasn’t the best and they didn’t have any chance to give us a safe and good future.
But they still kept and loved us; they did everything they could to guarantee a good future. To earn even more money, my mother went to Switzerland too and me and my sister stayed with my grandmother for a whole year. When they came back I didn’t recognize my parents - now I know that this detail was terrible for them, but at this moment it was the truth.
Well, my uncle was living at this time in Germany and he got a job for my dad, so the whole family moved there. I was five and quite curious but soon I realized that it would become more difficult than I had expected. Because of this big change in our life I couldn’t establish a strong connection with my parents. I’m pretty sad about that but above all I’m so thankful for what my parents did all those years, I know it was a huge challenge to live in another country, without being able to speak the language and let their parents behind - and all this with two children to take care of. I’m really proud of my parents, I’m grateful for all the sacrifices they have made and I feel blessed for having them!

* Assessment 1 - Change

It was the best time of my life. I was in love and engaged, I had a great job and my life was beginning to start a new period - until the accident.
After a friend’s birthday party I was driving home when something happened and I can’t explain what it was. I lost control of my car and it went off the road into a tree. I don’t remember anything after that but I must have suffered serious injuries because I woke up in hospital. When the doctor told me the diagnosis I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it; how would I be able to manage my life from a wheelchair? I didn’t understand why destiny was punishing me so hard.
Tom, my fiancé at the time had always been there for me, he never gave up and cheered me up all the time. Just two days before the tragic accident happened, he had proposed to me and we were planning the wedding. But now, what would our future be like? I was insecure and afraid but Tom never went away.
Just one year after all that, he proposed to me again and we decided to marry as soon as possible.
Now 30 years later when I’m thinking about this time it’s still hard but I can’t and I won’t imagine how my life could be different because of the great life I have had with two beautiful, healthy children, and to become paraplegic was just a station in my life and not the end.

* a blank canvas...a kiss.. a criminal charge!!!

In 2002, while a young woman was visiting a Museum, she committed a huge mistake. First she admired all the beautiful pieces of art and felt so peaceful in there. But then she came to a separate room and didn’t realize that this room used to be private and not open to the public. Because of all the interesting stuff she founds in there she spent nearly one hour looking for something different. Almost hidden in the corner she finally found a blank canvas but she didn’t has enough time to analyze it, because the person in charge was coming, so she thought it may will be amusing to leave her own mark on it and kissed the white canvas three times. After that she left the Museum quietly and went home without thinking about what she did.
Then, the next day while she was eating, she heard of the tragic incident. She turned the TV up louder and was shocked. The police were searching a young girl who had been seen in the Museum yesterday. This girl was accused of damaging the back of a famous painting with stains of lipstick and it resulted in a criminal charge.

! Upgrade Yourself !

[click in the image to enter the site]

* Big Fish - Movie Review

"Big Fish" is a very sweet drama film about stories of the life of Edward Bloom. Edward (Ewan McGregor) has been a storyteller his whole life, and he has told these stories to his son. Will Bloom feels like he doesn't know his father because of his habit of telling exaggerated and untrue stories. He got mad at him and he hasn't spoken with him for years, he thinks his father is a liar that never cared for his family. One day his mother tells him that his father is dying of cancer and he returns home to find out the true stories of his father's life. This film is about Edward's fantasies stories through flashbacks that begin when his son visits him for the last time.

Although this is a really good film it's not my favorite. But I like it because it’s about the power of stories and the wonder they hold. In this film we see the real and the fantastic and we find out that the truth is somewhere in the middle. His father doesn't lie to make himself better, but is trying to tell the truth more beautifully.

I got involved and I admired its beauty. Edward says things like "the biggest fish in the river gets that way by never getting caught". In the end, Will becomes the storyteller.

Written by Tatiana Saavedra

* When I Turned My Back, I Realised He Had Gone

It was a bright sunny day in spring. As I was walking down the road I could see the birds around the trees that were swaying with the calm breeze. I was mesmorised by the colours that afternoon. After my walk in the garden, I stopped by the bridge, looking at the little river where there were frogs jumping around. I was amused by that image when I realised that graceful swallows were flying from under the bridge to the wide open sky.
Distracted by that thought and by the memories that were crossing my mind, I hadn’t noticed that a man was by my side, also distracted by the amazing nature that surrounded us.
The old, black man started talking to me about the migration of the swallows and I was listening to him while also remembering all the things that my father had taught me about nature and wildlife. These thoughts were interrupted as the man introduced himself.

He looked tired and heavy – as if he had a hard job and a complicated life, but still he seemed happy with all the good things life had given him; he showed me a picture of his children and told me their names and asked me mine. At the time I thought that maybe I should feel uncomfortable with talking with a stranger, but I wasn’t. I felt like we were the only people in the garden, absorbing all the smells around us: from the fragrant roses to the “fresh cut grass” smell. Only we could understand each other.
When I asked him his name, I could never have imagined what a coincidence the answer would be. His name was the same as my father’s - the one I was missing the most. I felt his presence in the form of that stranger and everything made sense. I felt grace and smiled.
But I had to go. I had to go home. I had to move on.
I did, and as I turned my back, I realised he had gone.

Written by Beatriz Araújo

* Can tears wash away sadness?

I can't describe the pain I feel inside, the pain he made me feel. I trusted him. He said he wanted to be with me. I should have known it was all too good to be true. I told him how I was tired of being hurt and I believed it when he said that he wouldn't hurt me... lies… all lies. It was all an illusion, when I really needed him he wasn't there. People around me say that I will get over him and that I'll find someone new and love again but they don’t know the pain I feel. I sit here, my eyes overflowing with tears. How could he hurt me so badly when all I did was love him?
Thoughts and lies that he said swarm inside my head but what hurts me more is when I remember the day I said "I love you" and as I turned my back I realised he had gone.

Written by Tatiana Saavedra

* My Life

Hi!!!
My name is Tatiana Saavedra and I am Portuguese. I was born March 8, 1987, in Faro. I'm 20 years old and I'm living with my parents. My father is a Pilot and he was allocated in different places to do his job, so when I was a child I lived in a lot of places like: the Algarve (Vila Real de Santo António), Alentejo (Beja), Lisbon (Massamá and Oeiras) and Germany!
I remember when I came back from Germany, my family hadn't seen me for a few years and they treated me as if I were the same age as when they had last met me! They gave me gifts that were inappropriate for my age and they talked to me in a way that made me feel silly. I understand that when someone isn't there to see you, they may forget that you’ve grown up. Travelling, meeting new people and new cultures are my passions! I Love big cities with lots of culture and activities.
I want to finish University and get a job in tourism. After that I want to know the world. I know the next few years will be exciting and stressful at the same time but I want to take positive steps and be proud of myself. I also want to remain positive in spirit and have wonderful moments with my friends and family.

Written by Tatiana Saavedra

* A Blank Kiss

They hadn’t yet reached a safe distance from the Museum when they heard the sirens. The safety of the package was their only concern. They had been running through Paris’ darkest streets for 30 minutes when Laura told Henri to stop.

‘I just want to say that no matter what happens from now on, I’m glad we did this together’, she said to him.
‘Me, too’, her partner said, smiling. ‘Thanks to you my performance has improved so much’

Laura had already surprised him with the compliment, but the unexpected kiss was too much.

Later, in the hotel suite, Henri decided to take a quick shower. After what had happened, he now felt free to admire her beauty. She was changing her clothes and pretended not to notice it. While he was in the shower, he was telling her about all the amazing plans after he receives the money. But a chill shivered down his spine when he detected nothing but silence coming from their room. He ran from the bathroom to the bed. He panicked when his eyes met a package on the wrinkled sheets. By the time he had finished unwrapping it, all those happy thoughts had faded away. She had swapped a priceless Picasso for a blank canvas, complete with a small note on the reverse:

Love, Laura.
P.S. I’m sorry

He was surrounded by officers, warning him about the criminal charge against him, but all he could think of was Laura and the amount of money they could have shared.

Written by Beatriz Araújo

* My Life

Music, music, music. Ever since I was a little girl I have surrounded myself with music. When I was at the primary school, I started to listen to the radio and also to collect music albums. The songs that I liked the most were in English and because of that I felt motivated to learn the language in order to understand what my favourite artists were singing.
Consequently, my interest in the English language increased and became another passion alongside music. My ability to fall in love with a song, almost immediately, and listen to it over and over again was a huge help in the learning process.
I was only 12 years old when I was forced to face a serious problem in my life. It was at that time that I discovered the power of music. Sure we can have fun and dance whenever we listen to a song. But that’s not it. Music has the power to heal the pain we’re feeling, the power to let us express ourselves, the power to unite people and the power to make us both travel through memories and time.
Maybe that’s why I always have a couple of songs for each person or moment in my life. It’s a way of photographing a personality, a mood, an environment or even an experience. My friends are always making fun of this, because every song has a special meaning for me and I can have thousands of explanations for it. They also laugh every time I interrupt a conversation just because a song starts playing and I can’t help but sing along with it.
The happiest day of my life was when I first saw a live performance by U2. I was so thrilled about the show. I hope they’ll come back soon.

Written by Beatriz Araújo