Students at Embassy

Summer time

Hi everybody.

I haven't written for a while.....I haven't found the right moment to write...

I'm very happy because last week I found out that I had passed the CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) exam. I have made a lot of progress in English. Actually I only have one month left in the school.

My Diploma program is ending soon....I know it is going to be very hard....Now, I feel I have a second family here...I feel at home.

The staff in this school is great!!!! And specially, I have to mention the three teachers who have helped me so much!!! Luci, Joseph and Mark.

Mark, if you read these words, I d like to tell you that you are such a great person. I really enjoy your classes and how you are. I feel the same as I said once about Luci: I'll never forget you as a teacher, and as a person, never.

In this school, the teachers become your friends... The sad part is when you have to say good bye. If life is like a trip on a train, I have to say that this part of my trip has been wonderful, and has made a very possitive impact in my life. There is a before and an after. I feel a lot of gratitude to all the people who were part of my life here.  Well, now when I m back in Europe I'll have a lot of countries to visit!!

How is the summer in Florida? It s very hot. Luckily the beach is very close to the school. After the classes we can enjoy the beach. I like to walk in the evening on the Beach Boulevard. It's a place with a lot of " energy ". Yesterday, I spent the day in Miami. I went specially to do some shopping in Bayside. Actually here, specially sportswear, and some brands of clothes are much cheaper than in Europe. Today my day was pretty relaxing. In the evening I swam in the pool and I felt like I was in paradise!!

See you soon my friend

 

Click to see the pictures bigger!

Today I felt sad because one of my best friends took the plane to go back to her country. This special friend is Kim, from South Korea. We have spent great moments together. We have become closer and closer...

I think that life is like a trip on a train. We go through a lot of gates and we share our journey with a lot of people...and some of them leave a huge footprint in our hearts.

For me, this part of my trip is one of the best ones. Learning English is one part of it, but there are so many other parts...

Last Saturday, some friends and I  had dinner together. These moments make me feel very very rich...because those moments are unique. Actually these days, there are a lot of barbecues in the student residence, it must be the season!! It's a great opportunity to meet new people, or to share time with your new friends, because, here, believe me, you are going to make a lot of good friends!!!

I want to finish this post, saying some words for you Kim: your card has really touched me. You too you are a friend that will remain forever in my heart!! I know that soon we'll share again a part of our journey!! I wish you the best, and thanks for all our moments. I love you my friend. See you soon!!

Your friend

Sonia

Independence day

Today is a national holiday, here in the United States. The country celebrates the Declaration of the Independence which took place the 4th of July, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. Independence day is commonly associated with fireworks, picnics, parades, baseball games...

In Fort Lauderdale, big fireworks were scheduled at 9 p.m at the Beach Boulevard. This afternoon it started raining, so I was a little bit worried because fireworks and rain don't go together. But, fortunately, the fireworks took place and it stopped raining!! There were fireworks in different places. It was great!! The sky was full of lights, colors......I went there with my neighbors and my family, who arrived last Saturday. We had a great night. We also prepared a barbecue.  The Green Island Inn, the student residence where live a lot of students from Embassy CES, organized a big barbecue, too.

On the other hand, this week I started my classes again, after 15 days of break. I was glad to see again my "old friends " and to have the opportunity to meet new people!!

Sonia

Unforgettable experiences

Definitely I really enjoy living here!! This week I don't have classes at the school, because as a Diploma student I'm on "summer break" which means that I have two weeks' holiday. I'm having such a great time!!

This weekend, I went to the Everglades and Key West. In the Everglades, my friends and I went to an Alligator farm!! But there were not only alligators but also snakes!! I even had my picture taken with a snake on my shoulders!! I believe it was a phyton. And of course, we could see a lot of alligators. It was simply awesome!!!

After that, we went to Key West. It's a very nice and cozy place. The sunset is very beautiful. If you come to Fort Lauderdale, you should go there!! I'm living such great experiences here!!

The other night I went to Miami with some two good friends. The great thing was that they rented a Mustang convertible to get there! That was amazing!! I feel I'm living a dream!! I feel so happy....Those kinds of experiences change the vision of your life too. Everybody who sorrounds me is so positive...that I can only be positive!! I have met very good friends, and only because of that, coming here is more than worth it!!

Our Graduation Ceremony, as Gaby said, was very special. Being there while sitting in my chair, I felt very grateful for having the opportunity to be there!! Before coming, I didn't imagine that it would be so great!! I love this school. I love its teachers, I love its students...I'd like to say THANKS to all the Embassy CES for their EXCELLENT job.

I feel I'm sorrounded by a huge family. I'm so happy....That is one of the reasons you should try to study abroad......You learn a lot and you make friends that will always be part of you, because they have shared unforgettable experiences with you. Thanks to all the students of my class, specially the students who graduated last 15th of June, Gaby, Anna, Lisa, Jeoffrey, Jeremy, Kim, Kevin, Brian. I have enjoy spending this time together. I wish you the best, and meeting you has been a gift in my life. I have learn a lot from each of you, and this class will remind FOREVER in my heart.

THANKS!

More Jokes...

Hi, I have found new jokes!! I hope you'll enjoy!! The words that are in red can help you to learn some new vocabulary.

Loan

1.  A businessman walked into a bank in San Francisco and asked for the loan officer. He told the officer that he is going to Europe on business for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000. The bank officer explained that the bank needed some kind of security for such a loan. So the businessman handed over the keys to a Rolls Royce parked on the street in front of the bank. Everything checked out, and the bank agreed to accept the car as collateral for the loan. A bank employee drove the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parked it there.

Two weeks later, the businessman returned, repaid the $5,000 with interest, which came to $15.41. The loan officer said, "We are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is why would you bother to borrow $5,000?" The businessman replied, "Where else in San Francisco can I park my car for two weeks for only 15 bucks?"

Memory problems

2. Two elderly couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques - visualization, association - it has made a big difference for me." "That's great! What was the name of that clinic?" Fred went blank. He thought and thought but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?" "You mean a rose?" "Yes, that's it!" Then he turned to his wife and asked, "Rose, what was the name of that clinic?"

The Lawyer and The Butcher

3. A lawyer's dog, running about unleashed, beelines for a butcher shop and steals a roast. The butcher goes to the lawyer's office and asks, "If a dog running unleashed steals a piece of meat from my store, do I have a right to demand payment for the meat from the dog's owner?" The lawyer answers, "Absolutely." "Then you owe me $12.50. Your dog was loose and stole a roast from me today." The lawyer, without a word, writes the butcher a check for $12.50. A few days later the butcher receives a letter from the lawyer: "$45 due for consultation".

If you know some jokes in English, don't hesitate to write them in this post!!

I think it's a great way to know some new vocabulary!!

Have fun!!

A special dinner

Last Friday all the students of my class and I had dinner in a Japanese restaurant in front of the school . Yes, again!! Definitely, it's a very successful one!!

One of the students was leaving for Atlanta, so we decided to spend  some time all together. I really had a great time there!! In those moments, I realise how lucky I am, and how grateful I am to be able to be in Fort Lauderdale. We have been sharing a lot of moments, but this one was very special.  I was a little bit sad, because he was a special person, but I prefer to be focus on the great moments we have spent together, joking, laughing...And believe me there are a lot of great moments!!!

Another very special person was among us. This person was our teacher, Luci. She is a wonderful person and one of the greatest teachers I have ever had in my life.  She's the kind of teacher you always remember. Forever.  She has a special " energy ", a  very positive energy. She has been my teacher for almost 6 months. Thanks to her I have never lost my motivation for learning English.  She loves to teach and you can feel it!! She is very passionate about teaching. 

Definitely, I think this experience has changed a lot of things in my life. First of all, I'm living one of the greatest moments ever in my life. I'm convinced every person should live that kind of experience once in their lives. 

Have a great day!!

Sonia

English language....

I've found out some interesting things about the English language.

In which countries is English an official language?

Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belau, Bermuda, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cameroon, Cook Islands, Dominica, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, US Virgin Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Wake Island, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

What is the longest word in English?

ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM  ( a movement  opposed to the separation of church and state ). There is a word longer than this one (45 letters!!!) but it's only used in the medical field.

What are the world's most spoken languages?

Althought it's very difficult to know exactly how many people speak a particular language, we can come up with those estimations: Mandarin Chinese (837,000,000), English (370,000,000), Spanish (300,000,000), Bengali (189,000,000), Hindi/Urdu (182,000,000), Arabic (174,950,000), Portuguese (170,000,000), Russian (170,000,000), Japanese (125,000,000), German (98,000,000), Javanese (79,000,000), French (75,000,000)

What percentage of the Internet is in English?

More than 80% of home pages on the Web are in English, while the next greatest, Germany has 4.5% and Japanese 3.1%.

Now it's time for a joke...

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Personal Growth

I believe all the experiences we live through affect our personality. They contribute to our personal growth.

I arrived here 5 months ago, and I have been learning not only English but also about myself. This experience has changed the vision I have about my future.

I studied Business Management in my country. To be honest, I didn't know what I really wanted to do with my life, with my future. At this time, I had perhaps a lack of  life experience, I needed to know more about myself. I chose this career with no conviction. Once I had my Degree, I was happy of course, but I wasn't ready to  face the real world. I had a big lack of self-confidence. I think self-confidence  is very important. If you believe in yourself, you can " move mountains "!! 

My first job was very difficult. I felt scared facing my new responsibilities. You  have to take decisions, you  have to face new situations...Living abroad is a good opportunity to learn about yourself, what are you capable of. You take your own decisions, you explore a  new world , a  different life , and you start your personal trip, which of course, helps your personal development.

When you work you also have to deal with different situations, to make decissions...Don't you think, the experience abroad can help you?  You become an adventurer, a traveler. You learn by experience.   My best  friend, who had lived this experience  before myself, told me that  after living abroad she was able to make decisions easily, she knew her goals, emotions and values better.

I think she influenced me to make that choice. Today, I can notice how much I have changed since I have been living here. My self-confidence has been boosted tremendously, I have a positive vision of my future. And one important thing, I think for the first time, I know what I want  to do with my future, where I am going.  I have been exploring not only a new country, a new culture, a new people, but also myself. And I feel really happy, because I feel that this experience is like a light in my " path ". I have met wonderful people who are now also part of my life.

My friend encouraged me to live this experience, and now it is my turn to encourage you to do the same. It's really worth it. This experience will be always very present in my heart, because I feel very happy and very grateful for all the things I have been harvesting since I'm here.

Sonia

Why study a foreign language?

Several times I have written about how great my experience here is.  But, what about English? Why learn English? There are a lot of reasons...

For example, if you work in a company and you speak a foreign language, you will be the one who will be called on to travel or exchange information with other people from different countries. The company will see you as a " bridge "  to new clients  if you know a second language. The knowledge of a foreign language (especially English ) will give you more opportunities when you try to find a job (advertising, business, marketing, communication, social services, teaching, technology...).

Have you thought how great it is to know a different culture? It helps you to expand your personal horizons. You can also  read new books, you can watch new DVDs, you can travel being able to communicate with other people, you can be connected with other cultures!! 

Have you ever been abroad and had trouble speaking with other people? I remember, when my English wasn't so good, I was afraid when I was in a foreign country. Without communication there is a big, huge " wall " betwen you and the other people.  The abilitity to communicate in English helps you to share your hopes, dreams, visions... And of course, learning a foreign language helps you to develop a sense of culturalism, and appreciation of another cultures. 

The knowledge of English offers you a spectrum of opportunities, in your country or abroad.  I like to share dreams, goals with other students, because that helps me better to find my own.   I'm very grateful for being here....

Moral:  learn English, you will see how many new opportunities come to you!!

American cooking

Last Saturday I had dinner with some of my Korean friends. They prepared some typical Korean dishes. Actually, it was the first time I had tried Korean dishes. One word can describe them: DELICIOUS.

To be honest, I didn't know anything about Korean food, I have to admit it. There is a large number of Asian restaurants in my country, but most of them are Japanese, Chinese, Thai...or at least those are the most popular ones.

But - coming back to the U.S - how well do you know American food? I did a 'little survey' among my friends. Actually for most of them, American food equals junk food. But since I arrived here, I have only been to a fast food joint twice!! I'm not a big fan of that kind of food.

Let's be honest, what country doesn't have fast food? I have tried to get to know their cuisine a little bit better. The U.S have a wide variety of cultures - same with the food. It's very diverse, and because of that, it's difficult to define it.

American cuisine is a synthesis of cuisines from around the world, a style of cooking that takes something from each immigrant community. Did you know that hamburgers and hot dogs are both based on traditional German dishes?

In downtown Fort Lauderdale there are a large variety of restaurants (Italian, Brazilian, French, Japanese, Mexican, etc ). We all know some typical dishes from other countries. For example, in Spain the most popular is the paella.

So the moral is, yes of course, you have fast food, but you have many different choices, so it's unfair to talk only about 'junk food'.