You have to read this!

Hello everyone!

Still in lockdown? Here in Norway, we still are 😦

There are a lot of things we could do at home, but one thing I adore is to pick up a nice book to read. What about you?

Lately I have been reading books about the philosophy of life which makes me see things more rationally and positively. This way of thinking helps a lot especially if you are going through some hard times.

The book I would like to mention to you today tells the story of a woman, with three children, struggling to juggle her everyday responsibilities as both a wife and a mother. Throughout the story, which is written in the form of a diary, we witness her attempt to improve intimacy with her husband, regrettably in vain. The events unfold as we go through the main character’s reflections and as we flip through the pages, we are reeled into her world and feelings which make the book more realistic. What I liked the most was her spontaneity in telling the events and her way of showing her real identity through her thoughts, which are the essence of this story. Her name is Paz and the title of the book is “Mama’ en busca del polvo perdido” (English: Mom in search of lost sex) by Jessica Gomez, a Spanish author.

First, I would like to share with you the news that I am part of two groups of Spanish women who talk about female sexuality and the period. During our meetings, we can speak freely about all sorts of things that revolve around the intimate phases of our life. The groups’ names are “Sex community” & “Mis 4 lunas” (My 4 moons), and sometimes our leaders suggest us reading  a book as homework.

Here below, you’ll find a paragraph of the book I chose to read, and this is the part I want to share with you. This way, you may have a better idea of the content in case you are looking for similar books to read. 😊

Source

MONDAY,

January 13th.

You ask when did everything start? I wouldn’t know when.

Well, doing a quick review of my memory, going back to the movie of my life, I would first stop on the moment when, sitting at the kitchen table, a couple of years ago, I was shocked when I saw the positive pregnancy test of my third child. Or rewinding a bit more, I would stop at another moment, seven years before, when I got paralyzed and speechless for more than half an hour while I was looking at the positive pregnancy test of my middle daughter. At that time, I was sitting on the couch. If I turn back a little more, I can stop the movie at the moment when my oldest son was born, ten years ago, and I see myself there: exhausted but smiling with a baby in my arms. And a bit before that, seeing the happiness of a positive pregnancy test, and a bit earlier when Didier and I decided to be parents.

And now that we are at this point, I could go back to the day when we went to live together, to the day when we met each other, to the first time that I got the period or to the exact moment inside of the uterus of my mother where my double X decided to give me functional ovaries.

But let’s not try to look for the guilty.

Are you asking me when it all started? I suppose that, by being practical- my mom, that woman, able to put lacquer on that carded hair for half an hour, already told me that: ” Daughter, you must be practical”-, I could say that the massacre was unleashed eleven days ago. And the thing happened as follows.

It was the 2nd of January, a fateful Thursday. Well, to be honest, it was a normal Thursday, but I have always wanted to begin a story by saying that it was a fateful day because it looks very professional. As I was saying, it was Thursday, the 2nd, and I still had the remains of the New Year’s Eve dinner rolling around the living room table. They were consistent especially in grape seeds that did not stop appearing glued everywhere with pieces of nougat well sucked by someone- nobody knew by whom-; with the feeling of sadness to throw it away even if it sucked to eat it, but my strategy was to leave them there till the dog could “accidentally” eat them or, in their case, they could have their own life and you could throw them away without any remorse.

(…)

How does it sound to you? I hope you’ll get a chance to read it whether in Spanish or in English. I’ll leave here below the links in case you are interested:

mamá En Busca Del Polvo perdido: Amazon.es: Gómez, Jessica: Libros

Also you can search for Ana Galvez Rodriguez and Laura Solas Fernandez on Facebook and Instagram 🙂 if you want to learn more about their interesting female world 🙂

Ana Gálvez Rodríguez | Facebook

Laura Solas Fernandez | Facebook

HAPPY READING!

Source

How do we learn a new language?

Hello Everyone,

In today’s globalized world, knowing a second language is essential, if not necessary. English, considered the most international and widely spoken language, tops the list. I also believe that Chinese and Spanish will soon join this category.

So, let’s start studying them too, shall we?

But how do we learn a new language effectively? Do you know any interesting tricks or tips to achieve proficiency in a short period?

Here’s what I did and continue to do to learn and improve the languages I speak:

I began with English. I studied it at school, but I made significant progress by translating English songs, especially those of my favorite singers. I watched MTV, CNN, and Fox News channels. Thanks to the exchange programs with the United States that my school participated in, I started corresponding with American students through letters. We also hosted some Australians, and I still maintain a friendship with one of them after 17 years.

I then studied Spanish and Portuguese at university. Spanish telenovelas and Portuguese series were immensely helpful. Moving to Spain was, of course, the best way to enhance my Spanish until I acquired the local accent of the city I lived in. Working as a receptionist there allowed me to practice and improve both languages daily through interactions with customers.

Finally, I moved to Norway, where I had to learn Norwegian to integrate better into society. Here, I met two wonderful Brazilian friends who help me practice and improve my Portuguese. Currently, I work as a hotel receptionist, which gives me the opportunity to speak all these languages daily. It’s both challenging and enjoyable!

So, what tips or tricks can I recommend to you for learning a language quickly and effectively?

Study Grammar: Read a grammar book, do exercises, and focus on the rules.

Watch Foreign Channels: Engage with content on international news channels, movies, and TV shows.

Read: Dive into articles, books, and any written content in the target language.

Listen to Music: Songs can help with listening skills and pronunciation.

Even with a busy life, dedicating just half an hour per day can make a significant difference. For speaking practice, look for international exchange programs in your city. These programs often involve language exchange over coffee, where you can practice speaking with a native speaker of your target language. Making international friends can also be incredibly helpful.

Use the new words you learn as often as possible to avoid forgetting them. Importantly, take the risk to speak, even if you make mistakes. This trial and error process is essential because the person you are conversing with will likely correct you, helping you remember and learn.

The most effective tip is to travel to the country where the language is spoken. Immersing yourself in the language 24/7 accelerates learning. If possible, move there for a few months. This method is both challenging and fun!

Good luck!

pic2

Source

Same words said in a whole different way

I picked TEN words with the same meaning but completely different writing in Italian, Spanish, English, Portuguese and Norwegian.

In these cases it is curious to discover, as we are in contact with languages that belong to the same linguistic families (Italian, Spanish and Portuguese are neo-Latin, Norwegian and English are Germanic), that there is no evolution or similarities between them.

Continue reading “Same words said in a whole different way”