If I were the jackpot winner...

Today is the first time I have bought a lottery ticket and I have the feeling that I’m going to win. It may sound crazy but I am a very intuitive person, therefore there are many possibilities that it happens. If I were the jackpot winner, I would buy the house of my dreams and if it didn’t exist, I would build it; I would pay my family’s debts and buy them huge houses and brand name cars so that they live as kings; I would travel with my parents and sister to far away and exotic places and I would stay there for a while, in this way, I would be able to think about what to do with all the money I won. If I were working, I would leave my job so as not to receive orders from my boss anymore. I would also buy the most beautiful jewels and the most luxurious and expensive clothes which exist. Perhaps I may travel into space, since it is an experience that makes you unique in the world. Furthermore, I may buy an island, it would be my own paradise. Finally, I would donate some money to the people of my country who have lost their homes because it is a pity that these kinds of things happen.

Man on the edge.

This is the story of a man who wanted to commit suicide by jumping out of a hotel window due to the fact that his wife had had an affair with a married man and was going to leave him. Besides this problem, he also had financial problems and at work. While he was standing on the ledge, he could only think that there was no possible solution to his difficulties. He was hurt so badly that all he wanted was that the pain ended, that the pain went away. Despite the fact that police officers tried to convince him not to jump into the void, he did not come to his senses. When he was willing to jump off the building, a woman who stayed at the hotel looked out of the window. As she was a psychologist, she wanted to talk to him and to help him. The woman made him understand that he had parents and siblings who would suffer his loss. Furthermore, she made him understand that problems do not last forever because everything comes to an end. However, suicide is forever, once it is done there is no turning back. After that moving conversation, the man no longer wanted to commit suicide since he had come to two conclusions thanks to her: he had discovered that the fear of living with pain was less than the fear of hurting his family, and that he was able to face all his problems because what he was going through was temporary. At that moment, he realised he had something worth living for.

I’m grateful for…

Today I have woken up wanting to give thanks for all things that I have. As there are many things in my life I’m grateful for, I will summarise. First of all, I’m really grateful for my family. My sister, mother and father are the most important people for me. I don’t know what I would do without them, they are essential in my life and a great support. I’m grateful for my friends. They know me perfectly and they always have been through thick and thin with me. I am lucky because there are few people who you can really call your friends. I’m also grateful for little things that make a big difference in my life. I owe a lot to my couple because he is always there when I need him, no matter what time of day or night it is. In addition, when I’m sad he knows how to make me smile. Another thing I’m grateful for is the food, especially the food which my grandmother cooks. Finally, I’m grateful for all the good times I have shared with the people I love. Those memories will remain with me forever.

Problem / solution paragraph.

Global warming represents a serious problem by which life’s balance on Earth could be adversely affected. The severe consequences of global warming are already perceived as a whole, therefore winters which are increasingly mild, the absence of snow in areas where it always has snowed and the extreme heat in summer of recent years, all of them are effects of global warming. Furthermore, it also provokes forest fires, which are increasingly common, droughts, and the irreversible destruction of ecosystems, although the most problematic consequence may be the melting of polar ice caps, since if the sea level rises, many coastal zones will be flooded.

There are several solutions to this problem, being one of them to promote a green conscience from childhood. If the risks of climate change are taught in schools, everybody will be aware of them and will be able to help stop it. A second answer is to adopt effective measures, such as to impose financial sanctions against the most pollutant countries, and if they continue contaminating excessively, they will also be punished politically. A final answer is to reduce the use of fossil fuels. We will achieve this goal if we walk or ride a bike instead of driving. Although to stop this phenomenon is a difficult task, it does not impede that each one does what he or she can.

Personally, I consider that the measures suggested by Beatriz Beltrán are the most appropriate and necessary ones to stop or to reduce the damages which this phenomenon, the global warming, causes in the planet and in all living beings. Moreover, I believe that everybody should cooperate on this issue because any help is not only welcomed but also demanded.

Children and mobile phones shouldn’t be friends.

When I took my First communion, guests gave me money, clothes and a camera. Now, they give children, who are only 8 years old, mobile phones.

There isn’t any doubt about that cell phones are a great way to keep in touch anytime and anywhere, but parents should wonder if their child is old enough to have one. Actually, there is not a specific age to have a phone, but it should be when they are studying at secondary school, since they are supposed to go very often and it is normal that parents want to locate them from time to time and know how they are.

The use of mobile phones by children is spreading like wildfire, they seem to be their new babysitter. However, these devices are not good for them. They cause lack of sleep since if the child has the phone with him or her at bedtime, what do you think will happen? Will the child go to sleep or will stay up late? Being realistic, the last option seems to be the correct one or at least, the most likely option. An excessive use of new technologies can also contribute to the decrease of the concentration. Another great problem is that they cause addiction. 

To sum up, parents should reduce the use of cell phones once and for all. The childhood is one of the most beautiful periods of our entire life and it should be remembered by spending time playing with friends and favourite toys.

Comparison / contrast paragraph.

The band Sex Pistols and the Azerbaijani Rostropovich are so different that the only thing they seem to have in common is their passion for music. Sex Pistols was a punk rock band formed by 4 members whose look, a member dyed his hair red; attitude and way of being had as a goal to provoke the society. In addition, the punk’s image was changed by their aggressive behaviour on the stage and their drug addiction. A member of the group died of drug overdose. What’s more, they became the centre of attention because of their satirical lyrics and scandals which they caused. In contrast, Rostropovich is considered the best cellist in the world, therefore he was keen on a more classical music. For this reason, his style was formal. He was an exemplary person who defended human rights in spite of the risks and threats, and a healthy man who unfortunately died of cancer. The only scandalous situation which he lived was his exile. However, he did not commit any crime, he was exiled just because he was a defender of freedom. All in all, even though both artists were musicians, they played different types of music. Personally, I do not like these kinds of music but I would prefer Rostropovich’ music because it inspires me peace and tranquillity. 

Opinion paragraph.

I should not give my opinion about bullfighting because it should not exist, and even less in the XXI century. For me, it is a cruel way of amusement which just insensitive people can enjoy. It’s a cave-dwelling show in which the bullfighter tortures, hurts, bleeds and kills a living being. Those people who defend bullfighting assure that it is art and tradition but they know very well that it isn’t art or culture. Bullfighting is our national sport, so I have been wrong all my life because I thought that sport meant doing an activity with which you improve your physical skills. I have listened to this sentence many times: “Bulls are raised for this purpose, otherwise they would become extinct.” Then, to avoid the extinction of elephants, is it necessary “elefighting”?  People who love bullfighting admire the bullfighter because he risks his life. This is absolutely true, but only when he attacks the bull. It is an herbivorous animal, therefore it just defends itself when the bullfighter hurts him. It is very disappointing the fact that people who risk their lives, not for killing animals but for saving another people, don’t earn as much money as bullfighters do. Furthermore, nobody pays tickets to see them. It is said that bulls die “better” than another animals, however I say that being better than others who are worse is not being well. In conclusion, a country which needs to torture animals in order to have fun, it’s a country unable to feel compassion for anyone or anything. 

I respect the opinion of people who support bullfighting, but I don’t share it, and I never will.

TVD.

Today, more specifically this evening, the moment is coming for which millions of people from all over the world, including me, have been waiting for so long. At last today, “The Vampire Diaries” is coming back to the small screen to present us its seventh season, and I’m absolutely sure that it is going to leave no one indifferent. The end of the last season was loaded with emotions, emotions which were not exactly good ones, since (if you haven’t already watched it, then STOP reading, I really mean it) it isn’t normal that the bride, who was pregnant with twins, died on her wedding day at the hands of her brother. It was also a terrible blow for all the fans that the protagonist of the series Nina Dobrev, who played the role of Elena Gilbert, decided to leave the show on her own. Perhaps her decision was influenced by the fact that her ex-boyfriend and boyfriend in the series, Ian Somerhalder, had married to Nikki Reed, the girl who was friend of hers a long time ago. What do you think about it? Personally, I think it is the real reason why she has left the show because this statement is not credible in any language: “I always knew I wanted Elena's story to be a six season adventure.” Seriously? Just six seasons? A world famous series has to be renewed for many more seasons, that’s why “The Vampire Diaries” has renewed for a seventh one. Leaving this issue behind, it is law of life that when villains die, other ones appear and this show is not an exception. I only hope that the new ones let the hero of the series (Stefan Salvatore), who is also my favourite actor of all time (Paul Wesley), be happy every now and then since he really deserves it. In short, in less than 10 hours we will be able to return to Mystic Falls, where the series takes place, and to see our favourite vampires again. The countdown is on!

PS: If you want to talk to me about the series, leave your comment on my blog.

Who do you admire most?

Peer response for: María F. Espinosa Gómez.

By: Beatriz Beltrán Sánchez.

Dear María,

I have read your text and I think it has got a very good presentation and I love that you have chosen your mother as the person you admire.

I find your topic sentence very well done and your supporting sentences are describing your mother very good with some adjectives and examples. I think the structure is also good and the conclusion shows very good the idea that you want to show.

So continue in that way, well done!

The person I admire most is my mother, she is a role model for me. I am sure that there is none as hard-working and determined as she is. The things I like the most about her are her strength, she is the strongest woman I have ever met; her capacity for solving problems, her sense of responsibility and her honesty. Everything I know I learned from her, for instance she taught me to fight for the things that I love and to never give up. She used to tell me that I could achieve anything if I put my mind to it, and thanks to this compliment I’m sure of myself. My mother has always been a great example for me because she is always cheerful and has got a smile on her face most of the time even though she has no reasons. Although we don’t always agree on everything, she respects my own decisions. Everybody says that we are like two peas in a pod and I think that they are quite right about that. In conclusion, I’m grateful for the mother I have got and for all the love that she gives me every day. I hope that someday I can be just like her.

Australia.

If you had the opportunity of living 3 months in any country of the world with all expenses paid, I mean the flight and hotel bookings, which country would you choose to live in? I would choose Australia without a doubt. Since I was a child, I have always had a passion for this place, being one of my dreams living there. It fascinates me so much because it’s a magical country which has got many different types of climates and unique animals. The most well-known ones are: the platypus, the kangaroo and the koala, but there are also many more incredible animals such as: the wombat, the Tasmanian devil, the emu, the sea wasp (the most lethal jellyfish in the world) and the most deadly spiders, snakes and octopi. Furthermore, Australia has got breathtaking sceneries which seem to be from another world like:

Uluru or Ayers Rock is a rock formation formed by sandstone which changes colour depending on the inclination of solar rays. It is one of the most famous icons of the country and is a sacred place for the Australian aborigines.

The Painted Desert stands out by its colours, as its name suggests, and was created 80 million years ago.

Hyams Beach is a swimming area famous for having the whitest sand in the world.

The Wave Rock is a rock formation which seems a petrified wave. It is 15 metres tall and 110 metres long.

Lake Hillier stands out by its bubble gum pink colour. Nobody knows exactly why it has got this colour.

Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world which can be seen even from outer space. In 1981 was selected as a World Heritage Site.

Australia owns many more astonishing places that I don’t mention because it would take so long. In conclusion, I’m looking forward to going there since it’s a place that everybody should visit at least once in a lifetime.

Guernica.

Guernica is one of the most famous paintings by Pablo Picasso, done to be exhibited at the Spanish Pavilion at the Paris International Exposition (1937). Its name is due to the bombing of Guernica. This picture makes me feel a little sad since it shows, in an abstract way, the horror and the destruction that the Spanish Civil War provoked. Besides, the colours used increase the drama of the scene. The contrast between the colours black and white makes me think about the fight between the good and the evil. This painting also inspires me anguish and impotence caused by the senseless killing of innocent people. What’s more, I am deeply moved because I consider that the author wanted to give us this clear message: “The human being is the most inhuman species”. All in all, it could be said that it is a true icon of the terrible sufferings that the war causes in the people.