Comments about the course

Related my goals I think I didn't get out at all of grammar mistakes and no fluent conversations, but I'm sure that I'll do it better because I'll continue practicing.

About the strategies  I planned to improved: I contributed listening music and speaking with co-workers as long as I had opportunity. In terms  of my interaction with the group, I did well correcting grammar mistakes from me and classmates speaking,  however I could have included more vocabulary and fluency.

I enjoyed group activities and to complete blank spaces in songs, although I'd had prefer to have some interviews with the teacher , in order to receive more feedback about my pronunciation and progress between one conversation and another.

Comments about Elga's profile(by Sergio)

I disagree with Sergio’s opinión about my personality , for example: I’m not a book smarter.

To become a professional has been very satisfactory , but I value more a good relation with god, family and friends, so spirituality and personal growth are very important for me.

I think knowlodge is a key to reach goals , but not necessarily the happiness.

So far, I haven't had children or married , but If I had the opportunity it will be a memorable and treasure moment in my life.

Outstanding Facts

1. Miners stuck in Chile : 33 miners are stuck 700 meters under the surface but fortunately they are alive.
 If the tons of soil had fallen over them , they would have been dead by now.

2. Some congress representatives were trying to increase their own salaries.
 If this initiative had been approved,  the economy would be worst.

3. Strong rains: In Costa Rica the last months rained more than the last year.
 If  it was a  flat country, the whole country would have been flooded. 

4. Dangerous bridges: Lately a lot of bridges had been fallen down causing human victims.
 If these were better constructed some people would be alive.

5.Caldera Street: Caldera street was closed days ago.
 Had it been planned satisfactory , traffic jams would have been avoided.

6. Declining dollar: Dollar has been decreasing its value.
 If dollar wouldn't have been decreasing the incomes from exports would be more.

7.Economical crisis: it affected the tourism activity in all the world.
 Tourism in Costa Rica would have been less affected by the economical crisis, if visitors had chosen more national destinations.

8. Jobs on hold for cell opening: Multinational companies in telecomunications are on hold for permissions to operate.

9. Banks in Costa Rica promoting housing credits: Banks currently are doing publicity to promote their housing credits.
If banks had offered better terms of credit earlier , they would have put  more loans.

10. Iran armed with nuclear weapons:  Rusia built a nuclear plant in Iran. 
If there hadn't been some been some ideological differences with USA, the USA government wouldn't be disturbed about it.

Santa Ana Suburb

If you want to escape from the crowded city, a good place to go are the Occidental hillocks in Santa Ana, it’s located 13 km west from San Jose downtown since Mulas Bridge until Escazu Hills. Santa ana is a elegant and expensive suburb with a significant growth and a pleasant environment, very popular among expats and their families.

History:

In the precolombian period the  actual Santa Ana territory was habited by indigenous from , who “Reino Huetar de Occidente” who were controlled by Cacique Garavito. Traditionally it was a town of farmers , most of them survived from onions harvest , there  was located the first Costa Rica city Garcimuñoz founded by España conquistors., then in Lindora a  Santa Ana’s village was placed the first airport in the country.

At the beggining of  XIX century , by the year of  1817, Mrs Ana María de Cárdenas ,  was the owner of almost the territory of this suburb, she gave part of her lands to be poblated and cultivated  also sold lots  to Escazu  inhabitants (neighbour town).

Santa Ana offers modern accomodations, gastronomy and entertainment places, visitors can find here a lot of

stores, services, very near to Multiplaza (the biggest Commercial Center in Costa Rica),Price Smart and  some important Business Centers like: Plaza Roble and  Forum I & II, besides is surrounded by luxuries hotels like Intercontinental, Marriot Courtyard and with  the best restaurants of the country.

This place has a excellent equilibrium between a property development and the preservation of the local culture, in the downtown area there are a church, a park, a soccer field and some souvenirs stores, that is very characteristic in several communities along the country. This town places the third position in the country in relation to progress: has been recognized by its infrastructure of quality, excellent  technology access and good social development.

Transportation: The visitors can get there through Próspero Fernández street , and Interamericana highway , public transportation is available since Escazu, San Jose and from other places of the Central Valley, a taxi since Escazú to Santa Ana costs $ 10,00, and from San José, $ 20.00.

Weather: Dry with medium temperatures, excellent for enjoying outdoors activities, in sunny days

Common activities and special events

During the year Santa Ana inhabitants to celebrate  different activities like:  

       Salitral Walking – first full moon in March , to search mineral water which emanates in Salitral lands.

       International Souvenirs Fair: at the end of March, artisans from the whole country and  Latinamerican for  meeting buyers and to promote business opportunities.

       Onion fair: At the beginning of April , farmers can sell their products (onions) during the harvest season  to the community directly.   

       “Luz de Luna”: the primary school  organizes  theater performances and concerts  

       Festival Folkloric: RIO ORO 2010:  the idea is to promote folkloric dancers and to share values in a familiar environment

Santa Ana is a really nice place to visit and to live , their people are very polite, collaborative and friendly.

If some day you have the opportunity to spend a good time here ,you might  want come back then!

Steak's House & Legend's Restaurant

 Today, I'm going to expose about Steak House &  Leyends Restaurant.   


 This restaurant is located 10 minutes away  from Naranjo downtown, on the right side of the highway Naranjo - San José.


Some days ago, I was visiting this place with a College friend, it seemed interesting for him and me, because in a same place you can find different things like: a bar, some tables on the courtyard (is a family space) since there you can appreciate green coffe's plantations, and a  beautiful  landscape from a nearby village.


On friday's at night ,while the customers are enjoying a delicious food; also, can listen "live music" in genders like:rock, trova and romantic.

Regarding to dishes, visitors can find there a variety of them.
These are some examples of the menu, and how it comes in general:

• Staple food:"Casados": rice, beans, green salad (with: lettuce or cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, cucumber), one meat (fish, chicken, pork or steak) and pepper potatoes.
• Meats: steak with onions in a spicy sauce, roasted chicken, turkey ovened,                                  pork in a pineapple sauce.
• Seafood: Soups,ceviche, rice with shrimp, fish filet.
• Noodles: fetuchini, show suey, spaghetti  in tomatoe sauce.

        All meals accompanied with a beverage

  Hot beverages: Coffe, chocolate, tea
  Cool beverages: Milk shakes, Natural juice, beers , coctails , liquors.

Desserts (optional):

Cheese cake, salad fruit with ice cream, brownies.


For me it's a charming restaurant , you'll be pleased to stay there, and possibly you come back later on.
You are welcome to visit its website: www.steakhouse.com.

Sergio's personality profile

He looks like Sergio

 Sergio lives in San Ramon, he's 16 years old and currently is finishing the high school.      

 Sergio's greatest achievement is to have loved people beside him in difficult moments, the living person who he admires the most is his mother , because she is  always taking care about him. 

 Sergio's favorite trip  is just to go to some place with a nice company person, the best decision he has ever made was to start studying the bible, moreover the worst decision he has made was hurting someone for his own benefit.

 In relation to an amazing place where Sergio  has been,  he didn't refer to a specific one, whatever park or place could be pleasant if he has done something special there.

 Sergio believes happy moments depends more on the decisions that everyone takes , in fact he says "Is obvously that perfect happiness doesn't exist" he thinks we need just look and find it.

 He didn't comment the reasons because he's learning english , but I suppose that speaking a second language might let him to take advantage of better jobs opportunities in the future.

 Sergio didn't add a talent , "I'm happy myself" he says; during  the interview he expressed something like: "What do you study or work a lot , if in whatever moment you can die? it supports my idea that he's a little conformist , even is true someday we'll die for me every life's second is a gift from God , so we must value it being a better person every day and doing good actions in  humanity's benefit , besides while we live in this world is important to trace goals and to strive for getting them .

  Something Sergio really objects to is people that makes relationships just for fun , also chracteristics that   Sergio dislikes in people are: false or liers , on the other hand  he really admires sociable people.One of his greatest ambition is to make someone feels the most valuable for him. 

 The words that sums up Sergio from my point of view are:  a stable and humble person , he keeps a possitive attitude even in troubles , however  he wishes he were more emotional strong sometimes.             
I consider  he has a spiritual personality which makes him to think more in solutions that in obstacles, he prefers simple things , in small details he can find realization , for example in questions related trips he only thought in spending  a good time with friends or family without taking care about superficial or material things around him, actually his most treasured possession is health. 

Elga C.

Comments of Excelsior (Jean Carlo`s Planet)

I think in Excelsior its inhabitants are more like Martians, because their actions are focus in material achievements , they`re concerned in standing out in  the society , as long as they`re powerful and better than others ones. 


However people in Excelsior share characteristics  with Venus like: generosity, courtesy and friendship, these  are just some similarities with Sunrise , but at the same time they`re different in values , for example they`re riskier than Venusians because they can do whatever thing to reach their objectives, moreover Sunrise`s inhabitants effort to get goals but more carefully avoiding risks, another difference is that even in Excelsior people value communication they wouldn´t  prefer  to share  feelings , Venusians feel al lot of satisfaction when someone listens  them , in fact is much more important than achieving success. 


I could visit Excelsior for some weeks , but not to spend a long time there , first days I´ll have a lot of fun with them :  playing games , going out  to watch movies, and learning each others about our preferences and thoughs , but after some days possibly I`ll start getting tired  about the strong competence and fights for superficial things, so I´ll need to come back to Sunrise,  for feeling more harmony, and living a simple life.


I don`t know anything about Star Wars , so I don`t have oppinions related it.


Bye,


Elga .