One year on the other side of the world... MEXICO 2011/12

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VOL. 24 No 33. February 2012
THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE MAGAZINE
LE MAGAZINE DE LANGUES ÉTRANGÈRES
One year on the other side of the world...
MEXICO 2011/12
By Lea Fleck
Hello
my name is Lea Katharina Fleck and I am 16
years old. I live with my parents and my 17 year old
sister in Germany. I will live in Mexico for one year since
I am an exchange student. If you asked why I came to
Mexico I would say I have some Mexican friends in Germany and they told me a lot of things about Mexico. I
was fascinated about everything and then I told the Rotaries that I wanted to go to Mexico and now here I am.
I started my adventure on August 5, I said “goodbye”
to my family and friends and flew with 50 other
exchange students to Mexico. I was really nervous.I slept one night in Mexico City and the following day I
flew to Tampico. This was the moment I knew there was no turning back.My host family was at airport
waiting for me, my new family. My host dad, my host mum, my host brother and my host sister. They all
welcomed me warmly and then we went to dinner. Many people wanted to speak with me in Spanish, and
the first time I didn’t understand anything; I just smiled, and said “si si si” and nodded my head.
About the food I can say that it’s Delicious. I think it’s the best food in the world and I am not
exaggerating at all. It’s so different from the German food though. In Germany we eat a lot of fish, rice and
pasta. We eat a lot of food from Italy and Turkey. Here in Mexico people eat a lot of tortillas, meat, frijoles
and tortas, but candies from Germany are BETTER. I like to go out and eat with my family or friends because
I like people from Mexico! They are so different, too!. Mexicans are really open and warm. They have a big
heart. They are interested in you, in your culture and in your country.
“Hello welcome to YOUR home” is a normal sentence here when I visit my friends. In Germany I never
hear it! I love my friends in Mexico and I think we will be friends for ever.On Christmas I didn’t fly back to
Germany. I was here with my host family and we celebrated a typical Mexican Christmas. In the night of
December 24, we made a delicious dinner, and at 00.00 o clock we said to everybody “Merry Christmas” and
exchanged presents. It was only a little present but I know it came from their heart. We talked and talked
and then we went to bed.
On December 25 we ate together, and later in the afternoon we went to church. For most Mexicans, the
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family is really an important issue. Sundays are a
family day. Families here in Mexico tend to be big And
the families are big with more than 20 members , and
I like this very much. My family in Germany consists of
10 people. I am happy to know I now have a second
family here in Mexico If I ever feel homesick.
I think I don’t want to go back because I really like
Mexico/ Tampico. Mexico and Germany are so
different. Like black and white. I told you a little bit
about my experience, but I can tell more and more and
more in a future article.
The Foreign Language Major
By Elisa Sierra
Two years ago, before I came to study at the IEST University, I had been
enrolled in culinary arts major here in Tampico. I was learning a lot of useful
things but I was dissatisfied with how the school managed itself and I had
some issues with school politics. I felt that I didn’t belong there; I was not in
the right place. Around the same time, I had a job at a coffee shop which I
enjoyed quite a lot. My job provided a bit of distraction from the frustration I
felt with my cooking school; however, I had to close shop every night, which
left me with few hours of sleep… I ended up being really tired.
One night, after a peculiarly bad day at school and really annoying day at
work, I was driving back home and I stopped at a red light on Avenida Universidad. I looked around to see a pretty much deserted street when a billboard caught my attention. The
IEST was advertising their new major, a bachelor in foreign languages. As corny as it may sound, I felt like a
huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I had been waiting for a sign, a shove from destiny, anything;
and there it was.
The next day I called up my friend who was studying psychology at the IEST and I asked him to gather
some information for me while I was at school. He showed up at the coffee shop during my shift and gave
me all the information I needed. I phoned the IEST and I asked about the entrance examination. I finished
my 4th semester in culinary arts and then I quit. I was sad to let go of the people I’d met there and my routine but relieved that the self-torture was over. I said good bye to my old life and was ready for a new beginning. I left for a summer in Vancouver, Canada and after 2 months I came back, ready for university.
Six semesters later, I can say switching majors was the best decision I’ve ever made. In foreign languages,
I feel like there are many opportunities to grow, so much to learn and so much work to do. I’ve learned how
languages have changed and evolved, I learned how literature is affected by social issues and dramatic
events, I learned about the history of Ireland. It has also given me the opportunity to travel to France, meet
wonderful people and learn how school systems work around the world.
Of course the school has things with which I disagree, but the major in foreign languages has more positive things than negative. I still have two more years to go and my expectations are high. I’m sure this major
won’t let me down.
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THE EXPERIENCE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
By Gerardo Cavazos
I remember perfectly that day when Miss Maria told me that I
was part of the team that would go to Oaxaca to participate in
the Anahuac Contest. I was very proud but also confused because I wasn’t expecting that opportunity in that moment.
What did I have to do? Well I had to be prepared for the contest with Mr. Braham´s help. He taught me the different ways
in which I could enhance my abilities to recite my poem and to
be prepared for the new challenge I would go through.
We traveled from Tampico to Mexico City and from Mexico
City to Oaxaca. It was a short flight but the distance was a lot. I
have to confess that it was my first trip without my parents,
because we always travel as a family.
In Oaxaca, we spent time practicing and receiving hints from
the teachers that helped us at all times. The best part of the
entire hotel and the trip was the buffet. It was a paradise mixed
with a utopia for the mouth; I had the opportunity of eating
food from a city that has different types of cuisine.
We competed and the results came at the end of the competitions. The most incredible thing that I could expect was that I
would be finalist in my category. I was very proud but I knew I couldn’t take it for granted, I had to keep on
practicing because the final would be the following day.
In the final, I know I did the best I could and I didn’t worry about the results or anything else because I
knew that the satisfaction of being in the final and having an experience like this couldn’t be compared with
anything else.
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Test the level of English you have by
taking the TOEIC exam here at IEST.
Contact Coordinación de Idiomas for
further information on our Abril 20
scheduled TOEIC exam.
Don´t let this chance pass you by.
Registration finishes 2 weeks before
the exam. So hurry up!
By High School Student
Lily Karen Hernandez
Let me introduce myself, my name is Lily Karen,
I´m 18 years old, and 3 years ago, I went to the
most wonderful country that my eyes could see...
China. I remember that day when I was getting
ready, packing my suitcase, I couldn’t believe that the
next, I would be in Beijing.
It was July 7 2008 at 5:00 o’clock am, I was in the
airport waiting for the plane that would take us, my
mom and I to Mexico City. Once we reached Mexico´s
Airport, things went wrong.
Supposedly a man from the travel agency would
give us our passports, but we never found him. After
3 hours, he showed up. We ran to catch our flight to
Washington, but we couldn’t make it. I started crying
in front of all the people in charge of the airline but
luckily we were booked in a flight to San Francisco.
I arrived to San Francisco, very late at night and it
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was very cold. We slept in the airport because my mom didn’t want to take the chance in going out and
looking for a hotel. The following morning I was very tired I really was, but I was impatient too because finally the next day I would be in China. It was 11 am, time to board our next American Airlines
flight. I sent the last text message to my uncle telling him we were about to take off. It was amazing
when I saw the sun on one side of the cabin and the night on the other side. Beijing´s Airport was both
huge and beautiful with a lot of people from all over the world, waiting in lines to be admitted through
the immigration booths. When we finally were admitted into the country of course after hours of waiting, we went to fetch our luggage. No one speaks English; it was great our guide knew English. She
was in charge of taking us to the hotel where we would be staying.
I went to six different cities: the first one was Beijing, and I went to visit the “Forbidden City”, “The
Chinese Wall”, “The Terracotta Army”, “Tea House”, “Barrio Chino”, I visited a sanctuary, and learned
about the Buddhist culture. On the following days, the guide took us to a black market and then to a
house that showed how pearls were made. We also had the chance to visit the silk house, where I saw
all the worms dissected.
Talking about food, I remember I ate duck which I didn´t like at all. Breakfast in China is served between 7:00 – 10:00 am o´clock, lunch at 12:00-14:00 pm, and dinner at 5:00 pm. In every meal herbal
tea is always poured. I will never forget the “beautiful” toilets, which are just holes on the floor. China
is a smelly place and we faced very hot days with almost 45°C. My mother and I drank like 7 bottles of
water a day.
The hotels were big, I have to mention that there was a lion in almost all the hotel buildings because
it represents the “fortune and luck”. I could see a much polluted country. There were a lot of people
riding bicycles I went to Hong Kong and everything changes in smells and currencies. Yeans are used in
china but in Hong Kong, Hong Kong dollars are used. Hong Kong is like a New York City but the difference is that people have slanted eyes.
Hong Kong is very expensive. On July 23, I was finally back in my beautiful city called Tampico. My
trip to China was an experience, a lot of unforgettable moments that I shared with my mom. It was the
first time that I saw a panda face to face .The first time I rode on a ferryboat, the first time I saw a
huge paradise of people and buildings, the first time I learned about a different life style, a different
culture, the first time a dream of mine came true…
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By High School Student
Julieta Martens
I wonder if you got some sleep
I´m sure you haven´t
Your night passed away
And you didn´t even notice it
Once again I stare at the clock
It is almost time for him to be gone
I grab the keys,
I might run away.
Run to the airport
Before you walk away.
But maybe you really didn´t want me to be there.
Maybe you didn´t want to see me once again
For last time
Face to face.
You´ll sigh and I´ll cry
What can I say
I´m fragile, I can´t lie.
I tried to be strong
But I just can´t Once again I stare at the clock
It's almost time for him to be gone
I grab the keys
I might run away
Drive to the airport
Before you walk away.
It was faith
´Cause I won´t see you walk away
I will meet you once again
I´m sure, I swear
Once again, for God´s sake
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Text and pictures by Alfredo Castillo
Sometimes we are afraid, we wake up with fear on our skin because we don’t want to open our eyes and
realize we have to leave our cozy bed and face life out there one more time. We are afraid of the stupid
alarm clock which will start ringing loudly any minute, laughing as it reminds us we´ve got to fight another
battle.
Staying in bed is something we should do from time to time, but then again the clock tortures us with its
striking because we put the alarm off for another five more minutes and time is up. To make matters even
worse, the alarm from the cell phone backs up the clock in its determination and desire to get me out of
bed; and as soon as I am on my feet, the memory of my classes crosses my mind, the pile of students´
books I haven’t reviewed, the articles I haven’t translated for Collage and some other things still pending for
the day.
It´s funny, but I sometimes think of the years I lived at my parents´ place. You can´t sleep in a house full
of people, because people make noise, and you can´t sleep in an empty house either because you miss people. We can´t go to bed early because we believe the day finishes when it wants to finish, not when we
want it to be finished. We can’t sleep until late because there is a chance that things that couldn’t happen
the day before may happen and we would not forgive ourselves for having missed magical events, drooling
on our pillows deep in our sleep. Sleeping late has no prestige anymore, as our dear Angeles Mastretta
wrote in her book “Un Mundo Iluminado”. “That´s why we travel when we are yearning for danger and adventure”.
So I don’t have any other choice but to leave my comfortable bed. I take a shower, get dressed, eat some
cereal and off I drive to work. On my way to school, I tune into a Mexico City radio station whose anchor
man says that mankind has lost the ability to believe, that we no longer trust one another. As I continue to
listen to numbers, and more theories about the same topic, I ask if I should consider myself one of those
people in the mentioned figures, if I am a guy who is a nonbeliever and has forgotten to believe. I am
scared to finally realize that I may have lost the gift of believing in miracles, in people, and in small ordinary
things.
I still believe, as many others who haven’t lost faith in dreams, in things that are not talked about in
newspapers or magazines. I think that it is allowed to carry on believing after all. No matter what they say.
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I still believe in my mother´s ancient remedies and recipes for curing my soul and also for curing a severe
cold.
I still believe in the future, although it may seem hazy at times.
I still believe in the sea, in its waves, and in its strange sounds to soothe me when my life is upside down.
I still believe in the closeness of our loved ones who have already departed from this world. In their spirits
who shelter me whenever I call them to comfort me.
I still believe that sometimes it is ok to shed some tears although I may have cried out all the tears I kept for
future sad days.
I still believe in loves that haven’t arrived yet, in the memories to help you light up your way.
I still believe there´s no one I´d rather listen to but Eugenia Leon when my soul and heart are troubled.
I still believe in my beautiful Angeles Mastretta´s and some other writers ´written words, always found when
I most need them.
I still believe in amulets and charms that I myself make and in the good luck I can get if I throw a coin into a
fountain.
I believe in my mother as much as I believed in my dad, in the love of my brothers, sisters and loved ones.
I believe in fate and in whatever it may bring.
I still believe in my few good-hearted friends whom I cherish a lot.
I still believe in my dad, who sitting on a blue star, opens and clears my horizons when uncertainty, anxiety
and doubts haunt at times.
I still believe in Tampico because I was born here and I deeply love it.
I still believe in Mexico no matter what.
I still believe in the little turtle dove that nests in the corner of our porch at home, bringing us joy every time
we see her back.
I still believe in every sunset my eyes happen to see.
I still believe in chills warning me about something not good.
I still believe in cars, trains, airplanes, rockets, and anything that takes me far away but, most important of
all , I believe in God. I guess I am not one of those guys included in those statistics I heard today.
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by Mónica Mar
It was just another hot and sunny day under New Mexico's sky, not too many people live here, only a few
who have a good reason to stay; like me. The reason is that I don’t have elsewhere to go. In fact I never
felt the desire to discover the world, New Mexico is my world; my father died when I was just fourteen years
old, since then I was in charge of everything in the ranch, too much responsibility for such a young boy, but
I liked how it made me feel, I felt the king of the world, so powerful and unbreakable. Well, at least that was
what I thought. Mike and I were returning home from a hard day of work when we saw a little and trembling figure moving across the road, we distinguished that it was a young woman almost dragging, screaming something we couldn't hear.
-“What are you waiting for? Let's go help her”. I told my brother who was still looking at the poor young lady
with surprise. We ran down the hill as fast as we could, I was faster than him so I got there first, looked at
the girl, and noticed her skin was tanned by the sun and she looked exhausted, but that made her shy eyes
shine even more.
-“Excuse me, are you okay?” I asked as I took her by the shoulder. She said nothing and kept on walking.
-“Are you lost?” I tried once again. “Can I help you?”
This time she turned around, her expression was of sadness and fear for what was about to come. I got lost
in her look, maybe because I recognized that feeling very well, it was the same I had when I knew of my
father’s death.
-“Penny” She muttered in despair. I knew she meant more, she wanted to tell me everything she had gone
through, she was about to hold me when Mike appeared, the moment we shared was lost.
-“Mom has seen everything; she suggested we take our new guest to the house” Mike said politely while approaching, spellbound by her beauty. We walked towards the house where mom was waiting; a wet towel in
her right hand and a glass of water in the other, she got tired of waiting and ran to meet us. -“Oh poor creature!” She exclaimed, rubbing her face with the towel “Please come to house, you need clean clothes, as well
as food and water”.
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-“You are very kind but…” Mom didn´t even let
her speak; she took her to the bathroom, gave her
some of clothes and set the table. We hadn’t had
visitors for a long time. When the girl came out
she walked timidly wearing a casual flowered
dress and boots, she sat at the table, thanked my
mother and started eating. We joined her, because we hadn’t eaten either.
She noticed we
were all looking at her with expectation so she
spoke: -“Sorry, I haven't introduced myself” She
made a little pause “…My name is Julia Price” “A pleasure to meet you” Spoke Mike “I’m Michael Fisher, he’s
my brother Jonah and my mother Sarah” We smiled at her and she smiled back.
-“Now tell me dear”, my mom said after taking a sip of coffee, “Why were you screaming in the middle of the
road and walking with no direction?” Mike and I looked at each other, as if it had been the million dollar
question!
-“I…I…” Julia stammered, she was really trying to find the words, perhaps it was something very painful for
her. I covered her hand with mine and said softly “It’s alright, you don’t have to explain anything”
She just smiled and placed her other hand gently over mine. “But I want to” she murmured. Then she spoke
up without hesitation.-“You have been very kind to me, so you deserve to know the truth”. She cleaned her
throat and continued. “My parents died three years ago in a car accident, since then I have taken care of my
younger sister Penny, she is ten years old", she took a deep breath, "Things at the beginning were not easy
for us, I left school and started working as a cashier in a supermarket, they paid me very little but it was
enough to survive. This morning we went walking around the park as we usually do, we stopped to drink water, I turned to take out the bottles but when I turned back I saw a big bald man with tattooed arms, who
was putting Penny into a car, he finally managed to run away with her. I ran and ran but suddenly I lost
sight of the car. I kept walking, and walking, trying to find the trace of my sister’s kidnapper, I won’t give up,
I assured you that, until I find something that takes me to them. Thanks a lot for your hospitality but I’m
afraid it is time for me to go”. I stood in one leap “You can’t go!” I cried; she jumped, concerned by my reaction.-“Not without us” I added.
Julia’s eyes were filled with joy; my mother nodded in a sign of approval and my brother was ready to join
me; we felt the need to help her; my mission from now was to find Penny and put her safe, I wasn’t coming
back without her. Quickly we hopped into the car and started our exhaustive search, we drove through the
park where Penny Price was last seen but found nothing. We followed the route of the kidnapper and drove
for hours and hours until dark. The girl could be anywhere! Discouraged, we were ready to go back home,
when a big man riding a motorcycle passed next to us. Could it be him? We didn’t think it twice and went
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after him, trying not to raise any suspicion. The man stopped at a roadside motel. Without making any noise
we also stopped and watched him closely as he entered, carrying what it seemed a black and heavy bag.
-“It’s him, I’m sure!” Julia cried “Please stop him” she begged us.
Mike was about to open the door but I stopped him. “Not yet” I replied.
-“Why not?” Mike asked “He is right here in front of our eyes, it’s time to act, or it will be too late for Penny”
-“We should stay for the night here and find more evidence” I argued.
Mike went to the reception and asked for a room, at the same time he observed the bald man with closeness, apparently he was owner of the motel and lived in the back part of the reception; Mike said the receptionist was her wife and that he took out many toys of the black bag he carried.
-“What kind of toys?” Julia asked -“I don’t know…balls, dolls, a tea set…” Mike answered.
-“Fine Mike, what else did you see?”
-“Mmm…” He rubbed his chin. “The man was eating a sandwich while I asked for a room, then he took one
to the back as well as a glass of milk”. -“That means he is feeding someone, someone he keeps in the back
part of the house, it could be Penny” I deduced.
I had to find out what was going on. Mike and I planned to enter the room the next day, liberate Penny and
put that man into jail. We waited until he went out, his wife would be distracted by Julia, she was clearly
nervous, but I calmed her, saying she would do it fine and that all would go according to the plan, she
hugged me and this took me by surprise. Then she murmured:
-“I never thanked you…for believing me” I couldn’t understand what she meant, she disappeared from my
sight before I could ask so I walked through the small hut where Mike was already in; he had disarmed the
lock, and we entered, going directly to the back room, there was no time to lose. When we reached the back
room we heard whining; Mike forced the lock again but this time it took him longer. Suddenly we heard
steps, someone was approaching and there was nowhere to hide, it was him. “Get out of there right now or
I’ll call the police!” He shouted, shaking furiously -“It’s not necessary, we already call them” I lied “Give us
the girl back!” -“You got the wrong guy my friend, she is my daughter!” he replied -“Why do you kept her
lock then?” Mike said raising an eyebrow -“I don’t have to explain you anything, but since you insist so much
I’ll show you then”…He opened the door. In front our eyes an eight-year-old girl lying in her bed with a red
nose and a thermometer in her mouth. -“Who are these people, daddy?” the little girl asked
-“Just a pair of confused guys” He said while escorting us out, we were ashamed and surprised, we didn't
know what to say. Julia owed us some answers. Outside we met the man’s wife, Julia wasn’t with her. We
explained them everything and said we were sorry. -“Your friend left a while ago, but before that she said
Penny was finally free”.
She would always be a mystery for me, I don’t know if Penny Price exists or existed, if she was just scattered
images in my puzzled mind, if it was a part of her life that she couldn’t let go, I don’t know and I will probably never know, but I like it this way, at least I know she is now free and that’s all that matters.
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María Emilia Rodriguez Vallejo
Il était une fois, une petite fille qui s’appelait Adèle. Adèle avait
un lien profond avec la nature et aimait passer la plupart de son
temps dans le jardin. Elle s’amusait, elle courrait, elle jouait…
Adèle se voyait comme une partie du jardin… c’était là qu’elle se
sentait vivante. Le jardin était très beau, avec des pommiers, des
orangers, des poiriers et des rosiers magnifiques…
Adèle était l’amie de tous, mais, il y avait un arbre en particulier qui attirait son attention. Il ne parlait jamais à personne. C’était un saule très solitaire, et il avait l’air fâché. Donc, un jour,
Adèle a décidée de parler avec lui. Timide, mais courageuse en même
temps, elle s’est approchée.
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«Salut», dit le saule… Adèle était surprise, mais elle était aussi touchée par la manière avec laquelle il avait
parlé… il avait l’air très triste. « Qu’est-ce qu’il se passe ? » Elle lui a demandé.
« Je suis confondu » le saule a répondu … Mais, Adèle n’avait pas idée pourquoi il était confondu… pour elle,
c’était un arbre grand et solide, mais surtout spécial… comme aucun arbre.
« Mais, pourquoi es-tu confondu? » Lui a demandé Adèle … « D’accord…je vais te dire mais tu ne peux le
dire à personne », et le saule a commencé à s’exprimer : Adèle, je ne sais pas qui je suis…je regarde partout
dans le jardin et je vois que tous les autres ont de beaux fruits et de belles fleurs…mais moi, je n’ai rien ; Je
ne sais pas quoi faire pour porter ces fruits et ces fleurs. Je suis désespéré ».
C’est en ce moment qu’Adèle a compris que le saule était timide… il n’était pas méchant.
La seule chose qu’il voulait c’était de se sentir comme les autres. Et c’était la raison pour laquelle il était toujours seul… il croyait qu’il n’était pas spécial et il pensait que le reste du jardin pensait la même chose.
« Pourquoi penses-tu que tes qualités physiques sont ce qu’il y a de plus important ? … Mon ami, tu dois
regarder dans ton fort intérieur…là tu trouvera des fruits et des fleurs plus précieuses… »
« Où ça Adèle ? » « Cherche, et tu vas trouver »
Dès ce jour…Adèle et le saule sont devenus amis. Ils partageaient leurs jours et ont appris beaucoup de
choses ensembles. Mais surtout, le saule a appris à voir ses qualités et les bonnes choses qu’il avait en lui.
Une jolie amitié avait commencée dans le jardin. Le saule a commencé à sourire, et à parler avec les pommiers, les orangers, les poiriers et les rosiers… il a compris qu’il ne pourrait jamais porter des fruits, ni de
fleurs, mais qu’il était unique, spécial et fort.
Le jardin entier a commencé à l’aimer, parce qu’il avait commencé à s’aimer lui même.
« Tu ne porteras jamais des pommes car tu n'es pas un pommier, ou des fleurs à chaque printemps, car tu
n'es pas un rosier. Tu es un saule, et ton destin est devenir grand et majestueux, fournir des abris pour les
oiseaux, de l'ombre pour les voyageurs, et de la beauté au paysage » ...
Sofia Eugenia Cantu
C’est l’histoire d’Amélie. Une jeune femme de 21 ans qui a
une beauté surprenante, elle était petite et mince, elle avait
des cheveux longs, roux et bouclés, les yeux verts. Amélie
habitait dans une ville au sud de la France pendant les années de la seconde guerre mondiale.
Ella habitait avec sa mère, son père et sa sœur. Elle avait
un petit copain qu’elle aimait beaucoup. Il s’appelait Jean.
Jean était grand, blanc, châtain, et avait des yeux verts. Jean
avait 24 ans, il habitait dans la même ville qu’Amélie mais
son père voulait qu’il habite avec lui dans une autre ville
dans le nord de la France. Le père de Jean avait un magasin
et il voulait que Jean l’aide à le gérer. Jean est parti au nord
de la France.
Jean voulait proposer mariage à Amélie avant son départ
mais il a préféré attendre son retour pour le faire. Il lui a promis d’envoyer une lettre par semaine. Amélie était très triste
avec le départ de son amoureux.
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Amélie à recu des lettres de Jean fréquemment jusqu’au jour où elle n’a plus recu de lettres de Jean. Elle a
pensé que Jean était mort dans la guerre. Amélie était très triste et elle a décidée de voyager à l’Inde pour
se distraire et s’éloigner de la vie dans sa ville, de sa routine. Amélie est allée en Inde en solitaire, elle s’est
hébergée dans un hôtel de style Italien. Dans l’hôtel elle a connu un jeune homme italien, très beau, grand,
blanc avec des yeux marrons qui s’appelait Marco. Marco est tombé amoureux d’Amélie dès qu’il l’a vue.
Marco était le fils du propriétaire de l’hôtel. Marco, heureusement, parlait français parce qu’il voyageait beaucoup dans le monde, il a invité à Amélie à sortir, la première fois elle n’a pas accepté. Il a insisté jusqu'à ce
qu’elle a accepté. Marco envoyait des fleurs à Amélie tous les jours à son habitation d’hôtel. Amélie est sortie avec Marco beaucoup de fois parce qu’elle voulait oublier Jean.
Amélie est retournée dans sa ville. Un jour Marco est allé à la ville d’Amélie pour lui rendre visite. Il est
retourné à l’Inde et quelques mois après il est retourné visiter Amélie et lui a proposé mariage. Elle a accepté de se marier avec Marco. Ils se sont mariés et Amélie est allée vivre avec Marco à l’Inde. Les années
sont passées et Jean est retourné dans sa ville. Il a cherché Amélie mais il a appris qu’Amélie s’était mariée
parce qu’elle pensait qu’il était mort. Elle était donc allée vivre en Inde. Jean était détruit après les nouvelles.
Pour oublier Amélie, il a décidé de se marier avec Nathalie. Nathalie a toujours été amoureuse de Jean. Ils se
sont mariés. Pendant les vacances de Noël, Amélie et Marco sont allés à la ville pour visiter la famille d’Amélie pour annoncer qu’elle était enceinte. Ici, Amélie et Jean se sont retrouvés. Amélie a vu Jean de loin, elle
a cru voir un fantôme. Elle était très confondue et elle a parlé avec sa mère, sa mère lui a dit que Jean n’était pas mort, et qu’il s’était marié avec Nathalie parce qu’elle avait épousé Marco. Amélie a cherché Jean
pour en parler.
Quand Jean a vu Amélie, il l’a prise dans ses bras, il lui a demandé pourquoi elle s’était mariée avec un autre homme, et pourquoi elle ne l’avait pas attendu. Elle lui a dit qu’elle avait attendu mais elle a cessé de recevoir des lettres et elle a pensé qu’il était mort parce qu’il avait promis d’envoyer des lettres toutes les semaines. Jean lui a dit qu’il avait envoyé des lettres toutes les semaines mais un jour elle n’a pas répondu et il
n’a plus envoyé des lettres parce qu’il a cru qu’elle ne l’aimait plus ou qu’elle avait un autre amoureux. Le
vrai problème était que la situation dans le pays était vraiment difficile et les personnes dans le bureau de
poste n’avaient pas envoyé les lettres. Ils s’aimaient encore mais la situation était très difficile pour leur relation. Les deux étaient mariés et Jean n’aimait pas Nathalie beaucoup mais Amélie aimait Marco et elle attendait un bébé. Ils ont décidé de ne plus jamais se revoir. Amélie n'est pas retournée à sa ville, et Jean a
appris à aimer Nathalie mais ils se sont toujours souvenus l’un de l’autre
A 50- something year old white woman arrived at her seat
on a crowded plane and immediately without any hesitation
expressed loudly that she didn't want to seat next to a black
man in that five-hour flight to John F. Kennedy airport in
New York City.
Disgusted, the woman summoned the
flight attendant right away and demanded a new seat. The...
woman said "I cannot sit here next to this black man."
The fight attendant looked at her closely and said " Well I
don't know, let me see if I can find another seat." After
checking, the flight attendant returned and stated "Ma'am,
there are no more seats in economy, but I will check with
the captain and see if there is something in first class."
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About 10 minutes went by and the flight attendant returned and stated "The captain has confirmed that
there are no more seats in economy, but there is one in first class. It is our company policy to never move a
person from economy to first class, but being that it would be some sort of scandal to force a person to sit
next to an UNPLEASANT person the flight attendant said, the airline will make an exception.
The captain agreed to make the switch to first class." Before the woman could say anything, the attendant
gestured to the black man and said, "Therefore sir, if you would so kindly retrieve your personal items, we
would like to move you to the comfort of first class as the captain doesn't want you to sit next to an unpleasant person." Passengers in the seats nearby began to applause while some gave a standing ovation.
If you are against racism, share this .
Which languages will I learn?
You will learn, master and become an expert in English, French
and German. You will also have the chance to take Italian or
Mandarin Chinese courses if that’s your will.
Is it only about learning languages?
No. In addition to learning languages, you will have a good grasp
of the culture, history and literature of the countries where those
languages are spoken. It is all about becoming a professional in
languages.
Is this major only for those who want to become language teachers in the future?
The general profile of the graduate of the major in Foreign Languages is that of a translator and interpreter. Even so, you’ll be
provided with the necessary tools if you are more inclined to
teaching. Chiefly, you’ll be working in the field of translation, interpretation and intercultural negotiation.
What does a translator/interpreter do?
A translator/interpreter emulates any kind of professional, being able to work in any professional field: medicine, journalism, marketing, engineering, diplomacy, administration, business, etc. A translator/interpreter
translates specialized or not specialized documents, takes part into interviews and negotiations (either
among enterprises or countries), specializes and keeps himself up-to-date in order to be an efficient work,
since it is just never enough to know the language
Where will I work?
As a graduate of the major in Foreign Languages, having both a translator/interpreter and intercultural negotiator profile and teaching skills, you’ll get a wide variety of professional opportunities:
Embassies and diplomatic representation offices: Any kind of enterprises, especially those operating in the
field of import and export. You can be employed in publishing houses, as a freelancer translating documents
or as an interpreter in congresses and conventions. There is always a chance you can be employed in new
agencies, educational institutions and advertising houses.
How well-paid is the job of a translator/interpreter?
For you to get an idea, a translator/interpreter of the United Nations can earn up to 5,000 dollars per month;
a translator/interpreter in the International Criminal Court can earn more than 80,000 dollars annually. If you
work as a freelancer, you can earn at least 3,000 pesos just by translating a 20-page-document that is not
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going to take you more than four days to translate.
Will I have the possibility to participate in exchange programs during my stay in the major of
Foreign Languages?
We firmly believe that it is more than necessary and important that all our students have a global vision of
the world and the reality as well as getting to know the culture of other countries first-hand. Therefore, it is
a requirement for the students enrolled in the major of Foreign Languages at IEST to spend a minimum of
two months abroad taking courses there (validation of subjects depends on the modality of the program you
choose, i.e. exchange programs or cultural stay). These two months may be divided into several periods.
The IEST by itself, and as a member of the Anahuac University Network- has agreements with universities
and schools from various countries: the United States, Canada, Chile, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Holland
and Sweden.
For further information, contact us at:
[email protected]
Telephone: 230 25 66 Ext. 2430
DAVID GOMEZ FUENTES
PRESIDENT
JORGE BARRON DE LA ROSA
INSTITUTO DE ESTUDIOS
SUPERIORES DE TAMAULIPAS
ACADEMIC VICEPRESIDENT
KAREN BEATON ARVES
Avenida Dr. Burton E. Grossman
LANGUAGE CENTER
501 PTE. Col. Tampico-Altamira
COORDINATOR
C.P. 89609
Altamira Tamaulipas México
ALFREDO CASTILLO
Tel. ( 833 ) 230-2566
EDITOR
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