The Last

The first day will arrive soon when I start to remember those days ago, when I used to walk to UW, remember the streets, my neighborhood, downtown, home works, well … home works not at all. Well, in fact, the homework it was our life, the kernel of our learning in UW joined with our fabulous teachers.

Speaking about the teachers, they were the core of our learning, because they guided us not only in the pronunciation or grammar, but also with the spark to enjoy a class that become into a party, the learning party. Our friends, that we already knew here was another important part of the party.

The last day, the first day, depending of the point of view, as we talked in classroom. This is the end of the course and the beginning of our commitment with our students and our colleagues.

Each one of my partners in my class have been part of my life. It is amazing for me to see how they enjoy the whole course. Was a soft group, talking about the environment in class. There were not that kind of hard people. Of course, there were one or two, but it did not affect at all our smile in the group. I do not say that was a perfect group and we are great friends. No, but I can say that I met very good professionals in education, well educated. I learned from them, a lot, and as I use to do when I go congress or courses in my university, I am going to apply something that I got from them.

Thank you my partners for your experience. Thank you my teacher for her wisdom. Thank you to the staff of UW, for your facilities, your support and help. Above all, for the smile they use to have. Perhaps someday was not good, or one person was not good, but they continued until the last, with us. Thank you all of the people are reading this words, because you gave me an important lesson in my life and for my life. As I heard in one lecture: freedom for life, and your experience give me more tools to continue walking free.

This is the last post in my course. It will come the first post of my first day after this big party in my first English course. This is the last and the beginning of the next one.

3rd Conversation and Vocabulary Journal

This Sunday I did not go to the church, located in 8th Av W. It was so delicious morning, raining, cold and I fell asleep too late. So, I said to myself: not today.

After the breakfast, I decide to walk around my neighborhood and I found a church. Something like Unitarian Church. I did not know what kind of it was, but I decided to get in. The speech was very instructive.

At the end of the meeting, coffee and tea were expecting the people and, of course, I took a cup of tea and some cookies.  I met a writer and a computer engineer. It was interesting what they told me. The woman writer told me that much kind of believers go to that church: Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Christians, atheist as her, etc. By the way, now, agnostics like me. That was very interesting because in my country I do not know a place where are joined a variety of churches.

The second person that I met told me he works in an enterprise that manufacture hard disks. The amazing thing is the amount of data that can be saved. They work in the Cloud and can build a cluster with 144 nodes, with 64 hard disks each, with five terabytes each hard disk. Come on! That makes 46080 terabytes or 46 petabytes! Just a little bit of bits.

Fremont/ Ballard Locks

Fremont is place located in the west of Seattle. Is an intercultural place that congregate painting, music, dncing, that form the art of this neighborhood. Something attractive to see is a concrete sculpture of a troll. It is enormous and is located in a street under a bridge. It’s look like a big lion or a big cartoon.

Now, I want to speak about a place that I liked a little bit more and that is Ballard Locks. I say a little bit more, because I prefer natural places. The Ballard Locks are look like Panama Locks but much smaller. Well, the fact is that when I saw the big Locks it was amazing, the high wall and the enormous “doors” that open and close to permit crossing ships. They were closed because were in maintenance. Some workers were at the bottom of the canal and I could see some birds, I do not know what kind, but they were eating something like fishes.

The next stop was to watch some salmons and at last, only one was swimming nearby. I think it was enough.  So, I still walking and I realized that the water has two different levels. The lake is above 4 or 5 meters than seawater. Is surprising to observe this difference and make questions like: what would happen if the locks do not close sometime or accident occurs with the locks. But is better do not have that kind of imagination.

I forgot to say that, there are another two locks that were working and I have the opportunity to see how a little ship crossed from the lake to the sea. Very interesting the engineering view.

Finally, we went back to the UW, but, before that, I ate a delicious hamburger, very delicious hamburger, so, I have arrived happy to UW to next conference.

The Burke Museum and Bainbridge

This is a museum but with comfortable rooms, nice exposition, but something that I liked very much, was the talk to children. There were a woman talking to a group of 8 – 10 kids about history of Seattle. The point is that the kids were making questions to the speaker, listening and questioning again. The woman was so funny, that I stayed there listening.

It is always interesting to know how it was the development of the human been. The tools they manufactured to hunting, the clothes and some cooking artefacts is the trace of our intelligence, the point of difference between human race and the other animals on earth.

Some part of the development of Seattle were the mountains and the ice above them. The thaw of the icebergs come into the formation of the lakes. One of the fishes more abundant is salmon. In fact, this is one of the motors of the economy of Seattle or at least, is one of the products that is recognized from Seattle. In the Pike Place Market I had the opportunity to taste it.

The second place that I want to talk is Bainbridge. It is an island and it is necessary to take a Ferry. This is was the more exciting experience ever! To feel the cold air, see the waves, stay on the deck of the ship, walk inside the ship, all of these things were a new experience.

We walked through the town and we arrived to an ice cream store. I asked for an ice cream yogurt and wow! It was delicious. My partners have bought another flavor that they have shared me but it was so sweet that I preferred my own. Although it was so sweet flavor, I recommend this place and to walk across the town, visit the museum, the restaurants and the streets that have a beautiful view.

Finally, when we came back to the city at 17:30 was awesome. Now, the cold was more intense, but fun. To close the day, the pictures that we already took were for postal: see all the lights of Seattle City was a magic spectacle.

6th Blog Entry Cultural Activity on the week-end of 11/14

This weekend, my partners and me, went some places to downtown. The first place is somewhere close to a lake. It has no name, but is the way to Bainbridge Island. We arrived there in bus route number one. It is amazing to see big ships anchored in some point on the lake. So quiet, so enormous. Well, there were others little ships too. Those ships where anchored in the bay. My friends and I keep walking and decided take the same bus number route. The next stop was Space Needle.

When we arrived and walk under the big structure, it was look like an UFO. We already have seen this building when we travel to another place, but no so close. We found many tourist that were going down and other going up to de Space Needle. It is always, an impressive vision on the sky. To observe the other buildings and see theirs roofs is a space emotion. Below the Space, there are some places to by souvenirs and I got some clothes and cups. Later we decided to enter in a food area. There were not only food, but some trimmings a one-rail station and a stand for tourists.

We bought a one-way ticket and arrived to Westlake Station. A whole world inside. Food, clothes, logic toys, souvenirs and so much food, but I only remember Chinese food. We bought more clothes in a store that have offers. Later, we found a Japanese store at 1.5 dollars. It is a big store with many small products. We bought something too. We have made many buying’s this weekend.

Finally, we were hungry, so, we went back to UW to eat in the MacMahon Hall. It was a delicious fish with potatoes and water. When we finished our meal, we went back to home. It was a great day!

Second conversation and Vocabulary Journal

In this week, I met a student of the University of Washington, on one corner of the streets of the Settle city. I have learned some affairs about how student get a bachelor. That was something I could not understand but now I got it.

The student told me about the first two years in the college. They can study the signatures they want, focuses of course, in the career they have been thinking of.  In the last two years, they have to take the specific subjects of the career, they had chosen.  In México we call that “common core” but they had to choose a career. In the first year the student share foundation subjects. But since the second year, they according their own career, they take specific subjects. For example in engineering careers, all of them study calculus, trigonometry, algebra, etc.

The surprised thing for me is that they can take different kind of subjects. The point is get certain amount of the credits. So when they decide for one, they will complete them and will get a bachelor in arts or in since Ba or Bs. But if they pretend to be a doctor in medicine or a layer I have to study more years

Class interviews with native speakers

            It was so interesting to hear various kind of tones. Men, women, old, young, teachers, etc. I remember that my team and I went with an engineer that works in electronics. His voice was clear but not too louder as I use to listen people on streets.

The second one was a speaker as loud as I usually hear. In fact, he was the louder speaker, he have spoken as hard that I understood that that was his passion in life: talk. Each question that we made him, got an answer strong and it was very good and so exciting that I make the interview almost with the same emotion. Of course, not too loud as he use to do.

The third one was a businessman that has nor so loud nor so soft voice. It was a clear voice so, that I was able to understand him mostly of he answered, about our questions.

Something in common of all of them was that they used to drink milk with cereal. One of them, a Caucasian people, liked to eat a lot of hamburgers and another one that has Mexican roots, use to eat rice, beans, the usual that we eat at home.

Nowadays, they usually prepare their own food or his wives cook and they bring it at job. Something fun is that many of them to like the Asian food and no many have eaten real Mexican food.

Coffee shop visit

The travel to the cafe on University Book Library, had a good flavour. The fact that we can see a lot of flavors, but above all, the comfortable place invite us to take a sit and enjoy a cup of coffee. The girl that attended us was son nice, at the beginning she has seen us with surprise, but when we told her about our homework she smiled and answered each question. She told us that the pumpkin flavor is the current favorite one for many people. On summer, is the cold coffee, but there, I asked for that one, because, I like to drink cold beverages in cold weather. So it was so perfect for me. Well, when is hot weather, I do not ask for heat beverages, just cold.

One partner asked for another one like latte. The funny thing is that on the coffee it was drown a figure. It is interesting to see, how the girl form them.

I learned that the experts in drinking coffee do not add sugar and they ask for espresso. Even,  they ask two shots!

Across the street I saw different cafes and perhaps, the environment invites to enter. Of course, the aroma that I can perceive and the place, will invite me to enter and enjoy a delicious black beverage

Mohai Museum

In the Mohai Museum I already had a good experience knowing some history about Seattle foundations. From reborn the city, the trains, guns and some other thing. I liked the place, was comfortable and I discovered some things about technology. Bezos center is inside too and it is amazing how simple things become in great things. The computer that follow objects is amazing. I have seen this before with Kinect game. It follows the body of the gamers.

Part of the area is surrounded by a lake, some boats and, in that day it was cloudy! In addition, it was raining and it made a lot of wind. So hard than it moves to us. All this things make feel terrific!

The point that Bezos, the Amazon CEO, put his part of his earnings is some thing that make me think and make, that the human been can be able to give what is in his reach.

The Veterans Day

This special day in USA, is a little hard for me. I saw that in this country is a special day for all the soldiers that gave their lives for their country. It is hard because some close friends passed away recently some few weeks ago. Just one week before come to Seattle. Every day when I walking to classes I use to walk beside a cemetery and I see a very interesting culture, because I see a comfortable place where the family say good-bye to their familiar that had passed away. There is no such amount of flowers that is be used in Mexico. Just the label of what he/she did alive. Some phrase to remember him/her ever.

It was recently a funeral and can be seen the land. Just it is a moment, a brief moment. In fact, I cannot see the hard moment of the family, but it is look like if they have to be strong and hard. It is a different culture, and so interesting.

The Ave

The Av is the shiniest street for students, because we can find food, books and where to waste our spare time. I already have seen Vietnamese Restaurant, Chinese, Indian, Thailand, Mexican chili bar and, of course, local food. But, I have seen, too, clothes, souvenir and books! I got into a vietnamese restaurant and I asked for something strange for me, but I thought "let's try". The mostly of the ingredients, I already know them, but some of them, I do not! I didn't want to ask about it and I prefered to maintain in secret. 

For people that want to get fun, they can buy sport clothes or simple wear a nice jacket, pant or sweeter. There are some stores, that can sell new ones, but I knew some store known as Second Hand. They sell used clothes by other people, but there are some products is a very good condition. Some of them are not so good. The price are lower that the new one, but in my experience is…that I have no experience buying clothes or shoes in second hand. It a little weird to see a local well settled.

One interesting place to visit is the University Book Store. We can find not only books, but also authors speaking about their book. This is amazing activity for me, because in my country I ever seen this before, even in Gandhi or Sótano de Coyoacán. Perhaps it happens, but not with the quantity of presentations here: more than 400 hundred.

Autobiography

My name is Juan Carlos. I was born on June 22th, 1971. It was the first day of that summer. It was raining at the midday when I gave my first shout in my life. Of course, there have been a lot since that moment.  For happiness or sadness. For success or fail. For good or bad.

Today after 4 decades, there is no a big difference when I was just one year old. I cry for health and I just doing the same. Perhaps at the beginning of my life, I did not know what I want to be but one thing is sure, I wanted to enjoy each moment and food. To play and to eat. That is one thing that through the years I have been doing for around 47000 times and I still enjoy.

In elementary school, I was an easy boy, relaxed and very simple. When I wanted something, simply I do it. If I could not I ask for that thing and if there was no possible to get it, I turn around and keep going on with another thing. My older brother was my best friend when I was a little boy. He cared me for many times and he thought me to cross the street, to clean my nose.

When I arrived to the university, there were a big decision where to study, what career to take. In high school, the decision was simple: wait the mail that tells us that we can go to study at UNAM. So, the mail arrived at home and I got the new that I wanted to hear. I got to enter to study the CCH and started a new period in my academic life. In my house, I suppose that they were happy but I do not know exactly.

After many years and two universities, I finally finish a career: Ingeniero en Sistemas Computacionales and I started to work giving classes in high school and in a consulting.

Time comes, I got married and after some things happened. Wright ow I have two beautiful babies. My max treasure in my life.

That’s in general what I am. 

Knowing Seattle

One of the shortest things I'm doing is sleeping. There are so many things what to do. Knowing the neiborhood, libraries, streets and lakes.

 

The vital thing in our lives is food so we discovered the "old" food that we do not use to eat, but here, we redicover.

Know new ways, gates to help our partner to arrive at home. Is team work.

The house of the knowledge is part of our tour in this adventure

When was going to imagine to see the place dedicated to staphylococus auris and streptococus mutans in a Street? So I put part of mine, here: the bubble gum street.

And the campus a little far from UDistrict, but  a comfortable place. The Bothell campus

Water, water and water the source of life, or at least part indispensable for it.

And of course the place for big parties: a museum of the Innovation. 

In this place it takes a crazy parties: the American Football with the SeaHawks. In fact, they won the SuperBowl 2014. 

I have seen a strange yellow object in the sky. Finally, after four days, I could wear my sun glasses.

Arriving to Seatle

Learning is an adventure and I came to Seattle for an English party. I had some problems with the flights and it took more than 5 hours to arrive to Seattle, but finally I got it.

The weather is incredible for me. Every morning until now I walk or run in the mornings and I feel like a bird. Is so light that is different from my country. There I feel heavier than here. I love to walk and found places to visit.

The cost is more expensive than my country, but I found some foreign food to discover flavor and prices.

This is the street where I live. It is so great to run in this neighborhood.

And this is one of the most representative buildings of th University of Washington. Its arquitecture is classic and the halls surronded by garden are exquisite to walk and to study too.

The street of our neighborhood invite us to walk and run. This Tecamac to arrived in Seattle. It was going to be a photo, but it became in a short video.