Mosquito Coast reviewed by Vanesa N1 1B

Our third-year student Vanesa read Paul Theroux's novel The Mosquito Coast. It is also a movie (though neither Vanesa nor her teacher has seen the film-- sorry! Anyway, thanks to Vanesa for recommending this contemporary novel. It is obviously quite thought provoking.-- David)

The Mosquito Coast: Civilization versus Barbarism

Allie Fox decides to go to the jungle with his family. The idea is to leave behind the capitalism, consumerism and corruption of his country, United States. But he doesn’t know that wickedness is born with men.
He buys a village called Jeronimo, where he wants to create an independent, simple and happy life. But early on all the family –except for the father- realize that the place is unsafe and living there is very hard: they must do everything (build a house, cultivate vegetables, hunt, fish). Life is not comfortable in the jungle and for a child it is even harder.
The family follow their leader, Allie Fox, but soon they question if living there is worthwhile, the way to reach happiness. But this situation doesn’t bother Allie Fox, he continues following his ideals, his dreams, although he starts going crazy.
They suffer fire, theft and accidents, and the part bad of nature, so these horrible things show that life in the jungle is not so different from life in civilization. Modern life offers stress, envy, robberies, hurry, pollution, lower quality of life,… but then life in a small town or even in the jungle can offer the same. All the things depends of the point of view. We can live far from the city and have annoying neighbors who steal your food, or also we can have problems to get food or build a house. Life in the city is complicated, but offers security and comfort.
Finally, the most important things – our basic needs is to sleep, eat and love. Maybe, it’s not necessary go to the end of the world peace and happiness. The important thing is the way that we walk through our life.

Carla: Dreams of Snakes and Car Wrecks!

(After reading The Dream, we have had a lot of interesting essays about this topic. Carla is an engineer and a very practical person. Maybe this tempers the way she looks at her dream world. Anyway, it is a good piece of writing.)

The Dream
The meaning of dreams has been an interesting topic for me since I was a child. I remember that I wanted a book about this topic but my mother refused to get it for me. In spite of everything, I think she made the right decision. I cannot imagine what I would have made of my first dream about snakes!
It is said that if you dream about a person’s death, you are giving this person a year more of life. But I have never known anyone who wakes up happy after a dream like that! I think that we dream about situations that could happen in our life because of feelings we have. Our past and our present shape us .
I do not think that dreaming about having a car accident means that you will have one. But maybe in your internal world, you realize it is not necessary to drive so fast. My real life is definitely not connected to my dreams, unless I have dogs with two heads and monsters hidden in my garden!
Carla NI 2B

Greetings from a Canary Islander in Asturias!

(It is great to get postcards from students when they are on vacation. Here is post card I forgot to post a couple of months back. It is from Miguel Angel)

Dear David,

Greetings from wonderful Asturias, I came here for to visit my friend Raul. He has been living in Oviedo since he got his first job working in the national police force.

Oviedo is a little city, its Catholic cathedral is impressive, its historical centre is more than five centuries old. You might say it is like travelling back in time to the Middle Ages.

The food here is delicious, you can eat a wonderful beef-steak in Tierra Astur restaurant or enjoy a French bean with hard pork sausage in Casa Amparo at Fontal market.

The nightlife is the best part of Oviedo, If you like to drink cider, you have to visit Gascona street, full up with cider bars. A glass of cider is only 40 cents, it is great.

There is only one problem, in March this is a cold place, but the bad weather is less important with hearty food and even better cider .

Well that is all that I can tell you, I hope to see you soon and to tell you more.

Bye.

Miguel Ángel NI1B

DREAMS: MAKE THE MOST OF THEM!

Frank Tilsley’s short story The Dream (from a Penguin collection) inspired this thoughtful essay by Esther (NI2A).

In THE DREAM, the author describes a dream in which a man is driving his family along in a car when he realizes that is on the wrong side of the vehicle, The steering wheel was on the right instead of the left. Someone he did not know was driving the car. They suffered a terrible accident when they collide head-on with a huge lorry. For any driver who is spending his holiday time crossing the country by car, this could be a very worrying dream!
In general many dreams are closely related to matters that occur in our daily lives. Sometimes we spend a long time thinking about the solution for some problem in family relationships, with a colleague at work, with someone who is important in our lives. Although we search for the solution, nothing seems to come. In our dreams, however, we could find the best way to solve these situations.
Someone told me that he could hardly remember anything he dreamt. But then there are people like me who recall almost everything they dream. My dreams are often connected with my daily reality, looking for work, searching for the best school for my son.
I am pretty certain our mind is connected with our fears, hopes and troubles in a direct way, through the world of dreams.

Greeting from Valencia, home of the Paella! YUM!

Here is an informal to a friend from Sergio. Here is my question: did he really go to Valencia or not? You decide!






Dear Frank,

I’m writing to you from Valencia! Yes, you’ve read well. After two weeks searching some places to visit at Easter, I found Valencia.
At first, I thought that it might be boring, but then, when I read about the cultural landmarks that Valencia offers, I couldn’t bear to stay in Las Palmas any longer. So, I went to the first travel agency I could find and bought a ticket.

When I arrived in Valencia, it was amazing, I could hardly believe it! It was so warm and sunny and then the friendly people and the charming buildings and points of interest like the Serranos Towers (pictured), it was great. I met a lot of locals and of course lots of beautiful girls! You cannot imagine what a wonderful atmosphere there is here.

Well, I must go to eat paella now!
Write soon,

Sergio NI 1B

STRONG MEDICINE discussed by Nancy

(Our NI 1B class has just read the short novel Strong Medicine by Richard MacAndrew. This story has a close link to the pharmaceutical industry. The class was asked to discuss this link. Nancy from Venezuela wrote an interesting essay.)
In this book we learn about alternative ways to treat certain diseases. There have been many developments in the drugs industry. The drugs that are given to people with Parkinson´s Disease are getting better all the time.
However Western Medicine can not really do much for people who suffer with this terrible disease. The pharmaceutical industry has a number of different drugs they can give people. The drugs can help the patient, but only for a few years. After that, the drugs stop working and the patient´s condition will be the same as before.
Besides, drug companies are spending millions of dollars trying t find a way to help people with Parkinson´s Disease.
In our novel, Deborah Spencer an American doctor specializing in Chinese medicine was writing a book about a new way of helping people who have Parkinson´s Disease. In fact, she could make them better, completely better, without using drugs. This way of looking at the disease is completely new and different.
The story left me wondering what would have happened if she had survived.

David Hockney and the Rube (by Delmar Lemming)

When I was 16, I had a chance to go to Boston and spend the weekend at my Aunt Pinky’s house in Brighton. It was the dead of winter and I planned to attend a Celtics game in North Station on Saturday night. On Saturday morning, however, a friend and I were kicking around downtown Boston and decided to visit a real honest-to-goodness art museum. Being from sports-minded Turners Falls and not terribly worldly wise in the ways of culture, I gamely ventured into those hallowed halls of marble and majesty. I did not really have a clue of what to look for. An imposing attendant in a sports coat met me at the door and I made a ridiculous request that only a mill-town teenager could muster. “Excuse me,” I said. “Could you point me in the direction of the best painter you’ve got here?!” I did not want to waste my time with the second-rate stuff. Can you imagine! Well, this ardent culture vulture surely spotted the rube but did not let on. He answered me with a wink, “Oh you want David Hockney, his work is that way.” With that he pointed in the direction of the Hockney section.
Well, I was impressed with the sunny California gardens, the stucco and the fine trimmed lawns which I would later learn were made of painted concrete. Ten years later, I was living in the north of England in Bradford, West Yorkshire. In the quaint little town of Thornton on the road to Halifax, I actually was introduced to David Hockney’s mother. We were on a way to a CND benefit where I would be singing. Anyway it was a gloomy day and there was no sunny joy in sight. I thought of Mrs Hockney's wonderful California scapes in his adopted home far abroad. I learned that, in fact, David Hockney came from a small mill town background too.
Another lifetime later, this past February, I ventured into Chicago’s Art Institute and met up with Hockney’s wonderful work again. I felt like I was in the company of an old friend! I love this attached painting. The man's diffidence, the woman's wise gaze. Oh David Hockney, thank you for the light!
(Delmar Lemming)

Contrasting City and Country Life: A Great Essay!

(Jesus B, our science teacher from Marzagan, was asked to compare and contrast city life with country living. He fashioned a very nice essay!)

Both living in the city and living in the country have their own advantages and disadvantages. Today most people in industrialized countries live in the city, where they have found work, home and services, education, medicine, shops and entertainment.
But when the cities grow, more and more disadvantages become apparent. For example, noise, air pollution, stress and crime can force city dwellers to move to residential areas which mushroomed in the end of the last century. These residential zones provided a country substitute in a way. So living in the city has become a difficult thing today.
In fact, I live in a residential area on the outskirts of Las Palmas, but I would certainly prefer to live in the country. Why would I like it? Perhaps the first and most important reason is that I grew up on a farm in San Mateo. My childhood was very happy there even though we were very poor. I knew all the neighbours and met with my friends everyday to play in the fields or in the ravines. Today in the cities young people do not know the neighbors in their own building.
Another important advantage involves environmental quality. In the country, there is more fresh air, flowers and trees, animals and peace which are all very important to me. (by Jesus B NI 2B)

Cristina’s Big Decision: It Took Some Courage!

(Editor's note: When everything seemed lost, Cristina and her husband made a decision that changed their life--for the better!)

Life is sometimes very difficult but even more so when we have to make a big decision. Our choice might alter the course of our whole future life.
Actually that is what happened to me seventeen years ago. My husband and I worked in the same country. Suddenly business started to go very badly and our manager decided to close the firm. As you can imagine, we felt utterly lost. We had a five-month-old baby and our life had changed so quickly. In other words, everything seemed hopeless.
Just as suddenly, an idea came to us. My husband suggested that we start our own company. At first I looked at him in astonishment. He went on to say that we had some savings and as we knew the business, it was worth a try. The very next day we drew up the papers to launch our own packing company.
Today our firm is still going. It took a little courage but thanks to that decision, we were able to go on with our lives. Cristina NI 2B

NI 1B Nancy's First Family Skiing Adventure

Dear mother
How are you? I am writing this at Madrid’s Barajas International Airport while we are waiting for the flight to Gran Canaria. We enjoyed our skiing trip to Jaca in Huesca, a very wonderful place.
When we arrived at the hotel it was snowing so our two daughters were happy because had never touched snow before.
The first day all our family started learning to ski. However, it was awful at first because I fell many times. Also our girls were crying because their equipment was very heavy for them. but eventually we all got into it. What a thrill to feel the snow on our faces as we were skiing down those icy slopes. On the last day of the mini vacation, our daughters made a snow man which they decorated with a top hat and scarf.
I hope this message finds you in good health.
Lots of love
Nancy

JOB OFFERS!!!!

Here is an interesting (fictitious) job offer from Yurena who is from the Port of Mogan in the south of the island. Maybe you are interested!


Our company seeks a....FISHERMAN or FISHERWOMAN. The successful candidate may be either male or female as gender is not an issue! We are looking for someone between 18 and 55 years of age. No previous experience in the fishing trade is necessary. The candidate must not take drugs, be fit and also a good swimmer. He or she needs to obey the fishing laws and recognize marine fauna.

Lorena's Life as a Fly!

My life as a Fly (by Lorena in NI1B)

Hi! I’m a funny fly and I love living in the kitchen because here I can steal lots of food! Also I can hear all the family conversations and watch TV while they are cooking.
Today was a very strange day. The family (“my” family) is travelling to the Caribbean and I had nothing to eat! So, I decided to fly off and find some food, but… where?
While I was thinking, I heard a dog bark. It was Glamour, that stupid dog. Really we never have gotten along, because dogs think they are the humans' best friend. In my opinion, flies are a truly great animal. We don’t eat much, we make little noise and we are very independent. I watched Glamour and sniffed the air. I recognized her food, near the garden door. I smiled and waited a few minutes for the dog was vague, then I flew very quickly and reached my food.
“Great! Meat!” I thought landing on it.
Suddenly I felt a terrible sense. On my back was Glamour, growling, surely furious because I was stealing her food. I was frightened, so I escaped as fast as my wings could fly!
“AH!” I landed on a plate after crashing into something. I opened my eyes and…
“Ohhhh! CHEESE!” Yeah, I had crashed into an amazing cheese on the kitchen table. This was better than the stupid dog food!

EVERYTHING WAS A DREAM by CARMEN NI1B

Can you imagine what it would like to be a fly on your kitchen ceiling? Carmen, our wonderful student from Teror, used a lot of imagination for this tale!

EVERYTHING WAS A DREAM by CARMEN NI1B
I often have strange dreams but this time I dreamed that I was a fly looking for something to eat. I was lost because the other flies had fled from the spiders that were in the house.
After flying by around the house for an hour, I managed to reach the kitchen and I thought that perhaps I would find something to eat and luckily I found some leftover food on the table. For a fly this was a feast. While I was eating so placidly an enormous hand appeared which seemed to have very bad intentions, I began to fly around the kitchen, trying to escape from those hands that would not stop following me.
I was so exhausted that I landed on the kitchen ceiling to recover my breath. But I wasn´t doing anything bad, I only was eating leftover food that was on the table, I did not touch any fruit nor bread.
Nevertheless the hands continued to rush towards me and now one of them had an object that produced airflows, I was so scared that I couldn’t fly. Luckily, one of the flies of the group returned and she distracted those hands that wanted to end my life and I could escape through the kitchen window. Uf! By the skin of my teeth, - my companion said and we returned to the rest of the group.
I woke up from the dream and I reflected on the fact that although flies are very annoying, they are also living beings.

Sophie's Dad in His Penguin Suit by Carla NI 2B

It was a hot summer day. Sophie was at her home in the north of Africa, thinking of her father the fisherman who had gone to sea. Suddenly she heard a noise outside the room. She stood up and went to the living room where a great light was shining from the old grandfather clock on the wall. She opened the door and to her great surprise she found she was on a big cruise liner. From the ship's deck, she could take in all the stars in the sky and heard a voice calling her to dinner in the great dining room. She had never seen a place like this, it was like some gracious, luxurious hotel. Again, to her astonishment, she was dressed like a princess. Everyone stood up for the captain to enter the dining room but the man in the penguin suit (tuxedo) was her dad. After their lovely meal, he took her around the boat. Then they ventured out onto the deck where they could survey the white coast and hundreds of penguins. It was like a dream.

A Visit to Granny's House

I remember when I was a child every time I went to my granny’s big old house I noticed she had a grandfather clock in the drawing room and when it was striking the hours, you could hear the sound from almost everywhere in the house. Not to mention at night, if it stroke one that was not too bad but the striking of twelve created a real racket! Surely you got woken up.
Perhaps due to be awaken at night because of the clock, I used to stay by the window trying to find the moon and the stars in the dark night. When it was full moon you did not need to light either the room or the garden to see clearly.
But what really fascinated me in that house was the silver cutlery: the ancient spoons, knives and forks. My mother told me once that women in this family have been inheriting it (mother to daughter) from the seventeenth century up to now. Nowadays the cutlery belongs to my sister since my mother died a few years ago.
Miguel Angel NI-2B

Beacon Hill in Snow (David Shea)

On our last morning in Boston, before flying that very Tuesday afternoon to Chicago, we had a rare opportunity to visit the Massachusetts State House, the seat of government for my home state. I had ventured over to Beacon Hill at the break of dawn and spoke to a guard who gave us permission to visit before the official tours started at 10.
We set off at 9 and trudged the three blocks in a flurry of snow. The city took on that silent magic of whiteness muffling every corner. It was magic although as the frosting of snow grew deeper, we needed to walk with care to keep our feet.
Once inside those hallowed halls, the security people made us feel very welcome. They explained to us about the workings of the government as we toured both chambers and also gaped at the dome. It was an unforgettable experience.

A Trip of a Lifetime (David Shea, EOI Teacher)

Well we made it to the USA! Although many people warned us that the weather and cold would be too much for us, we made a once in a lifetime trip to Boston and Chicago. We even managed to make it to Turners Falls, Massachusetts for Valentine's Day so that my dear mom, Blanche Patricia Shea could meet my boss, Don Rafael Gutierrez Cabrera.
It was an amazing adventure which included lots of snowy, icy, chilly weather, but we managed fine. Before I provide my account of the trip, I would like to thank my mother for reserving us the room at the French King Restaurant and to Rafa for making it all possible and for believing in our students. I want to thank my family and friends for turning out for lunch and to my little sister Vicky, her husband Matt and their beautiful daughter Julie for taking us around downtown Turners (see photo below). I also want to thank all the students who made the trip special, especially Arminda, Jose Luis, Cayetana, Ana, Braulio, Paula (the timplista), Carola, Jesus, Teresa and Juan Pedro for your patience and perserverance. It was great to travel with you and learn about my native land, as academic tourists!
(the top photo is a group shot in downtown Turners Falls, while the other is of my mother, Rafa and me)

Alicia (NI2B) Remembers Her Best Teacher from Grade School

My favourite teacher was my English instructor in the eighth grade of primary school.
He was a tall man with dark hair, broad shoulders and bushy eyebrows. He was over forty, balding with a big moustache, a round face with chubby cheeks. He used to have a very good sense of humour and vivid imagination. He was always telling jokes. He was highly intelligent but he didn't lose his temper easily with us. He was friendly and he seemed to be a very good person, he never wanted to hurt his pupils’ feelings and he taught us to be honest. The first time I saw him I thought he was very shy but when he started talking to us I realised that he was quite confident.
He made us study hard and in that academic year I think I really started learning English. We had to memorize long texts or dialogues, then we had to perform in class. I enjoyed his classes but as he was so relaxed, sometimes I fell asleep. But do not get me wrong, the classes were never dull. They were very interesting by far. He was easily the best teacher I had in primary school.

Let's go to Costa Rica!

Jesús B dreams of exotic climes! In NI2B We have been proposing some far off adventures.

Dear Jose,
I’m thinking about where I’d like to spend my next summer holidays. I have visited most of Europe but I’ve never gone to America. I know the USA and Canada are the safest places there, but I would prefer to take in a country with a more natural landscape. Although Central and South American countries are somewhat dangerous I’ve read Costa Rica is the best option, because it has a lot of natural protected areas, with different climate zones and varied landscapes.
I believe it is an ideal place to see wild animals and plants, both in the sea or inland. Costa Rica boasts one of the world’s most well-preserved rainforests. Therefore, I have heard you can do many outdoor activities there, like canoeing, rafting, snorkelling and swimming. A very nice experience is to see turtles laying their eggs in a hole in the beach sand. They do this at night and always at the same beach where they were born, it must be incredible!
Jose, I know you love wildlife like me and you are looking forward to visiting a country like Costa Rica. I’ve been checking out some websites searching for information about accommodation, flights and travelling around the country. I think the overall cost will be about € 2000 for two weeks.
Aren’t you dreaming of this trip? I am sure we will have a marvellous holiday. Please, write me soon. We have to book hotels and flights three months before the departure. Best wishes, Jesús

MY FAVORITE TEACHER FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL

By Maria del Mar

My favorite teacher from primary school was Mary because she had such a cheerful character. She was fifty years old, wasn't very tall and she had white, short hair so she seemed older than she was.
She had a very fair skin, with small blue eyes. Her hands were very small and very strong, too. She told me when she was a kid she lived in the countryside and had to work very hard with her father. Also she told me that she learnt much about life in the countryside and liked it more than living in the city. She had moved to the city to find a job and was happy teaching children.
As I say, she was cheerful and always singing with her guitar which I found quite amusing. She was bossy, too, because she urged us to study hard and wanted us to be responsible children. She was caring and kind and always helped us.
When I left school, we talked once a week, talking about our lives. She was more optimistic than me and helped me to see the bright side of everything and gave me good advice.
We stayed in touch over the years and nowadays I can talk with her about anything so I consider Mary to be like my grandmother. Although we don't live in the same town now we talk on the phone almost every day.