Vamos a la playa: Gringa in Latin America, part 1 5 reasons why I still in love with Latin America Two years ago I visited Spain first time in my life and understood how much I love this country! I liked everything about Spain: people, food, beautiful cities, breathtaking nature and of course the language! Spanish is so passionate and ardent, in the same time melodic and sweet… So the universe ‘told’ me I probably should have more Spanish in my life. That’s why I decided to move to South America. There is no reason why I decided to do it. I just made this decision (I knew nothing about Latin America, except some good footballers from there), but the voices in my head made me go there. I found a job in Ecuador, bought tickets from Madrid to Quito and … said Goodbye to cold Europe! Hola, Ecuador! Hello, new life! Different altitude, different people, different food and even the air is not like we have in Europe. From the first day there I understood it's a new world for me. For sure, South America, nor Ecuador is perfect. People complain, people need more, people wanna changes. But they have something special in their minds, blood, bodies, etc. Something we, Europeans, have to learn. So, there are things I learn in Latin America and it still helps me a lot. 1. In any situation... dance! People in Latin America are totally good in dancing! They can dance salsa, bachata, etc. without any dance classes. They feel rhythm very well without being musicians. They dance like they make love – without any tension, free and with a smile. Probably, as a European girl, I will never be able to dance that good as the Latin people do, but... Who cares if I like it? Sometimes we just need to do things we like. Not only useful ones. Sometimes we should dance salsa in the rain, play the guitar by the Ocean, spend a day with a little nephew... Life is not about doing useful things only. 2. Be open and helpful It was really nice to speak with people in South America! They are very nice, friendly and really helpful! Even if they don't speak English (my Spanish is not perfect) they tried to understand what I need and find a way how to help me. I even hitchhiked in Ecuador and can say that experience was really positive. And I noticed a great thing there: if someone helped me, I wanna do something nice for other people. And probably if I help someone, this person will want to help someone else :) So it's like a circle of kindness! Second part: https://www.italki.com/entry/725906

Books That Have Shocked Me: Animal Farm. Part 2 Part 1: https://www.italki.com/entry/720818 Napoleon involved a combination of propaganda and terror, so animals who wanted to be free, found themselves, even in more complicated situations than they used to be. They were complaining before that they didn’t have enough food, but with a new dictator they almost stopped to eat at all. In the same time pigs, as a privileged caste, started to live in the owner’s house (after their revolution, he had to escape) and ate the best food they could get. It was a bit strange, because firstly Napoleon claimed that living in the owner’s house is forbidden! But then he changed a rule, explaining his decision in a very nice way, so animals trusted him. Napoleon also claimed that “All animals are equal”, but during the novella this motto was changed. He changed it to: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”. Pigs were absolutely satisfied, they were the most important in this totalitarian regime they made. They claimed ideas about good future for everyone and then changed in a way they like. I am totally in love with the way how Orwell described different animals in the farm, how they reacted and what they did. And in the end… You will never predict what’s gonna happen! I totally recommend you to read this genial book with a lot of allusions and with a really deep sense!

Books That Have Shocked Me: Animal Farm. Part 1 Famous English novelist and journalist Eric Arthur Blair, who used the pen name George Orwell in 1944 wrote a unique book I would like to tell you about. He had written a satirical allegory, telling the story of a revolution made by farm animals against their ruthless master. The main characters of this novella are animals: pigs, horses, donkeys, etc. But a reader easily can recognize an allegory of the people’s world. The main character of ‘Animal Farm’ is a pig called Napoleon. No drama, French readers! There is no connection with the French national hero. Napoleon is just a very famous name, it makes us think about someone majestic, obviously alludes to the well-known character, but in the Orwell’s book it’s just a pig. What is your association with pigs? Firstly, you probably can think that a pig is dirty and bad-smelled animal. Then maybe remind that pigs are pretty clever and actually they are even cleverer than people (hah, I am joking): they are more clever than cats and dogs, - I was trying to say. So what we have here? A pig called Napoleon once decided that animals should stop to submit people and started to urge his comrades to organize a coup. In this novella we don’t see actual people. We know a little bit about an owner of the farm, about some people Napoleon contacted by, but Orwell mostly concentrated on animal’s lives. Part 2: https://www.italki.com/entry/720819

Travelling is not always fun. Sometimes you have to suffer. Part 2 Part 1: https://www.italki.com/entry/718326 Expand your horizons. Sing songs near a campfire in San Sebastian, breathing the freshness of the sea, fight with your fears, practicing BASE-jumping in the Andes, go with your friends to hike in the Carpathians, meet new people, eat strange food, dance, visit small streets in big cities and say “YES” to new challenges. Be ready once find yourself near the ocean with a sandwich in your hands and sad thoughts in your head. Could those thoughts appear if I stay at home all the time? Not sure. Where they lead me? I don’t know yet. But the important thing I have it. Cogito ergo sum. Travels is not parties, new pics on Instagram and friends on Facebook only. It is the time for your soul. It is the time for knowing yourself. We know about other people a lot: their habits, tastes, etc. But do we know oneself?

Travelling is not always fun. Sometimes you have to suffer. Part 1 Now I am sitting by the ocean with my laptop, eating a sandwich with chicken I bought for 3 euro and thinking about finishing ‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus. Thanks him I know what the existential crisis is. I have it sometimes. Maybe this morning I had an exacerbation. I was walking near the ocean thinking: “What’s the next?”. And couldn’t find an answer. Six hours later I am eating my second sandwich and still don’t know the answer. Having typical Gauguin’s questions: “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?”. Not really positive thoughts, what do you think? You know, for me travelling is much more than just visiting medieval castles, taking photos near majestic cathedrals and swimming in the sea. That’s why I prefer to travel alone, just to avoid someone makes me to go to the beach with him or her. When you travel, especially alone, you have plenty of time for... thinking… Having a crazy pace of a modern life we don’t have any time to be alone. We are in a rush, try to earn as much money as we can… And so what? What is your answer for the question: “Am I happy?”. And what happiness is? You may say like the great minds of history have been racking their brains to answer and I ask YOU about it. Moreover, I am gonna answer by myself and I think I am absolutely right. Happiness is feelings. Everyone has different range of feelings. But the potential for a possible expansion of the range is equal to all of us. Traveling gives me an inexpressible palette of emotions – isn’t it happiness? What knows about happiness someone who never sees the sunset by the ocean? You can say that the birth of a child is the main event in a human’s life and oceans can’t be compared to this small newborn thing. But I will not discuss about it. The range of happiness is big. We can’t encase it in having children, travels, money or in a soul mate. Someone who limits himself is unhappy and mournful. I think travels is one of the easiest ways to be happy. You can’t have a child on your 18 (I mean, you can, but probably it’s something you planned before), but you can make a short trip to Eastern Europe. Part 2 https://www.italki.com/entry/718328