Curso de Imersão em inglês, no Vale da Neve.

Quando chegamos para pegar o ônibus às 19h00min começou a chover. Logo imaginei que seria um mau sinal, que isso poderia estragar nosso passeio. Depois de nos despedirmos de amigos e parentes partimos para o Snow Valey. Apesar da chuva numa sexta-feira, o vídeo “Friends” trazido pela Nilda nos agradou. O vídeo também nos salvou de ouvir a cantoria da Janete e da Tamara, conforme elas tinham prometido. Obrigado, Nilda.

Depois de uma breve parada para comer finalmente chegamos ao Snow Valley, + ou - à uma hora da manhã. Nossa bagagem foi levada até a “pousada”. Seguimos em uma escuridão total já que nossas lanternas seguiram com a bagagem e ninguém, naquela hora, lembrou de nos explicar porque havia sido pedido para que trouxéssemos lanternas. Não foi uma caminhada fácil, especialmente para alguns, que vieram direto do trabalho, usando salto alto (alguns-Janete). Fomos direto para a cama, já que tínhamos um dia longo, com muitas surpresas.

A manhã começou com um café americano às 08h00min para os rapazes, pois para as mulheres como sempre atrasadas o café foi às 08h15min. O menu era panqueca americana acompanhada da versão brasileira do Maple Syrup e uma conversa muito simpática com a nossa anfitriã, Mrs. Butterfield. Felizmente as calorias seriam queimadas mais tarde. Alguns precisariam de mais queima de calorias do que outros por causa da quantidade de panquecas que eu os vi comer! Se alguém quisesse algo mais, podia comer comida brasileira.

Mal terminamos de engolir as panquecas, já começamos as atividades. Um dos grupos começou com arvorismo. Subimos uma escada para fazer arvorismo (canopi) em três etapas. Uma mais apavorante do que a outra na opinião da Nilda. Depois disso, e talvez menos assustador, percorremos 03 circuitos de tirolesa (zip lining). Uma de 300m, outra de 400m e a última de 150m. A segunda era tão rápida que era preciso um pára-quedas. Em pé na plataforma, olhando para a plataforma de chegada dava medo, pavor e vontade de fugir dali. Mas parafraseando Neil Armstrong, um pequeno passo para o homem (ou mulher) um passo gigante para o CCBEU. Depois da primeira vez fica mais fácil e você começa a curtir.

O grupo que começou com a tirolesa recebeu uma carona arrepiante num caminhão aberto de volta ao topo do morro para iniciar arvorismo. Se comparar com o passeio no caminhão foi mais fácil.

Depois de todo esse exercício tivemos outro almoço americano com sobremesas saborosas. Depois do almoço era necessário um descanso. À 01h30min tivemos uma aula de inglês com nossa anfitriã. (Lembre-se de manter seu dedo molhado). A tarde começou com uma trilha de 1,5 Km liderada por nossos instrutores bem informados. Uma caminhada agradável, com alguns acidentes de percurso, com paradas freqüentes para conversar e tirar fotos. No final da tarde fizemos um piquenique seguido de alguns jogos como futebol, alguns esportes inventados pelas garotas e o popular arco e flecha. Eu gostaria de falar sobre a excelente habilidade do Ivan no arco e flecha, mas eu estaria mentindo, então melhor não falar nada.

Depois de um chuveiro rápido para os mais limpinhos, fomos ao restaurante para uma refeição a base de cachorro quente, e outra vez as deliciosas sobremesas. Pergunte à Nilda sobre isso. Em seguida era hora de acender a fogueira e curtir o calor do fogo, o calor de nossas companhias, as estórias de fantasmas dos nossos anfitriões e o doce sabor dos marshmallows. Depois, todos foram para a cama.

O domingo de manhã começou com um café com ovos, bacon e torradas e Tamara lamentando a falta das panquecas. Os que não tiveram aula de inglês no dia anterior foram à aula e os outros foram no pêndulo. Subimos em uma plataforma bem alta, fomos amarrados, pulamos e nos balançamos no ar acompanhados por gritos (Beatriz vence a competição de grito mais alto), gargalhadas dos que estavam assistindo e o flash das câmeras. Então, para se acalmar um pouquinho, você podia ir na tirolesa outra vez. Tudo isso aconteceu antes do almoço, pois não seria nada agradável depois, se é que vocês me entendem.

Finalmente, depois de um ótimo almoço foi dado o prêmio a dois alunos. Este prêmio é normalmente dado ao melhor aluno, mas de acordo com nossos anfitriões, nosso grupo era tão bom que resolveram fazer um sorteio. Todos estão de parabéns, pois todos tentaram falar inglês durante todo o tempo que estiveram lá. Portanto André e Silvana foram sorteados e ganharam camisetas com estampa do Snow Valley. Acho que o André acredita que trabalha lá agora. Então, depois de muitos agradecimentos a todos os anfitriões e um milhão de fotos, era hora de embarcar e partir. De alguma maneira nós evitamos a cantoria novamente, não tenho certeza como, mas acho que ouvi a Tamara roncando, talvez tenha sido por isso.

Nilda, Fernanda e eu (Andi) gostaríamos de agradecer e parabenizar a todos. Não só porque vocês participaram de todas as atividades, mas principalmente porque todos falaram inglês muito bem, deixando-nos muito orgulhosos de tê-los como alunos.

Autor: Andrew Paul Greenwood
Traduzido por: Nilda Nilsa Felício

Immersion course in English at the Snow Valley

As we arrived to board the coach at 7 o’clock the rain started, “was this going to be an omen for the weekend” I asked my self. Unlike class, everyone arrived promptly and after some goodbyes from friends and relatives we set off for Snow Valley. Rain, Fridays and 7 o’clock do not facilitate rapid progress and as we crawled out of Blumenau the Friends Video, so thoughtfully brought by Nilda, began. Which had the added bonus of preventing Janete and Tamara commencing the communal singing as threatened. Once again, well done Nilda.

After a brief stop for food we eventually arrived at Snow Valley around one in the morning. As our luggage was transported down a small rocky path to the accommodation, known as ´the hotel´ by those with as sense of humor or the hostel to those with a sense of reality, we followed in the dark as all the torches were thoughtfully left in the luggage. Not an easy walk for some, who coming straight from work, were still in high heels (some = Janete). Still all safely negotiated and straight to bed as we had a big day to follow.

The morning started with an American breakfast at 8 o’clock, well to be honest 8 for the boys around 8.15 for the girls, late as usual. The menu consisted of American pancakes accompanied by the Brazilian version of Maple syrup, a sweet honey like substance and a small introductory talk by our hosts. Luckily the calories would be burned off later, some needing more burning than others by the amount of pancakes I saw them eating. We also had a variety of Brazilian delicacies, if so required.

Before the pancakes had even had chance to settle in the stomach the activities began. Half to the Zip lining, which consisted of 3 rides; the first 300 meters, the second 400 meters and the third 150 meters, strapped to a wire and sliding down it to the bottom. The first is the quickest as the second is so steep it requires a parachute. Standing on the platform looking at the safety net 300 meters below creates emotions of fear, horror and get me out of here. But to paraphrase Neil Armstrong one small step for man (or women) one giant leap for CCBEU kind. After the first time it does get easier and you can begin to enjoy it. The other group was traversing. A mixture of obstacles to be overcome which in themselves are easy except they exist way above the ground in the tree tops. Fear is followed by relief and a sense of achievement as you complete the course only to be confronted with the zip wire. Those who did the zip lining first had the terrifying van ride back to the top. After the van ride the traverse was easy by comparison.

After all the exercise, another American themed lunch, with some nice desserts available. Once you had eaten as much as you liked a little rest period followed to relax before half the group had some American English lessons from our host. (Remember people to keep that finger wet.) The afternoon started with a 1.5 KM nature trail led by our extremely well informed instructors. A gentle walk, if a little tricky, with frequent stops to talk and of course take the obligatory photos. The rest of the afternoon consisted of a quick picnic followed by some games including football, some made up game by the girls and the most popular Archery. I would love to tell you about Ivan’s excellent archery skills but I would be lying, so I won’t.

After a quick shower for the hygienic members of the group we ventured into the restaurant for an evening meal of hot dog and again some excellent desserts, just ask Nilda about them. Then it was time to light the bonfire and enjoy the warmth of the fire, the warmth of the company, the ghost stories of the hosts and the sweet taste of toasted marshmallows. Then we all retired to bed.

Sunday morning started with a later breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast and Tamara lamenting about pancakes. The un-educated from yesterday had their American lesson while the others went on the pendulum. This consists of climbing up to a great height, being strapped to a rope and jumping off a great height, to swing through the air accompanied by screaming (Beatriz wins the loudest scream competition) laughing, from those on the ground and the flash of cameras. Then to calm down a little you could go on the zip line again. All this happens before lunch as it might not be as pleasant after, if you know what I mean.

So finally after a nice lunch we had the prize giving. Normally given to the best student, but as our hosts said and I totally concur with them, our group was so good in trying everything and speaking English to such an excellent standard all weekend that it was impossible to choose, so therefore André and Silvana were drawn and received the Snow Valley T-Shirts. I think André believes he works there now. So after a big thank you to everybody and about 1 million photos it was time to board the coach and depart. Somehow we managed to avoid the community singing again, not sure how but I think I heard Tamara snoring, so maybe that’s a clue.

Nilda, Fernanda and I (Geezer) would like to thank and congratulate everybody on the weekend. Not only on you taking part in all the activities but more importantly the consistency and accuracy with which you spoke English made us all proud of you.

(Autor: Andrew Paul Greenwood)

Coisas que as pessoas dizem...

Agora estamos quites! Now we are even!

Ele já era! He's history!

Eu cresci ouvindo os Beatles etc. I grew up on the Beatles, etc.

Foi de graça! (muito barato) That was dirt cheap!

Isso é um roubo! (muito caro) That's a rip-off!

Rapidinho/Num piscar de olhos. In no time / In a flash / In the blink of an eye

Sem ressentimentos... No hard feelings...

“I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”

I know an old lady who swallowed a fly. I don't know why she swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a bird. How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she
swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a cat. Think of that to swallow a cat!
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, she swallowed the bird to catch the spider
that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a dog. Oh what a hog, to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, she swallowed the cat to catch the
bird, she swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she
swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a goat. Popped open her throat, and swallowed a goat, she swallowed the goat to catch the dog, she swallowed the dog to catch the cat, she swallowed the cat to catch the bird, she swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a cow. Don't ask me how, but she swallowed a cow! She swallowed the cow to catch the goat, she swallowed the goat to catch the dog, she swallowed the dog to catch the cat, she swallowed the cat to catch the bird, she swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a horse. She died, of course!

(Fonte: www.transparent.com.br)

Expressões Idiomáticas na TV Americana

1. Be OCD about something. Esta expressão vem do distúrbio obssessivo compulsivo (obssessive compulsive disorder) e é usada quando alguém está obcecado por algo, “encarnado” com alguma coisa.Exemplo:
Why are you so OCD about this?
2. Point taken. Usamos esta expressão quando concordamos com o que alguém falou, às vezes contrariando nossa vontade.Exemplo:
A: We’d better go home. It’s going to rain.
B: Point taken.
3. To ride shotgun significa viajar no banco de passageiro, do lado do motorista. Geralmente quando várias pessoas entram num carro alguém diz, Shotgun! para indicar que quer ir no banco da frente.
4. get under someone’s skin – irritar alguém. Exemplo:
The new manager has been getting under my skin over that new business proposal.
5. hit a nerve – falar sobre um assunto delicado para uma pessoa. Refere-se ao tratamento dentário de canal, quando a broca atinge o nervo que deve ser morto, causando muita dor.
She hit a nerve when she told him he was not good enough to marry her.
6. have a blast – divertir-se muito. Exemplo:
We had a blast at the party last night.
7. drop hints - dar indiretas. Quando você entende a indireta, use a expressão to take a hint. Exemplo: I was dropping hints that I was sleepy but they wouldn’t go home.
8. on the flip side – por outro lado. Exemplo:
New York has very expensive restaurants. On the flip side, you can get lots of cheap food on the street.

(Fonte: www.transparent.com.br)

Expressões com a palavra eye (olho)

A palavra eye traz várias expressões idiomáticas bem interessantes.
1. the apple of somebody’s eye – “a menina dos olhos” de alguém, o preferido/favorito de alguém. His son is the apple of his eye.
2. not bat an eye - não chocar-se ou surpreender-se com algo. He didn’t even bat an eye when she told him she was pregnant.
3. a bird’s eye view – visão panorâmica de cima. We had a bird’s eye view from the top of the building.
4. turn a blind eye – fazer vista grossa. The teacher saw the two kids cheating on the test but decided to turn a blind eye and not say anything.
5. in the blink of an eye – num piscar de olhos, rapidamente. He disappeared, in the blink of an eye.
6. eye candy – algo bonito ou agradável aos olhos. She’s a real eye candy.
7. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. – Usamos esta expressão quando todos num ambiente estão chorando, como por exemplo num velório ou programa de TV com foco emotivo. After he told the story of his dead son, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
8. watch somebody/something with an eagle eye / eagle eyes – observar algo minuciosamente. The teacher was watching the kids with eagle eyes so they wouldn’t cheat on the test.
9. give somebody the evil eye – olhar feio para alguém. The manager gave us the evil eye because we had arrived late at the meeting.
10. catch somebody’s eye - chamar a atenção de alguém. I tried on several dresses, but none caught my eye.
11. be in the eye of the storm – estar “no olho do furacão”, muito envolvido em algo intenso. That reporter was in the eye of the storm after saying the government had leaked information to the press.
12. keep an eye on something/someone – ficar de olho em algo/alguém. Can you keep an eye on the kids while I go to the bathroom?
13. red-eye – vôo noturno. She took the red-eye to Los Angeles.
14. see eye to eye – concordar com alguém. We don’t always see eye to eye.
15. keep your eye on the ball - concentrar-se no que está fazendo. In business, you have to keep your eye on the ball all the time. A expressão oposta é take your eye off the ball.

(Fonte: www.transparent.com.br)

Expressões Idiomáticas com Cores

Em inglês, quando um mês traz duas luas cheias, dizemos que a segunda é a lua azul (blue moon) e isso é muito raro. A expressão once in a blue moon quer dizer “muito raramente”. -> Do you ever walk to work? -No, I’m too lazy. Once in a blue moon.
Pessoas que têm talento para jardinagem ou cultivo de vegetais em ingles dizemos que têm o dedo verde, they have a green thumb. -> Mark has a green thumb, take a look at his garden, it’s so well taken care of!
Português e inglês compartilham algumas expressões e uma delas é quando uma pessoa destoa do padrão familiar ou social, a “ovelha negra da familia” (the black sheep of the family). -> Matt’s always been the black sheep of the family. He had long hair, wore earrings and listened to punk music when he was a teenager.
Em português dizemos que “santo de casa não faz milagre”. Em inglês dizemos que a grama do vizinho é sempre mais verde, the grass is always greener on the other side.
Quando gostamos muito de alguém e tratamos esta pessoa da melhor forma possível, colocamos o tapete vermelho para ela. Em inglês, we roll out the red carpet to someone when we want to treat him/her well.
Seu chefe finalmente aprovou o orçamento para aquele projeto que vai te ajudar a subir na empresa. Em inglês, ele deu a luz verde (como num semáfoto). Your boss gave you the green light!
Dizemos que a pessoa nasceu num berço de ouro quando nasce numa familia rica. Em inglês, a pessoa nasceu com uma colher de prata na boca, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
O estilo de música blues é triste e o adjetivo blue quer dizer exatamente isso. So if you’re feeling blue, you’re feeling sad!

(Fonte: www.transparent.com.br)

Live And Learn And Pass It On

1. I've learned that a strong code of ethics is as reliable as a compass. -- Age 43

2. I've learned that you can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. -- Age 7

3. I've learned that if I eat donuts today I wear them tomorrow. -- Age 39

4. I've learned that goldfish don't like Jello. -- Age 5

5. I've learned that I don't feel my age as long as I focus on my dreams instead of my regrets. -- Age 83

6. I've learned that deciding who you will marry is the most important decision you'll ever make. -- Age 95

7. I've learned that it's easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble. -- Age 14

8. I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decisions. -- Age 66

9. I've learned that it always makes me feel good to see my parents holding hands. -- Age 13

10. I've learned that life is like a blind date. Sometimes you just have to have a little faith! -- Age 23

I've learned that...

I've learned that all teachers have secret powers. - age 11

I've learned that telling a lie is worse than telling the bad truth. - age 11

I've learned that you never judge a book by its movie. - age 11

I've learned always choose good partners for school projects or you might end up doing most of the work. - age 10

I've learned that if you want to have a sleepover you are more likely to have one if you ask your dad rather than your mom. - age 10

I've learned typing on Type to Learn doesn't improve your typing, but typing up short stories you wrote yourself does. - age 10

I've learned that it is better to stay in at recess to get your work done than get farther and farther behind. - age 10

I've learned never to play with CRAZY glue. - age 10

I've learned not to cook half of a grape in the microwave. - age 10

I've learned that it's okay to get in trouble on Tuesdays because the principal is at a meeting. - age 10

I've learned that you should never test how far a slingshot gun goes when you are near a lot of houses. - age 10

I've learned never to sit on a wet bicycle seat. - age 10

I've learned you should never take without giving. - age 10

I've learned you should never give yourself a haircut. - age 10

I've learned that you should never yell at your mom when she's pregnant. - age 10

I've learned that you should never let your dad buy you clothes. - age 10

I've learned that you should never tell your parents who you have a crush on. - age 10

I've learned that when your parents are mad it is best to not talk to them. - age 10

I've learned that you can never have too much adventure. - age 10

I've learned that you shouldn't try to open a coconut with a folding Swiss army knife. - age 11

I've learned not to offer a hungry hamster invisible food. - age 11

I've learned that you should never show your stuffed animals to a dog. - age 10

I've learned to never paint faces on my dad when he's asleep. - age 10

I've learned never to touch your tongue to an ice sculpture. - age 10

I've learned that I am growing up too fast. - age 10

I've learned not to hiss like a cat at a stray dog. - age 11

I've learned that you can never outwit your dog. - age 10

I've learned that you should never put fertilizer on your head. - age 10

I've learned to never give your baby brother a permanent marker. - age 10

I've learned never to make my mom watch "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", or else she'll laugh so hard that she'll snort like a pig. - age 10

I've learned that when you are sad, all you want to do is be alone and talk to yourself, not others. - age 11

I've learned that no matter how old I am, I still ask my mom how to do things. - age 42

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten

(By Robert Fulghum)

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are things I learned. Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess.Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush.  Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and  dance and play and work every day some. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, stick together.Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The Roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK. ² Everything you need to know is in there  somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.² Take anyone of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and  milk about three o’clock  every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.² And it is still true, no matter how old you are – when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

I am me

My Declaration of Self-Esteem 
(by Virginia Satir)
 

In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me
Everything that comes out of me is authentically me
Because I alone chose it - I own everything about me
My body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions,
Whether they be to others or to myself - I own my fanatasies,
My dreams, my hopes, my fears - I own all my triumphs and
Successes, all my failures and mistakes Because I own all of
Me, I can become intimately acquainted with me - by so doing
I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts - I know
There are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other
Aspects that I do not know - but as long as I am
Friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously
And hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles
And for ways to find out more about me - However I
Look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever
I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically
Me - If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought
And felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is
Unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that
Which I discarded - I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do
I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be
Productive to make sense and order out of the world of
People and things outside of me - I own me, and
therefore I can engineer me - I am me and


I AM OKAY