WRITING JOURNAL

1. A MOVIE STAR OR SINGER YOU LIKE

ELTON JOHN

I grew up with my godfather, a music teacher. Every little thing that I know about this artistic form is because of him. No wonder that my favorite musicians are mainly from the 80s, like Elton John.  I love Elton John because of his high energy on stage and its big range of musical genres. He manages to have a characteristic sound without repeating himself and sounding monotonous. He is now 75 years old but he is still kicking and launching new music and singles with current artists such as Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj and Young Thug. 

Source: Rolling Stone

The first song I listened that belonged to him was Your Song. Nevertheless, it was not sang by him, it was a cover for the motion picture Moulin Rouge, sang by Ewan McGregor. From that moment, the movie turned out to be my favorite film musical and the song became my favorite ballad. I became obsessed with him and started listening to all of his music, everyday, all the time, all summer long. 

Source: Youtube

One fun story that happened to me, which I remember with all my love, was in a bus road to Barcelona. I was really sad that day, nothing special, I was just feeling blue. When this happens, I usually put on my headphones and start listening to music. However, this day my phone was not working. The bus driver turned on the radio and I said: "I wish Elton was playing on the radio". Desperately, out of boredom, I tried to sleep. As soon as I closed my eyes, I heard this beautiful song:

Source: Youtube

I have always felt connected to him and his music but this was beyond words.  Imagine the excitement I felt when I heard this song. I instantly got happy and I enjoyed the ride to the city. He is my idol ever since and I consider him also a role model. I wish I could go to his concert! For now, I will just keep on listening to his music, over and over again.

  

                        

                                         2. MUSIC THAT IS SPECIAL TO YOU

I have lived all my life around music. I cannot name each song or each piece of music that has token my heart. Nevertheless, some songs I have listened are related to some moments or experiences of my life that I would never forget.

Up's Married Life by Michael Giachinno must be one of the saddest songs inside Disney movie's repertoire. When I first listened to it was actually before seeing the movie. I was laying in my bed, at night, and I put on my headphones and played the piece. As soon as the piano part at the end started, I started bawling my eyes out. It was the first time a song made me cry. I was 6 at that time. 

Source: Youtube

The next song I would love to talk about is Mona Lisa and the Mad Hatters, one of my favorite songs, by Elton John which I listened to for the first time in the movie Almost Famous. I was watching this movie with my godfather, one of my favorite person in the world. I am obsessed with this song because of the melancholic feeling it has. It also references Spanish Harlem which is another song that I love. 

Some songs remind me of a trip I have made. For example, Forgive You by Leon Bridges. I listened to it non stop when I went to visit Galicia. Other song is Hysteria by Deaf Leppard which I listened wen I went to Madrid. However, the song love the most that I have listened in a trip is Ravel's Barque sur l'ocean. One of my favorite piano songs ever, along Clair de Lune by Debussy.

Source: halidonmusic.com

Musicians such as Nina Simone, 070 Shake and Beyoncé are currently the most streamed artist in my Spotify.  A day cannot pass by without me listening to them.

I could not be alive without music. It is immortal and will be part of my journey until I die. I have more songs to talk about, but I would be stuck writing here forever. 

3. DISCRIMINATION

ANIMAL ABUSE

The meat. The flesh and the blood. A lot of things come to mind when mentioning those words. Perhaps it is because in Spain we are accustomed to see a man all dressed up in the middle of a small square sticking a colossal splinter into an animal's back. We have normalized animal abuse and putting the Spain brand on it is costing us a lot.

One of the things that most blinds us as human beings is money. It moves everything, even the systematic suffering of a huge number of living beings. Thousands of euros of our taxes go to a murder open to the public and we call it culture. It seems to me a great aberration. In Spain there is a neglected incipient artistic talent, which could generate more tourism and give more value to our country. Nevertheless, going for effortless money is easier. 

 In addition, we have already lived what it is to be locked up for a whole month within four walls, and we have not felt free. So, imagine being like this for the rest of your life, enslaved. Thousands of cows, sheep, chickens, pigs (and the list goes on), are in a COVID quarantine until the end of their existence, and they can't do anything about it.

We pride ourselves on a massacre and the world looks at us with disgust. I have seen numerous times the testimony of foreigners after a bullfight and I assure you that it is not profitable for us to continue with this false culture. If it was expensive to kill a defenseless animal, this would not happen. 

Source: Forbes

    4. A ESPECIAL SKILL YOU HAVE

DRAWING AND SINGING

My passion for art has manifested my whole life in various forms. When I was six I started dancing classes and I loved dressing up and moving my body along the music my mother played in her iPod. I also developed a passion for make up at an early age, disguising as my favorite Monster High character. However, there are two skills that I consider my favorite ways to express how I feel.

First of all, drawing. I started drawing two years ago. When I started 4º of ESO, I discovered that my place belonged inside a museum. So, I decided to enter the Bachillerato oriented to Arts. It was difficult for me at first, because I was not used to drawing everyday. However, I started to get very good at it. Now, I use drawing as a way to relax a little bit when I get anxious. 

A watercolor piece I made last year

Nevertheless, what I usually do when I need to scape is to sing. When I sing, I focus mainly in what I am expressing and my voice control. I am instantly trapped in a bubble were there is only myself and my emotions.  I have sung since I was six, when I entered a choir in my town. From that moment I have participated in musicals. But mainly, I sing on my own. It is where I mostly feel safe.

5. ACCIDENT

Last september I experienced one of the worst moments of my life. It occurred during my brother’s birthday celebration. Him and I usually do separare parties, even though we are twins and we were born the same day.

Anyways, some of us decided to start a Karaoke, so we took the microphones and we started yelling and having a blast. We were not ready for what was going to happen. My dad suddenly comes rushing down the stairs yelling: NESTOR HAS BEEN RUN OVER!! I did not know what he ment by that, because we did not hear anything from outside, so we decided to go out the street. I was shooked: my friend Nestor was under a car. 

This happenned because four of my friends were sitting on the pavement while smoking, and, out of nowhere, a car ran over them, hitting one of my friends and dragging my friend Nestor. We were mortified. It felt like it was a scene from a movie: the police asking questions, the firefighters lifting the car, the ambulance checking on my friends… 

Luckily, my two friends have recovered completely from the accident. I am so happy for them. As for me, now I cannot cross the street without double or triple checking. This experienced has marked me forever.

6. A HOBBY

KNITTNG

I have a very restless mind. If I am not listening to music I am either cooking, drawing or reading a book. I am always looking for something new to do in order to keep my mind entertained. And, right now, my current obsession is knitting.

I started knitting this summer. My best friend learned how to knit last year so she wanted to teach me how to do it. It is truly a very difficult task. To carry out this activity, an intense amount of concentration is needed, apart from a big control of the fingers to loop the wool string with the needles. However, this activity makes me destress a lot, which the main reason I do it. In addition, I usually create tiny details like strawberry hats or sweaters for me or for my friends. Therefore, it is not only the process that makes me happy, but also the final product. 

My best friend's dog Yuri with a strawberry hat I made him.

7.  YOUR WORST HABIT

I cannot have my room clean for more than two hours. Even if I only have to do homework, stay still or chill in my bed, I will turn my bedroom in the messiest place to ever be in. 

My psychologist told me that the way our room looks reflects how our head must be mentally. In my case, it usually looks like a total disaster. However, I am confortable in my own messy head. In my defense, I have complete control of where everything (I am talking about my room). Each item, material or object has its place. One section is for art supplies, a whole shelf for make up, a never ending pile for CDs etc... They all  coexist in a natural ecosystem. 

Nevertheless, this also means that I have to constantly rearrange my whole room every single day. I am a very busy girl and so, I have a lot of things to do. Therefore, I try to concentrate in what I am doing first and then organize my working space. That way I get to do all my duties at once.

I know it is a horrendous habit but I am confortable in it. I will not overthink about it because I cannot change the way I am. The important thing is to not let everything to pile up until it explodes, wether if it is messiness or either if is my emotions. 

I resign to show pictures of my messy room, so I will just leave a song by Steve Lacy called Bad Habit.

 

8. A SPECIAL DAY OR EVENT IN YOUR LIFE.

The day that comes to my mind when I think of a special moment of my life was the day I spent along my two brothers and my godfather in London.

This day we woke up early and went to an Italian café near our hotel, which had a cozy feeling that made me want to stay the whole morning. Next, we headed to Hyde park and took a delightful long walk through all the park. 

Source: Wikipedia

A funny thing that happened there was that I picked a flower from the garden when it was prohibited to do so. I put it in my hair and when I turned around everyone was looking at my with a very nasty face (very British of them to be honest). I instantly turned red, it was embarrassing. After this long walk, we went to eat to a bar in London and visit different places there. The big part came at night. I got to go to the Royal Opera House to go see Werther. When we were waiting for the second act to start, I got to see different disguises from the ballet the Black Swan. They were inside in a glass show case, like a true piece of art.  Evidently, the opera was beyond words. I was so happy to be there, in front row. It was a wonderful day that I will never forget in my life.

Source: Royal Opera House

This was one of the costumes showed in the showcase .

Source: The Guardian

9. LEARNING TO PLAY A SPORT

I am not a very athletic person. I loathe sweating and suffering, not to mention the awful feeling of being out of breath. However, exercising has endless benefits in a person's body. I asked one of my closest friends, whose an athlete,  for some tips to start a new sport. These are some of them.

First of all, having fun is key. This is why designing an amusing routine that includes different exercises that uplift your emotional status is a really good idea. It is a truly difficult task to initiate into a sport from the beginning, so it is a interesting option to start easy exercises and rewarding your effort, regardless of obtaining enormous or little advances, which leads us to another tip: unrealistic objective are more detrimental than beneficial. Therefore, knowing your limits and setting little goals is essential. Sometimes a little goes a long way. Another great tip to start this new joinery is to do it with  friend or someone who you have a lot of fun with. 

I found a poster that compliments some of the advices above. Source: nubian doc

Adopting a habit in exercising incorporates good habits in our daily basis, and looking at is as an enjoyable self care time introduces a better concept of self confidence and self esteem. It is all about positive energy.

:D

10. YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT TO WATCH OR PLAY

Figure skating consist if interpreting a musical piece skating on an ice rink and performing pirouettes, turns, jumps and acrobatics. I considere it one of the most beautiful sports to exist currently. The elegance, poise and delicacy of each number is indescriptible. I also find it extremely beautiful. Sometimes they just look unreal. This dancers acquire a level of execution that it looks the simplest thing to do, while it is actually a nearly imposible task to do.

This is one of the routines I love the most. They performed a number with a version of The Police's song Roxanne, used in the film Moulin Rouge (one of my favorites)

Another sport I find amusing to watch is synchronized swimming. It is a discipline that combines swimming, gymnastics and dance, consisting of swimmers (either alone, as duos, teams or combined, also called combos) who perform a series of elaborate movements in the water, to the rhythm of music. The first time I saw it was on the Olympics where about 10 years ago. I absolutely loved it. The breathing control the swimmers have to master, the exaggerated makeup and the impossible movements they perform are mesmerising. It looks like an actual ballet done by aquatic creatures. Saying that I admire these athletes is understatement.

Another brilliant performance by the Spanish team with Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.

I enjoy watching these sport because I usually see it on the TV with my mother. We both adore how the light reflects on the sequence dresses some of the dancers wear or the risky movements the performers carry out.

11. A SPECIAL GIFT I HAVE RECIVED OR GIVEN

When I send a gift to a special someone I never choose a simple object. For me is more the connection the object can have with the person that receives it than the actual object itself. And I obviously do not focus on the money. Sometimes an especial gift can be expensive. Nevertheless I mainly try to give tiny but significant presents, to show how much I love that person.

One of my best gifts I have ever given is a CD for one of my most dearest friends, Pablo, just a day before he moved to Madrid to study there. His favorite singer is Kanye West so I decided to make a version of his album cover called My beautiful dark twisted fantasy. I edited the cover  putting one photo of us in the middle square. 

The original cover of MBDTF

After printing the edited cover I downloaded some of our favorite songs such as Fast car by Tracy Chapman, Come what may by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman and City of Stars from the movie LaLaLand. I put this records inside a virgin disk and put everything inside an empty CD case. I loved the process of choosing the songs and giving him this gift.

12. A BELIEF YOU HAVE OR USED TO HAVE

When I was little I thought the Moon followed me. I know it sounds weird but everytime I looked up to the sky at night, there she was, staring right at me. I could not understand why  the moon could not keep my eyes off of me. It started to become an obsession of mine. Every night, I would make sure the moon was not at seen when I looked through the window, because sometimes it scared the hell out of me. If sticked my head out of it and I saw her, I would throw all the blinds down to feel secure while sleeping. And just when I thought it could not get creepier, I became aware that even if I was inside my mother's car, she would still follow me. I could not get rid of her.

When I became older, this believe disappeared out of my concerns. It was obvious that the moon, a satellite, was not obsessed with me. I mean, she has enormous of duties to take care of, I don't know, like moving sea water or something. However, this idea of her following me came back a while ago and has not left yet.

I started to notice that in my blue nights or when I was going through rough times, I could see a ray of moonlight lighting my room. That white halo gave me peace and quiet.  But most importantly, I felt like I was not alone. In fact, she would not leave until I was completely calmed. It is crazy to believe it, but I feel like whenever I don't have anyone for me, I can always rely on her. I even talk about the Moon with she/her pronouns, as if she was a complete person.

I want to clarify that I don't act like she is an actual living thing. However, my inner child feels save whenever is night and she is right there, protecting me.

One of my favourite song about the moon is Blue Moon by Elvis Presley

13. MY FAVOURITE FOOD

My favorite food in the whole wide world is not a very elaborate dish. In fact, it is one of the easiest meal you can prepare to yourself. I love this particular item in every shape or form it can be cooked. It can be softly or hardly boiled, fried, poached, scrambled. I am talking about an egg.

This rounded fragile meal is one of the most versatile dish than you can have. Everybody loves eggs. In fact, I can assure you that it is actually one of the most likable foods existing. It can suit you in any mood. 

The egg style I enjoy the most is the softly boiled one. Especially when it is accompanied with a ham with tomato sandwich, also known as a 'catalana'.

Eating eggs make me happy. Enjoying food makes me happy. That is why I love eggs and I consider them the best meal to have. If you think otherwise you should rethink your existence. Just saying.

14. A BIG MISTAKE YOU ONCE MADE

When I was in first grade of ESO I became a very insecure girl. I felt like I did not belong anywhere. So I started to create a facade and act 'cool'. This included faking that I smoked, changing my believes in order to fit in in other groups (even if I did not even like the kids in them), putting on a certain kind of clothing that matched a 'cool' aesthetic, and, the worst thing I did, distancing myself from my best friends.

I had to hang out with the 'cool' kids every break we had each day, to make myself seen by them. Therefore, the time I had to spend with my friends, I was waisting it with people I didn't like. Not happy with that, I started rejecting and criticizing my old friends. I remember talking to a boy about how I could not stand anymore my friends because they where immature. The truth is, the immature one was me.

It even got to the point that I texted my best friend since I was 2 that I did not want to be her friend anymore. She felt devastated. When I got home I told my parents and my mother told me that it was a very big mistake what I had done. Leaving a 12 year friendship only to fit with people I did not actually like was a terrible idea. I ran and apologized to her and it was the best thing I have ever done. Sometimes we have to make mistakes in order to grow up, and I am deeply grateful to making the right decision when I could. 

me:

15. FAVOURITE POSSESSION

My favorite possession ever is a music box I bought in a trip to Galicia. My cousin and I went to buy some souvenirs for my brothers and her girls friend and we bumped into a market stall were the only objets exposed where tiny music boxes. I instantly went crazy.

When I was little, I had a heart-shaped music box which made the theme song of the sleeping beauty. I used to fell asleep with its soothing sound. One day, I started playing it and suddenly the music stopped. It was broken and we couldn't fix it. Since that day I wanted to find another music box that had a beautiful melody in it.

Luckily, the shop owner let me play the music boxes until I found the perfect one and, finally, I found it. It was a heart-shaped music box, with the main theme of La La Land, City of Stars. I could not be more happy. I instantly bought it and now I play it every night and remember that wonderful day in Galicia.

16. A IMPORTANT STORY IN THE NEWS

https://www.newsweek.com/britney-spears-won-freedom-legal-battle-father-begins-1648710

The 12th of November of 2021, Britney Spears, an international-known singer, won the legal fight against her dad for her freedom.

On January 4, 2019, Britney's announced that due to her father's health she singer would put her career on holdin order to spend more time with her family. Later, in March 2019 Spears reportedly checked into a psychiatric facility to focus on self-care amid the stress caused by her father's illness. However, based on anonymous information from a legal assistant, it seemed that Spears had been held against her will in the psychiatric facility since January 2019. This gave birth to the #FreeBritney movement, which received support from various celebrities, including Cher, Miley Cyrus and Paris Hilton.

It is known that Britney Spears has been a victim of the musical industry since her early years on Disney. She was forced to change her vocal performance, shifting from an alto range to the iconic Britney voice everyone knows. She has been working for as long as she can remember and sexualized since her early teenage years. It is no wonder that her parents, especially her father, are still trying to control her life, even in adulthood. 

This win has been a determining move for her achiving her freedom. It is also a very good example of how women are treated in the music industry. Therefore it will not only have a good repercussion in her life, but also an important step forward for femenine artists. 

17. SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES

Smoking is a very harmful activity that affects in the whole population. Nowadays, the 23º/o of the population smokes. It not only affects actively but also passively. Therefore, the debate in the population in wether it should be ilegal to smoke in public places or not.

I have friends that smoke since they were 12 literally. They were always smoking when we were hanging out outside and sometimes it really bother me. The smoke suffocates me and I hate how it smells. I understand if people do not want to experience of inhaling an unwanted gas. Sometimes smokers can be a little bit hideous when it comes to calling them out if it bothers other person. That is why I think there should be some kind of rule to stop some smokers from smoking constantly en in public places.

However, I also think that making it ilegal can restring some people in their freedom of doing what they want. I just think that while you don't bother anyone, you could do whatever you desire.

18. TEENAGERS

Teenagers nowadays are dominating the world. Their inclusion in bigger matter such as political movements or social initiatives is crucial for the understanding of new incorporations in modern day society. 

Teenagers are the owners of the future. What happens now will have a deep repercussion in their lives. This is why, almost every organization has incorporated a youngster inside their members. There must be a general awareness among teenagers to change the world. Initiative and mobilization needs to be assumed by the youth, or else the future will be abandoned. 

The implication of the youth in social media has also created a polarization in believes and political conscience. There is a big amount of extremist believes that usually come from misinformation that belong from media outlets and mass media. In the future talked about before will be a continuous fight between believes that will cause conflicts. There is more and more violence, not only verbal but also physical. There should be a place where teenagers can debate and discuss without the continuous conflict and, most importantly, a safe area to express and feel heard. 

It is very common to hear that youth must be involved in bigger matters but, is youth heard? It feels that it is expected for youngster to scream and shout their opinions but, are these opinions heard or is it just thrown to the bin? The response to youth about serious matters they must be involve is usually a loud silence. Nowhere to be found.

19. THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED

I am not a person that likes to establish rules in love. I consider myself as a hopeless romantic that would put love above everything else. I do not like to settle limits in love. However, love is not a thing that should be followed only by the heart. Thinking rationally is a must in every relationship. Jumping into new situations without thinking about them previously can set the end of a relationship from the beginning. For example, I do not think getting married too early in a relationship is a good option. And getting married by 18 or 21 is a horrible idea. At that age we are too naïve to think correctly. It is obvious that when you want to be with someone, you do everything that is your power to be with that special person forever. Nevertheless, love is beautiful when it is also thoughtful. The right age to get married does nott exist. It is when you are sure and old enough to know what it is best for you.

20. A STORY FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD

When I was three years old I left my house without anyone knowing.

It was a summer's day. My brother was playing a tennis game in the campus near my house. When the game finished, my mother had to go and pick up my brother to come back home. He was nine and it was too dangerous for him to walk alone. Anyways, my mom got out of the house and I started to feel hungry. Nobody was at home: my father was working and my twin was with his godfathers. When I started calling my mom, she obviously did not respond. So, I went out looking for her. Luckily (for me) it was this one time when she forgot to close the door and I left my house. I wondered alone looking for my mom. She was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, she got already home and she could not find me. She should have been super worried. Fortunately, my neighbourgh saw me and shouted: '¡¡Nena!! ¡¡Esa es la de la Manoli!!'. She then brought me back home. It was a happy ending... And I finally got something to eat.

21. A GOOD FRIEND

It is difficult to describe was a good friend is. A good friend is someone that  knows you, that takes you into account. A good friend is the one that waits for you to tie your shoe laces or gives your order when you are too shy to talk. Friends always have your back but also know when to call you out. Good friends are truthful and loyal, someone to talk to when feeling sad, euphoric, angry or joyful. Someone to cry on their shoulder during a breakup or when your favorite band goes on hiatus. A perfect friend loves you for who you are. 

You know when you have a good friend when you don't need to talk to him or her everyday to know you have the same trust in each other. True friend are in the lowest. When you do not feel like yourself anymore, there will always be that one person to talk to and remember who you are. True friends are on the highest, when you have to have fun and get out of the blue. There are few friends you can consider good ones. However, connecting with someone and you feel like you as genuine as you can be, must be one of the best experiences in life. There's no better thing as a good friend

22. HOW YOUR LIFE HAS CHANGED SINCE YOU CAME TO THE UNITED STATES

Ever since I have arrived to the United States, I felt like me myself has turned upside down completely. 

The first thing that comes to my mind when thinking about the biggest change is the weather. In Murcia, it was summer nearly all year long. It was never cold in that place. However, in the USA, especially in Minnesota (where I lived), you could never go outside without a jacket or an item to cover you up. It would be an assault against your well-being. 

Another important thing to mention is the enormous amount of cultures that coexists in the United States. One of my favourite benefits about travelling is that no matter what, you are going to learn new customs and traditions. In Spain, there are very little diverse cultures to learn from. However in the United States you can literally see how people embrace their cultures through the streets. The importance of maintenance about one's traditions is crucial nowadays, especially in a multicultural country like the USA.

There are some behaviors, however, that I do not quite understand. In my country, people are very near and expressive. If there is a problem, even a stranger would jump out to enter inside the discussion. While in the US, people normally act what I like to call fake polite. There are many assholes out there masking their hipocrite behavior. Americans don't seem to be very nice.

Above all, American is really different from my hometown. It is going to be difficult to adapt. I feel like home-sickness is going to last a while.

23. BEING ON TIME

I am starting off this text by confessing that I am not the most punctual being in the Earth. Being sincere, I am late to every personal meeting I have. And do not even get me started if the person I am meeting has a close relationship with me. 

However, when it is the case of a professional meeting, my anxiety reacts and I arrive at least ten minutes earlier. This assures me that anyone is going to be waiting for me. I have much respect for that.

This is a problem that I try to correct. I hate people that makes me wait for them. I do not like waisting my time. It is very precious, and I do not want to be an hypocrite. It is that sometimes I take too long to get dressed, finish my makeup and make sure I have everything for the meeting. 

To this unpunctual personality sums the fact that I cannot use correctly any public transport. I do not understand why, but I always miss the bus or the trolley car. It is either that or that I confuse the transport I should use to get to the spot of the meeting.

It is obvious that I have a big problem and that I should change it. I am proud to say that I am working on it.

24. THE PEOPLE YOU LIVE WITH

The people I live with are my family. My mother, my twin brother, my elder brother and my father.

My two brothers are fundamental two me. My twin, Hugo, is my male version. He nows how I'm feeling without the need of telling him anything. He supports me in every decision and when I'm wrong, we is always there to tell me and guide me to be a greater person.  

My other brother is called Juan Ginés. He is the most mental stabled person I know. He thinks rationally every time I experience anxiety points in my life. When I need someone to feel relaxed, he is always there to help me. I never feel alone when I'm with him. Never.

I also have my mom, Manuela, who is the strongest woman I could ever meet.  She is kind and smart and she is always there to fight for me. She is my biggest fan. My dad, Ginés, also is a very nice person. I like to share music with him and talk about literature.

I feel save in my home.

25. AMERICAN CUSTOMS YOU LIKE/DISLIKE

Americans can be a different kind of breed sometimes. Living in America being originally from Spain has changed my perspective on how societies act in different areas of the world. Some customs from America must be taken into everyones daily basis while others, just need to be erased.

I think the best customs that Americans have is to tip every time they get served. It is very common for them to even negotiate with the server to give him or her the money he or she deserves. I also consider that making house decorations competition is also a very fun activity to do. It connects the neigbourghood and people could enjoy these kind of special days in community.

However, there are more custom that I dislike than customs I actually like. For example, driving  everywhere. In Europe, it is more common to take a walk to places while in the United States it is more usual to take a car or a taxi. Some other traditions like their food culture disgust me. They add meat, cheese, fast food to everything. But the worst custom they have and I think it is the worst is their gun culture. Wearing weapons with themselves, in their house, or outside makes me sick to my stomach. 

26. THE WORKING STUDENT

The working student is the most left behind individual in society. Having to study and to work at the same time is the most difficult situation a young person can have. It is too much stress for one only person. 

Nowadays, having a job that can sustain a normal life (food, healthcare, hobbies etc...) means that you have to have a degree or another type of certificate. In addition, working students face a very high rent currently. This means that having a normal life is a much complicated task to pursue. At the same time, the university or other high educational institutions put a lot more pressure in the person. Having to study, finishing homework, assignments and having to work at the same time erases every spare time someone could have to themselves. 

Luckily there are some existing scholarships that help these hard-working students to pay educational matters. Nevertheless, the money is rising everywhere. Inflation affects in products, rent, registrations, food, leisure... It is one of the biggest problems in youngsters. Governments and political institutions must help the youth because, at the end of the day, they are the future.

27. USING E-MAIL

The e-mail has turned upside down information exchange. There are some advantages and disadvantages about this communicating instrument.

 Sending and receiving mail happens almost instantly. As you click on "send", email work with precision and speed to take your emails to their correct recipients. In addition, it's easy to use both in the composition and reading of emails, as well as the highly intuitive functions for anyone with minimal knowledge of the Internet and computers. Finally, it is accessible from anywhere and ecological. In this time of climate crisis, avoiding paperwork helps save natural resources.

However, it requires continuous attention and timely response. If collaborators let their inbox fill up, this can lead to unread or ignored emails. And an email that goes unanswered for a long time can be the difference between having a satisfied customer or an angry one. Furthermore, it can cause information overload. Without spam filters or labels to classify recipients, irrelevant messages may get in the way of business communication. To end, it can cause misunderstandings and it is easier to get hacked.

In conclusion, using email can be a very easy, direct and approachable instrument of communication but it can also be a handicap at times. It is all in the correct usage of it.

28. CELL PHONES

    When we go out on the street, get on a bus, go to the movies or take a walk, it is not uncommon to see almost all teenagers with their mobile phones in their pockets, chatting with special slang or sending messages at a speed. The reality is that the addiction to mobile phones exists on the part of a large number of adolescents who literally spend the day hanging from their mobile phones.

    The dependence on smartphones is leading to these having a negative effect on health, an example of which is the problems they cause to fall asleep. The high frequency of mobile phone use can have a negative impact on our stress levels. The constant ringing of calls, vibrating alerts, and reminders can easily stress you out.

    To conclude, I'm going to ask a question. It has to do with whether the moment we are currently living in is more important or being connected to the mobile:what is more important to enjoy the sunset or take a picture of it? What is more important to enjoy the presentation of some colleagues, a conversation in the work group or be with the mobile?

29. SHOPPING

Nowadays with social media and the urge of fitting in, people are starting to base their personality in one's look. This lead into a necessity of shopping new items and clothing every once in a while, to follow trends that usually never last more than one month. These are called micro trends.

Overconsumption has always been a concerned in modern society. However, the viralization of fashion icons such as Bella Hadid or Emma Chamberlain, has created a new necessity for youngsters to maintain their social statues in fashion matters. Some of these icons are also the highest peak of beauty standards that a normal person cannot follow, because of economic capacities.

It is really sad how the world is turning into a superficial place and how youngsters are assuming thinks in the media that are not real. Shopping is liberating when it comes to purchasing any item you lie. Butt are you buying it because you like it or because everyone has it? 

30. YOUR LAST DAY IN YOUR COUNTRY

My last day in Spain was hurtful as well as emotional. I had to say goodbye to my family and my closest friends for a year. Saying that I am going to miss them is an understatement. I wish could stay here a little while, but there are greater opportunities awaiting in the outside world. 

If I could take every each and everyone of my people in a box and take them with me, I wouldn't hesitate. Having my friends around is one of the main reasons I am happy, but I have to learn how to be on my own. 

While I was packing my belongings and clothing, I was remembering every little d¡thing that made me happy in the last year. Every laugh. Every hug. Every joke. Everything. I guess these memories are coming with me to the United States. These will not be my last ones. I just keep them save in my heart, like in a cage, to remember every loved one I have at home. Cannot wait to know what is awaiting me out there.

31. YOUR FIRST DAY IN THE UNITED STATES

My first day in the United States was truly difficult.

To start off, I almost miss my flight. It was an eleven hour journey to New York City. It would have been a terrible moment but I took the fastest run ever and I arrived just in time. When the plane got to the airport, I was really jet lagged and tires, so I couldn't process anything. It was the moment that I saw the host family I was going to live with, that everything came to my mind. I was going to be without my friends and family during a whole year. I felt frightened.

They drove me to my new house and I loved that place. They took me to my room and I started unpacking my clothes and belongings. It looks silly, but my bedroom smelled something close to what my home smells like, and it helped me a lot. 

I decided to ask the daughter that had my age, Sarah, to show me the neighborhood. So, we went and took a walk around it. The place was beautiful. Just like in the movies. It is true that it was freezing cold, but everything else what literally perfect. The neighbourghs we jumped into seemed very nice. Even some of them invited me to a party, which I will go for sure. 

Later, at night, we had a nice dinner with the family and I felt very welcomed. It was obviously not like in my house, next to my brothers, but I did not feel like an alien. Sarah is twin with Marcus. He is a very nice boy, just like his sister. And the parents, Lisa and Louis, had this politeness that did not seem fake. I think they are a genuine nice family.

Above all, the day was very emotional. This home-sickness will leave sooner or later. But I think this is going to be a tremendous experience. Wish me luck!

32. THE BEST CAR TO OWN

I am not a fan of cars. I even have not got a drivers license for a car, I have one to ride motorcycles. However there is one car I would adore to have.

This car was created in the year 2006. It is one of the most expensive cars ever created. It is covered up by a stunning glossy red all over it. Its wheels are made of a very thick rubber that can resist one hour long races. 

This car has competed in official championships such as the 'Piston Cup', which is a very relevant race in sport of cars. 

This car is  very iconic due to the fact that it has a recognizable sticker on its side. It has a shape of a lighting. It also has the number 95 inscripted on the design. It also makes a lot of noises, sometimes you could even hear it talk. Especially when the car wins a competition. It is said that it says something like Katchow! 

I love this car. It is a very pretty car that can also be very particle when driving. It looks like it has a mind of its own... Oh! I forgot to mention the name of the model. Its name is Lighting, Lighting McQueen.

33. A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE

While I was trying on makeup on my best friend and I got a call. I was so into the task that I hanged up the call. Then, a message arrived. It was my cousin asking if my brother was OK. I responded her that why she was asking me that. And she responded me: "my father just told me your brother has lost his conscience". I absolutely lost it. I ran as fast as I could towards my house (luckily my best friend is also my neighbor).

 When I got to my house and I saw my brother laying down, I started bawling my eyes out. He was conscientious but he was acting weird. He was continually asking the same questions:" am I at home?" "Have I fell down?" "Have I done the EBAU?". He had completely lost his memory.

In the end, he got to the hospital. The doctor told us his brain was perfect, but the concussion had made him lose his short term memory and that he would progressively gain it. And so he did. Now, we make jokes about his amnesia but in that moment we were terrified. One of the worst experiences of my life.

34. MY FAVOURITE POEM

When I was a kid, I loathed poetry. I could never understand what I wanted to express a verse. I used to see it useless, pointless. They always instilled in me to read out of obligation, as an activity to strengthen the intellect and that's it. I didn't read for what it is, art. So I just stopped doing it.

I spent a long time without opening a miserable book. No type of reading filled me up. No type of book filled me up. Nothing inspired me the need to invent images in my head from letters deliberately written on a piece of paper. Until I hit rock bottom. In the worst moment of my life I rediscovered reading and found what would later be my future passion, poetry.

In the fourth year of ESO, we gave literature from the 19th century to the 20th century and the teacher asked us to analyze poems belonging to the modernists and my beloved Generation of '97. What for my classmates was the worst task to do, I considered it a hobby: counting syllables, to distinguish types of sonnets, to find metaphors and their meanings... Nothing seemed enough to me. I had to get to the bottom of the meaning.

The¡is kind of 'homework' were nothing compared to what I did at home. I read Renaissance theater, librettos of Romanticism plays, Shakespearean sonnets in bilingual format, until I came across the poem that completely undid me: Romance de la Luna, Luna, by Lorca.

This poem is about how a gypsy child was captivated by the Moon, Lorca's eternal metaphor to symbolize omen, fatal destiny. This one gets into the lake where the white satellite is reflected. And so, he is found his family in eternal rest.

At that moment I lost it. It affected me so much that I started bawling my eyes out. A poem had never caused me so much emotion, affecting me physically, literally making my hair stand on end.

Since then I became a Lorca groupie. Even my first tattoo is dedicated to him. This author represents for me a resurgence in my person. There is nothing that makes me happier than reading his verses or his tragic plays. I learned with him to want to know more about international literature. His poem lives on in one of my core memories and now, also on my skin. I will not part with what it means to me.

Romance of the moon, moon

The moon came down to the forge

with her broad skirt of tuberoses.

The boy looks and looks at her,

the boy is looking at her.

 

On the deeply touched air

the moon swings her arms

and shows, both lewd and pure

her nipples of hard tin.

 

Flee, moon, moon, moon.

Should the gypsies come around

they would carve out of your heart

white rings and necklaces.

 

Boy, just leave me to my dancing.

When the gypsies do come,

they'll find you upon the anvil

with your little eyes closed.

 

Flee, moon, moon, moon,

for I feel their horses drawing near.

Leave me be, boy, do not tread

on my starched pallor.

 

The rider was drawing near,

drumming on the plains' drum.

inside the forge, the boy

lies with closed eyes.

 

Down the olive tree patch came

the gypsies, made of bronze and sleep.

Their heads standing high,

their eyes squinting.

 

Oh, how the heron sings,

oh, how she sings in her tree!

Through the sky, the moon walks

with a child grasping her hand.

 

Inside the forge, they cry,

the gypsies- they loudly cry.

The air keeps watch, keeps watch.

The air is keeping watch.

35. MY FAVOURITE MOVIE

I consider myself as a hopeless romantic. I am obsessed with the feeling of loving and being loved in return. That is why my favorite genre is romantic comedy. 

I think I have probably seen every rom-com that has ever existed. From Roman Holiday to 10 things I hate about you to Four weddings and a funeral and so on... However, when I am asked about my favorite movie I always respond with the same title: Notting Hill.

This romantic comedy tells the story of how Anna, a well-known actress, meets Will, a bookshop owner, fall in love. It takes place mainly in  Notting Hill, a neighborhood in London. 

I consider it a perfect movie due to the brilliant capacity to capture constant romantic scenes without making it clingy, but iconic. The trackless, the natural performances both Julia Roberts and Hugh grant deliver in each scene. I just think of either as a confort movie and I would watch it a thousand times if I could. I cannot get tired of it.