Exams II

Por fin acabé exámenes. Bueno, en realidad hace ya tiempo que los terminé pero estaba pendiente de las notas, porque en este primer semestre hay dos convocatorias, y si no va bien en la primera se va a la segunda, bien sea para subir nota o para aprobar. Así que hay que esperar impaciente a los resultados para ver si toca seguir estudiando o no.

En mi caso, nunca he sido partidaria de volver a hacer un examen para subir nota, creo que echo el resto en el primero y no soy capaz de hacer dos veces el esfuerzo si no es estrictamente necesario. Pero aquí el ambiente es distinto, mis compañeros le dan excesiva importancia a las notas, algunos intentan mejorar lo inmejorable.

Cuando empecé esta nueva etapa universitaria estaba totalmente asustada, volver a estudiar, hacer exámenes… pero sobre todo al principio me veía incapaz de hacerlo todo en un idioma que no era el mío. Cinco meses más tarde las cosas ya han cambiado, no tengo ningún problema en hacer el examen escrito en inglés, aunque hablar en clase y pensar en exámenes orales me cuesta mucho todavía y me seguirá costando porque me siento muy insegura al hablar delante de la clase.

Así que estos meses atrás he estado estudiando duro, más que en toda mi vida!!! Al principio, como hacía tanto que no estudiaba, lo cogía con ganas, sé que vais a pensar que soy un bicho raro si digo que me gusta estudiar… desde luego que prefiero party tonight, lo que quiero decir es que estaba muy motivada por estar de nuevo en la universidad y tal.

Este primer semestre he tenido tres asignaturas: marketing, calidad e innovación. Marketing era totalmente nuevo para mí pero me ha gustado bastante, aunque hay que empollar mucho, muchas cosas de memoria, y es muy pesado estudiar cosas de memoria. Pero pienso que he aprendido mucho marketing y eso está bien.
De calidad e innovación me sonaba alguna cosilla, pero también me tuve que poner las pilas.

Innovación ha sido mi asignatura favorita con diferencia. Teníamos un examen a mitad de semestre que no tenía mucho peso para la nota final, era más peso psicológico, porque era el primer examen de la carrera. Estudié bastante porque si me salía mal sabía que me iba a desmoralizar bastante. Así que cuando vi el 30.75 sobre 33 puntos, me animó mucho.

Casualmente con la gente que me he juntado son realmente buenos, inteligentes y exigentes consigo mismos, quizás le den demasiada importancia a los resultados, hasta el punto de valorar a una persona según las notas que está sacando…

Pero bueno, hablando de innovación, no sólo me fue bien en el examen de mitad sino que en el final también y he sacado la máxima nota que se podía sacar, creo que en España sería un sobresaliente con matrícula de honor o algo así, no estoy muy segura…así que hoy cuando lo he sabido hasta me he recuperado un poco de la “gripe” o lo que sea que me ha cogido estos días, y que me tiene atada a la cama casi sin poder hacer nada :(

En fin, las otras dos asignaturas, no han sido tan brillantes ni mucho menos, así que no entraré en detalles, jeje.

Un abrazo, espero recuperar mi salud pronto, que llevo unos días pachuchilla, y volver a ser la misma de siempre.


Mi habitación

Este es uno de los post que tenía pendiendes ni lo sé el tiempo que hace.

Así que por fin os enseño mi habitación. En Como estoy compartiendo un pequeño apartamento, que tiene un dormitorio grande, que ocupan mis dos compañeras chinas y una especie de cocina-salón, que es donde duermo yo. Como ya he comentado alguna vez el mayor inconveniente es que no hay verdadera separación entre la cocina que compartimos tres y lo que sería “mi cuarto”, sólo hay un mueble que hace las veces de biombo.

Mi habitación ha evolucionado mucho desde septiembre, de hecho, ahora ya no está igual de como véis en las fotos, he cambiado un montón de veces los muebles de sitio, y eso que solo tengo 3 piezas intercambiables, pero da mucho juego.

Así estaba mi cuartito cuando mi hermano y su novia me hicieron una visita a los tres días de llegar yo a Como

Y así es cómo ha quedado

Haciendo click en estas fotos, se pueden ver más grandes.

Ciao ragazzi


Scholarships for studying in Italy

Hi everybody!!

As promised, I came back, and I have lots of things to tell you guys.

To start with, I will explain in further detail about the scholarship I have for studying in Italy, and how to apply.
I wanted to do it since long time ago, finally I will write in English because all things related are in English. I hope this to be useful for those who have asked me.

First of all, the University. As you know I am studying at the Politecnico di Milano http://www.polimi.it/ , but it doesn’t mean that I study in Milano because this University has two campus inside the city but it has also campus all around Lombardy, so I belong to Polo Regionale di Como http://www.polo-como.polimi.it/

Actually, people that are holding the same scholarship as I are either studying in Como or in Lecco, in both cases Master of Science.

I haven’t seen all campuses, Como Campus consist on a few building that from outside seem to be still under constructions, the fact is that is very young campus, but personally I think is a good university, at least it uses the latest IT technologies.

Now I will introcuce what is a Master of Science (so if you already know you can skip this part and go to the scholarships one)

The EU has the intention to adopt a education system with two main cycles, that are Bachelor and Master of Science. Therefore, Bachelor is a three-year undergraduate program that can be followed by a Master of Science that is a two-year graduate program.
This 3+2 program sutis the ECTS credits system, a Bachelor degree corresponds to 180 credits and a Master of Science to 120.

Everything regardin foreigners can be found in the English version of the web http://www.polimi.it/english/

Here you will find all the information about the Scholarships for foreign students:
http://www.polimi.it/english/academics/scholarships.php?id_nav=-247
There are several types of scholarships.

Last year I applied for ICE - UNIONCAMERE PROJECT – Scholarships, and I got the one of 8 thousand euros per year for two years.
This covers all the expenses, accommodation, food, books, etc. Actually I and almost everybody I know are living in a simple way, I mean, we do not expend a lot, so the money we have is enough (of course is much better for those who got 10 thousand euros).

ICE Scholarships is for those who apply for Como and Lecco campus and mainly for Master of Science that are taught in English.

As you can see, it is not so bad to be paid for studying. Somehow you have more pressure because, at least in my case, I would like to demonstrate with results that I deserved the Scholarship and they did well.

So, how to apply, they explain everything the web http://www.polimi.it/english/academics/how_to_apply/eu/EUcitizens_graduate.php?id_nav=-259
Aplication procedure
http://www.polimi.it/cms/file/-259/Online_application-procedure_2006.pdf

I am noticing that this year is everything much more clear, last year I can tell it was a really mess, as it was the first year. But I realize that now they may are more strict, there is even a list of the minimum academic performance for each country.

When can you do it? … right now, that is what Polimi says:

Remember that the earlier you send in your application and material, the better the possibility of having an early response regarding admission. Furthermore, keep in mind that applications received after April 28, 2006 will not be considered for international student scholarships and admissions decisions will most probably not be communicated until October. Again, incomplete documentation and/or applications will NOT be considered, so please pay close attention to the checklist furnished below.

I will write a second post if somebody wants to know further details, some recommendations, curiosities, whatever.

I hope to welcome you next year in Italy!!! So, good luck for those who decide to apply!!!


Brokeback Mountain



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Finally I could manage to go to the cinema here in Italy, and I am so glad of the good choice, Brokeback Mountain.
Although right now I am missing a lot of cinema actuality, I had heard so much about Brokeback Mountain which has been very awarded and holds a long list of nominations to the Oscar awards. Let’s see…
The nominations are in the main categories, that are: best film, director, actors, actress, photography, adapted script and original soundtrack.

The music and photography are really good, even thought I do not like westerns, I found a great atmosphere. Ang Lee, director born in Taiwan, is very well know for films such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, that got recognition in an Oscar edition some years ago.

What can I say about the cast! The two main actors are amazing in their different characters. They are Heath Ledger (in the role of Ennis del Mar) and Jake Gyllenhaal (in the role of Jack Twist), and besides their beauty, through their magnificence performance you can feel the emotions they show without needing words.



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Basically, Lee is carefully telling a love story, that is a gay love story, what in the deep America of 60’s and 70’s means certainly a hidden love. Further, is a true love, long-lasting love, but impossible love. Two men living their stereotyped lives while loving each other in Brokeback Mountain.

A lot has been said about this film, even has been censured in some countries. Hopefully things are changing, might not all around the world, but at least in Spain homosexuality is currently treated better and better.

If you want to know more about, there is even a blog (in Spanish), either you can visit the official web page of Brokeback Mountain.


Entrevista para Spaniards

Eneko me ha hecho una entrevista para Spaniard. El link es éste.

Espero que os guste.

Besos


Cerrado por “exámenes”

Hola a todos,
posiblemente mi humilde blog va a estar un tanto inactivo por unos días, así que sólo quería deciros que hasta prontito y que vuelvo pronto, lo prometo.
Besos y abrazos


Internet Explorer 7 (Beta)

Hi everybody!!

I am very busy with exams but I wanted to tell you that Internet Explorer 7 is already available for trying (beta 2 version test). You can download for free, although right now is just working with Windows XP (Service Pack 2), they will widen the implementation shortly.

The main improved features are: new interface, tabbed browsing, search, RSS feed and security.
To those, like me, that normaly browse with Mozilla Firefox, you will realise that is just an imitation of its advantages. In my case, I use 90% firefox as a browser, mainly because de tabs thing, but it has broader features.

Enjoy the test!


Exams I

Hi everybody!

My days here are not very exciting, you know, there are no lessons at the university, but it seems that all the time should be spent on studying, if I do something else, or when I don’t do anything at all I feel kind of guilty.

My first exam was last Tuesday, Marketing written exam, quite hard, by the way. We were given a company case study, which was “just” 24 pages, full of text and tables of figures. And in four hours you are suppose to save the life or the company, due that those case study usually are based on critical moments of important companies, crossroad where an important decision must be taken. So, manage your four hours to know the company as If you were the CEO, and make an strategy, answer the questions and explain all in the best possible way.

If I pass this exam, which only weights 40% of the final mark, I will have the opportunity to access to the oral exam, which is the important.
So let’s wait for the results, anyway I have been studying more Marketing during all the day.
Is not that bad, because now studying is my job, they are paying me an scholarship that cover all my expenses just to study, that’s why I try to do it so hard.

The days are passing fast. It is true that is not just studying, we are meeting friends too, and even last week I had a very cool dinner party. Moreover, the house task, supermarket, cleaning, cooking…

There are still mountains of snow everywhere, ohhh, the other day I slipped and fell to the pavement when I was going to take my bike!! (Adol, you see I haven’t changed, I keep on falling as a little child ;) )

Kisses for all my friends. Girls, keep me informed of all the current affairs, I miss you all so much!!!


Spaniards.es

Hace tiempo que quería hablaros del proyecto Spaniards, pero nunca voy al día con los temas…

Hace unas semanas recibí un correo de Eneko Alonso con una invitación para formar parte de Spaniards.es “La comunidad de españoles en el mundo”. Junto con Kirai, han creado esta página que sirve de nexo de los españoles que estamos expatriados, es decir, viviendo en otro país.

El objetivo, en palablas de Eneko es “unirnos un poco a todos los que estamos fuera, aportando información que pueda ser útil a futuros españoles que quieran viajar, y a la vez hacer algo que nos permita conocer a otras personas que viven cerca de nosotros, o asociaciones, etc”, y creo que lo estamos cumpliendo :)

No estamos todos los que somos, pero todos los que estamos somos :P . A muchos ya los conozco porque leo todo lo que escriben, como Fer, Pablo, u Oria, pero también he descubierto gente que tengo cerca y que no conocía, como Zordor.

La página es muy completa y muy interesante aunque uno no sea expatriado. Una de las muchas cosas que se pueden encontrar es el Mapa de españoles en el mundo.

Spaniards acaba de empezar, a ver hasta dónde llegamos, por mi parte espero escribir pronto un artículo detallado de lo que estoy haciendo y cómo conseguí la beca que tengo, que está muy muy bien y creo que es bastante desconocida, por lo menos en España.

Un abrazo a todos.


The Zahir




Today I will speak about last book I have read. As you probably know, I am a long time admirer of Coelho’s books, from “The Alchemist” to “Eleven Minutes”, and “The Zahir” is his last publication, so I made it a must to read it.

Actually, I was a bit disappointed for some parts of the book, maybe I was expecting too much of it.

Generally speaking, it deals about a relationship of a writer and his wife (sometimes it seems to be autobiographic) who has suddenly disappeared of his life. He is captivated by why his wife has disappeared. “Did she find a new love? Was she kidnapped? Was she simply bored with her marriage?”

He wrote in this book about love, marriage, life, how he realized that for the first time in his life, he loves someone more than himself and he leaves all and go to search for his love, explaining how beautiful it is to hold on to your love no matter what happens.

I still recommend this book, as all Paulo Cohelo’s book it will make you reflect.