Moving on

Amintiri din scoala (profesori ciudati)

2011-08-22T20:36:00.018+01:00

Imi aminteam azi de vremea cand eram in liceu si in generala si de cei cativa, putini din fericire, profesori ciudati pe care i-am avut. Parca ma doare mintea acum cand ma gandesc ce lucruri se intamplau in scoala acum 15 ani.

Probabil cel mai ciudat exemplar e fostul profesor de geografie din generala dl Kiss Márió care venea la ore si turuia fara oprire lectia, pe care noi o scriam dupa dictare care cum puteam mai repede, pentru ca la un moment dat domnul profesor isi indrepta degetul catre cineva din clasa care trebuia sa repete turuiala initiala. Daca nu mai stia ce s-a spus, si nu putea sa repete rapid, fara ezitare, lua nota mica. Trebuia sa spui repede ce ai de spus, daca nu, luai nota mica. Chiar si lista cu absenti de la inceputul orei, daca nu era recitata repede de catre elevul de serviciu acesta risca un frumos 4. O, dar partea amuzanta - trista dar si amuzanta in acelasi timp, venea cand erai 'ascultat'. Procedura era asa: veneai cu caietul la catedra continand toate lectiile scrise, carevasazica scrisul dupa dictare era o aptutidine cu totul dezirabila. Dupa aceea te intorceai cu fata la tabla si incepeai sa turui, cat de repede posibil si fara intrerupere, 10 munti, 10 ape, 10 orase etc, chiar daca repetai, important era sa nu te opresti, altfel cel mai probabil luai o nota mica. Partea amuzanta era ca nu conta ceea ce spuneai atata timp cat spuneai repede. Erau colegi care turuiau toate prostiile posibile si fara nici cea mai mica legatura cu geografia. Evident ca ne prapadeam de ras, dar totusi discret, ca domnul profesor sa nu ne observe si sa ne dea vreun 2 pentru ca am ras. Deci rapiditatea = nota buna. Si mai era ceva care iti garanta o nota mare, mai precis tigari, bani, si alte nimicuri, cu alte cuvinte spaga. Ce e interesant e ca domnul profesor nu era nebun sau ticnit, stia exact ce face, pentru ca se comporta exemplar la inspectii sau cand avea vizite la ore. Doar ca nu vroia sa se comporte exemplar in rest. Pacat de toate orele alea pierdute si de saraca geografie.

Un alt exemplu, poate nu neaparat foarte ciudat, si cu siguranta nu unic, a fost fostul profesor de istorie, dl Stefan Alexandru, care in general era simpatizat, in ciuda comportamentului sau neadecvat fata de anumiti elevi, in principiu cei care 'vorbeau' la ore. Tin minte si acum cum ii chema in fata foarte calm, si ii lovea atat de brusc si puternic, incat saracii copii cadeau lovindu-se de cate un colt de banca si ramanand cu cucuie. Sau cum ii prindea de cate un smoc de par si ii invartea pana cand smocul ramanea in mana. Ma mir si acum cum de nimeni nu a reclamat nimic atunci, cum ni se parea aproape normal sa fie asa. Un stil vechi, comunist, de aplicare a pedepselor corporale. Acelasi domn profesor, participand anul acesta la intalnirea de 10 ani, si fiind salutat de o fosta eleva care dorise sa schimbe cateva vorbe, raspunde prin 'nu te apropia de mine, nu imi plac cei care au plecat din tara, serios, nu te apropia'. Fosta eleva ii raspunde 'glumiti domnule profesor', insa profesorul continua sa se retraga, si atunci am inteles ca intr-adevar domnul profesor vorbea serios. Nu ii placeau cei care au plecat din tara si nu vroia sa vorbeasca sau sa fie aproape de ei. Nu cumva e o mentalitate prea ingusta pentru un profesor mai ales? Si o atitudine total nepoliticoasa si iesita din normal? M-a socat, pur si simplu.

Ati avut si voi profesori din acestia? Ciudati sau ticniti sau oricum ati vrea sa le spuneti.

A fantastic promotional film - Portugal

2011-07-30T10:35:00.006+01:00

Just discovered this yesterday and I simply love it! So well made and bringing the essence of what Portugal is and has to offer.

Have experienced all that and it is so emotional to remember! A part of me will always be there...

Our civil marriage ceremony

2010-02-08T00:17:00.030Z

At the Coventry Register Office - 23rd of January 2010

With our witnesses - Bogdan and Ovidiu :-)

First Romanian shop in Lisbon

2009-09-13T21:37:00.004+01:00

I recently found the site of the first Romanian shop in Lisbon www.alecsmagazin.com. We passed by today and bought a few things that we didn't have for some time now :-). The shop has a reasonable range of products and the prices are ok too. We'll go back for sure ;-)

Funny street name

2009-06-13T16:16:00.009+01:00

I was searching today on Google Maps a location in the area of Odivelas (a little town next to Lisbon). I found what I was looking for, but I also saw another street with a name which may be funny - but just for who understands Romanian :))

Work related mentalities

2009-05-30T00:05:00.011+01:00

It can be interesting to observe the mentalities in different countries towards work and the relation with the company. How and what makes the people have a certain atitude towards work? The education? The fact that they don't know that it can be different? That they got used to like that? Maybe a mix of these.

There is a definite difference between this mentality in some Portuguese companies (if not in the majority) and in the foreign ones that are based in Portugal. I can sadly recognize in the first, one that exists also in Romania. The one in which the employee must be a kind of modern slave, that should sacrifice everything for the company, his time, personal life and energy, and without asking too much in return; obviously we can't speak here about respect for the person. This would be - let's say understandable - from the part of the company. But it is strange and honestly -sad - to see that the employees are not only accepting it, but are perpetuating it, as if it would be normal and ok. Why? Desperation for keeping a job? Maybe at some of them; but there are many that are going on like this for years. I suppose they hadn't had the chance to know a different way.

In contrast, in a foreign company there is a different way, a more respectful atitude for the people, a smarter way, I would say.

I am not saying that there is a perfect company; each has its pluses and minuses. But personally I believe, thinking at long term, that fairness and respect for the individual are key factors.

A new chapter

2009-02-24T13:04:00.021Z

So, yes, Portugal it will be :-); Lisbon particularly, as we were planning. We'll soon go back to the sunny land and start an exciting new chapter!

Can't wait! ;-)

Great news from Portugal!!!

2009-01-06T22:05:00.024Z

Finally great news in a long time - from Portugal!

The working restrictions for the Romanians are off! Now we can freely work in Portugal!

Now we can realistically think of going back to our favourite city, the place where we felt home - Lisbon.

ATÉ BREVE!

Here is the announcement from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the opening of the Portuguese labour market.

London

2009-01-02T19:02:00.014Z

As there were some free days between Christmas and the New Year, we went to visit London. From all the times of the year, we chose the coldest one :D, it was freezing.. I must say that I'll try to avoid that in the future, when visiting ;-) But anyway, it was not bad.

As being the holidays, the city was more crowded than usual. Indeed it has some great attractions, but in the rest I didn't find it so impressive, as I would of expected...Lisbon is still my favourite :D

We stayed in a well located hotel, near to Victoria tube line, so it was easy to move around - we exclusively used the tube, as it was easy to get anywhere faster and cheaper; the transport is pretty expensive in London.

Oh, and near to the hotel there was a Portuguese restaurant...it was such a nice atmosphere and great food, just like in Portugal; we also had some pastéis de nata, of course...I missed them :P

Here are some of the places that we visited:

Buckingham Palace

Queen Victoria's statue in front of Buckingham Palace

Big Ben

view from London Bridge - over the Thames and the famous Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge

inside Tower of London

inside Tower of London; view over White Tower

We couldn't miss Madame Tussauds; it was so annoyingly crowded though...Not easy to get to the celebrities, even wax ones :P

Madame Tussauds

with José :P

this guy had the hair almost like Einstein :))

scary Vlad, one of the few Romanian celebrities :P

The Houses of Parliament with Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

London Eye

Trafalgar Square

Covent Garden

in Covent Garden

St. Paul's Cathedral

A great thing in London is that the museums have generally free entry; at least this compensates the other pretty expensive attractions. There are many "not to be missed" museums, yet we didn't see all of them, we would of needed a week only for the British Museum. Anyway, we saw the most important pieces.

British Museum

inside British Museum

Natural History Museum

dinosaur (Natural History Museum)

at the Natural History Museum

More pictures from London and Madame Tussauds

Restriction on voting

2008-11-25T21:34:00.010Z

As on the 30th of November there are parlamentary elections in Romania, I looked for the places where you can vote in UK.

So far, if you were abroad, either for visiting or for a longer period of time, you could vote in the country you happened to be, at the Romanian Embassy or other places specially organised for this purpose. All you should have was your ID. But not from now on! Like all the restrictions that the Romanians have to face abroad were not enough, they have been imposed another one! This time by their own government: the restriction on voting.

Yes, now, as a Romanian abroad, you need other proofs, beside your ID, to vote. A proof of being a Romanian over 18 is not enough! Now you need working permits, permanent residence and other things like that. For example, for voting in UK, you would need one of these:

1. proof of permanent residence
2. blue registration certificate, regarding the access on the labour market
3. yellow registration certificate, regarding the right of being self-employed, of student with the right of working part time, of self-suficient person
4. accession worker card (which supposes having a work permit)
5. the document that certifies the registration at the local authorities regarding the local taxes
6. renting contract registered at the local authorities
7. National Insurance Number/Health Registration Number
8. a full UK driving licence

The election law has been changed (new election rules) to restrict the right to vote also of some of the Romanians abroad. That is a big disgrace coming from the goverment of their own country. I am disgusted! Shame!

Fonejacker

2008-11-10T08:52:00.010Z

I've discovered 2 weeks ago, on Channel 4, a hilarious show - Fonejacker; one guy - who can switch to a bunch of different accents - is giving prank-calls to people..But, better watch it! ;-)

Here are some that I like:

Terry Tibbs - Maserati 3200

Internet Service Providings

Rapper

Monies

The handing in of the petition at 10 Downing Street and the first reply

2008-11-07T10:34:00.022Z

The petition of the Romanians in the UK had been handed in at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British prime minister.

Cristina Irimie, chief editor of the London based Romanian newspaper "Roman in UK", accompanied by a British member of parliament - the conservative Greg Hands - handed in on the 15th of October the petition "Romanians in the UK - Equal citizens of the European Union! We ask the British Goverment to abolish the restrictions!" with its 4257 signatures.

At the handing of the petition were also present other Romanian promoters of the campaign - journalists, editors.

On the 24th of October a first reply was received from Gordon Brown's Direct Communications Office in regards to the petition. At the prime minister's request, the petition and the letter were passed to the UK Border Agency so that they are aware and may reply to the detailed points raised in the letter.

Altough I am sceptical about their final decision of opening the labour market for the Romanians, I hope that this petition will somehow have an impact.

End the restrictions on Romanian workers in the UK!

2008-09-26T11:50:00.010+01:00

As this autumn the British Government will debate and decide the future of the current restrictions imposed on the labour market to the Romanian workers, the newspaper "Roman in UK" ("Romanian in the UK") and the websites www.romaninuk.net and www.romani.co.uk have launched the campaign "Romanians in the UK - Equal citizens of the European Union! We ask the British Goverment to abolish the restrictions!".

The campaign will take place from 2nd of September - 15th of October 2008 and will include promoting a petition amongst the Romanian communities and its supporters and handing in the petition at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British prime minister. Also there will be dialogues with representatives of the British parliament in aim of attracting their support for the removal of the restrictions.

Do you support this? Then you can sign the online petition on http://www.gopetition.com/online/21602.html!

Update

Finally UK did not open its labour market for the Romanians, the restrictions will last for another 3 years.

Lisboa!!! Alegria e saudades...

2008-09-11T14:22:00.020+01:00

We got back from Lisbon this week. We were there visiting after 5 months. Seemed like a long time, at first. I was wondering before getting there, how will it feel being again in the city where we've stayed for more than one year and which became back then "at home"...

When we landed, I was so happy to be there again, even if the first thing to see was the airport :-)

At first it felt a bit strange...it was like meeting an old friend that you didn't see for a long time, but that you knew so well. Anyway, that feeling of strangeness disappeared the next day, when everything became so familiar again, so "at home". It seemed that I was 5 months back in time; like nothing changed.

on Rua Augusta

It was nice...walking around our favourite places, streets and high points; admiring Tejo and the 25 Abril bridge, even getting a bit burned in the sun at midday, walking on the narrow streets of Alfama, eating pastéis de nata and bacalhau a brás, lying down in the sun in our favourite place in Cascais...and so many other pleasant things...I missed all these! I didn't realize how much..

in Baixa, Rua Augusta

again in Praça do Comércio

a great view over Alfama

the charming narrow streets of Alfama

the nice view over Alfama from Miradouro de Santa Luzia

and over the bridge, from Miradouro da Graça

at the Atlantic Pavilion in Parque das Nações

Vasco da Gamma bridge in the back

at the Belém Tower

a great view from Belém

Cascais

lying in the sun in our favourite place in Cascais

watching a star fish being caught :D

Also, it was so nice to see again some of the friends from Lisbon; our favourite Spanish guy, Alberto - so kind, as always - and his girlfriend Gosia, that we got to know better now - and she is such a nice person, my good friend Hugo, some of the trainees and ex-trainees, AIESEC-ers, other people that we knew, my ex-colleagues. Yeah, I went to visit my ex-company and I was so glad to see everyone again..

at Gabi's and Ruben's place in Montijo

in Bairro Alto with the old gang :P; damn, I missed that! :-)

I am so glad that we came back, even for one week! Was great to catch up a bit with the people and to see those places again. I feel closer now :-)

Então, até à próxima!

More pictures from Lisboa

Mind Your Language

2008-08-16T20:39:00.009+01:00

We discovered a few days ago, thanks to Ovidiu B. who sent us a link from YouTube, a great English comedy television series called "Mind Your Language". Altough it's made in '77-'79 it's so today's!! And so damn humorous!

It is set in a language school for adult students in London, focusing on the English as a Foreign Language class taught by Mr. Brown who has to deal with all types of foreigners. The students have different levels of English proficiency and very often they misunderstand the English words and terms - thing that makes the film so hilarious! And not only the misunderstandings, but also the cultural stereotypes of the nation of origin of each foreign student, so well and humurously spotlighted.

Even if more recently the series have been criticised as being racist - a bit exagerated statement I would say - I appreciate the ingenious way of presenting these stereotypes in a funny way. Come on, who could get upset with that? :)) I guess only the ones who don't have a good sense of humour :-)

Here is just the first episode:

...but there are so many others!! We downloaded almost all of them with BitTorrent :D I just love 'em!

What Brits say (and mean) and what foreigners understand

2008-08-05T12:23:00.012+01:00

I found some time ago on the Internet an interesting article and actually quite funny, about doing business with the Brits and their art of politeness - from the point of view of the Dutch; and I would add that it's not only of the Dutch.

The Brits' polite way of expressing is not only existent in the business world, but also in the day-to-day life, so I thought to share with you some samples :P

For the full article, click here.

Disappointing Birmingham..

2008-08-04T23:23:00.014+01:00

We've been a couple of weeks ago to Birmingham - a short visit, more to see how the city looks like..

Well, at least until getting there, I had the (false) impression that it's a beautiful city - I don't know why actually - ...but it seemed not only ordinary, but quite ugly in some parts..

The only areas that are nice and quite clean (a relative cleaness though) are the main commercial street and Victoria Square:

New Street

Victoria Square

The architecture throughout the city is not impressive, and it seemed that the aesthetic was not one of the purposes.

Some "ok" places in Birmingham:

St Martin's Church, next to the huge Selfridges building...what a contrast!!

Selfridges (department store chain) building

in Bull Ring Square

Canon Street

Chamberlain Square - almost in front of the City Hall there is a terrace with an artificial beach sponsored by Fly Emirates

Anyway, as you get to Birmingham, you could be wondering if this is an English city...from what we saw on the streets and in the squares - on a Sunday afternoon - we could say that the Brits are the minority here; instead, full of Muslims..At a moment I had the impression - if I exagerate a bit - that we're in Morocco :P. And what effect could this have? Any guess?...I know that the Brits aren't the cleanest, but not quite like that:

This is definitely making the city uglier than it is.. But, for sure it isn't a place where I'd like to live, maybe not even to come back..

How to eat like an Indian

2008-07-26T14:37:00.011+01:00

Ha ha ha!! We've just noticed today how is our Indian housemate eating..

Well...interesting manners for a research assistent at Warwick University that previously lived 3 years in Germany :P Oh, I forgot...it's the Indian culture..:D

Some things never change!

One day in Shakespeare's town

2008-07-07T14:32:00.009+01:00

About 2 weeks ago we started visiting around; it's theoretically summer, warmer and the best season to go visiting (as good as it can be with the English weather :P).

First stop was Shakespeare's hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, at 2 hours by bus from Coventry.

On the way there, looking on the window, there was something that couldn't pass unoticed...the beautiful and green landscapes of England's - let's call it coutryside. Endless green fields, beautiful for their simplicity...What I like about England is that it has a lot of green, not only is the so called countryside, but also in the cities.

We got to Stratford, knowing more or less what we want to see..we previously selected the objectives that were worth visiting. And it was good that we made a plan, because (in contrast with Portugal, where in every small town you get in, you quickly find the tourist office and get a free map with indications about the attractions) the tourist office was a bit difficult to find; there were few indicators to the place...

Anyway, it didn't matter too much..we had our own map :D

Firstly, we headed to the main tourist attraction, the birthplace of William Shakespeare; house which is on Henley Street, a commercial street, full of souvenir shops, restaurants, caffes and terraces.

Henley Street

We finally arrived at the famous house. We first went through Shakespeare Center - some halls and rooms in which Shakespeare's life was presented.

Shakespeare's Coat of Arms - "Not Without Right"

inside Shakespeare Center

After this you could get in the garden, visit the inside of the house, where at some key places, guides were giving details to the public.

in front of Shakespeare's house

An interesting thing, making the place more alive, were the performances of 4 actors in the garden of the house. They were acting small parts of different plays of the great writer. And they knew how to be funny also, sometimes involving the public in their acting.

Shakespeare's house and the actors in the garden - taking a break

now acting

Afterwards, we went on to another house related to Shakespeare, called Nash's House & New Place. Nash's House was owned by Shakespeare's granddaughter, Elizabeth and the New Place is the one where Shakespeare's story ends in 1616.

the garden of Nash's House

Next was Hall's Croft, which was home to Shakespeare's eldest daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall before they moved to New Place on Shakespeare's death.

Hall's Croft

smelling a rose..

Close by there was the Holy Trinity Church, also the burial place of Shakespeare and his family:

Holy Trinity Church

the graves inside

Of course, from Stratford couldn't miss the theatres. When we passed by the Courtyard Theatre a play was just finishing, so we couldn't catch a guided tour of the theatre..maybe next time ;)

The riverside is a very picturesque place, also with some nice terraces along the way.

the river Avon

terrace along the riverside

the classic English phone cabins

lots of flowers in Stratford..decorating also each house :-)...I love this style!

Maybe we'll come back to this lovely little town sometime...as anyway we didn't manage to see in one day everything we planned to..

More pictures from Stratford

2 weeks in Romania

2008-06-23T12:21:00.011+01:00

..2 weeks in Romania - after 1 year and a half..how did it seem now? Well, I didn't expect so, but I saw my hometown, Cluj-Napoca, in a different way, a bit dustier, more crowded and untidier than it seemed when I left..I guess it happens when you're comparing more places that you've been to..

And of course, I couldn't skip some other things specific for our country, that could be funny, after all, if I wouldn't of get annoyed in the first place :D. Maybe you guess what I mean..

Anyway, it was nice to be in Romania again, to see my family, to meet again with friends, and to see the old places.

in the center, Cluj-Napoca

recently built blocks of flats in Floresti, near Cluj

at Somesul Cald, near Cluj

with my parents at Somes

a gate on Mesteacan Hill, Maramures county

river Somes, seen from the hill of Mesteacan

Mesteacan village, seen from the hill

in Seini, my grandparents' town

first time eating cherries this year :-)

on the hill, in the vineyard

almost on the top of the hill :D

on the top

:-)

back to Cluj; in the center, at a chat with Adi

with Diana & Toni

after 1 year and a half at the LC meeting of AIESEC Cluj-Napoca...all new faces :D... nice to be there again :-)

with colleagues from university - Mariana, Raul, Artur & Adina

picturesque street in Cluj

with my good friend, Andreea

Eroilor Street, Cluj-Napoca

The Orthodox Cathedral

with Sandu :-)

at lunch in a traditional Romanian restaurant, Cluj-Napoca

"ciorba de burta"..mm..I missed it :D

Unirii Square

with my good friend, Delia

view over Cluj, from the top of a building

Central Park :-)

at the fountain of the Central Park

Chios

with Ioana, colleague from University

flying back to England..

More pictures

Coventry - attractions and city center

2008-05-24T12:54:00.017+01:00

Coventry's best-known landmark and visitor attraction is the old St. Michael's Cathedral. The original 14th century cathedral was largely destroyed by the German bombing during World War II, leaving only the outer walls and spire.

the ruins of the old cathedral

Coventry has since developed an international reputation as one of Europe's major cities of peace and reconciliation, centred around its Cathedral, and holds an annual Peace Month.

"Reconciliation" - inside of the old St. Michael's Cathedral

The new Coventry Cathedral was opened in 1962 next to the ruins of the old:

Holy Trinity Church

Another major visitor attraction in Coventry city centre is the free-to-enter Coventry Transport Museum, which has the largest collection of British-made road vehicles in the world.

Coventry is also notable because Coventry motor companies (Jaguar, Land Rover and others) have contributed significantly to the British motor industry, and also because it has two universities, Coventry University and University of Warwick.

In the city center, on Spon Street, there is a concentration of traditional old houses from around the town :

on Spon Street

Also a small paradox :D: Fish & Chips together with Kebab House? and not anywhere, but on Spon Street? :))...well what isn't now traditional English?...

And also on Spon Street, a smart thing :P: the best place for a trash bin...lol:

Other points in the city center:

The Council House

street in the center

the "Indian Ocean" - why? because a lot of Indians are living around the lake

with lots of hungry swans :P (but it's forbidden to feed them)

in front of the Holy Trinity Church

and the usual rain :D
(just kidding a little, it's not raining every day ;) )

More pictures from Coventry

"A sufla si-n iaurt" - English version

2008-05-14T20:49:00.014+01:00

There is a Romanian proverb saying that "Daca te-ai ars o data, sufli si-n iaurt" ("If you got burned once, you blow also in yogurt").

Well, it seems Britain was so afraid to get burned again, that in January 2007 it "blew in the yogurts" of Romania and Bulgaria, slapping a partial ban on labour coming from the 2 countries latest entered in the EU.

A "rotten policy" they call it today, "a big mistake" - as you can read in this article of The Independent. It didn't happen not as far as they thought. Despite of the Polish, for which Britain was a traditional destination, that they had "invaded" after May 2004, Romanians prefer heading to Latin countries, like Italy and Spain, before or after the admission in the EU. Those are the traditional destinations for Romanians and not the UK...

Now the British were convinced of that...but with what price? They are short in workers and their economy has to suffer from this...Will they intelligently give a rethink to this rotten policy from 2009?...I wonder...

At least it was one rainbow...or two? :P

2008-04-25T14:47:00.017+01:00

In the last 2-3 days it was incredibly warm, comparing with the cold before...there were 15 degrees (wow! I was starting to believe that in England is impossible :P) and sunny all day long.

It is so different...so important for the mood and spirit! Really, I didn´t think before that the sun and a blue sky could be so important..I didn´t think because I always had them almost all the time in the last year and a half..

Anyway..this nice time didn´t last long, just 2 days..At least I hope that it was a sign that the Spring finally came :D. On the 3rd day it started raining..After it finished, in the afternoon, it was a very nice rainbow over the sky :-)...there were visible actually 2 semicircles..like 2 rainbows :D. I don´t know if there were really 2, but it was a nice bonus after a rainy day :-)

First impressions about England and English

2008-04-16T11:48:00.029+01:00

Let´s say that the first week is never easy when you move to a new place..It was the same when I got to Lisbon for the first time, but that was I bit different, as it was the first moving out..

Honestly it was more difficult now, when I left Lisbon to come to Coventry, England. Firstly the weather is different, much more instable, cold, rainy and cloudy...English weather, as everybody guesses..That was visible when I was still on the plane :-), it started to be a bit darker as soon as we crossed over the sea and got above England..

Anyway, as for more than a year I had warm and sunny weather in Portugal, it was hard to get used to the cold here..It´s also sunny, it´s not like it is rainy and cloudy all the time, but it can change really fast from one to another..Oh..and in the first days that I got here, it snowed :-)...it snowed in April..

in our backyard

In England, at least as I´ve seen so far, there are houses, not blocks of flats, thing that can give a sensation of country side..even if you are in a big town..

Street in Canley

I was moving from a capital to a smaller town (Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the UK, with a population of 306.000), in which we are staying in a quiet neighbourhood, called Canley, at a half an hour by bus from the city center...transition wasn´t easy..

in Canley, our quiet neighbourhood

At the beginning I felt a bit lost around here, as the streets, houses, even the crossings - look all the same :D

regular double decker bus

Another thing to adjust to are the shops that close at 17.00..the majority of them..can you believe that? And not only shops, but also if you want to go to the dentist you must do it until the same "magical" hour 17.00...of course if you take some hours off from work. Regarding supermarkets, at least there is one pretty near to our place that it is open until 23.00..that sounds like normal...huh?

If I imagined (and maybe also some of you) that in England you can find impeccable clean streets...I was definitely wrong about it...They don´t seem to care much about this aspect..

The English of this area have a strange accent...you have the impression that they are singing...Instead of saying normally "hi", they say "hiya" :))..it´s funny.. Even the common words are sometimes difficult to understand because of their accent and also intonation..and when they start to use slang it´s even nicer :P. I would understand them better if they spoke in Portuguese, that´s for sure ;).

Teenagers and even kids seem to believe that they are very cool...I think that´s a matter of education, I believe that they are educated since a young age like that, to think about themselves that they are the coolest, that they can do anything, that they can mock anyone. That is something very contrasting with the way Portuguese are, they are educated, polite and more realistic. Just some examples so far: we exit the supermarket and there is a couple of "punks" :P on bicycles. One of them is aproaching us saying with a strong accent of the area (at the beginning we didn´t understand what he said :P): "Could you get inside and get me a beer?"...hm..that´s so cool, isn´t it :))..we just went further laughing..

Even if it´s cold, you can see girls on the street in shorts or mini skirts, with low-cut neck blouses, with a lot of make up...just to attract some attention of their Englishmen :D...hm...and they still prefer foreigners when it comes to women (in general, as a English friend told me once)...ups :P...so much trouble for what?? :))

It is true that also in Romania women usually wear make up, but not in exagerated quantities as the English ones...What I liked at the Portuguese women is that they are more natural, they don´t wear so much make up; they do that more at goings out at night and ocasions.

Everybody knows that England is full of non-English people :D. Around Coventry I´ve seen, of course a lot of Indians, many have businesses here, either shops or dental surgeries, probably also other things, also a lot of Chinese..I don´t even have to mention the Polish...which are everywhere in UK...For instance, they have at Lloyds, one of the important English banks, Polish speaker employees at the front office...they are an important minority in England..

That´s it for now...other impressions will follow ;)

Moving on

2008-04-10T09:57:00.013+01:00

Sometimes we have to do that...to move on, even if it´s not easy to leave the places and the people we got used to. It was Portugal...great times and great people :-), now it´s England, which remains to be discovered, step by step. Hope it will be an interesting journey ;)