Collage Octubre 2012

Collage the foreign language magazine Le magazine de langues étrangères

Vol. 25 No. 34 Octubre 2012

The life of an exchange student by : Dominique Schwarz Hello, I’m Dominique Schwarz and I am from Switzerland, but I’m now in Tampico as an exchange student from Rotary this year. When I first arrived it was really hot, this was my first impression. Then at school, the IEST, I entered the room and everybody was screaming what my name was and where I came from. I really liked that, because like every exchange student, I was afraid that nobody would speak to me and I would be alone. But Mexicans are very frank and friendly, they are really interested and I like that a lot.

Domenique with her mexican family

My host family is really lovely, I feel like I’m part of them and they take care of me. It’s very important that you have a good family to live with, because in the beginning you only have them. As an exchange student you have to be open, do a lot of things to find friends and be strong. I’ve missed my family very much the last week, because I was on vacation and I just had like no home.

The vacation was really good, I don’t know how I missed them in this time but it was hard. But you just have to go on and make yourself busy.

Domenique’s mom and dad

I think Tampico is beautiful with the beach and I like that everything is different from Switzerland. Honestly

almost everything is different. In Switzerland I was very independent, I spent a lot of time with friends or in town and I moved all the time on the train or on the bus. But here I felt a little bit strange in the first weeks, because I had to go always in the car and couldn’t walk around and stuff like this. Another example is the family. In Switzerland you don’t have such a strong relationship like here, for Mexicans, or for all the people in South America I think, family is very important for everyone.

I also really like the food here, my favorite fruits are avocado and mango, but I don’t really like spicy food, but I think I will like it in the end of my year.

Interview au Chef Bruno Airagnes Moulon

by Julio César Gallejos Osorio a plus de service. Mais ici, c’est vrai qu’ici c’est relativement plus ouvert, les restaurants ont certainement des heures de service mais c’est beaucoup plus ouvert. Par exemple, les mexicains qui vont en France pourraient avoir un choc culturel parce que s’ici au Mexique à trois heures de l’après-midi on mange, là-bas les restaurants ils ne servent pas à manger. Je crois que ce n’est pas le pays qui doit s’adapter aux coutumes de la personne. C’est la personne qui va s’habituer aux coutumes du pays.

3. Comment est-ce que vous avez découvert votre vocation ou ce que vous vouliez faire dans la vie?

Cheff Bruno Airagnes Moulon

1. Vous habitez au Mexique depuis longtemps? Estce que vous vous êtes déjà habitué au mode de vie des mexicains? Qu’est-ce qu’il vous manque le plus de votre pays?

J’habite ici depuis 13 ans et oui, je me suis habitué.

Il y a eu peut-être différentes choses que j’ai eues du mal à m’habituer un peu, l’imponctualité par exemple. Ce qui me manque le plus, je crois peutêtre le bon pain français, le fromage, le bon vin. Ma famille et moi, on mangeait du fromage tous les jours, le fromage en France, c’est vrai, c’est la tradition ; il n’y a pas un repas sans fromage et pain frais.

Le bon fromage européen c’est vraiment difficile de trouver ici, on en trouve mais c’est très cher.

2. Qu’est-ce qui vous a impressionné le plus de la nourriture mexicaine. Pourriez-vous nous raconter une anecdote par rapport au «choc culinaire»?

Sans doute, les heures de repas des mexicains.

Les gens n’ont pas une heure pour manger ici ; tu manges alors que tu as envie de manger, que ce soit dès la matinée, dans la journée, l’après-midi ou le soir, il y a toujours un endroit pour aller manger. Je n’avais jamais vu ça ! Au début c’était un choc, parce que, par exemple, quand j’étais à Singapour, les restaurants ils ont une certaine heure pour ouvrir et après à une certaine heure c’est fermé quand il n’y

2

Quand j’étais tout petit, mes grands-parents, les parents de ma mère, ils habitaient à la campagne et ils avaient une grange. Mon grand-père avait son moulin pour faire de la farine de maïs, il faisait tout lui-même. Il y avait un petit étang pour aller à la pêche ; on chassait ; il y avait un jardin de fruits et légumes ; il y avait les arbres botaniques ; des volailles, des canards, des dindes ; il y avait des moutons. Puis dans la ferme à côté, on avait les bovins, comme les cochons, le bœuf. La bonne nourriture était présente tout le temps. Ma mère, elle n’allait pratiquement pas au supermarché pour acheter des tomates, des laitues ; on avait tout ça chez nous.

On avait des courgettes, des fraises, des groseilles, des poires, des pommes, des prunes. On tuait un cochon par an et on faisait du fromage de tête, les saucisses, le jambon, les pâtés, on faisait tout nous-mêmes. C’était très artisanal et on faisait trois jours de fête pour ça. C’était la fête familiale de Noël qui commençait à une heure de l’aprèsmidi jusqu’à huit heures le lendemain. C’était des moments où chacun participait en portant un plat différent. C’était des journées de discussions, de convivialité familiale. Et puis, après l’école secondaire, bon, je n’aimais pas trop les études, j’étais quelqu’un qui n’étais pas très doué pour les études, alors il y avait le choix des apprentissages. J’ai commencé à l’âge de treize ans et j’ai reçu mon certificat à l’âge de seize ans. Avec ce diplôme, j’étais déjà considéré cuisinier. Puis, j’ai commencé, je suis allé directement travailler à Paris ; je travaillais dans de petits restaurants près de chez moi. Après, j’avais quelque petites relations. Une relation qui m’a fait énormément de bien, un chef qui à cette époque n’était pas très connu mais qui maintenant a été élu

l’un des meilleurs chefs du siècle. J’ai travaillé avec lui pendant quelques années, pratiquement seize ans, pas avec lui directement, mais dans différents restaurants, les meilleures de France.

4. Si vous n’étiez pas chef, qu’est-ce que vous auriez étudié? Êtes-vous content de votre profession?

Je suis relativement content de ma profession, oui. Je crois que j’aurais étudié quelque chose en relation avec l’esthétique, la haute couture, parce que le perfectionnisme me fascine, l’art manuel aussi. En France, on est bien placés au niveau du stylisme, au niveau de la haute couture.

Pourtant ce métier, c’est très dur, il faut travailler chez les meilleurs pour avoir du succès. C’était deux autres options que j’avais, mais il n’y avait pas la possibilité de les étudier dans la région où je travaillais, donc, c’est pour ça que j’ai choisi la profession de cuisine.

5. C’est quoi la profession du chef ?

Pourquoi devrait-on choisir cette carrière. En plus, pourquoi étudier cette licence ici à l’IEST ?

Je crois que le Cordon Bleu c’est un emblème de l’art du bon vivre, comme on dit en France, « la bonne bouffe » ; le bien manger, le bien vivre, boire du bon vin, des bonnes liqueurs. Donc, je crois que la profession du chef, c’est un des métiers du futur. Pourquoi ? Parce qu’il y a beaucoup d’hôtels, beaucoup de gens qui ouvrent les métiers d’hôtellerie, du tourisme et la gastronomie va en grandissant, elle grandit énormément et trop vite. Je crois qu’il n’y a pas suffisamment de main d’œuvre, de main d’œuvre qualifié pour pouvoir travailler dans ces endroits. Je crois que c’est pour ça que le Cordon bleu a mis ses empreintes ici au Mexique, pour que les élèves de toutes les écoles de gastronomie

qu’il y a dans les pays puissent vraiment se démarquer de toutes les autres écoles. Ce n’est pas sur les recettes, c’est sur les techniques.

Une fois que l’élève domine cette technique, il n’y a absolument aucun problème, il peut, donc, commencer à marcher, à faire un petit peu son style de cuisine. Ce qu’on enseigne à l’élève ce sont les techniques de base, à tout faire lui-même, de A à Z. Par exemple, s’il fait des « sopes », il doit préparer la masse, car dans n’importe quelle cuisine, il faut savoir faire la technique de base. L’avantage principal du Cordon Bleu ce sont ses installations de première catégorie, les meilleures installations de cuisine de toute l’Amérique Latine. En plus de gastronomie, avec, l’association IEST-Le Cordon bleu, l’élève vois un petit peu d’hôtellerie et de tourisme et ils vont y apprendre tout ce qui est en relation à plus de services, la sommellerie, l’œnologie. Je crois que c’est un tout que Le Cordon Bleu donne et que beaucoup d’écoles ne donnent pas. Beaucoup de gens disent que le prix c’est trop cher, mais il faut voir ce qui est inclus dans le prix ; chaque élève a la matière première, chacun peut faire son propre plat. Beaucoup d’écoles travaillent

en group, ici, l’élève doit être capable de dominer la technique mais tout seul. À part tout ça, on a des ateliers pour pratiquer des diverses cuisines comme, la japonaise, l’italienne, la française, etc.

6. Est-ce que votre profession vous permet de voyager souvent ? Combien de langues parlez-vous ? Qu’est-ce qu’il faut avoir pour réussir dans les environnements internationaux ?

J’ai appris des langues étrangères après avoir commencé à travailler. L’espagnol, je l’ai appris ici au Mexique. L’anglais, je l’ai appris quand je travaillais en Angleterre.

Je crois que maintenant il n’est pas suffisant d’être un bon cuisinier, un bon professionnel ; il faut parler au moins deux langues. Si on parle de la gastronomie, le langage de la gastronomie, la plupart c’est en français, surtout les termes culinaires. Alors, il faut parler les plus des langues en relation a ton métier pour réussir dans les contextes internationaux. Il faut aussi savoir ce qu’on veut, avoir des idées bien formées sur la profession ; on peut toujours écouter des conseils mais la décision finale, ce n’est qu’à nous.

3

7. D’après vous, quel est le rôle de la langue française dans la société actuelle ? Pourquoi est-ce qu’il est important de l’apprendre ?

Je crois que la langue française, c’est une langue relativement complexe.

Ella a beaucoup d’histoire, beaucoup de culture. Parler de la culture française, c’est parler de la haute couture, la haute coiffure, les parfums, les cuisines, la gastronomie, le tourisme, l’histoire en général, l’histoire de France. C’est important parce que la France encore l’un des pays les plus forts de l’Europe. La France a une très grande technologie en parlant de l’armement, un armement très cher ; on parle aussi de bateaux croisières, des avions, la culture du vin, l’agronomie. Il y a une très grande richesse au niveau importation- exportations de tous les produits que la France fabrique. C’est un pays ouvert à des échanges.

Soufflé au Chocolat

4

8. Quel conseil donneriez-vous aux apprenants de français pour mieux acquérir cette langue?

Ce n’est pas du tout facile. Il faut persévérer, pratiquer tous les jours.

Il faut lire, voir des films en français, écouter de la musique en français, c’est vraiment important. Après, il y a des revues, il y a des journaux. Voir la télé en français c’est plutôt cher et difficile ici au Mexique. Le plus facile, ce sont les cassettes, des CDs, des DVD. La phonétique c’est compliquée, le « R » surtout. Mais ce n’est pas impossible, il y a des gens qui ont de facilité pour les langues étrangères. Il faut aussi s’imprégner de la culture du pays.

Lightning Snow Flowers

9. Pour finir, on aimerait bien que vous nous partagiez un petit peu de vos connaissances culinaires. Pourquoi vous ne nous donnez pas une de vos recettes secrètes ; quelque chose qu’on puisse faire sans trop de difficultés, pas très cher, mais surtout, délicieux!

Une des choses que vraiment je réussis bien, ce sont les soufflés. J’aime bien le soufflé sucré, au chocolat.

C’est une technique relativement ancienne à base de crème pâtissière, meringue. Il faut avoir un ramequin, il faut mettre le beurre dans le ramequin, un peu de sucre. Il faut faire une bonne crème pâtissière bien consistante. Après à la crème pâtissière, on va ajouter quelques jaunes d’œuf dedans. La crème pâtissière, elle est à base de lait, jaunes d’œuf, sucre, fécule de maïs et farine, moitié et moitié ; on mélange tout ça dans la même casserole et avec un fouet on commence à bien remuer à feu moyen jusqu’à ce que cela commence à épaissir, à bouillir (il faut que ça commence à bouillir en dois ou trois minutes). Quand le mélange est prêt et épais, on le met dans une petite poêle ; on le laisse un peu refroidir ; on met les jaunes d’œuf. Pour

by Mariana Rojas Arreola

un quart de crème pâtissière, on va mettre deux jaunes d’œuf. On met du chocolat râpé, un peu de cacao, moitié et moitié, puisque le chocolat est relativement puissant (pour que le soufflé puisse lever et grandir bien, il faut mettre un produit un peu plus léger). Après on va battre cinq blancs en neige ferme, on va ajouter un petit peu de sucre glace pour faire comme une meringue et après on va incorporer relativement, doucement, la meringue avec la crème pâtissière. On met cette préparation dans les moules beurrés et sucrés et on cuit dans un four à 180°-200° pendant 15 minutes. Normalement un bon soufflé, si on a un moule de trois centimètres, le soufflé doit monter un peu près de trois, quatre centimètres (la même quantité du moule). Un bon soufflé ne doit pas monter et ça dépend de la technique.

C’est pas trop compliqué.

As I follow you through a long casted shadow, I walk with you into the twilight’s darkness.

The white starlight envelops your falling tears in the warm wind.

“I’m still by your side” This trembling quiet whisper is going your way I take your hand even until then.

Just the thought of us being together, makes tears flow.

As the wind gets colder, winter comes closer.

As I walk up the street, the season we parted in, returns little by little.

While being together at this moment, I want to give you everything I have.

If you are by my side, I can do anything, after today and until the end.

That our love will last forever, for this I pray.

Wait on me, I don’t want to see your painful tears anymore The wind is shaking your window and with the endlessly falling white snow flowers, we tried to ignore the fact that the road we walked on was changing, was melting with the bright starlight.

For I’m gone, I want you to know that wherever you are, I will become the night stars and shine for you.

On laughing and sad days and tearful nights, I’ll always be by your side.

I want to promise I won’t leave you again, I yearn for the days when the snow flowers were falling endlessly, drawing little memories in our hearts.

I will become a snow flower and every winter, I’ll fall down on you, this is how I will be by your side forever.

Just look at the bright winter starlight and remember me.

5

Breena and the Kelpie

by Sidonie de la Courcel Long ago, in an ancient Celtic village that no longer is, lived a young woman by the name of Breena. She had beautiful caramel hair and big, bright green eyes. Her mother had died when she was very young, leaving her father to raise Breena alone. Her father was the village’s blacksmith and part of the council. Breena had a fair amount of suitors but her father refused to give her away to any young man. Breena’s father, a big man with strong arms and a fierce face, left little room for bargain when it came to pursuing his daughter in matrimony. Breena, on the other hand, didn’t really show any interest in any particular man; she was polite to every one of them as she had been raised a lady but none of them lit her fire. Breena was not in a hurry to get married, she spent her days creating new recipes to please her hard-working father with lovely meals and daydreaming by the lake which bordered the village and where the forest began.

The lake was vast and it’s water clear most of the time, but once every month, the water turned muddy for three days and nobody would come near or even look towards it. The elders had warned the villagers to never touch the water during its “Black Phase”.

Animals that drank from the foul-colored water disappeared leaving behind only their liver ripped into pieces. The women’s gossip said even some people had disappeared during the “Black Phase”. For three days every month, Breena would be locked in the forge with her father to prevent her from approaching the lake. She helped her father in his work but her mind was away, thinking about the vast lake and the beautiful flowers that grew at its bank.

On a particularly hot summer, the “Black Phase” hit the lake earlier than expected but the village continued its normal life. By the fourth morning after the water turned black, the villagers expected the bright blue color to shine again; but they awoke to see that the “Black Phase” had not ended. The elders urged the villagers to stay in their houses but they could not afford to lose one day of their harvest and left to their fields. The council had an urgent meeting to discuss the matter; Breena’s father left the forge and warned his daughter not to go outside and especially stay away from the lake. As her father walked out the door, Breena jumped out the back window and dashed to the lake. When she reached her destination, she sat

6

down and took a deep breath. Being outside and sitting by her beloved lake was more than glorious to her.

From where she was sitting, the water had a grayish color with purple and green flares; she couldn’t really understand why the villagers were all so scared when, even like this, the lake was so beautiful.

The thick old trees didn’t let the sunlight through, so even though it was early morning, the edge of the forest was covered in shadows and fog. The forest was forbidden territory for the villagers, only the bravest of hunters would go there. A thick cloud slowly covered the bright sun and the forest’s shadows were enhanced; amongst those shadows, Breena saw a black horse with shiny eyes and white mane. She was startled; nobody in the village owned a black horse and if anyone did, they wouldn’t let it roam free close to the forest. She hurriedly got up to go to the horse but it turned back and started walking into the forest.

She went around the lake and ended up at the forest’s entrance, she was afraid but something about the horse had caught her attention. She told herself she wouldn’t go that far and hesitantly started wandering in the forest.

Breena moved slowly through the forest and always kept an eye back so she wouldn’t lose her way back.

She heard a noise, a twig that had been stepped on; she turned around to find a young man with broad back and big eyes. Even though the man looked very young, his hair was entirely white. He was leaning against a tree trunk just looking at Breena; she froze where she was standing, she didn’t know this young man and she had no idea why he was just standing in the forest. She was also wandering where the black horse with white mane had gone off to. The young man started walking towards her; Breena knew that she had to get away for her feet would not move.

When he was finally standing right in front of her, he reached his hand to touch her cheek; his hand was wet and cold, Breena noticed, like a fish. He whispered her name. She pushed him away and demanded to know who he was.

—I’m the Kelpie of this lake, —he said— My name is Cain.

Breena was shocked to hear this; she thought he was trying to mock her. There were no such things as Kelpies; it was just a foolish legend. But then again, his hand was wet and cold and his hair was white.

—I’m looking for a partner —he told her— I have chosen you.

He was blunt and he didn’t bother explaining any further.

—Prove to me that you are a Kelpie —she demanded— and the young man proceeded to change its form into that of the horse Breena had seen before.

Breena had never been so scared before; a real Kelpie was standing right before her eyes. A creature described by the elders as evil and said to feed on men.

The big black horse with white mane stood very still watching her closely. She knew, deep inside, she could never out run it; she had to get out of this using her wit. She thought of an old story that had been told in town for as long as the elders could remember, there was a request that would get rid of any creature from the fairy realm. “If you can give me the real moon which waxes and wanes, I shall become your partner and wife”, —she said bravely. From the horse’s mouth emerged the voice of Cain, “I accept your request and I will be back to find you when I have the moon that waxes and wanes in my possession.” After saying that, he stepped back into the darkness of the forest and disappeared. Breena felt as if a spell had been broken and her feet were free. She ran back home as fast as she could, she was uncertain of how long it had passed since she left and was glad to find that her father was not back yet. There was no one she could talk to about what had happened, her father and the elders would punish her for disobeying the village’s rules and she didn’t have any real friend she could trust such a matter.

7

The next morning, the whole village was gathered around the lake. They discovered that the “Black Phase” was over and were thrilled to go back to their normal ways. The only one who was not really happy about it was Breena; she had made the impossible request and the Kelpie had accepted it. There was no way for him to bring her the real moon but she was not sure Cain would give up as easily.

A month went by and Breena had almost forgotten the incident with the Kelpie in the forest when, suddenly, one day when she was sitting by the lake, she saw him again. Not the black horse this time, but the handsome young man. She didn’t want her father to see her talking to such a stranger so she went into the forest once again. Something inside had convinced her that she should be scared; after all, the Kelpie had magical abilities. Cain was waiting for her in the same spot where they had met the first time. He was holding a ring with a single very white stone.

—I have brought what the lady requested —was the only thing he said.

Fear aroused once more in Breena’s gut.

—Prove it to me.

Cain gave her the ring so she could look at it more closely; the perfectly shaped oval stone reflected the frail sun rays that managed to cross the forest top. It did, in fact, wax and wane as the moon did. Breena was speechless, she couldn’t take her word back now; she had to marry the Kelpie and leave the village.

—You don’t belong in the human world Breena, you belong with me —he whispered.

She felt it, in her heart, that he was right. There was nothing really left for her there expect her father.

—There is only one condition you must accept before I go with you —she said. She was trembling visibly but she held her ground and said —I want to be able to see my father once every month for three days.

Cain’s eyes filled with doubt but the only things he said was —You must promise to come back by the forth morning because I will be waiting.

She went.

For the rest of the villagers, life remained the same; nothing had really changed. A girl had been taken by the Kelpie, the elders said; she ran away with a foreigner, people whispered. Only a man with a saddened face knew the truth. His daughter had become the lady of the lake, married to a Kelpie and was allowed to visit him once every month. Nobody else was to see her or the consequences would be grave. The only console he had, was that his daughter was happy.

8

Day of the Dead Celebrations

by Jorge Torres Almazán A very unique celebration we have in Mexico is Day of the Dead, celebrated on November 2nd, and it is a celebration in which we remember and honor our deceased loved ones. Though it may sound gloomy or morbid, it’s not. Foreigners may think that we are celebrating because a person has just passed away. However, it is not like that. It is the opposite, it is a festive and colorful holiday. People visit cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend time there in the presence of their deceased friends and family members. They also make elaborately decorated altars in their homes to welcome the spirits.

In Prehispanic times the dead were buried close to family home and there was great emphasis on maintaining ties with deceased ancestors, who were believed to continue to exist on a different plane.

With the arrival of the Spanish and Catholicism, All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day practices were incorporated into Prehispanic beliefs and customs and Day of the Dead came to be celebrated.

The belief behind Day of the Dead practices is that spirits return to the Earth for one day of the year to be with their families. It is said that the spirits of babies and children who have died arrive on November 1st at midnight, spend an entire day with their families and then leave. Adults come the following day.

The spirits are greeted with offerings of food and things that the person enjoyed in life. These are laid out on a Day of the Dead altar in the family home.

It is believed that the spirits consume the essence and the aroma of the foods that are offered. When the spirits depart, the living consume the food and share it with their family, friends and neighbors.

Other items that are placed on the altar include sugar skulls, often with the person’s name inscribed on the top, pan de muertos, a special bread that is made especially for the season, and cempasuchil which bloom at this time of year and lend a special fragrance to the altar.

In some places it is a tradition to spend the whole night in the cemetery, and people make a party of it, having a picnic supper, playing music, talking and drinking through the night.

family members that one has not seen in a year.

Day of the Dead continues to change, and a mixing of cultures and customs continues to occur. Halloween festivities are becoming more prevalent in Mexico: masks and costumes are sold in the markets alongside sugar skulls and pan de muertos, costume contests are held along with Day of the Dead altar contests in schools, and some children dress up in costumes and go trickor-treating.

Day of the Dead is celebrated in different ways in different places. Festivities tend to be more colorful and special in the south of Mexico, particularly in the states of Michoacan, Oaxaca and Chiapas. In rural areas celebrations are mostly solemn whereas in bigger cities they are sometimes irreverent.

Here in our region there are important celebrations in Tempoal and Xantolo in Veracruz. In Tampico cemeteries are crowded and many people set altars in their houses. The celebration is a good excuse to spend time with family and remember members of our families that are no longer with us.

Day of the Dead has some similarities with Halloween . They both come from early cultures’ beliefs about death that later mixed with Christianity. They are both based in the idea that the spirits return at that time of year. Customs around Halloween seem to come from the idea that the spirits were malevolent, whereas in Day of the Dead festivities, the spirits are joyfully welcomed as

9

cours de français hiver 2012

Laisser tout derrière soi

by Valérie Lacombe Pablo et moi à Montréal

Il y a déjà 1 an et 3 mois que je vis ici, au Mexique. La décision n’a pas été facile à prendre, mais comme on dit, «l’amour donne des ailes»! En effet, j’ai décidé de faire le grand saut car je suis mariée à un mexicain.

La première fois que je suis venue habiter ici, c’était pour une courte période, environ 3 mois. Je dois dire que cela a été très difficile, car mes connaissances en espagnol étaient plutôt élémentaires. Les contacts avec ma belle-famille étaient très difficiles. De plus, je suis plutôt une personne réservée, ce qui n’est vraiment pas bien vue ici! Mon silence et ma discrétion ont été interprétés comme un refus de m’adapter et de connaitre les gens d’ici. Après ces quelques mois, tout ce que je voulais c’était de rentrer chez moi. Mes sentiments étaient très partagés. D’un côté, j’étais en amour et je ne voulais pas rentrer sans lui. De l’autre, la vie ici était tellement différente, que j’avais le mal du pays. Finalement, je suis rentrée, car je commençais ma maitrise au Québec.

En arrivant chez moi, j’étais tellement frustrée de la perception que les gens avaient eue de moi, que j’ai décidé de travailler sur mon comportement et d’améliorer mon espagnol, pour pouvoir mieux communiquer la prochaine

10

fois. Les huit mois passés loin de mon mari ont été les plus longs de toute ma vie. J’étais très triste, mais bien décidée à retourner au Mexique et changer l’opinion des gens à mon sujet.

Après huit mois de séparation, mon mari est venu me voir et nous avons solidifié notre relation. Il a connu ma famille et a pu vivre l’expérience d’être totalement dépaysé. En effet, toute ma famille est francophone et il ne parle pas du tout le français. Nos rôles étaient donc inversés. Je crois que ça a été une bonne expérience pour lui, pour qu’il prenne conscience de mon état d’esprit durant ma visite précédente.

Depuis juin 2011, je vis donc, ici, au Mexique, à Altamira. Les six premiers mois ont été difficiles, car nous avons vécus avec ma belle-famille. Moi qui étais habituée de vivre seule, habiter avec six autres personnes a été tout un changement! Par contre, j’ai pu avoir l’occasion de me rapprocher d’eux, d’apprendre à cuisiner à la mexicaine, de connaitre leurs histoires de famille, etc.

Finalement, en décembre, nous sommes déménagée dans notre maison, je me suis trouvé un emploi et ma mère est venue me visiter. Je dois dire que depuis ce temps, je suis plus heureuse. Je me sens plus indépendante et utile.

Début: 3 de décembre Fin: 19 de décembre Horaire: Lundi à Vendredi de 9h à 14h Coût: $4,400.00 Préinscriptions: Au CAADI du 19 au 28 de novembre de 2012

conversatiOn english courses winter 2012 Start: December 3 End: December 19 Schedule: Monday to Friday from 9h to 14 h Cost: $4,400.00 Pre-registration: In CAADI from 19 to 28 november 2012

Évidemment, une relation avec deux personnes d’origines différentes amène beaucoup de discussions. Nous devons toujours discuter ouvertement et trouver des compromis afin que tous les deux soyons heureux. Mon mari a été élevé dans une tradition très machiste et moi dans un environnement plutôt féministe. Alors, nous faisons quotidiennement un travail d’adaptation afin que notre relation soit harmonieuse.

La clé, selon moi, pour réussir à vivre dans un autre pays, avec une autre culture est de connaitre la langue. Une fois que la communication est possible, tout devient un peu plus facile. Ensuite, l’ouverture d’esprit, la patience et une grande capacité d’adaptation sont nécessaires pour pouvoir vivre à longterme dans ce nouveau chez soi.

Je terminerai en vous avouant qu’effectivement, je m’ennuis du Québec, de ma famille, de mes amis. Par contre, j’ai découvert ici une autre famille, une autre manière de vivre qui me satisfait tout autant. Je suis grandement reconnaissante à tous ces gens qui m’ont si bien accueillis et qui me considère aujourd’hui partie intégrante de leur famille.

register for the next english Placement Exam November 7, 2012

The iest Language Department is a certified Center of the toefl itp, the toefl ibt and the toeic exams

toefl ibt

November 16, 2012

Institutional toefl November 9, 2012

The Future of Mexico

Anormalia

by Minsu Kwon

by Nilse González Jaramillo

When I moved to Mexico for the first time in 2008, I did not know how to speak Spanish not to mention, I was not interested in Mexico. I just imagined a person with a mustache, charro hat and boots. When I got to know Mexico, I realized that there isn’t a big difference between Korea and Mexico. Although I thought that Mexico was one of the poorest countries, I changed my mind because one day I read an article which included Mexico in the Top 20 of the best economies in the world. I found that the richest man in the world was in Mexico, Carlos Slim. Also I got to know that Mexico has an important petrochemical plant, PEMEX. Mexico is a country which has big cultural heritages from ancient civilizations such as the Aztecas, Mayans, Olmecans, etc. They have had a very influential role in the current Mexican culture. For example, the celebration or fiesta, the gastronomy and in the daily life. Similarly, thanks to the Mayan number system, we are able to use the number “zero”.

Mexico is abundant in natural resources. Furthermore it is located in an advantageous geographical position. Accordingly Mexico has an important international treaty called NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), and therefore, POSCO,

the most famous Korean iron-foundry which was installed here in Altamira.

That’s why I’m living in Mexico.

What surprised me about Mexico was the sociability of its people. They welcomed guests warmly and with open arms. Generally they are almost content with their present lives.

On the other hand I can see the problem with Mexico, from a foreigner’s perspective. For example, there is a big difference in the education level between public schools and private schools. The private school supplies superior educational services with excellent qualities and opportunities to study abroad. But the public school cannot offer these types of services and opportunities because of the lack of government support. Not only that, In 2010, according to PISA (Program for International Student Assessment), It was pointed out that of 100 children enrolled in the elementary school, 66 finish in time standard, 17 enter the college and 2 or 3 in go on to postgraduate courses. Also nearly 35% of the students drop out of school.

The students are losing interests in their studies and they stop going to school to work and earn money or simply because they don’t want to go school.

The here and the hereafter of a country’s prosperity depends upon the qual-

ity of the education of its people. Mexico has still plenty of time to improve the educational system and it’s a must for the future of Mexico to continue to prosper.

One of the biggest concerns in Mexico is the insecurity situation. Now, the war between The Federal Police and the Soldiers against the bad guys brings calamity to the citizens. One night I witnessed a gunfight in a bus. This accident became a trauma.

The other problem is corruption. Corruption has been rampant in this society. Personally, I do not agree with fathers’ jobs transferring to their sons because it is not fair. Everyone has to get an opportunity to fair competition.

Also, there is a lot of sex discrimination here. Even though the women’s population is higher than the men’s, men get employed more than often than women do, and for better jobs.

So, as you can see, Mexico has many problems, but they do not take away the fact that there is also a big potential here as well. Mexico should reflect on their problems and each Mexican should wake up with patriotism in his heart. I hope the future of Mexico will be better than yesterday because Mexico is now my second home.

Somewhere in the universe, there was this land called “Anormalia” where nothing seemed to be normal.

Here, people could fly, they lived for hundreds of years and the environment was so pure that it may resemble some kind of sanctuary. In a few words this land was what every man dreams of.

Everyone was happy with the way they lived except for one young guy. His name: Blake Prish. Since he was a little child he heard stories about a world completely diferent, the world where humans lived. A world full of imperfections but still amazing. He always wanted to escape from his land and dive into the wonders that Earth offered.

Anormalia

One night while he was sleeping, he saw on his dream his dead grandfather, who had told him that there was one way to get to the world of the humans. He had to reach the top of the mountains of hope and there he would see a portal to Earth.

So the next morning he grabbed a backpack with food, water and some other things for the travel and headed to the mountains. Since he could fly this wasn’t a problem for him, the problem was to find the portal.

He couldn’t see anything that could be the road to another world. At this point he wondered if he was crazy for trusting a dream he had, but just when he was thinking of this he saw a sparkling circle of the size of a balloon. It was the portal! Without thinking it twice he jumped into it and in a few seconds he was in the middle of a road surrounded by a desert.

Blake was amazed by the majesty of the landscape he was looking at that he didn’t even realized that he couldn’t fly, apparently, now he had the same capabilities of a human. So he walked for a few minutes until he bumped into a girl riding a motorcycle who almost ran him over.

—Are you o.k.? —said the girl —Yes, I’m fine thank you —I’m so sorry I didn’t see you —Don’t worry I shouldn’t be walking in the middle of the road —Well, that’s true. I didn’t introduce myself, my name is Cassandra —Hi, I’m Blake Jake on the road

12

13

—Nice to meet you. So, what are you doing here?, walking in the middle of the desert —I just crossed the portal The girl was confused, Blake didn’t notice that it had been inappropiate to mention that.

—The what? Excuse me but I don’t know what are you talking about.

—The portal from my world to Earth, we are on Earth right?

—Well I’m on Earth, but I’m not sure that so do you.

—I don’t understand —Never mind, so tell me about this world you talk about.

The girl thought that Blake was a crazy guy so she didn’t mind what Blake was just telling her about Anormalia.

—So, you can fly —said the girl after Blake finished his explanation —No, apparently I can’t do it on Earth, just in my world —Sure, sure.

—You don’t believe a word I’m saying right?

—Not really.

Luckily for Blake, he was carrying an artefact that his people used to reproduce memories like if they were a video. He showed Cassandra what he had seen in Anormalia and the girl started to trust Blake’s word.

He asked Cassandra to talk about her planet and the way humans lived. The young boy couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How was it posible that humans could destroy their own world? Even though Anormalia was beautiful Blake thought that Earth was even more amazing than his world. For him, the defects of its people made it more diversified and unique.

—I’m glad you think that way. I’d wish more people around here thought the way you do.

A few hours had passed and it was getting dark, Blake had to come back to Anormalia and Cassandra took him back to the portal, but when they reached the place where the sparkling circle was, they saw some guys around it wondering what could that be. Blake and Cassandra waited to see what the men would do.

Just as they feared the men entered the portal.

—This is terrible Cassandra, they will see my world, they shouldn’t be there, this is all my fault I shouldn’t have come here.

—Don’t blame yourself for pursuing your dreams.

Now come on, we have to get them back to Earth.

The two kids entered the portal attempting to prevent the men from discovering what Anormalia had to offer. If the humans had done much harm to earth they couldn’t even imagine what they would do to Anormalia.

14

—Cassandra, do you know those guys?

—I‘ve seen them twice, I think they are mercenaries —Is that bad?

—I think so, but lets not talk now, we have to find them Not much time had passed when they saw the mercenaries destroying some houses and stealing everything in their path.

—Why don’t they do anything? They are being stolen.

—We are peaceful people —Well if you don’t stop them, I will.

—Wait, they can hurt you —They won’t do me more damage than they’re doing to your world and your people.

The girl approached the mercenaries and yelled at them —Hey you! You’d better stop what you’re doing —Or what? —answered one of the mercenaries, the leader apparently.

—This is not about the money you would get with all those treasures, you‘re hurting these people, they haven’t done anything to you, nor us. They are not responsible for our mistakes. We are already destroying our world, let’s not destroy theirs.

The mercenary remained silent for a while and then he muttered something to the other men who were with him. Cassandra was terrified but she was looking at them firmly.

—We are not leaving this place without something in return.

—We can give you treasures but please stop destroying our homes. —said Blake desperate.

—Fine. We have a deal.

The people of Anormalia gave the mercenaries some treasures, but as they were so clever, they didn’t give them valuable things, just things that seemed to be valuable.

The mercenaries were about to leave. just as Cassandra.

As soon as they were gone, the portal would be closed, and no one could travel through it again.

—I guess I won’t see you again —said Blake to Cassandra —I’m afraid so, but this way your world won’t be threatened again.

—Are you going to be okay?

—Of course, I’m a tough girl.

—Good bye Cassandra —Good bye Blake.

Blake would miss Cassandra but he knew it wouldn’t be possible to see her again. So after everyone fixed the mess that the mercenaries had left Blake went to his place and fell asleep just to dream once again of his dead grandfather.

Jake and Cassandra saying good bye

Québec’s status within Canada On September 24 2012, with a crowded auditorium filled with college and high school students, Valerie Lacombe, a teacher from the language department, shared with the audience an interesting speech about her homeland in Canada —Québec—. Lacombe´s conference was an appealing one in which she had the opportunity to mention what the Québec’s status is within Canada. Through colorful visuals, pictures, and charts, Valerie definitely brought Québec closer to us by discussing about its culture, history, folklore and much more. People who gathered that morning to listen to her were able to discover how different French Canada can be, compared to the English Canada. Students got involved in this presentation by asking the speaker about her country once she was through. Needless to say how interested the audience was as Valerie continued to talk and to change each slide projected on the screen.

Through this presentation, the language department at IEST participated in the event organized by Asuntos internacionales called «Vive Internacional» which was held from September 24 to 28. Vive internacional is a series of conferences through which the speakers who take part of it, bring the world right in front of the audience making them aware of how globalization has impacted our lives in so many aspects.

The Mercenaries

15

David Gomez Fuentes President Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Tamaulipas

Jorge Barrón de la Rosa Academic Vicepresident

Avenida Dr. Burton E. Grossman 501 pte. Col. Tampico-Altamira CP. 89609 Altamira Tamaulipas, México.

Tel. (833) 230 25 66

Alfredo Castillo Language Center Coordinator Kizzy López Editor Martha Eileen Ramírez Editorial Designer