My experience in the subject and the challenges of English

 I decided to leave the English classes at the university for the last minute because it's not something I like.  But I know it's very important, so I'm trying hard to learn and I've made progress. 

I like writing on this blog because it helps me to be more confident when I write in English, I can learn new words and improve my grammar.

I have to keep practicing my vocabulary and pronunciation, especially my pronunciation. I plan to improve these aspects with more reading, writing, talking to me in front of the mirror, and watching series in English. I need to practice speaking in English every day for 30 minutes and reading in English for another 30 minutes to expand my vocabulary. I will also ask my friends who know English to help me so that they can teach me and correct my pronunciation, I can talk to them in English, that will help me a lot to be more confident when I speak in English with someone else because I feel very nervous when I do it. 

Outside the English classes at the university, I try to speak to myself in English during the day, about things I do or describe things, talk about things I like, look for new words, solve exercises from English books that I have to study, and also try to learn songs in English, that helps me a lot with my pronunciation.

Finally, I really appreciate this experience, I appreciate the classes at the university and being able to write in this blog, I will keep practicing!

Changes to my study programme

The geography curriculum is a program that integrates natural and physical sciences and social sciences. In Geography, we study physical geography, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, soil geography, and any other sub-discipline that can understand the physical environment in which we live. We also study social geography, cultural geography, qualitative methodologies, human geography, and any other sub-discipline that can understand society. 

The degree lasts 5 years, 4 years are theoretical and the last year is the professional practice and the title memory. In the last years of the degree, mainly the fourth and fifth year, we can integrate the physical and human subjects and make the real geography that studies the physical environment with the society as a whole.

The first change I would make would be to integrate the subjects on the physical side with the human side from the first year and not to study binarism in geography because in this way it is easier to understand the environment and society as a single system.

Studying geography is not easy. There is a lot to read, many concepts to learn, plus you have to do fieldwork and know methodologies to work with the local community. I think it is important to focus the career on learning how to approach people and contribute to local development while handling information and understanding the physical environment where the community lives. Today the career is more focused on urbanism and technical issues, I think it is necessary to go deeper into qualitative aspects of research and work.

We can also use technology with geographical information systems. Technology helps us to deliver spatial information more easily and massively and also helps us to find out more about the issues we are studying. Unfortunately, the university does not have enough computers or enough space to work, so another change that I would make is to expand the spaces of the faculty such as the library, that there are more books on geography and more computers to work with.

In the career we can learn from the experience of the people who teach us, generally, they teach us with PowerPoint, texts, and conversations, but the most important thing is when they teach us in the fieldwork, where we can put into practice everything we have learned. Geography is a career that should always have a practical part to be able to apply what we have learned and I believe that we should increase the number of fields that we have in each subject and be able to have the maximum practical experience possible.  

Finally, another change is that teachers have courses in pedagogy, since sometimes they do not explain in the best way and since they are not pedagogues nor did they study pedagogy, they do not always give the information in the best way so that we can learn correctly.

Violence on TV

Television is a tool that can help or destroy. Violence on television is something that should not be present because it reproduces actions and patterns of discrimination, injustice, and machismo. 

When stereotypes are promoted on television, it is violence because women have come to risk their lives by conforming to those stereotypes. 

When robberies and murders are shown on television it is violence because unconsciously it promotes the use of weapons and people feel more insecure every day. 

When a murderer is shown on television taking out a woman's eyes it is violence because it does not question the man, it does not teach about feminism and gender equality, it does not say that it is frustrating femicide, it is violent that they talk about how a man almost killed a woman and they do not teach men not to rape and kill. 

When women are denigrated and internalized on television, when their clothes, bodies, and attitudes are highlighted rather than congratulated and their professional and academic achievements are shown, it is violence. 

Violence on television is not only when they show weapons, wars, and conflicts, which can incite children to violence, violence on television is also gender-based violence because women are objectified every day and their contributions are not recognized. Violence on TV is also making fun of different people in comedy shows and discriminating against them. Violence on television is also giving space to racist and homophobic people to speak out of hatred.

For all these reasons, violence on television must be eradicated. TV is a means of mass communication that many people grow up watching, and if we watch violence as we grow up we will only be people full of hate and unhappiness. But if we grow up with cultural programs that promote equality, that teach about feminism, that do not promote stereotypes or focus only on war and weapons, people will be happier, they will live with less fear, we will have more culture and education.

My future job

 The truth is that today I can't imagine myself working because this year, I learned that your plans can change in a second. But I would like to have an exciting and entertaining job, a job that is not monotonous, to wake up in the morning and be happy to go to work. That's why I'd like a job outdoors, where I can work directly in the territory and with people. 

I would also like a job where I have to travel and get to know different places. Maybe I'll start working in public institutions in the environmental area or the area of planning and land management. but at some point, I would like to be independent, to have a foundation from which I can help people and territories. 

I would like to learn more about economic geography, environment, and climate change in order to work on a project or with an institution that promotes sustainable economies and circular economies in the territories. I think it is a good way to contribute to a better world and a way to help the most vulnerable communities by reducing inequality and the impacts of the big market economies.

I don't care much about the salary, I guess it must be enough to live on the bills. The most important thing is that I would like to have a job that makes sense and allows me to contribute in a real and effective way.

My best holidays so far

I went to the south of Chile in the summer of 2018 for February. It was the first time I traveled south. I was in Chiloé, Puerto Montt, Petrohue, Valdivia, Temuco, and Concepción. It was a month of traveling and knowing the wonders of the south with my friends Esperanza and Valentina.

 

When we were in Chiloé, we went to Cucao, and we were the National Park Chiloé, the "Muelle de las Almas", and we walked for hours for the beach of Cucao, we camped on the beach that night. Also, we knew Dalcahue, Puqueldón, Ancud, Curaco, and other places on the Island. When we were in Puerto Montt, we were on the National Park Alerce Andino and on Mailen Island, a small island 40 minutes from Angelmó, where we participated in a traditional party. We swam on the "Lago Todos Los Santos" in Petrohue and walked for the National Park Vicente Perez Rosales.  We went to the "Noche Valdiviana" on Valdivia, a celebration for the bicentennial of the city. Also, we knew Corral and Niebla. Later, we were able to rest from the Valdivia party in Puqueldón. Finally, we swam and enjoyed the sun on the Lanalhue lake. 

This is my best holiday so far because I've never traveled south before and I've always wanted to know those places. I knew wonderful places that I would return to a thousand times, but the most important thing is that I was able to make this incredible trip with my childhood friends.

Finally, I leave you some pictures of the trip to motivate you to know these incredible places.

Chonchi, Chiloé, 2018.

Cucao, Chiloé, 2018.

Mailen Island, 2018.

National Park Alerce Andino, 2018.

Lago Todos Los Santos, 2018.

Niebla, 2018.

The country I dream of visiting

I dream of visiting Indonesia. Indonesia is an archipelago of 17.000 islands in Southeast Asia. It's home to a lot of religions, and I am very interested in learning about other cultures. Many Hindu people live on the island of Bali, and they believe that all the evil they do can return to them, so they are good, calm, and generous people. I would like to know about that culture and to learn about these people. 

I like to travel to Indonesia because there are many beautiful beaches, tropical forests, there is a great diversity of flora and fauna, and the tropical weather is very pleasurable. The tropical weather and the beach make me feel happy. 

Another reason to go to Indonesia is that I am attracted to the places most connected with nature. Unfortunately, there are conflicts in Indonesia over politics, the environment, and the extractivist economy that endanger the beautiful landscapes of the archipelago and its citizens. Indonesia is a very poor country, it is not a developed country, there is a lot of illiteracy, and I would like very much to be able to know the culture of Indonesia and work to contribute to its wellness.