Response #4

Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed

In this video described as one of the Top 25 TED Talks, Ric Elias, who is a survivor of the Flight 1549 in January 2009, tell us what he thought and reflected whereas his plane crashed-landed in the Hudson River in New York. First, Elias said that he learned that everything can change suddenly; second, Ric said that he should enjoy his life more and not waste time with unimportant things; third, he said that dying is not so scary and everyone is being prepared for it during his whole life. These three things that he said make us think about our lives.

The first thing that Ric mentioned in this video make me reflect that we have to live our lives intensely today like it is our last day. We always need to do our best and never give up on your goals. Also, we have to realize what is really important for us as Elias said. I think we need to be thankful for everybody that make us feel good, so we must reciprocate these good attitudes. Finally, it's difficult for me to understand that dying is not so scary when this possibility looks so far away for me, but I comprehend and respect him when he said that he didn't want to go even with the imminent death. In fact, he didn't give up on his life. Thus, this excellent video gives us some lessons. Do not be accommodate. Do your best showing a smile in your face. Be a good person and you will be happy, for happiness is the main goal for our lives.

Response #3

Finding Clownfish

Taking pictures is my hobby. Travelling around the world is my passion. Now I am supposed to experience a great adventure that I believe I will love so much. My name is Indiana Bond and now I have a challenge. The North Face, a company which I work for, proposed a challenge to all the employees during the vacation: crossing a small city in a jungle to get in the great icy mountains and go up them, so it is required to go down the icy mountains and coming to a famous cold sea where some people said that living the rare clownfish. The challenge is named "Finding Clownfish" and I need to take a picture of this peculiar and rare specie of fish. Nobody accepted the challenge, except me.

I'm travelling through a dirt road, crossing the jungle in a bus of Paradise Travel Company. The slogan of this company is "the way to paradise". In the way, while I am seeing a lot of hens and roosters, then there are a lost couple in a bus stop next to the dirt road. The couple gets on the bus in the way to paradise and we continue the trip. I talk to them and they said me that they enjoyed travel without destination and I laughed of this situation. 

The bus stopped in the end of the jungle and I get off it. It's occurring a drastic change of weather. Now I need to change my clothes to face the cold climate. Then I start to go up the icy mountains. It's being a hard time because I've never gone up big mountains like these. However, the landscape is fantastic and I'm taking a lot of pictures. It's being the first time that I am in a place so wonderful like these icy mountains; I am fascinated.

After a long time, I am on peak of the mountains and really exhausted. So, I can sight the cold sea down there and I need to go down the mountains. This stage tend to be easier than go up the mountains, but I need to be more careful to not slip; it can be really dangerous. In fact, I spent less time to go down the mountains and I took less pictures too, and now I am next to the cold sea. My journey is almost finished, but the hard part will start now: diving on the cold sea. 

I wear my diving suit and enter the sea. I need to find the famous clownfish to win the challenge. I can receive an award as a result of my feat. So, I am diving on the sea and looking for the rare fish. I see many kind of fish and a great variety of sea life, but my not my target. I am tired of looking for the orange-white fish, when I sight a little fish behind some algae suddenly. It is the most beautiful and incredible fish that I have seen. It is the famous clownfish and I take a picture of this rare animal. I accomplished my goal and the most fantastic adventure of my life, "Finding Clownfish", is done.

Response #2

4. Never promise a fish until it's caught.

This proverb is similiar to another in my language. In Portuguese, the proverb that has a similar meaning is "Nunca dê um passo maior que a perna". The translate in English would be "Never take a step higher than the leg". The main idea of these two proverbs is the same. I think it's really true, for you never have to promise something with 100% of confidence, which is difficult to be achieved. Many times people promise great things because others can trust them and can be happier with this promise. Also, people promise things that someone want to heard. However, when you promise, you need to keep your word. Thus, only promise things that are achievable.

9. Knowledge is like a garden: if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.

This proverb is really meaningful for me. I am proof of this, because if I am here in the United States today, it's consequence of my dedication. I have cultivated my garden studying a lot and working hard since I was a young boy. When I had known about the possibility to try a participation in an exchange program. So, I applied for this and I was approved based in my background at my university. Therefore, Cal State Fullerton is my harvest.