Correspondente do TFLA diretamente do Independence Day in LA

* by Fernanda Mara (Marilyn, in the picture with her parents and sister, our Julie Harris)

July 4th: Happy American Independence Day!

Blue, white and red everywhere: on people’s clothes, faces and hearts! Nothing related to the United States playing in the World Cup (by this time, the national team had been back from Africa after being beaten by Ghana!). This is how this nation celebrates its Independence Day.

American flags hang in front of the houses and business places. Families get together in parks, squares and various public places to have picnics, watch live concerts, enjoy entertainment shows and sing in behalf of their nation. At around 9 pm the sky above the country is fulfilled with amazing firework shows that last for approximately 30 minutes!

At public places we can see this party is made for every single American: children and adults, women and men, Americans and immigrants. They all enjoy it and take their time to thank their country for their freedom and glory!

Regardless of anyone’s thoughts and impressions about this nation, we all have to admit that the USA people do know how to celebrate!

And last, but not least, great news for shopping lovers: during this holiday the stores have major sales!!! So if you have the chance to visit North America during summer, don’t miss this important date! Wear your blue, red and white clothes and sing Happy Birthday to the US along with the natives!!!

Marilyn

Correspondente do TFLA diretamente de Israel

* by Marilyn (Fernanda)

Hi everyone! Studying English made it possible for me to go to the other side of the world (literally) and get to know an ancient culture.

Last month I went to Israel, and it was an awesome experience! Hebrew is the native language there, but I could do great speaking English, as most Israelis can speak the language fluently! I was amazed by the modernity, high quality of life and, believe it or not, security they have there! It is not like some of us think it is. The media really doesn´t show the amazing things, monuments and culture they have. They hardly have violence and crimes on the streets (most Israelis don´t have garage in their buildings! The cars are on the streets all the time!), the population feels safe, as they can go around calmly (no matter if it is during the day or night). I stayed in Haifa, a beautiful city on the coast, where people from different cultures live peacefully on the same land. The food there is very healthy, and somehow similar to the Brazilian one, except for falafel, humus, sharwarma, madburra...

I visited the Dead Sea (you can´t swim there very well, as you float all the time), the water is really salty and oily, and they say it is great for the skin! I also covered myself with the Dead Sea mud, which is said to be a healing product.

In the south of Israel, you can see wild camels going around! In Jerusalem, I visited the Holly Wall and I went to the Sepulture Church (the church that was built where Jesus was crucified). You can see and touch the actual piece of stone where they cleaned Jesus’ body after His death, and a model of the cave where they put His body after that!

In Jerusalem they have a very impressive museum about the Holocaust, and I’m sure no one can enter that place and leave it without being touched by what they see! There are real reports of people who went through that hard time, and they have a very nice initiative to collect information about every single Jewish killed during that time, so someday they will be remembered as more than simple numbers in concentration camps.

I hope to go back there one day, because I am sure there is still a lot more to be seen!

Todo o amor que eu sinto nos olhos teus

Fernanda and Omer are one of those few couples you meet in your life that, in a second, you just know they belong to each other. They have that special connection that all of us are willing to find, communicating with their eyes and making words totally unnecessary.

We've known Fernanda (Marilyn) for many years, since she was only a student at TFLA. She has never been an ordinary student, by the way. She has always been outstanding, taking part in plays, parties and gincanas, always showing her enormous talent.

We don't know much about Omer. All we can say is that he plays soccer like a Brazilian, likes Amy Winehouse and is a very lucky man.

Fernanda and Omer are getting engaged this month and there's just one thing we can possibly tell them: love can't be blind.