Maga­See­InInformation and EntertainmentInformation and Entertainment

Discovering Taiwan

One day trip to 

Tortuguero

maga­see­in.com

November 2010 

New adventures for a modern world

Green ZoneHow to create your own fertilizer

Learn to prepare Fried Beancurd

Boll

Silvia xxxCosta Rica­Mexico

Alberto Gomez MartinezCosta Rica­United States

Maga­See­InInformation and EntertainmentInformation and Entertainment

November 2010

Costa Rica, Heredia

Universidad Nacional

Expresión EscritaProfessor: Christian Fallas Escobar

Associated Editors

Chung ChunCosta Rica­Taiwan

César Jiménez FernándezCosta Rica­United States

01

Maga­See­InInformation and EntertainmentInformation and Entertainment

November 2010 

Month's Country

TaiwanWhat you should know before you

travel to Taiwan.

,International Food

Mayan Salad (Mexico)Fried Beancurd Boil (Taiwan)

Getting the best of tomatoes

Chef and Spy: MAC's American Bar

and Grill

Green Zone

Organic Fertilize

To our dear reader...This month Maga­See­In is glad to present you a special edition. In this edition 

we have sections from all over the world. We have an exotic recipe from Taiwan and the spice taste from Mexico. Besides, we have for you the steps to grow a beautiful Bonsai and the procedure to have your own fertilize form organic garbage.

And  because  we  are  almost  at  the  end  of  this  wonderful  year,  as  a  gift  to  our readers  we  include  some  of  the  tales,  stories,  poems  and  others  articles  from  previous editions. We are sure you will enjoy reading those amazing stories while your mind flies away to new worlds.

Green ZoneOrganic Fertilize

One day trip to...Tortuguero National Park

How to do it...Bonsai Tree

Do you know that...

From the Editors

Silvia Barrientos

Alberto Gomez

Chug Chun

Cesar Jimenez

It is very important for western people to acknowledge Taiwanese culture before they are going to travel there. In fact, Taiwanese has a lot of differences compare to Costa Rica in terms of culture; for instance, between men will only shake hands to greet each others and women are used to saying hi and waving their hands to others in any circumstances. This means that Taiwanese does not kiss or embrace other people (male and female friends) for greeting. Besides that Taiwanese like to keep their body babble, from 30cm to 50cm when they talk to people; closeness or touching people body can be considered rude.

Information and EntertainmentInformation and EntertainmentWhat You Should Know Before You Travel to What You Should Know Before You Travel to 

TaiwanTaiwan

Another difference is that Taiwanese are very punctual people; they do not like to be late when they have a meeting with others (friends, family, classmates, or co-workers); for this reason, it is suggested to be in meeting place five or ten minutes before. Also, you should clean up your plate each time you eat because they do not like people to waste food.

By: Hung Chung ChunAssociated International  Reporter

Continue next page

03

Many Taiwanese work hard to

grow their plants and rice, so if

you waste food; you may become

an unwelcome host next time.

Therefore, you have to respect

elder people; many Taiwanese

call those people National

Treasure, which shows that the

respect they have towards them.

Furthermore, they do not call the

people name directly, who have

five more years than them; you

should call the people older than

you uncle or aunt. If you keep all

these cultural differences in

mind; you will have a lot of fun

for your travel.

The  Pers immon  or   “kaki”  in   Chinese ,   i s  the   most   widely  cultivated  species.  These   are   sweet,   s l ightly  tangy  fruits with  a  soft   to   occasionally   f ibrous texture .  Above  the   Dragon  Boat  Festival .   The festival   occurs   on  the  5th  day  of   the  5th  month  of   the   lunar  calendar   on which the  Chinese  calendar  i s  based Continue. . .

04

By: Alberto GomezBy: Alberto GomezAssociated PublisherAssociated Publisher

05

There are many foreigners around the world come to

Taipai on their summer vacation because they can find a

lot of delicious food on night market. Also, they can find

the latest technological devices such as PC, laptop, MP5,

video players with a very low price, but the best quality.

Therefore, they can go to hot spring after a long walk or

shopping because it can help the muscles be released

from tiredness. Further information about traveling

Taiwan, you can find in www.ticket.hk (air ticket),

www.hotel.hk (hotel), and www.pachage.hk (packages).

In addition, you can contact with Mr. Edmond Ng (852-

747-66666), who can help you to have a best traveling

plan with reasonable price. Do not hesitate! Come to visit

Taiwan, you will have an unforgettable experience.

Taipei   101  is   the  highest   bui lding   in  Taiwan,   which  is  located  in   Taipai  (the  biggest  c ity) .   It  is   also  known  as  the  Taipei   Financial  Center.   Taipei   101 was  the   f irst  building   in   the  world  to  break  the  half­kilometer   mark in   height  and  the  f irst  record­setting  skyscraper  constructed  in  the  new millennium.

06

International FoodInternational FoodMayan SaladMayan Salad

Ingredients: 1 (380 gr.) can palm tree hearts, rinsed and drained1 cup diced peeled green apple1 (250 gr.) can whole-kernel corn, rinsed and drained½ cup thinly vertically sliced radish½ cup raisin1/3 cup sliced and roasted almond

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise1/4 cup chipotle sauce2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro1/8 teaspoon black pepper

How to make it:

●To prepare the salad, first add some fresh lemon juice to the apples in order to avoid them getting dark. Then combine them and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.

●To prepare the dressing, combine first mayonnaise and chipotle sauce gradually. If it is too hot, add more mayonnaise. Then add the remaining ingredients, and stir well.

●This great Mayan salad recipe makes 5 servings (serving size: 1 ½ cups).Enjoy it!

By: Silvia Bar r ientosInternational Chef

International FoodInternational FoodFried Beancurd BoilFried Beancurd Boil

Ingredients:

1) dried mushroom -3-5

Chinese cabbage -1

Peastarch roll -2-3

2) dried beancurd skin -4 oz

Fresh beancurd -2 pieces

Seasoning:

salt -1 tsp

MSG -2 tsp

Wine -1 tsp

Sugar -1 tsp

Oil -10 oz

Sesame oil – to taste

Methods:

1) clean dried mushrooms and soften in water: clean

cabbage and cut into long cubes: slice peastarch rolis.

2) chop dried beancurd skin and mix with beancurd:

make balls out of the misture.

3) heat oil in a pan; deep fry bamboo shoot and beancurd

balls till golden; remove balls from pan.

4) leave some oil in the pan; stir-fry ingredients (1) till

thoroughly cooked; add fried balls and seasoning; stew

for 30 minutes; sprinkle sesame oil.

By: Hung Chung ChunInternational Chef

International FoodInternational FoodGetting the best of your tomatoesGetting the best of your tomatoes

It´s not a secret that vegetables are excellent sources

of vitamins; however, there are some tips to enhance

their benefits. This time, I will tell you how to get the

best of the best when you eat tomatoes. If you are

going to prepare homemade tomato sauce, you

should do it with olive oil. This combination of tomato

and olive oil is the big secret since olive oil enhances

the lycopene, a substance that helps to prevent many

kinds of diseases like prostate, lung, and stomach

cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diarrhea among

others.

By: Hung Chung ChunInternational  Chef

The second big secret is that you have to use light olive oil instead of the extra virgin one

because the light olive oil has the higher “smoke point”. It means that it can be used in

medium temperatures without losing its properties. Otherwise, you won’t get the best of

the best of your tomatoes. And remember that if you are going to prepare salad, add some

extra virgin olive oil to it.

Hi, Friends!This month, I visited an American Bar and grill. It is located in the southwest part of San José downtown, next to Tennis Club- Sabana. I’m talking about MAC’s American Bar and Grill. The first time I went was on Wednesday because they always have live music on this day and at that time, it was Latin jazz. The group was great and they played for about 3 hours. About food, it is Tex-Mex and some Costa Rican dishes for lunch time. The menu is varied. The food is served fresh and on time. I would say that their hamburgers are really American. I fall in love with the TC. I give them my golden hat.

The ambiance is good, let say that they have two basic ones. On the first floor, you will find the sport-bar and most American people like this part. On the second floor, it is more Latin and there are two pool tables. There is also a terraza which is nice.The only negative aspect is they don’t have parking lot; however, they have security staff to take care of your car.

In general, my qualification is...4 star chef hats...Excellent job, MAC's American Bar

Green Zone

We will create a natural fertilize for your garden, trees and 

plants. Besides, we will get a natural disinfectant which can 

be use in your house.

Have you ever wonder what to do with the organic Have you ever wonder what to do with the organic garbage?garbage?Well today we will give you a great option to take Well today we will give you a great option to take advantage of those leftovers from the kitchen.advantage of those leftovers from the kitchen.

First of all, we will need a couple of things before start. We will use:A big plastic pail.1 kilogram of fermented semolina.A plastic bag with sand. (around 2.kg)One cork.Finally, the garbage from the kitchen.

Once we have the materials ready, lets make a little hole at the bottom of the plastic pail. The hole must be big enough for the cork. Now the pail is ready to receive leftovers.

Every time you deposit leftovers inside the pail, you must spread the semolina over the garbage. The dosage consists of two big spoons of fermented semolina for each kilogram of leftovers. After adding the semolina, you have to cover the pail with the bag of sand.

Something really important is that the garbage must not have any liquid. It means that only solid leftovers can be deposited inside the pail.Every time you add leftovers inside the pail it is necessary to follow the same process. Once the pail is full, leave it aside during five days.

After this time, take out the material from the pail and use it as a fertilize in your garden. At the bottom of the pail there will be a liquid residue take it out through the little hole and use it as disinfectant.

By: Cesar  Jimenez FernandezAssociated Editor

07

Across:

1. Each part of the spine3. The openings of the nose6. The joint between the upper arm and the forearm9. Organ that pumps the blood10. Where women put the earrings11. Where the air goes through, from your nose to the lungs14. Used for kissing16. The two small round pieces of flesh at the sides of your throat18. The largest bone of the human body19. Where you apply deodorant20. What covers your eyes when sleeping

Down:

2. The organ you use to think 4. The joint between the forearm and the hand 5. the ones that perceive flavors on the tongue 7. Where food is processed 8. Used to chew the food 12. The organs that process urine 13. The joint between the leg and the foot 15. The inner part of your spine 17. These are only two, the Large and the Small

By: Cesar

Just Killing Time

08

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contain the digits 1 through 9 with no repeats.

su|do|ku easy3 6

9 82 4 3

7 2 4 1 81 3 7 4 69 6 5 7 1

4 3 71 5

7 8 6 4

Comic StripsTeachersTeachers

By: Cesar

By: Alber to

Just Killing Time

09

March 21-April 19 : Meticulous and sincere effort on yourpart may have led to a recent increase in income. Todayyou might be thinking on your budget. Be careful andrealistic. You've worked hard to get where you are and youdeserve a reward.

September 23 – October 23 : Today you might be in areflective mood. You may think about mundane matters,such as how to increase your income, or more complexissues, such as the purpose of life. It's probably the perfectday to stay in, relax, and enjoy your own company.

April 21- May 20 : A sense of duty toward familymembers, children, and your sweetheart may cause you totake on responsibilities today that you wouldn't normallyassume. Sincere efforts in benefit of those you care aboutare likely to bring the results you want.

October 24 – November 21 : Obligations to friends andgroups could interfere with time that you want to spendwith your partner. Someone will visit you, but you're noone's servant, Scorpio. You're entitled to enjoy yourself.Save some time for your mate at the end of the day.

May 21- June 21: Emotions coming from past experiencesmight cause you to assume new responsibilities,particularly concerning family members. This is fine aslong as you realize what you're doing is as much for you asfor the other person. Whatever tasks you assume may allowyou to release old traumas and give form to your plans and

ambitions.

November 22 – December 21 : You might wake up thismorning and decide your home is a total mess. The desireto spend the day cleaning and your house might provealmost obsessive. Whatever you do today, Sagittarius,view it in its proper perspective. The world won't end ifyour house isn't flawlessly clean.

June 22 – July 22 : Relatives or neighbors may come to youtoday asking for favors. Some may know exactly what tosay in order to get you to do what they want. Help others ifyou wish, Cancer, but recognize that you're doing itbecause you want to and not because you feel you have to.

You might even learn something about yourself in the process.

December 22 – January 19 : Extra time and attention thatyou have been devoting to your career should pay off aboutnow. You've worked hard to be where you are. Today youmight spend a lot of time planning your next goal. A littleingenuity will definitely pay off here, Capricorn. Use

whatever advantages you have.

July 23 – August 22: A temporary lack of belief in yourabilities might have you hesitating to start a project. Thiscould involve something you've wanted to try or helpingsomeone else. Your faith in yourself should never flag, but ifit does, it's important to remember that hard work can be as

important as talent.

January 20 – February 18 : An older male visitor couldcome to your home, possibly to help you with some workthat needs to be done. Family members may haveabandoned you, so you are alone. Practical matters, such asthe household budget, might need attention, so set aside

some time to work out the details.

August 23 – September 22 : A phone conversation withsomeone who lives far away might have you feeling a bitsad, reflecting on how much you miss that person. Youmight question the direction you seem to be moving in, andconsider other possible options. You're likely to be cautious

when it comes to making final decisions, Virgo. You will consider everydetail.

February 19 – March 20 : Today you might perform someservice to people who live in your neighborhood. Perhapsyou will chauffeur people around to do their shopping.Perhaps you will help people with household tasks.Whatever it is, you will enjoy it, and be appreciated as

well. Expect to have a very busy day. You will certainly sleep soundlytonight.

If you want to have your horoscope personalized call me, and I will tell you what the stars have to you.Now  we  offer  you  our  new  system,  just  sent  us  a  text message  with  your  birthday  and  you  will  receive  what  the stars have for you in the day.We are  avai lable  from 9:00 am to  5:00 pm.Phone:  506­2244­0000

By: Cesar  Jimenez FernandezAssociated Astrologist

10

Just Killing TimeChristmas BusinessChristmas Business By: Alber to Gomez

Associated Car icatur ist  

By: Alber to  GomezAssociated Publisher

11

6:00 am Departure from San Jose accompanied by our bilingual naturalist guide.6:30 am We will drive through Braulio Carrillo National Park. Covered with cloud forest and beautiful waterfalls which can be seen from the road.7:30 am. Just after the Braulio Carrillo National Park, we stop for a typical Costa Rican breakfast; fruit juice, coffee, eggs and the popular “gallo pinto”.8:00 am. Following the breakfast, we continue to a Banana Plantation, where our guide will explain the process of growing that fruit.10:30 am. We later abandon our bus and embark on the most exciting part of this tour; the boat trip into the jungle of the “Canales del Tortuguero”.12:00 pm. We will enjoy our lunch.1:00 pm. After lunch we will take a walk through the rainforest and learn about nature to get the real feeling of our tropical humid rainforest. Also, we will go in a boat trip through Tortuguero National Park. We will have the opportunity to see many birds, monkeys, colorfull buterflies, including the Blue Morpho.3:30 pm, returning to the bus, we go back to San Jose, arriving around 6:30 pm.

For Reservations call:Phone: 506­8857­0330amazingtours@racsa.co.cr

II••TT••II••NN••EE••RR••AA••RR••YY

One day trip toOne day trip to

By: Cesar  Jimenez FernandezAmazing Tours.com

12

By: Alberto GomezBy: Alberto GomezAssociated PublisherAssociated Publisher

Listening and Watching TogetherListening and Watching Together

MP5MP5Advantages:

Built-in DV Camera – record videosTranscoding Movies – play more different video formatExpandable Memory – more memoryBetter TFT Display Screen – higher resolution

Price: $50

Phone number: 22-74-85-91

Hey everybody get ready to be floored

because ICE COLD Company has a new

astounding soda for you! Our

company just cannot keep this news

bottled up anymore, so now we give

the possibility to stimulate your

senses with “Carri-soda” the soda out

of this world! This beverage is

making waves everywhere and

everyone gets crazy to buy one. No

more sodas of low quality, no more

egg on your face for having a

tasteless soda because Carri-soda will

make you come alive for another one.

Its awesome flavor will even make you

drop in your friends` houses to get

one, get the picture? You could not

resist the temptation! Remember ICE

COLD Company has always the last

word in beverages!

Remember: Exercising everyday and keeping a

balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables because your health matters the

most!!!!!Accept your friends as they are, share, live, have fun,

have a Carri—soda!!!

By: Alber to Gomez MartinezAssociated Publ isher

How to do it...How to do it...How to make a Bonsai treeHow to make a Bonsai tree

Now we have a special article for the lovers of the plants, and it is about how to make a Bonsai tree in 8 easy steps. This month we will be helped by Mr. Victor Vargas an expert gardener, and also by our friend websites “how-to-make-a-bonsai.com” and “Wiki-how.com”.A little bit of history

The word Pensai comes from the Japanese term “Bonsai” which means “growing trees in containers”. Actually, Pensai is a Chinese word that makes reference to the same action. Despite Bonsais are created in countries like China, Korea, and Vietnam there must not be confusion with the origin because this is an ancient Japanese art of growing tiny trees in pots (literally trays).

Let`s get started!!!!Step #1: ResearchingResearching is essential before starting a project, and this is not the exception. It is vital to do previous research about how to take care of your future Bonsai (procedures, soil types, environmental requirements, and so on).

Step #2: SelectingOnce you have done some research you are able for choosing the species of your tree, remember take on to account your geographic location because the weather has a strong influence on Bonsais. You must also have in mind what will be the size of your Bonsai. Then, you can go to a nursery or a Bonsai shop and choose the kind of plant or tree you will use for making yours. If you an adventurous spirit and do not have the budget for buying a tree, DO NOT WORRY. You can go to the forest or to the mountain (of course after a having done a little research) and look for the tree you would like to have as a Bonsai. And last but not least, you must select your pot. The pot will affect directly the shape, form and size of your Bonsai, so watch out.

By: Alber to  Gomez MartinezAssociated Botanical

Step #3: PreparingNow we move to the action, first prune the tree until achieve the desired shape. Second, wire the branches which need to be branched for the shape you want. Third, the most important part you have cut the main root of the tree. If the tree survives to this abrupt change it will become a pre-bonsai, and after a year it will be a Bonsai. Once the main root has been cut you must plant the tree into the pot/tray. Do not forget making holes in the pot for water drainage and keep the tree watered if it is warm.

Now just be patient and careful and you will have you BonsaiRemember experiment as much as you can with all the kinds of

plants and trees you find because practice makes perfect!!!!

Do You Know That !!!Do You Know That !!!November 11 1901 NABISCO was trademark register.

What a delicious trademark !!

November 3 1903 ListerineListerine was trademark registered.

November 2 1955 Jim Hensom's “Kermit the FrogKermit the Frog” the first Muppet was copyright registered.

Major Pieces from the Editors

Silvia Barrientos

Alberto Gomez Martinez

Hung Chung Chun

Cesar Jimenez Fernandez

Letters from the EditorsBy: Si lvia Barr ientos 

The Price

Things could not be worse, but they were…That night was one of the darkest night ever, there was no moon, and the clouds covered the stars.Suddenly the storm got worse, the rain made it more difficult to see where to walk, where to escape. The shouts of people calling their relatives, the sirens of the immigration patrols, the thunders, all made it more difficult to stay together or even to find each other. The only two things that lightened us were the patrols´ lights which we escaped we escaped from and the lightnings that let us know where the enemies were, and that we were still together.

It seemed that the only way to escape was to get into the river and try to cross it, but it implied risking our lives; I just was the only one who knew to swim very well. Andre …, he knows to swim but just in pools; Alejandro, he is just ten years old and although he knows to swim, he is not strong enough to cross this river.

So we got into the river, it was the worst decision we made; we split. Alejandro and Andre got lost; I just could try to keep afloat since the current was too strong for swimming. My hope was that Alejandro and Andre would stay together.

I lost track of time and I didn´t have my watch anymore, the river took it. I remember when Andre gave it to me .It was our first anniversary; the funniest thing was that I gave him a watch, too. That loss seemed to be a presage of a bigger loss: eleven years of a lovely life with my husband and my son.

Finally, I could seize hold of a huge and sharp rock. Now, there was total silent; no more shouts, no more sirens, no more thunders. I just heard my heart and my breathing trying to get calm .The Bravo River continued running but less furiously. I didn´t know if it would be a good idea to call Alejandro and Andre or stay in silence. I couldn´t see anything, so I stayed there….quite and alone .I fell asleep.

It seemed to be 4:30 a.m. It was still dark; I just could distinguish some rocks, shrubs and some cacti near me.

Promptly, someone called me; her voice was kind of familiar to me. It was Adriana, a single mother, who we met in the container of the truck we were traveling from El Salvador to the Mexican border .This voice brought a temporal peace to my soul ; I wasn´t alone anymore en the most hostile desert one can imagine.

Are you ok? Asked Adriana with a trembling voice.Well, I have some cuts on my legs and arms, I think I got them when in the river, the rocks are sharp. I answered without thinking a lot about the question How about you?

I´m ok, I don´t know how I survive, but I did. Do you know where we are? I asked hoping we have crossed the river border already.I think we are close to the Dolores land; we have to walk around one hour to the north Said Adriana with a hopeful tone that encouraged me to stand up and start walking. Do you know something about my family? This question was full of fear ……I didn’t want to hear the truth; I just wanted to hear that everything was just fine.

“Last time I saw your husband and your son, they were getting out from the river, but……”“But what?” “They were on the other side of the river “ This meant they had to cross the river again if they wanted to get to the Dolores land.

“Let’s eat some tunas, we need some hydratation” said Adriana, she was trying to distract our minds from our possible reality …..losing our families or our own lives..

I didn’t know how many hours we walked, but there were more than one, the sun burned our skin; the air was so hot that it was difficult to breath. It seemed to burn our lungs. Our only fresh things we had were the tunas we collected.

Just at the moment we thought we couldn´t walk one more meter, Eulalia met us .She was the “coyote” we paid for crossing the border and taking us to Arizona .She is Mexican and divorced. She had a child who died in the desert the first time she tried to cross the border. Eulalia was not a sweet woman actually she was withered; it seemed she didn’t have soul. There were no expressions on her eyes.Eulalia knew exactly the place where we were, we just have arrived to Arizona. She called a friend. One hour later, a gringo came with a pick up and took us to his home.

There, we took a shower, we ate and rested. My body was exhausted and my soul, too .I couldn’t stop thinking of Alejandro and Andre.

Women usually have a sixth sense that tells them how things are; this time, I was not able to feel anything .It seemed that my spirit, my body, my soul and my mind were disconnected. My mind told me all the circumstances Alejandro and Andre might be under. My spirit cried to my mind they were safe .My soul was absent.

“Victoria and Adriana, we have to continue our trip. We need to arrive to the downtown” Said Eulalia “but you need to sleep”“Please go to the bedroom and get some sleep, I will let you know when we leave ….at night” “Do you know something about my …?” I asked her She interrupted me and said: “Not really, I just heard they went back to take the train to cross the border” I couldn’t believe it; now we would never meet again. How could they find me?“I don’t trust her” whispered Adriana. “Don´t believe her, I think she is lying”“Neither do I, we are not in safe hands” I answered “We need to go to a safer place “Adriana added.”Let’s try to rest and recover some energy” We went to sleep; we were tired out and we didn´t realize when we fell asleep.Eulalia woke us up; it was 10:00 p.m. We ate a big dinner and then we left in her friend’s car. I didn´t know what to do , go back to Mexico or go to Arizona´s downtown .That thought was the only one I had “Don´t go back to Mexico, you have better chances to find your family in Arizona” Adriana told me .It seemed she could read my mind.“Remember you have a plan, I’m sure Andre and Alejandro will follow it, so you have to dot too”

These words were my only hope to continue living .After five hours, we arrived to Arizona’s downtown .Eulalia got a room for us in a motel.“Ok I kept my promise “Eulalia said with a tiring tone, “from now you are by your own” Then she left to the car and left.Adriana and I stayed quiet for around one hour. She lied in her bed and started crying. I didn´t want to interrupt her.At six o´clock, I went to a grocery to get some food. It was four blocks from the motel .It was risky but we were starving. Adriana stayed in the room, she was taking a shower.After twenty minutes .I went back. The receptionist wasn´t in the lobby. When I got to the room, the door was opened…..Adriana wasn´t there anymore .I took my stuff and left.

I found the receptionist in the back yard of the motel; she said the immigration officers arrived and took many people .I asked her about Adriana, she didn´t know anything; she left before the immigration officers finished their job .She hated to se how these immigrants were taken back to Mexico after such sacrifices.

Alone again….I just followed the plan; I couldn´t stay there anymore .I couldn´t wait for Adriana, it was dangerous .I went to Richard’s house one of Andre´s friend who lived in Marshville since 1995.Richard did not have any news about Alejandro and Andre.Seven months passed and no news .I called every week to Costa Rica but Andre´s family didn´t anything about them, I was hopeless; I didn´t want to stay in Marshville neither to go back to Costa Rica.

I remember that morning when I woke up and got up .I had to work .Thanks to Richard, I got a job in a cafeteria .That morning was different, the air was fresher and the birds sang a different melody. It was 7:00 a.m. The bell of the door rang, our first customer, I thought I was preparing the coffee maker; the customer started arriving at 7:15 a.m.

“Good morning” said a child My body started to trembling head over feet, my heart beat so strong that it seemed it was going to get out of my chest .I couldn´t turn and see. I was afraid.“Mami” said a child I faintedWhen I opened my eyes, I didn´t recognized where I was .It was the manager´s office.The only thing a recognized was the laughs of Andre. He was telling my boss one o his best jokes.“I swore we would accomplish the plan no matter what” said Andre“And we will never split again” said Alejandro“I love you” and I hugged then with all my strength

Getting the Perfect DogBy: Si lvia Barr ientos 

I want a dog. I´m responsible enough to be a dog owner

and it’s my right! Have you ever heard that from your

children? Have you ever said that to your parents as the

best argument to convince them to get a dog for you? If

the answer is yes, I invite you to discover that it is true

that a fundamental requirement to have a dog is to be

responsible, but this responsibility extends in many

ways and it does not only refer to the fact of giving it

food and water. Indeed, Getting the perfect dog implies

three main factors that must be taken into account: 1.

you, the future owner; 2. the best dog for you 3. the

external facts as laws and regulations and available

services.

You the future dog ownerMany people do not know how important it is to analize themselves as a future dog owner before getting or

choosing a dog. Some people just get a dog because it is in fashion, or are tired and sick of their children prayers. Let’s

consider some of the factors related to you, the future dog owner..

Time. Yes, time!!! Do you have the time a dog needs? I mean, time needed for taking care of a dog properly. I am not

talking about the time required to serve its food and to change the water. I mean time of course for feeding it, but also for

walking, for bathing, for training, for sharing time with it - companionship. “Cesar the dog whisperer emphasizes that a dog

has these basic needs, no matter the breed or the size it has. He remarks that a dog needs to exercise at least 45 minutes

a day and that it needs to do it outside home”. About companionship time, I would like you take this into consideration:

“Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job” (Jones). These wise words show us how important sharing time is to dogs,

and we have to include it in our agenda.

Money, money. You have to consider more than the cost of buying the dog. There are other expenses that you can’t avoid.

For example, the expenses for food, , monthly checklists, training, and any emergency. According to Stregowski, having a

dog can cost between $700 and $3000 a year. She describes the different kinds of expenses a dog owner has to consider

in order to be a responsible owner. For instance, among the most important she mentions: Food and Treats ($250 – $700),

Grooming($30 – $500), Routine Veterinary Care ($100 – $300), Preventive Medications and Supplements ($100 – $300),

(1-3).

These factors are some of the most important concerning you as the future owner. It is crucial to consider them so

that you and your family can enjoy the pet.

The best dog for you and your family

It’s so cute! Sometimes, people choose a dog because they love its

appearance; they are big, cute, tiny, and shaggy. However, your choice

must be based on factors like breed, level of energy, possible diseases,

and barking level among others. Norma Bennett Woolf points out the

essential characteristics we need to check out before choosing a dog:

“size, coat type, potential health problems, training ease, exercise needs,

temperament, yards and gardens” (1-4). I would like to emphasize one of

the factors: the size. It is important to think about not only the size of the

dog, but also the size of our house. Bennett ascertains that:

Generally, a large dog is not suitable for an apartment,

for elderly owners, or for mild-mannered women.

However, some large, agile dogs adapt well to

apartment or condo living as long as they get a daily

walk, and some are gentle enough that anyone with a

firm voice and manner can easily handle them. Small

dogs may be unsuitable for families with active children

or elderly or infirm relatives who could trip over a small,

bouncy critter. (1)

MConcerning their basic needs, I mentioned some

above like food. However, there are some that people

tend to consider as secondary or optional needs to be

satisfied. For example, basic vaccination, sterilization,

registration. Stregowski mentions some other needs and

supplies the dogs need like toys and training classes

(3). Stregowski gives us some valuable information

about food and proper nutrition:

A healthy, balanced diet is fundamental. Research food

companies that pledge to use high-quality ingredients

instead of fillers. Then, choose a quality diet that your

pet enjoys. Spending lots of money on a holistic, top-of-

the-line diet is useless if Fido won’t eat it. Many

companies provide samples you can try without buying

a whole bag. Others offer a money-back guarantee if

your dog does not like the food. If you choose to provide

a homemade diet, discuss the ingredients with your

veterinarian first to be sure they are right for your dog.

Then, make small batches until you are sure your dog

actually likes it. (1)

Remember that our dog is not an object that just eats,

drinks water and stools. It has different needs and it is

fair that we make efforts to satisfy them.

Laws and regulations

Now that we have identified some important factors

related to the owner and the dog, we need to explore

some other factors like laws and regulations of pet

ownership.

The first regulation to be considered is whether

you live in an apartment building or a condominium.

These kinds of buildings usually have regulations

concerning the ownership of dogs. Generally, the

landlords do not accept animals; however, there are

some cities that have changed their laws allowing

people to have pet in their apartments.

Thank God this is happening since many dogs are abandoned

in shelters as their owners can’t keep them anymore. The fate

of these dogs is death. Bennett explains that:

A survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers

Association shows that the number of dog-owning families is

declining even while the number of dogs owned is slightly up.

Off-quoted statistics show that hundreds of thousands of

healthy, adoptable dogs die in shelters each year. Many of

these dogs could find homes if those who moved to apartments

could take their pets along and those who live in apartments

were allowed to keep a dog. (1)

She provides us with an example of a city where the situation is

changing in favor of those who love dogs and pets. Bennett

says that “The San Francisco SPCA has developed a

cooperative arrangement between pet owners and

management companies that dissolves the barrier to pet

ownership in apartments” (1).

It is essential to investigate about these regulations

before getting a dog. In addition, you must inform yourself

about general regulations concerning the ownership of a dog

no matter the place you live. For example, in Costa Rica there

is a regulation that is applied in the whole country, called

“Reglamento para la Reproducción y Tenencia Responsable de

Animales de Compañía” (Regulation for the reproduction and

responsable ownership of companion animals). The obligation

is related to the manipulation of the stools, the article 48

establishes that “Los propietarios o responsables deben

recoger y disponer adecuadamente de las heces de los

animales de compañía cuando realicen deposiciones en las

aceras, parques, jardines de vecinos o lugares públicos” (4).

This article basically stipulates that the owner is responsible for

properly disposing excrements that a companion animal makes

when it is on streets, parks, neighbors’ yards or public places.

However, it is important to keep in mind that laws and

regulations can vary from country to country and from city to

city.

I hope you can take advantage of all this information

so that you can make a good decision about having a dog. The

most important thing is to keep in mind that the dog will be a

member of your family; and both your dog and your family

deserve a good life together. It is important to talk about the

responsibilities all members of your family will have and share

about the care of the new member. Remember that this

decision is a long-term decision, so please don’t rush

Letters from the EditorsPoemsPoems

Relativity

Some people say sleeping is dying a littleSo death is a sleep, but long and brittle

Love could be a shooting star, a short riddleAnd hatred a life learning how to play the fiddle

A heart in sorrow is to weep, is to belittleBut a soul full of rejoice is the sun in a griddle.

Friendship can be the last bitter sip of tearsOr can be your best shelter from your fears

Time is an expert manager in the market of yearsAt least if it`s what you want to go through your Ears

It will rain minutes and seconds like spears

Pau Donés pictures life as jokes without happy endingsSo some salt will make spicy the dreams they're blendingThe moon could be a huge orbiting piece of rock rending

Or a prisoner of the lake near my friend's memories wending

Opinions are abysses with personalityDisagreements hills without hospitality

Ideologies colors with speciality

Marriage could be a match that an hour ago was lightedOr an insightful quotation which centuries ago was cited

Is it relative?

By: Alber to  Gomez Martinez

Monday Morning

There's a white sun in my fanlight glassHe's arrogant, presumptuous and crass

Little by little approaching my bedA cold desert of sobs and dread.

Once again another tedious day warningGrief and sorrow in the morning

Then I continue using up months and daysMy conscience tells me: “There are other ways”.

Then I realized that time is like water in my handFortune's wearing an elegant tie of a pricey brandShe's mocking at me craving for some more tears

Minutes resemble seconds which were really years.

Shedding poetry from my eyeReminds me the future I attempt to buy

By the way, they are puffy and redBecause mischievous memories I bled.

Although life has always smiled at me outsideShe's never laughed with me even in yuletideMy used belongings are my new possessions

Of all the colors, sizes and expressions.

Misery striving for a seat in my mattressKnows perfectly how to get rid of my buttress

Drinking Mokaccino with the tone of your voiceGives life another chance to make a choice.

Our eyes were used to having fascinating conversationsThe ones which have become no more than aspirations

Mistakes and hesitations like deadly stumblesLead you to see everything crumble

“Life is in mourning” Arjona saidI hope not to contribute with that debt

`Cause a piece doesn`t fit in the puzzle Monday Morning, train ticket, gun muzzle.

By: Alber to  Gomez Martinez

The Rough Draft

I'm a rough draft full of stains and mistakesWho somebody else writes and forsakes

Of my own monotony I'm a quiet witnessI beg you editing even if it's not your business.

There are black traces in my striped shirtI'd better get rid of them before they hurt

Striving for ameliorations I'll be better and flawlessOtherwise what's in me will remain dry and lawless.

Perhaps this time I'll be forgiven by loveDressed with a white cloak she resembles a doveShe's so gentle giving my life sense and directionAnd may be allowing me to embrace perfection.

Just like me no one knows where it's goingWhat about all the goals and ideals you're sowing?

Has someone noted they're unfulfilled dreams?Look at your face which is sadder than it seems.

I just want to get enhanced and to be readDon't let me sentenced to your desk

Oh divine writer give me chance of conversionBecause I want to be a final version.

By: Alber to  Gomez Martinez

Chair`s Farm, Pigsty #3Alajuela, Costa Rica

August 16th, 2010Chair FamilyChair`s FarmAlajuela, Costa Rica

Dear Mr. But Chair:

I am one of the little, friendly, and cute pigs of your farm. My name is Andy

and I want to thank you for everything you have given me during all this time;

however, this letter is for making a special request to your sensibility as human. Since last week I have been afraid of what the dog told me about Christmas and some cruel bloodthirsty inventions called Tamales, which are as atrocious as pork rinds. At the beginning I thought he was lying, yet one day while you all were talking and I was close to your window I accidentally eavesdropped your conversation, and I realized that you were planning a holocaust in the farm. Dear master, I appeal to your heart, we have been friends for long time. I mean friends do not do that to friends. What about the bond of friendship? What about all those special moments of tenderness? I could be tenderer if necessary, and I am not talking about my meat. Besides, I am too young to die, I am just two years old. If I die, who will take care of my grandma? She said that you will give her a hot bath with oil and aromatic herbs in a big pool, and I appreciate that, but I must look after her. Dear master, please do not eat me. If you want I can play the role of the dog, so you will not need to buy dog food because I will eat whatever you give me. Dear master, why you as a reasoning being would like to eat me? I mean I am so fat I cannot even exercise, and it is hard for me to breathe; also when I sweat I smell like sausage. Therefore, if you eat me, all my grease and fat will go directly to your heart and vessels. I suggest eating chicken, they are healthier and tastier. It is easy, red meat bad for you and white meat good for you. Just imagine those delicious and pleasant chickens covered with mushroom sauce on your table. Finally, thank you Mr. Chair for taking your time to read this letter, I hope you will take my suggestion into account, and you will not eat me. Remember we are in Christmas time, time for sharing, for loving, and for giving a little hope to the hopeless

Sincerely yours,

Andy Bacon

Andy B.

Postdata: Please do not eat me!By: Alber to Gomez Martinez

Of Indifference and Other Incomprehensible Issues

By: Alberto Gomez Martinez

“Any idea about what to do?” Bruno asked.

But he just jerked his head slowly from right to left in a short swaying while

he looked down as when someone is looking for something on the floor.“I mean, are you planning to do something?” Bruno asked again.

He remained in silence.

“Come on, what are you going to do about Emma?” Bruno insisted.

No matter how much Bruno asked, Adam just shrugged his shoulders and

said nothing..

“Man, this is what really exasperates me, you and I have shared much time

together and I would like to help you. Yet every time we talk about this, it

just seems you do not care”“Can you blame the Oak for being an Oak?” Adam replied.“I know you are not good dealing with these kinds of situations; even though this can be your last chance” Bruno said. “Are you aware of that?”

Adam shrugged.

“I could stay with you the whole night, but I have got to go, my mom is

alone at home, you know” Bruno said.“It is ok” Adam said.“Man, when I look at you I can see you are someone special” Bruno said while he was smiling slightly, then he quickly turned around and disappeared in the distance.Alone in the darkness in the middle of nowhere, Adam asked himself “What is going on with me? Believe me there is nothing on earth I wish the most than being what you want, but I cannot define…this is not my fault”

in fact, it was not his fault. He was one of those boys who would like to go bungee jumping though he would not do it, not because he is afraid but because that is the way he is. After the little talk, Adam started walking home, which was located in the Marina district in San Francisco California. These were times of hippy movements in the streets, of a promising president named Kennedy, massacres in Vietnam, and huge changes for conservative people. It was around one o`clock or thereabouts in the early morning, blackness spread out everywhere and the road was as empty as a cemetery. By that time it was cold and windy as winter, you could even hear the wind whistling through every single branch. Shades moved randomly reflected on the walls making true the most hair-raising figures someone could ever think of. Anyone else would have gotten terrified but not Adam, his mind was too busy to focus his energy in those trivial aspects. There was only one thought roaming and booming in the head of this young guy whose eyes were as black as night and whose look was as deep as the universe. What kept him away from his regular life was his desire of expressing that mosaic of sensations inside him. He had always longed for the power of realizing his thoughts in concrete products; however, it was always the same phrase for him “What a shame expressing these lively emotions with these empty words that will never embrace the greatness of my feelings”. This is one of the reasons why he likes painting, there was no difference between bleeding and painting, with both you put a piece of you on linen. Nonetheless, the question here is what kind of situation can lead a man to this sort of reasonings and deprive him from his peace? Well neither more nor less than a lady. Yes, he was thinking about her and how to follow what he felt; I mean there are no guides or instructions for these cases. Adam`s thoughts continued going around while he walked without realizing he had already got home. He opened the door carefully and silently leading himself upstairs, where his room was. Then he tiptoed until he was in his warm bed and suddenly everything turned dark.Next day, sunrays slipped through the window aiming Adam`s face directly, making him open his eyes in slow motion. He covered them with his right arm fast as a thunder. Adam turned around setting himself in a more comfortable position allowing his thoughts to gnaw the entrails of his head once again. “How could time go so fast? I did not remember today is my graduation!” exclaimed Adam chuckling. “I remember the first time I saw her she looked so alive. There was something different with her I just cannot define, but it trapped me in quicksand”. Indeed, what caught his attention at the very beginning was the peculiar beauty of this brunette girl whose skin was as brown as caramel fudge. Her hair was silk gathered by a yellow clip forming a ponytail.

By “peculiar beauty” I meant that she was not the traditional type of woman society sells you as the one you must marry. She was neither voluptuous nor gorgeous like models, even though her beauty can be found in her eyes. Her eyes were two stars which basically could speak by themselves as if they were telling you that she hid a secret. Ironically, you look her in the eye and you see nothing more than what she hides, but you could be rewarded with her almost perfect smile like the ones you see in T.V commercials. “I also remember the first time we worked together in class, she did not have any intention of working with me and let alone being my friend. By that time I was so much preoccupied about finishing our task perfectly, and she said I was kind of a psycho for being that meticulous. She was totally the opposite, she was relaxed”. “We got to wrap this up, there is no more time!” Adam exclaimed.“Come on, do not worry, just take it easy” Emma said smiling.“How can you say that? We have not finished yet” he replied.“Do not stress out!” responded she angrily.“But…” “You such psycho, just cool your jets” She answered making some gestures that she could not understand his behavior.Adam`s memories continued coming to his head making him daydream some more time. He really had good times with Emma and the problem was that he did not know what to do with his feelings about her. “Remember, she is a woman” Adam thought to himself. He was right, she was a woman, and you can never take anything for granted with women. When you think you know what they want or feel, you realize you are far away. This was too complicated and troublesome for Adam; generally women communicate with each other using body language and when they are with men, they do the same. Unfortunately, he was unable to understand women body language. Time passed and through years in high school Emma and Adam befriended, he became one of her closest friends; consequently, the one that shared her tears and knew her secrets. Perhaps, this is why he was in trouble, bad things happen when you become the best friend of the girl you like, but what can you do if it is the way life works. After this flashback, Adam heard his mom shouting:“Hurry up Adam, get up and ready yourself right now; otherwise. you will not be on time for you graduation” “I am coming mom” he replied.Adam went to the restroom to take a shower. Now he was totally determined to express what he felt about her, no matter how but he was going to do it. Then, he started thinking about the most appropriate moment to do that while the drops of cold water sprinkled his face in a continuous stream. He went out of the restroom, dressed up as fast as he could, and led himself to the important ceremony.

Once there, after chatting and all the formalities and the protocol, the principal started calling the students to receive their diplomas. He was standing next to her structuring and organizing every single word he was going say. Promptly, it started smelling to hospital like that annoying essence of injections and the air was each time thinner exactly the same as if you were in a room where the walls get closer and smaller oppressing you until despair. He felt his heartbeats growing faster and faster while he ran out of breath; his hands were sweating and he rubbed them constantly. There, this breathless and speechless boy was almost about to go out with it when suddenly, without warning, she stared at him and asked her:“You ok?”“…ah…yes…why asking?” said Adam nervously. “Well, because you are pale and out of breath” she said.“No… I am ok, it is just that I want to tell you something” he replied.“So, go ahead” she said.Adam stayed in silence for some time trying to throw up everything.“…I do not how to say this…we have shared several experiences, and I really appreciate our friendship, and I feel something for you…I really like you” Said Adam nervously.“Oh it is that, I really like you too, you are my BEST FRIEND and our friendship will never end!” She said smiling with her eyes closed.You will never imagine the expression on Adam`s face, it was a combination between amazement and disappointment. Best friend? Anyone would have been open-mouthed. Then, in that moment, the principal called Adam:“Adam Brown” he said.Adam was so shocked and paralyzed that had no reaction to what the principal said.“What`s up? Why don`t you just go for your diploma?” Said Emma with the same gesture from the first time when they met in which she could not understand his behavior.Adam remained petrified in silence for a moment of ephemeral eternity until blood came again to his head. He reacted and started walking straight for his diploma.That day, as soon as Adam was at home, he looked himself in his room for comforting himself with paint. He painted as he had never done and the outcome was a wondrous painting of a beautiful green garden in the light of the night, though there was something quite peculiar in this painting. The sun was there in the black sky full of stars. How can be the sun in the night sky? If the sun was there, it was not night. Yet, this sun was different because it did not shine that strong as during the day. Finally, Adam looked at his painting carefully; he sighed and mumbled some words.

Years passed and Adam never heard something about her beloved friend again, but he never lost his hope to see her again. By that time, he was twenty-nine years old and had become an accountant who lived alone in an apartment away from the town. Everyday he came back from his job exhausted and tired of his insipid and wilted routine. Immersed in the monotony, he came home and busied himself with what he liked the most. Once he entered in his home, he threw all the stuff on the floor and went upstairs to his bedroom. The first thing he did there, before painting, was taking a sit in front row next to the window to see the sunset, but somehow it started raining. Everyday was the same; it was raining all the time. Then, with a face of regret and frustration he took a look at his messy room which has a lot of things scattered everywhere. You could not even see the bed due to all the paper and books piled on it. Perhaps it could look like a garbage dump, yet it was perfectly organized for him. There was only one object, you could find effortlessly in the room, it was of course his easel with a canvas as white as nothing. Although he was the king among his belongings, memories, and broken dreams, there was something he could not handle in his kingdom: the vociferous silence. As if it were not enough to deal with the years of stone, the merciless and relentless time, and with the happiness he never had, he also had to fight the silence. Despite all this, he found out the way to face this situation, so he used daily an imitation of a smile full of resignation to overcome this, and start painting. One day when Adam did not have to go working and he was painting, someone knocked at his door.“Hi, is someone there? It is me, the postman” Said the postman while he was knocking at Adam`s door strongly. Adam went downstairs slowly, and opened the door.“Good morning sir, I apologize if I interrupted what you were doing, but I have something for you” said the postman kindly.“Morning “said Adam thoughtful, “let me see what we have here”The postman searched it in his bag until he found it. It was a wedding invitation from Emma.Adam was in a dither when he took the invitation and kept it in his hands staring at it. The postman could understand Adam`s reaction, even though he said good bye, and disappeared in the distance.This is what was written in the invitation:

You are cordially invited to celebrate

The wedding of

Emma Taylor Smith

And

Alphonse Roberts Davis

On Tuesday morning

April the fifth

At nine o`clock

Evergreen Avenue

San Francisco, California

Out of the information in the invitation there was something else written on

lower right corner that said:“Dear Adam, I request the honor of your presence in my wedding, I want you to be here because you are really important for me and I want to share the most wonderful day of my life with you, I miss you. Sincerely, Emma.”

Once again Adam was petrified and shocked with the invitation in his hands gazing into the distance. How could she invite him to the wedding when she knew what he felt about her? Adam remained there as if his soul was somewhere else. Honestly, I could not know what he was thinking.The same day in the evening after having dinner, Adam realized that he had became like a still scarecrow in the cornfield, he was no more than the spectator of the play, and he did not know what to do. Some minutes later, he went upstairs and got in his bedroom to paint, and started talking to himself while he looked for something under his bed.“Now everybody will recognize my work” Exclaimed Adam.“Once they enter to my room, they will value the beauty of my paintings and they will not care for the garbage in the room. How can someone not like such fantastic paintings and more when they are painted with blood?”

1600 Eighth AvenueNew York, NY 11245

August 19th, 2010

Karen Liu444 Big Pig Jeff HomeNew York, NY 11245

Dear Ms. Karen Liu

This is your loyal pig, chung chun. A of couple days ago, I heard from my friend dog that you are setting a date to kill me for making one of the most representative christmas food in Costa Rica: tamales. For this reason, I beg for your benevolence and comprehension to use chickens´ meat as a main ingredient instead because I do not want to die since I am so young and smart.

There are five clearly stated aruguments will show you that using pork to make tamales is not a clever decision. First of all, red meat is considered as one of the food that contains the most saturated fat and cholesterol, which are harmful for your health. Secondly, news published that eating pork can double the risk of breast cancer, especially in young women. Thirdly, chickens´ meat has less calories than pork, so if you want to eat a lot of tamales and do not want to gain weight, chickens´ meat will be your best choice. Do you still remember the day when I ran into your room and waked you up from the conflagration? Have you ever take a look at those scars in my back? In addition, my meat can satisfy your taste for a while, but my existance can make your children and mine being happy everyday because we are used to playing “seek and hide.” Due to those reasons that I have just explained, I hope you can negociate with your family to change this decision. Eating excessive quantities of pork can cause health problems and become overweight. Therefore, your children will have nobody to play with them while you are working. As a result, I strongly suggest you to use chicken for tamales, which will be the best solution for everyone (you, your family, and I).

Thank you, Ms. Karen, for reading my letter. I hope you and your family will consider my suggestion.

Sincerely, 洪崇峻Chung Chun

Wind

He is as powerful as earthquakeThat destroys everything in instant

He is like any natural resourcesThat support humans’ developments.

Wind is blame that would warm you upWind is icy that could freeze you up

You want to know how you would feelYou just go and have a trial

If you make him got angryEverything would be blown away

If you make him feel happyHe will take your stress away

Wind can produce electricity You can also save the energy

If you use wind as a clean energyYou are changing the reality.

Letters from the Associated EditorsPoemsPoems

By: Hung Chung ChunAssociated Editor

Life

This life is like a dreamYou don’t know what will come in

The dream is as lifeYou forget what you were doing

Karma seed is your lifeGoverning what you will have

Personality is the best way to describeSource of karma seed that you save

Who is the real owner of your life?You think you decide what you want to have

Do you think your goals can achieveAt the end of your life?

Does the birth represent happiness?Why you cried when you were born.

Does the death represent sorrow?Why you commit suicide when you have problem.

Letters from the Associated EditorsPoemsPoems

By: Hung Chung ChunAssociated Editor

An Invisible KillerLiving in twenty first century, people have a more “convenient” lifestyle because of the fast grown of technological devices such as computer, MP5, laptop, modern transportation, etc. As a consequence, people nowadays have to master more skills and knowledge in order to find a good job. In fact, this is a phenomenon that happen many countries especially in developed ones such as USA, Japan, and Taiwan. Many people believe that the development of the technological devices help them to have a better quality of life; however, they do not really understand that there are some negative effects come along with the change of lifestyle. One of the most common and severe negative effects is stress, which can affect anyone physically and emotionally. Since everybody have stress; it is important for you to know what stress is, how much influence could it affect your life, how you can know if you have a stressful lifestyle, and how to prevent or recover from it. What is stress?Melinda Smith confirms that, “Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way.” This represents that stress is a common response of feeling about something that everybody has. When a person is in danger or trouble, the brain will send the message to the body to get ready to fight, which is the moment that person feels stress. In this sense, stress is helpful for humans because it gives extra strength and energy in order to deal with problematic situations. Another example is that many students always feel stress when they have to prepare for a quiz or exam; it helps them to be able to focus on what they are reading or memorizing, which means students can easily concentrating on what they are doing. However, if the person has too much stress, which is already out of his control, will be harmful for his health, mood, and quality of life (Smith).What may happen if the stress is out of your control?Stress is dangerous for humans when it is out of their control; in other word, if humans’ body is always in a tense state and cannot have any moments of rest, and then they can get some diseases such as anxiety or depressive disorder, heart disease and stroke, weight, sleep difficulty, concentration and memory, pain, and gastrointestinal disorders. According to some researches, people who have high sensibility to stress have more possibility to get anxiety or depressive disorder because of diminishing of capacity to enjoy life or keep good relationship with others.Another negative consequence is heart disease and stroke. When a person is in a tense state, circulatory system will be affected; as a result, it will increase heart rate and restricting the arteries, which means it may cause heart attack.

Also, stress can affect weight; according to some studies, “The stress hormone cortisol causes an increase in abdominal fat. In serious cases, some people turn to eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder to help them cope” (Little). Therefore, stress is recognized as one of the reasons that causes sleep difficulty; this is used to happening to the people, who always worry about job although they are taking a rest physically, but not mentally. In fact, stress can help people to increase concentration and memory, but it is all depend on how they control it. For instance, a student has final exam tomorrow; he may have a better or worse memory and concentration; if he cannot handle his stress, and then stress becomes bad for him. According to studies, “Chronic pain can be intensified by stressful experiences. Emotional distress has been linked to heightened sensitivity to arthritis and back pain” (Little). Many people may have same experience when they have too many works to do and they keep working for many hours; then at the night, their back and muscles hurt a lot. Another severe disease that is cause by stress is gastrointestinal disorders. Nan Little thinks that, “Stress contributes to such problems as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and inflammatory bowel disease” (Little). This means excessive stress may cause nausea and diarrhea. As a result, all humans have stress, and it can have many negative effects; for this reason, it is essential to know how to deal with or recover from it. How to prevent and recover from stress?

According to American Psychological Association’ researches, there are four important facts to prevent and recover from excessive stress that people should be aware of, which are

Your body doesn't care if it's a big stress or a little one, many people are oblivious to their stress, we can control how we respond to stress, and the best strategy is to handle stress in the moment. (Boehmer)First of all, many people do not know humans’ body cannot differentiate a big or little stress because of this everyone should pay more attention to themselves; if it is too hard to know if you have too much stress, then you should go to a doctor. Secondly, people are already used to living with stress; as a result, they cannot detect that small stresses accumulate very fast. They will realize them until they behave strangely or make bad decisions. Thirdly, people do not have to feel guilty of stress, but to be more sensitive about it. Understanding yourself and different ways for responding to the difficult situations are one of the best solutions for stress. Fourthly, people should face the problem and deal with the stress in the moment it comes out; do not wait until free time, or expecting evening yoga class to help you to release from it.

As a conclusion, stress can be helpful or harmful for humans; it is all depending on how they respond and deal with it. To achieve this goal, it is important to have a clear idea about definition of stress, the possible diseases that caused by it, and the preventions or possible solutions for it. In simple word, stress is the feeling that caused by the way people respond to different situation. In addition, anxiety or depressive disorder, heart disease and stroke, weight, sleep difficulty, concentration and memory, pain, and gastrointestinal disorders are the seven of more common diseases which caused by excessive stress. Therefore, there are four facts, which help people to prevent and recover from problematic situations, proved by studies and researches. To sum up, learning how to deal with your stress can help you to be free from many diseases and increase the ability of concentration for achieving your goals.

Maiden of the Time

Every day her voice was like the raintelling me the night has come to the end.

You better wake up and move oncause this time will never again come.

Her arms showed me her pacewhile also tracing me the way.

I refused to listen to herand I left her crying in the bed.

I saw the day is shining nowwas she repeating aloud.

There are things to doI don't know them for sure.

Every step she madewas taking my life away.

I will die and you don't carecause you will stay beyond the end.

Letters from the Associated EditorsPoemsPoems

By: Cesar  Jimenez FernandezAssociated Editor

My Night light

There you are waiting for mecold in the dark you will be.I will make you feel warmand you will have a swarm.

I have sung with youI have slept for you

You have showed me the worldbut the way depends on my own.

You will be there I am surecause you don't care rich or poor.I consider you like a great friend

cause you have become my confident.

You had made me laughand you had made me cry

I'm really glad you have been herethanks for being with me my dear TV.

August 20th, 2010Maurice the PigGreasy StreetFatty's Farm

Dombe SoFattySoFatty FamilyGreasy Street

Dear SoFatty Family;I am Maurice the Pig, the one that you have in the pigsty. The other day Barky

the dog, told me about your plans for me in this coming Christmas. I thought it was a joke, but later I heard you planning the recipe for tamales and what really scared me was that I will be the main ingredient. I know my relatives had been your main meal during last Christmas, but now I will give you some pieces of advice for avoiding me from now on.

First of all, I consider myself a garbage can, I mean, “my diet” is based on leftovers. It means I swallow what you do not eat. Because of that kind of food, my meat is getting totally tasteless and hard to cook. Second, I will confess you, I am becoming vegetarian, so I do not have the accurate weight to prepare tamales. In addition, I have been in troubles with my health record. I will remind you my dear family that last year, my relatives, which are death now, and I was infected with swine flu. So, you must avoid eating me, I do not want you to get into troubles, because you are the only family I have. By the way, talking about family, Christmas is a time for sharing with the ones that we love and I would really like to share with you all this time. I feel myself part of this family since I have been with you almost a year long. Also, I am orphan because you ate my mom last year. I really feel alone.

Finally, because I really appreciate you, I am going to give you a very good option for your tamales. Her at the farm you have one of the most healthiest animals on the earth, of course I am talking about chickens. They just eat corn, so their meat is pink and soft which made them so delicious and health to eat. Furthermore, chickens are not so clever, just imagine, they are not capable to write and I can do that. Moreover, I heard they are planning to go away from the farm. They said they just need to practice flying a little, and they will be free. Dear Family, I am giving you the hint just for you to realize that I am a better animal than chicken. To conclude this letter, I will really appreciate your time and I am so proud to be part of this family, I wish you the best.

Sincerely and lovely:Maurice the Pig By: Cesar  Jimenez Fernandez

Associated Editor

Toto the FrogThree years sound a short time for many, but for a frog it is almost its entire

life, it was the case of Toto, the green frog. Toto was born in the same lake as his parents, surrounded by a dense forest; the lake was the only place where frogs could stay. The lake was so vast that for some of them, it was the universe. The water was fresh like the breeze in the morning. Noise around the place was only coming from the leaves falling from the huge trees around the lake.

Contrary to the rest, for Toto it was just a funny place where things happened slowly as a feather falling from the sky. Toto was young, green like the new leaves on top of the trees. Jumping from place to place with his long legs seeking a new adventure. Curious about every single living creature, Toto was always inquiring and dreaming beyond of the lake. Over his parents cave there was an old trunk, older than the frog's history. Here, Toto sat down looking at the west to see the Sun dying at the horizon every afternoon.

Toto had heard that on the west of the lake there was a huge rock, in which the paradise stays. They said that at the great rock, frogs from all over the world meet to share their adventures, but it was always a dream for him because, according to elder frogs, nobody from the east side of the lake could ever reach the place.

One day, while Toto was sitting on the old trunk he thought – what could happen if I try to reach the great rock by myself ? I am the most venturous frog ever; I know every corner from this side of the lake. Maybe someone could give me some information about how to get the other side of the lake – so, Toto decided to look for pieces of advice from old frogs because he always considered old frogs are wisdom and they know life better than him.

First, Toto went to talk with his father who was a thoughtful frog, at least it was what his father looks like. Toto's father was always killing the time outside the cave, waiting for a silly fly to pass over his round-huge head to be caught with his sticky tongue. Toto approached to his father so enthusiastic and talked to him saying, “father I want to go to the great rock and I need your help to know the best route to go there.” The father, like waking up from a long sleep spoke to him with exhausted tone; “even the elder said there was no way to reach the great rock, once I tried to do it going through the north side of the lake. I traveled during two days without any proooblem, but on the third day at the mooorning I saw the biggest snake ever seen and I was near to lose my life. I returned to our side of the lake without knowing the great rooock. I would tell you my son” said his father, “do not try to make the trip ooor the huge snake will have a lunch with you; that is why I never tried the trip again” and turning back to his lazy position the father refused to talk more about Toto's ideas.

For the young Toto it was a great disappointment, because he always thought his father had been a great explorer, tired as a consequence of his long trips around the world. Toto was thinking for another option, so he went to inquired his mother, “Mom, I want to go to the great rock, but father said that traveling for the east is too risky because the huge snake. Maybe you can give me another way to make my trip.” said Toto to his mother. Toto considered his mother a great frog since she is able to manage the cave in such a perfect way that she must be the cleverest frog living in the lake.

The mother, busy like the ants during spring season, told him in a hurry;

“Elder frogs said this is a risky journey but I did the trip once. By that time it was pretty hard for a young frog like me to go alone for the south coast of the lake. After jumping during two days, I realized that there was an eagle flying over my head trying to eat me alive, but you know I was smarter than the eagle,” when Toto heard that, his imagination flew through time and saw his mother fighting against the eagle killing the dangerous animal in the act. Then, his mother continued saying, “so, I hid myself under a rock during three days until the eagle flew away. Then I returned to this cave to continue hiding myself.” at this moment all heroes in Toto's mind were killed. For him, his mother was as coward as his father. “So, you never reached the great rock?” asked Toto to his mother like knowing in advance the answer. The mother immediately told him, “This is the most dangerous way to traveled towards the west, you must take this idea out of your head, you were born in this side of the lake, you do not need to go to any other side.” Again, Toto's dream was hurt by elder people, particularly the ones he considered like real heroes.

The afternoon was coming, and the idea about the trip to the great rock was still fluttering inside Toto's mind. The sunset came, and sitting on the old trunk Toto was thinking who else could know something about the great rock and how to go there. Suddenly, Toto remembered the old frog that lives in the darkest side of the lake under the water lilies.

The old frog had been alone since he was a child, more brown than green his skin was full of scares; the kind that only time knows how to draw. A creepy odor was the welcome rug in the cave. The door, squeaking back and forth,swung with a soft cold breeze that was coming out of the cave. The old body like everything inside the cave was petrified, only frog's mouth showed a light of life.

Toto entered to the cave extremely scared, but the idea about going to the great rock pushed him until he was in front of the old frog. Very anxious, Toto asked the old frog which he consider could be the best way to reach that beautiful place where the bravest frogs from all over the world meet to share their stories. With a vanish stared gaze the archaic frog told him; “once I did the journey to the other side trying to reach the rock. I went there without taking any side because I knew there was a huge snake on the north side and a hungry eagle over the south path.

What I did was going through the lake, swimming. It was the hardest trip I ever made, I lasted two days until I reached a place to rest. There in the middle of the lake there was the oldest tree in the world, it was so tall that I could not see the top of it.” During the old frog was talking, Toto realized that in every breath the exhausted body was waiting for the last sigh. “Under its shade I stood during one day;” said the old frog, “but when I jumped to the water to continue my journey I stopped, looked up to the sky to see the hungry eagle gliding over my head. As fast as the light moves through the air, I returned to the tree but at that moment the huge snake was climbing the tree. Once she saw me, she jumped over me with her mouth open and ready to swallow my body. For a moment the light of the day dissapeared, but then I touched the bottom of the lake feeling my body hurt. When I tried to return to the surface my rump did not respond to my effort.” At that moment, the old frog raised up the throw which was covering the body and Toto saw only the remainder of the rump. “Even now I do not know how I returned to this side of the lake.” the frog said; who continue with those words; “if you really appreciate your life young boy, do not try ever and never to reach the great rock. I am old and I know there is no way to go there. What I can say now is that I was so close to the great rock because during the sunset I saw the shape of the great rock. But remember what I am telling you, do not try to go there, there is nothing for a young frog like you, what you could find is your end.” Toto was short of breath, and left the cave even more frustrated than before.It was night when Toto was going back home, alone, jumping senseless from place to place Toto analyzed every world he had heard from elder frogs. That night, the adventurous frog got nightmares from the stories he heard. During his weird dreams, Toto fought against the huge snake and the hungry eagle, waking up more anxious than before.

Very early, before birds stared flying in the sky, and the sun shine the lake, Toto jumped to the water with the clear idea of reaching the great rock. He swam during the first day as fast as he could. The sun in the sky illuminated Toto's journey. A flock of doves above his head escorted him until the twilight, when he reached the enormous tree in the middle of the lake.

The old tree was as tall as the frog related to Toto, but he could not see the great rock from that place. “Maybe because the darkness of the night the great rock can not be seen, I will rest here until tomorrow, so I will be able to reach the great rock tomorrow,” said Toto and went to sleep. That was a starry night. There were no clouds in the sky, neither on Toto's heart. Next day, Toto woke up thinking about the hungry eagle and the huge snake; “the old frog said that on the morning the snake and the eagle were here” thought him; “I must leave the tree now before those furious animals could appear.” Immediately, jumping to the water Toto swum again so fast that even the fastest animal could catch him. When Toto was faraway the tree a little swallow approached to him and asked;

“Where are you going?”“To the great rock , Toto said.“Why are you going so fast, is somebody chasing you?” formulate the little bird.“I do not know, but the hungry eagle or the huge snake could come out and try to eat me!” argued Toto.“There is no such a snake around here neither a hungry eagle!” enounce the little swallow.In the act, Toto stopped his pace and asked the little swallow;“Why do you say such as thing, who are you?” I have been living in the tree in the middle of the lake all along more time than your age, and I know what had happen here before!” Alleged the swallow.“So, you must know what happened to the old frog long time ago?” Toto inquired.“Oh yes, he was almost eaten by one snake, but an eagle saved him” said the bird.“Are you sure about what you are saying?, because he lost his rump!”... replied Toto.“Of course, I am not a liar...” said the swallow, who continued saying; “when the snake jumped to chase the frog, the eagle launched her body over the snake catching her when she tried to bite the frog. Immediately, the eagle killed the snake with her strong claws. Then the eagle flew away, so happy for catching the snake, the same the eagle had tried to catch many times before. So since that day there is no such kind of animals around here. Finally, your friend the old frog was almost dying, so I helped him to return to the other side of the lake.”

“Whoa! Now I understand why the old frog said he did not remember how he returned... ” Toto said, with amazed tone.“By the way, you said something about the great rock, what was it?” asked the swallow.“Elder frogs said there is a great rock on this side of the lake where frogs from all over the world came to share their journeys, and I want to be there.” spoke out Toto with his voice full of enthusiasm.

“Oh, I see, but there is no such as rock around here,” the swallow said.”It is impossible! ” cry out Toto; ...“elder frogs said there is a great rock in this side of the lake, but no one could ever reached it because every way to it was so dangerous,” continued saying the frog.

“Did you buy that?...it was not real, pretty much like the story about the eagle and the snake?” inquired the swallow; “what I remember, besides the old tree, was a turtle laying her eggs many time ago, by the way she left the lake the same day the eagle killed the snake.”“Your are trying to make me go back without finding the great rock, I do not believe you!” the angry frog said; “I want to achieve what others could not before,” conclude Toto.Once the swallow heard that, he looked towards Toto, and smiling with a sight of profoundest content, told him; “Maybe you already discover what others could not before and would never be able to know! Maybe you went through this idea of looking something unreal to find yourself facing the true about what others said just because they were afraid of confronting myths and prejudicing. Maybe our great fears are inside of us just because we had never tried to face”

Editor's Biography

Silvia Bar r ientos Vargas:

I was born in San José, Costa Rica. My first three years were in the United States. Then my parents  moved  to  Costa  Rica.  There  I  grew  up  in  a  family  full  of  love  ,  over  protective parents, four old brothers and a great dog “Mr. Magoo” . I studied languages and teaching. I fall in love with languages. My majors are French and English teaching. I have traveled to different  countries where I  realized our world  is  full  of  little worlds which are wonderful and unique. Among the countries I have visited, Mexico is my favorite one, not only because I met my husband there, but also because its richness of culture, food variety and its people.  I  love cultures,  food,  family, and animals  so I have  researched about these  three  topics  for about 20 years. I am an international chef graduated from the Monterrey Chef School, and from the Cordon Bleu – France. My husband is a certified dog breeder, and we have a kennel certified  by  the  International  SPCA.  My  passion  is  to  enjoy  the  simple  things  of  life  by discovering the greatness of them. Silvia Barrientos Vargas.

Alberto Gomez Martinez:

A little bit about the author:Half  Nicaraguan  –  half  Panamanian,  Alberto  Martinez  was  born  in  San  José  and  was raised in Heredia (Costa Rica). He lived a regular childhood, neither a luxurious one nor an impecunious one, only the essential. Living in a large estate with his hardworking father and his concerned housekeeper mother, he grew up away from neighbors, acquaintances, and any other kind of people. Once he graduated from primary, his family had to move to Alajuela. There he  suffered  a  serious accident  that kept  him  in  comma during a week. This  incident changed his way of thinking allowing him to have a new perspective of life. When six­teen he started working in a grocery store while he studied in high­school. He graduated and now he  is  in  the  English  major  at  UNA  hoping  being  a  teacher  and  mastering  the  language. Strong influenced by music and literature, he has written some little pieces of literature as is his  work  “Of  Indifference  and  Other  Incomprehensible  Issues”  which  was  inspired  by  the story “Letter to a Young Lady  in Paris” of the famous and well­know Argentinean writer Julio Cortazar. 

Editor's Biography

Hung Chung Chun:

Hung Chung­Chun  is a Taiwanese, who  immigrated  to Costa Rica when he was 15 years old.  He  turns  twenty­three  years  old  on  February  06,  2011.  In  addition,  he  speaks  four languages, which are Mandarin (the official language of Chinese), Taiwanese (the language that  is  used  in  Taiwan),  Spanish  and English. Besides,  he  is  living with his  parents  and sister  in  San  Francisco  de  Heredia;  he  is  third  level  of  English  mayor  in  UNA.  Chung Chun’s parents are fifty years old and his sister is twenty­one years old, who is also studying English as a mayor in UNA. Since Chung Chun speaks four languages; he usually goes to help his father’s  job as an interpreter. He wants to have two jobs as soon as he graduates from UNA, which are English teacher in high school and a businessman.

Cesar J imenez Fernandez:

Many things in one life:He was born in a humble family in 1980. Since his childhood he wanted to explore the world inside his own country. At the elementary school he was not a great student. Almost at the end  of  the  fifth  year  he  suffered  an  accident  which  made  him  lost  the  year.  After  he recovered some months before the next year was beginning. He finished the elementary and got enrolled at the high school. There he was only one year the one he said “ was a waste of time”.  After  this  he  abandoned  any  kind  of  academic  study  and  started  to  work  in  any possible  job  for  a  fifteen  years  old  boy.  There  were  six  years  in  which  he  was  a  building worker,  shoes  seller,  cashier,  waiter  and  disk  jokey  before  he  returned  to  the  high  school. There he decided to move heaven and earth  in order to get his high school degree while he continued working for a company as a CAD Designer and administrative assistance. Once he finished the high school he move to the university following his dream to study Physical Education  in  the  first  place,  but  because  his  grades  he  finished  in  the  English  major  in which  he  feels  like  fish  in  the  water.  Actually  he  is  deeply  focus  in  his  major  while complementing his life practicing mountain bike in the national championship.