message in a bottle

Anchors Aweigh

2005-12-20T23:12:00.000Z

CONGRATULATIONS!

A JOB WELL DONE!

Our journey into cyberspace is about to end. Before you embark on the next leg of your training, I would like to say that it has, indeed, been a pleasure meeting and working with you. I hope you enjoyed the tasks and learned something from each of them. I wish you fair winds and smooth sailing now and always . . .

"Until we meet once more,

Here's wishing you a happy voyage home."

from the song Anchors Aweigh by George D. Lottman

Another success!

2005-12-17T20:38:00.000Z

Thank you for sharing such wonderful stories. I was truly spellbound!

Writing is a form of communication which transends boundaries. It is not only for the "here and now", but also can become a part of the future. It is not only a matter of grammar and vocabulary, but also introspection and reflection. It is that bit of "the author" that lingers in our memory, or perhaps even cyberspace . . .

The Legend of Valongo and Susao

2005-12-17T20:21:00.000Z

Mr. Moura and Mr. Martins recount:

Once there was a rich Jewish man called Samuel. His daughter, Susana, wanted to marry a Moor called Domus. They ran away to an uninhabited valley and gave birth to a new village named "Susao" in honor of Susana. Since that time that beautiful valley became known as "Valongo".

The Legend of the Headless of Montemor-o-Velho

2005-12-17T20:13:00.000Z

Mr. Martinho and Mr. Gregorio remember:

In Montemor-o-Velho during the Moorish invasion, a fortress was besieged. When the supplies finished, them men sadly decapitated their families to prevent their capture and torture. With nothing to lose and willing to die, they won the battle. On their return, they miraculously found their families alive.

The Legend of the Enchanted Cave

2005-12-17T20:05:00.000Z

Mr. Vigario and Mr. P. Ferreira remark:

In Sintra a captured noble fell in love with a Moorish princess. He escaped but was wounded trying to return to her. She was also injured taking him to shelter. They died in each others arms. She still appears near the cave where a scream can also be heard . . .

The Legend of Seven Cities

2005-12-17T19:56:00.000Z

Mr. Pola and Mr. Henriques reveal:

In the Azores there were two families that hated each other. One had a boy with saphire eyes, the other a girl with emerald eyes. They fell in love. Their parents found out and separated them. They cried so much they created two logoons - one blue, one green.

The Legend of Martim Moniz

2005-12-17T19:47:00.000Z

Mr. Neto and D. Ferreira recall:

In one of the attempts to reclaim the city of Lisbon which was in the possession of the Moors, Martim Moniz, a soldier in D. Afonso Henriques' army, used his body to stop the fortress door from closing, giving passage to the rest of the army costing him his life.

Final Task

2005-12-15T22:28:00.000Z

TASK 3

Mini Saga/Legends

There are many colorful legends here in Portugal and I felt it would be worthwhile to share them with the universe. Therefore, our final task will be group work in which you will recount a Portuguese legend in English. Your group can work with your favorite or choose one from the file provided in class or the following link:

http://lendasdeportugal.no.sapo.pt/index.htm .

Easy, you say! No problem! Consider it done!

Well, before you begin you need to know that there's a catch. You will be writing mini sagas. Remember that a mini saga is a complete story in not more than fifty (50) words.

To get you started here is one example from the guided practice that we did in class on The Legend of the Almond Trees in Flower.

Once a Moorish king married a Nordic princess. Although loved, she was unhappy. To please her, almond trees were planted across the Algarve. One February morning the queen was surpised to see a white landscape similar to her home. Her sadness disappeared and she thanked her husband for the "snow".

Now you try it. Remember - 50 words or less. Be concise!

Another Assignment Accomplished . . .

2005-12-12T23:26:00.000Z

Pat yourselves on the back for doing such a great job! The Lisbon-Dakar race can now begin! Stay tuned to this space for your final task.

Mr. Dias advises . . .

2005-12-02T20:59:00.000Z

Mr. D. Ferreira declares . . .

2005-12-02T20:58:00.000Z

Mr. P. Ferreira encourages . . .

2005-12-02T20:57:00.000Z

Mr. Gregorio shouts . . .

2005-12-02T20:56:00.000Z

Mr. Henriques gasps . . .

2005-12-02T20:54:00.000Z

Mr. Martinho suggests . . .

2005-12-02T20:51:00.000Z

Mr. Martins insists . . .

2005-12-02T20:49:00.000Z

Mr. Moura concludes . . .

2005-12-02T20:48:00.000Z

Mr. Neto exclaims . . .

2005-12-02T20:47:00.000Z

Mr. Pola jokes . . .

2005-12-02T20:46:00.000Z

Mr. Vigario warns . . .

2005-12-02T20:44:00.000Z

Lisbon to Dakar 2006

2005-12-01T21:15:00.000Z

Task 2

As you are aware, the next Dakar Rally will begin in Lisbon on December 31. Organisers said 508 teams - 240 motorcycles, 180 cars and 80 trucks - will race from December 31 to January 15 with stages through Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Guinea before the finish in Senegal. This is quite an exciting race and I'm sure that you are all waiting impatiently for the fun to begin.

Your task is to leave messages for the participants. For many of them it will not only be their first time in Portugal but also their first time in a rally! Let's give them a hand: offer advice, give driving tips, present touristic information, or just provide encouragement.

Let's show them just how hospitable we can be!

Please be advised that space is at a premium and you are limited to a maximum of 20 characters and spaces. Good luck!

WELL DONE GENTLEMEN!

2005-11-23T21:03:00.000Z

You deserve a round of applause for a job well done. Your responses showed a lot of thought and creativity. Stay tuned for Task 2.

Mr. Dias hints . . .

2005-11-23T20:51:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There are clouds dressed in black
There is water made of oil
There is smoke in polluted air
But there are no trees, no blue . . . There's a nightmare

Mr. D. Ferreira informs . . .

2005-11-23T20:48:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There are pumps
There are people
There are people operating the pumps
But there isn't much water

Mr. P. Ferreira says . . .

2005-11-23T20:45:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There are too many people
There is too much confusion
There are too many nations
But there isn't any world order

Mr. Gregorio imagines . . .

2005-11-23T20:43:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There is a past behind me
There is a life before me
There is someone waiting for me
But there isn't a smile to comfort me

Mr. Henriques comments . . .

2005-11-23T20:42:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There are skins
There are bones
There are beings
But there aren't humans

Mr. Martins reports . . .

2005-11-23T20:40:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There is high speed internet
There are 4G cell phones
There are teleporting machines
But there isn't any "real" connection

Mr. Martinho suggests . . .

2005-11-23T20:33:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There is a more tolerant society and less complexes

There is a bigger need and urgency in fixing environmental problems (as they only do when it starts to affect them)

There are more openminded people and the world will be even more a global village.
There are advances in genetics and people will live longer which will generate over-population problems in some places, people will be able to work longer and in the far future when genetic mutations in humans will be less of a moral issue, it will be used for aesthetic purposes.
But there aren't any things quite like the things people used to have back in the good old days.

Mr. Moura offers . . .

2005-11-23T20:29:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There is much technology
There are rich and powerful people
There are all the things we've every deamed about
But there still isn't any hope for the weak

Mr. Neto writes . . .

2005-11-23T20:28:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There is a war
There are battles
There is a fight for water
But there are no friendships between countries, only alliances.

Mr. Pola insists . . .

2005-11-23T20:26:00.000Z

When I look into the future,
There are no boundaries,
There are no nations,
There are no ends,
And there aren't any limitations

Mr. Vigario responds . . .

2005-11-23T20:24:00.000Z

When I look into the future
There is blood in the streets
there are bodies all around
there are orphans every where
But there aren't any weapons

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES . . .

2005-11-21T20:25:00.000Z

TASK 1 - POETRY

In our first task, we will take a look at the future. . .

Follow the model:
When I look into the future
There is/are . . .
There is/are . . .
There is/are . . .
But there isn't/aren't any . . .

Example 1:
When I look into the future
There are robots
There are aliens
There are saucers in the sky
But there aren't any birds.

Example 2:
When I look into the future
There's a memory stick in my head
There's a tracking device under my feet
There's a monitor behind my eyes
But there isn't a computer

You get the idea. Now it's your turn. Have fun!!!!!!!!!

Pleased to meet you . . .

2005-11-17T23:25:00.000Z

Introductions are in order:

"Hello, my name is . . ."

Dias

D. Ferreira

P. Ferreira

Gregorio

Henriques

Martins

Martinho

Moura

Neto

Pola

Vigario

WELCOME MODULE 4-L

2005-11-15T20:20:00.000Z

Module 4-L,

Welcome to our class blog! Our intention is to send our 'message in a bottle' out into cyberspace and see who responds.