CIESWorldvibe

Traditions

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:09:37 GMT

By, Wete Telama- Angola Whenever I heard about cultural identity crisis my first thought would be how someone could not know who they are, why do some people feel lost, as if in between two worlds, not belonging to either of them. I thought that I would never ever feel this way because I fiercely trust in my traditions in my traditions. The belief of traditions was always emphasized in my family. Since I was a child my father used to tell me stories about his family, their roots, and customs. He taught me how to behave accordingly to the traditions. For me, traditions are a way of living and socializing that identify us as being part of a group. And it effectively applies to the ethnic group that my father belongs to, the Bakongos. He really emphasizes the concept of traditions because it is the basis of his, and therefore, my culture. The Bakongos have a strict sense of family bonds and traditions. For example, if a woman gives birth, the other women of the family would go to her house to cook, clean, and do all the housework for her. The new mother would just to rest and worry about nothing. Another example is a ceremony where the family of the groom would have to offer a symbolic gift to the bride’s family. This ceremony would praise the bride’s values. By knowing all of these traditions’ meanings, I learned to respect and be proud of being part of my family’s traditions. I also learned that by knowing more my traditions, I will know who I am and where I came from. My father continuously tells me to value the traditions of our family because those traditions identify me. He has always told me that this is really important when I have to live in a foreign country for a period of time longer than one year, and I believe that this is true. Since I came to the United States of America, traditions have gained a new and special meaning to me. I feel that without them, I would have felt lost, with the feeling of not being part of the Angolan culture, or American culture either. The curious thing is that when I was in Angola this feeling was not so intense because I was surrounded by an environment that did not make me think deeply about it. I lived these traditions. Now that I a in the United States I can understand when people say that they feel lost. Now I know the power that my traditions have in my life, and in this I believe.

I Believe in the Power of Words

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:16:47 GMT

By, Suely Gourgel - Angola I believe in the power of words. It is very impressive how powerful words can be. There are different ways to use them. They can be used to persuade people and to make them change their opinion about something, they can be the solution to a lot of problems, and however, they can also be used to create conflicts between people. I believe in the power of the words to persuade people and to make them change their opinion or even make them believing in something incredible. It is not everybody that has this power and talent to use them in this way. It is impressive how people know how to choose the right words to persuade someone and convince them to buy something that they really don’t need or they don’t believe that it will be useful for them. Some people really know how to use words wisely. Words can also be the solution to a lot of problems. Some times people try to solve their problems in thousands of ways, but just after a little while they discover that words are the key. For example, my country lived through almost thirty years of war; one party started it in order to have the power of my country without the people wishes. It was very sad to see people losing their families because of a political disagreement, but just at the end of those almost thirty year of war we realized that words were the key to bring the peace to my people. The voice of the guns will never be more powerful than words. Unfortunately, words can also be used to create conflicts between people. If people don’t choose the right words to emit their thoughts it can create conflicts between them. Even a small misunderstanding can be the cause of a conflict. Nowadays, people don’t pay attention to those small things, they are becoming very selfish and they are caring even less about being in peace with others. In my opinion words have a negative side too. Words can be used to create conflicts between people, but I believe in their power to persuade others and as a way to solve problems.

The Irony of Fate

ciesworldvibe — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:57:39 GMT

By, Jae-Boon Lee - South Korea I believe in the irony of fate. There is a proverb about the irony of fate which is called ‘the horse of an elderly man’ in Korea. Many years ago, there was an elderly man who had only one son and a favorite horse. He treasured them. One day his son rode the horse and unfortunately fell from the horse and broke his leg. The elderly man became angry with the horse and regretted having the horse. However, his feeling and thinking changed before long. All of the young men living in his province- except the handicapped- had to go to the army as soldiers to fight against the enemy. The elderly man thought that he was lucky and felt grateful for his horse. The story of the elderly man shows us that life is a cycle of good and bad things. Last year my daughter had a car accident. She suffered a collarbone injury and her tailbone was broken. She absolutely couldn’t move until her bones healed and became strong. It took 6 months for her to recover. She stopped school and had to stay home in a fixed position. She felt that all of her world had stopped and she was very depressed for a long time. I also had difficulties from her accident, but I didn’t think that there were only difficulties at that time. When I was faced with my daughter’s accident, first of all, I regretted that I hadn’t used enough of my time for her. I thought about my life and my family. I tried to share my time with her, and we were much closer than in the past. I knew that my daughter also thought about her studies and the future deeply. Her attitude toward others changed, and she became more mature, considerate, and careful. I have experienced lots of things in my home, school, work place, and so on, and I have had a cycle of good and bad things throughout my life. I believe in the irony of fate. So, I use it to console myself and expect another stroke of luck whenever I am confronted with some new difficulty.

This I Believe - Surprises

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:42:32 GMT

By, Pei-Husan "Abby" Yang - Taiwan I believe in surprises. It doesn’t matter if it’s sample. I woke up, walked down stairs, and everything was the same. The way my parents set up our house that the keys were always next to the television and the newspapers and the magazines were always next to the sofa. I knew I was going to spend my day doing the same things, which was the same as usual such as brushing my teeth, putting on my uniform, going to school, and coming back at five o’clock. Latter, I came back at exactly five o’clock and I didn’t expect anything out of the norm. Guess what? Something was different. When I opened the door, my parents said, “Happy birthday my sweet heart!”, and I saw a couple of close friends were there. I was overwhelmed. Honestly, I forgot that day was my birthday. “Let’s go out to eat!” my mother said. “That’s great! Wait, will we go to the same restaurant?” I asked. I spent almost every childhood birthday there and I really didn’t want to go there again. “Of course …...not!” my father said. I was so delighted and so was everyone else. I had a blissful birthday. Recently, I went to New York with my boyfriend, Marcos, and a couple of our friends. We stayed at a hostel because our budget was tight. The room was so crowded and I had to share my room with five girls who I didn’t even know. Also, the room was so old that it screeched whenever you put your foot down. I was extremely dissatisfied and I was complaining to Marcos all evening. The next day, I woke up early and I had to tiptoe so that the floor gave only a low moan and I wouldn’t bother others. “What a poor situation I am in.” I thought. However, when I opened the door, I saw a single rose. I was startled. “How beautiful it is!” I said. Then, I read the note, which was from Marcos, and he said, “Be happy! This is our first day in New York.” Suddenly, I stopped complaining, and I realized that I was supposed to have fun there. I believe in surprises. Even if it is just a simple thing, it is priceless. It can be flowers, a meal, or even a word. Have you ever felt that every day is so…… everyday? Have you felt that every day is so ordinary and plain? Let’s make a surprise, either to be surprised or to surprise someone.

The Power of Prayer

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:36:47 GMT

By, Graça Custódio - Angola I strongly believe in the power of prayer. My mom is a strong and Godly woman. She has ten children including me. She is a very religious and faithful person. She loves to pray and sing gospel songs. My mom gave all of her children a good religious education. She always told me that whatever I want or need God would always provide for me. She taught me that I only needed to pray, trust in God, and receive His blessings. In addition, I have to give thanks to God, every day when I wake up and before going to bed. My mom has always said, “That it is because we never know what tomorrow will bring, just God knows.” She is a very rich woman, meaning that it is not about material things, but about how strong her faith is. My name is Graca and in English it means Grace. I asked my mom why she gave me this name? She told me that when she was pregnant with me, she was sick and suffered a lot. She had to stay in the hospital until I was born. The doctors told my mom that she would probably not carry me the full pregnancy and that she might even lose me. But my mom never gave in or gave up. The doctors had give up hope, but my mother continued to pray everyday and night, in every moment that she stayed in the hospital to the Lady of Grace. However, my mom knew that God would strengthen and comfort her during this very scary time. My mom, dad, and my grandparents prayed constantly for a safe delivery. Everyday the doctors gave my family bad news. On the other hand, my family knew that everything was in God’s hands and that there was no need for worry. My mom made a promise to the Lady of Grace, because three days before I was born she couldn’t feel my movements. My mom promised the Lady of Grace that she would give her name to me, if I were born without complications. In addition, the doctors were surprised that I was born with excellent health and full of life. This was no surprise to my mom, because she knew that God would provide and make a way in this situation. I feel very honored to have the name Graca. My mom knows I am a very special and unique gift from God. I have faith, because my mom taught me that the power of prayer is very real and in this I believe.

This I Believe - Taking Care of Our Elderly

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:49:36 GMT

By, Paola Carrillo - Panama I believe that elderly people are very special and unique. There is so much knowledge and experience that we can absorb from them. We can learn so much just by having a conversation with them, regardless what his or her background is. Each of them has a story to tell and experiences to share. During my infancy, there was a time where the mother of my mom had to move into our house. At the beginning I didn’t like the idea of having my grandmother around. She would be getting into my life and correcting me as if she were my mother. But now, I realize how blessed I am for having the opportunity to share a part of my life with her. My grandmother has been a very energetic woman all her live. Having to raise eleven children, she had no other choice but to be energetic. She is always looking for needy people to help. And always in the search of protests against the government to attend as if they were the last party of the year. While everybody was comfortable at their homes watching on the television the people protesting, she was out there in the street defending our rights. When she couldn’t walk anymore she still was there with her chauffer and her wheelchair. Nothing could stop her from doing whatever she wanted to do, not even my mom, because she would escape as if she were a teenager escaping to a party at midnight. She taught me a lot of things. One of them was how to eat healthy with some strange juices and meals, which I never found out what mysterious ingredients they had. When I was little she would pay me a penny for chewing twenty times each mouthful of food, because that was the correct way of eating according to her. I’ll never forget when I was sick; all the homemade medicines she made me take. They were medicines that would kill you only from looking and smelling them. But I have to admit that they were as effective as a doctor’s medicine. Today my grandmother is a 93 year old woman who believes in giving and sharing. If she is not escaping from my mom with her chauffer, you can find her reading the latest news from the war on Iraq to the newest gourmet recipes. She is the living example that life doesn’t finish when you are old. It’s just the part of life where they teach us all what they have learned through their experiences of lives. That’s the reason why I believe in taking care of elderly people.

The Power of Fear

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:35:50 GMT

By, Anamaría López-Abadía Laya - Venezuela I have always been interested in people’s relationships with life. I was once in a protest against the Government and as we got closer to the authorities, some snipers began to shoot from the top of the buildings against the people who were coming to the final point, the Presidential Palace. I couldn’t believe that it was happening to us, we were probably a million protestors who had gone with flags and whistles and these people received us by shooting and killing indiscriminately and cowardly without being seen. But the most intriguing fact was that a week later the city was as busy as usual. Everyone went to work and to their normal activities and no one remembered much about the protest. It was so painful for me to recognize that they acted as if nothing were happened! What kind of regression were we experiencing that led us to such indifference and indolence toward a tragedy? Moved by my need to comprehend our culture, I started to read some of our classical novels, convinced that literature can tell us things about life that life itself can’t. I was surprised when I noted that most of the literary figures never went out to their homes. The adventure of being in love or doing what they really wanted never occurred, because they were so afraid about the unknown world outside and the unknown of themselves, that they preferred to stay safe instead of been exposed to the risk, as we had experienced when we marched on the palace. It is, in fact, the opposite of the real meaning of the novel, which is based in a long quest that ends in the return to home, and only when arriving home, does the personage have an inner understanding and everything recovers its own sense. I believe that one cannot have a home (a soul, feelings), while one is afraid to feel fear; on the contrary, to live is to go inside this fear, move ourselves in it and benefit from the experience.

TRUST

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:25:36 GMT

By, Nawaf Al-harbi - Saudi Arabia I believe in that every one has been in love with someone. Sometimes this love does not stay for a long time in our life but it stayes a long time in our heart and it is difficult to forget it easily. This story belongs to me and my x-girlfriend who I met in Tallahassee. When I arrived in Tallahassee, I was single which means I did not have a girlfriend. I was not thinking to have a girlfriend because I wanted to focus on my studies. However, one day I went with my friend who has studied with me at the same school to meet her friends. When we arrived there, there were a lot of people sitting but there was one girl who was looking at me and I looked at her all the night. After all that I went to talk to her and when she was talking to me, I was looking into her eyes “oh my god “her eyes were extremely beautiful. When the party finished, I took her cell phone number like I always do when I meet girls the first time. The next day my friend called me and asked me if they could come to my home, and the girl who I could not stop thinking about was with them. We were sitting in my place until 3 am. After that she came to my place every day for one week. One week later we decided to be a couple. I had a nice time with her, I met her every day, and I spent almost all my time with her. She has been a source of inspiration for me. I enjoyed every second with her until she started to feel jealous. She was feeling even when I was talking with her best friend. She made feel that she was not sure that I loved her. Because of that and her complaining we decided to break up. I know that every one has to feel jealous but not so much. When I am in love with one person I want to feel that the person is sure I stay in love with her. I hope in the future, when I have a relationship with another person that the person does not feel as jalousie as my x-girlfriend. I believe is feeling and trusting between towing people. This I believe.

Donating Life

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:55:05 GMT

This I Believe - Peace

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:48:49 GMT

By, Walid Abdelmoteleb I believe in peace, because peace is the message of all prophets. Our God has sent a Prophet after prophet to convey that message to the people. Peace is a simple word to say; even to convince people of it, but how to apply it is the issue. Arab-Israeli conflict since 1940’s could not be solve until now because the responsible people are not fully convinced of the peace or are not completely realized the importance of it. So, the war everywhere in the world could be peacefully solved if the responsible people understand the mean of the peace; MLK, jr solved the discrimination crisis in the USA by a peaceful ways of struggling. I believe peace is the only mean of humanity, to deal peacefully with each other i.e not to humiliate or demeanize them by violence or aggression. Peace is the only way to keep humanity respected In GOD I believe, so I believe in His message (Peace).

This I Believe - People Are Basically Good

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:43:19 GMT

Vander Miguel A. Calete I believe that people are basically good. That there is will of helping and treat each other with kindness and respect, that bad behavior and actions are particular episodes that still shock people, and that hopefully they are never going to get used to mistreatment and lack of affection. People are kind and they usually intend to treat people well and help others and expect to be treated as the same. When you go to an institution or establishment, the interaction with people there is based on kindness and politeness. It happens not because they are paid to do so, but because of the fact that it is part of human nature to help others and make good actions. In other words, people are supposed to be good, and following this line of thought, I choose to give credit to people around me until they prove to me that I was wrong for doing that. I believe in it because I see people trusting each other with their lives. Many people depend on someone’s decision, activities, and attitudes to keep on going with their lives. On businesses, basic community services, discoveries I can see that ethic and respect for human integrity are usually in first place even when people know that out there are others with harmful power, they still can sleep peacefully. I believe it is natural to trust in people but with awareness; giving a confidence vote to them. Even if one of them let you down there are a thousand others to lift you up.

This I Believe - Friendship

ciesworldvibe — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:39:58 GMT

By, Wete Telama I believe in the power of friendship Since I was a little child my sister was my best friend. I could tell her my deepest thoughts; I could tell her everything that would come out my mind. Therefore, I have complete trust in her. Whenever I felt down she was there to comfort me. That’s why we’re so close. We shared our dreams and visions of life. Everyday, before we fell asleep, we used to talk about things that happened during the day. We used to talk a lot, and I have good memories of it. Last year I came to the United States to study. It was difficult for me to stay away from her. I thought to myself, “With whom I’m going to talk about like I used to do with my sister?” However, I have found a lot of friends here; since I’ve been here I have had good and interesting experiences with them. They help me not feel lonely and I hope I do the same for them too. Together we had joy, but we passed through difficult situations and together we overcame all the problems because we believe that union makes the strength. Our friendship is grows stronger little by little, day by day. At this point I consider my friends as part of my family. I still miss the conversations with my sister but I know that I have my friends here to watch my back. I believe that friends are like a safe port, you can always count on them on rainy or sunny days. I believe in the power of friendship

This I Believe - Human's Conscience

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:09:19 GMT

When I was in 7th grade, I was a 13-year-old girl, and I didn’t know anything about politics. In that year, we had the president open voting for the first time in Taiwan, and everyone who had the right to vote was very excited. It was an important time for Taiwan because that was a significant process of our democracy. The meaning of that election was much more symbolic than substantial because the advocates of the other candidates were far fewer than those of President Lee. However, it was also a tough year for Taiwan. We were threatened by the government of China that we could not have this election. It was really hard for me, in my age, to understand why another country wanted to conquer us just because of an election. The spokesman of the Chinese government claimed that they would consider using military force if Taiwan didn’t cancel the election. The media keep played the video of that claim and reported the conjecture of how many missiles were already aiming to Taiwan. At the same time, the American government sent aircraft carriers to provide help for Taiwan. People in my hometown were frightened that we would have a war in Taiwan. Some people even immigrated to other countries. Ultimately, we still held the election, and China didn’t attack us. There was no war between us, yet. There is a complex political situation between Taiwan and China. In spite of the fact that we are two separate places, and became two different political individuals, China still does not give diplomatic recognition for Taiwan and doesn’t allow other countries to do that. We suffer a lot of pressure in diplomatic aspects. However, I believe that some day, people in Taiwan can decide their political situation by our own will, and governments in Taiwan and China can solve this difficult situation with a peaceful solution. I believe in human’s conscience. I believe that people have the desire of peace and the aspiration of a better life. When I came to the United States to learn English in 2006, I met people from all over the world, people from Angola, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and Kuwait. All of my classmates came to the United States to learn other cultures and valuable knowledge, and all of them want to bring their new ideas back to their home. Hopefully make differences to their own countries. Angola is recovering from a 27-year-long civil war. Puerto Rico has held Status Referenda four times to determine their policy status. Every country has its own background and stories, but all of us respect other’s cultures and try to learn something from them. I believe that as people keep this attitude, not only the situation in Taiwan, but also other difficult problems in other countries can be solved peacefully, one day.

This I Believe - The Magic Solution

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:05:46 GMT

By, Gualter Pacheco I believe that I have the power to help others and to make a difference. Some times people wait for a magic solution when they are facing difficult situations. Believe me, you can be this magic solution. When you talk to someone in order to help him, give your shoulder to someone in need, or spend time listening to him, trust me, you’re saving a life or a family you have never known. I believe that problems happen in our lives so that we can learn from them and use this experience to help others. Are you having problems now? Listen to me, my friend, I have problems too. However, instead of bowing my head, crossing my arms and crying, I fight with confidence to overcome the situation; that’s my advice to you. Sometimes people feel discouraged for some reason, and due to this, they cross their arms, and give up on their dreams; they don‘t want to fight anymore. They become tired and lose hope. But believe me, my friend you’re the magic solution. Probably this person just needs someone to encourage him, to say something positive, to listen to him and to share feelings with. This is what I call the magic solution. I won’t ever forget the day when I had the great opportunity to help people with HIV. I was a volunteer and I had to pack 250 canned foods. While I was doing that, I felt that I was making a difference. It felt so good that I don’t have words to describe it. Don’t ever forget that when you offer yourself to help others you will receive it back three fold. I remember when I was listening to a lecture from a lady who went to Africa to help, but according to her, she learned more than she helped. I believe that the magic solution is your friends, your family, the person next to you; someone who has the power to help you overcome the obstacles by talking and listening to them. This I Believe.

This I Believe - The Road of Life

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:37:37 GMT

By, Rosaimar Garcia Bernabe The road of life has good surprises, but dreadful moments, too. Life is like a roller coaster, and we never know what will happen in our future. Also, we plan beautiful things, but sometimes our life changes in a dramatic way. I know we are fragile to everything around us. However, I believe in the opportunities that life offers for us to move on. I grew up in an amorous family, and every single day I thank God for my mom and my dad. Also, I had the opportunity that a marvelous man was my partner for fourteen years. During this time, I was so happy, and I really felt what love is. However, almost three years ago, he went to the heaven because his mission in a worldly life finished. Of course my life changed, but I always knew that I would have opportunities to move on. Above all, the last years, I learned about my strengths and how strange that life sometimes is. I changed my environment, and I moved to a peaceful city. Then, I started to study English, at CIES where I met beautiful people. They made a difference in my life because they helped me to improve my English, and they were my company for the time that I studied. Thus, I believe in the opportunities that life offers for us to move on because it put in my road people who really made the difference in my life. I know I am a strong woman, and I push myself all the time to be strong. Right now, I have new goals, and I hope to study my Ph. D in social work, but if not, I will be in the Peace Corps for two years overseas. I started both processes, and I know I will stay in the place that it is better for me. I am happy because I have a new home, new friends, and my parents are glad for me. Life sometimes will be hard, but I believe in the opportunities that life offers for us to move on. However, we need to encourage ourselves everyday, and have beautiful people around. This I believe.

American Culture Reports

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:43:46 GMT

Our CIESWorldVibe reporters hit campus to ask FSU students about their perspectives on American culture. Listen to hear what they discovered and how it compares to their own cultures. Share what you think as well to help continue to broaden our understanding of American culture!!!

Why Is Crime Increasing in America?

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:33:23 GMT

Ahmad interviews some FSU students about what their perspectives are on the issue. Check it out!

How Close Do Families in America Keep In Touch?

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:10:35 GMT

Wete interviews FSU students to find out their perspectives on the issue. Check it out!

Why Do Americans Take a Break ?

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:07:43 GMT

Walid interviews FSU students to find out why some students take a break from school and whether it is wise to do so. Check it out!

More on American Culture

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:02:24 GMT

Vander interviews FSU students to find out their perspectives on what makes up American culture. Check it out!

Do American Students Have a Choice?

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:56:53 GMT

Stella interviews FSU students to find out whether American students or their parents decide what they study. Check it out!

Why Do Americans Move Out So Early?

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:46:09 GMT

Rosaimar interviews FSU students to find out their perspectives on the issue. Check it out!

What Is American Culture?

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:42:28 GMT

Gualter interviews FSU students to find out their perspectives on the issue. Check it out!

The World Music Show

ciesworldvibe — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:33:02 GMT

Ali and Yousef let us know a little about both traditional and modern Arabic music. Check it out!

Peace in the Middle East

ciesworldvibe — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:24:25 GMT

Join Ahmed and Walid as they discuss the leading candidates in the next US presidential elections and how they may affect the Middle East.

Popcorn Time!

ciesworldvibe — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:15:11 GMT

Listen to Stella's top movie picks! It's popcorn time!!!

CIES WorldVibe Spring 2007

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:48:10 GMT

Here's the CIES WorldVibe crew letting their voices be heard. REPRESENT!!!

Wete's Travel Tips

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:46:00 GMT

Do you feel tired, stressed out and just need a break? Listen to Wete's tips on some beautiful places to vacation. Get your bags ready to go!

Let's Think About It!

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:44:32 GMT

Take some time to listen to Vander discussing the effects that TV has on on us and our society. Think about it!

The Uncle Sam Show

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:30:24 GMT

CIESWorldVibe senior radio host "UncleSam" discusses the current state of health care in America.

Love Line

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:25:46 GMT

Listen to host Gualter & special guest Rosaimar give you a little advice about love and how to maintain a good relationship.

This I Believe - Carlos Vitale

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 23:56:26 GMT

THIS I BELIEVE… I believe in a power above us. I believe in a higher power. I see life as a sequence of experiences that we can not control. We can control what we say, what we do, how we dress, but we are not entitled to control our life. I don’t want to start an awkward discussion about religion or culture or believes, because I don not thing that that matters. I don’t thing God loves one religion more than others, or some people will have better afterlives than others depending on their believes. Every one of us here on earth is human, we have the same rights and we all want the same things even if we express it in different ways. Happiness, kindness, love, support, contact; we are all looking for the same things in life. Even though many people might disagree with me, I believe that there is something or someone more powerful than us that guides us thru our lives. It can be called in different ways, can be a God, can be faith, or can simply be a series of actions interrelated that gives meaning to all things in life. We all have a purpose here on earth and we don not have the power or wisdom to know what it is. Some people experience tragedies in theirs lives, some suffer for someone’s loss and some are happy because IT has given him another opportunity in this earth. What is grief? I have experiences losses and I have felt very bad, but is it grief really a bad or sad emotion we should have? We sorrow someone because we miss that person, because we think that that person still has a lot to experience. But who are we to say when it is enough for someone to live? Who are we to decide how long we should live? I can spend hours asking questions and listening to extreme accurate answers to all of them, and still I would be convinced that something or someone above is watching us, is taking care of us, and knows when is our time to stop walking among others on this earth. I don’t want to be controversial, I don’t want to change peoples minds, believes or religions. I want to tell the people that have my same way of viewing life that they are not alone, that they shouldn’t feel bad, that they have to stand on what they truly believe.

This I Believe - Enibel

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 01:33:51 GMT

Everything Starts with a Dream By Enibel Carrion I have to confess that I’ve been a dreamer my whole life and will probably be till my last day. I remember that when I was a little girl I used to spend hours dreaming – awake – about traveling by airplane for the first time, going to Disney World, working at the Panama Canal, or studying in the United States. Today, as a young adult, I can proudly say that I have achieved these and many other dreams. Some people might consider these things as very easy to achieve, or not big enough to be considered as dreams, but as for me, as a member of a humble family in a third world country, it seemed almost impossible to accomplish them. I could only imagine myself experiencing such particular situations in dreams. Besides, the people around me weren’t encouraging at all and often thought I was just a fool wasting my time on hopeless ideas. I strongly believe that everything starts with a dream. By contemplating the ideas you really wish to realize in life, it is possible to imagine yourself getting there. This is the first step in fulfilling your dreams. When this happens it is like the kick off in a football game. It starts a magic sequence of events – a chain reaction – that sooner or later will lead you to achieve your dreams. I know by experience it is not easy. It might take months or years and it will require hard work and sacrifices. Sometimes you may feel you have deviated from your path, and surprisingly you will receive mysterious help from friends and strangers. Despite all that, I believe if you have dreamed about it you will get it, at the right time. Think about the milestones of humanity through history, such as the building of the pyramids of Egypt or the man on the moon. None of these would have been possible without someone’s dream about them. Those and many more started with a dream. Whatever your goals in life are, just dream with all your heart about achieving them. Develop a mental picture of what you want to reach, because everything starts with a dream.

This I Believe - Hanah

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:26:40 GMT

Life is a journey. When I was a little girl, I had never thought that I could go anywhere so far from home. At that time, nearly 20 years ago, my Dad was a PhD candidate in Russia. Although Russia came to me through my dad’s letters and gifts, I did not have any definitions about it. For me, it was just a country so far away, where it took my father 3 years to get and come back, the Snow Queen’s homeland as in Andersen’s old story as well. As I grew older, I read a lot of books I found at home, many of them were Russian novels about the beauty of the land and people, about love and more than everything, about love in life. However, the time in which I grew up was also the time Russia experienced the depression. Day by day I used to either read or listened to news about the crisis in politics and economy there. Overall, I understood the word “Russia” from both good and bad sides, both its beauty and devastation with all the fun and sorrow that a child as me could feel. Even so, I still did not have any ideas about a trip to this land, even that I would learn this “old fashioned” language of confusing Slav alphabets until I received a government scholarship to study in Russia. Only after a 9-hour flight, my life completely changed. I was not astonished at what I first saw, because I did not have any illusion about Russia, anyway, it seemed to not be as beautiful as I knew through the books I read. Perhaps because I arrived there in an early winter day, so I missed the chance to see a golden fall as well as not yet to see a land of dazzling white snow. I just saw a gloomy and leaden Russia, and I wondered whether my future would be the same. I applied to the University with first impressions not very good at all. I missed my country, I missed my house, I missed everything I had in Vietnam. Whatever, I thought, all comparisons could be wrong! However, during the time I was there, I met many Russian people, my teachers and my classmates were so kind to me so that sometimes I had to ask myself if I could be like that if I were still in Vietnam. My first summer came. After a cruel winter that nothing seemed to survive outside, in April, nature appeared to wake up and burst with vitality. Everywhere was full of green, the colour of life, just after 2 weeks instead of the grey before. I had never seen such strong vibrance like that. Later, the yellow colour of dandelions dominated the lawn. The flowers like thousands of small suns seemed to collect all the sunshine for their petals. Since then, I began loving Russian songs, and feel that this country is really beautiful. This feeling also abated a lot of uninteresting things around my life in Russia. When you integrate in a society, you can discover a lot of things. I felt it was the right way when I chose Russia for my higher education. Now I live in the US. My journey still keeps going on. Life is a journey, not a destination. It is made of many, many steps. You never know what you are going to get before you start walking. I believe that every step I walk, I will concentrate on the next step to be sure that I am going in the right direction.

This I Believe - Eiman

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:22:41 GMT

“Love, happiness, success” are words that describe things we can’t live without. Most people strongly believe that no one can live without them; however, I truly believe that all these words could be represented and referred to one person…the mother. I believe that mothers are the source of real love. They offer unconditional love…without a reason…without doubt. They are the tender voice that awakens your heart, soul and mind. They have the capacity to give without return. They are simply but greatly mothers. When it was time for me to grow and define my path, all I can hear was my mother’s subtle voice in my head saying: “I’m proud of you; god bless your steps”. Her words and feelings make me happy and assure of my great path. The blessing of a pure heart is the key to a great path. I could never forget her encouraging me and telling me: “You should always be a great addition to your culture and humanity. You should do your best to live and love…so the world would be a better place.” Since I was twelve, she pushed me to create my path. She taught me that as much I give to this life is as much I will get. No mutter how old I get I will always be her child who awaits the blessed advice. Do you know what the word mother means? M: is for merciful O: is for Open Minded T: is for Teacher H: is for Heart E: is for Enduring you more than her R: is for Reliability. If I am in trouble, it is my mom who helps. If I need advice, it is mom who gives it. If I am crying, it is mom who wipes the tears. If I am sad, it is mom who makes me happy. If I am tired, it is mom who soothes my soul. If I am smiling, it is mom who makes me laugh. If I am hungry, it is mom who feeds me. If I am in pain, it is mom who gives the relief. It is mom who burns out her energy to make me a better person. It is mom who never hesitates to give me more than I deserve. Oohh.. mama thank you are two words that are never enough.

Anita

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:16:26 GMT

This I Believe I believe in the power of love. This feeling is defined as a strong affection and powerful emotion for something or someone. Love makes you happy and helps you to live a good life. I think it is important to feel that you love something or someone because that makes you do things with passion and perseverance. Thus, you have to love what you are doing or what you like to do to make the people believe in you. Love has always been the first ingredient in everything. All the revolutionaries like Ghandi, Mandela, Martin Luther King and others used this special and important feeling to make all their ideologies work and to help the people in their causes. Furthermore, the doctors, the psychologists, the engineers, the politicians and everyone use love to make what they do very well and to make the others believe in their works or jobs. In my experience, I’m always trying to do everything with love. I try to put all that I have to make whatever I do real. For example, in relationships if you really want to make them work you have to really love the other person, because if it’s love really what you feel, you would do everything to make the other person happy and that would make you happy. So, whatever you want to do in your life, remember that everything can be real or can exist with love.

Culture Shock!!!

ciesworldvibe — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:05:39 GMT

WorldVibe corespondent Andrea Jaramillo interviews an international student about how he dealt with culture shock, and also gives some good advice of her own. Check it out!

American Humor 0.2 beta (Uncensored)

ciesworldvibe — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:09:54 GMT

WorldVibe reporter Marcos Colina explores what makes Americans. This podcast will definitely have you laughing out loud !!!

Cell Phones

ciesworldvibe — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:17:23 GMT

Hanah is on the scene trying to figure out why people are always on their cell phones!!!

An American Perspective of Guatemala

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:17:29 GMT

Here is one of our most talented WorldVibe correspondents, Enibel Carrion, interviewing an American friend about her recent trip to Guatemala.

A Look at Abortion

ciesworldvibe — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:10:20 GMT

WorldVibe correspondent Anita isn't scared to tackle the world's toughest issues. Listen to the introduction of her investigative report about how Americans feel about abortion.

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CIESWorldvibe Crew...REPRESENT!!!!

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Let's Lose Some Wieght!!!

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