Norway adventure!

This blog is totally dedicated to Armand!!!
I know i have not been updating my blog! but hey I been busy. Le t me tell you that I signed up for the first presentations (like always) and I actually forgot which one I was doing so EVERY single time I remember that I had a presentation, it was 3 days before I had to.. So YEAH! its official Scotland has made me stupid. Anyhow I manage to survive through those presentations YAY, ME! And must be said that Brock has an amazing plan and have taugh me so much that I came to repeat that knowledge here. For one presentation I realized that Baxter Moore’s classes about the music industry were invaluable and that Gillespie’s class (shut up Armand) about invented tradition will come handy for my Mega Events class. WOW! Really coming to this university has taught me that the education that we are getting is really good. After my disastrous three weeks of presentation, I manage to organize my first trip, destination OSLO!

Oslo is beautiful quite unfriendly though. I really enjoy the weather, not cold, not hot, not windy, not dry, a little bit of snow... I manage to book my fligh for only 5 pounds... yeah 5 freaking pounds. I dont think there is something similar in Canada. When i got here, I was nervous specially when i crossed the security... U know just my luck at airports.. Everything went smooth except for when the migration officer ask me “Dont you think your a little bit lost?” at this moment I learned that pee my pants in public is not the funniest thing in the world, so ask him why. He smile to me and say “Well I dont know why you are here, when u could be taking the sun in Mexico” I just smile and said well Im not tan for the sun hahahahaha. After this experience, I realized tomake a list of people that should not joke at work: 1. obviously migration officers better said any job that your job title ends in officer, seriously not joking. 2. judges, actually will be funny to see if a joke will say your not innocent, and then he said “oh joking joking” it would be cruel but funny!. 3. Doctors, I actually like my doctor she is direct and dont fool around but hey i went to other doctors that make jokes to break the awk of me nude in that sterile table, but hey is already awk and no joke makes it easy, specially if you are an old man that could be my grandpa!!!
Anyhow after my short list Im gonna resume to my story. So Im in OSLO!!! (yeah I will keep saying OSLO!!!, so suck it) and i need to take a bus to go to the city because obviously im not in OSLO !! im in a city 2 hrs away of OSLO!! but hey I was ready for the adventure. This freaking bus cost me NOK600 which is around 45pounds that is around 90 bucks my ride to OSLO! In this ride I find out that I dont know Norwegian :) but a guy keep on staring at me when I ask him what was wrong, he said to me that nothing just that I look really different... Lets say that I was the only brown girl in that bus. He ask me where I was from and why I was there and yeah he was nice and drunk. Finally Im in Oslo!!! (yeah lowering my excitement) Walk for about 20 minutes and got to the Hostel (anker hostel) got in my room with smelly backpacker roomies. WOW they stink, they are so friendly and swedish! They are egger to meet me and talk to me and I tell them who i am and answer the awful question of where I am from (well Im mexican, living in Canada, temporarily in Scotland) so difficult. Anyhow, I decided to go to eat OH my god! before I continue, I need to tell you that before i left my room I was talking to Brian (my lovely Brian) and I was telling him that I was having a bad feeling about this trip, so I was right, when im walking looking for food I heard loud noises and i realize that the store across the street was getting robbed!!! yeah I was actually a witness they left the store pointing their guns, and I actually felt like I was in COPS and i did not like it. I just freeze and did not move, they start running and cops appear from nowhere, oh holly cow, I was so scared. I think they stop the guys, I hope so! And they were asking questions, well I think so! They say something to me in Norwegian and i just say English and they ask me if I was ok... and I said yeah just that I will be diabetic after that awful situation. They let me go, so I walk and i was shaking... I got to this place and i sit there and did nothing. So I went to Norway the number one place to live and I witness crime that I never witness in my life. Anyhow decided to eat and ate salad and fries and coke because that was the only thing that the guy understood from me. DAMN!!!!! Went back to the hostel and went to bed.
Day 2 in Norway... My lovely roomies woke up early.. (I dont have a watch or anything that tells me my time) So I rolled out of bed, get dress and do some sightseeing, when Im leaving the place I asked for the time and they told me is 8am ...WTF??!! and Im up so I said fuck it! so I went sighseeing pretty much my plan was to walk to this park where they have this cool statues. In my journey I find a Queen and her palace, Yeah in Norway they have a Queen! I took amazing pictures of the guard and he even let me take a pic with him and he said CHEERS!! lol I said to my self “One day Cynthia, One day!” I manage to get lost ... stupid letters and name of streets! Hey the best experiences come from getting lost, I met this old couple that have family in Canada and they were telling me that they love it there and they love the weather. This couple told me how to get to this statue place, so I got there and I was so excited the statues are promising. I love it so much, so peaceful! and relaxing. Continue my sightseeing and went to many building and I even went to this place to get my prize that I won... you might have heard about this is called Nobel, anyhow they were going to give it to me but I told them that Im only flying with my carry-on so I dont think i could pass that through security! anyhow... a lot of pictures will come! I got to this store and i bought some crap! yeah crap because lets face it who is gonna wear a viking hat ??? not me ! Went to eat and I went to BK (burger king) ask for a veggie burger, It was a veggie burger (it was the bread and vegetables) there is not a vegetarian culture here everywhere where I ask for a vegetarian option they give lettuce lol
Finally I got back to the hostel and is 7pm already.. Im so tired and my feet hurt so badly. I decided to get some rest and write this blog. Tomorrow will go to the viking ship museum and more sightseeing.
Love,
Cynthia

Week 1 and 2... just like the Godfather needs to be read together lol

Week 1
Oh lord!!! This week was really exciting. Well first than everything, I been struggling with jet lag and sleeping on time and waking up on time (hope that everything it will go to normality before I become a crazy lady). First day of classes was nothing of what I expected. I went to get register because I was not register... uuugggh! got my ID school card, awful pic! what’s wrong with those machines? Why no one has invented a machine that takes beautiful picture in any circumstances? Fuck trying to conquest the universe, I demand a good picture in my id. After my horrible picture taken, I decided to continue with my paper-work journey. I went to a computer to register all my personal information, so i could get Internet in my dorm room (because this school is not as modern as Brock and no wireless) anyhow! I did that and they gave me the awful news that I was not getting Internet until Wednesday, sucks to be me! I went to the International office, obviously at the point I'm lost in space and time.... I was just buzzing around, yeah buzzing, after all that's what bees do buzz around... I'm a bee (see what happened when i don't sleep I become annoying animals) when I manage to find the international office I was so happy and wait, sitting on really comfy chairs. Sadly that small waiting room was not for the international office but for another office, which a kind Scottish lady told me that i just need to go in to the international office. This things only happen to me. Talk to Debbie a nice international exchange administrator something... lalala! she gave a map and a reusable rain cape. I just look like “why would i need a rain cape”, however, after i got out of that office I was able to proof to myself that I need it the cape. I went to register to my classes, Im taking Film theory goes to the movies, MMIC (no idea wats the name of this class but is about music and youth cultures), Mega events, and Scottish popular culture. Really niiiiiice! I like my professors, really cool and they say that I have a nice accent. Speaking on accents, I DONT UNDERSTAND SCOTTISH ACCENT.... but I think they dont understand me either. After I register to my classes, I was too exhausted but I got to go to do my shopping.
I LOVE SHOPPING!! but not in Pounds.
I went looking for my essentials, cutting board, and everything!!! Went to this store called Sainsbury and bought mangoes, limes, apples, tangerines, lettuce, tomatoes (soooooo expensive), and bread and pita breads and the fatting margarine (really disgusting) and yeah!! I was hungry!!! After that busy day, I got home and i ate like a pig... yeah a pig.
... Ok i started to write this but is already the second week and so much to say.
Classes
well Im taking really interesting classes!!!
Film theory goes to the movies... really cool class and pretty much everything that is been taught i already learned in my Film class but really nice movies. I watched the first week Spellbound by Hitchcock. In addition to the screening we are suppose to watch one movie on our own . I watch Casablanca and Rebecca!!!. The second week I watch Zulu!!! really loooooong movie and some nice moments but for me there was no relevance or anything interesting in that movie. And my choice of movie to watch was Where eagles dare.. really boring :(.
My other class is Mega Events, Spectacle and Identity, I missed the first week seminar and there are no lectures (only a blog with recordings and the readings). I think is quite challenging to learn this way, specially because I don't used Internet to study but to entertain myself. In this class I met an American-Boricua girl, who is really funny and understand how i feel been the only Latino in Scotland.
I have this amazing professor Douglas Chalmers, and he teaches Scotland, Media and National Identity. He is always late for classes but he seems to know a lot about Scot National identity and he is always helpful and willing to help <3!!! and he is learning Spanish lol.
Finally I'm taking Music: Media, Identity, Cultures... Its ok but is like really repetitive and nothing new. Somehow I realized that I actually learned from T. Cox class. However, I enjoy listening to my professor to rant on the music industry and the crap music that is been produced.
Finally this are all my classes, not bad but not the best, keeps me entertained while I'm here and tons of movie I have watch. The classrooms are really shitty and makes me appreciate Brock’s classroom.

Other highlights of my adventure are:
taking the small subway to get to the Latino Shop (Lupe Pinto’s) got tortillas and beans !!!!!
The city is beautiful and I love the culture and people. Got to this flea market called BArras. Oh lord !!! that was amazing, it made me feel in Mexico’s market <3!!
Going to walkabout bar!!! meet new international students and have good conversations and loving the fact that Im the only latino and people seem to be interested in my culture.
Loving my roommates always willing to listen me rant of how much i miss Canada and the weather. Watching my German roomies preparing “noodles” and learning how to cook.

Suddenly I have realized that I have so much to say and not enough space. Just want to say that I'm finding my way here and that everything is been amazing. This experience is teaching me a lot about me.
I have learned that i can cook!! and that toast is amazing <3!!
That having an amazing boyfriend that is there for you. When i feel down and need it of a nice smile and sweet words, he is there for me. Thank u Brian!!
Finally I realized that my family is fucking awesome and that Im so lucky to have my mother and that I missed her cooking :(
Love for y’all,
Cynthia!!!

DAY 1

Saying goodbye to my family is the hardest thing I have done in my life. Im a Latino girl so it is obvious that I am really attach to my family and wherever I go they go. However, I decided to go abroad to study a semester (140 days!!!). Finally the day was here and i saw myself at the airport crying like a river and hugging my family and my friends. But I knew I got to do this, so I just started to walk towards the gate and knowing to don’t turn back because if I did that I knew I will never get in that plane. Sitting for 2 hours by myself help me to calm myself and realized that I need to be mature and brave because no one else is going to be with me to solve my problems and also that no one is going to do my laundry (uuuugh hate it). Fancy plane, I got seated right next to the emergency exit, thats good so in case an emergency I will pulled a “George Constanza” and open the door and leave everyone behind LOL! . At this moment the plane was taking off and I was feeling tired and hungry (awful combination in me), thank to all the gods in heaven a fancy lady approach me with a tray of food and said to me “oh! did you order special food”. Yeah, everyone i did ordered special food. If anyone knows something about me is that Im vegetarian, I was looking forward to what I got, sadly was not a salad or a delicious veggie burger (yum yum). I was given a strange thing with green beans and red peppers with dressing (damn it! I hate dressing). I open my other option that had rice and curry lentils (quite tasty, I must say!!) and a really hard bun (I could actually used that bun as a weapon, I dont understand why they do all that inspection before passengers get in the plane, when the real danger comes disguise as a bun, oh lord!) After my airplane food, I found the most comfortable position to sleep, i covered myself with a small and thing blanket, but hey no complains. Dont know how long I sleep but well when i woke up, it was breakfast time, awesome!! I was excited and wishing that i was going to have some eggs but sadly I was having a bagel... hold on! a hard cold bagel, WHAT!! this is not breakfast!!!! I looked to the lady like if i was demanding her to bring the eggs and tortillas now! anyhow, at this moment I was not hungry so I did not had that crappy breakfast. I decided to watch some TV shows from the small screen that was right in front of me. I watch two and half men, The big bang theory and Sex and the City!!!(Loooove it), just in the middle of Sex and the City episode the captain decided to interrupt it to inform to passengers that we were arriving to London, wooopie! Finally landed I walk towards the signs that says flight connections. The airport is nothing like the Toronto, is kinda old and cold. Finally, I checked where i was (terminal 3) and i need it to be in (terminal 1) [ yeah! i was having those moments when you stand in front of map and says you are here, and there is another sign that says you should be here] so i panic for moment but i continue walking so no one notice that i was lost. Finally i saw a sign that says to terminal 1, oh lord! i was ready to drop my bag and thank to god and kiss the sign! but i did not did it, dont worry about it. got in a fancy talking bus(well it had a mini television that informed me about stuff) finally took me to Terminal 1! yeah! continue following the signs and i found that i was going to one inspection, fill out the papers that the huge sign indicated and made a line, thank god! there were 2 kind Canadian ladies that help me. I finally got called and they ask me where I was going and why i was going there. I answered with my professional English. The man looked at me and say “you are not Canadian, Where are you from?” I answered “Mexican” and that when he told me about his amazing trip to Cancun, I just smiled to him and he said to me that the same smile that he remembered from Mexicans. He told me to continue and have a safe trip. So i did, I finally continue following the signs and i got to put again my carry on bag to inspection yeah again! while i was there i witness that 2 bags where set apart and the people where called apart (pheeeew! it was not me) I was allowed to continue. At this point, I was getting annoyed that everyone was saying that Frederick Joseph, my hippo stuffed animal was the cutest thing they have seen, some they even touch it, making me angry because they were taking the smell off it. anyhow!! i continue walking towards the gate, and oh lord! i was shocked, English people are consumer driven people. I was disgusted that while i was crossing through the airport it was set as a shopping mall. It was like i was shopping at the Eaton Center and not that i was at the airport... I passed again through another gate and another inspection to my papers, never in my life not even in USA, my papers where checked that many times. I finally found my gate and took a nap! when i woke up, it was boarding time and when i got to the plane it was packed. I got to my seat and passed out again, I was really tired. When I woke up, the plan was landing and I was already in Glasgow. I made it. Got out and walk to get my huge bags, I waited in a place and then i read the sign that it said if i checked in my bags in a international airport i was suppose to go to a special room. I panic and run to the special room. When I got to the room, my bags where just coming out and i start to warming up because i was ready to lift my bags lol. I put it in the cart (which did not cost me nothing) and went out to Glasgow. I went to a taxi driver and asked him how much it will cost me to go to the Caledonian Court he mumble something ( a ‘xcuse me moment) and i asked him to say it again and he says “oh your not from heeeire !!” lol well he said it was going to be 24 pounds and i jump in. Yeap! they drive on the other side of the road and I felt like if i was riding a weird roller coaster. anyhow! I got to the place and he waited for me until i sort it out my accommodation. I finally went to the security and they help me. Quite nice gentlemen, they help me and the joke, they said that they like my accent and I was going to be ok. I was happy and they assure me that they will assist me with everything. I got to my room, It is not small is not big either. Have a a small bed, and a closet, a sink (really weird), and a desk with a lamp. At this moment and i was ready to call my family and my significant other, to let them know i was ok. So I tried to connect to internet and seem is not working, decided to better call but no coins and i was hungry, so I walk to get change and food. I got some food that I ate so fast!!! made my calls and unpack. by this moment i realized that this is getting real. Im alone and by myself, sigh!~~~ Decided to watch Paper Heart and fell asleep. I woke up and crying I decide to write about my adventure. Im sure I will miss every person but there are no regrets in life. Everything happen for a reason and for a reason I am heeeire! And love everyone of you and I will always keep you in my heart

FINAL BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Final Blog ... yeah! We have survive.. no bodies down only some sore fingers... :)

Ok so what are the advantages of using videogames for education. I guess video games are a really good way to approach young audiences because they feel that by playing video games is just fun. When people used videogames and fused them with educational content, the gamer at some extent, in a passive way they learned what it is been taught. Certainly all depends if the children are really interested in playing games, for instance, if i was the kid being force to play a video game to be educated, i will be really angry and upset. I do not like games and i dont feel thats the way to learn. I like to ask questions and feel that there is someone there to answer them and with videogames i feel that interaction gets lots. Video games are designed to teach specific things and when gamer have other questions, there wont be other way to get the information. In addition, that videogames, consoles and computers are expensive products and i assume some schools wont be able to pay that kind of products. For instance in my country the resources for schools are limited and government funded the financing is limite and even some schools do not get funding (rural schools)Also to the fact that some school do not have electricity or even classrooms, will be challenges to get video games as a education tool. Also the fact that video games are going to be in a language that the children do not play. Which indicate me that is a videogames as educational tool it is a project of capitalist society.

Serious games...

How serious a game need to be to be taken serious. I think that serious games, as well other type of video games, have ideologies convey in them. They teach serious issues to children which i think its a good way to brainwash them and think in a certain way. I know its afatalist way of seen games but at the end games and media texts always do this. Media artefacts are use a machinery to control the masses and certainly video games are part of that machinery. What it is interesting is that organizations use this and they can make some social changes. Do i think the world is going to change? Eeeeh! Nop! I dont think that a game will radically change how people interact with each other, but it is a good project with a great goal....!!

DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE .. no more technology for me!! yeah me !

almost done!!!

What I have learned of videogames? I bet professor Tracy is waiting to read this part and tell me see I told you so… anyhow… here I come!!!

I have learned so much about videogames. The first thing is that videogames is another way of entertainment and it should be respected. I had some pre-conceived ideas on video gamers, however, I realized that there is no more difference between the fan that plays video games all nite long that the guy that listen to his fave band all night long…(uggghh that will be me with Pearl Jam) or that watches stupid Late Night show to see her fave band (again me … PEARL JAM on Conna Obrien really amazing! New song epic) I understand that as other multimedia, videogames can be consume actively and passive. That gamers use videogames to create new narration as Henry Jenkins indicate about fans as poachers of texts. In addition, I learn that people are really serious about the games. I still feel annoy with games, I hate not knowing what happening, and im always lost on them. But I learned that I can be naked in Second life and I can get free dresses there, I still believe that whatever you do in second life you can do in real life, so I don’t share the love for that game. I learned that a game it’s a culture and it needs to be studied as that. I think what I would like to learn more about if there are video game and music and how it help or affects the music industry. Try to make a connection with my passion.  I think what video games have given to the players is a new channel where to define themselves; they can create avatars that reflect their ideal self of themselves which I find it really amazing.

PART II

Concluding this paper it’s really hard. I think this video game educated bring attention to poverty theme in small countries. Depending on what side of the globalization you are is how you will consider this game as effective or to extreme. Certainly this game indicates that there’s two sides in the game, the rich and the poor, the gamer needs to be really active throughout the game to actually understand what is been taught.

Im not sure if i get the assignment, but what i understand is that you want to know if video games can be consume on a passive manner. Well i totally thing you can. For instance, the fact that there are tournaments and people attend not only to participate but also to watch other people's technique and game play. So in other words, Im thinking that video games' tournament can be easily compare to other sporting events. Furthermore, the fact that there are video games videos on youtube of people's matches. Sometimes i go youtube and im amazed to find videos of guitar hero and how they beat the perfect record or the world of warcraft... certainly, this way can be considered as a passive way to consume a video game. Finally, another example that comes to my mind is the one where my brother, Oscar, will be playing video games with his friends; and i will be watching them how the play. What attracted me was how they play the game, how they relate to each other and to the game... I enjoy when someone beats other and they mock each other and to see how good they are playing the video games, it is really entertaining. Certainly, i considered that video games play the same role as tv shows, some people produce an artifact and we become audience and we just need to watch closely what the director or producer of the artifacts want to communicate.

Define terms such serious games, capitalism, globalization, cultivation theory,

Small intro of the game and explanation of the gameplay and layout of the game.

Explain how this games is a serious game and how is been used.

Analysed one game match... and indicate what ideology is being portrayed on it. And how i considered it will benefit players of it.

Indicate what can be draw of the videogame as well the effects that it could have in kids real life.

Conclusion 

Online communities and Fungux....

Nowadays i think is hard to say that someone to say that he/she do not belong to an online community. Due to the fact that internet is really popular in society, and people will communicate and use it for their everyday life. To talk about Internet and the power of it, will take forever just to understand half of the importance of it, however, what is important is to indicate that internet have help users to define themselves and find people that share the same values. For instance, i consider facebook groups are online communities, certainly some are really weird and i remember when i got my facebook account, i was trying to find a way to reflect my identity. It is hard to do it in webapages such as my space and facebook where the users are constraint to what the site offers. However, i found that facebook groups help to define who you are, by selecting groups such as : “facebook group for people who likes to join to facebook groups” or “I was doing homework and i end up in Facebook” or “Yes I am a mexican and i don't travel in a “burro” or have giant sombrero” and many others like this help me to define me and found other people like me and talk to other people that are “just like me”. Other online community, i love and adore is the PEARL JAM ten club.... huge participant there. Love it because i feel i have a connection with the band as well i feel i belong that i fit in this group. In the discussion board i totally understand all the topics, because i been there so long i have seniority, i feel important and i have some respect because of my obsession and my dedication to the band.

PART II (Every time i write “Part II”, i always want to say that part 2s are not as the part 1 lol... u know like sequels, except for the Godfather one. The part two of The Godfater kick ass!!!! but well ... just a stupid joke, anyhow.... sigh!)

Wow now we are talking about a research thesis... well usually that's the last one that i write when i do an essay but pretty much this is some ideas i will be mentioning in my thesis. The serious game, Seat at the table, can be used as an education tool to orientate youth about the social, economical and political struggles of the third world countries. The designed of the game and the information provided to the players allow them to situate themselves as a third world person and allow them to have control, at some extent, of the character faith. The game teaches to the player about the globalization's detrimental effect in poor communities all around the world. Usually one of my main arguments is the fact that the video game game play differs from high popular game, consequently, players do not feel that they are playing a game but that they are actually learning a serious game. Another argument is that what idea is being portray is that the game is representation an idea and i will try to indicate that is an anti-capitalist and anti-globalization discourse and i will provide example of how through the text in teh game it can be perceive such discourses.

And that's all i have done... I think we should get some feedback if we are doing the right thing