Life Stories and Experiences: From Childhood Memories to Professional Achievements

Informal Email, Friend

19 Gran Via, Murcia 30004, Spain, 7th February 2017
From: Raquel
To: Maria
Subject: Thanks

Hi Maria,
I’m really sorry for not writing earlier, but I’ve been very busy since I got back! I’m writing this email to say thanks for a wonderful weekend with you in London. I loved being in that nice city, and I had a good time. I’m very happy to meet your new English friend, Sophie, she’s intelligent and very friendly. I have really good memories. I’ve been living in Murcia for 3 weeks. I miss you a lot but I’m very happy in this city. I’ve been a bit stressed this week, because I’ve started studying at university and I’ve the exams soon. Also, I’m working in a private academy with primary students, they are very funny, hard-working, and responsible. I love my job. That’s all for now. Thanks again for everything. I hope you can visit me soon. You’ll like it here, the monuments, the museums.. Give my regards to Sophie. Best wishes, Raquel. PS I’ve attached a photo I took of me with my friends in London. I hope you like it

New Job

From: Raquel García Madrid [[email protected]]
To: María Martínez Galiana [[email protected]]
Subject: New job!!!

Dear María,
I’m fine and I hope you are well too. Sorry, I couldn’t write back after your last letter because I’ve been very busy during these months. I’m writing this letter to let you know that I’ve changed my job. I’m very excited because last week I received an interview call from “Vicente Cañada Blanch” Secondary School, which is in London. It’s a famous and prestigious institute of the neighborhood of Portobello. In this educational center, there are teachers of all nationalities: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese… All of them have a high level of English. It’s a wonderful place for me! I’m working as a Spanish teacher with the youngest students. They are very intelligent, friendly, and motivated to learn. For me, they are fantastic!! My daily routine is different from the routine that I had in Spain. Every day, I start teaching at 9 in the morning and finish at 1 p.m. because there is a break to have lunch. Then, at 4 p.m. we continue with the classes until 6 p.m. You can see that it’s a full timetable. Moreover, the academic year is the same as in Spain, normally we start in September and end in June, but every six weeks of class, we have a free week, as European timetables. In this way, I can go back to Spain and visit my family and friends. In addition, in this center, there are many excursions and trips around the world. Although I’m very happy with my new job, I miss my family a lot. Here, in London, the days are very short, it gets dark at 6 p.m. and it’s quite cold. I hope this doesn’t stop me from enjoying my new experience. Give my regards to your family. Best wishes, R.

Birthday Celebration

Dear Rosa,
I’m really sorry for not writing earlier, but I’ve been very busy. How are you? Are you crazy!? How come I don’t remember Maria’s birthday? I think it’s a good option to go out for a meal on her birthday. We could go to a new restaurant which is located in the center of Totana. It’s a big restaurant, decorated with vintage objects and has delicious food. Sure that you’ll like it! In relation to Maria’s colleagues, I prefer eating alone with María and you, because we don’t spend much time together and we don’t know those people. This coming weekend I can’t make it because I’m going to Cartagena with my University friends and we’re spending all our weekend there. But if you want, I can go to the shopping center and buy a present for Maria, sure I’ll find something nice. Also, we could buy a birthday cake for María. Near your house there’s a good cake shop. Could you go there to ask? Give my regards to your family. Best wishes, R.

Tweets Vacation

Having the most amazing experience in London. Met fantastic people. Another hard day: reading, having a nap by the beach, eating, and sunbathing. Oh no! 3 noisy children sitting behind me on my plane to LA. This is going to be the longest flight of my life. Packing bags, holidays so stressful. Got back an hour ago. Plants dead and no milk in the fridge. Send me back to the beach. Making the most of the last glorious morning in the sun. Going home this p.m. and to work tomorrow.

CV

From: Raq@. To: Mery@. Subject: Job application. Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to apply for a job with the medical support staff at the Olympic Games. I am a qualified physiotherapist and I have been working at a Rehabilitation Centre here since January 2016. I speak English fluently (level B1). I enclose my CV. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Raq. Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to apply for the position as an emergency technician which was advertised last week in La Opinión newspaper. I have always been interested in working for your hospital and I have long admired the way you work and dedication. As you will notice on my enclosed CV, the job you are offering suits my professional interests. My work experience is varied. Firstly, I have been working for a fruit business (2012-2016). Secondly in a private hospital in Totana as a stretcher-bearer (January 2016), because I have the diploma in Emergency Medical Technician. Now, I am working in an Italian restaurant, but I am interested in working in a healthcare environment, because I am a vocational worker and I like to help people. Furthermore, I live near Rafael Méndez Hospital and I speak English fluently (level B1). I would be pleased to discuss my CV with you at an interview. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information. I enclose my CV. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, R.

Describing a Room

I’ve just finished university and I’m living at my parents’ house now, in my old room. It hasn’t changed since I was a teenager. The walls are pale pink and the door and the window frame are much darker pink. We painted the room when we first moved there when I was 13. It’s quite a big room with a huge wardrobe along one wall, so I have plenty of space for all my clothes and shoes. Also, there is a mirror on the wardrobe door. There’s a butterfly light above the ceiling in the middle of the room. I have the same desk I’ve had since I was a child. There’s a big pinkish rug on the floor. I have an armchair and a sofa in the corner, there are purple and got white stripes. There are the most comfortable in the world. I think my bedroom is quite girly because it has so many pink and purple things, but I love it.

Describing a Flat

Beautiful and comfortable beach apartment in La Manga (2.5 km). It’s an apartment situated in a good place in La Manga. It’s in the second line of Mar Menor beach. It’s a cozy 100-square-meter flat on the 9th floor of a beautiful building with two lifts. It has two big double bedrooms, a very bright dining room, a large balcony, a modern kitchen, and a bathroom. All the rooms have air conditioning. And you can also enjoy the communal 25-square-meter swimming pool. This apartment is located in 2.5 km, in La Gola community. It’s a family area where there are many supermarkets, cafes, and different types of shops. The flat is walking distance from two beaches (“Mar Mayor” and “Mar Menor”). In addition, it is a five-minute walk from a bus stop. A few kilometers away, near La Manga there are other beautiful towns and villages such as Portmán, La Unión, Los Belones. It’s a very comfortable apartment and the perfect place to live with your family. It has wonderful views of both beaches and it’s a good place to rest. This is a no-smoking house.

Describing a Photo

One of my favorite photos is this one. My mum took it in the summer of 1998, I think so because this photo was taken in my flat in La Manga. In the foreground, there are two little children who are my sister and me. In this photo, we are about 5 and 3 years old. On the right-hand side is my sister, she is called Elena. My sister is sitting on a chair and is looking away. It is possible that she is looking at my father because he is near us. She is happy and she was wearing a summer striped dress. Also, she has blue eyes, a small nose, and a big mouth. She has short and dark hair, and she has a normal stature for her age. On the other hand, on the left-hand side, it’s me. I look a bit scared, it is probably like that because when I was a child, I didn’t like to be photographed with flash, and therefore, I might have that strange face. I am wearing a summer white dress and I am not wearing any shoes. Though in the photo, I have black or brown eyes, now, I have green eyes. I have short dark hair, and my nose and my mouth are tiny. In the center of the photo, there is a funny toy. It is a yellow slide for small dolls. This was my favorite game and I always carried it with me. Behind us, we can see the main door of my apartment and next to the door there is a white and black telephone. This one is one of my favorite photos because I am with my sister and we are in a place that we like so much, my flat of the beach.

Describing a Building

I think the most beautiful building in my town is the Hagia Sophia. It’s situated in a historic part of Istanbul called X. The Roman emperor X built the Hagia on the spot had two other churches had burned down. Construction began in 532 and the building was completed in 234. In 1923 it became a mosque and it’s been a museum since 1988. It was the world’s largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years and it is famous for its large dome. It is surrounded by four tall minarets, each of which is different. There is also a lovely park in front of the building. Inside the Hagia, you can look up at the dome, which has beautiful Arabic writing in the center. On the second floor, there are beautiful mosaics on the walls. Some of them are more than a thousand years old. In the northwest of the building, there is a column with a hole in the middle called X, which people think has special powers. If you are over 18, you must pay an entrance fee of 5€. The building is open from 9 am to 5 pm, but it closed on Mondays.

Erasmus Experience in Murcia

From: Raquel
To: Maria
Subject: Erasmus in Spain
Dear Maria,
How are you getting on? I’m very happy that you’re going to stay with me next year. Now, I’m going to answer some of your questions about Spain and the Region of Murcia. Spanish people are very friendly. To tell the truth, in general, they’re always happy and love so much going to the party. Also, their diet is varied. There are Spanish who prefer to eat Mediterranean diet, others eat much meat, and others are vegetarians. The most typical food in Spain are: ham and paella. Although, each community autonomous has its typical food. For example, in my Region, are famous “paparajotes”, and “Meat Pie”. In the Region, you should visit the Cathedral, the old buildings in Cartagena or the Roman Theatre. Likewise, you must go to my town, Totana. The weather in my Region is good: winters are cold but summers are boiling hot. It sometimes rains in the spring and autumn. In other words, my Region is a good place to live. Moreover, some important parties in the Region of Murcia are: “Carnival” and “Easter”. Many days I remember the wonderful days I spent in London. I loved being in that nice city, and I had a good time. I have really good memories. I visited London Eye, Tower of London, Big Ben… It’s a fantastic city which has many monuments, museums, and big green parks. Also, I met many people who are my friends. I look forward to returning soon. Best wishes, Raquel.

Living in Totana

with my parents, my sister and two little dogs. I’m a student: I’m studying to be a teacher at university, and I’m also working in a private academy in Totana. I’m not married, but I have a boyfriend. His name is Alfonso. He works in the country, but he’s preparing the state exams to become a Guardia Civil. I don’t have much free time, because I both study and work very hard. I love sports. My favourite sport is badminton, but I like others too. When I was young, I won many championships in the Region of Murcia and all around Spain. I can’t play badminton currently, because last April I had a very strong car accident that left me with long term physical demages in my view and my back./I’m learning English because I love travelling around the world and I need it for my job. I make some grammar mistakes when I speak and write in Englishm but I’m sure I’ll make progress little by little./Next summer, my sister and I are going to London to learn more English, because this year my father is working in that city.WHO WHERE:Paco de Lucía was an important composer and Spanish guitarist of “flamenco”, who was born in Algeciras (Cádiz) in 1947 and he died in México in 2014, where he lived most of the time./Paco only learned to play the guitar at home when he was ten. Many people think he was the best guitarist in the world. His family is very famous and they call themselves “Los Lucía”./One of his more famous songs is “Entre dos aguas” which was published in 1973. He is a person who has received a lot of important national and international awards./He has married twice. The first time, he married with Casilda and then he married with Gabriela. In total, he had five children who were born in both marriages.