How to choose a career

Firstly, you must discover what are those standing and lasting values that make you who you are. What things interest you or what things make you want to stop as soon as you begin. Choosing a career is all about you, because if you don't know who you are as an individual, it's going to be extremely hard to convince your potential employer to entrust you with a job. For some of us, we value our families and the ability to schedule work around life or for some it may be the need to work around certain types of people, rather than others. Whatever those values and ideals fit you, you must be comfortable with yourself and willing to try new things! Secondly, you must figure out what you are good at and what brings out the best of your abilities. Obviously, if you are great at painting artwork, but really can't stand working outside in the scorching heat, then you probably don't want to apply for a job as a car mechanic. There are many ways to figure out what you are good at, simply just by asking yourself what are your likes and dislikes, your expectations for your dream career, and what steps you would have to take to get there. Whenever someone comes up to me and complains about their job and how they dislike it so much, I always ask why you are still doing it. Work in a field that fits your mold and who you are, not based on pay or some other factor. Thirdly and most importantly, do something you love! Never get lured into doing a job that makes you grumpy and angry at the world. There are too many career positions out there waiting for someone with your talents to come aboard. Happiness in career and life to me is one of the most vital issues we should all cherish as human beings. Being happy is not only good for those who spend the most time with you, such as your spouse, kids, or friends, it's also good for your health, happiness, and well-being. Like I said before, a great career is not just for the rich and famous, it's for all of us. Some of us have wealthy parents and can just inherit money or work for them, while others have to work their hardest to earn a decent living. But whatever the case may be, your dreams and goals can come true in life, no matter your age, race, or any other factor. Just remember to set goals, aim high, and never give up! You have to be willing to be an innovator and a visionist in your quest to find that dream career. In the words of Robert Byrne, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” EXERCISES: 1)      RETIRE DO TEXTO: A)    OS VERBOS REGULARES B)     OS VRRBOS IRREGULARES C)     OS VERBOS ANÔMALOS D)    OS VERBOS FRASAIS E)     OS PRONOMES F)      AS PREPOSIÇÕES G)    OS COMPLEMENTOS OBJETIVOS H)    OS ARTIGOS I)        OS ADJETIVOS J)       OS ADVÉRBIOS

Brazil is the 21st century power to watch

When I appeared on a panel of journalists from international publications recently, the moderator asked us to nominate our big story for the next year. One of the panellists suggested the UK parliamentary elections. A second mentioned the continued ramifications of the financial crisis. I said Brazil, which I was about to visit for the first time. Consider, I said: Brazil had come through the financial crisis in reasonable shape. It was sitting on a vast deep­ sea oil find. It had just seen the world's biggest stock market listing this year ­ the $8bn flotation of part of the Brazilian arm of Santander. It would also be host to the world's two biggest sporting events: the 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games ­which Rio de Janeiro had won this month over Tokyo, Madrid and Chicago. Yet as I sat on my flight to Rio, I could not suppress some trepidation at the country's well­-known drawback. "Violence and crime can occur anywhere and often involve firearms or other weapons," the British Foreign Office travel advice on Brazil says. "Cases of carjacking occur, sometimes with the occupants being taken and forced to withdraw money from their accounts at cash machines." As for public transport: "There have been instances where gangs have set buses alight leaving passengers inside after robbing them," the Foreign Office said. Official advice is often frightening. Should the worst happen, governments do not want you saying they should have warned you. But old Brazil hand Peter Robb was no more reassuring. Brazil was "a country of immense atural wealth, at peace with its neighbours and facing no unusual turbulence or social unrest within its borders. Yet the killing rate in Brazil, tens of thousands of violent deaths a year, falls within the parameters of the United Nations' definition of a low ­intensity civil war," he wrote in his hypnotically compelling book A Death in Brazil. I saw none of this. But within two days of my departure, gun battles between rival Rio drug gangs claimed at least 14 lives, including two police officers killed when their helicopter was shot down. People who live in high ­crime countries often say three things. First, that nothing has ever happened to them in their supposedly dangerous hometown, but that they have been mugged in, say, London. Second, that all you need to do is take the same sensible precautions you would at home. Third, that violence is confined to certain areas and consists mostly of criminals killing each other. The first defence is silly. Of course people are mugged in London. It is just a lot less common. The second misses the point: at home, you know which neighborhoods are rough and who the troublemakers might be. In a new place you do not, and miscreants sense your hesitation. The third is true in some places, but not in Brazil, where violence frequently spreads outside the favelas and where the better ­off fret about their safety. It is to Brazil's great credit that during several days of talks and interviews in Rio and São Paulo, not one person denied that the country's violent crime was real and could have a serious impact on its development, not to mention on its two showcase sporting events. It is not just crime. Brazil's rail, road and airport facilities require daunting investment. The vast gap between rich and poor is immediately evident. Yet Brazil is a country with outstanding potential, a welcoming and richly diverse people, excellent food and several world class companies. Unlike China, Brazil has no sharp ethnic conflicts and is a ulti­party democracy. Brazilians complain about their politicians' corruption, but point out that, unlike in the US, results in presidential elections ­ the next is due in October 2010 ­ are announced swiftly. Extracting the newly ­found oil, buried beneath thousands of metres of water, rock and salt, will be challenging. But the reserves present the intriguing prospect of Brazil becoming a major oil exporter while deriving most of its own electricity from hydro energy and powering many of its cars with sugar cane ethanol. Brazilians know oil can be a curse as well as a blessing. How it uses its new wealth will determine whether it becomes a 21st­century force. Brazil is a thrilling place to visit. In his book, Robb wrote: "Rio is huge and lovely and terrifying. São Paulo is huger and more terrifying and not lovely at all." He is right about Rio's loveliness ­ the Olympic marathon is going to make for stunning television. São Paulo, while not lovely, has more shaded jacaranda ­lined avenues than you might expect. Brazil will be a big story ­ not just over the next year but for many more to come. EXERCISE: RETIRE DO TEXTO E CLASSIFIQUE: a)    Os verbos b)    Os pronomes c)     Os advérbios d)    As preposições e)     Os artigos f)      Os adjetivos g)    Os numerais

EGGS AND APPLES

EGGS AND APPLES

EMMA WENT TO THE MARKET.

SHE NEEDED TO BUY FOOD.

SHE NEEDED BROWN EGGS.

SHE OPENED A CARTON OF BROWN EGGS.

SHE LOOKED AT THE EGGS.

NONE OF THEM WERE CRACKED.

NONE OF THEM WERE BROKEN.

ALL THE EGGS WERE OKAY.

SHE CLOSED THE CARTON.

SHE PUT THE CARTON OF EGGS IN HER SHOPPING CART.

SHE NEEDED RED APPLES.

SHE LOOKED FOR DARK SPOTS ON THE APPLES.

SHE LOOKED FOR WORM HOLES IN THE APPLES.

SHE DIDN´T SEE ANY DARK SPOTS OR WORM HOLES.

SHE PUT THE BAG OF APPLES IN HER SHOPPING CART.