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Are Business Trips really necessary?

April 27th, 2013 | Posted by rachael in Business English | Traveling - (0 Comments)

In the past a business trip was really necessary because there is only so much that you can do on the phone. Business partners always want to expand their businesses and sending a high level employee was often the only way to get the contract. Often, business travel was between cities in the same country so a business trip was usually a chance for the employee to get away from home, and get work done.

Today, in the modern world, are business trips still necessary? There are two sides to this issue. Some business have tried to go “all the way”  with modern video communications and don’t send employees to other places to business meetings. They think that it is a waste of time and money, that could be better spent in other ways.

Business trips not only help a company, but if your business partner is in a different country, a high level corporate business trip can help the company gauge whether the business venture is likely to be successful or not. There are lots of nuances that can’t be felt even over Skype or other video calling platforms.

In order for a business trip to be successful there has to be a clear reason for going.  Make sure that your business has to be conducted face to face. Decide who is the best person with the authority to make the decisions that will have to be made while on the trip. If you send a junior employee who always has to check back with upper management, then the trip will be wasted. Trust your business acumen and if it is a good deal, then grab it, if not then this is the time to pass and wait for a better deal.

In conclusion, in the modern age, business trips are still an important part of doing business, as long as the work to be done can only be done face to face.

What to do in Belfast

March 3rd, 2013 | Posted by rachael in Traveling - (0 Comments)

Belfast speaks English with a Irish broge, that is the unique accent of Ireland. It brings to mind the fairy tales of Ireland and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It is the jewel of Ireland, on the harbor which launched many ships in its day.

Visiting Belfast is a must if you want to learn more about the Titanic. The most well known Irish shipbuilders, Harland and Wolff built the RMS Titanic here in Belfast. The ship was one of many that were built in Belfast in the early 20th century. The Titanic Quarter, built on the grounds of the shipbuilder, is a new exhibit and attraction park that tells the history of the real Titanic, not just the movie.

Belfast has had its share of political controversy, there were many riots between the Protestants and the Catholics, and the signing of the IRA Ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement have helped the city heal its wounds. Now the city is poised to attract tourists and make it a real jewel in Northern Ireland.

There are many cultural events in Belfast, with many famous rock and roll bands originating from Belfast, The Belfast Rock ‘N’ Roll Club is just one of the Rock and Roll venues that are very popular. People used to travel from far away to hear the unique bands that played in the ‘Club’

For a taste of the real local scene, you must go to a Belfast Beer Garden.  There you can sample beers and enjoy music.  If you have had enough Rock and Roll, you can go to the Acoustic Nights and hear classical guitar and unplugged sessions by local music sensations.

Belfast has everything, great restaurants, music, history, so enjoy your stay in Belfast and come back soon!

 

MoMA – The Museum of Modern Art

January 6th, 2013 | Posted by rachael in Culture | Traveling - (0 Comments)

Interview with Amilia -former Director of the Westwood Art Association on Westwood Blvd in Los Angeles

“I was the Director of the Westwood Art Association when MoMA was being built during the 1970′s. I was very enthusiastic about this project because most other museums at that time would not exhibit Modern Art and there was a real need for such an outlet.

Gloria Steinman, the editor of the Premier Women’s magazine “Cosmopolitan”  came to us to fund raise for MOMa. She came to see our latest exhibit, Henry Miller’s drawings from his book “Tropic of Cancer.”  She raised quite a bit of money, I myself gave $50.00 quite a generous gift in the 1970′s. Gloria promised us a show when MoMA opened.

After many delays MoMA opened, and it had a rocky start because people weren’t used to this type of art. It was very far out, American Art. Most of the artists in the exhibitions were young from the ages of 19 and 27.

There was one exhibit that was all black. Black paintings, black sculptures and even the walls and floor were painted black. Another new category that had never been in a museum was Performance Art,  and the use of Video instead of just paintings. Garbage Art, which the artist uses items that have been thrown away was also very new. There was a very interesting exhibit of wigs in fantastic shapes and colors. MoMA lives up to its reputation of being at the forefront of Modern Art.”

If you are in New York, put MoMA on your list of museums to see, just to see something very far out.

 

Source: google.ca via Stephanie on Pinterest

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Visiting the American National Parks

November 19th, 2012 | Posted by rachael in Traveling - (0 Comments)

As an English teacher, on line I get to “travel” to many different places with my students. I have heard about all sorts of places where people love to visit.

A few of my students from Europe like to travel to the United States, not to go shopping in New York, although that is very interesting, but to see the great natural beauty of the American National Parks.

One of the most interesting National Park is Yellowstone National Park in Montana.  This park is known for the natural geysers which spew up water and steam from deep inside the Earth. There are literally thousands of geysers in the park, the most famous and punctual being “Old Faithful.” Yellowstone was established as America’s first National Park in 1872.

Source: tumblr.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Yosemite is another favorite, located in Northern California,  you have to reserve your cabin inside the park about a year ahead of time, because it fills up fast.  In the summer the whole park is open and you can drive for miles admiring the beautiful vistas that open up through the mountains. If you plan a winter trip, check the website for road closures because of snow. Anytime you go you will be amazed.

Another National Park worth visiting is to the south in Arizona, the famous Grand Canyon. The canyon was made by the Colorado River carving out the rock on either side to show the different layers of rock from the Earth’s geologic history. The Grand Canyon was also home to Indians at least 12,000 years ago.

America’s National Parks are a treasure that has been preserved for us to appreciate. Plan your trip in advance and enjoy your visit!

 

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Where in the world can you live well and cheaply?

November 14th, 2012 | Posted by rachael in Business English | Culture | Traveling - (0 Comments)

What is your cost of living? Where can you live at a certain level, and not pay too much?

Before you decide to move to another country, you need to take into account your day to day expenses.  
How much is the rent, food, electricity, transportation?  
Will you need to work?  
Do Senior citizens get discounts?  
Can you speak the language of the country?  
Do you like the year round weather?

Many people around the world are looking for a better life with more opportunities.  Maybe you too?

Here is a place where you can have it all, good weather, cheap goodies, and a room with a view.

 

Over to you!  Answer these question based on the video.

1. What country is the announcer Astrid Coon speaking from?

2. Why is living in Panama so attractive?

3. On what items can seniors get discounts?

4. What language is spoken in Panama?

 

 

 

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Visiting South Africa

October 25th, 2012 | Posted by rachael in Traveling - (0 Comments)

South Africa is a lush, green with the most incredible weather you could  want. What is amazing about South Africa is the weather conditions, where it is never too hot and never too rainy.

South Africa is known for the Kalahari Desert and the Kruger National Park. One of the favorite animals are the giraffes, there are many nature reserves for them.

Places to go in South Africa

If you like nature, you can go on a safari. The most popular safaris are the ones that you can see the “Big Seven.” Lions, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino and Great White Shark, and the Southern Right Whale. The Addo Elephant National Park is the place where you can see all these animals. You can also see African Gannets and Penguins at this park. They are located in Eastern Cape, close to Port Elizabeth. This is really a worthwhile stop for you on your trip to South Africa.

Source: Stephanie on Pinterest




Another way to see nature if you are from the Northern Hemisphere, is to go on a Star Gazing Safari. You get to see the Southern Hemisphere stars, from a new perspective. When you go to the Kruger National park, there is no light pollution, and you can see the stars as you have never seen them before, as well as observe nocturnal animals that sleep during the day.

South Africa also has a hopping nightlife in the cities such as Johannesburg, you can dine out in wonderful restaurants, and spend time in museums. One museum worth going to, to learn about South Africa’s past is the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Here you can see first hand the real story and how apartheid tore apart the country and after the release of Nelson Mandela, the long road to reconciliation began.

South Africa is a country of contrasts, and is well worth a visit, for the nature and history.

A trip to New York

October 23rd, 2012 | Posted by rachael in Traveling - (0 Comments)

You are on your way to New York City. There is a lot to see and to do there! Expect to spend a least a week in New York. You will want to go to the famous restaurants, see at least two or three museums, take a walk in Central Park and go to the site of the World Trade Center memorial.

First buy a pass to travel on the Metro and the busses. This way you can get around Manhattan easily.

The Met

The most important museum of New York is The Metropolotoam Museum of Art.  http://www.metmuseum.org  Here you can see ancient Egyptian vases, Roman statues, and the most famous of all, Rembrandt’s masterpieces. The museum is so big that you could actually spend an entire week there.

Central Park

Next you want to take a walk through Central Park. The Central Park Conservatory offers 13 different free walking tours of Central park, with a guide. You can learn about Art in Central Park, the history of the War of 1812, and only on Memorial Day, and Veterans’ Day, learn about how New Yorkers honor their veterans.



Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village is full of history too. It has a European flair, with its winding streets and small shops and pubs. Even now, many artists, musicians and writers make their home in “The Village.” You can take a tour of Greenwich village and get a taste of the neighborhood with its history and delicious food.

The Empire State Building

The highlight of any tour to New York City is the Empire State building which celebrated it’s 80th anniversary in 2011. There is an observation deck on the 86th floor as well as on the 102nd.

World Trade Center Ground Zero Memorial




No trip to New York is complete without going to the Ground Zero World Trade Center Memorial. The highlight of the site features the names of all the people who died in the disaster. There are walking tours, some even for free, or a small fee. There is a visitors center and a gift shop which helps finance the museum and the upkeep of the site.

Have fun on your trip to New York! Be sure to take lots of pictures and post them on all your social networks.

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Visiting Sydney, Australia

September 23rd, 2012 | Posted by rachael in Traveling - (0 Comments)

An interview with Riva who just came back from a visit to Sydney, Australia.

Live-English.net: What is the most popular tourist attraction to visit in Sydney?

Riva: I climbed the Sydney Harbor bridge, it is a very tall bridge that was built in the 1930′s, you can actually climb up the outside of the bridge, they attach you by a cable, to the fence on the bridge so you can’t fall off. It takes about two hours to climb from the bottom to the top, you see the most unbelivable scenery. From the top you see the whole harbor and  you feel the most incredible achievement to have climbed up the whole bridge.

What did you most like to do in Sydney?

Going to the Opera House is very good, you walk around the harbor , you can see a play, or an opera.  The building is very beautiful, and is like a jewel on the harbor.

Many people use the Ferry as a commuter service, to get to other places in the city, but for tourists, you can take a round trip and see everything from the harbor.

What are good places to take children?

Going to a kangroo park is very nice for children. , it is not very far outside the city, about a half hour drive. You buy special bag of kangaroo food, they come and lick off your hand, they are very tame and soft. It is a joy to pet the kangaroos.

The Koala park is also a nice place to go, but they are not as friendly as the kangaroos, they eat only eucalyptus leaves, and are noctornal, so it is not as good for children to visit. 

The Sydeny Aquarium is very intersting for kids.  It is built  so that you walk through the middle of the fish tank, as you see the different kinds of fish.

What are the prices like in Australia now?

I didn’t find the prices very cheap. The standard of living is higher than in other places. People make more money per hour. The Sydney Harbor bridge was very expensive about $300 Australian dollars but it was worth it for the experience. Food is more expensive also.

Thank you very much Riva, for sharing your experiences about your wonderful trip to Sydney, Australia. As Australia is an English speaking country, brush up your English before you go visit.
See ya Mate!

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Hollywood

September 6th, 2012 | Posted by rachael in Culture | Traveling - (0 Comments)

When I hear the word Hollywood, I always think of the movies! Glamour, Movie Stars, Rock and Roll Club, and Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood is all this and more. People actually live in Hollywood as well. The Beatles wrote a song about a street in Hollywood, “Blue Jay Way”  I actually went there one night and it has a beautiful view of the Los Angeles Basin.  On a clear day you can see all the way to the sea.

Taking a trip to Hollywood

One place you have to visit is Hollywood Blvd. Mann’s Chinese Theatre is the moving theater where many movies have their World Premiere, that is the very first showing to the public. This makes this movie theatre a definite must to see. On the sidewalk on Hollywood Blvd, there are famous movie stars, like Ginger Rodger, Humphry Bogart and all the classics. It was always a big celebration to have a star put into the sidewalk on Hollywood Blvd.

There are many nightclubs in Hollywood some have live music, or DJ’s or for a change of pace,  a Cuban nightclub with Latin music, and what Hollywood was known for Rock and Roll music. I remember going to the Roxy to see some local bands that later went National, like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers when you couldn’t even hear the lyrics let alone understand them.

If you are with kids, then the best place to go for a beautiful view is the Griffith Observatory. When you get there, up the windy mountain road, you can see the Plantarium show, see the exhibits about space and then at sunset go outside and revel in the beauty of Hollywood as seen from the sky.

Source: google.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

What is Silicon Valley?

August 23rd, 2012 | Posted by rachael in Business English | Traveling - (0 Comments)

Silicon Valley is the area in California where many high tech firms are based. This term was first coined in 1971, but didn’t come into common usage until the 1980′s. This area, south of San Francisco was first known as an agricultural area, but even as early as 1909, the area was known for innovative technology. Stanford University is based in the area, and many business have been started by its engineering graduates.

Silicon Valley and Technology

Many technology companies are based in Palo Alto and Marin County. At first they were manufacturing computer components, but when IBM introduced the PC, personal computer, the desktop, business really took off. Everyone had to have a personal computer. By 1994, many companies were producing computers for business and home use.

Companies in the Silicon Valley

There are thousands of technology companies based in the Silicon Valley.

Intel, IBM, Google, SanDisk, Apple Ind, Yahoo,  LinkedIN, Facebook, Logitech, and Ebay are just a few that are based here. The combination of warm weather, and the availability of many other companies that network together make the Silicon valley such a good place to do business.

Universities in Silicon Valley

There are also many universities in the Silicon Valley, Stanford, San Jose University, Santa Clara University, San Francisco State University are just a few. Many graduates of these universities go to work in the firms that are based in the Silicon valley.

Corporate culture of Silicon Valley

People are prepared to takes risks in Silicon Valley. Google is one of the companies which doesn’t go for suit and ties in the office. They have a more relaxed corporate climate, and hire young college graduates who have new and exciting ideas.  You can come to work in casual clothes,  take a break when you need to and bring in those sales. No wonder everyone wants to work in Silicon Valley!