Feriel’s discoveries

In the American Dream, first expressed by James Truslow Adams in 1931, citizens of every rank feel that they can achieve a “better, richer, and happier life.”

The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence which states that “all men are created equal” and that they are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Documentary film directed by Barbara Kopple

My American dream will be to success in my studies over there next semester !

Whether you are pro or against it, it catches your attention! With the introduction of Amazon Kindle 2 integrates the entire business of e-reading:

Pro Ebook :

• No paper cut
• Download your book and read it immediately
• Already 2 million of free-books available
• Cheaper than a really book
• You can use hyperlinks
• Text can be searched automatically
• Easier to carry around
• Font size and font face can be adjusted
• An e-book may be readable in low light or even total darkness
• It can automatically open at the last read page
• Text-to-speech software can be used to read the text
• It is easier for authors to self-publish e-books
• A free e-book can stimulate the sales of the printed version

Against Ebook:

• A small book is easier to carry around than a typical e-book reader
• The battery can get exhausted
• It is more susceptible to drop damage
• E-book readers can malfunction
• It is are more likely to be stolen than a paper book
• It  may be difficult to read in bright sunlight
• E-books can be easily hacked
• If an e-book device is stolen, lost, or broken beyond repair, all e-books stored on the device may be lost
• They’re non-biodegradable
• It can be dangerous for eyes

My favorit is the SONY’s one , have a look on their website: click here

As paradoxical as it can seems, the Americans are really concerned about:

•  Health ! They always think about it, speak about it, try to have a good behavior by eating well and so on … Unfortunately for them they have a bad health coverage system.  Michael Moore made a movie that I encouraged you to watch :

• Work ! Americans are used to work a lot much more hours per week than the French do. But sometime it’s not necessarily more efficient

Here is a link talking about the American working time trends:

 http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/4263218/TRENDS-IN-WORKING-TIME-IN-THE-US-A-POLICY-PERSPECTIVE

• Security ! Again a paradox because they have strong control to enter the country or even inside the country with the police (which is very strict !)  but it a country with an incredible number of crimes and unfortunately victim of terrorism.

To be ready for your job interview be sure to be able to answer the questions that your employer would probably ask you:

• your motivations
• your skills
• your background (education)
• your experiences
• your competitive value

Then try to get as mush information as you can about your employer, to be sure that this firm is a firm where you would like to work :

• The company atmosphere
• Your boss experience
• Your boss way of managing
• Is any promotion possible
• …

To get more detail about this part of the blog, have a look on:

http://www.careerknowhow.com/resumes/interviewing.htm

it is a website explaining you how to get ready for your job interview !

Do not say that your weaknesses belong to your temper and that you can not do anything against.

For instance:

- If you are somebody impatient : I’ll advice you to make an exercice. Try to learn something that you know well to somebody  inexperienced. In fact, teaching is a good way to get patient.

- If you have to much energy to spend : Practicing a sport can be a good idea. Furthermore having a jogging or so is healthy !

- If you think that you have a bad creativity because of your rationality : You propably did not try each artistic domain … try again and do not give up, remind you that skills and creativity are two different things  :

• Graphic art
• Arts and crafts/ manual work
• Photography
• Audio-visual
• Music

- Then as the last exemple if  you want to improve your foreign language such as english :

• Watch VO movies / series / programm
• Read some press articles in English
• Learn your favorit songs and try do understand them

You might have experienced some funny story when you first meet somebody coming from a different culture and/or country.

For instance, I met in Morocco men who have got two wifes and 2 different families. At the beginning it can shocked people coming from an occidental culture, but then you understand that it is the way of living of some Moroccan. Not the majority but still a part of the population.

In those cases, the most important points you have to remind are:

• To do not pre-judge (to forget your stereotype)
• To be open-minded
• To learn about this new culture

Here are some few advices to get ready to travel :

•  you need to know the language / not necessarily being fluent
• you need to learn about the culture to do not offense the people
• you need to know a bit about the country law