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2009/03/22

Public Speaking Competition - English Speaking Union

Meus amores, muito obrigada pelo apoio. O discurso da manhã não me correu muito bem, em comparação ao dos outros gajos que tinham isto tudo decorado, andavam a treinar para isto há meses e eu só fiz isto numa hora sexta-feira de manhã... ah, e andavam no St. Julian's, St. Dominic's e na Carlucci International American School... portanto até que foi bom. Contando que andei a dormir três horas por noite esta semana, fiz isto às 5 da manhã de sexta-feira e treinei na meira hora antes do concurso, foi giro. Ser a quinta added up to my stress.
Os concorrentes eram todos óptimos, tinham tudo preparadíssimo e decoradíssimo, mas continuo a achar que o meu tema era o com mais substâcia...
Milagre dos milagres passei para a final dos 10 melhores, o que não estava à espera que acontecesse porque fiquei mesmo desmotivada de me ter esquecido de coisas que me iam dar muitos pontos perante o juri! (YAY!)
Fui a segunda pesso à tarde e, estranhamente, esse facto tirou-me por completo os nervos. Nem tive tempo para absorver, tal foi o meu espanto de de facto estar entre os melhores. O discurso da tarde não foi perfeito (o escrito estava muito melhor mas como não tive mesmo tempo de decorar nem um bocadinho, foi go with the flow)... however, fui de facto e de longe a melhor das raparigas, fui para o podium mas olhem... não vou a Londres (porque só o 1st e runnerup é que vão). Irónico, não?
É indiferente, estava óptimo e gostei imenso de ter participado. I faced some serious competition mesmo e mesmo assim fui das melhores e com o melhor tema.. se me tivesse preparado mais um bocadinho, tinha vencido aquilo tudo LOL. Whatever.
Obrigada outra vez por tudo, e aqui fica o discurso (escrito - claro que o falado foi improvisadíssimo). Espero que gostem... e depois quero feedback.



Good morning honored guests, distinguished members of the jury, chairman... 

First of all I’d like to thank you for this opportunity. This is my first time speaking at a Public Speaking competition and, as you might imagine, my debut speaking in English in public. I’d like to introduce myself: my name is Maria Francisca, I am 17 years old and this will be my final year as a high school student… or so I hope. I intend to take the PPE undergraduate course at Oxford and I think that is a good indicator of what I’m about to talk to you.
My religious and political views have all to do with my upcoming speech – it would be misleading to tell you otherwise. Religion and Politics have all to do with the theme presented and, in the 21st century it would make no sense to dissociate them from Regeneration and Renewal.
Although our serious Economical and Environmental problems aren’t solved at all, an underlying issue is of bigger importance. I'm talking about the irresponsible behaviour that leads us to taking selfish actions and enrol only in profit-seeking campaigns. Where is our consciousness amidst all of this? Are we blinded by this false sensation of comfort and security bestowed by a consumer society?
In truth our grandfathers have set the international cooperation in motion, bearing in mind “peace” and socio-economical union. Our parents have began a non-stopping engine of technological development that almost feeds itself. How about us? What is our mission and obligation towards this World and entwined multiracial and multicultural society?
Beyond the philosophical aspect hidden, there is a much real meaning closeted. We need to aim at a spiritual improvement, a mandatory regeneration and implied renewal that entails every other developing sector that we seek to enhance.

The hasty way of dealing with everyday problems is certainly not very “forward thinking”. This deficiency in long-term planning is tangible in almost every line of human conduct, and not because we have an utterly careless behaviour. Instead, we find it easier to neglect the issues for as long as it is politically correct to do so, and only then do we begin trying to make up for our past mistakes.

Let’s start with the environmental issue. Our ecological awareness awoke in the 70’s and, since then, the eco-balance has been a recurring topic. In fact, it is an in vogue subject that goes along with the New Age feel nowadays proliferating. Nevertheless, prevention is lacking.
For instance, what do you know about carbon compensation? It is supposedly a good set of measures, right? But the principle is utterly wrong. The whole idea is based on compensating for the carbon emissions resulting from previous airplane flights by funding a proportionate amount of sustainable energy and reforestating a determinate area. Does it sound okay to you? Compensation, is it really the way to go?
And how about the “Three R’s” campaign that we got word of throughout the 90’s? I don’t know about you, ladies and gentleman in the audience, but I think the Governments only seemed to take notice of the Recycling “R”. At least no relevant measures were taken regarding Reusing and Reducing. How’s that for discrimination?
It would surely be better if we all just reduced our personal human footprint and lowered carbon emissions. Then there would be less to compensate and recycle. It’s overall a smart economical move.

Other scary aspect of our society is the inversion that we have made, out of the blue, in defending human rights. How is it possible that almost every developed country has legislation protecting the practice of abortion?
Think about it. No one should be forced into having a child against their will. Specially not young women starting their adult lives, specially not when they lack support from their families, friends, and including the parent of the unborn baby. The plot thickens when you sometimes add AIDS and financial problems to the equation.
Instead of turning into murderous and irreversible actions, we might quote the WHO HIV approach: it is as simple as Abstaining, Being Faithful and Condomizing.
But we could do better. If we dwell on Kant’s categorical imperative, freedom of will is only sustainable when you become fully aware of the consequences that come with your actions. Thus, in a heterosexual relation, you only should have sex if you are mindful of the fact that you might get pregnant or get your partner pregnant.

The third vector of my speech is more polemic than the others, and is deeply involved in the Metaphysics of Morals. Abraham Lincoln once called democracy “The government of the people, by the people and for the people”, hence the political changes operated in one’s country rely on the full and willing participation of its citizens. Enrolling in the national political scene is almost something we owe our predecessors for having fought for our freedom (and sometimes giving their life in the process). Freedom is not a given right, with it come major obligations. We need to rise to the occasion and enjoy freedom in its every dimension the best possible way.

Ending my speech, I would like to have convinced this audience that my generation has an onus of reinvigorating our society and impregnating it with a higher sense of morality. Indeed, when using the tools the contemporary World provides us with, we need to act with an irrevocable conduct – in order to exceed our past achievements.
I could perhaps call this exertion the Three P’s: Provoke, Politicize and Prevent. Needless to say, to attain this grail all of us must surpass ourselves time and again, in a continuous endeavour to oil the human machine.

Thank you so much for your attention.

2009/02/27

Um Mar de ti

Deixo de raciocinar... anulo-me e ponho os meus olhos de lado.
Oiço.

Como é que tão insuspeitamente me conquistaste de todo?
Com pouco mais de um olhar, e sem pedir licença, arrebatas-me. Estou infinitamente cativada, e gozo. Cada célula em mim se comove de maneiras inexpressáveis... e tu, nem sonhas. Limitas-te a observar, de forma suave, à medida que te entranhas, fatalmente, mais um pouco.
Tentas-me só por existires. Corro o risco de, por ti, me vender. Apaixono-me quando respiras e o calor do teu corpo perto do meu... estou quase a enlouquecer, de forma controlada. Dás melodia ao rufar da chuva que me fustiga e tocas-me tanto, sem te moveres, que dás prazer às tormentas que me querem calar. Contudo, a minha liberdade ante ti parece totalmente insignificante.
A minha pele chora de mansinho. Os meus ouvidos deliciam-se. Os meus olhos viajam em cada acorde.... O meu corpo é uma explosão de sentidos, levemente estimulados por um pouco de ti.
Vibro e tremo compulsivamente, por dentro. Em cada trinado, morro em silêncio – e ressuscitas-me de imediato, mas apenas para de novo me matares. Tudo isto docemente, como uma golfada de vinho que se mastiga.
Perco-me num banquete de ti. Sinestesicamente sou envolta na tua naturalidade turva. Fecho os olhos,... e a negrura que vejo é o breu dos teus cabelos.
Tu não sabes, mas vais-me viciando. Involuntariamente, dás-me de beber à alma... e eu já me quero afogar em ti. Quero embriagar-me, perder-me, fundir-me contigo sem palavras – porque tudo o que possa dizer desvanece, é irrelevante.
Fora tão simples ser-se feliz! Quisera eu que me absorvesses em todos os momentos, pudera eu fazer parte dos teus versos ondeantes!
Da mesma forma delicadamente repentina, e com uma celeridade divina, acaba. Num só momento passou por mim toda a vida dançando, e desfilaram no meu âmago todas as emoções possíveis. Agora que passou o clímax, cessou.
A brevidade de ti chega-me, cega-me, imobiliza-me, prende-me num paradoxo que me faz voar. Ainda assim... quero mais.

Olhas-me. Sorrio, e penso: o Céu? Não pode ser melhor.

2009/02/25

Rascunho

First of all isto é um rascunho de uma coisa em que ando a trabalhar - fica como aperitivo. Só para se perceber o género, claro... feedback please!


‘This could be dangerous... Hell with it, this might as well be menacing – I’m lacking adrenaline in my life.’
‘You must be joking. Are you sure you’re okay?’ he mulled over.
‘Needless to say I’m not.’
‘Well, when you think back to it,… it’s kind of sad.’
‘Try depressing.’ She replied roughly.
‘Ouch.’ He muttered. ‘That bad?’
‘You bet.’ Louise retorted under a kvetched tone. ‘But oh-don’t you mind. You needn’t care for me, you know, it’s not like your job or anything…’
‘Haha,’ he chortled ‘If I don’t watch out for you, then who will?’ she let a sigh wheeze through her teeth.
‘Guess you’re right. Still, I don’t need you.’
‘I think you need me more than what you’re aware of.’
‘Stop picking with my awareness.’
‘Or else…?’
She stared at him with unusual contemplation, not seeming to notice the strikingly obvious weird frown looking back at her.
‘Snap out of it.’ he eventually growled, surrendered.
‘Let’s get it done, this time for real…’ she sounded muffled due to the mental effort put in her decision. It had never been easy for her to choose anything, but this time the judgement was even more strenuous. Should I stay or should I go? Seemed a trivial childlike doubt, but the consequences of this decision this time were far from puerile: it was definitive. There was no coming back – and this palpable and incontrovertible reality was nothing less than appalling.
‘You don’t have to do this. No one can force you into deciding anything’ he rejoined to her inaudible thoughts, trying to comfort her. ‘I’ll always stand by your side, no matter what’s your decision… whether you resolve anything or not!’
‘I must come to a resolution, ASAP.’ her words had a strange ring of firmness.
‘Why?’ he cried out dimly.
‘I just have to.’ She stopped to ponder. ‘It looks like my entire life has come to this moment… for me, to decide.’ her eyes rested close while a deep crease formed on her forehead. She opened them with a hazy expression. ‘It has begun.’
‘What has?’ the sudden worry and urgency in his voice was now exposed for her to perceive.
Everything.’ She turned her face to the dusky light stretching across the rooftops of Alfama. The Tagus suddenly came across as darker.

2009/02/06

Sometimes

Sometimes normal is all it takes.

Sometimes, getting enrolled in your own feelings is just the right thing to do - and it couldn't also be more wrong.
Sometimes, sadness is the repressed shade of self that perks by to say "Hello". And feeling it scarcely inside - to the utmost strange reaction of enjoying the mesmerizing melancholic stage setting roots and en-deepening... is just about fine.

I wish the forfeit to my past actions would not translate itself into this awkward loneliness of being. Sometimes..., my biggest wish is to wake up to find myself two years ago, laughing at this disconcerting not-so-unreal nightmare. But, then again, I wouldn't have met you - if that even matters.

Are you high on my nostalgic missing of your uncanny absence? Or is it just me, fabulating another delusional chimera set upon your mere acquaintance?
I don't know, nor do I care. As long as it keeps me amused... and gives me the faintest grasp of strength to hold on, for the day.

(even if it means I kill myself a little bit more, every second)

Yours, sincerely,

F. 

2009/01/29

Quem és tu do outro lado?

Uma sombra segue no meu encalço; apresso o passo - e alguém diz: sombra, a figura que te deu forma... vai a monte.
Quem me copia este desfile precipitado pela rua abaixo? Quem me encara sem rosto e tremeluze ao meu existir?
És tu?

aguardo...

afinal, sou eu mesma. Sou eu mesma escura, negra e sem mais nada: é a minha própria recrudescência gravada nas pedras por que passo. E tu?... até amanhã ___

2009/01/28

Dwelling

'Spent so many hours trying to figure out
How come you didn't show up?
Entire nights alone and crying aloud
How could you have not known?

And I try to forgive, but the wounds just won't stop bleeding
Yeah I want to believe that you did not know

CHORUS:
For I've been dwelling
In a world of giants
Succumbed beneath this emptiness
Can't get around and awake my senses
All just seems to fade and float away


I've had many problems all trough my life
Drenched in silence - we still made it
All of a sudden you come (and now I'm confused...)
Out in the space; I'm suffocating

And I lie to myself, saying you have no idea
That when I'm asleep I can only dream of you

CHORUS

So stop gazing at me as if I was not human
- I don't comprehend you either...
But in this tacit foreboding chimeras are webbed
Come and pull me out 'my hideout

And in fear I'm impelled to tell you all about me
Easy words unravelled by the moist of your eye

CHORUS

I'm shed and torn into pieces
I make no sense without you


Francisca Soromenho

Re-abertura




É oficial.


O Soromenho em Viagem vai re-abrir.
Finalmente, não me interessa - expressar-me-ei, e quem não gostar...
Estou Feliz, por fim, de novo. O resto, pouco importa.


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OBRIGADA Daisy, Sarah, Aninhas e Concha. Por tudo!
















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