Talk about real thrill... (SnK Part 2)

Previously on A Crazy German's Blog: "Yahooo! I broke the record for the most teenage life lesson statements in one single blog post! #yolo #instasomething #hashtag"

And now, the real sh...ow begins!

OK, so we have that super cool anime which is called Shingeki no Kyojin: Attack On Titan. "What's it about?" is probably the first question I should answer. But in my opinion, SnK doesn't gain that much from its background story or its setting. It's rather the way they direct, the way they enact the plot and the setting which converts this series into one of the best animes I've ever seen.

So today my preview is going to be a little different. I'll trying reproducing in a narrative style the events of the beginning of the series. I hope that I'm able to transmit you the feelings I had while watching these scenes. I'll be focusing on the impressions and I'll spare you the details. Alright then:

Tension. At least constant 500 teravolts. The first episodes begins by throwing you into the most critical moment. A Titan has managed to break the outmost wall that protects the remaining human civilization. Titans are enormous living beings with a human-like apperance. And they eat humans. What's "best", they don't need to eat humans in order to survive. It's unknown if they actually have any survival needs. Which means that they devour humans just for their own cruel entertainment. Or another disturbing reason. Eren Jaeger and his sister Mikasa aren't at home when the stream of Titans flows in. Worried about their mother they hurry back to their house. They discover her lying helplessly under a big pile of rubble that used to be their home. She is alive but she can't move. While Eren and Mikasa are trying to remove the huge pieces of wood and stone, the worst case scenario initiates its development. A Titan is coming. Closer and closer. Its face draws a horrific grin, expressing its pure lust for human flesh. It almost seems amused.

Their mother tells them to run away. She doesn't want to risk the lives of her children. They don't listen and keep pushing and shoving. Her desperation is becoming more and more evident. Her voice gains intensity. The emotions in her screams freeze the blood in her children's veins. Suddenly a little ray of hope shines its way through the scenario. One of the village's guardians appears. They are trained to fight the Titans in the unlikely case of an invasion.

Eren and Mikasa beseech him to kill the approaching menace. The guardian is determined to implement his duty. Yes, he is ready. After all, the hard preparation he had gone through was meant for dealing this kind of situations. Yes, he is ready. He must protect those civilians giving everything he's got. Yes... He was ready. He was ready until the very moment that big grimace penetrates his body and sheer terror fills his mind. Without a second thought he graps the two youngsters and starts running. Eren's head is turned back to the place they were fleeing from. He continues observing with his eyes widely opened as the Titan eventually stands next to his mother. The Titan stretches its arm, longing for the weak body of the injured woman. The monstrous fingers enclose her leg. Slowly the Titan lifts her, bringing her closer and closer to his mouth. Eren's look is locked on his mother. The woman who always cared for him. The woman who gave him life. And in a single instant, her own life vanishes as the brute force of the gigantic teeth crashes her torso. The blood splatters spread in all directions. The utterly strong impact originated in the Titan's mouth allow some drops to find their way to Eren's face. 

His will to destroy the Titans has become as enormous as the Titans themselves. 

He doesn't want to eliminate them. 

He wants to slaughter them.

Every single Titan.

Okay, so I don't know if I did well (allow me to remind you: I'm not "de lletres"), but I gave my best to create a similar effect with words to what the anime does with images and music and camera angles and sound effects and...

They really make the best use of their resources to show us a spectacle of emotions. To make us go through a roller coaster of emotions. This series is more than gripping. It literally rips you apart as you watch and you can't help but discovering your masochistic side.

Bonus Points:

+ A few but very well placed humor parts. And they're hilarious. That shows that the directors are able to show more than only one facet of their creation. Amazing.

+ German pronounced by Japanese voice actors. It seems that the place where the remaining human civilization is concentrated now used to be a German-speaking country. Expect names like: 

Eren Jaeger, Reiner Braun, Annie Leonhart, Jean Kirstein, Connie Springer, Krista Lenz, Thomas Wagner, Franz (the surname is unknown but I'm sure is sounds ultra German) and FREAKING Mikasa Ackerman. Yes, Mikasa as in Japanese and Ackerman as in German. That is the most awesome combination of names ever. I definitely need to marry a Japanese woman.

+ Great plot twists (don't you dare looking for information about that anime before watching it... major spoilers are practically unavoidable) and intriguing mysteries about the Titans.

In conclusion... Bah, blow the conclusion. Just go and watch it right now!

Seid Ihr das Essen? Nein, wir sind die Jäger! (SnK Part 1)

Hello, welcome and konnichi-wa! We've begun the final blog year and these last 3 seasons of "A Crazy German's Blog" follow the motto: "Choose not a life of imitation!" And that's exactly what I intend to apply from now on. On the blog posts, on my decisions, on my life. Nothing more, nothing less. Quality instead of quantity. Someone with their own unique style is better than the greatest mime. I don't care what people think or say about me, as long as they talk about me. Because trying to be an attention whore and trying to be remembered is not the same ;) But actions speak louder than words, so let's start with these brand new blog posts! Wait... These blog posts basically consist of words, therefore...

CUT!

Okay, I know what you're thinking right now. Well, actually I don't. But I know what you were thinking the very moment you read this post's title: "What... the...  farfalle is that supposed to mean?" In case you don't dominate the most musical and tender language of the world called "German", I should inform you about the meaning of these poetic verses:

~ Are you the food? ~

 ~No. We are the hunters!~

Yeah, you really have to be studying Batxillerat de lletres to grasp this literary perfection (there is no need to translate that, honestly, this is already too much of an inside joke/running gag to be translated; nooooo, I didn't just say that Batxillerat de lletres is a joke... although)

In case you're one of those ignorant cretins studying sciences (those idiots aren't even capable of expressing themselves) or even worse, you aren't studying at all, then I shall enlighten you with this little piece of audiovisual enjoyment:

Still no clue? What? You're angry or disappointed that it's an anime once again? You think this is becoming some kind of cliché? You can't take me seriously anymore because of my nerdy attitude? 

DEAL WITH IT.

Oopsy, now that I carefully consider, if you're still reading this blog it means you actually like that side of my humble person. Well, the second option is you're the one in charge of correcting this blog and thus you're obliged to read all that stuff.

But back to the topic, you have no idea what the title's supposed to mean even after watching the video? Let me give you a little hint. Listen again to the first 3 seconds of the song. Is the bell ringing now?

This is the opening theme of the first season of one the best animes I've seen in a long time. If you liked Death Note, this one could be of your interest as well. What I'm going to do in the next post is translate the lyrics of this song and... Gotcha! You almost believed it, didn't you? Though, frankly, I'd love to be able to translate the lyrics of this song by myself. Let's make a promise, the day I speak Japanese (because this day certainly will arrive), I will write a post on this very blog translating the lyrics of this song into English. Or maybe another song I'll be liking by that time. And if this blog still exists by then. Because, you know, Google is doing crazy things lately... Like that Google Smell April's Fool stuff. I wish the Google+ Youtube update was an April's Fool hoax as well...

Aaaaaaanyway, what I'm really going to do in the next post is talk to you about Shingeki no Kyojin: Attack On Titan, the anime that features this great song.

So this post is finishing here. Right, it is finishing here. What? You think this is the end because my mind is like a mental puree and that's the reason why I end up talking about a million of things in this post EXCEPT the actual topic, the anime? Naaaaaaaaaaah.
You know, there was that nice comment on the official 2BATSPACE© website:

 No, I wasn't talking about our teachers "BEING ON FB!" I meant that one:

Minimum 100 words. And you know that wise Spanish proverb "Todo lo que sube baja."? Well, if there's a minimum, there must be a maximum. Using a complex algorithm I was able to calculate that the maximum of words is exactly... HERE!?
Sorry, I have to go!

You know I like to write satiric posts, but please always read my post along with your sense of humour right by your side. That friend of yours will help you to enjoy my posts without being too serious. But if you think my criticism is good, feel free to take it seriously. Hehe.

Final final final post

Yo dawg, I herd you liek final posts.

(intended, in case that you're not familiar with that classic meme, look for "Yo dawg")

I think that I improved my English a lot during the last two years. I notice that especially writing posts, because I feel like more comfortable and more accostumed to write in English. I don't need to look up as many words as I had to before. The posts just appear on the screen while my fingers move gracefully up and down like water flowing in the river of destiny... Wow, that sounds freaking dramatic. But I imagine you got the idea, didn't you?
In addition, I have watched some series and films in English and now I understand them waaaaay better than I did before. Even when they talk rather quickly, which used to be quite a challenge to me, is now no bigger problem to me anymore. The same goes for speaking in English. Doing the First Certificate Exam I was forced to practice to speak fluently and spontaneously. That was a great help (and a nice dare too ;D). So in my opinion, the Certificate Test, the blog posts and entertainment activities such as watching films and series were the most important reasons of my progress this year. And the oral presentations helped me to elaborate my own style of presenting a topic. I must admit that I felt quite proud after the success of my presentation...
As for activities that I didn't find useful, in my opinion there aren't any activities that are really useless. Since what we're learning here is a language, it requires practice and practically any contact with it helps improving or at least refreshing and maintaining the level. But if I had to choose one thing that I'd like to change, it would be that we should read more original English texts than adapted ones (I refer to the text book as well as to the readers). I'd like to expand more my vocabulary, this is my main purpose. Additionally to the grammar we do, of course. So to focus a little more on vocabulary could be a nice objective for next year. A part from that, I think that if we keep doing similar activities like this year, we will do well.
So that's it! Goodbye people, have a nice summer and see you in September ;)

Podcast (very informal dialogue)

Unfortunately, the circumstances were unfavourable to record this dialogue all three together, so we decided to interpret it each of us aaaaaaall byyyyyy ourseeeeeelvees

You are warned, be prepared for a high-pitched voice of a crazy German and terrible sound effects.

Record and upload audio >>

(Very) informal dialogue (written version)

Informal dialogue

Jamie (Speaking on the phone.) Yes, yes, great party, wasn't it? (Sound of doorbell.) Listen, Polly, I've got to go. There's someone at the door. Come here this evening? Yeah, why not? I haven't got any plans. OK, see you later. Bye, Polly. Bye. (Sound of doorbell again.) OK.OK. I'm coming! (Opens door.) Oh, hi, Tania. How are things? I wasn't... I wasn't expecting you.

Tania Well, aren't you going to invite me in?

Jamie I... Yes, of course. Come in. (He sits in front of the TV looking worried.)

Tania Jamie, can you turn that thing off?

Jamie Hang on a second, can I just watch this?

Tania No, you can't. Jamie, I need to speak to you. This is important.

Jamie I'm listening, I'm listening.

Tania You aren't. You never listen. (Turns off the TV.)

Jamie Why did you do that?

Tania Jamie, it's over.

Jamie What do you mean? What's over?

Tania I mean you and me. Us. It's over

Jamie Oh, come on, Tania. Let's not start that again.

Tania A friend told me you were out on Friday night. Is that true?

Jamie Someone invited me to a party, OK?

Tania Ok for you, maybe, but you didn't want to ask me, did you?

Jamie I did. It isn't that simple.

Tania Well, my friend was there and she said that things were very simple for you. (Doorbell rings again.)

Jamie Hang on a second, Tania. I'm sure we can sort this out. (Jamie opens the door. Polly is there, smiling.) Polly. How did you...?

Polly I was just around the corner when I called you, so I thought... (Polly sees Tania.) Oh, sorry, I didn't realize....
..............................................................................................................................................

Jamie (Nervous.) Tania, it's not what it seems! Let me explain, we...

Tania I don't want to hear your stupid explanations, you asshole!

Jamie But, Tania, listen....

Tania You were lying to me the whole time, weren't you?

Polly Maybe I should come again later...

Tania (Shouting.) You shut up!

Jamie Tania, don't talk to her like that! I'm sorry, Polly...

Tania What? Now you're even on her side? Are you fucking kidding me?

Jamie Tania, relax! She only asked me to...

Tania (Crying.) How... how could do this to me with that fucking... slut?

(Sound of footsteps)

Derek Hi Polly! (Derek kisses Polly) Er... What's going on here?

Polly Tania... This is Derek, my boyfriend.

Jamie You see, Tania. I came across Polly on the party and she asked me to help her with her homework today...

Tania Oh my god... I'm so sorry...

Gap year (discussion essay)

A gap year is a (sometimes organised, but not necessilary) trip offered to students before they go to university. There are many possible options to choose between, the students can decide to go to an Asian or an African country, to work as a volunteer or to take language classes, to stay for some months or for a whole year... And of course there are more possibilities.

It's a great opportunity to have a special experience before starting the studies. On the one hand, it can be kind of a break from the daily life. The students get the chance to do something different than studying and working on their desks most time. On the other hand, it also makes the participants know another culture, different traditions and values, a different way of life. That gives them the chance to compare their own culture with the new one and so they get time to think over their life and to grow up as people. Besides, there's the possibility to learn another language or get a motivation to do volunteering.

However, there are some things that the students should consider before deciding to go on a trip. The longer their time outside is, the harder it could be for them to return to the normal life. In a long time, much stuff can be forgotten and the change to get back to routine might be hard. Moreover, they have to think about the costs the trip brings with itself.

All in all, I would say that the gap year is a very nice opportunity for students and if you reflect about it carefully and you know you'll have to be prepared to return, you can experience a great time in a different place. So, why not set off to your own trip?

Opinion essay

We have almost learnt to respect the world. Do you agree?

Nowadays, we have not only discovered that we're damaging our planet, but also how to save it. Although in my opinion there's still a considerable way left for improvement.

Firstly, if we had almost learnt to respect the world we would act different. One of the biggest problems of rescuing the Earth is to convince the people to do their part. The environmental matters haven't stopped to be seen as a secondary problem yet. Politicians of many countries underestimate the needs of our planet. 

Secondly, if we were near to having learnt to respect our world, we should be able to see some effects of that already. But scientific analysis go on starting with "If we don't stop..:".

So in conclusion, we're in the middle of the process to solve these problems, yet there are some obstacles to be overcome yet. Changing the people's mentality could be an important step to fulfill our objectives.