Update

Hey. Sorry I couldn't write in a while. My father-in-law had surgery and we've been trying to be around to help as much as we can. I still have some pending jobs to wrap up and deliver, so tomorrow I'll spend half of my day doing that.

My computer is driving me sort of crazy. I have a Mac G5 and it keeps annoying me. It's a great computer and a great OS, but still it gives me trouble. I can't print anymore, so I've just been browsing wikipedia lately.

Well, I need a good night of sleep today to rest.

See you soon,

Me

Herculean Task

Ok, I know what you're going to say: "This is absolutely impossible to study on one day". And, you also know that you are right. It is impossible. Yesterday, I studied from 9am to 19pm and it wasn't enough time. I decided I'll study whatever I can study and that I won't get stressed out if I can't study one of the things I  set myself to study on that particular day.

First I'm doing a written summary of the subjects and afterwards I sort of read and comment them to my computer's microphone so I can listen myself speak about the subject afterwards. Let's see it that works. That won't make me learn anything new, but will help me get the things inside my head by repetition. And that's what I'll do saturdays. Just listen to these audio summaries. I think I'll do the same thing for the real test next year.

I'll try to post some of the summaries I produce, but certainly not all since there's absolutely no time to do that.

Ok... Now I'll study...

Today's study

1. Revoluções
   
   1. As revoluções burguesas.
   2. Processos de independência na América.
   3. Conceitos e características  gerais das revoluções contemporâneas.
   4. Movimentos operários: luditas, cartistas e “Trade  Unions”.
   5. Anarquismo.
   6. Socialismo.
   7. Revoluções no século XX: Rússia e China.
   8. Revoluções na  América Latina: os casos do México e de Cuba.

Yesterday's Study

1. Estruturas e idéias econômicas
   
   1. Da Revolução Industrial ao capitalismo organizado: séculos XVIII a XX.
   2. Características  gerais e principais fases do desenvolvimento capitalista (desde aproximadamente 1780).  
   3. Principais idéias econômicas: da fisiocracia ao liberalismo.
   4. Marxismo.
   5. As crises e os  mecanismos anti-crise: a Crise de 1929 e o “New Deal”.
   6. A prosperidade no segundo pósguerra.
   7. O “Welfare State” e sua crise.
   8. O Pós-Fordismo e a acumulação flexível.

Getting it all together

As in any other transition, it has to be smooth. It made me very sad the other day that I had to refuse work from one of my best employers. Today, I advanced quite a lot in the work I have to finish before I start studying for the first phase of the test. I'll still have to work tomorrow and the day after – since I need to deliver it on Monday. I'm actually excited to start studying.

For this first phase, since I only have three weeks to study until the first test, I chose three of the subjects to focus my study on. The ones I'm overlooking are Portuguese and English. I'll give one week for each subject on the next three weeks starting on Monday. On the first one, I'll study Brazilian History. On the second one, I'll look into World History; and on the third week, I'll study International Relations.

Study Plan

Yesterday I planned out all the study I have to carry out for the test I'm taking on the 11th. I'm preety sure I won't pass this phase, since everybody that takes it without a long a planned study do not pass. There are three fields: Portuguese, English, World History, Brazilian History and International Relations. Since there are only three weeks to study, I'll risk not studying Portuguese and English. This is the start of a year-long or a two-year long journey. Let's go for it.

This week I'm still catching up and finishing a few jobs I took in the past, so I won't be studying. I'll start my study plan on Monday. So next week, I'll take a look on world history (Modern and Contemporary). The week after that, I'll check Brazilian History (the full history of the country from 1500 on). And the week after that, I'll see International Relations. Later on I'll post what I shall be studying for each  of those (in portuguese).

First Impressions

First of all, I have to identify myself and explain my intentions. I'm a Brazilian translator who's applying for the diplomatic carreer in Brazil. This blog is partially a diary of this "run" and a way to summarize the study.
As some of you may know, the diplomatic carrer is hard to get in. There is a public call for contestants who are tested. Currently 1 in each 100 get in and still I'm stubborn enough to think I stand a chance. Let's check it out.
Since I'm Brazilian and am applying to be a civil servant in Brazil, you may be asking yourself why is this blog in English. Well, English is the main foreign language of the test and despite me having worked as a translator on and off for about 5 years, It is always good to practice a little more. Some say native-like fluency is not enough: you should be able to speak english better than an average American, for instance.
On later posts, I'll try to summarize my readings either of books or news and current affairs. As time always runs short for everybody, you may also find typos and other gramatic/stylistic mistakes.

Thanks for your appreciation. Glad you came and hope you come back soon.

Cristiano Botafogo