DAVID BOND: CROATIAN STYLE FOR CONNECTING PEOPLE

David Bond in Onofrio Fountain, Dubrovnik

David Bond. Stunt. Croatia.

I'm a member of The Bond's family. I was born in Dubrovnik where I studied Arts in LAUS Academija. After some years of dedication to the artistic profession I decided to start a new path as a stunt. I love cinema and action as well as reading, running and enjoying nature.

 

-Good morning, David Bond, and thanks to attend us.

-Good morning. It's a pleasure.

-Well, to start this interview I would like to know how you define yourself.

-I'm a stunt. I do these dangerous things that an actor can't do. I like extreme situations, so I must be strong and keep fit. I laugh of danger.

-How do you feel being a member of The Bond's family.

-It's a great and big family. We're always together and we try to help each other because we believe in common work.

-How is a normal day with The Bonds?

-There isn't a normal day. Every day is an opportunity to do something different and exciting but basically, we are learning English and this is the centre of all.

 
-How long have you been studying English?

-Since Primary School but when you don't live in an English-spoken environment is very difficult to remember and practise all things that you've learnt, although living in Croatia has an incredible advantage: thanks to our recent history, we're able to speak more than three languages because in Croatia have been living different linguistic communities.

-Then, you speak Croatian but what about English?

-Croatian is a Slav language, it is very similar to Serb and Slovene. It is also spoken in parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. For this reason, the term Serbo-Croatian is considered prejudiced and the long Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian is preferred in diplomatic circles.The main dialect is based on Shtokavian, or Eastern Herzegovinian, although three more exist: Chakavian, Kajkavian and Torlakian. English and German are the most common second languages for Croats, although Italian, French, Czech and Hungarian are also spoken by some. In fact, languages are the best tools for connecting people.

-Dubrovnik is a UNESCO city. What can you explain about it?

-Dubrovnik is known as the pearl of the Adriatic sea. It's a Croatian city in the region of Dalmatia very popular for its beaches and its port. After the break-up of Yugoslavia, it was besieged by the Serb and Montenegrin soldiers gathered in the Yugoslav People's Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling but now it's totally refurbished.

-How can a Croatian stunt arrive to success?

-Working hard and believing in yourself.

-What can you explain about your life with The Bonds?

-Well, we're sailing in the same boat and we have the same objective. We're working very hard to reach it.

-And after?

-Life continues. Every Bond will take his/her path and this family will have been a good experience, something to remember with a big laugh.

-Which is your best memory with the family?

-It's not possible to choose only one but, perhaps, I would choose our visit to The Navajo Nation in Utah. For me was an unforgettable experience because I work as a stunt and the first cinema stunts appeared in the famous films of indians and cowboys. Visiting the National Valley was a mystic experience that I will never forget.

-You have said, you like reading and watching cinema. Could you talk about the last book that you have read?

-I've read an interesting book about serial killers along the History and the important role of blood in their murders. For example, Jack The Ripper, who killed people because he was interested in blood or Enriqueta Martí, who killed kids to sell their organs to rich people.

-And the last film that you have watched?

-A remake of Steven Spielberg's Jaws. I like Spielberg's films but I love Jaws especially since the moment I read that the whale shark is the largest one and its teeth can be 7.5 centimeters long and it has 3000 teeth. It's incredible how it finds its preys with their sense of smell.

-What character would you like to represent as a stunt?

Well, it's difficult but I have two in mind. For one hand, Christopher Columbus. I would like to represent the moment when Columbus thought he has discovered America because a sailor saw a bird in San Salvador island. I imagine this scene with the sailor alone  on the top of the mast confirming his belief that the Earth was round. For another hand, Levi Strauss, the man who went to America in 1850 and sewed trousers for the prospectors who didn't like the colour of the jeans and Levi made them blue. Both of them are great examples of resilience.

-Which is your favourite song?

-The Rainbow Connection sung by Kermit The Frog.  It was written for The Muppet Movie and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1979.

-Why this?

-Because the song connects nature, feelings and people.

-Do you like it this message?

-Yes. It's also my message. I like connecting people. In my case, connect them to the sensations and emotions of extreme scenes.

-Thank you very much, David Bond.

-You're welcome.

When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people 

who made a difference in this world. 

My hope still is to leave the world a little bit better 

my having been here. 

It's a wonderful life and I love it.

Jim Henderson

HEY HEY, THE BONDS HAVE SAVED THE WORLD TODAY

The Grandma in Casa Vicens, Barcelona

Monday finds you like a bomb, it's a bad day for starting or finishing something. This is the reason because of The Bonds have choosen Tuesday to say goodbye to The Grandma.  They are going to stay in Ireland during some days but The Grandma has decided to return to Barcelona to redecorate her new home. She has bought Casa Vicens, an Antoni Gaudí's building in the center of the city.

That's been left ticking there too long. The ties that join The Bonds are so strong that they're goingto conitnue working together to reach their new objective and The Grandma is going to help despite of the distance.

You're bleeding in this hard work but nothing is won without effort and persistance. The Bonds are very strong people, perhaps because of the influence of Irene and María José Bond who have Aragonese ancestors.

Some days there's nothing left to learn, like today. The Bonds have dedicated their day to enjoy themselves and remember beautiful old memories, which are part of their story, now. In fact, The Bonds are History.

From the point of no return, you can't change these things that you thing you could have done better but with the experience of them, you won't do them again. Life is a constant way of learning things and we need to be resilient like Eli, Olga and Paula Bond who are a wonderful example of resistance against adversity.

You're leaving and you're still here in our memories. Rubén, Raquel and Miriam Bond, three beloved members of our family who decided to follow their own paths.

Hey Hey I saved the world today, I have created a new family plenty of happiness, illusion and creativity like The Collins, The Addams, The Holmes and The Poppins, The Bonds have become in another great experience which arrives farther than teaching English.

The Bonds have saved the world today

Everybody's happy now, Mariona Bond has decided to celebrate her birthday with the family and Maya Bond has cooked delicious cookie monsters for all the family.

The bad thing's gone away. It has been time to forget real situations and create a new world, a parallel universe where we have been the owners of our own future without paying attention to work, money or personal affairs.

And everybody's happy now remembering David and Pedro Bond  in Oasis Bar, being the Queens of the Carnival or Joanjo winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

The good thing's here to stay. MJ has arrived with our titles and suddenly have appeared lots of good memories about two intensive months travelling, working, laughing and sharing the best of us: our creativity and interest in learning new things. From The Cathars to The Navajo, we have been travelling across our history, our languages and our culture to realize that there's something that everybody shares: the idea of a better future for our next generations. We've listened motivational stories of Noemí Bond who have talked us about resilience and connections.

Please let it stay, share these fantastic moment with us because the future is unknown and nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow. 

There's a million mouths to feed and Montse and Jaume Bond know it. They have prepared a delicious omelette and a fantastic cake for the family.

Jaume Bond or James Bond? Mmmm...

And I've got everything I need. I don't need money or treasures. I need to do something that gives sense to my work, then to my life. I want a better future for all the members of my families, because a better future for them means a future full of opportunities in a land of hope and dreams. 

I'm breathing. I've received some presents of my family and I'm astonished. I don't deserve them. It's my work and nobody receives nothing to do her work. I have grown under Master Yoda philosophy and I know that you must do things or not. There isn't another option.

And there's a hurting thing inside, the final is closer although we still have two months to stay in contact, two well-planned months to work together to reach the next objective.

But I've got everything to hide, this feeling of loneless that has invided me when I have said goodbye to the family.

I'm grieving. I’ll miss you.

Let it stay. Let all the memories stay with us forever because they’re going to help us to smile when difficult days arrive.

Let it stay. Let all memories stay with us forever, strong enough to be resistent to the fire which destroyed our past and to the forgetfulness which destroys our present. Be ready family, our future will be splendorous.

Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo the good thing.

The Bonds have saved the world today.

One of the most qualities of true friendship is

to understand and be understood. 

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

FORCES OF NATURE: ICEBERGS & VOLCANOES

Titanic

Today, The Bonds are still in Canary Islands. After climbing up Teide Mount, they have flown over Hierro Island to see the sea volcanoes and they have arrived to La Gomera to visit the Guanche Community. 

The family has revised some English grammar like Past Perfect vs. Past Simple, Present Perfect vs. Past Simple and Present and Past Perfect Continuous. 

After offering new prizes to the Queens of Carnival, David and Pedro Bond, the family has listened a beautiful and sad Mariona Bond's story about Paris and the Tour Eiffel and Noemí Bond has talked about innovation, resilience, creativity and imagination with the Barcelona Mobile World Congress and Steve Jobs like examples.

More information: Present Perfect Continuous & Past Perfect Continuous

Finally, the family has read a new chapter of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and they have been talking about the story of Titanic, a story of power against nature and about the broken dreams of the Irish immigration.

Failure saves lives. In the airline industry, every time a plane crashes the probability of the next crash is lowered by that. 

The Titanic saved lives because we're building bigger and bigger ships. So these people died, but we have effectively improved the safety of the system, and nothing failed in vain. 

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

THE BONDS & ENVIRONMENT: TRAVELS AND FLOWERS

The Bonds enjoying Tenerife and butterflies

Today, The Bonds have had an intensive day in Tenerife Island. They have climbed Teide Mountain and they’re now resting in a hut, on the top of the mountain, which is only reserved for special guests.

Before climbing Teide, they had revised some English grammar like Demonstratives and Past Participle and they have read a new chapter of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

MJ has offered two new presents to our family: a book to prepare B2 Exam and one of the greatest novels of Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist.

More information: Demonstratives (This, These, That, Those)

Next, Eli Bond has offered some interesting information about the importance of colours in our lives, something that this family knows perfectly because there is one of its members, Jaume Bond, who is a professional painter.

More information: Past Participle

The Grandma has talked about colours, flowers and travels remembering two incredible writers, Mercè Rodoreda and Blai Bonet. Both of them are considered excellent writers and both of them had difficult lives full of disasters, sadness and terrible personal conditions.

The Bonds have participated in the Carnival last weekend wearing some butterflies costumes and thanks to this, they’ve won another prize. Jaume, Joanjo and Pedro Bond have joined to David Bond who has been declared the Queen and all of them have won the festival.

The family is very happy for this prize because David has been in Paris, working in a new James Bond’s film, and he has seen how the family has missed him during these days. David’s returning has been the best present for this unforgettable family.

After this moment of glory, the family has talked about environment and recycling using some modal verbs like Must, Have to and Should and they have shared different experiences in Tenerife, a special place for Irene Bond, who used to spend long seasons in the island after working in her secret and dangerous missions and for Pedro Bond who has remembered his ancestors and who has talked about one of the most beautiful European cultures: the Guanches.

Finally, The Grandma has decided to buy some islands. They name Wild Islands and are situated between Canary Islands and Green Cape. It has been a present for celebrating M. José Bond’s new goal.

If we intend to provide a better life, and a better world, 

for future generations, we can't ignore the quality of the environment we leave them. 

John Kasich

JOANJO BOND & M.JOSÉ BOND: FLY, FLY, FLY TO WIN

The Bonds flying to Kiev, Ukraine

Today, The Bonds are in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. They are arriving there to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Before starting to sing, the family has been talking about Some, Any and No compounds and have practised some exercises about Present Perfect vs. Past Simple.

After doing this, The Bonds have demonstrated their best skills playing incredible songs with all their heart. They've introduced themselves and their countries and they have played the songs.

More information: Some, Any and No Compounds

Finally, after a votation full of suprises, Joanjo Bond has won the Contest with his song Fly, fly, fly. Joanjo is from Cyprus and this is the first time that this country wins this Contest, then you can imagine Juanjo's emotion and feelings when he has realized he was going to have this fantastic honour, but Juanjo hasn't done it alone. 

A day in Eurovision with The Bonds

Eurovision is a Contest where is very important having allies and good friends and in this case, Juanjo has received the unforgettable help of M.José Bond, from Norway. 

They have offered a complete show with all the ingredients: vocal quality, deep lyrics, synchronized choreography and great tones of happiness and sense of humour.

The Bonds have dedicated this prize to David and Irene Bond, from Croatia and Poland, two members of this nice family who had to stay in Paris for laboural reasons.

Tonight, the family is flying to Tenerife in Canary Islands where they want to enjoy the Carnival and celebrate this Eurovision's Prize.

 I started at 5 years old in the kitchen table with my family supporting me. PedroJuanjoI know where I'm from and I know exactly where I'm going.

Céline Dion

PREPARING EUROVISION: PROFILES AND COUNTRY SPOTS

The Bonds with their star stunt, David Bond

Today, The Bonds are still in Paris. While David Bond is working in some scenes of James Bond's A View to a Kill, the rest of the family visited some important places during the French Revolution.

After that, the family has practised some exercises about Past Simple vs. Present Perfect and has read a new chapter of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Finally, The Bonds have created some oral stories talking about things without saying which they were.

More information: Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

Tomorrow, they are going to visit The Louvre Museum and The Orsay Museum. It will be the last day in the capital of France because next Thursday, the family is going to travel to Kiev to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Today, they've prepared their personal profiles and they've created some spots about their countries.

All of the stunt men, these are the unsung heroes. They really are. 

Nobody is giving them any credibility. They're risking their necks. 

Jason Statham

OASIS BAR: ÉÍ 'AANÍÍGÓÓ 'ÁHOOT'É FOR THE BONDS

Native American, ancient culture and language

While The Bonds were practising Countable & Uncountable nouns, the Highway Patrol arrived. They wanted to know how was possible that all their transports were full of peyote, a beautiful plant of the desert.

The family had been visiting Navajo Nation and they were impressioned by the resistance of this incredible and ancient community so important for our recent history and their wonderful language which was used in the WWII by the Codetalkers. They discovered The Blessing Way an important Navajo ritual.

More information: Navajo Code

Every member of the family explained his/her alibi to demonstrate that they were innocent and they didn't know anything about this wonderful plant.

More information: Countable & Uncountable

The Grandma explained how she was in her Indian tent with Mariona Bond who was totally slept while Pedro, David and Maya Bond were drinking some Navajo beer, this which has a black and gold tag, in Oasis Bar. M.José Bond was with Paula Bond dancing country line while Noemí Bond was trying to help some rich people, who seemed Arabian but were only native ones with some handkerchiefs on their heads, and wanted to be cured by the magic powers of Noemí's hands. Olga and Eli Bond were watching TV when Juanjo and Irene Bond took photos and disturbed some local scorpions and Jaume was sculpting an Indian Totem that Montse had demanded him.

Police has believed nothing and they're all under suspect waiting tomorrow when an FBI team is going to arrive to help the local police and all The Bonds are going to be analized by the true machine. God helps them!

 Always assume your guest is tired, cold, and hungry, 

and act accordingly.  

Navajo Proverb