JOANJO BOND: FLY A LOT AND LAND AS YOU CAN

Joanjo Bond with some prospectors

Joanjo Bond. Prospector. Cyprus.

I was born in Nicosia, the capital Cyprus, Pygmalion's country, an incredible Mediterranean country which is a cultural border between Occident and Orient. It's not easy living in an island and the most part of its inhabitants emigrate to search a better future. It's not my case. I search fortune in my land because I'm a prospector and I've found the most precious treasures here: the Cypriots. I like books and animals.

 

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

-Thanks. It's an honour.

-Well, to start with our interview, I would like to ask you if you can explain what is a prospector?

-Yes, of course. A prospector is a person who searches fortune and good opportunities. During the 19th century, the most famous prospectors were the people who searched gold in the American rivers during the Conquest of the Far West, one of the most terrible moments in our contemporany history.

-Why was horrible?

-Because you can not arrive to a place where there are people living, occupy it and say to the native inhabitants that they must accept your culture and your lifestyle. This is a terrible mistake and, sadly, our history is full of moments like this.

-What's the work of a prospector in the 21st century?

-Searching fortune. The idea is the same. Gold, silver or diamonds in the past centuries and work and opportunities nowadays. Searching for a job is something very difficult and if you have the help of professional people like the prospectors is not as difficult as if you try to do it alone.

-What do you think people know about prospectors?

-I don't know, but I suppose that they remember San Francisco, year 1850 when Levi Strauss made some resistent trousers from the blue sailcloth, imported from France, for the prospectors.

-Is a prospector a profession of risk?

-All works have risk. Risk zero doesn't exist in life.

-Have you put your life in danger working like a prospector?

-No, I haven't. I only remember a time when I put my life in danger. I crossed one of the most dangerous streets in Barcelona to save my dog. 

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

-I feel very well. We're a fantastic family with open minds and a great sense of respect and collaboration, something very important for surviving like a group.

-How is a normal day with The Bonds?

-I don't know if we can talk about normal days because first of all we must define normal. If normal means that you're always doing the same routines, well, we aren't a normal family, then. We like innovation, creativity and we have tons of imagination.

-How long have you been studying English?

-Since the school. Cyprus was under British control from 1878 to 1960 when it becomes an independent state. English is a part of our recent culture and although British left the island, we kept their language because it was interesting for us. Remember, English is the world communication language.

-Is English difficult to learn for a Cypriot?

-No, it isn't. In Cyprus, we speak four languages: Greek, Armenian, Arabian and Turkish. As you know, the island is divided in two different zones, two languages, two cultures, two religions... but Cyprus is an important geopolitical place in the Mediterranean Sea and we have been occupied by Mycenae, Egyptians, Phoenician, Greek, Assyrian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Arabian, Venetian and British.

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

-For me has been a great experience. It has been beautiful share time and experiences with this family and thanks to this I have discovered my sinister origin and how my surname can determinate my procedence. I thought I was Cypriot but now I know I was born in Nicosia but my origins are Occitan.

-Which is your best memory with the family?

-A lot of memories but the best, the day that M.José Bond and I represented my country in the Eurovision Song Festival and we won. It was an incredible experience. I felt like Céline Dion.

-What's your favourite book?

-I haven't got a favourite one. It's impossible but now I'm reading one about Christopher Columbus, when he arrived to Spain to sail to the west and how he believed that the Earth was round. After ten weeks, he saw a bird. They arrived to an island and he called it San Salvador. I like this biography because, although I think there's a lot of legend in this story, in fact, Columbus was a prospector because he wanted to search his own treasure and I like especially the scene of the bird because a bird has been always a metaphor of freedom and adventures.

-Do you think Columbus was a great example of success?

-He had success but, sadly, he was the beginning of a disaster. We remember Columbus everytime we talk about colonization. This is his legacy and it's not a good one.

-What title would you choose for this biography?

-Fly a lot and land as you can.

-Do you like this message?

-Yes, I do. You must try to reach your dreams and fly as far as you can but you mustn't forget that as high as you fly, as hard the landing can be. Follow your dreams but with honesty and remember your origins. Don't live in a cloud, live in the real world, where things really happen.

-Thank you very much, Joanjo Bond.

-You're welcome.

No matter where you’re going.
No matter where you’ll be.
Wherever the wind is blowing,
let me be your gravity.

Hovig

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

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