ESTEFANÍA BEAN: MYTHOLOGICAL GREEK LUCK TO WIN

Estefanía Bean with James Bond in Monte Carlo

Estefanía Bean. Croupier. Greece.

I'm Estefanía Bean. I was born in Rhodes, land of the Templar Knights, in Greece. I was born in the cradle of the European civilization, the country of the great philosophers, the country where democracy was born, the country of the oracles and sibyls. Perhaps because of these characters, I started to be very interested in luck, hazards and future. I'm a croupier. I love playing poker but I also love Tarot and Blackjack. C'mon, roll of the dice!

-Good morning, Estefanía Bean, and thanks to attend us.

-Good morning. Welcome to my country, the cradle of Mediterranean civilization.

-Thanks. It's always a pleasure being here. Well, to start this interview I would like to know how you define yourself.

-I'm a croupier, a person who works with cards playing some games where intelligence and Mathematics are the most important.

-How is a day in your life?

-Well, I have worked in the best casinos of the world: Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Albuquerque, Malaysia, Hong Kong... and the most incredible, Monte Carlo.

-Why?

-Because I'm European and it's the most important in my continent and because it's a casino with a lot of history: you can't understand the recent history of Monaco without its casino as a place where you could find the European jet set. Nowadays, Monaco has changed a lot, especially after the new world laws against the fiscal paradises, but Monte Carlo continues being one of the pearls of the Mediterranean, with the permission of the Greek Islands and Nimes, but it's a curious city in one of the smallest and ancient European countries.

-Then, do you believe in heroes?

-Yes, of course. I was born Rhodes, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, between Occident and Orient. In Greek culture, heroes and gods have been something very important that has influenced our personality. Connecting Monte Carlo, again, with the idea of heroes, I remember when I had the opportunity of playing against one of the most important postmodern heroes.

Who?

-Bond, James Bond. He's one of the usual clients in Monte Carlo. He always arrives driving his Aston Martin. He's a gentleman: polite, educated, generous... James Bond is an enchanted man with an old-fashioned British style but with the last technology always available.

-How do you feel being a member of The Beans family?

-I'm not an extroverted person, perhaps because in the casino, working as a croupier, silence and concentration are very important. You assimilate this behaviour and then you continue with the same attitude when you are not working. It doesn't mean that you don't disconnect of your work, it means that, sometimes, your job blends your character.

-How is a normal day with The Beans?

-It's difficult to talk about a normal day with The Beans. There's always something new to do, to discover or to enjoy. I like my family. I feel well with them and this is something very important because if you're happy in a place with someone, you can offer the best of you.

-How long have you been studying English?

-English has been always very important in Greece, especially since the arrival of the massive tourism but I didn't study English at school, I studied Russian.

-Russian? It's not possible!

-Yes. Greece has a lot of things in common with the Russian culture. Both of us are orthodox and we haven't Latin alphabets.

-Then, you speak two languages? Is it very difficult to do it?

-No it isn't. In fact, as many languages you speak is easier to learn the next. I have learnt this from The Beans. All of them speak, at least, two languages and this is very important because a language is a powerful tool of communication and, in my case, two languages mean two alphabets, too, and with English, one more. 

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

-It's a fantastic experience. We're fifteen different people with different characters and points of view but with a common objective: improve our English to improve in our jobs. It's amazing.

-And after?

-After, we will be like the Greek Islands. We will take different ways, we will stay in different places with new people and new experiences but there will be something that no one will be able to take out: if you have been a Bean, this is something that survives in time, you will always be a Bean and all these experiences that we have lived together will live meanwhile we were able to remember them. 

-Which is your best memory with the family?

-It's very difficult to choose one but I remember two special moments: the day that I participated in Password, a TV programme. All the family was cheering and helping me. It was unforgettable. I also remember one day that I made some cakes for the family. The Grandma always cried when she discovered that her face appeared on the cake and we were going to cut her in dozens of pieces.

-Which is the best card throwing in poker?

-Full of aces, of course.

-And which is your best card throwing?

-Full of Beans. My family is my best card throwing.

-How did you decided to choose croupier as your job?

-I was a child. I was watching TV and Bruce Springsteen appeared singing Atlantic City. I liked the video, I liked the scenes of the city and I loved the images of cards. For other hand, I like westerns films and poker is a typical element in them. I enjoy a lot.

-Could you recommend me a western, then?

-Lots of them: Silverado with Kevin Costner, Unforgiven with Clint Estwood, Cactus Jack with Kirk Douglas, Wyatt Earp with Kurt Russell, Maverick with Mel Gibson, Wandering star with Lee Marvin and my favourite, Johnny Guitar with Joan Crawford. It’s a masterpiece.

-Johnny Guitar?

-I think it's one of the most beautiful westerns. A film from the 50's with an incredible Joan Crawford. I remember her in a wonderful scene turning around the roulette. It's a classical scene in cinema. It’s a wonderful moment.  It’s an unforgettable memory. I also remember the "Lie to me" scene between the main couple and the beautiful song "Play it again". It's like Casablanca, isn't it?

-Who is your favourite actor or actress?

-I haven't got a special one although I like a lot classic cinema. Then, Joan Crawford, Audrey Hepburn, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland...

-All women?

-Gregory Peck, Charles Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Buster Keaton, Robert de Niro, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman...

-Great stars.

-It's impossible to choose only one.

-Explain to me a plot for a future film.

-A family travels around the world enjoying adventures and getting over as problems as they find with teamwork.

-And the end?

-There isn't an end. This is only the beginning but I can offer a clue to you. I'm from the land of the Colossus and my family is as strong as the legend says he was.

-Thank you very much, Estefanía Bean.

-Thanks to you.

Life, like poker has an element of risk. 

It shouldn't be avoided. It should be faced. 

Edward Norton

KATRINA AND THE BEANS: BEING THE BEST CANDIDATES

The Beans receiving their prize in Lisbon

The Beans are still enjoying their victory in the last Eurovision Song Contest. The family did a great interpretation demonstrating a great teamwork and coordination, skills that you need if you want to success in the labour world.

Their amazing interpretation was TT immediately and fans around the world expressed their admiration about The Beans and their wonderful song. One of them was Katrina Leskanich, winner of this contest in 1997 representing the UK.

Katrina has offered The Beans the possibility of joining her in her next tour in Hong Kong. The family is astonished with the news and after some hours of deliberation, they have accepted. Then, it's official that The Beans are going to leave their lifestyle, their travels and their parties and they're going to join Katrina in this new adventure.

More information: ABA English

The Grandma is very happy with this decision because she has always trusted in her family and she knew they were the best candidates to do whatever they wanted because, yes, they can do it! She isn't going to stay with them in Asia because she prefers to return to Barcelona and start new business with new partners. She thinks that she has already done all her work with the family and now she's going to be in contact with them thanks to the 2.0 technology.

The secret of The Beans's success is easy to explain: sacrifice, effort, happiness, teamwork, partnership and commitment. 

All of them have got this common success thanks to their individual efforts which applicated to a common goal have been the best way to reach their objectives. If you want to be a good candidate, you must have an elaborated CV, a good resume and especial communicative skills that allow you to get an interview over. These are the most important clues in labour insertion and these are the keys that have helped The Beans to reach the victory in this contest.

More information: Citizens Information

Katrina Elizabeth Leskanich (born April 10, 1960) is an American musician, author and former lead singer of British pop rock band Katrina and the Waves whose song Walking on Sunshine was an international hit in 1985 and in 1997 won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom with the song Shine a Light.

Katrina Leskanich

Leskanich was born in Topeka, Kansas. She is of Irish, German and Czech ancestry. Her father was a colonel in the United States Air Force, and Katrina and her five siblings (four sisters and one brother) moved frequently as children. After she was born, they moved from Kansas to New Mexico, and then California, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Stuttgart, in (then) West Germany, and the Netherlands before arriving in the United Kingdom in 1976.

The band's earliest incarnation was as The Waves, a group that played in and around Cambridge, England, from 1975 to 1977 and featured guitarist Kimberley Rew and drummer Alex Cooper. For the first Capitol album, the band re-recorded, remixed, or overdubbed 10 songs from their earlier Canadian releases to create their self-titled international debut album in 1985.

More information: Quizlet (I)

The Katrina and the Waves album was a substantial critical and commercial success, and the group had a worldwide hit with the song Walking on Sunshine. A Grammy award nomination for Best New Artist followed, as did constant touring, both of which helped to spur sales of new releases.

The Beans during their winner performance

In 1997, after having somewhat faded into obscurity, the band won the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 for the United Kingdom with Shine a Light, the same song that Katrina has chosen, this time, to sing with The Beans. 

The first video of this song is now avalaible and we can offer the exclusive of its premiere. Under the direction of Antonio Bean and The Grandma's production, Katrina sings with Paqui, Elisabet and Cristina Bean with a chorus formed by Ana, Nereyda and Natalia Bean, a choreography created by Carol Bean and a fantastic melody performanced by Tania Bean with the drums, Anton Bean with the keyboards, Óscar, Edgar and Estefanía Bean with the guitars and Manuel Bean with the bells. The result is a beautiful and unforgettable version of the 1997's hit Shine a light.

More information: Quizlet (II)

The new version is stronger than the older because every Bean offers his/her colour to it and as a result, you can enjoy a powerful song with deep lyrics full of commitment, energy, happiness, effort, teamwork and coordination, an amazing song mixed of gospel, folk and pop rythms which is going to steal your heart and you mind. 

C'mon, the version is also now avalaible in ITunes and Amazon Music. Download it now and enjoy with us!

Teamwork requires some sacrifice up front; 

people who work as a team have to put the collective 

needs of the group ahead of their individual interests. 

Patrick Lencioni

THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS IN THE WWII: HE SAID THAT...

Tania Bean

Today, The Beans have visited the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. The family has been invited to participate of one of the most important Navajo cerimonies: The Blessing Way.  

Cristina Bean has been chosen to participate in this cerimony where you put your soul in contact with the universe and become stronger to confront difficult situations. 

After the cerimony, the family has been revising some English grammar with the Reported Speech and they have started the last chapter of Christmas Carol.
 

Tania Bean and Estefanía Bean have participated in a difficult password that they have won demonstrating that there isn't anything more important that the teamwork.

More information: Reported Speech

A member of the Navajo Community has explained them the importance of his community during the WWII where they worked as code talkers using his own language and The Grandma has been talking about the importance of money in all our daily activities where a coin becomes more important than a person, a vision totally opposed to the point of view of the Native American cultures. 

 More information: Reported Speech

Estefanía Bean

The Grandma has also talked about the importance of being a member of a community and working together to keep good services of all for all as a way to live better; and about the evaluation of happiness like a social indicator. 

The Earth is inhabited for differents cultures and we can take example of the best things that everyone of them can offer to us to improve our lives, our communities and our environment. 

It's a very difficult goal but we must do it, if we think in the next generations and we want to leave them a good legacy.

There are about 175,000 speakers of the Navajo language Díne Bizaad. While English is the language that all Navajo speak, they also keep alive their own language, culture and customs so that future generations will be aware of their heritage. 

Download Navajo Alphabet & Numbers

For Americans who grew up on old TV westerns, they may have heard the language without realizing it. As most westerns were centered on the southwestern United States, the most depicted tribes in these westerns were Apache or Navajo. The Navajo greetings Yah’eh-teh’, meaning how do you do?, and Ah-hah-lah’nih, which is an affectionate greeting, were often used.

Anton Bean & Navajo Code Talker Monument

Probably the most famous use of the Navajo language outside of the Navajo Nation was during World War II. 420 young Navajo men were recruited and became Marines codetalkers during the war in the Pacific. 

They were picked because they spoke both English and their native language fluently, so they could receive orders and relay them to other codetalkers to give to their superiors. The Navajo language had not been studied by the enemy, so orders could be issued without fear of interception.

Code talkers are people in the 20th century who used obscure languages as a means of secret communication during wartime. The term is now usually associated with the United States service members during the world wars who used their knowledge of Native American languages as a basis to transmit coded messages. In particular, there were approximately 400–500 Native Americans in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages. 

More information: Navajo Nation Museum

The Beans flying over the Horseshoe Bend

Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio communications nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon their native languages. Their service improved the speed of encryption of communications at both ends in front line operations during World War II.

The name code talkers is strongly associated with bilingual Navajo speakers specially recruited during World War II by the Marines to serve in their standard communications units in the Pacific Theater. Code talking, however, was pioneered by the Cherokee and Choctaw peoples during World War I.

More information: CNN

Other Native American code talkers were deployed by the United States Army during World War II, including Lakota, Meskwaki, and Comanche soldiers. Soldiers of Basque ancestry were also used for code talking by the U.S. Marines during World War II in areas where other Basque speakers were not expected to be operating. 

Finally, The Beans have visited Navajo Nation in Arizona and Utah by the air. It has been an unforgettable experience before traveling to Lisbon where tomorrow night they are going to participate in the Eurovision Song Festival. 

More information: HistoryNet

  

Naa'óí naalzhoodí / Moving the beans around.

Navajo Proverb

ATLANTIC CITY: GAMBLING IN THE CITY OF MONOPOLY

Estefanía Bean working as a croupier

Today, The Beans have arrived to Atlantic City in New Jersey. They want to spend a funny day playing in the casinos and relaxing in the resorts. It's a special day for Estefanía Bean because she is having the chance to work as a croupier, her real profession.

Atlantic City is a resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, known for its casinos, boardwalks, and beaches. In 2010, it had a population of 39,558. The city was incorporated on May 1, 1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township. It borders Absecon, Brigantine, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, West Atlantic City, and the Atlantic Ocean.

More information: Atlantic City, New Jersey 

Atlantic City inspired the American version of the board game Monopoly, especially the street names. Since 1921, Atlantic City has been the home of the Miss America pageant. In 1976, New Jersey voters legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City. The first casino opened two years later.

Some Beans playing with the Monopoly

Because of its location in South Jersey, hugging the Atlantic Ocean between marshlands and islands, Atlantic City was viewed by developers as prime real estate and a potential resort town. In 1853, the first commercial hotel, the Belloe House, was built at the intersection of Massachusetts and Atlantic Avenues.

The first boardwalk was built in 1870 along a portion of the beach in an effort to help hotel owners keep sand out of their lobbies. Businesses were restricted and the boardwalk was removed each year at the end of the peak season. Because of its effectiveness and popularity, the boardwalk was expanded in length and width, and modified several times in subsequent years. The historic length of the boardwalk, before the destructive 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane, was about 11 km and it extended from Atlantic City to Longport, through Ventnor and Margate.

The first road connecting the city to the mainland at Pleasantville was completed in 1870 and charged a 30-cent toll. Albany Avenue was the first road to the mainland available without a toll.

Download Vocabulary for Leisure, Travel and Tourism

By 1878, because of the growing popularity of the city, one railroad line could no longer keep up with demand. Soon, the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway was also constructed to transport tourists to Atlantic City. 

At this point massive hotels like The United States and Surf House, as well as smaller rooming houses, had sprung up all over town. The United States Hotel took up a full city block between Atlantic, Pacific, Delaware, and Maryland Avenues. These hotels were not only impressive in size, but featured the most updated amenities, and were considered quite luxurious for their time.

The Beans in Atlantic City, New Jersey

In the early part of the 20th century, Atlantic City went through a radical building boom. Many of the modest boarding houses that dotted the boardwalk were replaced with large hotels. Two of the city's most distinctive hotels were the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel and the Traymore Hotel.

One by one, additional large hotels were constructed along the boardwalk, including the Brighton, Chelsea, Shelburne, Ambassador, Ritz Carlton, Mayflower, Madison House, and the Breakers. The Quaker-owned Chalfonte House, opened in 1868, and Haddon House, opened in 1869, flanked North Carolina Avenue at the beach end. Over the years, their original wood-frame structures would be enlarged, and even moved closer to the beach.

Download Learn to Play Poker

Well now, everything dies, baby, that's a fact

but maybe everything that dies someday comes back.
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty,
and meet me tonight in Atlantic City.

Bruce Springsteen

THE BEANS DO BUSINESS: INVESTING IN NEW YORK CITY

The Beans doing business

The Beans have continued their English classes. Today, they have reviewed Present Simple vs. Continuous and new activities about Social English.

The family is spending the last days in the city that never sleeps and they have decided to invest there being the new owners of some of the most important and spectacular places and buildings.

They have also known the public transport (subway and bus) and they have created some activities with them.

Download NYC's Most Popular Tourist Attractions

The Grandma has confessed one of her deepest secrets: her first lover. Corto is an intelligent, handsome Maltese man who stole her heart some decades ago. She still loves him and she hasn’t forgotten him.

 

Corto Maltese, an old Grandma's friend

Finally, the family has tried to convince The Grandma to buy a new house in New York City but she hasn't been very interested in it. She has preferred to create a fictional story using some infinitives and play some memory games.

It has been another unforgettable day. Tomorrow, they are leaving the city and they are going to Atlantic City where Estefanía Bean wants to show her skills as a croupier to the rest of her family, and New Jersey where The Grandma wants to visit another old friend and platonic love: Bruce Springsteen.

More information: Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

New York, New York.
I want to wake up in a city, that doesn't sleeps
and find king of the hill, one top of the list,
a number one.

 Frank Sinatra