lunes, 21 de enero de 2013
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and for the benefit of my students, I am posting Dr. King's famous I Have A Dream speech. It is one of the greatest speeches ever given in history by one of the most inspiring individuals who ever lived. His eloquent words speak the TRUTH and it is NECESSARY to REMEMBER them. Below is his famous speech divided into two parts. Enjoy!
domingo, 23 de diciembre de 2012
SI SUEÑAS, LOTERÍAS.
Do you feel the new waves of energy already?? The people who won Spain's Lotería Nacional de Navidad or National Christmas Lottery do. Yesterday the drawing of the top prize called El Gordo, or the Fat one (worth € 720 million distributed among 180 winning tickets which are worth € 4 million each; its kind of complicated so you can read more about it here) was heard all over the radio and broadcasted all over television. And images of utter jubilation of the people who won the top five prizes was inescapable; dreams have come true for these people and during these mad times their joy is, I can only imagine, overwhelming. The winners were announced yesterday during the annual Christmas drawing where children draw the numbers and then sing them out loud. Its part of a tradition that has continued since 1763! My interest has been focused primarily on the advertising for it. There are posters in every metro station using the slogan Si sueñas, loterías, roughly translated as if you dream, then you lottery. Below is a video that was played on television and almost everytime I went to the movie theater this season. Its epic and could be a trailer for the Spanish version of A Miracle on 34th Street crossed with Harry Potter. Even the music is awesome. I guess it reflects how big the lottery is here. What do you think???
miércoles, 19 de diciembre de 2012
Thoughts On The End of the World and Other things.
I saw The Hobbit this past Friday night with some friends and it was pure awesome -not as dark or serious as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but light-hearted, and with wittier dialogue. Anywho, after leaving Teatro Ideal I walked down calle Carretas and along all the walls on both sides of the street were posters with the website address noeselfindelmundo.com So, when I got home I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Sure enough, its a Madrid-based blog trying to dispell the myth that the world ends this Friday. The blogger is called Mr. Currice and he is histerical!!
Now, according to literature, articles, and people whom I've talked to over the past couple of years, the Mayans believe that we are going to enter a new era, a new cycle were human beings will be more receptive to the harmonic waves of nature, the cosmos, and human-interconnectedness (that to me is a nice thought). I also remember reading about how the lead up to December 21, 2012 would be plagued with natural disasters and catastrophic events brought about by man's disrespect towards himself and mother earth. And if you think about it, many of these things have happened. These supposedly are warning signs for us to become more receptive to harmonic waves.
Regardless of what you think, the idea of entering into a new cycle is the positive reinforcement that we need during these mad times. After all, we ARE living a global economic crisis, and to a lesser extent, an environmental crisis (that could accelerate). We could use a dose of this positive medicine regardless if we believe in the Mayan prophecy or not. The fact is we are living in a more inter-connected world and we need to use that to our advantage (is this what the Mayans were talking about??!!)
During my venture into the Mayan prophecy, I came across a fascinating figure: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. His ideas about the noosphere are overwhelming, but mind-blowing. You can read up on him more by clicking on the link. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes by him (perhaps not entirely related, but its great advice anyway) which talks about this hectic, fast-paced, and anxiety-inducing world that we live in and why we have nothing to worry about, especially this friday (here me out, quarter-life-crisis sufferers!).
Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. Yet it is the law of all progress that it made by passing through some stages of instability and that may take a long time. And so I think it is with you. Your ideas mature gradually. Let them grow. Let them shape themselves with undue haste. Do not try to force them on as though you could be today what time -that is to say, grace- and circumstances acting on your own goodwill will make you tomorrow.
-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Check it out!
Now, according to literature, articles, and people whom I've talked to over the past couple of years, the Mayans believe that we are going to enter a new era, a new cycle were human beings will be more receptive to the harmonic waves of nature, the cosmos, and human-interconnectedness (that to me is a nice thought). I also remember reading about how the lead up to December 21, 2012 would be plagued with natural disasters and catastrophic events brought about by man's disrespect towards himself and mother earth. And if you think about it, many of these things have happened. These supposedly are warning signs for us to become more receptive to harmonic waves.
Regardless of what you think, the idea of entering into a new cycle is the positive reinforcement that we need during these mad times. After all, we ARE living a global economic crisis, and to a lesser extent, an environmental crisis (that could accelerate). We could use a dose of this positive medicine regardless if we believe in the Mayan prophecy or not. The fact is we are living in a more inter-connected world and we need to use that to our advantage (is this what the Mayans were talking about??!!)
During my venture into the Mayan prophecy, I came across a fascinating figure: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. His ideas about the noosphere are overwhelming, but mind-blowing. You can read up on him more by clicking on the link. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes by him (perhaps not entirely related, but its great advice anyway) which talks about this hectic, fast-paced, and anxiety-inducing world that we live in and why we have nothing to worry about, especially this friday (here me out, quarter-life-crisis sufferers!).
Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. Yet it is the law of all progress that it made by passing through some stages of instability and that may take a long time. And so I think it is with you. Your ideas mature gradually. Let them grow. Let them shape themselves with undue haste. Do not try to force them on as though you could be today what time -that is to say, grace- and circumstances acting on your own goodwill will make you tomorrow.
-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
sábado, 15 de diciembre de 2012
La Lechera y Otras Cosas
I called home the day before Thanksgiving and my sister picked up. We caught up a little on life before she told me to hold on a second 'cause she had to do something. In the background I heard my Mom telling my brother, Alex, a story about a woman going to the market to buy milk. The story sounded eerily familiar. Then I remembered why. It was the same story that one of my colleagues had told me a few weeks earlier! When Tracee came back, I told her that I knew exactly what story Mom was telling Alex. Talk about a coincidence! And what's more, this proved that at one point the story had crossed the pond.
So, I will tell you a modified version: There once was a Milk maid walking to market in a city to sell her pot of milk. While wandering downhill, she daydreams about how she could sell the milk and buy a chicken, which then could lay lots of eggs, produce more chickens and sell more eggs to buy her own cow, pig, goat, etc. As she concentrates on her dream, she slips on a rock along the trail and spills her milk.
What's the moral of the story? Well, I guess, the moral is to be realistic, to pay attention to the here and now first, don't get caught up in dreaming. That has truth to it, but at the same time it discourages dreaming big. I like dreaming big. I wouldn't be in Spain if I hadn't dreamt it first. But I was also focused. Hasta luego.
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly"-
-Langston Hughes
miércoles, 12 de diciembre de 2012
Puente y Gente
Again, its been a while since my last entry. I can't help it. Life gets in the way. Anyway, we had a long four day weekend (in Spanish this is called a puente, or bridge) this past weekend because of el Día de la Constitutión, or Constitution Day. That's self-explanatory. Anywho, its tradition to have public readings of the constitution all over Spain and I ran into one on calle Arenal (which connects Ópera and Sol) with my friend Catherine. Of course we were too busy to stop and listen to the dry and didactic verbage (that doesnt mean I dont consider it unimportant) and I was also feeling claustrophic because of the multidudes of people so we kept on moving towards Lavapiés. Sol is always overflowing with people during puentes.
We had just come from a Thai Restaurant where we had spent all afternoon eating and talking. Thats a very Spanish thing to do. And another very Spanish thing to do is to stand outside the entrance to the restaurant for at least 10 minutes in the freezing cold weather, deciding what you want to do next!! Its happened several times already so I have come to the conclusion that its a very Spanish thing to do.
Anywho, I ran into one of my students who was there with her family. After exchanging introductions, I made small talk and asked if they were here shopping as well. ¡Que va! ¿Con este crisis? I should have known better. The attitude all around town has been and is about pinching pennies. People go to Sol or Gran Vía not really to shop but to go window-shopping, or just pasear. I love the word, pasear. There really isn't a word in English that captures the essence of it. Hicimos un paseo. I might translate it as we went for a walk....close enough. Its one of my favorite things to do in Madrid.
We had just come from a Thai Restaurant where we had spent all afternoon eating and talking. Thats a very Spanish thing to do. And another very Spanish thing to do is to stand outside the entrance to the restaurant for at least 10 minutes in the freezing cold weather, deciding what you want to do next!! Its happened several times already so I have come to the conclusion that its a very Spanish thing to do.
Anywho, I ran into one of my students who was there with her family. After exchanging introductions, I made small talk and asked if they were here shopping as well. ¡Que va! ¿Con este crisis? I should have known better. The attitude all around town has been and is about pinching pennies. People go to Sol or Gran Vía not really to shop but to go window-shopping, or just pasear. I love the word, pasear. There really isn't a word in English that captures the essence of it. Hicimos un paseo. I might translate it as we went for a walk....close enough. Its one of my favorite things to do in Madrid.
domingo, 25 de noviembre de 2012
The AAA Tour: Ávila, Alcalá, y Aranjuez
Its been a while since my last entry, so I think this time I´m going to talk about the three cities that I have visited in the past two months: Ávila, Alcalá de Henares, & Aranjuez. Oddly enough, they all start with the letter A and they are all less than an hour away from Madrid which is why in my opinion they make for perfect day-trips. They are also jam-packed with history. Two of them lay claim to giants of Spanish history: Alcalá de Henares is where Cervantes was born and Ávila is where the great Spanish mystic, St. Teresa of Ávila was born and where her hugely influential writings on prayer and The Divine came to fruition. Aranjuez's contribution, on the other hand, was musical as it served as the inspiration for Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo's most famous work, Concierto de Aranjuez, a composition for classical guitar and orchestra.
Out of all three cities, Ávila was probably the most monumental. Its no wonder because the old town is surrounded by the best preserved medieval walls in all of Europe, so you feel instantly transported to the Middle Ages. However, apart from visiting the St. Teresa of Ávila museum and eating lemon cakes, there wasn't that much to do. If you are looking for a nice quiet getaway from the busy capital then Ávila is your choice.
Alcalá, on the other hand, was bustling. Okay, I went to Alcalá with a group of other auxiliares during the Cervantes festival, but I feel it would still be a lively place even at other times because of the university and its reputation for superb tapas. Anyway, as we went during the Cervantes festival, Alcalá was a feast for the eyes. Renaissance booths lined the main streets and squares selling anything you could think of from home-made soap to teas for any type of ailment known to mankind to octopus dishes. People dressed up in renaissance clothing paraded around. Figurines of Cervantes and Sancho Panza of course abounded. Outdoor plays were performed. Cañas y tapas were plentiful.
Despite all of the above, it was a play I saw in Alcalá that impressed me the most. It was part of a series of plays called quijotadas which roughly translates as quixotians, obviously referencing Don Quixote de La Mancha. Yet, what made the play I saw particularly impactful was the fresh new perspective that was put on an old story. The theater troupe, Mirage Teatro, was made up of mostly African actors who related their stories of trying to conquer a new land (Spain) and the numerous obstacles along the way, in effect, mirroring Don Quixote's own adventure and reminding us that this work of literature is forever relevant and forever universal. The performance was so passionate and full of truth that I, along with the audience, laughed and cryed. I laughed during the parts that reflected the minutiae of everyday life and I cried during the last act when once of the actors vividly described his imprisionment and near subsequent deportation which was halted by the pilot who refused to transport someone against their will.
Now, Aranjuez is known for being one of the royal estates of the Spanish crown and since the 19th century it has been a popular spring residence for the royal family. Personally, I think the royals need to consider making it their autumn residence instead. The gardens next to the palace was a maze of trees with orange and yellow colored leaves dotted with marble sculptures. It was like a magic forest. Its no wonder Rodrigo found inspiration there. I mean the palace itself was beautiful and all, at least on the outside, but I was so consumed by the natural beauty of the gardens that I didn't care to go inside the palace (you also had to pay). Unfortunately (and I really mean it) I left my camera in Madrid that day, but I´m planning to go back soon to do some sketching with my art buddy, Sonia. I hope all the leaves will not have fallen by then. Hasta luego.
Alcalá, on the other hand, was bustling. Okay, I went to Alcalá with a group of other auxiliares during the Cervantes festival, but I feel it would still be a lively place even at other times because of the university and its reputation for superb tapas. Anyway, as we went during the Cervantes festival, Alcalá was a feast for the eyes. Renaissance booths lined the main streets and squares selling anything you could think of from home-made soap to teas for any type of ailment known to mankind to octopus dishes. People dressed up in renaissance clothing paraded around. Figurines of Cervantes and Sancho Panza of course abounded. Outdoor plays were performed. Cañas y tapas were plentiful.
Despite all of the above, it was a play I saw in Alcalá that impressed me the most. It was part of a series of plays called quijotadas which roughly translates as quixotians, obviously referencing Don Quixote de La Mancha. Yet, what made the play I saw particularly impactful was the fresh new perspective that was put on an old story. The theater troupe, Mirage Teatro, was made up of mostly African actors who related their stories of trying to conquer a new land (Spain) and the numerous obstacles along the way, in effect, mirroring Don Quixote's own adventure and reminding us that this work of literature is forever relevant and forever universal. The performance was so passionate and full of truth that I, along with the audience, laughed and cryed. I laughed during the parts that reflected the minutiae of everyday life and I cried during the last act when once of the actors vividly described his imprisionment and near subsequent deportation which was halted by the pilot who refused to transport someone against their will.
Now, Aranjuez is known for being one of the royal estates of the Spanish crown and since the 19th century it has been a popular spring residence for the royal family. Personally, I think the royals need to consider making it their autumn residence instead. The gardens next to the palace was a maze of trees with orange and yellow colored leaves dotted with marble sculptures. It was like a magic forest. Its no wonder Rodrigo found inspiration there. I mean the palace itself was beautiful and all, at least on the outside, but I was so consumed by the natural beauty of the gardens that I didn't care to go inside the palace (you also had to pay). Unfortunately (and I really mean it) I left my camera in Madrid that day, but I´m planning to go back soon to do some sketching with my art buddy, Sonia. I hope all the leaves will not have fallen by then. Hasta luego.
lunes, 5 de noviembre de 2012
Verses and Voting
"Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason that the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot..."
That's a common rhyme heard today in England where it is Guy Fawkes day, a day to remember the failed plot to blow-up parliament and overthrow King James I of England in hopes of ending the intolerance against Catholics in the country. Interestingly, more people seem to remember the rhyme from the movie V for Vendetta instead. You know, now that I think about it, V´s alliterative introductory monologue upon meeting Evey would be a great way for my students to practice the /v/ sound which does not exist in Spanish.
Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage – no mere veneer of vanity – is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one-day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V.
See what I mean?
Anyhow, I excersized volition and voted absentee last week. Fortunately, North Carolina allows ballots to be scanned and emailed back because otherwise it probably would not have gotten back in time. Well, I guess we'll find out the results tomorrow. I´m sure the media will be voraciously vexing us with a vichyssoise of horse manure like a venue of vicious vultures. I just hope victory goes to the most virtuous one.
Hasta luego.
Hasta luego.
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