Romantic Days and Racists

It is unfortunate that bigots and racists become politicians, capitalizing on (discriminatory) anti immigration* sentiments to gain power, yet it has been a campaign tool for ages. These politicians who are elected usually bring nothing but embarrasment to themselves, their respective parties, and the rational townspeople who did everything they could to try to avoid the election results. Here in Vic, Josep Anglada is one of these politicians. As president of the Platform for Catalunya (PxC: filled with fascists as one of the Catalan minor parties which capitalizes on nationalist sentiment of the race -- not independence -- variety) and one of the  city council members (5 of which are members PxC, 7 CiU, 2 CUP, 2 PSC, 2 ERC, 1 ICV-EUiA, and 1 SI), Anglada has done fairly well for himself in terms of politics. As I mentioned before, however, he's a xenephobic embarassment: a fact which is applicable to the moral core of the PxC.

Why I'm writing about this man: Sunday, April 22nd, this councilman was crossing the Plaza Major to head home with his wife and one other man when, upon seeing two young Marroquin men (18 & 21), insultingly initiated what ended up with him breaking the nose of one of the boys and leaving marks on the other. Every witness (minus those who were accompanying him to begin with) verify that it was him, JOSEP ANGLADA, who threw the first punch. This incident was sparked outright by nothing less than racism, and unfortunately is not enough to have him kicked out of his place of office. I feel that now is the appropriate place to also add that earlier this year his son filed (but withdrew the court case filing a month later) verified domestic abuse claims.

Last Saturday there was a manifestation convoked here in Vic for the coexistance of races within communities, here and throughout the world. Over 1,000 people marched, beginning in the Plaza Major and continuing throughout the town before looping back where we began. Although some politically afililiated organizations gave their support, this is a situation where profitting credit from this action is not feasible. Yay for tolerance and unification! Although a walk will seldom initiate and/or change anything, at the very least some attention and reminders can be made.  

A brief demographic explanation: Vic is a MAJOR immigrant hub relatively recently in terms of history (Andalusians were bussed in during the 50s and 60s, and more recently these past 20 years immigrants have been flooding in from Africa and South/Central America). Walking around the streets, it is possible to encounter people of all colors (something I´m actually going to slightly miss when I head back home).

Although Sunday, April 22nd was marked by this unfortunate incident, Monday, April 23rd went off without a hitch as the Catalans celebrated El Dia de Sant Jordi! St.Jordi's Day is an incredibly romantic holiday in which traditionally the ladies gift their man a book and the gentlemen pass over a rose to their lady. However, 21st century norm changes have now (fortunately) made it acceptable to exchange these gifts to either. The legend of this holiday has its origins in the legend in which the bold knight St.Jordi slayed a dragon in order to rescue a princess. Roses began to grow from the blood of the slain beast, and he so nicely picked one to give to her. As for the book; the tradition of giving this gift came in later when it was recognized that April 23rd is International Book Day. Vendors can be found all along the main walks selling roses for 1€ - 2€, and as soon as the plaza is reached it´s just about impossible to move along as crowds of people pack the edges looking through the books that are set up in the stalls all the way around. I highly prefer this holiday to St.Valentine´s day (minus the chocolate discounts), and it is one that I´ll make it a point to cross over.

*I agree with some well made arguements concerning the anti illegal immigration and immigration limitations debate. However, I DO NOT and WILL NEVER support flat out discrimination/racism. 

Sidenotes: School for me let out about two weeks ago and I have really been enjoying summer so far! I took a short trip to visit some exchange student friends over in Galicia, and am really looking foward to the south of Spain exchange student trip coming up in a couple of weeks. My official catalan exam is coming up next week, but other than that I've just been enjoying the summer as most people my age do (reading, chatting with friends from time to time, napping in the sun, etc). I will be giving a rotary presentation soon here to sum up my exchange (I've been here 9 months!) and time really seems to be closing in as I have just little over a month left before I head back to my Iowa home. To the few people who actually read this blog (and all the way through): I'm fairly certain that my next entry will be just about that (my class and exchange overall) but it's all up in the air. I'll keep you posted :P

Un petò i Cuida't!
Bonnie

One rose for the Independence please!

So many to choose from!



Don´t be fooled: not everyone against fascism is also against violence.



They say the Americans hang a lot of flags...

Perfect end to my day! Before I went to bed I saw the rose
that Jordi had put on my desk :)

To the Alps I Go!

{ 10 - 7 = 3! } ---> # of exchange months minus # of months I´ve been here equals # of monts left!

Time has been passing by in the usual way life takes the day: normal, action packed, quiet one moment and talkative the next, motivational, astonishingly lazy, studious, day-dreamy, hibernation mode (one of my favorites), and breathing the aromas of various cups of coffee or tea (depending on the time of the day). Come to think of it, I could probably summarize a lot of my life with aromas...

Anyway: what has been going on here?!

Politically speaking, the governments of the Iberic Peninsula are over their heads with the economic crisis, yet huge spending cuts and tax hikes seem to be helping...except that in Spain, at least, the goals set for cuts are not realistic, passed on to the regions (mostly)  at an unsustainable rate with the HUGE labor reforms taking over the entire country, and not going by unnoticed. The 29th of March their was a large strike all over the country (which was organized and advertised over a month in advance) and many participants took to the streets. I did not actually participate for a variety of reasons, one of which being a large disruption with transportation (also the reason I did not go to school). Public transport was operating at around 30% of what is normal. For more details of any of the above subjects, I'll let you all use the wonderful Google box. I'll list my preferred websites below. Before that, in February, there were other protests which took place in response to police violence against student protesters in Valencia.

Students ... studies .... school...

The third trimester has started up here, with a 20 day countdown to the end of school. Students in my class are really on edge with their studies right now, as only about 1 or 2 tests remain to determine their grades. I've been a lot less stressed as far as school work goes (for obvious reasons) and have actually been thinking a lot about college lately. Perhaps it's all this talk that goes around about the future... However, I'm still enjoying my time here and really am don't feel like rushing. This upcoming Tuesday my history class is going on a field trip to La Cope de Ebre! This is a really important historical site that relates to a decisive end-point from the Spanish Civil War (the most recent one, where Franco took power). I'm really looking foward to it!  Before that, however, I'm looking foward to another trip ...

To the Alps I go!

A brief explanation: this week is La Setmana Santa, which is also known as spring break. Last weekend I bid my second host family adéu (again a bittersweet moment) and moved back in with the Tañás. I love Tona, but it feels good to be back in Vic again. Because it is Easter week, I saw La Profesó/ La Processó/ The Procession! This occurred on Sunday night, and was really an interesting tradition to observe. People (some without shoes on, as penitence) dressed in spooky black robes (the same kind worn by the KKK, except theirs are white) walked along in lines through a route laid out through the old part of Vic. At the end of  the MANY marchers, there were a number of people who were carrying a platform containing the Virgin Mary, with crucified Jesus laying in her lap. At various intervals, segments of men who formed the marching choirs would sing a latin hymn. All in all, the atmosphere was very solemn and I´m glad I got to see this ritual. I´ve heard it is celebrated at a much larger level in the south of Spain, but it still seems pretty important here too. Still, none of this has anything to do with the Alps.

To Continue...

At the beginning of the week when I moved back in, my host family told me there was a chance that we would go to the Alps to go skiing later in the week, and that they would let me know for sure later. What ever is a girl to do when waiting to receive such potentially exciting news? Go to the beach, obviously :) Monday I was blessed with great company, great food, and the kind of day that makes you feel like you´re the luckiest person to be alive. Pepi Andreu (my English teacher) and her two daughters Laura and Núria (who are 19 and 23) invited me along for a daytrip to their favorite beach town when they realized I´ve never actually spent a lot of time at the sea side. We ended up going to a place named Parafrugell, along the Costa Brava. The sand there is rockier, which means it doesn´t stick to your legs after you´ve been napping on it. It still is too chilly for swimming weather, but it was an overall great time walking around the coast and eating lunch outside. For the first time ever I tried another traditional food: black rice. So delicious! The rice is black as a result from the ink from the squid which dyes it. Afterward, your tongue and lips are painted for at least two hours...all worth it. Later that evening we met up some of their family friend in Palamós, where I saw the famous fish market and ate REALLY great seafood. All in all, a day well spent, and made better the following morning when I woke up and was told that we´ll be going to the Alps after all :D Should I mention that means I´ll be crossing over to France?

Per Fin

It is time to end this post, meaning

Sidenotes: July 5th is my fixed return date, which means the end of my exchange is really starting to close in.  Easter week also means that the chocolate stores are displaying masterpieces of chocolate castle design in every window...really, really happy days. I accidentally joined the theater, have started reading a really great book, found out that Fran Drescher has come out with a new sitcom, to say "polla" instead of "pollo" or "pollastre" is not really meant for polite conversation, txarango is a pretty good band, and that some FCB players get gifted houses. I´d say I miss my family, but I saw them about two weeks ago and they´ll be there when I get back. If you´d like to know how their trip was, feel free to ask them questions! :D As for my friends: Ens veurém! Eventually I´ll get around to posting photos, but that will have to wait for awhile, since now I need to go finish packing! Adéu i vaig i bé!

I almost forgot...
My preferred news sites are: Wall Street Journal, La Vanguardia, NPR, BBC, The Guardian, and TV3 (which I´m not sure is accesible in the US). Other than that, it´s just a matter of looking and living. If anything, the most important thing to know is that Catalonia exists, and in Catalonia there are a lot of people who speak Catalan. About 7 - 9 million actually. And now this post has ended, de veritat.

La Vida Continua

As short as this month is, Febrer is a month that really knows how to pack in life.

To my US readers: Happy Valentine's Day! Do yourself a favor and use this day as an excuse to have yourself a bit of chocolate and reflect a moment over someone you love. Don't like chocolate? Then this year you can try Dia de Sant Jordí! El Dia de Sant Jordí is the catalan equivalent to the romantic Valentine´s Day, only instead of the standard exchange of flowers, chocolates, etc. it is the conventional tradition for the woman to receive a rose and in exchange, gift a book to her lover. This day is celebrated April 23, however, so you´ll have to wait another couple months for those socially acceptable displays of commercial affection.

A pleasant surprise: there is a Saint who blesses animals. His name is Antoni. This past month I went to the town St.Eugenia, where the Tonis came through! Tonis are a parade of horses that circles through the town three times. There were horses, ponies, and riders of all shapes and sizes, and one cart was dedicated to Saint Antoni. Many people brought their dogs in order for them to receive the blessing for the year. The Tonis will continue to pass through many of the smaller towns throughout these next couple of months during the different weekends.

The weather here has gotten colder, and I even had a couple of snow days (it normally only snows about once or twice a year in my town), which were very welcome for more than one reason. This month my beloved Grandma (Dorothy Miller) passed away. The mother of my mother, she was a very strong spirited woman of good faith and work ethic. I love and will miss her very much, but have accepted that it was her time to part from this Earth. Before I crossed an ocean, I discussed with my parents what I would do should this very probable event occurr. The answer is: I stayed here. Needless to say, it was the worst part of my exchange and I wanted nothing less than to go home IMMEDIATELY! The snow days were placed so that I ended up having a good four-day period to make myself active with my host family, have a good skype session with my own family, and catch up on some necessary sleep.

However, now that everything has passed la vida continua and I'm having as normal a time being myself as ever. This weekend is Carnaval and I'll being dressing up as a hippie! The celebrations of this weekend will be a very welcome break for many people in my class now that midterm exams have finished up. I´ve also finished my Catalan 2 class and will be starting level 3 this week!

Sidenotes: Spain had two dictators during the 20th century (the first was known as Primo de Rivera). Irish (250,000 estimated speakers) is an official language recognized by the EU whereas Catalan (over 7 million speakers and a very prominent part of literature, theater, daily life, etc.) is not (it is only considered regional). Anti Fascist does not necessarily mean Anti Violence, Lily Allen has an amazing voice, Pío Baroja is a great author who creates very blunt and amusing character descriptions,  Betty Crocker is appreciated on an international level, and the economy is carrying on in its typically troubling way.

Until next time: Adéu i Vagi Bé!

FAMILY, FIRE, CASTLE, TONA!

Dear readers,
If you were lured in by the all CAPS lettering, then I will explain to you just exactly what those loud words mean. First, a brief background:

• School let out for winter break on the 23rd of December, and I am posting this on my final day before heading back tomorrow morning. I'm living in a Catholic country, which means that the Christmas season is spread out and celebrated more with the coming of the new year and Epiphany, and break is a bit longer. This doesn't stop the fact that returning to school tomorrow will be like taking the cold shower I need but don't want.

Holidays 2011 and a change of families: Christmas Eve I went to mass for the first time ever and had an overall nice time singing the catalan lyrics in English, which was entertaining for the grandmother sitting in front of me. Before mass, I was at Sitjar, where the whole family was together to eat the Christmas meal. On Christmas Day, I ate another giant midday meal with all  of the other side of the family, and then headed back to Vic to collect my bags and prepare for a change of location. It was a bittersweet moment, but a new part of the exchange experience that I was looking forward to as well.

Tona y els Capdevilas: Tona is my new location, and the Capdevilas are the new family with whom I am living. Tona is a town (population 8,000) about 10 minutes south of Vic. The Capdevilas are an amazing family: I live with 3 host sisters between ages 14-16 (Guiomar, Nani, y Claudia), Carme, Marc, and two insane dogs (Brownie y Neula) that I love to death. Although Tona is smaller than Vic, I'm still very comfortable here, and I love the avenues. There is a beautiful castle (it's actually a church) on the mini mountain overlooking the town, which is also a very helpful as a map point. I'll be hiking up that direction sometime soon. I'll be sure to put up a pictures as soon as I have them.

Holidays 2012: Bon Any Nou! I celebrated the New Year with some friends and partook in what I think is a very fun tradition: As the old year passes into the new, each person eats 12 grapes (one with each chime of the clock: they have the official clock chiming on national TV)! It sounds ridiculous, but I loved it! Instead of Santa Clause, here they celebrate the coming of the 3 Kings (on Epiphany) who enter houses to leave presents with keys given to them, or through the balcony (whichever is easier I suppose). Children write letters to the kings and their representatives, sit on their laps, and the night before El Dia dels Reis there is a giant parade. The amazing part about the beginning of the parade are the torches that are lit and left to burn all along the sides of the streets before the procession of the kings and their representatives (dressed up because they are from foreign lands). I´ve added a couple of photos on the bottom which will help this explanation make a lot more sense. It´s just a bit hard to describe how awesome it is.

Lighting of the torches



FOC!



Sparklers have nothing on these.



Everyone loves a good bonfire.

• I have more photos, but sorting through them is not going over very well right now.
• A few extra things: Gilmore Girls is just as good in Castellano as it is in English, Chuck Norris jokes are international, I know very little about what goes on in Canada, I love living in the Catalan Nation and continuing to grow here, it´s easier than you think to explain in a foreign language how unconstitutional the NDAA is (in regard to the small McCarthyistic add on of indefinite detention based on suspicion), and everyone knows Iowa at least for one day when the caucus comes around. Also, my real family is coming to visit in March (minus Molly), and I am super excited!!!

Until next time, adéu i vaig i bé!

NGO causes and Elections.

Sadly, the time of the season of the castanyas is over. To ease this unfortunate event, it´s now the time of year for Turron. Turron takes many forms that all have one thing in common: the perfection of the best chocolate there is in the world. It´s a great rebound default for any day I find myself missing those chestnuts roasted on an open fire. Speaking of which...now that it´s December I seem to have a lot of Bing Crosby going through my mind. I´m not sure if there´ll be a white Christmas here, but the plaza and city is decorated in a way that is so pretty! They´ve put lights up all around the town, and the odd giant fur tree here and there :)  Two important events that occured here this past month that you should know about:

1. Elections. Spain has now shifted from the more liberal PSOE to the conservative PP party. It was a landslide win for the PP due to economy, etc. The unemployment rate right now is 21.9%. The PP won in every region except Catalunya and Pais Basco, where the smaller (yet large in the region) parties took the votes. It´s a discussion that I´m still working through, and would need more space than I have to explain. Perhaps it´s because I´m in one of the PIGS countries, but the longer I´m here and the more I learn, the more I think that perhaps the Euro currency was not a good idea.
2. International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women (and in general): The name of this day is self explanatory and extremely powerful. On this day, Agnès told me about a awareness ceremony that would be held just off the Plaça Mayor.  I went, and wore the Rotary Blazer to represent as a symbol that this is an international issue that can be taken up and represented from all nationalites. The theme of this day is nonpartisan and nongovernmental, and anyone with a sense of humanitarinism can take a moment to reflect on the very real, and very serious situations that this day is meant to draw attention to (Domestic violence, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, and degrading rhetoric and policy which subtley or overtly condones the mistreatment of women). If you choose, you may think and work toward resolving this issue for more than 1 day out of 365.

What´s coming up: Medieval Market (a huge tourist attraction, I´ve heard, and something I´ll explain after I´ve seen it), an outing to see La Bella i La Bestia musical (Beauty and the Beast), the new album of Els Catarres, an Orchestra concert, and changing host families. This week I don´t have school, and I´ll probably put up my next entry when Christmas break comes around. Until then, take care and take time to investigate what´s important to you.

Adéu!
Bonnie

Sidenote: All languages daunt me right now, but I at least I can read and more or less follow conversations. Chances are I´ll have a giddy spaz session when I´m finally able to partake in one successfully :P I also now have my Spanish residency card and have watched El Señor de los Anillos (Lord of the Rings; this is probably something I wouldn´t have done in the US).

Beautiful

Lighting of the candles.

Election results

Hace Dos Meses

A summation of everything I have been doing and all I have seen would take more time than readers of this blog would want to spend reading and more space than Blogger could ever allow. The question "How's Spain?" is just too broad, and therefore difficult to answer...sort of like the question "How's life?". These questions are just one step away from "What's Spain/life?", and questions like those have been turning around in the minds of great thinkers for centuries. I promise you that this entry will not be a historical turning point in discovering the answers. A narrower scope of what I've been enjoying recently:

• La Castanyeda!    Halloween is not celebrated here, but seeing as how there is a four day weekend to celebrate the Castanyeda (which coincides with All Saints Day and Day of the Infants), there aren´t too many complaints. Those two days are better known as Day of the Dead. Although there are many people who visit the cementary on these days, the celebration is not nearly as large as it is in Mexico and other South American countries. My favorite part of the Castanyeda is the castanyas :D Castanyas are chestnuts which are roasted over coals. To eat them you crack the shells, peel, and enjoy! By the end, your fingers are completely black. Unfortunately, they are only in season during October to mid November. I'm REALLY going to miss these.
• Favorite Hang Spots: There's a really awesome music bar here called Jazz Cava which features different musical groups throughout the month. This month I'm superstoked because they will be featuring electronic music! It's a really nice place for a Friday night. Another favorite spot of mine, and probably the best café in Vic, has no name that I´m aware of. It´s a great study spot, the owners know my name and I know theirs, and best of all, they are incredibly tolerant and speak Catalán with me (as well as let me sit there for who knows how long studying and writing). The library is also a pretty nice place, especially now that it's getting colder and raining buckets. Even the gym isn't so bad, although I still feel more out of place there than anywhere else here that I've been so far.
• Catalán Classes: One day I will make a special entry dedicated to discussing this class I'm taking. It's really fantastic and the people I've met there have come from all around the world. As for the Catalán language itself: I understand a lot more, but it still has it's challenges ... I had no idea that I would love analyzing grammar so much when I came over here, in all languages (even though it confuses me a lot; especially English).

I've now been here for a little over two months, and I'm feeling pretty established (although another month will probably help reinforce this, because it really is ride). I will never be fully able to express the gratification I have for the people I've come across here who matter; in my class, my family, and about Vic in general. I'm not fluent in Spanish, nowhere close, but this is another thing that just takes time. Next weekend I'll be heading to San Sebastien and probably be studying for an exam. For now I bid you all adéu!

Sidenote: Last night I went to an awesome concert put on for the joventude. Els Catarres is a fantastic band! Look them up if you have time. Elections are also this month, and I'm in the process of learning how it is exactly that Spain's Government functions.

Castanyas before eating.

The remains.

Jazz :P

           

Siempre Hay una Adventura

I am not visiting Spain, I am living here! Life has taken hold of its routines (homework, practicing, etc.), but even the quietest days contain adventures (this is true no matter where you live, as long as you remember that you have a mind). What´s been going on this week:

• School: On Monday I had my first exams in Art History and Geography. To all of you Americans reading this: Art History requires a lot of analysis of structures, materials, classifications, etc., and the class I am taking is the second year continuation of the class I did not (for obvious reasons) take last year. On a scale of 1 to 10, I came out with a 3. I refuse to feel bad about this. In Geography I had to take a 0 on the test (I feel a little bad, but it was definitely a good learning experience). Very little is given in the way of photocopies, and I probably should have realized when I went to take the physical Geography exam that I needed to bring my own blank maps (which are sold in una botiga en la Plaça Mayor). All in all, I´m working on my studies, but I´m still glad that I do not need spectacular marks this year. Wednsday was fiesta, meaning...

• BARCELONA!!!!!!  October 12th (Columbus Day) is a National Spanish Holiday, since Columbus is such an important figure in Spanish history. The Catalonians don´t identify strongly with this day (at heart they aren´t Spanish), but any day given off by the Government is a day taken. On Wednsday I toured parts of Barcelona with my host family. The day began with a visit to La Sagrada Familia (an amazing basilica designed by Gaudí) and was followed with a visit to La Plaza del Reys. An explanation: Barcino (ancient day Barcelona) was a city established in the first century. Everytime major construction takes place in Barcelona, chances are more ruins will be dug up of the ancient establishments of this era. It blows my mind that underneath the bustling modern streets are the streets that began with the very foundation of the city (as well as other foundational remains). I then witnessed one of the most incredible human acts ever: the Casteller. I am beyond words to describe it, which is why I´ve posted a video at the bottom of the page. Later in the afternoon, after experiencing tapas for the first time and learning that I like sardines, my host family took me for a walk through the streets of the old part of Barcelona (the part that contains streets established in the later Roman epoca and the 600 year old cathedrals, churches, and basilicas whose architecture is astounding). There is so much more to see of that city: I´m really glad I´ll be staying here a little bit longer!
• Cursos de Catalá! I have now begun my Catalán classes in Vic´s central linguistic center. Since all of the classes were full, I´m in the medium level two class. This is a trial for about three weeks; if it´s too difficult I´ll move down to level one. As it is, I´m studying up on some of the basics. I may not be able to speak very much Catalá by the end of this exchange, but I refuse to live in Catalunya for a year and not even try to understand this fundamental part of the culture. An explanation of the doors this class has opened for me mentally is an entry I will save for another day. As it is, I have now found my favorite street in the city, as well as a couple of really nice study bars (one that everyone knows as L´India, and the other which has no name). I have also continued to encounter many nice people during my walks and activities, and there are times when that reknowned American smile just can´t stay off my face.
 

             I have taken many pictures which will eventually work there way on here, and one day I´ll get around to writing the requested food entry. As it is, my life is continuing along in a way that I refuse to complain about.

Sidenote: If you´re ever in Catalunya this time of year, be sure to eat the castanyedas (a type of nut that is coal roasted). They´re amazing! Also, a good cure for just about anything (adventure lust, the need to exercise, etc) is to go ahead and take a walk. It´s something I´d recommend, even if you don´t have problems. There is always, always, ALWAYS an adventure to be had.

This is a video example of a Casteller. I´m sure I´ll explain more about this tradition in a later post.