Eurovision Have you ever heard about Eurovision? Seen as a weird celebration by ones, deeply followed by others, one thing is true: this is the most watched song festival. Moreover, since 2015 boast of being the oldest tv program in the world. Firstly known with the long name of Eurovision Grand Prix, the beginning of this festival dates from 50s, when UER (Unión Europea de Radiodifusión; European Broadcasting Union) created a song festival which helped to unify the postwar Europe. A huge variety of requirements have change since the first celebration in 1956. For example, all songs used to go with live music. In fact an orchestra had to play in the stage. However since 2004 live music is forbidden and instrumental music must be recorded previously. No micro can be switch on in scenery instruments. It can be believed as an old-fashioned festival because of its age. Far away from this, Eurovision has known update itself year after year. Well known as pop music promoter, has touched large variety of music styles recently (rap, Arabic, metal, electronic, dance…).What’s more it has nowadays an amazing stage with a wonderful light show. Critical people find Eurovision waste of money besides they maintain that Eurovision is more a political festival than a song one. There are lots who affirm that music quality doesn’t mind any more, absorbed by wardrobe or light effects. And all these might be true, but I don’t care. I’m still keen on meet my friends, year after year, to watch Eurovision on tv: pizza, drinks and our traditional piece of paper with a pencil per person in order to make our own voting. Sometime our winner isn’t the same as the real one, but we always have fun.

What do you think about Spanish? Yesterday I was wondering how people from other countries see us, Spanish. Investigating about this topic, I found some jokes in which it was easily understood how people see, broadly speaking, others different nationalities. One thing that surprised me a lot was the fact that Swedish has a low self-esteem. I’m astonished that such good-looking, tall, organized people can’t feel respect for themselves! Unbelievable! Another amazing point is that apparently Canadians have wildly behavior as well as they are gullible. Or at least that is believed outside, in EEUU. I didn’t have a clue! The tone in the jokes about Spain was more in the line of see us as… Conceited! I laughed my head off. I can feel lots of things except for arrogant. We are the tail of Europe, come on! Thinking over widespread ideas like this, I came a conclusion: perhaps they all have a tiny piece of true. In this case, for instance, I can understand that Portuguese have this feeling about us. I don’t know why, but honestly some Spanish treat Portuguese like a dog. That annoyed me a lot, but it’s true. On the other hand maybe some stereotypes are true only in a part of the country. That happens with our famous “siesta” which is more common in the South, were high temperatures prevent to work in the afternoon, especially during Summer, but it’s almost incidental in the North. Other beliefs could come from misleading ideas. Here an example: I was told by foreign people, how lazy we are in Spain: You’re always doing nothing at work! You are so ineffective! And that’s true. But overtime in Spain doesn’t mean necessarily get overtime. So try to stay eleven hours or more a day at work without being pay. We aren’t lazy, we are exhausted! Talking about humans it’s really interesting how different and the same we all are. As happens in other countries we have several differences inside Spain. We aren’t not only sun, beach, party, “flamenco” but also “muiñeira”, green mountains, rain, “cecina”. In world we are equals and odds, being this plurality really motivating. Leaving behind stereotypes I feel these differences like prosperity. I love diversity and all good things I learn from it.

Spanish general election Have you ever doubt about our politicians’ negligence? In my case the answer is: No, I haven’t. However I can’t keep clear of such a disappointing feeling inside me. After last elections, right and left, conservative and progressive wings, were trying to reach an agreement in order to rule the country. Well, this is what they actually were supposed to do but instead of work for the future of the country, they spent time with ineffective meetings as well as they were discrediting one each other in the media the whole time. It’s shameful. What citizens have vote? Plurality! Why on earth can’t they manage to reflect it on congress? From my point of view it’s only because they are only trying to reach to their piece of cake. They don’t care about nation, they only care about their party. As a result, a country overexploit by rich thief and debts is due to undergo new legislative elections, involving more public expense. Reflecting on this, one question came to my mind. How do you, other World people, think about Spanish? It’s difficult to self-evaluate me objectively, but I feel that there’s a hole between what is seem through our leaders (their huge ineptitude, their stupid rules and agreements), and real Spanish people. Please, don’t put all us in the same sack! Polls claim that over 80% of people are highly likely not to change their vote, so: What will happen next June? We’ll probably continue dancing in their hands… or not. We’ll see!

Speaking and talking: operation In the place where I live it’s said: If you don’t want soup, here you are two full dishes; referring to the common circumstance in which the more you can’t put up with something, the more you are involved inside it. And this is what is happened to me recently. About two weeks or so ago, I started to feel a sharp pain in my mouth. As I hate doctor, especially both dentists and eye doctor, I decided hold on. I should rush hospital that moment, I know, but I didn’t. Consequently I was in agony when I was four days after carried to emergency room, nearly passed out, my cheeks swelled up. What a horrible thing! I needed surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed and some kind of pills to treat the strong infection I got. Of course I was given anesthetic, but I was not unconscious, during the surgery. However, the feeling of my glum bleeding as well as the stitched was really disgusting. I’m not so afraid of pain, my real problem is all this other things that make me sick: being with your mouth opened for so long time with strange plastic thing and in an uncomfortable posture, the machine making noise, the light blinding you… I’m high likely to need further treatment what means more visits to the doctor. I’m terrible down. I wish I’d come earlier, then I would’ve already recovered.

Speaking and writting: my scars Well, perhaps because I´m such a clumsy person, I've never been at real risk. I mean, when you have the smart tendency towards stupid accidents doing your daily duties (in which you're supposed to be good at, you know... They aren't very difficult staff!), then, you think twice before putting yourself in danger. This, doesn't mean that I haven't got a huge variety of scars in my body due to the most ridiculous situations. This one in my forehead for instance, was a creative souvenir from a sneeze. Believe it or not. I whacked my head on the cupboard in front of me. It was so heavily bleeding that I had to be stiched. On another occasion I freak out when I stick my fingers. The thing is that I usually need to fix things all work. My mate, knowing my hazard tendencies, brought me a bottle of special liquid to remove the super-glue from my hands immediately after the supposed accident. What happened was that, when the accident took place, I mixed-up strong super-glue and ist cleanaser. I end the day in emergencies, with my hand burnt. It was an agony. Fortunately, my fingers could be divided easily. Of course, you can't believe it... can you? However, these ones are true stories. Indeed, each and every one of my scars has an absurd explanation behind. Feel free to ask me about them!

Cover letter To whom it may concern: After have read your advertisement in The News, I am writing you in order to apply for the post of guide. As you can examine closely in my attached CV, I am suitable for the post having in possession a Tourism Degree. Moreover, I am well accustomed to deal with people after two summers working in the beach as entertainer. As member of the Historical Village Museum, I have relevant knowledge about our history as well as our important archeological remains, which I know deeply. Talking about my inter-personal skills I must say that I am a considerable good communicator both with elders and children. Used to manage with big groups I can keep their attention at length and make me been understood easily even in English, which, in spite of being my second language, I speak fluently thanks to the three years I spent living in Melbourne. In addition to all this, I am a dedicated, motivated worker, able to act both independently an as part of a team. I devised some project as volunteer in relation with history and become part of your association give me a great opportunity to develop myself while I help to carry out your business. I am available for interview at any time and would be really happy to provide references should you require them. Please, do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Haam

Entroido: Galician carnival Do you like dress yourself up? I do like it! If you don’t, you’ll probably be a very unhappy person these days, especially here. Galicia has one of the most ancient Carnivals in Spain. This celebration which dates from centuries ago, encompass mainly two things: especial costume and especial food. Music is quite important too, but understood both like call to the party and accompaniment underlining the grotesque masks or the dances. Traditionally only men could dress up during the Carnival, a custom disappeared nowadays. Currently women and men share prominence showing their costumes. Made with antique simple cloths, these costumes are at the same time full of brilliant colors thanks of flowers or the interesting paintings in the hats and masks. Usually the paintings refer to universe, sin as well as nature. They mix primitive and christian beliefs. It’s known that these rituals have been celebrated at first, as pagan season celebrations. When Christians reach Galicia they try to stop them, however, as they couldn’t, they decided cover one with the other blending them. I suppose we are quite stubborn in here. In fact, years after, Franco forbidden them but they continued being celebrated hidden, secretly. Apart from the powerful colors, in which red and white are predominant, it’s interesting analyze the object they usually carry as a whip for instance. They use it in order to make all people enjoy carnival. You must dress a costume or you’ll be punished! It’s difficult to explain all kinds of different celebrations around Carnival you can find in Galicia: “boteiros”, “pantallas”, “zigarróns” are some examples you can search for in the net. And of course, you always can visit us and explore it by yourself. You are invited!