I always thought Madrid was so big, but it’s not. The map makes everything seem farther than what it really is, which is ok but deceiving. Anyways it always amazes me to see how everyone is for the most part united and following the same rhythm when it comes to activities or events.
Yesterday I went to the opening of Serrano and it was like a huge party. It was fun but there were so many people that you could hardly walk. Couple of weeks ago Fashion Week was happening there too, and I don’t really remember where it is but every time the Real Madrid wins people go to this plaza and celebrate. I feel like the whole city is always partying all the time, so different from New York City.
The opening of Serrano was really interesting though. It was sponsored by many different brands, and even though Serrano is like the “Fifth Ave of New York City,” it was very people-friendly as in like what it offers during these events to everyone. My señora came home with free goody bags, and also she was saying how they were giving her champagne, etc. I don’t think we see this a lot in New York. Also it’s nice to see that the organizers incorporate activities for the children as well. They have a little something for everybody.
One of the things that stroke me the most was seeing that they were selling beer in actual stores. I always find that really funny because is kind of like an “Oh my gosh! They’re selling beer,” but at the same time I don’t get too surprise because this city has a huge consumption of it. It’s like drinking water for Spaniards.
I love the creativity of these events. They had this campaign for Coca-Cola, like be a super star for a day, which consisted of taking your picture in front of like a red carpet banner or cardboard. It was pretty cool. Also they had another one, like be in the cover of Vogue magazine. I think these are fun, little ideas that we all enjoy :)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
TV!!!
I usually don´t watch a lot of TV but since I´ve being in Spain the amount of tv I watch has definitely increased. Usually it has become a habit because while we are at dinner the tv is usually on channel 1. We watch the news, and a lot of those times the news is followed by a movie. My host family is very big on movies and I usually watch them too. It´s interesting to see that all the movies they play are for the most part not Spanish movies, which i thought would be the opposite for one reason or the other.
There´s this show we were watching the other day based on The Golden Girls or something like that my senora was telling me about, which i actually found pretty funny. I think this happens a lot everywhere not only from America to Spain but viceversa, and worldwide. Producers try to immitate shows from other places because they think it´s going to be a big hit and sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. For example I know some of the Latin award shows that they transmit in the US ( I don´t know if you´re familiar with Univision: It´s like the main Hispanic channel)are sometimes copied from the MTV Music Awards, etc. And sometimes it makes me a little upset because since I´m bilingual and I´m into both cultures, I feel like they don´t have creativity of their own to come up with something great. And I´m like I already saw this escenary or this act in some American Award Show.
Going back to Spanish TV, I feel like everytime i turn the tv on there´s nothing interesting to watch except for sports, news or very random shows. I actually want to watch a Spanish series but i always end up going for the American channels. I spent hours yesterday watching Disney channel because nothing else interested me. The other nigth i was watching Fear Factor, which I loved because I never see this show in the US. I think it´s discontinued or something. But i gladly appreciated the fact that I could watch it here. I also have a very bad habit of changing the language of the movies and the American shows to English :( I feel like I appreciate them more in English because translating stuff can change the meaning a little bit. Maybe I´m turning the TV on in very bad times but what can I do. Maybe another reason why I change the languages, which actually just came to my head, is because subconciously they make me feel more like at home. It´s a way to feel closer to my other world...
There´s this show we were watching the other day based on The Golden Girls or something like that my senora was telling me about, which i actually found pretty funny. I think this happens a lot everywhere not only from America to Spain but viceversa, and worldwide. Producers try to immitate shows from other places because they think it´s going to be a big hit and sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. For example I know some of the Latin award shows that they transmit in the US ( I don´t know if you´re familiar with Univision: It´s like the main Hispanic channel)are sometimes copied from the MTV Music Awards, etc. And sometimes it makes me a little upset because since I´m bilingual and I´m into both cultures, I feel like they don´t have creativity of their own to come up with something great. And I´m like I already saw this escenary or this act in some American Award Show.
Going back to Spanish TV, I feel like everytime i turn the tv on there´s nothing interesting to watch except for sports, news or very random shows. I actually want to watch a Spanish series but i always end up going for the American channels. I spent hours yesterday watching Disney channel because nothing else interested me. The other nigth i was watching Fear Factor, which I loved because I never see this show in the US. I think it´s discontinued or something. But i gladly appreciated the fact that I could watch it here. I also have a very bad habit of changing the language of the movies and the American shows to English :( I feel like I appreciate them more in English because translating stuff can change the meaning a little bit. Maybe I´m turning the TV on in very bad times but what can I do. Maybe another reason why I change the languages, which actually just came to my head, is because subconciously they make me feel more like at home. It´s a way to feel closer to my other world...
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Madrid Madrid Madrid!!!
I live in New York City but I come from a Hispanic background so I'm pretty informed (or so I would like to think) about my heritage. However sadly, I'm mostly aware of the entertainment side of the Latin and Spanish world. I know one of the main "attractions" for Spaniards is the bullfight, however, I didn't know the amount of pride Spaniards take in this "art" until I got here.
I don't want to offend or sound ignorant about the bullfights, however, I'm entitled to my opinion and I don't like them whatsoever. I think that might be one of the biggest cultural differences that we have. I feel bad for these poor bulls that in my opinion shouldn't be raised for fights. I'm not the biggest animal lover but I think it's so cruel to see how they kill this animal after a match. And what surprises me the most is that the majority of people are okay with this. They love it, and I don't understand why. I mean back in time, the Romans used to fight very gruesomely too as a sport inside a forum, but we're not in the Roman time. I'm sorry but I'm just very surprised to see how many people enjoy this art.
I had a talk with my host parents about bullfights, and they were telling me that I should pay attention to the art of it, not the killing of it. But coming from NYC where we don't have this kind of sport, and there's a billboard or a commercial for PETA everywhere you look, it seems impossible for me to even appreciate it. Yes I'm going to go to see a bullfight, but is not like I really want to go. My host father was actually showing me one today on TV and they watch it like if it's baseball, but I just can't sit there and do that to myself.
It is also very surprising to me to see how the media shows everything on TV, magazines or in newspapers. Spanish TV is very open and liberal, and I guess in a way it's good because we see the "real' stuff, but sometimes it's a little harsh. The newspapers we see in class each have a very open opinion about what they like and what they don't. Who they favor and who they dislike. It's very interesting to see that they don't thrive for neutrality.
Spain is a very interesting country that I will explore, and give my opinions through this blog for the next couple of weeks so I hope we all enjoy this journey.
I don't want to offend or sound ignorant about the bullfights, however, I'm entitled to my opinion and I don't like them whatsoever. I think that might be one of the biggest cultural differences that we have. I feel bad for these poor bulls that in my opinion shouldn't be raised for fights. I'm not the biggest animal lover but I think it's so cruel to see how they kill this animal after a match. And what surprises me the most is that the majority of people are okay with this. They love it, and I don't understand why. I mean back in time, the Romans used to fight very gruesomely too as a sport inside a forum, but we're not in the Roman time. I'm sorry but I'm just very surprised to see how many people enjoy this art.
I had a talk with my host parents about bullfights, and they were telling me that I should pay attention to the art of it, not the killing of it. But coming from NYC where we don't have this kind of sport, and there's a billboard or a commercial for PETA everywhere you look, it seems impossible for me to even appreciate it. Yes I'm going to go to see a bullfight, but is not like I really want to go. My host father was actually showing me one today on TV and they watch it like if it's baseball, but I just can't sit there and do that to myself.
It is also very surprising to me to see how the media shows everything on TV, magazines or in newspapers. Spanish TV is very open and liberal, and I guess in a way it's good because we see the "real' stuff, but sometimes it's a little harsh. The newspapers we see in class each have a very open opinion about what they like and what they don't. Who they favor and who they dislike. It's very interesting to see that they don't thrive for neutrality.
Spain is a very interesting country that I will explore, and give my opinions through this blog for the next couple of weeks so I hope we all enjoy this journey.
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