El Boletín de Norfolk Spanish - Spanish Norfolk | Spanish Suffolk

El Boletín
de Norfolk Spanish
Un cielo azul de enero, refleja el sol del invierno
Fotografia: Anna Zaera ― en Tortosa.
www.norfolkspanish.com
febrero de 2015
Noticias:
La víspera del día de los reyes (5 de enero) fue el momento apropiado para volver a inaugurar
Norfolk Spanish. La primera clase, con cuatro estudiantes que ya se conocían desde hace tiempo
y un ´live streaming´ festivo de la cabalgata de los reyes magos en directo desde Madrid hizo
memorable la tarde.
La sala de clase nueva está en plena transformación. El equipo audio visual me facilita el uso de
materiales y recursos actuales y auténticos. Así podemos ponernos al corriente de lo que está
sucediendo en España y América Latina además de estar expuestos al lenguaje vivo y los acentos
diferentes dentro del español mundial.
Gracias a todos por vuestro apoyo durante estas semanas iniciales, me ha animado mucho.
¡Qué el año en adelante sea lleno de buena fortuna, salud y aventuras!
Saludos amistosos de
Heather
Información sobre las clases:
BeginnersBeginners-Post Beginners Spanish: Wednesdays, 7pm. From 21st Jan. Full now.
Beginners –Post Beginners Spanish: Tuesdays, 6.30pm. Spaces available, 10th Feb start.
Initial 6-week course £81.00 *concessions for the unwaged and for returning students.
Beginners´ Group daytime.
daytime. Mondays 10.45am Spaces available for Feb/March start.
Intermediate Spanish:
Spanish Mondays 6.30pm, intermediate students may join this course at any
point following consultation/level check. Concessions as above. Limited spaces left.
Intermediate and above:
above: Thursdays 6.30pm, upper intermediate students may join this
course at any point following consultation/level check. Seeking more members!
Daytime: 1-1s available variety of daytime slots. Some 1-1 students of varying levels are
interested in partners if anyone wants to join them. Email me for information. Couples’
discount available, or form your own group and email me day/time of interest to start with
friends.
www.norfolkspanish.com
Newsflash! Information from Linda and Steve in Las Alpujarras
First of all, ex Norfolk Spanish student Linda Caine has written a super book called Our Dusty
Paradise,
Paradise, all about the tiny white village that she and Steve live in and the many adventures that
led them there. Setting off from the Norfolk/Suffolk borders and transporting all their goods
and chattels, including several motorbikes, this intrepid pair soon found themselves involved in
a local wedding, enjoying various fiestas and backpacking into the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The book is a must-read for anyone interested in visiting more remote parts of Andalucía or
who did not realise that life, nowadays, begins at 60!
You can order Our Dusty Paradise from Amazon or Amazon KIndle. Paperback (£5.99)
Secondly, Steve has bought a beautiful bijou house in the slightly bigger pueblo of Pitres, and is
renting out its self-contained 1st floor apartment through AirBnB. The property can sleep as
many as 6 (it has a large double bed, a standard double and a bed settee) but is ideally suited for
a couple. It is a renovation of a typical Alpujarran house, with exposed beams, pamment floors
and all sorts of interesting artefacts. Pitres has shops, a 24/7 medical centre, an art centre and
easy access up into the mountains on foot or bicycle, trials bike or horse.
See for yourself at www.airbnb.com (look for Pitres, zoom right in on the map and you'll soon
find it) or contact Steve direct on [email protected].
Linda also writes a blog ‘Biking & Baking in las Alpujarras’ on www.eyeonspain.com
Film
http://www.eyeonspain.com/spain-magazine/spanish-movies.aspx
Watching Spanish language movies is a great way to improve your Spanish. Here are two
recommendations from the last decade. If you time to watch a movie and can write a review in
English or Spanish, please send it in. Enjoy!
El Laberinto Del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) - 2006
Set in 1944 in post-Civil War Spain, this Academy Award winner, directed by Guillermo del
Toro, tells the tale of a young girl called Ofelia who lives between two spheres. One is the harsh
reality of life in rural Spain, where her mother's second husband, a lieutenant in the fascist
Spanish army, is attempting to brutally suppress an armed resistance; the other is a world of
fantasy and imagination in which Ofelia takes refuge and yet is exposed to further horror. The
two spheres eventually start to merge through the character of the Faun.
For Spanish and international releases www.terra.es/cine/
Volver - 2006
Volver, directed by Pedro Almodóvar and
starring Penélope Cruz, tells the story of
two sisters, Raimunda (Cruz) and Sole,
whose parents have died in a fire several
previously. The events surrounding their
deaths are central to the plot, and the
ghost of their mother plays an important
role in the film. While death and drama
are the focus, Almodovar´s unique
humour and ability to paint eccentric yet
believable characters lighten the mood.
Penélope Cruz was nominated for an
Academy Award as Best Actress for the
film.
Guillermo del Toro’s 2001 film The Devil’s Backbone is also among his most frightening and
emotionally layered. Set during the final week of the Spanish Civil War, it tells the tale of a
twelve-year-old boy who, after his freedom-fighting father is killed, is sent to a haunted rural
orphanage full of terrible secrets. Del Toro expertly combines gothic ghost story, murder
mystery, and historical melodrama in a stylish mélange that, like his later Pan’s Labyrinth,
reminds us the scariest monsters are often the human ones. Film clip of ‘El espinazo del
diablo’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHm_Me0CDC0
Releases of Spanish directors’ films in English and in original language.
http://www.moviemail.com/spanish-film/
February as the beginning of Lent (la Cuaresma) is time for ‘Carnaval’ throughout Spain and
Latin America from around 12th Feb to 22nd Feb. Most towns and cities host their own
processions of floats accompanied by music, impressive costumes and a general atmosphere of
fun. Cádiz is the most famous and flamboyant carnival city in Spain. The city website gives
details of events and accommodation should be booked well in advance so you can join in the
fun. Barcelona´s event is exciting and there´s a good website to check out. Most places initiate
Carnival with the traditional ‘pregón´ in which King Carnestoltes is crowned, this fictitious
character will preside over the week´s carnival events. School children will often dress up in
different costumes throughout the week. In Catalunya, children draw pictures of ´´La Vella
Quaresma´´, an old woman with a leg for each week of Lent. Buñols de Cuaresma, a type of
doughnut are sold in most bakeries. At the end of ‘Carnaval’ an effigy of King Carnestoltes is
often ceremoniously burned in a public place and the six weeks of austerity may commence.
Carnaval in Cádiz
http://www.guiadecadiz.com/es/agenda/febrero/2015/carnaval-cadiz-2015
http://www.carnifest.com/events/spain/barcelona/592/barcelona-carnival-2015.aspx
Events
http://www.spainculturescience.co.uk/events
The above website outlines Spanish cultural events in Britain including London’s Flamenco
festival in the Sadler Wells Theatre which starts on 15th February.
Site with calendar to plan around events in Spain
http://gospain.about.com/od/barcelona/a/festivalsbarcel.htm
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/spain/festivals
What’s happening in February: http://spainguides.com/fiestas.february.html
Holiday tips and properties for rent or sale
Please send information by email if you have a property to rent or a top tip for holidays and
travel.
My tip if visiting Spain this year is to get off the beaten track. If you can hire a car, take a
bus or train and get inland wherever you are, it’s worth the effort and you are much more
likely to need to use your Spanish to get by. Our travels while living in Catalunya, took us
through the wine producing region of Priorat to the mountain top village of Siurana,
popular with rock climbers and hikers, a photographer’s dream and very pleasant place to
stop off, whether you opt for busy campsite (full of fit climbers!)or the more salubrious
hotel, both boast spectacular views. The nearest airport to the Priorat region is nearby REUS
where you can also hire a car. Siurana was the last Muslim stronghold in the region due to
its almost impregnable position and sweeping views over the surrounding valley. You can
visit the ruins of the castle perched perilously at the summit of mountains either side of a
gorge, hike, climb, canoe on the reservoir, sightsee or just savour the delicious Priorat tinto
(the wine cellars at Cornudella de Montsant may persuade you to bring a few bottles home).
Here are websites for the Siurana Tourist Office, campsite and hotel mentioned
http://www.turismesiurana.org/en
http://www.turismesiurana.org/en
www.miradordesiurana
siurana.com/
siurana
Views from Siurana.
http://www.campingsiurana.com/
L´Hort de la Mare
http://mothersgarden.org/about
Martin Kirby and his wife Maggie recount the trials and tribulations of moving from
Norfolk and a safe job with the EDP to rural Catalan-speaking Priorat, family in tow in the
book that accompanied the original Channel 4 documentary ´No Going Back´. I read it
myself on the plane on the way to our new life in Catalunya but, of course, my book would
have been called ´We came back! They have a multi-faceted website named after their
property, Mother´s Garden (L´Hort de la Mare), which includes information about their
beautiful holiday cottage for rent in the Priorat region of Catalunya, an area we can heartily
recommend. Also available via the website is excellent quality olive oil and Martin´s
fascinating books. I have read the two books whose images I include below, both also
available on Amazon.
Recycling Spanish books and unwanted souvenirs:
souvenirs: Please pass on any Spanish course
books you no longer need or want. I´m happy to advertise them on our notice board if you
would like to sell them on, particularly course and reference books like Sueños (euros
version), Practice makes Perfect etc. I´m also happy to take any old maps, brochures or
unwanted souvenirs for use in role play so please feel free to pass these on to me if you do
a Spring clean!
Materiales generales en internet:
internet:
Good general site with news about Spain in English.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/
La gramática
www.colby.edu/~bknelson/
http://spanish.about.com
Sites offering grammar practice at all levels and some audio resources.
La lectura
www.mec.es/exterior/uk/es/tecla
This site offers a free electronic magazine at three levels of Spanish with an extra page of
reading material. www.mec.es/exterior/uk/es/publicaciones
http://www.englishspanishlink.com/deluxewriter/bilingual_spanish_english_stories.htm
http://www.worldstories.org.uk/stories/stories?lang=spanish&p=2
Las actualidades y algunos recursos auditivos
Websites of the Spanish daily national newspapers 'El Pais', ‘El Mundo’, archived materials
at ‘Terra’ and sports articles at ‘Marca’
www.elpais.es
www.elmundo.es www.terra.es
www.marca.es
http://www.englishspanishlink.com/learn-spanish/games/newspapers.htm
The BBC web site includes BBC Mundo reading material updated daily and audio magazine
El Mensual and Spanish Steps beginners´course as well as a level gauge.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/index.shtml
Mi Vida Loca, BBC’s interactive Spanish soap for beginners.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/mividaloca/
Improve your listening comprehension ability. Check out these aural resources.
www.multilingualboks.com/online-radio-spanish.html www.listenlive.eu/spain.html
www.cadenaser.com/noticias. www.lyngsat.com/freeradio/Spain.html
TV online: www.antena3.com
www.rtve.es
www.telecinco.es
Recommendation:
Recommendation: Españoles
Españoles en el mundo. RTVE series following Spanish people who are
resident in other countries. http://www.rtve.es/television/espanoles-en-el-mundo/
The Blog
¡Vivir el momento!
Como muchos de vosotros sabéis, antes de ir a vivir en España, mi marido Dom sabía hablar
muy poco español. A pesar de haberse casado con una profesora de español, nunca habiá
podido apuntarse a las clases, siempre cuidaba de Anabel mientras yo trabajaba por las tardes y
ni siquiera consiguió llegar a la tercera página del libro de curso sin aburrirse. Todo esto
cambió radicalmente una vez que nos habíamos instalado en Altafulla, por el mero hecho de
que no tuvo más remedio que comunicar con los demás. Al ser una persona habladora, Dom no
pudo permanecerse callado mientras esperaba a que saliera Anabel en el patio de recreo del
cole, se vio obligado por su propia personalidad a entablar conversación con los demás padres
fuese como fuese. Y a veces no recordaba después cómo había podido hacerlo. Dom era profesor
de inglés en la academia del pueblo y corría voz de que era muy popular con los niños dado que
hacía reír a los alumnos. Dom hizo un gran esfuerzo con la gente y le recompensó un día al
invitarle a ser uno de los´gegants´ del pueblo. ‘Els gegants’(los gigantes en español) o ´giants´en
inglés, son figuras gigantescas populares que destacan en las fiestas. En Altafulla consisten en un
mago, una bruja y varios enanos y diablos. Se construyen de ´papel mache´y otros materiales
ligeros, sin embargo hay que estar en buena forma física para poder llevar el ´gegant´ a lo largo
de una fiesta entera, andando y bailando por horas. Dom se apuntó de buena gana, orgulloso de
participar. Por lo tanto, Anabel tiene unos recuerdos muy bonitos de caminar por las calles
estrechas de Altafulla cogida de la mano del ´gegant´´de la bruja o del mago. Abajo adjunto
unas fotos de la transformación de Dom en gegant. Ya que no estamos en Altafulla, recordamos
aquellas fiestas con nostalgia, agradecidos de haber participado plenamente en todo; como
profesores de la academia del pueblo, padres de una alumna de la escuela primaria y, para
colmo en el caso de Dom, de ´gegant´. Hay que vivir el momento…..
Saludos cordiales de Heather
(Blog translation available following the photographs).
Blog-- translation
The Blog
moment!!
Live the moment
As many of you know, before we went to live in Spain, my husband Dom didn’t speak much
Spanish. Despite having married a Spanish teacher, he was never able to join the evening classes
as he was busy looking after our daughter Anabel. In terms of self-study, he couldn’t seem to get
past the third page of the Spanish course book without collapsing in utter boredom. All this was
to change abruptly as soon as we settled in Altafulla and was due to the fact that he is naturally
curious about people. Dom was simply unable not to initiate conversations with other parents in
the playground. Mind you, sometimes he wasn’t sure how he had managed it! Dom was an
English teacher in the local language school and word had got round that he was popular, he
made the children laugh. Dom made a lot of effort with the locals, and one day they repaid the
compliment by inviting him to become one of the town ‘gegants’. Gegants; ´giants´in English,
are popular figures which take pride of place in local festivities throughout Catalonia. In
Altafulla, the gegants consist of a wizard, a witch, several dwarves and devils. They are made of
papier mache and other light -weight material. Nevertheless they are pretty heavy and
cumbersome to carry about all day long, especially if dancing in the fiesta. Dom gladly took up
the challenge, proud to have been asked. You can imagine that Anabel has some very special
memories of walking through the narrow streets of Altafulla hand in hand with the giant witch
or wizard. You can see the transformation from man to gegant below. Now that we are no
longer living in Altafulla, we remember these fiestas very fondly, grateful to have had the
opportunity to take part, as teachers from the local language school, as parents of a schoolaged child, and Dom ,to top it all, as a ‘gegant’.! It strikes me now that you really do have to live
the moment! Best wishes from Heather
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One thing we were never short of in Catalonia was lemons! We had ‘un limonero’ in our
patio garden and I regularly produced a lemon sponge cake at the weekends from our
tiny kitchen. They came in handy for the gin and tonics too on steamy summer nights!
Here is a poem by Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda in homage to the humble lemon. The
English version of it follows. Photo courtesy of Dom.
Oda al limón (por Pablo Neruda)
De aquellos azahares desatados por la luz de la luna,
de aquel olor de amor exasperado,
hundido en la fragancia salió del limonero el amarillo,
desde su planetario bajaron a la tierra los limones.
¡Tierna mercadería! Se llenaron las costas,
los mercados, de luz, de oro silvestre,
y abrimos dos mitades de milagro,
ácido congelado que corría desde los hemisferios
de una estrella, y el licor más profundo
de la naturaleza, intransferible, vivo,
irreductible nació de la frescura
del limón, de su casa fragante,
de su ácida, secreta simetría.
En el limón cortaron los cuchillos una pequeña
catedral, el ábside escondido abrió a la luz los ácidos vitrales
y en gotas resbalaron los topacios,
los altares, la fresca arquitectura.
Así, cuando tu mano empuña el hemisferio
del cortado limón sobre tu plato un universo de oro
derramaste, una copa amarilla con milagros,
uno de los pezones olorosos del pecho de la tierra,
el rayo de la luz que se hizo fruta, el fuego diminuto de un planeta.
Ode to a lemon by Pablo Neruda
Out of lemon flowers loosed on the moonlight,
love's lashed and insatiable essences,
sodden with fragrance,
the lemon tree's yellow emerges,
the lemons move down
from the tree's planetarium
Delicate merchandise!
The harbours are big with itbazaars for the light and the barbarous gold.
We open the halves of a miracle,
and a clotting of acids brims into the starry
divisions: creation's original juices,
irreducible, changeless, alive:
so the freshness lives on
in a lemon, in the sweet-smelling house of the rind,
the proportions, arcane and acerb.
Cutting the lemon the knife
leaves a little cathedral: alcoves unguessed by the eye
that open acidulous glass to the light; topazes
riding the droplets, altars, aromatic facades.
So, while the hand holds the cut of the lemon,
half a world on a trencher, the gold of the universe
wells to your touch: a cup yellow
with miracles, a breast and a nipple
perfuming the earth; a flashing made fruitage,
the diminutive fire of a planet.
Read more at: http://www.poetrysoup.com
www.norfolkspanish.com
[email protected]