Grassroots Spain

A new movement for change has taken over the main squares all over Spain, a grassroots movement called 15M, the 15th of May, that surprised many when last Sunday thousands joined together to call for a new vote, a new politics in Spain not tied to either of the two major political parties, who month after month since the crisis began have shown themselves to be the same talk in different colors. The Spanish are tired of high unempolyment, poor pensions, and a youth with much preparation and few possibilities, and they are taking it to the street until the local and regional elections on Sunday, where they hope people will vote for a new party, a new voice in democracy. Change is in the air, and it's so inspiring to see people really taking a stand. Check out CNN's report here and more from El País in Spanish, and here, plus incredible photos here and all over Spain here.

French style

Due to the economic crisis, European countries have been up in arms to planned changes to the rights of the worker. Spain (and other European countries) had a general strike on September 29 to show the government their dislike of new plans to change retirement ages (from 65 to 67) among other plans. France, has followed suite and the country has been on strike for over a week now protesting their government's plan to change retirement age from 60 to 62 years. Quite wisely, they started striking in different sectors step by step removing necessities until the country is paralyzed. The French have always been know for their solidarity-and even now in 2010 when it's become so easy to be passive it's inspiring to see the French on the streets.

And speaking of French style...this article about an old Parisian apartment left untouched for 70 years is so romantic.

Yeeeeer out!

I just caught the news about Republican congressman Wilson yelling out during president Obama's speech on Wednesday. I showed the video to Diego and he started laughing, saying that happens all the time here in Spain. It's not hard to believe seeing that debating, arguing, challenging, tertulias are the national pasttime here. But there was one case in particular that stands out in the Spanish governments recent past beween a diputado of the socialist PSOE(US-equivalent-Democratic) party and another of the Partido Popular PP (US equivalent-Republican). While in session deciding details of a certain bill, the PP representative started calling out negative comments toward the Socialist representative who was at the microphone-and was the 3rd most inportant man in the power raking of Spain at the time following only the king and president. As you'll see in the video, there is a three strikes your out rule in these situations in the Spanish parliament. The PP rep is given three warnings, and refuses to leave, the whole place is up in arms, the PSOE rep gets the book of rules out and starts reading the rules, people protest even going to the stand to try to ask him to stop, but in the end the PP rep has to abandon the room for his misbehavior. He is accompanied by applause from his classmates on the way out.

Presidents Abroad

The European public has been buzzing about the appearances of the Obamas in Europe. Michelle has been in the spotlight for her queen hugging and fashion and I couldn't help but compare their popularity abroad to that of the Kennedys fifty years ago. Jackie was especially popular for her fashion, charm, and ability to speak to the public in their own langauge. All Michelle needs to do now is learn to speak another language, here is Jackie speaking Spanish in Spain in 1962.

Change

Today is a day that will go down in history and the entire world is watching each step they take as Barack and Michelle Obama make their way to the white house. The radio coverage of the inauguration has already begun in Spain, begining with a report talking to restaurants in Madrid serving a special menu today based on the Obama familiy's favorite foods and continuing to cover until 9pm. Elpais.com has a live streaming video of the coverage. The TV will also cover the inauguration, but starting at 5:30. I'd like to be able to watch, but I have to teach, so I'll be checking out video's later in the evening. While the press is very interested, I haven't noticed much interest in the general public, most people are just commenting on the interest about the new American president compared to the reception of their own president, who for many was also a huge relief (introducing a socialist president after a Bush supporting right wing president who sent Spanish troops to Iraq) when elected 4 years ago. The influence of Obama will have a greater impact than the election of most other world leaders, so here's to the hope for change.

How is the coverage in the rest of the world?

At the same time, the coverage of the end of the Bush era, while very welcome has also been quite funny as many comedians and journalists are bidding a sentimental goodbye to Bush thanking him for the scores of incredibly surreal ridiculous moments one would never expect from a world leader that made their job so much easier.

And, finally, the weather has been crazy lately, a mix of sun, wind, storms, hail, rain, and cold, changing about every hour. A temporal, almost like a baby hurricane, is upon us, and I have to say it's better than snow.

A solas

About a week ago, the clothing of the ministra de defensa, Carme Chacon, was the topic of the news for a few days. This weekend, another female politician, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, has been in the spotlight for her appearance in photographs taken for an interview in Magazine. The photographs, although not blatently distasteful, in my opinion are not exactly the image that the portavoz (spokesperson) for the minority party of the country (PP-Partido Popular) would want to portray. Maybe its all just an image game, but the photographs just dont seem like the best way to present a political leader. (Are there any pictures of men in politics on a similar scale?) Anyway, aside from my opinion, the news has been going back and forth in not really criticizing, but mostly saying who cares. It just seems so strange that a week ago a woman in a modern suit was criticized, and 4 years ago the ministers of the leftist party were also criticized for a photograph in Vogue, and then this photo comes out. In the end its not really that important, and not worthy of being on the cover of the newspaper all weekend, but it does lend to an interesting perspective on the way that women in power are viewed, or for that matter, the image of women in general.

Photograph of the ministras del gobierno in Vogue, 2004

In defense...

A few days ago a big debate started up in the media about what the Spanish Minister of Defense, Carme Chacón, wore to the ceremony marking the beginning of the military year. The Minister of Defense, a woman, chose to wear a suit, conservative yet modern, rather then the traditional dress, skirt, or pant suit that women in politics are expected to wear. The critics claimed she was being disrespectful and calling too much attention to herself, and the rest of the news began the discussion that what a woman politician wears or how she combs her hair should not overshadow her position and her ideas. What do you think?

CHANGE!!!!!

OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GANOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=A0dMxqgS1-8

VOTE!!

It's finally the day...and here in Spain everyone is eager for an Obama win. I have my fingers crossed too. The newspapers have Obama on the cover, the news channels are covering the voting process, and D and I watched a live feed of Obama and Michelle at the polls while we ate lunch. I'm not sure if there will be any election parties in the city tonight, more likely tomorrow with the time change we won't really know the outcome until late morning tomorrow...but while we are waiting, we'll toast some vino in hopes for change...

I'm also very busy this week with extra classes from an academia that called me to sub for an hour three days this week. I've had to rearrange my schedule a little, but all my classes are working out. Another good thing is that the families want to make up the lost classes for the time that I am in the states, so nothing will be lost there! After going to the academia, I can only say that I really really enjoy teaching my clases particulares. Having 6 5-6 yr olds in a room together is quite different that having one or two in their house. Tonight I'm teaching 11-12 year olds, so hopefully they aren't as squirmy. But, one good thing about teaching at an academia is meeting people to hang out with. It's never easy meeting people in a new city, and D has been great in introducing me to all his friends, and they have all been great at making me feel like part of the group, but it's always nice to meet new people. I've tried to sign up for gallego classes (they were full) and thought about taking art classes (still might when i get back from the little trip to the states) to open up the possibilities of meeting people, but neither of those options has worked out. But yesterday, the regular teacher at the school, a guy from England, was very nice and was saying how D and I will have to go out with he and his novia sometime...so maybe we'll be meeting more people soon. Everything works out with time, I've always known that, but these months in Spain are teaching me more and more. This is the first time I've really had to start from scratch in a city (compared to everyother time i've lived abroad being with study abroad programs), and although I've had my moments of thinking I'd never find a job, get papers, make friends, everything works out, it just takes time.

So ending on an optimistic note...lets hope things work out in the election today!