With ten programs scheduled in the first three months of 2009, including six special editions, the year is really starting with a BANG!  As previous applicants we're giving you first access to La Alberca and Valdelavilla dates before they're published on our website's calendar page next week. Programs are yet to be confirmed for Cazorla, Pals and Italy.  Stay tuned to the website for updates.  Please remember that programs in Italy and Pals (Costa Brava) are INVITE ONLY. We ask that you do not request/enquire about these programs via email.

Click here to see what's up for grabs!

The first program (16-23 Jan), begins a groundbreaking series of ‘teachers' programs spread across January, February and March at our La Alberca venue. The idea of these sessions is to help Spanish teachers improve their English before they begin an ambitious new scheme, which will see them instructing academic subjects in English. We'll be welcoming volunteers from all professions as usual, but we're especially keen to hear from people with a background in teaching or education, who would be interested in comparing ideas, methods, and experiences with their counterparts in Spain . La Alberca will also host ‘normal' adult programs in the weeks 23-30 Jan, 6-13 Feb, and 20-27 Feb. Remember to apply early to avoid disappointment and if you're wondering which weeks to pick, you might want to check out our early 2009 entertainment guide below. This year, the early bird really does catch the worm!

HAVE YOU APPLIED BEFORE? If so, remember you can REQUEST_A_PROGRAM quickly and easily! If you have forgotten your access codes please email your name to us in an email titled ‘access_code_request', and we'll get them to you as soon as possible.

Finding an affordable airline ticket is usually the biggest hurdle in organising a trip to Spain. Booking as early as possible is often your best bet, but it's also worth keeping an eye out for special flight sales. We've done a bit of research on airlines linking Madrid and major Anglo cities.  We hope that the following information might be useful to you in your search for value.

A DEAL TOO GOOD TA-PAS ON?

Experienced tour operators Letango have put together a special tapas tour of Madrid exclusively for Pueblo Ingles participants. Tours can be booked for the Wednesday before or the Saturday after your program. To get the special price of 29 Euros per person you'll need to get busy liaising with your fellow Anglos in the chat forum as the price is based on a group of eight people or more. They can also arrange guided day trips to Segovia for larger groups on Sundays. Log into your group forum once we've booked you in for a program for further information.

FLAMEN-CO-OPERATION

If you've visited us in the last year or so you may have joined us at Casa Patas restaurant. Apart from serving our weekly paella, Casa Patas is also a foundation of Flamenco music, with conferences, training, and performances throughout the year. They have a fantastic, intimate concert hall tucked away behind the restaurant where you can enjoy an authentic, passionate performance of this beautiful and mysterious art.
Anglos wishing to attend a Wednesday night 'espectáculo' can get a 15% discount on the entrance, putting the tickets at 26.35 Euros with a drink included.  For further information, please send an email titled ‘Wednesday Flamenco' to anglos@puebloingles.com.

As if the prospect of 8 days of fun, friends, and festivity wasn't enough, take a look at these unique and wonderful fiestas that you can experience in Spain during January, February, and March.  The perfect complement to your time at Pueblo Ingles !

For all those pet lovers out there, come join the Spaniards as they honour the patron saint of furry friends, St. Anthony (San Antón).  On January 17th, the people take to the streets with pets in tow to the local church of the saint where they (the pets) are blessed.  This church in Madrid can be found on Calle Hortaleza, while in Barcelona, a procession of note can be found in the Sant Andreu del Palomar district.

If physical activity is more your thing, you can make your way to El Piornal in Extremadura and witness the Fiesta de Jarramplas from January 19 to 20 th.  Each year 12,000 tons of turnips (yes, turnips) are shipped into the town and used as projectiles (yes, projectiles) which are hurled at the valiant yet doomed figure of Jarramplas.  He roams the streets beating his drum all the while under turnip fire.  Theories abound as to the origin of this strange but true festival, but they only go part of the way to help us understand why????

February is host to the omnipresent “Carnaval”.  In the weeks before Lent begins, the carnivals are held to have one more chance at indulgence before paring down for the Lenten season.  The biggest event in Spain is in Tenerife, the oldest in Cádiz, and the closest (for us!) in Madrid.  The festivities in Madrid culminate on Ash Wednesday (February 25th) with a curious tradition called "The Burial of the Sardine", in which participants dressed in black cloaks and hats proceed through the streets with a coffin containing an effigy of a dead sardine.

Las Fallas in Valencia is one of the best known and most popular festivals in Spain.  Fallas are giant figures (often a satirical look at current political and world events) made from papier mâché and wood.  Hundreds of Valencian communities spend much of the preceding year creating their figure with care and precision.  After processions, dedications, and general merriment in the streets, these sculptures are sent off in a blaze of glory on March 19th as each one is lit on fire and fireworks fill the midnight sky.  Truly a tradition not to be missed!

The Pueblo Inglés program continues to exceed the expectations of everyone involved.  While the rewards for participants are abundant and diverse, language is at the heart of everything. Below we have listed some of our favourite quotes about language. Can you apply the ideas to your PI experience?

To have another language is to possess a second soul.
Charlemagne
When ideas fail, words come in very handy.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?
Clarence Darrow
Change your language and you change your thoughts.
Karl Albrecht

Don't tell your friends about your indigestion.
"How are you" is a greeting, not a question.
Arthur Guiterman

It's not what you tell them…it's what they hear.
Red Auerbach
Not the fastest horse can catch a word spoken in anger.
Chinese Proverb

Lenin could listen so intently that he exhausted the speaker.
Isaiah Berlin
The only way to entertain some folks is to listen to them.
Kin Hubbard
Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.
Doug Larson

Since you tell us so much about yourselves, it's only fair that we divulge some tidbits about ourselves! Continuing with our regular feature of Ten things you didn't know about...let us introduce Caroline Cooke, new in the Anglo department!

1. Caroline grew up on a cattle farm in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada.  But it wasn't all rodeos and square dances for her family with over 3,000 cattle and 2,000 acres to take care of.

2. Caroline's second home growing up was Ireland since her mom was born and raised in Dublin.  The annual family trip back to the homeland was always entertaining with sailing trips, grandma's fairy cakes, and picking up Irish slang from the cousins.

3.  As a 13 year old, Caroline's claim to fame was being able to name all of the 50 US States and their capitals.  Don't worry, she knows the Canadian provinces and territories as well.

4.  Although her calm exterior may indicate otherwise, Caroline has been known to be a bit of a daredevil.  Highlights include paragliding in the Swiss Alps, climbing to the trembling crater of Montserrat's active volcano, and most recently wearing 10 cm heels at her sister's wedding - the most painful experience to date.

5.  Caroline was convinced as a child that she would be a Hollywood actress.  Instead she settled for local celebrity in school plays and a fleeting but devilish appearance with the Madrid Players here in Madrid.

6.  Caroline was by no means sporty by nature while growing up but discovered the lure of adrenaline and competition after joining her company's Dragon Boat team in Toronto.  Off-season training included climbing the 1,776 steps of the CN Tower, 10K races, and a half marathon in Walt Disney World.

7. Now that she is living in Madrid, Caroline has abandoned all sports except for eating!  To help her in her training, she enjoys experimenting with her Thermomix “magic kitchen machine”.

8.  Somehow Caroline will have managed to take 16 flights in 2008.   And she doesn't even like to fly.

9.  Caroline moonlights as a flamenco dancer with her matador boyfriend, Carlos.  But only at weddings.  Of immediate family members.  In the week after the autumn equinox.  Honest.