The Pueblo Ingles Bulletin. Issue No. 9

 
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Dear Friends

    Just as the city of Madrid is heating up to its peak temperatures of the year, the peak season for the worker bees here in the office is nearly over. We have enjoyed meeting the hundreds of teenagers, whose voices can still be heard through the bungalow doors of La Alberca, the tanned travellers going off for a top-up in Cazorla and the first-time Pueblo Ingles'ers going to our original home, Valdelavilla. Although it may seem like we are taking a sigh of relief, we are still managing packed programs until the end of November and limbering up for the new 2008 program openings, which will be announced in September. There is never a dull moment at HQ and although we are not with you at each venue to live and breathe the experience, we hear enough to know that you are making sure that there is never a dull moment there either!

    We are proud to mention that we recently celebrated our 250th program and, by pure coincidence Bob and Joanne, a couple dear to our hearts, have taken part in their 25th! If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Bob and Joanne on one of your programs, you can get to know them below. We also have an inside look into the workings of Natalia's psyche, our newest member to the Anglo team. She will let you in on a few tidbits of info about herself since she reads so much about you!

    In this edition we have the usual English language novelties and our newest offering which takes the shape of a 3D virtual Valdelavilla. Also, if you are coming to Spain in the coming months we have some suggestions to keep you busy!

Warmest regards to you all and as ever we are open to any comments/improvements to our seasonal bulletins.

The Anglo Team :)


Features
If one life isn't enough
From our office in Madrid we visit Valdelavilla everyday. We meet anglos past, present and future and then we get home in time for our dinner! How do we do it? With Second Life of course. Valdelavilla has been recreated exactly as it is in real life but in a 3D version. It is one of the islands in a program called Second Life which has now opened up a community of millions across the world. Second Life is easy to download, you can sign up free and you could be visiting Valdelavilla and reminiscing about your time there in a matter of minutes. We hope to see you there soon! Look out for the infamous Clifford Shepherd and remember to ask him to show you his moves! Visit http://www.secondlife.com for more details.
Do these faces ring a bell?


Popular legends like that of Santa Claus, are not built over night. Legends tend to take time to evolve and flourish. Here at Pueblo Ingles however a couple originally from Wisconsin , but now residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are fast becoming P.I cult heroes.

Bob and Joanne Prochnow (married since they were nineteen) have spent a good part of the last two years in Spain and have participated in no less than twenty-five programs! After their first program in September 2004 they commented, “we had expected to enjoy the week and to find it interesting, but the great FUN was a surprise. We were both totally amazed at the incredible variety of topics that we discussed with the Spaniards and English speakers.”

While Bob and Joanne say that many of their most cherished experiences have been meaningful conversations and exchanges of ideas, they explain that programs have never been short of stories and escapades. On one memorable program in Valdelavilla two English speakers hid on a hillside and grunted like wild pigs when people were walking below them on the road. “Some of us hurried to leave, thinking that there were actually pigs on the hillside. One Spanish man started throwing rocks toward the noise from the shaking bushes, and the culprits revealed themselves in a fit of laughter.” One of Joanne's favourite presentations was by a man who described how to cook a turkey and described how it was necessary to keep the turkey in the bath tub for 8 days before killing it! In recalling one of their favourite improvisation performances, a Spanish man played the part of a quiz master and his final question was ‘Am I wearing pants?' Then he stood up to reveal the answer - he wasn't!!” (pants as in trousers for the non North Americans!)

They say, “it's difficult to describe some of the funniest experiences, because often a small group will begin laughing and cracking one-liners" After so many programs they still claim, “We meet new and interesting people, we learn new things about Spain. We know of no other opportunity to meet and talk with 40 people from many different backgrounds and countries in one place in only one week!”

While Bob and Joanne have been putting their psychology/social work and preschool/university educator skills to good use, there's one particular act that always sprinkles a bit of magic on their programs. Participants have had the opportunity to talk to Santa and to re-live a bit of the magic of Christmas. They describe it as “just one short improvisation in which the ‘children' always shine". "We have never had anyone refuse to be a ‘child' with us and each one has been unique and believable.” They did add, however that “in real life, at the mall, the kids are much easier.” “We continue to be amazed at how many children in Spain call out ‘Papa Noel' when they see us.” One look at Bob with his beard as white as the North Pole snow and you'll know why. With Joanne's smile as sweet as Christmas cookies, together they truly encompass the spirit of Christmas.

Joanne broke her arm on a program in Umbria, Italy. It wasn't from carrying too much luggage, an out-of-control group activity or a run-away pig! It came from a mishap while Mrs Claus was tearing up the dance floor! After a few days in the hospital, some metal pins and a cast she was soon back and raring to go!

Yet we had to ask the question: “But after twenty-five programs, aren't you tired?” Answer: “NO!! Although at the end of each week we do feel a bit tired (a good tired), we are always eager to go to another program.”

So…....., are they really the Anglos of the year? The truth is that such a title cannot be awarded. In a recent feedback form Bob and Joanne wrote that, “We believe that every person is important to the program. If everyone were exactly the same, the program would be a disaster!! So, VARIETY is best, not any one person!”

We're very grateful that these fantastic spirits come around more than once a year!

Teens 2008 now open!

We'd like to bid a fond farewell to the old and new faces that joined us for the teen summercamp. Serenity has now returned to La Alberca and as the adults arrive this week there will be no trace of the madness and mayhem that has been going on for the last four weeks! The venue at Candeleda was also a great success and we will be continuing next year with this fabulous site in the Sierras of Avila. The teen program dates for La Alberca have been confirmed for 2008 and are open for applications now! Candaleda dates will follow shortly. If you would like to request one of these programs you don´t need to fill in another application form. Simply go to "apply" then "request a program" from either the teens or adult website. School groups are very welcome so start badgering your teachers now!

Culture Corner

Language Lovers


Last time we had a butchers hook (look) at Cockney Rhyming Slang, a form of slang originating in East London so we hope that you are all scoobied-up (scooby doo = clue) on that by now!? A particular type of pun is the focus this time around as we move the spotlight to ‘Tom Swifties' Anglo friends (get it!?)

A Tom Swifty is a type of Wellerism, a Wellerism a play on words, involving a metaphorical and a punningly literal sense. Tom Swifties contain an adverb that works both properly and punningly within a sentence of reported speech. The following is a good example:

“The surgeon had to remove my right ventricle said Tom half heartedly.”

Tom Swifties and other puns show the great potential of the English language for comic wordplay and below we have picked out some of our favourites:

"I'm putting on my T-shirt, shorts and sunglasses", Tom summarised.

"I don't like this Rioja", Tom whined.
"I can take photographs if I want to!", Tom snapped

"I'd never drown in Egypt!", exclaimed Tom, deep in denial.

This is the real male goose", said Tom producing the propaganda.

"I only have diamonds, clubs and spades", said Tom heartlessly.

"Pass me the shellfish", said Tom crabbily.

"They had to amputate them both at the ankles", Tom said defeatedly.

"Sorry! I've accidentally pierced your cheek instead", said Tom mysteriously.
"The cat sounds as if she's happy now she's been fed", said Tom purposefully.
Things to see and do in Madrid



Entertainment galore with Veranos de la Villa
During the month of August and trickling through to September the amazing Veranos de la Villa festival continues its offerings of cinema, theatre, dance, opera and music from around the globe. The amazing variety of entertainment will be hitting several historic locations across the city and there really is something for everyone. This year's line-up includes flamenco from José Menese and José Mercé, conductor Daniel Barenboim, composer Michael Nyman and singer Liza Minnelli. For more information check out http://www.esmadrid.com/veranosdelavilla/idioma.do

Van Gogh – the weeks before the revolver
Until mid-September the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum will host the first ever exhibition dedicated solely to the work of Vincent Van Gogh produced in the last few months of his life. This includes thirty of a staggering hundred odd works that Van Gogh produced in his last seventy two days in the town of Auvers, near Paris. For more information go to http://www.museothyssen.org/

International Basketball
From the third to the sixteenth of September, Spain will be hosting the 35th European Basketball championships, Eurobasket 07. The best sixteen European teams will be competing at five venues across the country with the final stages taking place at Madrid 's impressive Telefónica Arena. For more information visit http://www.eurobasket2007.org/es
Ten things you didn't know about Natalia


Since you tell us so much about you, it's only fair that we divulge some tidbits about us! Continuing with our regular feature of Ten things you didn't know about......let us introduce Natalia Fotak (aka Nat Kat Fotak).

  1. She is a tea addict, and back in Australia used to drink at least 5 cups a day.  She has reduced her consumption since moving to Spain , but still gets her Mum to send the “good stuff” from home.
  2. She has a totally irrational fear of mice and has a very vocal freak-out involving prancing around like a maniac when she sees them… even if she just finds evidence of them.
  3. She is incredibly clumsy and accident-prone and has a problem with running into things, particularly low-lying objects in the street.  It´s the main reason she wears long pants most of the time.
  4. She is a qualified lawyer but she would love to be a writer.  She scribbles notes on scrap paper all the time, and her bag is usually full of receipts that she can´t throw out because they´re covered in “inspirational” thoughts.  
  5. She was under the illusion that she would be good at learning languages… until she actually started Spanish lessons.  To help herself out, she has redecorated her apartment with post-it notes so she can learn while watching tv and doing the dishes. 
  6. She has obsessive-compulsive tendencies when it comes to tidiness and everything has to be in the right place in the right way.  This is something she says her boyfriend is yet to learn. 
  7. She is a closet Backstreet Boys fan, and loves to dance to “Larger than Life” (although she insists her moves are not a “routine”).
  8. She was more scared to scuba dive 30 feet down into the Great Barrier Reef, than to jump out of a plane 13,000 feet above the Nepean River near Sydney.
  9. She is a self-confessed gossip addict, and keeps the office current on who's with who and who's breaking up in Hollywood. You want her on your team to answer the pink questions in Trivial Pursuit.
  10. She loves to cook and experiment with different dishes, but her three staple ingredients are salt (lots of it), olive oil and cheese.  Her spinach and ricotta pizza hasn't exactly been a raging success though.