The Madrid sidewalk kiosks are everywhere (example on right) - of course this is a decidedly European thing and you see these in any city or village throughout Spain. But, in Madrid I've found them important in terms of getting information - the kiosk operators seem to know everything. Now, will they spend the time speaking with you? Buy something and they are quite cooperative - of course you must be able to speak Spanish with them - they are quick and to the point not having a lot of time to spare. I have developed a familiarity with the kiosk operators at the Plaza de España. For my language sessions I stop by on my way to class each morning to purchase a daily copy of the the country's leading, left-leaning newspaper, El País. The other paper equivalent that leans equal amounts to the right is the ABC, more or less comparable to the U.S. Fox News of Spain, in print. The kiosk operators are great with directions, what you should read in terms of theater or movie reviews - I even got a running commentary about a Spanish comedy film just released: Que se mueran los feos [may the ugly people die]. As a result of the kiosk operator's comment that "the movie is a puta piece of shit" and the fact I took a look at the trailer (see link), I decided not to go. Also, many of the kiosks have free WiFi access - so take your Skype enabled 3G phone and you can chat with friends/family or access google maps to find your way around without roaming fees (as long as you are within a few hundred feet of the kiosk). Most restaurant and bar reviews are in Spanish and English. I could have used my useless Sprint brick-of-a-phone over here after all.
Changing subjects, one of my Spanish coaches (Clara) recommended that I make sure and visit a "lesser known" but wonderful museum near the Prado and visit an exhibit by a rather famous and popular (and still living) Spanish artist: Miquel Barceló. The museum is the CaixaForum (pronounced "KaishaForum"). His work is very modern, abstract, organic (he uses lots of natural materials), tactile, very large, and often a bit disturbing. I always go to these things with 3 perspectives: 1) can I look at it; 2) is it interesting; and 3) how would it be to live with (i.e. what if I owned it). Most of his work passed levels 1) and 2) and I appreciate the meaning and experiences he's captured in each piece. Plus, it's important to note that a great part of this exhibit were works from others that inspired many of his pieces - so they were similar in their ability to disturb.
Now, I really have to say I was on my way out of the museum when I stopped into an exhibit as an afterthought - it's the headline exhibit in the poster I photographed (right): FotoPres. These are images that are "visions of war and conflict, violence and the human condition." You will find everything from the issue of the torture and disfigurement of women in Pakistan, the atrocities in Kenya, to the simply horrific conditions in Caracas, Venezuela under Hugo Chavez. Please follow this link and make sure and watch the first film on the page - even though the first part of it is narrated in Spanish, please wait and watch. The images that follow the brief narrative are overwhelming. Those of you that know me know that I am generally a fairly collected, composed person. I did not expect to be affected quite so intensely by anything I might see this evening. When I walked out of this exhibit I wanted to find a private place as soon as possible - I was deeply affected & moved by the images and words of each of the photographers. Not only were the images powerful, upsetting, and graphic, but they had running films of each of the photographers explaining their direct experiences in each context. I watched each.. perhaps stayed too long. I'm looking forward to debating with my coach, Clara, whether this is art. However, is it something that I think should be seen, publicly funded, and available to everyone that could possibly see and experience it? Absolutely YES. We don't see this kind of reality in Seattle or probably much of the US.
[geek moment] I will make this one brief and simple. Did you know (I didn't) that when you use the present tense to commit to something vs using the future tense there is a huge difference? Example:
Te lo hago (present tense) mañana - I do it for you tomorrow
Te lo haré (future tense) mañana - I will do it for you tomorrow
Literally translated there is no apparent difference - in fact, an English speaker would assume if you are speaking about something in the future, of course you should use the future tense. NO. It depends. If you are sure you will do something, and you are committing to doing it, use the PRESENT tense. If it may happen, or very unlikely you'll follow through, use the FUTURE tense. So, those of us foreigners consistently saying we "will do something" sound like a bunch of flakes. Now for a cultural, rhetorical question: why would you even say you were going to do something if you have no intention of doing it? Ah... you must understand (and appreciate) the Spanish. More of the strange but true on the road to fluency.
With that said and to lighten up, there's a party going on in my street with a live band performing, just below my dining room window - I guess there are 200 people out there dancing below my balcony. I think I have to go out!
¡Hasta la próxima entrada!
Yeah - great writing and sharing of your experiences. The images in the Pakistan video are heartbreaking - How much hate and anger does it take to do that to another human being? Or is it that the perpetrators simply don't see their victims as human beings?
ReplyDelete..sadly, I think that the "huamnization" of humanity is a fairly recent/modern concept.. like equal or human rights.
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