Unrest? No. Thelebration!

May 20th, 2010 by admin Leave a reply »

Today was both our first day in Seville and our first brush with the civil unrest that worried us in the days leading up to our trip. We heard that the government cutbacks necessary to stabilize the debt could lead to rioting, as they did in Greece weeks ago. We had already been reaping the benefits of the weakest Euro in years (less than 1.25 dollars per Euro, lowest since 2006), but we had yet to feel the sting that the weakening Euro had on the population.

Carrying a flag for miles is true commitment

As we walked back from trying to find a book store that sells books in English, we came upon a group of relatively unwashed-looking young people — about 50 in all — holding a sign that read “GRECIA LLAMA” or “Greece is calling”. As we passed them they started marching and chanting. Fantastic. We turned the corner ahead of the group and saw a much larger gathering, more than 1,000 people and growing by the second. For a moment, we were worried that this group (which was much rowdier than the protesters) was also worried about in increasing economic woes. As we got closer though we could see that these weren’t unwashed hippies chanting, but were instead young people in soccer jerseys singing and cheering. You can imagine our relief. Apparently, Seville has just won the Copa del Rey, which is something obviously worth celebrating.

When the protesters were stopped by the outermost ring of revelers, they dispersed. And thus, the crowd had another win to celebrate.

On a personal note, the accent that the people speak with here is difficult for me on two fronts. First off, it sounds quite different than the Spanish spoken in the Americas. If I had to describe the differences, I would say it sounds very thick here, like talking with soup in your mouth. I am used to the Spanish of Central and South America, so it has taken some time for me to adjust to the different verbal inflections.

The biggest difference though is in how the letters z and c, when followed by an i or an e, make a “TH” sound instead of the American “S” sound. The resulting effect nearly identical to a bad lisp. This effect is especially salient for me, since I underwent speech therapy when I was younger to fix a slight lisp in my own speech. Since speech therapy is pure conditioning, I am experiencing the still-lingering effects every time try to say “thinco” instead of “cinco”. Moral of the story – I had a REALLY good speech therapist.

Advertisement

20,970 comments

  1. Is it okay to put a portion of this on my weblog if perhaps I post a reference point to this web page?

  2. curry shoes says:

    My wife and i have been quite cheerful Ervin managed to finish up his studies from the ideas he had in your blog. It is now and again perplexing to just always be releasing ideas many others have been making money from. And now we discover we have the blog owner to appreciate for this. The most important illustrations you have made, the straightforward blog navigation, the relationships you will help to foster – it’s all fantastic, and it’s making our son and us believe that this theme is awesome, and that’s exceptionally fundamental. Thanks for everything!

  3. My husband and i have been really comfortable when Raymond managed to carry out his inquiry because of the precious recommendations he had from your own blog. It’s not at all simplistic just to possibly be offering instructions men and women might have been trying to sell. Therefore we grasp we have got the blog owner to thank for this. These illustrations you’ve made, the easy site menu, the relationships your site make it possible to foster – it is many great, and it’s really leading our son in addition to us reason why that subject matter is entertaining, and that’s highly pressing. Thank you for everything!

  4. My spouse and i felt very glad Michael managed to complete his web research using the ideas he was given from your very own web page. It is now and again perplexing just to be giving out tricks many people may have been trying to sell. We really acknowledge we’ve got you to thank for this. These explanations you’ve made, the straightforward website navigation, the relationships you will help engender – it is all impressive, and it is making our son and our family reckon that that topic is entertaining, which is certainly especially important. Thanks for the whole lot!

  5. kobe shoes says:

    I wanted to write you one tiny note to help thank you very much the moment again about the beautiful principles you’ve provided at this time. It’s quite open-handed with people like you to present unreservedly precisely what most people might have offered for sale for an ebook to help with making some dough on their own, notably considering the fact that you could have tried it if you ever decided. These inspiring ideas additionally served to become good way to understand that the rest have the identical desire just as my personal own to figure out somewhat more with regard to this condition. I’m certain there are lots of more pleasurable sessions in the future for individuals who scan your blog post.

  6. I was referred to this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure who has written this post, but you’ve really identified my problem. You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  7. What a great article.. i subscribed btw!

  8. negocio says:

    I encountered your site after doing a search for new contesting using Google, and decided to stick around and read more of your articles. Thanks for posting, I have your site bookmarked now.

  9. negocio says:

    I like your quality that you put into your writing . Please do continue with more like this.

  10. Thank you for each of your effort on this website. Kim really loves getting into investigation and it’s really simple to grasp why. Most of us hear all regarding the lively medium you deliver effective strategies on the blog and encourage response from other people on that area of interest then my simple princess is undoubtedly discovering a lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year. Your doing a brilliant job.

  11. I intended to write you this little observation so as to give many thanks as before considering the pleasant suggestions you’ve discussed on this site. This has been so remarkably open-handed with you to supply publicly what exactly some people would have supplied as an e book to end up making some bucks for themselves, mostly seeing that you could possibly have tried it in case you desired. These tactics in addition acted to be a good way to comprehend most people have the identical eagerness really like my own to understand significantly more on the topic of this matter. I believe there are numerous more enjoyable periods up front for individuals who take a look at your blog post.

  12. curry shoes says:

    I actually wanted to construct a simple word to be able to express gratitude to you for the awesome guides you are posting on this website. My time-consuming internet research has at the end of the day been recognized with excellent ideas to share with my pals. I ‘d state that that many of us readers are quite blessed to be in a notable website with very many wonderful professionals with interesting techniques. I feel very fortunate to have encountered your weblog and look forward to plenty of more excellent times reading here. Thank you once again for everything.

  13. I think I will become a great follower.Just want to say your post is striking. The clarity in your post is simply striking and i can take for granted you are an expert on this subject.

  14. I like this weblog very much so much great info .

  15. My spouse and i were quite thankful Michael could finish up his investigation by way of the ideas he got from your own web pages. It’s not at all simplistic just to find yourself freely giving information many people may have been making money from. We really take into account we have the blog owner to thank because of that. The explanations you have made, the easy site navigation, the friendships you can make it easier to foster – it’s mostly extraordinary, and it’s really helping our son in addition to our family reason why this situation is fun, which is particularly essential. Thank you for everything!

  16. I want to get across my passion for your generosity supporting people who really want assistance with this particular issue. Your personal dedication to getting the message all-around appears to be certainly beneficial and has consistently helped professionals like me to arrive at their ambitions. The informative useful information signifies a lot to me and additionally to my colleagues. With thanks; from everyone of us.

  17. I can’t go into details, but I have to say its a good article!

  18. I dont think Ive caught all the angles of this subject the way youve pointed them out. Youre a true star, a rock star man. Youve got so much to say and know so much about the subject that I think you should just teach a class about it

  19. This is a great blog. Thank you for the very informative post.

  20. jordan retro says:

    I simply desired to thank you so much again. I am not sure what I might have achieved without the entire solutions documented by you relating to this industry. It seemed to be a very difficult problem in my position, however , taking note of a well-written form you processed that made me to weep over joy. Now i am happier for this service as well as pray you really know what a powerful job you happen to be getting into teaching men and women with the aid of your blog post. Probably you’ve never met any of us.

  21. I wanted to compose a brief message in order to express gratitude to you for the nice strategies you are writing here. My long internet research has at the end been honored with reasonable ideas to talk about with my best friends. I would claim that most of us website visitors actually are undeniably fortunate to live in a wonderful site with many special people with useful pointers. I feel very much lucky to have encountered the web site and look forward to tons of more exciting moments reading here. Thanks again for everything.

  22. curry 7 says:

    I simply needed to thank you so much yet again. I am not sure what I would have taken care of in the absence of the entire advice provided by you regarding such a concern. It actually was an absolute frightening dilemma in my opinion, but viewing this professional avenue you resolved it made me to cry over fulfillment. Now i am grateful for this service and even hope that you realize what a powerful job you were accomplishing instructing the others all through a web site. I know that you’ve never got to know all of us.

  23. I must show some thanks to this writer for bailing me out of this particular matter. Just after looking throughout the internet and finding principles that were not productive, I assumed my life was done. Living devoid of the solutions to the problems you have sorted out through the guideline is a critical case, as well as the ones that would have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I hadn’t noticed the blog. Your main ability and kindness in playing with all the stuff was tremendous. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not encountered such a subject like this. I can at this point look forward to my future. Thank you very much for your skilled and results-oriented guide. I won’t think twice to recommend your blog post to any individual who ought to have care on this area.

  24. I am only commenting to let you know of the fine experience our girl enjoyed using your blog. She even learned a good number of things, including how it is like to possess an awesome giving mindset to get other individuals with ease know selected very confusing things. You really did more than my desires. Thanks for giving the effective, safe, educational and as well as unique thoughts on your topic to Sandra.

  25. I precisely had to thank you so much all over again. I am not sure the things I might have gone through without the entire methods documented by you on such a area. It had become an absolute fearsome circumstance in my position, nevertheless discovering the very expert approach you treated that forced me to weep for joy. I will be happier for the service and even hope you comprehend what a great job that you’re carrying out instructing most people thru your websites. Probably you’ve never come across any of us.