Castañada against Halloween! Chestnuts against pumpkins!

I am the first who thinks that you have to be ready for changes; it is stupid to try to fight against them because sooner or later you have to admit them. You can’t be like Don Quijote fighting against the mills. World, society and people are in continuous evolution and we have to be ready for new changes in our future.
 

I know sometimes it is difficult to adapt ourselves, but unless you decide to live in a solitary island you have to get used to new things, habits and ways of living. And more now that technology it is so important for all of us.

I think in my grandfathers and I am sure they would have never imagined all the things you can do today with something so little as a mobile phone. You can say it is a small portable office. And I am sure that in 50 years life will be very different.

However, there are something that I think you have to keep alive. Especially, when we talk about traditions. As I said before, I understand that you have to get used to the technology changes but there are traditions in our society that we shouldn’t forget.

Today in Catalonia we celebrate the ‘Castañada’. Is a traditional holiday in where you eat chestnuts, sweet potatoes and a traditional sweet called panallet. I remember, when I went to school, that in the streets you could see people eating the hot chestnuts wrapped in newspaper. I even remember that once my friends and I did panallets for a party.

In the last years, and because of the American tradition, we are getting more and more things of Halloween. Shops and supermarkets have decided it to start celebrating this holiday and you can see special sweets and pumpkins everywhere and special offers celebrating Halloween. Today I am very surprised because I have seen a lot of children dressed up. When I was younger, I never got dressed up for the 31^st of October! Here we celebrate carnival in February and it is when young and old people get dressed up.

I understand that it is difficult to fight against the United Stated influence. We like to copy many things of them and there are a lot of people that like they live style. However, I think we should never lose our traditions. The Castañada is a nice holiday that should be celebrated every year. I think it will be a shame that in the future Catalans can't forgot the meaning of this day.

I repeat myself and insist that it is impossible to fight against changes, but we have to stay firm and preserve our own traditions. Now that the word independence is so common in conversations we have to remember those things that make us different and I can say that Halloween isn’t one of them.

I promise I will never celebrate Halloween and I always stick up for the Castañada. I prefer panallets and chestnuts than pumpkins!

114 years

This Tuesday 28th of October RCD Espanyol, my club, has celebrated its 114 anniversary. Wow! I really think it is incredible. A lot of clubs in Spain would like to be in our situation. Today I have been in a meeting with other clubs and we are the third oldest in the First Division behind Athletic Club and FC Barcelona. The third team in the First Division! I think that it is something incredible and that we have to feel proud of it.

114 years! Thanks to a group of students, RCD Espanyol became a reality. We have never been a winning team, we haven’t had the best players even though Zamora, Di Stefano or Kubala have played for us. Of course, we haven’t won many titles (four Spanish Cups) but I do think we have something different, something that makes us unique.

In a city like Barcelona where most people support FC Barcelona or even Real Madrid, for Espanyol’s supporters it is not easy. Normally at school you are the only one that supports RCD Espanyol. Usually, on Monday, when you go to work or to school you are unhappy because the team didn’t win. However, you still feel proud because is not everything about winning.

First rule: If you want to support a winning team don’t go for Espanyol. We normally finish the League with more defeats than victories, our best players have to live because the club needs to sell and we are not usually very lucky. But, as I wrote before, is not everything about winning.

I think that supporting RCD Espanyol gives you your own personality, it makes you stronger in front of those that think they have the power; we have to feel proud of what we are. A lot of clubs in Spain would like to have our stadium, our players, our history, and our professionals.
 

I don’t really know if the motto ‘Meravellosa Minoria’ (Marvelous minority) is the best to define us. I do know that we are different, that we are not millions like the big clubs but that is not something bad. The first thing to grow is have clear who we are, where we want to go and what makes so special.

In football you can win, lose or draw. A lot of teams are accustomed to lose; not many win titles but they have their unconditional fans that are always there. It looks like a lot of pericos have lost their passion; a lot look tired of losing... I can understand, but I would also ask them to remember, to have a look inside and see what makes us feel proud of supporting RCD Espanyol.
 

This Tuesday we have celebrated 114 years. It is not easy, because we find a lot of problems, of difficulties but we are still here and we want to stay forever. Obviously, we could do better, we could try to win more but I think that we have to insist in what makes us special. Not many clubs have lived what we have, not many of them would have survived. I know it is difficult I am 33 years old and I have lived FC Barcelona’s best performance. But that makes me stronger, prouder of being an Espanyol’s supporter. Pericos, remember, 114 years! Why don’t we celebrate and try to build a better future?

Christmas has arrived!

October is finishing and we are facing one of the best seasons in the year: Christmas. However, it is a bit strange to think about Christmas when it is so warm and you can still wear shorts!

If you walk around the different shops in Barcelona you will find them all full of Christmas decorations, bags for presents, wrapping paper and all different gadgets related with Christmas. Of course, in the food shops you can buy turrones, marzipans or chocolates; everything is ready to enjoy Christmas.

In some streets they have started to get ready for the Christmas lights and some shopping centres like la Illa have already put the lights. I am sure that shortly el Corte Inglés will put them up.

I understand that shops have to start thinking of Christmas because before Christmas actuallu arrive no doubt that they sell more than in the rest of the year. People cook special lunches, eat and drink more and, of course, you buy a lot of presents.

However, it is a bit strange when you go out in shorts or with short sleeve t-shirts or shirts to the streets. It is very difficult to think in something Christmasy when outside you can still sunbathe.

I know every year is the same and that normally you forget if it was so warm. Previous Octobers have been very warm and we have celebrated the Castañada, that is a traditional holiday in Catalonia, under very nice conditions. When I see the man in the fire with the chestnuts, I feel sorry for him: I would be sweating.   

I understand that shops and shopping centres need to sell and Christmasis one of the best opportunities but it looks as every year they start earlier. I think that it would be better if they waited until November to start. Do they make much more money if they start now? Just a simple question I know nobody will answer.

My first race

As I wrote a few posts before, this Sunday I ran my first race of the season. I woke up early in the morning –before 7 am- to have my breakfast and start getting ready for the race. My wife Jéssica decided  to come with me and she got up to come with me. Her decision made me very happy because it was the first time in years that she came with me to a race.

 

We went to the car, that made its last service, and we got to San Andrés de la Barca. We parked in the shopping centre and we went walking to the gym, where they gave me my number. As usually, I met somebody: Pablo Solís. He used to train one of RCD Espanyol academy teams and he was one of the best coaches and more responsible persons that I have ever known.

 

One of the best things of this race is that there are not many people and these helps to run more comfortably. The race started at 9.30 and even though I wasn’t in my best condition I started to get my pace. It is very frustrating when you are struggling in the path and you see the leaders of the race flying.

 

As I remembered, it is a hard race. The circuit had a lot of ups and downs. It is true that you have some parts to rest, but there are also are some parts that are very hard and sometimes you are not capable to measure your strength.

 

I finished the first lap over 22.30 minutes and I thought I would be able to be around 45 minutes but in the second lap I didn’t do so well. The sun start to come out and it was really warm outside there. However, I was able to finish in 46min 3 seconds with the feeling that I could have done a bit better in the last kilometres.

 

The best thing was yet to come: the butifarra (a typical Catalan sausage) sandwich. It was great! I wouldn’t have minded to have another one. My race was a great experience. I improved my mark nearly 1min and 30 seconds compared to 2012 and I am sure that if I can run it next year, I will be there again. The Cursa de la Tardor is great!

The mousetrap: who will the killer be?

Three blind mice, three blind mice... This is the tune of one of the best theatre plays written by Agatha Christie: The Mousetrap. In London, it has been on show for 62 years and it will carry one as you can buy tickets for 2015. One of the funny things about this play is that Agatha Christie wrote in her will that it couldn’t be adapted to a film or TV series; you can only enjoy if you pay your ticket or you buy the book.

 

I like mystery books and I thought that it was worth it paying the ticket to go and watch it. I missed the opportunity of watching the first time it was performed in the Apolo Theatre and this time I promised myself not to make the same mistake again. So I convinced Jéssica and we bought the tickets.

 

 

 

We like to go to the theatre and we try to go once or twice –especially if we find an offer or if we can get free tickets-. For those who don’t know what the plot is about, I will try to do a summary.

 

A young couple opens a hotel and, at the same time, there is a murder in London. One of the guests is thought to be the murderer. During the play you start to suspect of all the different characters and you try to know who it is. Don’t worry; I am not going to tell you because, as they said at the end of the play, it is a secret.

 

 

 

I really liked the play. The actors and actress did a good job, the stage was all right and even though I imagine it will be more glamorous to watch it in London, I think it is a good plan if you like theatre and mystery. If you search in the Internet you can find some offers.

 

Just one thing everybody should spend a minute thinking: why they don’t sell cheaper tickets. It was quite sad to be half of the theatre empty. I know it is a Wednesday, but, in the other hand, is one of the cheapest days and the play starts at 8.30pm. We were out at 10.45pm, so it is not very late for us. I understand that you have to pay for culture but the way things are at present, people think twice about spending money. I think that people don’t go not because they don’t like it, but because it is obviously too expensive.

Ebola

I am sure that if we asked which is the word you have heard most in the last few days I am sure that 99% of the humanity will answer the same: Ebola. Suddenly, it has become a very popular word in our conversations and everybody looks worried with its side effects. Of course, newspapers, radio programs and TV news have decided to make the topic of the month and we get loads of information of this terrible disease.

Spain has the honour of becoming the first western country to detect the first person with Ebola. Before, two missionaries died in Madrid after being rescued from Africa. But before this missionaries died and the nurse got infected nearly 4.000 people died in Africa because of this disease.

I have to admit that in the news I heard some information about the situation in countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone o Liberia, where Ebola has being killing people for months as you can read here. As usual, some countries send help and many people didn’t hesitate and decided to stay or to go to those countries to try to help.

However, most of the western people were not really aware of what was going on. That has suddenly changed since we knew that Teresa Romero was infected with the virus. I won't be demagogic: the easy thing to say know is that nearly none of us worried about Ebola until we had it at our front door.

We also know that in Africa, for example, and other parts of the world there are thousands of conflicts that we ignore. I think that it is totally human, because one only worries about things that are near or that affect him directly. However, it is true that maybe we had to put one eye in Africa because what is happening is terrible.
 

I heard this morning that there is a second case detected in the United States (the third one after Teresa and another nurse working in the same Texas hospital). I understand that authorities will have to calm down the population and try to follow all the procedures to avoid Ebola spreading.
 

Probably, as we conclude after reading and listening the news, the authorities don’t have all the information to stop this disease. I think we have to be patient, but I also think that those who work with infected people have to take all security measures when there are with them. I really admire those people that don’t doubt it and they help people infected. I am sure that not everybody would do it.
 

In short, I think it is time to be calm and let people work. I am sure that they will find a solution. Probably, and it is a shame, more people will die but we don’t have to get hysterical; let them work.

To finish just one last comment, I am surprised on the fact how some journalists here in Spain speak about Ebola, preventive measures, etc. as if they were experts. The funny thing about it is that they can talk about the Catalan process, Ebola or football. I think sometimes these journalists should be more honest with themselves and they shouldn’t participate in radio talk shows if they really don’t have all the knowledge they need to speak about some topics. I wouldn’t be able to do it and if I did, I would have to read a lot, listen to the news and talk to experts before saying anything. I am sure that most of them don’t follow any of these rules.

My football team

While I was at school I used to play basketball. I didn’t have much option because it was the only sport you could practice at school. I ended by loving this sport and I still miss those Saturdays mornings when my friends and I went to play.
 

When we finished our studies, the school didn’t give us any option to carry on playing so we decided to start playing football. Probably, it is the sport everybody can practice and it is easier to make up a team.

I don’t really remember when I started playing but since then I haven’t stopped. We have been able to build a good team with friends from school like Marc, Albert or Joan or others that we have made during our lives like Hugo or Oriol.

 

Really, football is an excuse to keep seeing us, explaining us things and enjoying time together. We are lucky that we don’t do bad and that we win quite often –this season we have started with two victories-, but, as I wrote before, it is not about football is about our friendship.

 

I have to admit that sometimes when we play late I would prefer to stay at home, however, I miss seeing my friends and chatting with them. It has become a tradition, a nice tradition that it would be nice to keep during the next years even we know it is difficult because we get old and we are not so fit as five o ten years before.

 

My matches on Thursday and my football team are two of the things that make me happier. I think it will be very difficult for me to live without them because I really enjoy it. The minutes before the match, the match indeed and the gathering after it.

 

I honestly think not many people keep playing together after they pass the thirties and I have to say that this is one of the best decisions I have ever done. When you get older, you don’t spend so much time with your friends but you can always find a way to see them and remember that they are an important part of your life.

Social media

The world changes constantly. When we studied we heard about the French Revolution or the Industrial Revolution as great moments of our history. I think that in the last century there have been a lot of changes. Sometimes I think that if my grandfather was still alive, he wouldn’t understand anything.

Don’t worry readers. I am not going to bore you writing about all the historical moments we have lived in the past hundred years. It would take me too long and I would have to choose from a big list. However, I would like to point out one of the recent changes that we have had in society: social media.

I have to start saying that I think that sometimes we give a lot of importance to some changes that don’t last much. However, in the case of Social Media it is true that it is something that has arrived to stay and I am sure that in future we will keep talking about them.

When I finished at high school nobody thought that digital newspapers had future. Now everybody thinks that the newspapers could disappear or that many of us will read them in our tablets, i-phones or laptops. Something similar has happened with Social Media.

Most people have an account on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and every day of your life you have to keep an eye on them to see what is going on. You may not publish any content, but you read your tweet line, see the last posts of your friends or have a look to the photographs.

I think you can analyze Social Media from many points of view, but there is one I am really concerned: the influence in society. Social Media has given voice to anonymous people who can give their point of view, explain what is happening or inform about topics that governments, big companies, etc, don’t want to be made public.

I remember that thanks to Twitter everybody knew what was happening in Egypt and something similar is happening now in Honk Kong. People are letting know the world how the ‘Umbrella revolution’ is advancing and the first decision of the Chinese government is to ban the use of some Social Media as Instagram.

Honk Kong - Umbrella Revolution (Alex Hofford/EPA)

In a way, it is great news because it means that that people are achieving their aim and that the world has information that, probably, in normal conditions wouldn’t be as clear. Not all the points of view or statements have the same importance and we don’t have to take notice of all of them, but it is interesting to see the influence in our society and that now there are a lot of voices to explain reality.

Social Media has democratized information and each person in the world has become, in a way, a narrator of history. 10 years ago we wouldn’t been able to imagine that thousands of anonymous people would explain us the things that are happening in their country. When you think about it, it is incredible!

Social Media has changed our lifestyle and has a lot of benefits. Obviously, there are things that I don’t support or that deserve a longer debate, but we can’t ignore all the benefits. In any case, we will have to keep an eye on it to see what future will Social Media bring.