Right now as I’m writing this, the Queen song “We are the Champions” is blasting from speakers on the street below my house.  No, Spaniards don’t just [...]]]>

A large screen was put up in the Plaza Mayor of Burgos this afternoon so that soccer fans could watch the final match of the World Cup.

Right now as I’m writing this, the Queen song “We are the Champions” is blasting from speakers on the street below my house.  No, Spaniards don’t just really like Queen — the song is being played over and over again because Spain won the World Cup this evening.  It goes without saying that, since the win, there has been some massive celebrating going on here in Burgos.  It’s safe to say that these Spaniards really know the meaning of the phrase ”party hearty.”

The afternoon started peacefully enough with almost everyone in the city heading to the Plaza Mayor to watch the final match of the World Cup on a large screen that had been set up just for today.  As you can see from the picture above, there was a big turnout of red-clad, Spain-supporting, Burgos-dwelling people.  The afternoon turned out to be a tense one: it was a really close game.  Still, Spain won in the end.

When Spain won, what did those watching the game in the Plaza Mayor do?  They went to the Plaza España, of course.  Why?  To jump in the fountain and celebrate the victory.  Now, I’m no soccer expert and I could be missing something, but I don’t really see the connection between “victory” and “jumping in a city fountain full of cold water to celebrate.”  Of course, that’s just me.  In any event, the celebration started about two hours ago and it’s now 1:00 a.m. and still going strong.  I have a feeling it will last well into the night.

In any case, I send my congrats to Spain’s team.  This is the first World Cup that Spain has won and it deserves the victory.  ¡Enhorabuena España! 

Hasta luego,
–Chris
http://abroadinspain.com

Recently, the city of Burgos launched a new ad campaign to get people to “buy, buy, buy” in the downtown shops.  Above is one of their new signs, which have been strategically placed throughout the city.  The signs must be working because shops in Burgos are [...]]]>

Signs urging customers to buy in Burgos.

Recently, the city of Burgos launched a new ad campaign to get people to “buy, buy, buy” in the downtown shops.  Above is one of their new signs, which have been strategically placed throughout the city.  The signs must be working because shops in Burgos are booming and shoppers are out at practically all hours of the day looking for deals (except during siesta time, that’s sacred). 

I sometimes ask myself how it can be possible that people are out shopping like never before while Spain is in “Financial Crisis Mode.”  The unemployment rate in Spain is on the rise and people on the street generally “complain” about the crisis all the time, yet everybody seems to still be “buying up a storm.”  Where’s the money coming from?  How can this be happening?  It’s an enigma to me….

This whole “crisis” thing makes my head spin.  I guess that’s why I’m a foreign language teacher and not an economist.  Leave your comments on Spain and the economy below.

Hasta luego,
–Chris
http://abroadinspain.com

Now that the election in the USA has ended, I thought it might be interesting for me to write a post with what Spain’s reaction to Barack Obama’s victory has been like. As you may or may not realize, the Presidential Elections of the USA are followed quite closely in Europe [...]]]>

Now that the election in the USA has ended, I thought it might be interesting for me to write a post with what Spain’s reaction to Barack Obama’s victory has been like. As you may or may not realize, the Presidential Elections of the USA are followed quite closely in Europe and in other parts of the world because the decisions made in our country often affect those everywhere. In fact, as the election in the USA grew nearer, more and more Spaniards began to ask me who I would be voting for and what my thoughts were on the subject in general. Later, when Obama won the election, I was bombarded with questions about whether or not I think he will be good for the country and whether or not I am happy with him as president. Just as I’ve formulated my own opinions about Obama, Spaniards, of course, have formulated theirs. Here’s what many are saying. 

In general, Obama’s victory in the USA seems to have been received in a very positive way in Spain (and in most of Western Europe as well). In fact, to me, it seems as though many of the people of Spain feel as if Obama will bring a breath of “fresh air” to our country (and the world at large) by sweeping “change” through our government and enacting numerous reform plans. The day after the election, I even felt as though the people here in Spain were already looking at the USA in a sort of “new light.” By this I mean that our government was no longer associated with “Bush” and “wars” and instead had been somewhat put on a pedestal as a prime example of “dreams coming true,” “courage to overcome,” and “positive change that will fix all the world’s problems.” Sometimes I wonder if our expectations for Obama are too high.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m very happy that Obama won the election in the USA and think he absolutely was the better candidate for the job; however, I also think that we can’t forget that he has many challenges to deal with. He has an unjustified war to “clean up,” a financial crisis that is the biggest we’ve seen in a century, and a lot of promised social reform plans to initiate on American soil. He has a tough job and I hope that people don’t become disappointed with him if “change” doesn’t happen as quickly as they’d like.

I know that I have readers who visit this blog from all parts of the world and I’d be interested to know how my fellow Americans, as well as those from other countries, view Obama’s victory. Please, post your comments about the election here….

Hasta luego,
–Chris
http://abroadinspain.com

There is a joke in Spain that says that José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the current Prime Minister of Spain, looks a lot like Mr. Bean, the ridiculous British comedy character.  I’ve decided to place a little image above to allow you to compare the [...]]]>

Prime Minister or Comedy Star? You be the judge...

There is a joke in Spain that says that José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the current Prime Minister of Spain, looks a lot like Mr. Bean, the ridiculous British comedy character.  I’ve decided to place a little image above to allow you to compare the two.  Zapatero, of course, is on the left and Mr. Bean is on the right.  What do you think?  Maybe they were brothers separated at birth….

Hasta luego,
–Chris
http://www.abroadinspain.com