Semana Santa Pt.1

Holy Mother of...! Wait, it's not the KKK?

Omg, when I first saw the capirotes (the pointy white hoods) my stomach dropped, I kid you not. And I was standing there with my mouth open, and my friend Bessa, before I could get anything out, goes, "No, ok, it has NOTHING to do with the KKK--I know that's what you're thinking!"


I was like, "Oh, thank God, because I was losing it right then! I was looking for an escape route!"


But no, right now we are in Semana Santa, the holy week before Easter.  All week, to celebrate the life, ministry, and death of Christ, the local hermandades (brotherhoods) of Málaga hold processions through the streets. They have shut down and blockaded the main central street of Málaga's center, la Alameda Principal, and many other main streets to allow for the processions.  People from all over Andalucía come each year to view the tronos (thrones) that they carry.  It's crazy here. Many people have off of work and there are tons of people in the streets.  The processions of Semana Santa began this past Sunday, and each day there are five or six that last throughout the afternoon and night. The week prior there were mini-processions that my tutor called traslados, which are very similar to the grand processions but with less to do.  One of my newest acquaintances, Germán, was so kind to explain everything to me, and I will now attempt to remember what he told me, haha.


These processions are held as a form of penitence, and the people who participate are showing their sacrifice to Christ. Each brotherhood/church (I wasn't really clear on if it was specifically one or the other) that participates has the same elements.  There are banners, incense, bands, and thrones. Also, there are people in different types of traditional Catholic garb, like in the picture above and others I will show below.  The capirotes that they are wearing in the first pic began during the time of the Inquisition.  They were used to distinguish those who were marked for sin.  They wear them in the processions as a symbolic measure and over time the robes were added.  You will note from the pics that each brotherhood has different colored hoods and robes that they wear. Each color symbolizes something--and I have no idea what, nobody had the answer to that (I suppose I could Google it eventually, hehe). In the old days, there also used to be men with open backed shirts that would flog themselves during the procession, but this practice was later prohibited by the Church. Also, it is normal to see people blindfolded--so that they can concentrate spiritually--and/or barefoot.






So, initially in the procession you see these people. Sometimes they will have a cross like this one, or sometimes they will have the banners of the brotherhood. 














These robes are what look like a velvety material, navy and light blue. Here, you can see the banners and the scepters they carry. This is the second group you might see. Some of the banners depict Mary or Jesus, maybe saints, also. These staffs have candles burning in them. These are above as well.

These robes are all purple. You can also see what I'm guessing are trumpets... these follow the banners.

These are robes and hoods are green and white. Usually, after the initial sets of people, there are processioners with long candles. The candles vary in color, depending on what color the robes are.















Here are people in all black.  After the candle bearers, you will see more people with staffs, likely the ones with candles one the top, like above, because they precede the first throne.

And finally, royal blue and white robes. I forgot to add this one above, but usually there are two groups of children, one before each throne.












The first throne will be of Jesus. It will either be of his ministry, his capture, him on the cross, or of his resurrection. As the thrones pass, people watching from balconies above will throw rose petals down onto them. You can also hear people chanting in the crowds.

 The thrones are of gold and silver--is it gold plated, colored, or the actual metal through and through, who knows--but they are pretty impressive. The detail is incredible. A lot of time went into making these and they are well cared for. They are stored inside the church for the rest of the year. Interestingly enough, the thrones are part of the reason for the huge doors of the churches. This pic is tiny, but there is a guy that's blindfolded to the right of this lady's camera.

This is the depiction of his capture. The man in green holds Jesus by a
rope and the roman soldier has a whip.

Here, Jesus bears his cross, it's a small pic, but there is an angel lifting
the other end of the cross. This one made me smile.

Pontius Pilate is on the throne sentencing Jesus.

Jesus on the Cross, to the left is Mary adorned in a crown.

I think it's really cool how all the flowers are real and the candles are lit.

So, I'm a little rusty on my biblical facts, but maybe I just couldn't
see this one very well. But I think it's another of Jesus persecution.

Jesus and the other two condemned men, with Mary with a crown.

This last one I took from the balcony of a friend's flat.  Several of us waited there until it went by. From my own balcony, I can look down the street and see many of the processions going by. My small street runs into a principle road, and several of the processions are directed down this one, called Carretería.


The thrones are pretty huge and it takes at least a hundred men to carry them. Don't believe me?

This one stopped right in front of me, so from the last body you can see there are five or six more men just on this side.  There are four beams that support the throne. So, that's about forty guys on this side, forty on the opposite side, and however many more in the middle in the front and back of the throne. On one I counted forty-two on one side.


The second throne is one of Mary, and they all look nearly the same, so I won't bother posting a hundred pix of that. But some are pretty impressive, with tons of flowers and candles. Also, most of the really nice ones I only have night photos of and my camera sucks at night without a tripod. And that's when most of the Mary thrones look the best because they are beset with loads of candles. But the one below is pretty nice. She is surrounded by white roses and candles, and on some of them she carries rosary beads and a cross. Also, on some of the thrones her robe is ten feet long or so. This is one of the smaller thrones so her robe is not as long.

In the next two pix you get a sense of how many people are carrying the throne. One is of the front and the other of the back of the throne.

I'll close this post with a fun fact: I'm not sure if it's every year, but this year Antonio Banderas returned to Málaga to participate in the procession with his brotherhood here. I'm sure he wore a hood of some kind to cover his face. =)


The first day, Sunday, I took a video of the first one I saw. We were lucky enough to be at a café it was passing. It's a night video so........

Part 1: http://youtu.be/6fkJyq4Zae4

Part 2: http://youtu.be/JyH3nx1tW9M

Part 3: http://youtu.be/QVkgRvHWXt4

Semana Santa Pt.2 after tomorrow and Friday because tomorrow is the most important day of the festival. =)

"La Huelga General"

So today, 29 March, the public here are staging a wide protest against new labor laws here in Spain. I thought these articles were interesting. I think CNN has taken an interesting point of view by interviewing only people who disagree with the strike and who, quite obviously, would greatly benefit from other types of negotiation practices with the government.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/28/world/europe/spain-strike-preparations/index.html
and live coverage later during the day...
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2012/03/29/goodman-wbt-spain-on-strike.cnn?iref=allsearch

I also think that it's important to see a different perspective, especially the general opinion from within the country. Millions of people wouldn't be striking if they didn't believe that it would be worth it. After all, they are losing money too by striking. Apparently, many españoles see a greater benefit, one beyond money, here.

Which brings me back to CNN's, and probably several US news networks', coverage of events like this one.  The US is in a very important moment right now--a moment that is ripe for bringing change.  Which kind of change will it ultimately be? That is left to be seen, but hopefully, it will be a change for the better for the vast majority of people in the country. That being said, I am left slightly upset at the POV chosen by CNN. I completely understand why CNN has chosen this view. Politically ( for both Dems and GOP) CNN cannot risk someone taking the opinion that they are supporting a nationwide strike against the government... Neither can the US government. It saddens me that there is no unbiased news anywhere. It's all influenced by someone somewhere with enough money or political weight.

That being said, I can read the following article from a distance. It's in Spanish, but if you may be reading this using Google Chrome, you can use the translate option.

http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/03/28/actualidad/1332958776_265683.html#serviciosminimos

Obviously, I'm not taking a side here as there are years and years of political and social history that I know nothing about, but what will say is that I can appreciate the movement of a large group of people demonstrating peacefully (although, it's still early yet, and many have been arrested already and there are several police that have been injured) for what they believe in, trying to initiate a change. The people of the US would do well to take note.  The Occupy Movement was a good thing, but it's time for something more organized.

Phew....

So this last month has been.......interesting, to say the least. So much has happened, though I haven't really done anything.  I tried to get out of my living situation and FAIL. Can't get out of my contract. So, at the beginning of this month I was just running around spinning my wheels for absolutely nothing ultimately. I swear it's been quite the roller-coaster ride. I've been sick three times this month, my glasses got broken, trying to figure out this university is just...*facepalm* mixed with my own head fog is just making things crazy. But, I am trying to look on the bright side: I have contacts, I will eat before I go to BBQs, my class schedule is set now, and my flat here is really cute and I really like it. 


Also, my flatmates are really trying to be accommodating, considering.  However, that only lasted until we had some new "roommates" move in: las hormigas. Yes, they came, they saw, and....they died, yes, because I killed them. I'm not sure how serious they were taking me when I stated--pretty clearly, I thought--"I don't do ants (or bugs, or creepy crawlers, or rodents, or anything that comes in uninvited and ruins your food)." 


"Well," one girl said, "I don't like the idea of spraying such harsh chemicals in the kitchen." And the other promptly followed with, "And these sprays are really harsh. You have to wear a mask and leave the house for 45minutes." 


I stared blankly at them for a few seconds, then down at my box of Cheerios in the garbage that was 3/4 full of cereal and 1/4 full of ants. Then one of them suggested that we buy traps for the ants. Well, this was something that I never knew existed. Traps for ants, you say? Sounds like a fail, but ok, I'll humor you.  The next morning when I went into the kitchen, I noticed the traps on the floor next to the cabinet. I also noticed all of the ants crawling on the trap and up the cabinet and into the cabinet and onto the food and onto the dishes. After class that day, I walked down to this store called Carrefour, the French equivalent of a Super Target, where I purchased some items: milk, cheese, contact solution, also Raid. 


I no longer have ants.


And boy do I feel better about not scratching myself like a crackhead.


Do I feel bad about lying about spraying?        *Ahem*

A month down...

I can't believe it. It's already been a month and i feel like i haven't accomplished anything!!! I know i've done somethings like registered with the police, gotten a bank account, completed el curso de español, found a flat, and hooked up my internet. But beyond that i haven't really done anything. I've attended one class so far that i need. Tomorrow i will go to another class--about cinematography, i believe.

But i guess the real reason i feel so much like i'm spinning my wheels and going nowhere, is for two reasons: one, i've already spent a ghastly amount of money, and two, i'm not getting very far in finding another suitable flat. I've been to visit seven or eight other flats, and there has only been one possible, and in this flat the major strike is that there are four other people living there already and i would make the fifth person. Yes, i remember that  in Newcastle there were six of us, but that flat was twice the size of this one. AND there was a weekly cleaning service that came through and cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. I'm not sure that i want to take the chance on this flat because of the amount of people and the fact that there is no heat and NO, i repeat NONE, A/C for the summer heat--which i find an impossible thing. Because from what i understand the summers here are ridiculous.  And i'm well aware of Georgia summers and trying to endure one of those without A/C is suicide. So won't be doing any of that here, friends.

I've been to see a flat today, and really the only downside of things is that one of the flatmates smokes. Sure, she only smokes in her room, they say. Yeah well, i know what that is and a big ol' hell nah to that one as well. I'm very well aware of how air currents work.  The owner was very nice, though.  He and his boyfriend were very pleasant.  But a great attitude won't keep me from sweating to death in the summer heat, unfortunately.  That's another reason i'm looking to leave the flat i'm currently in.  There is no heat here, nor air conditioning.  And it is really a shame. This flat is nice, and super cute. I honestly think that.

But the major, major issue for me is that i don't have any privacy. Not really.  The other two girls have proper rooms--doors that shut, and curtains.  Nobody has to pass through their rooms in order to get to another room or to a shared or common space.  You see, the patio is common area, very much like the sofa and TV are shared items.  So at any time, either or both of the girls could come in and use this space, regardless of my being present or not. Which is troubling.  Already it's happened that one of them has entered into MY space and touched something of mine without permission, under the excuse that they were unable to wake me and they had to turn of the heater, as it was consuming just way too much energy.  We discussed this--well, portavoz and I discussed it, the voice of the two, as the other girl is just a shadow of a human being--and afterward, the portavoz wrote me a lovely little letter expressing her sympathies for what had happened.  And admittedly, their attitudes have changes considerably for the better.  However, it should not have taken an almost riot for them to change their attitudes.  I mean, they can't even be bothered to speak in a common language to the three of us while i'm in the room. Its fucking rude, quite frankly.  And regardless of whether their change in appearances is genuine or not, i'm afraid it's too little too late.  First impressions are quite hard to change sometimes.  And well, my first impression of the two of them was rather poor.

And then there's Donald.  My wonderful new friend, who's also in the GSU-UMA exchange program. He's very fun to be around and very helpful with Spanish--as he's a grad student who also teaches elementary level curses at GSU.  But. But...there is a problem with him, too. He's really great when he's happy, but when he's a Debby Downer, well! There's just not pleasing him. And that's potentially detrimental to me because I'm really trying to like it here in Málaga. He can't--and won't--be convinced to do otherwise.  I mean everyday he's crying about how much he hates it here and how much he wants to go home.  Then he'll tell the story about how he was in Madrid, like, two years ago and got sick and got robbed and returned home after three weeks, after having given up.  And you know, after an experience like that, i can't blame him.  That really sucks.  But now that you're here in a new situation, in a new time and place, don't you think it's time to let some of that go?  I mean, otherwise, what the fuck are you doing here?? Why did you come?
For me, Málaga--up until very recently--has been a disappointment.  Overall, I will say that my stay here has been less than great.  But i'm not sure if it's because of one or two specific things or just everything all at once. But if it's the latter, then i truthfully can't say that it's Málaga that i'm not enjoying, it's all of the little shitty things that keep affecting my situation here. And i want to be, and i'm trying really, really hard--objective about my experience.  I want to like Málaga--hell--I want to love Málaga. But with Donald around that will be hard to do.  His moods are very affecting sometimes, and i really don't want to spend the majority of my time pouting when i could have been having a really amazing time.

And yes, i do complain a lot about my flat and flat mates, but also i'm actively trying to change my situation for the better. Yes, it's tiring searching for another flat, but if it's what i have to do to be happy, then dammit, it's what i'm going to do.  I didn't toil and stress myself the hell out so that i could fly eight thousand miles to be miserable for five months.  It's too much mother fucking money. And too many people have helped me get here.  I won't piss all over their efforts and mine that way.  The way i see it, the very least i can do is enjoy myself.

*Big Sigh*

Not to mention, it's tougher not having close family and friends around for support. The time difference is killing me, because i can't readily talk to my best friend. I have to wait until 1:30am to see if she'll get on Skype. That part sucks. But i'm making new friends, so i'm hoping they'll be able to fill some part of that gap. Also, a boyfriend would be nice... Just throwing that out there. If the internet gods are listening, lols.

Hopefully, though, once i really start in with my curses at UMA, i'll be distracted in a good way and my spanish will pick up quickly and i'll be able to start having a better time. Also, i think if i'm more diligent with my posts here it will help me keep my head on straight and my mind on track to be able to focus on good things and important issues.


*ihopeihopeihope*

Febrero En Málaga

Well, it's February in Málaga.  Where is all that warm weather i was promised by the archives on the Weather Channel's website??? It's a little above 60 today, which is nice, but in the shade between the buildings its like 50, lols. And inside the buildings...40. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but it feels really cold inside, especially at night. When i sleep, i have four blankets on my bed, and i sleep in a hat, a hoodie, a shirt, pants and socks (Sometimes two pair). I mean, you'd think that here it wouldn't be that way, but apparently there is a cold wave from the Siberian zone or something, and it's freezing the canals in Venice, if that gives you any idea of how serious this cold spell is....

  
 Yea, so, there's that.
And no, it's not fair.

El Flamenco!

Fui a ver el flamenco hace unos pocos días, y era muy mola! Lo disfrutaba mucho y voy a volver a ver en las semanas que vienen. Lo siento, pero la calidad de los videos es mala, pero el sonido es mejor. Disfrútalos.

I went to a flamenco show a few nights ago, and these are the videos I took. Sorry in advance, I didn't realize that the quality would be so bad, but the audio is pretty decent =) I didn't realize how dark it was in there.  I'll get better at this, haha, it was only my first video post. Enjoy!

Los días primeros en Málaga

¡Por fin...!


¡Me parece que el momento de llegar en Málaga ha pasado después de años!  He ido trabajando para muchos meses para cumplir las obligaciones académicas y financieras para poder venir aquí.  Y sí, vale la pena porque es posible que la ocasión no me se presentará otra vez.  A mi familia y a mis amigos doy gracias de que me apoyan y me ayudan realizar el viaje =)


Hasta el momento, Málaga me parece muy muy bien.  He encontrado a muchas personas amables, y de estos, voy a compartir un piso con dos nuevas amigas alemanes--Rike y Steffi. Y el piso...  ¡Increíble! Es perfecto, así como alguien hubiera mostrado mis sueños y después hubiera lo construido. (jaja)  También, tengo un tutor, de quién nombre es Ignacio, pero sus amigos se llaman Nacho, como Nacho Libre en mi mente, y es muy simpático.  Me ha ayudado mucho, porque me buscó algunos pisos antes de llegarme y ofreció encontrarme al estación del tren.  Además, me va a mostrar la ciudad y los sitios más importantes.


Pero esta historia no es completa sin mencionar Michael, quien me ha ayudado muchísimo.  Me ofreció el sofá de su piso hasta yo encontrara un piso propio.  Sus compañeros de piso son simpáticos también, Sonia y Matush(?).  Me ofrecen comida y una habitación cuando él viajó a Eslovaquia para algunos días.  Michael ha ido mi guía a Málaga y a él le doy muchísimas gracias.  Aunque su perrito me molesta mucho, vale la pena.  No me importa mucho cuando considero todas las cosas.