21 de novembro de 2012

Notes from Battersea: a Igrexa de Inglaterra / the Church of England

Foto: Angela Berners-Wilson, a primeira cura inglesa (The Guardian)


Collín como costume escoitar a BBC Radio sempre que teño ocasión para ir practicando a escoita do inglés, que falta me fai. É curioso: neste país teñen bastantes programas de radio nos que o presentador formula un tema de actualidade e a xente chama por teléfono e dá a súa opinión. Moitas horas ao longo do día. Sería unha especie de "Hablar por hablar", pero sobre discusión política, cidadá ou deportiva en vez de sobre temas persoais. Mesmo existe unha emisora, London Biggest Conversation, que se dedica só a iso: a conversar.

Por ese motivo, voume pondo ao día de cales son os temas que os medios seleccionan neste país, o cal fai unha vez máis impresionarse coa capacidade que teñen os medios para construír unha "realidade", a base de selección e enfoque. Sabemos así, por exemplo, que Catalunya e España viven en dúas dimensións mediáticas diferentes. Mais esa é outra historia.

O título desta anotación explícase polo tema que se discutía hoxe na BBC London: a Igrexa de Inglaterra (Church of England), acaba de decidir en votación non permitir que as mulleres sexan bispas (bishops), polo menos durante os próximos 5 anos. Si, que inxusto. Pero non vos sorprende ler que no Reino Unido se está a discutir esa cuestión? Imaxinei por un momento a Rouco Varela falando do tema e tiven que borralo rápido da miña mente porque me parecía demasiado psicotrópico. Na Igrexa de Inglaterra, seica, as mulleres xa poden ser curas. E o debate está na sociedade. Dúas mulleres chamaron á radio. Unha deles explicaba: "É como se dis: non podes entrar neste bar porque es unha muller. A sociedade permitiríao?". Outra contaba que chorou ao saber o resultado da votación, e que estaba convencida de que non se estaba a entender a palabra de Deus, que a Biblia había que interpetala no seu contexto histórico.

Este debate pode ser indicativo do grao de evolución da sociedade? Quen sabe. Pola tarde falaban da destitución de Di Matteo como adestrador do Chelsea e da posibilidade de que Rafa Benítez ou Pep Guardiola ocupasen o seu lugar. E o río Thames baixaba revolto á altura do Albert Bridge.

I've got used to listen to the BBC Radio every time I can so as I can improve my skills in listening english, something actually very necessary for me. It's funny: in England they have lots of radio programs where the presenter sets out a subject of debate and then people call him or her giving their opinion. Lots of hours during the day. It's in some way like the spanish "Hablar por hablar", but focused in politics or sports instead of personal relationships.  They even have a radio network, London Biggest Conversation, doing this all the day.

Thus, I am getting up to date with the subjects selected by the media in this country. It's impressive how the media build a "reality", just selecting and approaching to subjects in a specific way. We know, for instance, that Catalonia and Spain live in different mediatic dimensions. But that's is another story.

The title of this post is connect to the subject that was debated at BBC London this morining: the Church of England has decided through ballot not allowing women to be bishops, at least the next 5 years. Yes, this is unfair. But aren't you impressed knowing that they are discussing about this subject in the UK? I mean, imagine for a moment Rouco Varela the "chief" of the spanish church talking about this. Too unbelievable. Women can, at least, be priests in the UK. And they are debating about this here. Two women called to the radio. One said: "What would you think if someone says: you can't enter to this bar because you're a woman? Would the society approve that?". The other one told the presenter that she cried when she knew the results of the voting, and that they were not understanding the God's words. They Bible had to be interpeted in its historical context, she added.

Can this debate be an indicator of the degree of evolution of a society? Who knows. This evening they have been talking about the resign of Di Matteo as the Chelsea Manager and the possibility of either Rafa Benítez or Pep Guardiola replacing him. And the Thames flew roughly at the Albert Bridge.

[Sorry for my english, I'm trying to improve!]

Nano-Review: "Notes from a Big Country"

Notes from a Big CountryNotes from a Big Country by Bill Bryson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Quizais demasiado condicionada a lectura por ser unha recolleita de artigos de 3-4 páxinas, o estilo faise divertido ao principio e farta cando levas a metade lida. Acabas vendo ao Bill como o típico vello que se queixa de todo e todo lle parece mal, neste caso sobre Estados Unidos. Ten algúns capítulos moi divertidos, pero a comparación co "A Short History of Nearly Everything" (definitely 5 stars) fai que "Notes From A Big Country" se quede nas dúas estrelas.

Maybe my experience is conditioned by the fact that this book is a collection of 3-4 pages articles, but the thing is the writing style is funny at the begining but upsetting when you are in the middle of the book. Bill seems here the typical grumpy old man complaining about everything, about the United States in this case. The book has some really enjoyable chapters, but when you compare it to "A Short History of Nearly Everthing" (definetely 5 stars) you notice that "Notes From A Big Country" doesn't deserve more than two stars.

View all my reviews

6 de novembro de 2012

Notes from Battersea: Arrival



To depart for a stay abroad during your PhD is the perfect example of what "leaving your comfort zone" is. New language, new city, new workplace, new people, new geology subjects. And yep, that is the point. A stay abroad is something almost hygienic (as long as you can afford it).

P. S. Not reading galician, catalan or spanish news for a while is having good news.

P. S. 2. How important is the atmosphere to work properly?