#english speaking lawyer in spain

[collapsedsquid]

The general question that might be asked is - why is infrastructure more expensive in English-speaking countries, seemingly, than in places like Spain or Japan? (and it is) Is there just too much consultation? Do Anglosphere polities just give too much damn say to people who don’t want to be pushed out of the way for the common good? And my answer is … yes and no. Basically, I am not sure that the UK/US/Australian system really does have more veto points and people wanting to be bribed or look after local interests than anywhere else. But it seems very likely to me that the Anglo-Saxon system of governance does have one characteristic that makes it much more likely that every single such potential sticking point will become an actual sticking point. And that characteristic is “a healthy, vigorous and well-resourced professional services industry”. We know that this is one of the crowning glories of common law economies - it’s the great big intangible asset which was created in the time of William the Conqueror, has been invested in relatively consistently for nearly a thousand years, and which generates consequent outsize returns. But if you’ve got such an industry, then you have to respect it as a system. And as a system, it generates fee income. That’s what it’s there to do. And you can’t expect that it’s going to differentiate between one sort of fee income and another. Everyone involved in infrastructure procurement is paid according to a proportion of the costs, either contractually or de facto. So my first-order explanation for why it is that common-law countries spend so much on consultations, inquiries and litigation over every little bit of public investment is that there are lots of nice family houses in conveniently located London suburbs, the mortgages on which depend on this being so. [...] And unfortunately, I don’t see much that can be done about this. The cost of building railway lines in England is largely due to the presence of very aggressive and skilful consultants and lawyers. But the revenue base that pays for the infrastructure is also largely due to the presence of a big and successful professional services industry. We’ve somehow created a pathological relationship between the two, but it’s not obvious how you can cut out the bad bit while leaving all the valuable stuff alone.

[f0point5]

is george and carmen’s old money style “real”, so to speak? i remember you talked about how you previously thought george had a very posh accent but it turns out he doesn’t, and i’ve seen one of carmen’s stories saying that her family struggled financially during the financial crisis and that she paid off her student loans, but every picture i see of their family (incl old pics) looks like they’re incredibly well off so im not really sure. also idk much about GR’s background

i will say they definitely play into it, but not sure if it’s more authentic or more calculated/fabricated (which there’s no problem with)

Disclaimer - I am not an aristocrat or upper class or old money in any way.

But as a British person I can say with relative certainty, neither are they.

George comes from Cambridgeshire, from what I believe is a staunchly middle class area. He doesn’t speak Queen’s English, which is by no means a foolproof way of knowing someone’s social strata but it’s a pretty strong indicator. He went to grammar school, which doesn’t always mean you can’t afford private school (I went to a grammar school because of the academics (and then got kicked out and went to private school lol)), but a lot of the time parents who can’t swing a private education for all three kids but still want their kids to achieve academically will try and get them into grammar school. I am also pretty sure I’ve read that George’s brother had to stop karting because the family couldn’t afford both of them karting. Now, karting is very expensive for the average family so that doesn’t mean the family was struggling, but in contrast, Lando has several siblings who all attended public school and were fully supported in expensive hobbies. So George’s family probably didn’t have money money. So in summation, he comes across very middle class. He has such an Eton face and he’s at every high society event going so you just assume he’s Saltburn levels but I don’t think he is. Also, might I add, he doesn’t give rich kid vibes at all. Lando does, massively. George does not. To me, anyway.

I don’t know much about Carmen’s family, I read somewhere her dad is a lawyer, which again is a pretty standard white collar profession. I can’t speak to the socioeconomic level of her family at all as I don’t know too much about Spain. What I can say is that if you’re not a UK citizen (which I presume Carmen isn’t since she only came to the UK for university and seems to have Spanish/German ancestry) university fees will be on average 20k a year, and you aren’t eligible for student finance, which is the government loan which is set at very good terms. I think it would be unusual for Carmen to take out a loan for that amount to get her degree if her family could afford to pay for it upfront.

So that’s my evidence for saying I don’t think either of them come from generational wealth.

I could go on about the pure vibes but I would probably get roasted so I won’t. Suffice it to say I think their portrayal of themselves in the old money aesthetic is a little bit of a meta commentary on that trend.

I think it’s just how they’ve branded themselves. They both have the faces for it, George very much leans into the “English gent” thing, which fits with the Mercedes brand and also the Tommy Hilfiger brand. I think it’s a case of what opportunities you get offered and then you lean into the perception to keep up with those lucrative opportunities. Nothing wrong with that at all, but it’s definitely a curate couple image, in my opinion.

[motsimages]

Things I notice in US mainstream media that shock me because they are weird culturally speaking

People don't touch each other. They may be suffering a lot and very rarely does someone offer a hug or even touch their shoulder. Even when there is physical contact, it's not as frequent as in my real Mediterranean life. Btw, this has changed somewhere in the 90s-2000s, while still never being as frequent as in Spain, there was more physical contact before that time.

The whole high school experience, I could really just make a post on this to get into detail. There is absolutely nothing similar to how high schools are in Spain, and probably in Europe in general or in anywhere not the US. And learning that the social hierarchies of high school are actually like that in real life doesn't make it better. I'd just rather think they are a plot device.

Teenagers with cars.

To be fair, I'm intrigued by the portrayal of teenagers in movies because even when it is well done, they're still alien. The fact that they're played by 30 year-olds doesn't help. And there are SO MANY MOVIES AND SERIES about teenagers. Why? What is it so important about that age? When I was a teenager it felt like a formality until you become an adult.

In work related things, people don't stop for lunch. It's always nothing or something on the go. Very rarely you see people cooking or stopping for lunch. I think I only saw someone bringing a tupperware to work in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (I think that's the name), but people, generally speaking, don't eat much in US media.

In hospital shows, often doctors are doing the nurses' jobs. It's probably because they are the protagonists but still weird. Also, interesting that any hospital show looks normal to anyone not in the US and then you learn about how healthcare works in the US and why do those shows even exist? Most of the people there couldn't afford it.

How easy it is to sue someone. The "I will sue you" threat and the "I will contact my lawyers" line are frequent and for all kinds of things.

They live in massive houses with a garden, the mother rarely works... Again, fantasy land. For years I really thought this was a "movie thing", like all the other things I mention that are so weird.

The university life and the dorm thing. As alien as the high school experience.

"Do the right thing". The sentence itself and the message that comes with it. Completely alien. Again, I take it as a plot device, I'm not sure I fully grasp the cultural implications of this in real life. What is "the right thing", though? And they rarely translate it well into Spanish so it is even more difficult to picture. "Haz lo correcto" doesn't mean anything if you think about it. "Haz lo que tengas que hacer", "Haz lo que debas" like the movie title, "Elige el camino bueno". I really don't know, but definitely not "Lo correcto".

Fathers never making it to spend time with the family. We even had an ad for Spanish cinema mocking this because it is so pervasive as a trope. Those fathers are usually married to the mothers I mentioned earlier.

The fortune cookies. Maybe some Chinese restaurants are starting to serve them now but I will always remember a Hong-Kong girl invited me to dinner to a local Chinese restaurant where she was friends with the Chinese lady owner. And she was all like "shall we get the fortune cookies, like in the movies?" and I said "sure!" and then the old lady said "I don't have that, it only happens in the movies".

How Christian everyone and everything is, while not being Catholic. It is a weird Christianity, that sometimes is warm and welcoming but it is still very weird because it permeates so many things all the time. And since I started watching movies in English, how often people uses euphemisms for so many things. In Spanish we shit on God on a daily basis, and in the US you get the shy "oh my gosh" all the time.

Related to the one before: How prudish everything is. Edulcorated too.

There is a type of comedy in the US that I can't understand and I can't describe. It's like slapstick if it were made by people who are afraid of doing comedy but still want to be the center of attention. I don't like it. I'd say Jim Carrey would be an example of this. The SNL show too.

DATING. Again, I could make a post just about this. So alien. So nothing like what I know. And, just like the high school experience, when people actually explain to you the cultural things that you are missing in the movies it is actually worse somehow. To give you an idea of the shock I have: in Spain we don't go on dates. We don't have "first dates" as such, generally speaking. Some people do, I don't know, if you met on tinder or something like that, but with people you know?? I go on dates *with my boyfriend of several years*, not with a random guy.

[christiancoledragavei]

Christian Cole Dragavei

CHRISTIAN COLE DRAGAVEI Username: @RunedShadows FC: Hero Fiennes Tiffin Birth Name: Christian Cole Dragavei Alias(es): Cole Dragavei, Cole, Christian Cole. Nicknames: Cole, Char-Cole, Chrissy. Status: Alive Species: Demon/Nephilim.

BASIC INFO: Agє: 33 D.O.B: 12/08/1991 Birth Location: London, England Sexual Orientation: Bisexual Relationship Status: Taken - Also a widow. Occupation: Downworlder Mercenary. Astrological Sign: Sagittarius

Skills: Reading, Cooking, Drawing, Painting, Hunting, Tracking and Fighting. ⤅ Chrisitan very much enjoys reading.

Fluent Languages: English, French and Russian. ⤅ When Christian was thirteen, he spent three years in Russia learning about the culture, art and many other things. He learned how to speak Russian from a tutor his parents had hired during the entirety of those three years, which at first came very naturally to him. His father was originally from Russia, which could have been the reason as to why it came so naturally to him. His mother was English from London.

DESCRIPTION / APPEARANCE: Height: 6 Feet & 2 Inches Hair Color: Charcoal Black Eye Color: Baby Blue & Black Skin Tone: Pale - White. Other: Slim, Muscular, Tattooed ⤅ Christian is nicely dressed, simple. He usually prefers to wear black. His clothing mostly consists on black or white shirts with lettering, tight black skinny jeans, a pair of Vans sneakers. This attire is his choice of clothing when operating his book store compared to his attire of his lawyer job. ⤅ A nice black suit, often black pants and a dress shirt with a tie will do the trick, is Christian’s choice of attire when at his professional job. He doesn’t like wearing it often simply for the fact that, as a child, ⤅ ⤅ Christian was often required to wear a uniform at the private school his parents forced him to attend. ⤅ Christian has a wide variety of tattoos that decorate his body. Most of them are from his years of traveling the world during his teenage years. Others are from important periods or memories in his lifetime. ⤅ One of Christian’s favorite tattoos are of four intertwining hearts with vines that rest just on the outside of his heart located on his upper chest. Each of the hearts represent a family member that was killed when he was a child. His mother, father and his baby brother before he’d even been born yet. The last heart represents his son Dimitri, who’d passed away a few hours just after having been born to his ex husband Sam. ⤅ Another one of his favorite tattoos is the one along his upper chest. The tattoo is the name of his son Dimitri. This tattoo was done in secret from his ex husband after they divorced. Dimitri was Christian’s second chance, but was taken too soon from him.

PERSONALITY / ATTITUDE: ⤅ For most of Christian’s life he’s been raised in Russia and England , which is why he had an accent. His adoptive parents sent him away to a private boarding school for his early childhood as well as his teen years. ⤅ Christian can be very shy at first but once someone gets to know him or he gets to know someone on a personal level he can be quite talkative, in a good way. ⤅ Christian has manners. He is a gentleman, respectful and charming. ⤅ Christian is kind hearted, loving and open. ⤅ Sometimes, when his limits are pushed, Christian can develop an attitude though usually it's gone within hours. ⤅ Christian rarely ever opens up about his past, not even with those he’s known for years.

LIKES: ⤅ Christian LOVES reading books. You can always find books throughout his house, on the nightstand in his bedroom and even in the kitchen. ⤅ His favorite types of books are adventure, traveling, romance and horror. ⤅ He loves traveling, especially with company. ⤅ Places that he had visited over the years: ★ Russia ★ Australia ★ Ireland ★ Spain ★ Belize ★ Italy ★ Canada ★ England ★ France ★ Idris ★ Heaven & Hell ⤅ He /loves/ chocolate cupcakes. Give him a cupcake and he will be your best friend. ⤅ His favorite kind of cupcake is dark chocolate with peanut butter frosting. ⤅ He loves hugs. Any kind of hugs to be honest. He loves giving them as well. Big teddy bear hugs are his favorite. ⤅ He loves nature, camping and being with wild animals. ⤅ He /loves/ animals. He has a siverian husky named Caesar. He also had a black kitten named Lucifer and a little orange kitten named Michael. ⤅ The love he has for his pets is beyond anything imaginable. ⤅ He loves tattoos. He has well over 25 of them by which are mixed in with many runes that he has on his skin from over the years.

DISLIKES: ⤅ He dislikes disrespectful people. ⤅ He /very much/ dislikes liars and people who steal. ⤅ He dislikes people who cheat on others. ⤅ He dislikes talking about his past because it’s filled with death of the ones closest to him. ⤅ He dislikes when people judge him before even taking the chance to get to know him.

FAMILY: Father (Biological) (Human): Rémi Dragavei (Deceased) Mother (Biological) (Human): Ella Dragavei (Deceased) Brother (Biological) (Human/Demon): Elijah Rowen Dragavei (@UnhallowedSouls) (Alive) Brother (Adoptive) (Wolf) Sammy Mclean (@_Sammy) (Alive - Unknown) Nephew by @_Sammy (Adoptive) (Human): David (@LittleShyDavid) (Alive - Unknown) Daughter by Mel: Deceased Ex-Husband (Angel): Sam (@StarAngcl) (Deceased) Son by @StarAngcl (Biological): Dimitri Soul Dragavei (Deceased) Unborn Daughter by @StarAngcl Illiana Dragavei (Deceased) Partner: @herlxstful_mind (Current - Alive)

[mariacallous]

A group of five international activists from Italy, France and Spain was arrested recently in Malko Tarnovo in Bulgaria and abused by police, the Italian activist group Collettivo Rotte Balcaniche Alto Vicentino alleged on Monday.

The group said the arrests happened during one of the group’s rescue missions to aid migrants and refugees in distress on the Bulgarian-Turkish border on September 10.

The emergency call reached the group at 4am. “A local partner organisation told us there was a group of seven people in distress, among them three children and two women in the Malko Tarnovo area,” one of the arrested activists told BIRN. He declined to give his name for security reasons.

The activists reached the group, stranded in a remote area, at around 5.30pm.

“We immediately called the emergency number, requesting an ambulance, as one of the children was unconscious and one woman had respiratory issues,” the activist said.

Instead, according to the activist, a man in a military uniform arrived with a dog and contacted the border police, who arrived quickly afterwards. “The police grabbed us by the neck and pushed us around but we were able to keep calm and avoid the situation escalating,” he said.

The activists were then taken to the police station in Malko Tarnovo, where they were questioned. Police later confirmed their arrest, accused them of being human smugglers and threatened them with jail time. The migrants and refugees in distress were brought to a closed camp near the town of Harmanli. 

“Our rights were violated. We were not provided with medical care despite two girls needing medicine for chronic diseases, we did not have access to our lawyer, we did not sign any papers or documents proving our detention, and the translator provided didn’t speak English,” the activist said. 

“We think it was an attempt from the border police in Malko Tarnovo to intimidate us. It happened in the past already, once they even deflated one of our tires to stop us from reaching a group in distress. They are behaving this way not only against us, but also local humanitarian workers,” he added. 

A local humanitarian organisation, Mission Wings, was cleared of suspected human smuggling in 2022, but is now again under investigation for the same crime.

Rescue missions have been part of the international activist group’s activities since it started operating in Bulgaria in spring 2023. In 2024, the group says it has conducted 50 rescue missions, helping 200 migrants and refugees in distress on the border.

A recent BIRN investigation reported that some EU Frontex border agency officers deployed to Bulgaria’s border with Turkey have been intimidated into silence about illegal pushbacks and brutality against migrants and refugees.

[mint-moon25]

PARIS - FRANCE

CARTOON - ‘MADELINE’

ORPHAN - OF - PARIS - A - CATHOLIC - NUN

AS THESE GIRLS - ‘ALWAYS IN 2 STRAIGHT

LINES - THROUGH - RAIN - OR - SHINE’

PEPITO - I - THINK - FORGOT - SON OF

THE - SPANISH - AMBASSADOR - THEIR

NEW - NEIGHBOR

SPANISH - COUNTRIES - FORMERLY

OWNED - BY - SPAIN

SPAIN - KING - AND - QUEEN - I’M - THEIR

WARD - MY - NAME - THEN - NAME - YES

CHANGE - PETUNIA

PLAYED - PIANO - 4 - THE - KING AND HIS

QUEEN - UNLIKE BRITISH - ROYAL 

FAMILY - THE - KING - OF - SPAIN

AUTOGRAPHED - WAS - STILL - VALID - IN

PHILIPPINES - P5 - EMILIO AGUINALDO

5 PESOS - AFTER - 333 YEARS - THEY

STILL - CONTINUED - THE - SPANISH

CURRENCY - PESOS

MEXICO - PESOS

MEXICO - TREATED - HARSHLY - BY

FORMER - SPANISH - EMPIRE

TODAY - ON - PURPOSE - UGLY

SHORT - HOT DOG - STICKING - ON

HIS - STOMACH - GAVE - MY - DARK

BLUE - WHERE - I - PUT - UMBRELLA

2 - SPANISH - MALE - ITEM - INSIDE 2

AROUND - 9:35A - KNOWING - I’M YES

STILL - THERE - HE - MADE - CERTAIN

I - WITNESSED - THAT - HE’s - SELL’G

MY - THINGS - BUT - DOING - TAX

EVASION - SINCE - ITS - CASH - FR

NON-RELATIVES

MIAMI - POLICE

AGAIN - NO - TICKETS - 4 - TAX

EVASION - WE - NEED - HARVARD

LAW - 2 - PROCESS

FUTURE 

OVERTHROW - OF - US - GOV’T

HIDDEN - CAMERAS - EVERYWHERE

IT - WILL - STATE - RIGHT - PLACES

HIDDEN CAMERAS

WE - SPEAK - ENGLISH

UNDERSTAND - SPANISH - CREOLE

ALL - LANGUAGES - WE UNDERSTAND

SONY - COLOR - DAY - AND - NIGHT

PRIVATE - BODY - PARTS - WILL NOT

B - RECORDED - EVER

PURPOSE - 2 - EMAIL - MONETORY

FINES - FORGIVEN - BY - NEW YES

BANKRUPTCY - LAWS

BUT - RECORDED

DUE - 2 - VIOLENCE - BY - MANY

BLK - AND - HISPANIC - HOMELESS

NEW - EMAIL - CREATED

4 - PAPERLESS - TICKETS

NEW - DEMOCRAT - APP

SCAN - BODY - OF - PERSON

U - WILL - KNOW - THEIR - RECORDS

FIRST - NAME - ONLY - GIVEN

WILL - MENTION - BIBLE - VERSES

BIBLE - ‘DISCRETION - SHALL YES

PRESERVE - US’

MALE - JOHN

FIRST - DEGREE - FELONY

575

2ND - DEGREE - FELONY

750

3RD - DEGREE - FELONY

675

AGE - 25

POB - MIAMI - FLORIDA

STATUS - HOMELESS

HGT - 6 FT

NO - WEIGHT - GIVEN

THEN - U - WILL - KNOW

HOMELESS - NAUGHTY

RACE - BLK - AMERICAN

REMEMBER AS - CHILDREN’s 

AUTHOR - DIFFERENT - PEN

NAMES

‘A - GIRL - NAMED - LIBERTY’

INCLUDING - ANIMATION

STARRING - IU

COUSIN - KIM SE EUN

BEAUTIFUL - GIRL NEIGHBOR

SE-KYUNG SHIN

LIBERTY - MET - A - HISPANIC

HOMELESS BOY - FR - LOTUS

HOUSE - WOMEN - CHILDREN

BEFRIENDED - HER - 2 - ROB

HER - HE - HAS - MIAMI POLICE

MALE - FEMALE - FRIENDS

FILM - 2 - ADVERTISE - FLORIDA

CITY - OF - MIAMI - FILMING - IN

AREA - WHERE - HOMELESS 

SLEEP - HOW - MIAMI - POLICE

2 - GET - RID - OF - THEM

AS - COUNTY - GAINFULLY

EMPLOYED - LIVING IN FLORIDA

REPOSSESSED - HOUSES - $10

$1 - IMAGINE - THAT

THINGS - LEFT - CERTAIN - DAY

WASTE - MANAGEMENT - WILL

THROW - MIAMI - POLICE - DEPT

HAS NO - LOST AND FOUND YES

LOCATION 

REPUBLICAN - PARTY - OF - FL

GOVERNOR

TENTS - FINED - FR - 01 MARCH

BECAUSE - IN - 2023

880 MILLION - TENTS - BOUGHT

BY - AMERICANS

TAXES - PAID - POLITICIANS

COUNTY - EMPLOYEES - POLICE

SHERIFF - MANY

SW 2 ST - TENTS - REMAINED

NO - FINES - GIVEN - THEM FL

SO - HISPANIC - BOY

AND - HIS - FRIENDS - LOTUS

HOUSE - STOLE - EVERYTHING

LEFT - BEHIND - AS - THAT BOY

WITH - HIS - PRETTY - FACE

SOLD - SOLD - SOLD - ALL - HE

CAN - FIND - CASH - SALES

AS - THEY - RAN - AS - KIDS

TAXES - ARE - DUE - ALSO

BUT - 18 AND OLDER - DOES

TAX - FORMS - KIDS - CAN

LEGALLY - WORK - IN - USA

5 DAYS - STRICTER - TIMES

NOT - 40 HRS - PER - WEEK

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

WHAT - USA - AND - KOREAN - GOV’T

THEIR - LAWMAKERS - DO - 2 - AMERICAN

KOREAN - MALE - MURDERERS - THIEVES

MIAMI - POLICE - ALLOWS THEFTS

CASH - SELLING - TAX - EVASIONS

AS - OUR - HARVARD - LAWYERS 2

PROCESS - THEM - OVER - $500 EA

HOUR - MANY - OF - THEM

NEW - DEMOCRATIC - PARTY

NEW - DEMOCRATS

800 - HARVARD - LAW

24 HRS - DAILY - HOLIDAYS

APPS - FREE

1ST - AMENDMENT

FREE - EXERCISE - THEREOF

OF - RELIGION

TONGUES - 2 - ENTER

TONGUES - 2 - SPEAK - 2 LIVE

HARVARD - INTERVIEWED AND

APPROVED - LICENSED LAWYERS

ALL - SPEAK - TONGUES

NON-DEAD - SPIRITS

SO - HERE

TANAKA - STUDIOS

TV - PRESENTS

TV - SHORTS

MAKING - TEEN - VERSION

WHAT - HAPPENED - 2 ME

SHINEE - ACTOR - AGAIN - SEOUL

POLICE - ROOKIE - STILL - CARES

TEEN - ORPHAN

TAEHYONG - NCT - LEADER

BEFRIENDS - REN - CHINA

JENO - OTHERS

AS - THEY - GAVE - HIM - USED

DESIGNER - CLOTHES - 4 HIM

2 - WEAR - BUT - HE - SOLD - THEM

INSTEAD - WITH - HIS - CUTE FACE

AS - NCT - BOYS

AUCTIONED - 2 - GIRLS - THEIR

CLOTHES - MADE - A - BUNDLE

DIDN’T - DECLARE - TAXES YES

NOW - LIKE - THEIR - IN - MIAMI

FLORIDA

JENO - AND - REN BEFRIENDED

HOMELESS - MALE - TAEHYONG

AS - THEY - BELIEVED - OFFICER

BAEZ - HISPANIC

TAEHYONG - OTHER - NCT - BOYS

WILL - B - HOMELESS

AS - THEY - STOLE - MANY THINGS

THEN - THEY - SOLD - THEM 2 THE

PEOPLE - WHO - NEEDED - THIS

NEEDED - THAT

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

LIKE - ARCHIE - COMICS

IN - KOREAN - CHINESE 

SHANGHAI - BEIJING

TAX - FREE - HONG KONG - ISLAND

‘A - GIRL - NAMED - LIBERTY’

ANONYMOUS - SHELTER - 4 - YES

WOMEN - AND - CHILDREN

3RD - DAY - NO - WORD - FROM

LOTUS - HOUSE

SCRATCH - THAT

THEY’RE - ONLY - WEBSITE - USA

BULL - LIES - LIES - LIES

EDUCATION - AND - EMPLOYMENT

MEANING - THOSE - FREE - FAR

AWAY - HOW - 2 - WRITE - ESSAY

JOBS - CLEANING - THE - STREET

REPUBLICAN PARTY - OF FLORIDA

POLITICIANS - NEVER - BROOMED

IN - THEIR - LIFE - AS - THEY - HIRE

HISPANICS - 2 - CLEAN - THEIR YES

GARDENS - HOMES - AS - WHITES 2

MY - PRINTING - PRESS

SHANGHAI - CHINA

LIKE - ARCHIE - COMICS

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLS,

‘A - GIRL - NAMED - LIBERTY’

HER - MOM - WAS - ROBBED - BY 

HISPANIC - OLD - PUDGY - WITH

AN - INTESTINAL - PROBLEM

SMALL - HOTDOG - STICKING OUT

HIS - WAIST - WHY - HE - HAS LOTS

OF - OLD - HISPANIC - MEN 

THEIR - DAUGHTERS - SONGS - DO

NOT - WANT - IN - THEIR - SOFAS - 2

HOMELESS - HISPANIC - MEN

(THEY - CAN - B - DEPORTED - TO

SPANISH - COUNTRIES)

(CHEAPER - LIVING)

(BETTER - BILLS - BETTER - HOUSES)

HOW - 2 - CLEAN - FLORIDA - STREETS

BUT - WE - WILL - NOT - REVEAL - HOW

2 - LIVE - 4 - CHEAPER - OUTSIDE USA

MORE - BEAUTIFUL - FRIENDLIER - YES

PEOPLE - BETTER - QUALITY - OF LIFE

USA - ALWAYS - ATTACKS - CHINA

NO 2 - WORLD - POP

OVER - 1.4 BILLION

INDIA - SAME - 14 KIDS - EA FAMILY

OVER - 1.4 BILLION

ENGLAND - ALWAYS - ATTACKS - INDIA

WHY - ARE - THEY - ALWAYS - THERE 2

ALL - SPANISH - COUNTRIES - STILL

SPANISH - PESOS

LIKE - PHILIPPINES - BUT - FORMER

SPANISH EMPIRE - ATTACKED THEM

STILL - HAVE - THE - PESOS

AS - WE - SEPARATE - FOREVER

PHILIPPINE - REPUBLIC

TAX - SMOKE - CRIME - FREE

CURRENCY - MABUHAYS

COINS - GOLD - AND - SILVER

PAPER - MONEY - NON-FLAMMABLE

DEBIT - CREDIT - CARDS - SAME - 2

SO - KOREAN - GIRLS,

COMICS - COMING

‘A - GIRL - NAMED - LIBERTY’

MY - LIFE - BUT - WHAT - HAPPENED

2 - ME - LIBERTY’s - MOM - LIVED THRU

GOD - SAID - WHO - SURVIVES

WE - WHO - OVERCOMES - THIS - WORLD

NOT - SHOOTING - OUR - HEADS WILL XO

INHERIT - ‘ALL - THINGS’ - MONEY - HOUSES

APT - BUILDINGS - ONLINE - STORES

BUSINESSES - CONDOS - HOTELS - INNS - 2

BANKS - ‘INHERIT - ALL - THINGS’ - AND - GOD

WILL - B - OUR - GOD - THE - INVISIBLE - GOD

OF - ISRAEL - AND - WE - WILL - BE - HIS MEN

WITH - THE - WOMB - WE - WILL - BE - GOD’s

DAUGHTERS - KOREAN - GIRLS - BIBLE HUB

WEBSITE - FR - AT - LEAST - 1 CORINTHIANS 6

GOOGLE - SEARCH - PUT - THE - WORDS AND

TYPE - ‘BIBLE - HUB’

YOUTUBE - ANIMATION - ALSO

‘A - GIRL - NAMED - LIBERTY’

LIKE - ARCHIE - COMICS

ABOUT - HISPANICS - BLKS - OF USA - FR

CUBA - COLUMBIA - VENEZUELA 

EL SALVADOR - HAITI - THESE - IN - MIAMI

GROCERIES - BOOKSTORES

SEOUL - KOREA

TAX - FREE - HONG KONG - ISLAND

SHANGHAI - BEIJING - CHINA

IN - KOREAN - CANTONESE - MANDARIN

SHANGHAINESE - DIALECT - ENGLISH 2

TANAKA - TV STUDIOS - PRESENTS

IN - KOREA - TV - SHORTS - COMING

PORTRAYING - ME - MOM - IS - IU

COUSIN - SE EUN KIM

PRETTY - NEIGHBOR - SE-KYUNG SHIN

HISPANIC - MALE - NCT - TAEHYONG

HOMELESS - OTHERS - NCT - BOYS

BEFRIENDS - NCT - REN - JENO ETC

COMING - 2 - SEOUL - KR - & - ASIA 2

[ethicsgirls]

Legal English Lecturer and Co-Founder of M2 Legal Services, Monica Migliarotti Teaches New Ways to Learn, Be Curious, Participate and Create

Monica is a legal English lecturer and has worked at various universities around the world. She has been a lawyer for over twenty years. She is currently working on a new book about her unique approach to teaching Legal English and is also the co-founder of M2 Legal Services, a new concept law firm that also offers linguistic and legal technical training services.

She has a background teaching human rights cases both in the UK and Spain and prioritises teaching cases with strong political and historical contexts to encourage her students to look beyond their national borders, see themselves as world citizens and see the bigger picture in everything they learn. We catch up with her and ask her about her legal background, her unique approach to teaching legal English, international law, the future of humanity and human rights and her exciting new book project.

1) Have you always wanted to be a lawyer?

In truth, my desire was to become a performer. Before enrolling in Law School, I was studying dance professionally and my initial intention was to continue along that path. My other choice was to choose languages, another one of my interests. My father is a lawyer, so eventually he persuaded me that Law school was the best choice. After graduating, I then decided to pursue a career as a lawyer. So summing up, no I haven’t always wanted to be a lawyer. Let’s say I found a compromise between my creative/artistic side and the more “serious” one: I managed to nurture my passion for the arts while practicing as a lawyer since I studied acting in parallel and joined a theatre company in the end. So, I was practicing as a lawyer during the day and performing on stage at night. After, since I had been practicing yoga for many years I studied to become a yoga instructor. Therefore, I replaced the theatre with yoga classes and maintained my double life. I still teach yoga now, but at the moment I have taken up singing and I am really glad I did.

2) How important is it do you think to have a legal background to teach legal English?

I think it is in fact a plus. In my experience, I have come across several teachers, and to my surprise, none of them were legal practitioners. Let me put it this way: most of the materials and cases I use in my classes are real cases I have worked on in my twenty years as a lawyer. That has proved to be much more effective than using some random article or some remote case from old Law Reviews. Of course, landmark cases and statutes are regularly used in the classes. Now, my perplexity has always been the fact that, to explain these concepts (whether about somebody’s practice or not), somebody without a legal background would certainly have to struggle. Is it then necessary to be a lawyer to teach Legal English? Maybe not, but it would most definitely be preferable. In any case, it is essential to have a solid legal background and I would add: a solid background in both civil and common legal systems.

3) What is the ordinary way to teach Legal English and what is the approach to teaching it in Europe compared to the US? 

Most of the Legal English books used by teachers are written by English or American authors or in any case somebody coming from an English-speaking country where the legal system is based on Common Law. Those types of works then, refer to concepts and terms typical of that system. There are indeed references to corresponding Civil Law concepts when available, which tend to be, as said brief and concise. Now, one of the main problems I have encountered in my own experience is precisely teaching Legal English to civil lawyers (including myself in the learning process) and explaining Civil law concepts to Common Law practitioners using Legal English. Some would say that this is quite an insuperable problem since Legal English is based on common law. But is it? I noticed that most of the time civil lawyers are mainly interested in explaining to their common counterparts what the Civil law system is really about and what they should be aware of when, for example, having clients planning to invest in their country. Can they do that after taking a Legal English course of the ones available now? Not so much in my opinion. In my experience, there isn’t a text where various areas of the law are analysed and compared from both perspectives fulfilling what the needs of the civil lawyers are. After all, common lawyers don’t need to do that since they already study Legal English when they study at U. K, U.S or Australian Universities for example.

4) What ethical issues do you include in your teaching and how do you teach ethical aspects of controversial issues to your students?

Ethics are a very important part of the things I teach.

“I like to awaken young and older students’ consciences and make them face ethical issues.”

(photographer: Alexander Grey)

I believe that an important part of studying law is to learn what rights we all have and how to protect them in every field. I don’t think that learning law provisions by heart or seeing this profession as a way to become wealthy and powerful is more valuable than becoming passionate about protecting and advocating people’s rights. Therefore, if one, as a lawyer, does not have it in his/herself this lack of passion will eventually show. The law can be very dry and quite dull, to be honest. It’s mainly in the aspect of protecting people’s rights that it becomes challenging and interesting.

“It is sadly true though, that areas like Criminal law, Human Rights, Public International law, etc, are less remunerative than Company law, Contracts, M&A, Banking and Finance but that is the way the world goes. It makes me think about the Arts too. How badly remunerated are they? Very. In particular when you compare them to other professions. It is indeed funny how the most interesting things are the most neglected ones.”

Going back to my teaching, I usually choose topics related to historical happenings but not only. I’ll give you an example of the topics I dealt with in my last course. As for Masters students I had them deal with ethical issues concerning the treatment of IRA prisoners during “The Troubles”. For the bachelors their first exam was a presentation chosen amongst: 1) Looted art by the Nazis during World War II, 2) Human rights violations related to waiting time for convicted felons on death row, 3) The theory of the innocent bystander. Witnessing bullying, abuse and violence without doing anything. We are indeed bystanders in that case, but are we innocent?

So, as you can see there is a lot of ethics involved.

5) What do you think about the lack of international law present in this humanitarian issue in Gaza right now? Isn’t international law the solution to achieving peace on all sides? Doesn’t the conflict in the Middle East prove yet again that people’s rights correspond to their power and wealth? What is the future for humanity and human rights?

(photographer: Lübna Abdullah)

This is a very interesting yet painful topic. The Israeli-Palestinian situation is an old thorn in the side. At this time, the problem of violation of Human rights has gone beyond all expectations. You would think that all or most countries would get involved to solve this problem but just like the Russian-Ukrainian conflict where diplomacy and action by most States in the world have lacked, we are witnessing a very tepid international reaction to what is happening.

“Power and wealth indeed correspond to people’s rights and people who have less in that respect, are considered to have fewer rights even if not openly. We are now witnessing a situation where human rights violations happen daily in many areas of the world.”

(photographer - Mati Mango)

However, the current pressure and hardship of everyday life have made us turn a blind eye to most of them. The only possible future is to awaken consciences to what is really important, to stimulate people to know, to get interested and passionate, to open their minds. Most minds are too closed on the world right now and open only to volatile and superficial values (if we can even call them that). I am an optimist by nature although I cannot help but be realistic and honestly, the situation does not look good at all.

“However, I think that we can still believe, we can still change but we need to take action even in our small sphere, and we need to step up and do something otherwise we will be the makers of our own destruction.”

6) Congratulations on your new book publishing contract with Cambridge Scholars Publishing. What inspired you to write this book about your different approach to teaching Legal English?

Well, I have been doing this for a long time now and I have seen that in this field there is very little innovation. The methods are very standardized and have been so, for as long as I can think. The approach to this topic has always been very schematic and based on the same texts all along. As I mentioned before, everything connected to the study and teaching of legal subjects is by definition very hard and quite dry (not to mention extreme dullness at times). I have experimented with a new way to learn legal subjects throughout most of my studies in the past and I have decided to put it into practice. We have now a lot of different resources to learn Legal subjects: half of the series on the market deal with legal situations, lawyers, courts, etc, there is a lot in the literature that we can use for these topics and an incredible amount of movies whose plot deals with legal concepts and believe it or not songs’ lyrics (fewer materials there but still there are quite a few examples). That’s what my book is going to be based on. It’s still Legal English but with another approach to legal concepts and terminology.

7) How do you inspire your students and bring to life legal concepts and legal terms in your teaching methods?

I always encourage my students to reflect and reason on legal concepts. There is no point in knowing legal definitions and legal terms if we don’t know what they mean in practice. I prefer to explain with situations and examples. And again, I use the resources above. I show them videos, film clips, literature excerpts, etc. I encourage them to put everything into practice.

8) How important are creativity and innovation in teaching at the moment?

They are both essential.

“The old method is still valid to some extent but without creativity and innovation the new generations in particular are less inclined to learn.”

Again, these resources and encouraging participation, group and individual activities in the classroom is a much more effective and productive method. Seeing is believing. I have used the old method with students who asked me to use it, books, exercises, listening practice, etc, especially lawyers and consultants and I can assure you that that has turned out to be less effective than the innovative and creative method.

Creativity and innovation are, in Monica’s opinion, a very good choice and what we need at the moment.  It is indeed important to have firm beliefs and methods, but at the same time change is necessary in every field and creativity brings that change even in the most traditional and "stiff" areas. 

In celebration of the launch of Monica’s new book ‘The Ultimate Legal English Manual: A Different Approach,’ she will be running a pre-book launch webinar to give a sneak peek into the book. Anyone interested will have to register and they’ll be a recording of the live version. Watch this space.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-migliarotti-461b721a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m2englishlaw/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@M2englishlaw

Website: https://www.M2legalservices.com

[mybookplacenet]

Featured Post: Sketches of Life (Where The Road Goes Series Book 1) by A Gavazzoni

About Sketches of Life (Where The Road Goes Series Book 1): A careless girl. A survivor alone in the world. A world in turmoil. In the middle of WWII, France surrendered to Germany, and young Lily, half French and half American, has her life turned upside down. A careless girl, full of dreams, Lily must leave France and go to her father’s homeland, taking her mother with her. Lily’s mother becomes completely dependent upon her teenage daughter, and Lily is forced to grow up quickly. Trying her best to support them both, balancing work and dreams of continuing her studies, Lily meets her first love and discovers passion and betrayal on her way. Ninon is a survivor. Alone in the world, she works as an exotic dancer in a French cabaret called Le Passioné, where she moves her hips to put food on her plate until a new and dangerous opportunity is presented to her. Although Ninon has lost faith in love and God, life will show her surprises can be found around every corner. France, the United States, Spain, Austria, and Argentina present the backdrops for an epic tale of people trying to adapt to a world in turmoil—one that’s filled with secrets and surprises… A GOLD PINNACLE BOOK ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER What readers are saying about Sketches of Life: ★★★★★- “I would recommend "Sketches of Life" to anyone looking for a warm heartfelt, heart-wrenching story of a girl coming of age in a war-torn world.” Targeted Age Group: 21+ Written by: A Gavazzoni Buy the ebook: Buy the Book On Amazon Link to Series Buy the Print Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Author Bio: A. Gavazzoni is a Brazillian Multi-Award-Winning Novelist of five published literary works within two novel series titled, 'Hidden Motives' and 'Where The Road Goes.' Adriana has become a critically acclaimed popular steamy romance fiction writer of light erotica with cross-genres of steamy murder mystery suspense, crime action, historical romantic thrillers, coming-of-age, and women's gripping fiction. Adriana's break-out debut of "Behind The Door" book one of the "Hidden Motives" series firmly placed her on the literary map nationally and internationally. Her novels are available on Amazon Books, Amazon Kindle, and Kindles available within Kindle Unlimited, and her novels are featured in online literary book sites, fine book stores, and literary magazines. Born and raised in Brazil, she is of full Italian lineage. By day she is a Brazillian business lawyer, a former professor of law, and writes legal books. She speaks four languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. When she is not practicing law or writing her next steamy novel, she is an avid reader and enjoys many interests as a very active person. Adriana loves to dance, especially the (Tango), and enjoys cooking, enjoys good food, and good wine. She believes in exercising along with living a healthy lifestyle. She enjoys traveling and visits New York often, but her "Happy Place" is always spending time with her big happy family and her pets as a passionate animal lover. Adriana continues to work and reside in Brazil. ***Novel Awards & Achievements For A. Gavazzoni* "Where The Road Goes Novel Series" Book One - Sketches of Life - Gold Pinnacle Book Achievement Award - Honorable Mention - Los Angeles Book Festival 2021 - Finalist - Book Excellence Awards Book Two - Life Has Other Plans Gold Pinnacle Book Achievement Award - Book Excellence Award - Finalist - Eric-Hoffer Award - NIEA - National Indie Book Award - Honorable Mentions - Hollywood Book Festival 2022 & Paris Book Festival 2022... All Novels Awarded 5-Star Reader's Favorite Editorial Book Reviews. Multiply Awards Won For All Three Novels In The "Hidden Motives" Series... Follow the author on social media: Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author's Website Facebook Fan Page Twitter Instagram YouTube Read the full article

[xkzanova]

Spain Apostille Services No Further A Mystery

Any document coming from overseas and for use in Spain for an official application should be legalized. That may be, verifying that it comes from an official institution and that's why offer it with authorized validity. Determined by your state of origin, this method might be finished via a stamp known as Hague Apostille or as a result of the normal course of action.

We've notified the Spanish immigration authorities that there's no equivalent standard regulation in the united kingdom, so British consulates will not give journey authorization documents.

Documents issued from Spain have to endure a certain legalization course of action to get valid within the UAE.

Consular notarial services are rendered to Spanish citizens that demand Spanish Formal (public) documents to generally be legalized for use abroad. When paperwork gets the Apostille seal, they have authorized validity for use outside of Spain.

We also use 3rd-get-together cookies that assist us review and know how you use this Web page. These cookies will likely be saved within your browser only together with your consent. You also have the choice to opt out of such cookies. But opting for Spain Apostille Services out of Some cookies may possibly impact your searching experience.

There’s a checklist of expected supporting files established in the appliance kind. You’ll get any files that aren't in English or Spanish translated into Spanish.

Mail your concluded application sort as well as your supporting files by e-mail or fax making use of the subsequent Speak to particulars.

We signify privately owned legislation corporations. We're not a governing administration or visa-issuing physique. We cost for our abilities to effectively make use of paperwork and legalization services.

Apostilles are furnished in Spain at no cost by an applicable agency depending upon the doc’s issuing authority. You can find various companies that do the job of issuing apostilles and you also have only to select one which fits your requirements.

Regrettably, if it is not possible to apostille the document the legalization method is much longer and even more cumbersome as it can be impossible.

It's essential to initially attain impartial legal tips as to if Spain is your habitual position of residence and afterward swear a statement witnessed by a lawyer or even a notary where you ensure your state of home.

Getting an apostille can be intricate. Avoid leaving this job for inexperienced employees or non-specialists who're not completely conscious of the complexities of the apostille method and specific nations' distinctive specifications. Your application could be rejected, and you may eliminate time and cash. Decide on wise!

[torreviejatranslation]

What To Keep In Mind When Relocating To Spain?

Spain is a beautiful country with a rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural landscapes. Whether you’re planning to move to Torrevieja Spain or Calpe Spain, it’s important to be aware of the common mistakes people make when traveling to Spain permanently.

Underestimating the Language Barrier:

One of the biggest mistakes people make when moving to Spain is underestimating the language barrier. While many people in Spain do speak English, especially in tourist areas like Torrevieja and Calpe, it’s important to learn some Spanish before you arrive. Knowing the basics of the language will help you communicate better with locals and make your transition to life in Spain much smoother.

Ignoring the Local Culture:

Spain has a unique and vibrant culture, and it’s important to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. From the food to the festivals, there is so much to explore and enjoy in Spain. Take the time to learn about the local customs, traditions, and etiquette, and try to participate in as many cultural activities as possible. Whether it’s attending a flamenco show or trying paella for the first time, embracing the local culture will help you feel more at home in Spain.

Failing to Research the Local Real Estate Market:

If you’re planning to buy a property in Spain, it’s essential to do your research on the local real estate market. Different regions of Spain can have vastly different property prices, so it’s important to understand the market in Torrevieja or Calpe before making any major purchases.

Not Securing Proper Documentation:

Moving to Calpe Spain permanently requires proper documentation, including a visa, residency permit, and other legal documents. Failing to secure these documents can result in serious legal issues and may prevent you from living and working in Spain. Work with a qualified immigration lawyer to ensure you have all the necessary paperwork in order before you make the move.

Underestimating the Cost of Living:

Spain can be an affordable place to live, but it’s important to understand the cost of living in your chosen region. Torrevieja and Calpe are both popular tourist destinations, which can drive up the cost of living.

About TorreviejaTranslation:

TorreviejaTranslation is a popular name for providing expert guidance and support to people relocating to Spain from the US, the UK, and other parts of the world. TorreviejaTranslation can also help you with the important documentation required for a permanent residence visa Spain.

Visit https://torreviejatranslation.com/ to get Spanish relocation guidance from experts.

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3IJ12Mo

[radlymona]

Δεν είσαι ειδικός για να ξέρεις πολλές γλώσσες, κορίτσι. Μιλώ ελληνικά από τη γέννησή μου γιατί γνωρίζω περισσότερες από μία γλώσσες τις πιο κοινές εμπειρίες στον κόσμο. Το να μιλάς περισσότερες από δύο γλώσσες είναι ένα σημάδι προνομίου από όπου κατάγομαι, αλλά φύγε δεσποινίς αποίκτρια που παραπονιέται για την πολιτιστική παγκοσμιοποίηση όταν έρχεσαι από τη γαμημένη Ισπανία. φιλιά.

But now while you take your time with the above, smartass, let's look at your comments:

At some point in time, you’ll have to admit that J.K. Rowling has a lot of flaws in the way she presents her narrative goals and that she treats her female characters in quite a questionable manner. Either that, or you’ve never in your life picked up a book on feminist critique in mass media or on gender analysis in fiction.

Oh for god's sake. I dont' believe that JKR has a 100% purity score on the way she writes women. She's a Gen X British white woman writing in the 90s/00s. She's going to not line up exactly with modern, progressive ideals about writing women.  I think this type of endless criticism over a children's book is just such a reach. There are hundreds of male authors whose female characters amount to "she breasted boobily down the stairs" but JKR is a bad writer because some of her female characters can come off slightly outdated to a modern reader? This is completely discounting how revolutionary Hermione was in the 2000s. That type of hyper-intelligent female character who was a central figure to the plot, underwent a massive amount of development and whose life didn't revolve around her love interest, was frighteningly uncommon back then. I think hyperfocusing on every single thing JKR didn't get exactly right when it comes to her background characters, instead of looking of the significance and impact of her major female character is what happens when you "critically analyse" texts through a bad faith lens.

So, am I supposed to understand, at… I don’t know, I think I was 12 or 13 when I first read the fifth book, that in 1970s England it was normal to laugh when your friends were being bullied?

You don’t have to realise this at 12 or 13 (though I had no problem lol). You do by the time you reach adulthood (or at least if you going to partake in an attempt at literacy criticism of the series). It's a very well known that extreme bullying was (and still is) rife in elite British boarding schools. I'm pretty sure it even happened to Charles, the literal future king, and they even have a name for a specific type of hazing. Like good on you that grew up in Spain and bullying seems a lot less tolerated, but that's not the reality for a lot of the english-speaking world. But when you're reading a book series that is satirising an elite British institution instrumental in reinforcing the current class system, then you're going to have take that context into consideration.

Also for God's sake Lily's is laughing because Snape is wearing dirty underwear. Considering they have house elves to clean for them, it's meant to be a jab at his persistent lack of hygeine. I know that might be hard for a grown woman who writes Snape/self insert fanfiction to understand, but most normal women are turned off by this. 

Guys like James Potter (rich kids who abuse their wealth) don’t get laughed at, they get punched in the face. I guess it’s cultural.

Again your personal context doesn't really matter, but there's like no evidence he abused his wealth. He offered to take financial care of his childhood friend who has the equivalent of a disability. Also this is just a funny quote to me like, "wow, omg we're so much more progressive where i live!!!" Get off your high horse.  

You then spend a whole massive paragraph writing about two book series that don't really have anything to do with the initial discussion, instead of even attempting to respond to what I've written. Yeah, I can really tell you're a lawyer (pejorative). And JKR does contradict Harry's worldview multiple times. She does so by deconstructing his hotheadness and "saving people things" in the latter three books. JKR contradicts his "wow girls are so hard to figure out" perspective, through Hermione explaining to him Cho's very obvious emotional state. The entire point of the half-blood prince's diary is that Harry is entirely in the wrong to continue reading and safeguarding something that contained obviously dark magic. He entirely earns his punishment with Snape after using Sectumsepra. He is consistently being contradicted, but it is a children's fantasy novel series so she's obviously not going to the extent that an author would writing a series from the point of view of a psychopath?

But anyway moving back to James and Draco, why would anyone in the series point them out as being similar? The people who knew James best (Sirius/Remus) don't exactly know Draco. And in their perspective, though they're both wealthy teenage boys they had starkly different views regarding blood purity. Draco's most important storyline is that despite years of parroting racism and classicism, he's in way over his head when he joins the Wizard Nazis. From what we know about at James, he was a bully in school who eventually grew out of it and joined the anti wizard-Nazi organisation. They're really not all that similar beyond wealth and blood status? If you're asking why doesn't the narrative doesn’t treat Draco better and give him some sort of redemption storyline, then the answer is that this isn't the story JKR wants to tell. The story she is telling is how classicist and racist systems are passed down from wealthy, privileged parents to their children. Draco's character is absolutely referencing elite Eton boarding school male students, who go on to inherit daddy's company/noble title and reinforce the classicist system that "earned" them their wealth. 

Sorry, but I don’t see the point in saying that someone like Pansy was so bad she didn’t even deserve Draco, who literally became a Death Eater

Again, a character who is obviously based on her schoolyard bully is going to be a lot more personally aggravating than a hyperbolised fantasy antagonist. I can recognise that an authoritarian dictator is objectively much worse person, but if I read a character who reminds me of a very specific type of person I know/hate, I might especially dislike that character. You seem to have a beef with Hermione-esque characters at any rate. And also, do you really think it's all that important to pick apart an offhand comment she made like 15 years ago??

The male gaze isn’t just something present in fiction written and created by men; it’s a cultural phenomenon that has transcended generational standards in fiction regarding the construction of female characters and how they interact with one another.

I know perfectly well what the male gaze is. It's one of the most well known feminist critiques of all time. I've written about it in a published film article. You don't have to write a dissertion on it and list a bunch of sources to make yourself feel smarter than you are. You can go to court for whenever you need to felt self-gratified. That aside, the reason why it doesn't apply to JKR's character is because they don't appeal erotically to a male audience

Seeing as I've also read Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, let’s look at one of the opening quotes: In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness. Woman displayed as sexual object is the leit-motif of erotic spectacle: from pin-ups to strip-tease, from Ziegfeld to Busby Berkeley, she holds the look, plays to and signifies male desire.

At what point in the narrative are the female characters eroticised this way? Hermione, the naggy, know-it-all with frizzy hair? Definitely not a teenage boy's fantasy. The not all attractively described Luna, who goes far beyond being a typical oddball is not a teenage boy's fantasy. Sure Ginny'ss being described as pretty by her crush, but like that's a pretty normal thing? If she simply existed for his benefit, then why bother making her a leader against the Death Eaters at Hogwarts. You've consistently minimised the achievements and roles the female characters play, because you're desperate to box to characterise them as the misogynistic archetypes that they're not.

This doesn’t sound very fun because I’m not talking about Harry; I’m talking about how Hermione views them and how Hermione actively talks about them.

Yes, but we are seeing Hermione's interactions with the other girls through Harry's eyes. We don't see how they usually get on when apart from Harry because it’s not narratively important. Either way, Hermione isn't constantly looking down on Lavender/Parvati except for their belief in Divination. And the narrative actually condemns her for being closed-minded and being generally rather uncreative. Harry even mulls over this after they leave the Lovegood residence in DH. The only other real conflict she has with Lavender is in HBP. Is it her finest moment? No. Is it pretty on par with how an insecure teenage girl might act? Yes. And lest you forget, Lavender literally laughs at Ron's pretty mean impersonation of Hermione during class. And seeing as you were so upset about laughing as a bully made fun of your friend... (and before you say it, Hermione did nothing to Lavender before this.) And this whole conflict is played up as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the overdramatised, laughable teen romance problems that JKR would have no doubt seen in school. I certainly did, because teenagers act dumb and mean when it comes to their loved lives. It’s really not deeper than that. 

Alright, well, I'm sorry, but I've never liked girls who have problems with other girls just because they act like girls their age

Hermione's a fictional character who's meant to have unlikeable qualities to her. I can't believe I have to say that. Her lack of emotional intelligence doesn't just affect her relationships with other women. While you may have zero-ed on a couple background conversations with supporting characters, her poor social skills causes constant conflict with Ron and then later Harry. You've just made up an entirely fictional version of Hermione who is apparently mean to a lot of girls even though it's clear from the literal first book that she just has problems making friends and uses her intelligence as a mask for her insecurities.

I mean, I didn’t think those kinds of things about them nor did I feel the overwhelming need to distance myself from the things they liked to feel special in some way, nor to make it clear that I wasn’t like them just to fit in with my guy friends.

Should I give you a medal?

That’s very much a teenage thing, and I’ll give you that. My issue isn't with that, my issue is that the narrative doesn't condemn that attitude. I'll say it again: the problem here isn’t that the characters behave badly or have flaws.

It literally does. Hermione goes through several periods of major social isolation, especially in her third and sixth year, because of the way she's interacted with others. Just because JKR doesn't out right say "hermione is bad for doing this" doesn't mean she doesn’t face the consequences of her actions. That's the narrative telling us she's in the wrong.

Maybe this is too complex for you to understand, but my mother literally grew up in a fascist dictatorship with an ultra-Catholic character, where women couldn’t even breathe without their husbands' permission, and they had zero rights beyond marrying and popping out babies like crazy. And I can assure you that she has a much more progressive mindset and much clearer ideas than J.K. Rowling

Good for her. My grandmother left school at ten years old to take care of her family (on a greek island that had been under turkish occupation for most of her life), had zero rights, and was raised to believe women were only good for marrying and having babies. She didn't come out with progressive views. My other grandmother also lived through a fascist dictatorship, she didn't come out particularly progressive either. My Gen X mother was raised with a lot more women's rights and better values, and she is absolutely a lot less progressive than JKR. None of their views or your mother's are relevant to this discussion. JKR doesn't have to have the most progressive view on motherhood to offer her own valuable insights into a complex social role.

Look, arguing with me about the glorification of motherhood in Rowling’s work is laughable because it's something that’s constant throughout all of it. The way she treats mothers, as if they are these all-powerful figures, completely selfless and sacrificing for their children, while if you aren’t that kind of mother ready to give up your entire life for them, you’re some kind of demon or a terrible person...

At the time she was a single mother who had just gotten out of an abusive relationship with her husband and relying on help from female relatives. Ergo, she "glorifies" motherhood (readL has them play an important role in the narrative). I don't know where you've gotten the latter half of the last sentence from. She doesn't say any of that, that's your imagined version of the story talking.

 And the fact that in Rowling’s work, all the responsibility falls on the women while the men as fathers are practically non-existent doesn’t represent the feminist peak or recognition of women that you seem to think.

Again, JKR was a single mother who had just escaped her abusive husband when writing the first book. Mayhaps that influenced the way she wrote about mothers and fathers. She isn't obligated to write a feminist masterpiece on motherhood in her children's fantasy series. She is more than allowed to reflect on what she herself has witnessed and experienced when it comes to motherhood. She doesn't have to deconstruct the insidious, unloving mother archetype because that doesn't really add much to the overall story she's telling. Just go read Sharp Objects, if you're after that type of story.

And yes, it’s called Judeo-Christian culture. Don’t piss me off, I went to a Catholic school for 12 years, I think I know pretty well what I’m talking about.

I also went to Catholic school and was raised Greek Orthodox, you really gotta stop acting like you had some unique experiences. But if you must, Judeo-Christian as a term doesn't even make sense to use when you're arguing about the New Testament/Virgin Mary. Just say Christian for the love of god. Regardless, Mary doesn't have a sacrificial role in the New Testament? At least not like the mothers in HP do? 

Harry also knows little about his father, but at least Rowling takes the time to give James a bit more personality. Funny how Lily doesn’t have any friends. She only has James’ friends, only people related to James can give information about her, and only James gets depth. Was Lily’s world just revolving around James? Doesn’t she have any friends left alive who could talk about her?

On a surface level, I actually agree with this. On a narrative level, I don't. The Snape twist doesn't work if we know a lot about Lily before DH/ And the Snape twist is too integral to the entire story for it to be undone/changed. And because the audience needs to be in the dark about Lily's background, so does Harry and that means unfortunately we do know less about her. This is a Doylist view on the narrative. Sometimes things we don't like need to narratively take place for the overall story to work.

Lucius Malfoy has far more relevance, development, and background than Narcissa. James gets more development and background than Lily. Ginny becomes the protagonist's girl, and she’s a character who practically does nothing until the sixth book, and then in the epilogue, it seems like she wasn’t even able to have a say in her own children's names.

Lucius has more relevance because in the British upper class system he represents, it is the patriarchs of the family who are more active in reinforcing the class system. There is a reason why almost every named Death Eater is male, and no it's not because JKR doesn't believe women can do no wrong (ehem, Umbridge). It's because it’s overwhelmingly been men who have created and sustained oppressive social systems. Meanwhile, the wives of the upper elite are generally regulated to the background/domestic sphere (especially in older generations). I think you're expecting JKR to deconstruct this patriarchial system when a) there's not enough pages for that and b) one of her main goal is to satirise British culture by reflecting a magical mirror onto it. It's quite literally our (or rather Britain's) world with wands and robes, not her version of what the world should look like.

Molly Weasley doesn’t have a life outside her family, while her husband has a complete life as a father, a member of the Order, and a Ministry worker. Nymphadora Tonks turns into a whiny weakling after meeting Lupin, who, by the way, also has much more development and relevance than her

Gee, I wonder what JKR is telling us about housewives of an older generation? It's almost as if being a mother consumes women's lives (especially when you have as many kids as she has). I regularly speak to the many Millennial mothers I work with, and they actually discuss this very phenomennon. That it feels like they've become mothers only while their husbands retain personhood. They even told me to listen to a podcast about it. Again, you have to analyse what JKR is saying about this topic, not what you want her to say.

As for Tonks, I think it's a semi-fair point (and one of your few unfortunately). But I don't think she became a whiny mess, I think she was just dealing with heartbreak. I think the point was that even strong, funny and entertaining people are prone to depressive periods in their lives brought about by personal issues. As for the age gap, I don't personally like it but it wasn't something weird at all for the time period it was written in whether we disagree with it or not. Their relationship is something that's aged poorly (and was probably created for the sake of having the orphan parallel with Teddy), and that tends to happen after 15 years. Social values change and this is one of them.

Not only does Ginny treat Fleur poorly, but Molly does too, and she’s an adult. Even Hermione does it. Why? Because she's pretty? She's the only girl in the Triwizard Tournament, and her performance compared to the male characters is absolutely pathetic.

Fleur's treatment is a tongue-in-cheek is a reference to the way British women view French women as snobby and beautiful (@joannerowling sorry to drag you back in this, but I think you've actually written about this before lmao). I've said tongue-in-cheek a lot of times now, but this is for the hundredth time a satire of British culture. JKR's being covertly cheeky even if not everyone's in on the joke. And yeah Ginny and Hermione are younger teenage girls taking out their insecurities on the much prettier older girl who is almost comically oblivious because it's so beneath her. Molly's also mean to Fleur, because she's scared of "losing" Bill. You know, like a typical mother-in-law interacting with her daughter-in-law-to-be right before the wedding. And they all are narratively refuted at the end of the book. Fleur proves their shallow perceptions of her wrong, and they get over a very petty conflict once they’re faced with much bigger problems. 

As for why she performs poorly in the Triwizard tournament, I think this a more of a "the narrative needs something to happen, and unfortunately it only works if happens to the one female character." Cedric and Krum need to be male, so that the respective Cedric/Cho/Harry and Ron/Hermione/Krum love triangles can work, and obviously there can't be four male champions. Cedric and Krum need to do better in the tournament, because they need to have a bigger role as the other Hogwarts and Durmstrang champions (the latter being prejudiced for being from the 'evil' academy). Because Beauxbatons as a school doesn't matter in the final round, Fleur does get narratively "screwed over". But I think this is balanced out by the fact that she's becomes an active Order member fighting in major battles during DH i.e. her smaller role in GoF is rectified by her bigger role in DH. Again, sometimes we have to look at things from a Doylist perspective to understand why certain narrative choices have been made, rather than assuming bad faith intentions by the author. 

It's about narrative coherence, and she’s very incoherent at times and on certain topics. And that’s okay. She also has an issue with women that should be addressed, but I don’t think it’s just about the era. Nowadays, it’s clear that even with all the information available, she doesn’t really care to read up on issues of gender, power structures, and social violence, so to me, it seems more about her essence and her childhood trauma surrounding femininity than anything else.

I really don’t know what “narrative coherence” you’re talking about here. You haven’t actually listed anything concrete beyond “the narrative tells us she’s a perfect saint and she does a bad thing”. JKR’s coherent about the themes important to her (such as death). Sure she’s interested in creating a children’s novel that guides us through how violent and oppressive structures are created and maintained, but her main aim is to write an escapist children’s novel series with magic. She’s a not a great Feminist or a Marxist thinker writing up a social manifesto. You desperately want Harry Potter to divulge into themes you personally find interesting. You’re partaking in a cardinal sin of media literacy. You’re examining it from a perspective of what it should be, rather than what it is.

Lily doesn’t seem to think she’s done anything wrong by insulting his poverty and aligning herself with his abusers - only Severus is remorseful, and the trauma that caused him to lash out was considerably worse than the trauma that caused her to lash out. She believes he deserves it, as apparently she believed his abuse was amusing. And I’d be totally fine with this from a character perspective because it’s the teenage condition to be self-centred and poor at self-reflection. But the *narrative* (and the author in interviews) doesn’t believe Lily was in the wrong here. And it believes Lily made the correct moral judgment on the two boys when she casts Severus off for his crime and falls in love with James despite his. But I just don’t buy into that framing, and I didn’t even when I was 10. The use of the word ‘mudblood’ while in considerable distress is not a greater sin than sexual assault.

Lily feels no remorse, nor does she think it's wrong to half-smile at the bully who’s targeting your so-called friend. She doesn’t even consider that this might be why your supposed best friend insulted you in the first place. But here’s the thing: this isn't Lily's fault. It's J.K. Rowling's fault, and the way she portrays ethical dilemmas throughout the series, blurring the lines between what's morally right and wrong. Now, if you’ll allow me, before diving into the dynamics between Lily and Severus, I’d like to provide some context as to why I believe the biggest issue with many of the characters’ attitudes in the series lies in Rowling’s constant attempt to project her own moral compass through her writing. In doing so, she falls into repeated inconsistencies and creates a narrative that’s all over the place when it comes to how certain characters are treated.

Rowling is never consistent. She portrays Draco Malfoy as an irredeemable, terrible character because he’s a rich kid spoiled by his parents, using his power and influence to bully those weaker than him. Yet, she gives James the benefit of the doubt, even though he behaved exactly the same way: a rich bully who used his status and his friends to gang up on the vulnerable. From early interviews, Rowling claimed Pansy Parkinson is practically the reincarnation of Satan, even though, of all the antagonists, Pansy is probably one of the least relevant and harmless. This is simply because Rowling projected onto her the stereotypical “mean girls” who mock those who read and study��something Rowling clearly couldn’t stand. On the other hand, she glorifies characters like Ginny, who has a pretty nasty attitude towards any girl she doesn’t consider cool or "not like the other girls." Ginny treats Fleur like a witch when Fleur has done nothing wrong—her only crime is being incredibly beautiful, knowing it, and not constantly apologizing for it. And this treatment of female characters throughout the series deserves a proper gendered critique, because they fall into every stereotype and archetype set by the traditional male gaze.

In Rowling's world, there are always two kinds of women. When it comes to younger, adolescent characters, there are the "good" women—those who don’t fit the typical feminine mold, the weird ones (like Luna), the tomboys who are “one of the guys” (like Ginny), or the overly studious ones who don’t have time for frivolous things like reading magazines or talking about boys (like Hermione). In other words, the cool girls, the ones who are supposed to be role models, are those who "aren’t like the other girls." But not because they’re deconstructing gender roles consciously—they just happen to embody the fantasy of the woman who can give you kids while still being one of your bros. It’s a common male fantasy, where women abandon the graceful, ethereal, delicate image to fit into a set of needs the modern man has. These are "manic pixie dream girls," hiding a deeply internalized misogyny as they are presented as individuals opposed to the “other” women—the “other” being less cool because they lack traditionally masculine traits, and thus are less than. We see this not only with how Fleur is treated but also with the disdain or prejudice Hermione shows towards girls like Lavender or the Patil sisters, just because they act like normal teenagers instead of validating themselves through academia to compensate for their inferiority complex (cough, cough).

Then we have the adult female characters, where Rowling’s toxic and incredibly conservative view of motherhood kicks in. Except for McGonagall, the rest of the adult women who are seen in a positive light are either already mothers or end up becoming mothers. And for them, motherhood is everything. They are mothers first and women second, in every case. Lily is Harry’s mother, who sacrifices herself for him. Molly is the Weasley matriarch, whose entire life revolves around her kids—she hasn’t even looked for a job (which wouldn’t be a bad idea, considering the family’s financial situation), nor does she have any aspirations beyond knitting sweaters and worrying about her children. Even Narcissa, a negative character throughout most of the saga, earns her redemption solely because she loves her son and is willing to risk everything for him. Nymphadora Tonks, a 25-year-old woman, ends up pregnant by a man 13 years older than her and goes from being an independent Auror with her own life to a passive housewife waiting for her man, who is off having an existential crisis. The adult women in the saga aren’t independent individuals—they’re extensions of their children. And any woman who isn’t a perfect, self-sacrificing mother (like Merope Gaunt) is either a psychopath or portrayed as a terrible person.

What I’m getting at is that Rowling is far from impartial in the moral narrative of the story. In fact, she’s absolutely inconsistent. She presents characters she sells as "good," whose attitudes are absolute trash, yet she continues to insist that they’re good and perfect. This is especially obvious with her female characters, because throughout the seven books, she constantly emphasizes her ideal of the "perfect woman" in terms of tastes, motivations, and behavior. Hermione is a self-insert, Ginny is probably a projection of who Rowling wishes she could’ve been, and Luna is the quirky girl who isn’t “threatening” to other women, and is treated with a condescending, paternalistic lens. They are either Rowling’s aspirational figures or archetypes that don’t bother her, or they’re reduced to filler characters who are mistreated by the narrative.

When it comes to Lily, the problem is that Rowling spends half the saga painting her as some kind of Mother Teresa. She’s the quintessence of motherhood—but not a conscious, modern motherhood, but one rooted in traditional Judeo-Christian ideals. This is the kind of motherhood that can do no wrong, the one that represents women because, in this view, a woman can’t be fulfilled unless she’s a mother. Lily dies for her son, and that love creates a divine, protective magic. She’s beautiful, popular, and one of the most popular guys at school is after her. Clearly, she must be a saint, because everyone describes her as such. And while the narrative does question James’s perfection, even if vaguely and unsuccessfully, it doesn’t do the same with Lily. Harry questions his father’s actions but never his mother’s. He never stops to think about how problematic it is that his mother almost laughed at Severus or refused to hear his apology, or that she couldn’t empathize with what he was going through, knowing full well the kind of situation Severus had at home. When a narrative tells you something but never shows it, and worse, never questions it, that’s a problem. Something doesn’t add up. Rowling is obsessed with showing her own moral line through her characters and doesn’t realize how incoherent it is to portray Lily as someone who always does the right thing when what we actually see of her suggests that, if she really liked James all along, not only is she a hypocrite, but she’s also quite superficial with questionable principles. But this is never addressed, never explored. It would be fascinating if it were, giving the character more depth and making her more relatable. But Rowling brushes all this aside, as she does with so many other things, because to her, Lily was a role model, despite the fact that anyone with common sense can see she was just a terrible friend who got tired of justifying why she hung out with a poor, scruffy kid and ultimately decided it made more sense to date the rich, handsome bully.

[bgilaw]

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[justlawsolicitors]

New Website

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If you have any Spanish legal issues call or email us. We can help with NIE numbers, Residency or Residencia and a property purchase. Remember you can choose your own independent abogado for your Spanish house purchase. We cover the whole of Spain and provide a full online service if required.

[harryissuchalittleshit]

Hermione Granger headcanons for her birthday!

Her father, Javier, was born in Cuba, immigrated to Spain when he was 8/9, and he moved to London to go to college when he was 19

Her mother, Jane, was born and raised by a single father in London, she grew up struggling but very well loved

They met in their very first class and fell in love very quickly

Javier proposed when they started med school

They got married and pregnant very quickly after they graduated

They opened their clinic in the same neighborhood that Jane grew up, a very poor area with lots of immigrants who barely spoke English

Hermione grew up reading in the waiting room or behind the front desk, she grew up hearing bits and pieces of conversation in different languages

Javier and Jane wanted her to have a better start than they did, so they sent her to a very expensive private school

Hermione felt very out of place surrounded by white kids that only spoke English, and she learned very quickly that speaking Spanish would only get her bullied

The first time she does magic is when a teacher (who had been very racist to her) failed her on a test because her handwriting was “too sloppy”

The stack of tests caught on fire

Getting her Hogwarts letter was the best thing in the world

Professor McGonagall came and explained everything to Javier and Jane, but it still took some convincing

After the war, Hermione and Ron went to Australia together to find her parents

It was really hard on their relationship, and they spent a lot of time stressed and worried

But then they found her parents and Hermione finally let her guard down

Hermione went back to Hogwarts to do her seventh year, and when she graduated he went straight to the Ministry

She didn’t intend to become a lawyer, but she fell into learning the law and defending it, and it made it easier to write and repeal laws by defending them

She also starts smoking cigarettes around this time, she blames Kingsley for it

She moved in with Ron and Harry brought life to their flat, making them put up pictures and actually clean up after themselves

Harry eventually moved out, but Ron and Hermione fought tooth and nail on it

Ron proposed at George and Angelina’s wedding reception and Hermione was so happy and excited she jumped up and down and started crying

Her parents love Ron, especially after he revealed that he had started to learn Spanish

Even a few words make a difference

Javier and Jane walked Hermione down the aisle, but it was all she could do not to full out run at Ron

Everyone thought that they would move out of their flat and into a house after they got married, but they didn’t, they loved their small two bedroom flat

(It was the extra room for Harry or Ginny or both of them when they needed it)

Hermione was a bridesmaid at Angelina and George’s wedding and Maid of Honor in Harry and Ginny’s wedding, and Audrey would’ve asked her to be a bridesmaid if she and Percy didn’t elope

Hermione was the first person to hold James after Harry and Ginny, she and Ron are his godparents

Finding out she was pregnant with Rose was very hard for Hermione, she and Ron never really talked about children

Ron fainted when she told him, which made her even more distraught, but Ron was overjoyed when he came to

The first time she felt Rose move was during a long meeting, and Hermione started crying which ended up getting the meeting rescheduled 😂

Finding out they were having a daughter was very overwhelming, but hearing Ron whisper Rose beside her made her calm down

They bought their house because Hermione was pregnant and they wanted space to grow and potentially have a bigger family

Hermione wanted four kids, Ron wanted three, nothing crazy

Hermione had nothing to do with Ron’s decision to go to part time, but everyone thinks that it was her decision

She was really sick for most of her pregnancy with Hugo, but then he was here

Harry and Ginny are Rose’s godparents and George and Angelina are Hugo’s godparents

Other than James, they are godparents to Ali Longbottom, Aiden Li-Collins, Lorcan Lovegood, Anika Thomas, and Mason Finnigan

After the difficulties Hermione had during both of her pregnancies, along with how colicky Hugo is, they decided to not have anymore children

But Rose and Hugo are so important to them, Hermione thinks of them and how every decision she makes could effect them before signing any bill into a law

Hermione never shy’s away from telling Rose and Hugo about the war (when they’re older and start asking questions) and it makes their relationships stronger

Hermione just adores her kids and wants what’s best for them, even if it’s a difficult conversation or starts a fight

She does teach them Spanish, but Hugo is the one to really embrace it and speak it fluently

She will always call Rose ‘Mija’ and Hugo ‘Mijo’

Can I just say that I love Hermione, she has been a role model to me since I was five and I wish her the world on her birthday!

[amillionlanguages]

2+ Months of Language Learning Prompts!

Sometimes it can be tricky to know what to learn if you are teaching yourself a language. Here are some ideas for what you can focus on learning each day for the first two months of learning a new language! I formatted it so there is the general topic for the day and then in parentheses are some ideas to get you started but you can definitely learn a lot more than what I’ve written down! These are just to help generate some ideas!

This definitely would move pretty quickly if you covered all this material in 2 months so you could definitely spend more time on each topic if you need! This would require quite a bit of time each day in order to learn it all. This could totally work for a 4 or 6-month challenge where you spend 2 or 3 days on each of the topics I listed if you don’t have enough time to cover each topic in just one day!

Polite phrases (thank you, please, yes/no, you’re welcome, I’m sorry)

Introductory phrases (hi, my name is, I’m from, I speak, how are you?)

Pronouns (I, you, he, she, they, we)

Basic people vocab (girl, boy, man, woman, person, child)

Basic verbs in present tense (to eat, to drink, to walk, to read, to write, to say)

Sentence structure (how to form some basic sentences)

Negative sentences (I do not __)

Question words (who, what, where, when, why, how, how to form questions)

Numbers (0-20, 30, 40, 50, 100, 1,000, 1,000,000)

Time (hour, minute, half hour, reading the time)

Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert, appetizer)

Basic foods (apple, banana, rice, bread, pasta, carrot, soup, water)

More foods (beef, pork, fruit, vegetable, juice, coffee, tea, chocolate, cake)

Kitchen (stove, oven, kitchen, fridge, table, chair, bake, boil)

Eating supplies (knife, spoon, fork, plate, bowl, cup, glass)

More verbs (to make, to have, to see, to like, to go, to be able to, to want, to need)

Family (father, mother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandmother, grandfather, parents, grandparents)

Transportation (car, train, plane, bus, bicycle, airport, train station)

City locations (apartment, building, restaurant, movie theater, market, hotel, bank)

Directions (north, south, east, west, right, left)

Adjectives (good, bad, smart, delicious, nice, fun)

More verbs (to give, to send, to wake up, to cry, to love, to hate, to laugh)

Colors (red, yellow, blue, green, purple, black, white, brown)

Emotions (happy, sad, calm, angry)

Physical descriptions (tall, short, blonde, brunette, redhead, eye color)

Body parts (arm, leg, hand, finger, foot, toe, face, eye, mouth, nose, ears)

Descriptors (rich, poor, beautiful, ugly, expensive, inexpensive)

Basic clothing (shirt, pants, dress, skirt, jacket, sweater, skirt, shorts)

Accessories (belt, hat, wallet, gloves, sunglasses, purse, watch)

More verbs (to keep, to smile, to run, to drive, to wear, to remember)

Animals (cat, dog, horse, cow, bear, pig, chicken, duck, fish)

More animals (turtle, sheep, fox, mouse, lion, deer)

Months (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December)

Seasons (fall, winter, spring, summer)

Weather (sunny, cloudy, hot, cold, snowing, raining)

States of being (I’m hungry, I’m tired, I’m thirsty)

House (bedroom, living room, bathroom, stairs)

Furniture (bed, lamp, couch, door, window)

Electronics (phone, TV, computer, camera, radio, headphones)

Nature (tree, flower, plant, animal, grass, animal, outside, sky, sun, moon, clouds)

More verbs (to teach, to learn, to understand, to know, to listen, to hear)

School (classroom, elementary school, high school, college, student, class, grade, homework, test)

School subjects (math, science, English, art, music, chemistry, biology, physics)

School supplies (book, pencil, pen, paper, notebook, folder, backpack, calculator)

Classroom features (student desk, teacher desk, whiteboard, chalk, clock, bell)

Jobs (teacher, scientist, doctor, artist, dancer, musician)

More jobs (surgeon, manager, engineer, architect, lawyer, dentist, writer)

More verbs (to buy, to sell, to work, to ask, to answer, to dance, to leave, to come)

Comparisons (less than, more than, same, __er than)

Languages (French, German, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, English, Japanese)

Countries (France, Germany, China, Russia, Spain, Mexico, United States, Japan)

Religion (church, temple, mosque, to pray, Judaism, Christianity, Islam)

Past tense (I was, he ran, she wrote)

Hobbies (shopping, sports, soccer, chess, fishing, gardening, photography)

More verbs (to describe, to sleep, to find, to wish, to enter, to feel, to think)

Art (paint, draw, painting, gallery, frame, brush)

Morning routine (to wake up, to brush teeth, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap)

Future tense (I will run, he will write)

TV + internet (online, internet, to watch TV, TV show, movie, documentary, cartoon)

More verbs (to look for, to stay, to touch, to meet, to show, to rent, to wash, to play)

[scottymcgeesterwrites]

Ambiguous

There has been something I need to write about and shout into the void. It has been tearing me apart, and I don’t know how people will react elsewhere, so I figured this was the safest place. This will be the soft reveal before even speaking about it to my friends. Or maybe I will never speak about it ever again. Maybe I will feel fine after writing it this way.  For my entire life, people have mistaken me for being Indian, to the point where actual Indians walk up to me and start speaking in their dialect. My mile-long blank stare makes them realize that I am not Indian, and one of two things happen - they either apologize and explain they mistook me for Indian, or they exclaim, “You’re NOT Indian?”

I’m Cuban and Colombian. I grew up in New Jersey. I am an American citizen but it gets confusing when you take into account that my mother flew to Santiago, Chile to have me there because of a clinic that specialized in geriatric pregnancy at the time, so my “birthplace” reads Chile on my passport. That’s always a mouthful to have to explain and it further confuses people, so I end up saying, “I was born in New Jersey”.  My skin tone is best described as ambiguous. I could be many things. I’ve gotten Middle Eastern, Indian, and specifically “Egyptian”. I have no idea why “Egyptian” but. Whatever.  I have always lived in some liminal space where people ask the dreaded question, “What are you?” Now here’s the most frustrating thing of all - not everyone who has asked me that was white. Growing up, I thought that I could relate to someone who wasn’t white to understand how I feel. Black people have asked me that. Indian people have asked me that. Middle Eastern people have asked me that. Cubans and Colombians have asked me that.  Throughout my youth, I was paranoid that maybe I was adopted or something, given how people didn’t seem to connect me with my parents. I was told that my Cuban side hails from Spain, but my Colombian side is shrouded in mystery. My dad never liked to talk about my family. I never knew anyone past my grandparents. Well, I did meet my great-grandmother once when I was seven, but she had practically turned back into a baby at that point, banging on the table demanding food and needing to be spoon-fed. My own people don’t recognize me, and they often say things like, “You don’t LOOK Latino!” or “What? You’re LATINO?” and the best one yet “You don’t SOUND Spanish!” The worst offenders, however, would laugh and say, “¡Pareces Hindu!” which means “You look Hindu!” Hindu is the religion, dumbass. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can be racist and slip some “micro-aggression”. I am not fluent in Spanish, but I can write and understand every word in Spanish. I often inadvertently offend Spanish-speaking people when I reply to them in English when they thought they were being sneaky by talking in Spanish around me.  The reason I don’t speak Spanish as fast as my peers is because of two reasons:  1. My parents at the time when I grew up believed in the misconception and pseudoscientific belief that children will be “confused” if two or more languages are spoken in the house.  2. Central New Jersey, where I grew up, hadn’t yet seen many Hispanic people, so locals at the time often leered at people who spoke Spanish in public.  When my mother took me to our local Gymboree, I spotted a butterfly and shouted in Spanish, “¡Mariposa! ¡Mariposa!”. The other mothers kept staring at me, and then distanced themselves from us.  The weirdest thing ever was experiencing white people who studied the Spanish language better than me and making fun of me for actually being Spanish but being unable to speak it fluently. I had a crush on this girl whom I’ll call “Anjy” in freshman year of college. It took me until now to realize that I think she had a Latino fetish. Anjy only exclusively went out with Latino men, but never seemed to openly admit it. The only thing she did admit was that, “I can only be with a man who speaks Spanish. It’s so important to me.” So obviously I wasn’t a contender, despite being Latino. Anjy doesn’t have an ounce of Spanish in her. None. But she studied it since high school and fell in love with it and became Spanish’s #1 fan. I was so jealous of how fluent she was. She could roll her r’s and speak it beautifully. Since we became friends, I said to her, “Oh, I can finally practice my Spanish with someone!” We tried, but she laughed at me and said, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore. You sound like a gringo.” It’s a very topsy-turvy world where some white girl uses a derogatory term on me, a derogatory term from my culture that describes an outsider, used to describe me. She went to Costa Rica after we graduated, lived there for a few years, and came back home with a husband.  (That’s when I fully realized just how much she fetishized us.) A few years ago, my now-fiancée gifted me a DNA test for my birthday. That came out of left field for me, and opened up a range of emotions that I wasn’t ready for. She said she remembered how I wondered aloud why I looked the way I looked and about my ancestry.  I sat on the DNA test for a while. 

I stared at it. 

I held the kit in my hands. 

I opened it and closed it.  What if I really was Indian? What if I found out something that made me feel so much worse? But how bad could it be? I was also wary about the company keeping my DNA for nefarious reasons. However, luckily enough, my fiancée had bought the kit from AncestryDNA - the one DNA company that has responded to people saying they would delete their DNA at their request. I bit the bullet and sent my sample.  When the test came back, I opened it up and everything made sense. It made so much sense that I laughed out loud. It’s so funny how nobody has guessed the only other possibility for my skin tone that is what I actually am.  I am pretty much half native to the Americas.  I’m not sure what that’s called. Native American seems to be associated exclusively to North America. So Native South American? Native to the Americas? Native American (et al)? The Colombian side can be traced through turmoil in South America, up through Mesoamerica, and into North America. So many spots lit up all over the Americas. And like the Cuban side said, I was indeed from Spain as well.  I was split right down the middle. 50/50. The native side and the European side were practically screaming at each other in my genes. I felt as though a great weight had been lifted from me that I didn’t even know was there. I knew for a fact that I was my parents’ son. I had an explanation for why I look the way I look, and it made sense and it was obvious. It didn’t end there though.  I didn’t feel Native American. I had no cultural connection to anything “native”. I tried thinking in terms of my personality though. I always had a strong belief in saving the land and respecting the dead. I did vandalize a construction site back in my high school days to preserve farmland. My family did like to decorate the house with Aztec and Mayan statues. Aside from that though, I had about as much personal connection to native culture as Olive Garden does to Italy. The thing about my parents being from Cuba and Colombia is that those were two very violent and turbulent places in the past century. After I tell people where my families hail from, they always asked me with wide-eyes, “Oh have you been there???” Well, I dunno man. If you have any inkling of what’s going on the world you would know the awkward relationship that the United States has had with Cuba, and what it means to be a fucking exile. And the fact that Colombia has seen gang wars for the entirety of my life. So no. I haven’t. When I was a little boy I asked my parents if we would ever visit Colombia or Cuba, but they told me we shouldn’t go back. Colombia was violent, and Cuba’s government watched everyone. My mother was afraid of what would happen if she tried going back. Maybe they wouldn’t let her, or us. Maybe they’d let us through but I wouldn’t even be allowed to return if they knew I was the son of an exile. Worse yet, they might detain my mother. You never know when your family had beef with the government and was told to leave.  And what really drives a knife in my heart is hearing people ask that really annoying question. “Have you visited???” As if they were hot and exotic touristy locales. No. Because my parents were forced to flee, because they needed a better life.  “Wouldn’t your mom love it if you got married in Cuba? She would get to visit her home!”  You don’t get the trauma she has. You don’t understand how much of a toll it would take on her to return home and see all the things she once knew and love gone or tarnished. She received word recently that the farmhouse she grew up in now became a restaurant. The house that my grandfather built by hand. Strangers now sit and eat there. Maybe tourists. The hotel that my great-grandfather used to own now doesn’t belong to us anymore - the government said it was theirs. There is nothing for her to go back to but loss.  I felt distraught when I saw a former college classmate who has become an Instagram influencer immediately visit Cuba once travel restrictions were eased. She posted all about it and acted as if she were an expert about it. She used to be a lawyer in Washington D.C. until she decided to “take hold of her life” and “follow her dream” and go to Bali and now lives everyday in tropical paradise. It seemed like some people were pointing out the hypocrisy in her posts about life given the lifestyle she leads, since she felt the need to say something about it. She made a video where she tried to relate to her followers. She said how “it’s still hard” for her, that she “has to work every day”, and meanwhile literally the next fucking day she posts a picture of her having lunch by a waterfall, or napping in her hammock by the beach. But when she visited Cuba, and took pictures and wrote a long post about the country, I just lost it. She met up with some other white Instagram influencer friend, and they took selfies at a café and lectured about the region and--- That’s supposed to be my country, my culture. I’m supposed to feel that way about my people, not you. I went to a wedding recently in July. This black man slapped me on the back after I cracked a joke and said, “Hey, where you from?”

“New Jersey.” He laughed. “No, but really though. Where are you from?” “New Jersey.” “I mean originally. Your background. What are you?” It was the first time I had been asked that question since I got back my DNA test results, and for some reason it hit me so much differently.

I really wanted to say, “I don’t know.” It’s ironic how knowing what I am made me feel more confused, more alone and more isolated than ever before. I am bad at speaking Spanish, and when I try to practice with other Spanish-speaking people they laugh at me and say, “You sound like a gringo” and say they can’t bear to practice with me. I don’t look Latino. I might look Indian or I might look Middle Eastern. With me, everyone assumes things about me, no matter what they are. Some people have the luxury of automatic and unspoken assumptions about their background. Then there’s me. Not quite tan, not quite white. I don’t raise enough suspicion at the airport to warrant a search but at the same time I have to jump over one extra hurdle when they ask me one extra question: “Where are you from?” or “How long are you staying here?” or “What are you here for?” It’s very subtle and deceptively innocent. Nobody else who is pasty white gets asked any questions. They just stamp their passport and wave them away. I’m just ambiguous enough to warrant that extra step - just in case, you know? I envy people so much who can have a clear culture and place to point and say, “I’ve been there. I’ve been where I come from.” I envy people who can recognize all the idiosyncrasies of their family’s region. I don’t belong to any country or culture or identity. There are only a few scant pieces of culture that my parents passed on to me. “Oh, on Christmas we do this” or “We say this once and a while. That was a common expression there.” I envy people with huge families who have not been estranged by government and bloodshed or lost to time. I envy people who can trace their families back to their grandfathers and great-grandfathers and great-great-grandmothers. As a kid I wish I was able to say something like, “My great-granddaddy fought Nazis in the war!” I will never know anyone beyond that one old great-grandmother who no longer recognized anyone’s face. Everyone else is a name on a tombstone, or a whisper in vague oral history. I envy people who can firmly say, “I am *insert nationality here*” Because I always mumble at that phrase.  I am. . .a. . . I am from. . . . uh I am. . .  I am.