Olympic Games- Paris 2024- Léon Marchand breaks his world record and wins his 4th gold medal
https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/simone-biles-boot-injury-calf-paris-olympics
However, have you been watching the men swimmers? If so, I am sure that you have seen the French swimmer Léon Marchand. He is 22 years old, and he is from Toulouse. But did you know that he goes to Arizona State University? And do you know who is coach is? The legendary Michael Phelps! Watch Phelps presenting Marchand with the gold medal for the men's 400 meters individual medley.
La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias- Valencia, Spain
Check it out and be amazed at this innovative architectural design!
Westworld's Season 3 Film Locations in Real Life (harpersbazaar.com)
Show of lights
Receta de la tarta de Santiago/Spanish Almond Cake Recipe
https://www.hogarmania.com/cocina/recetas/postres/tarta-santiago-14332.html
Today, I leave you the recipe for the Spanish almond cake. It is one of my favorites. It is gluten free, and it is a traditional dessert from the province of Galicia. This cake may be eaten all year; however it is served specifically on July 25th to celebrate Santiago's day (St. James' day). I am sure that you have heard about the Camino de Santiago, right? The Camino are routes walked by pilgrims during the Middle Ages who were going towards Santiago's tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia (Northwest of Spain). The Camino starts in the French Pyrenees and ends in Santiago de Compostela. Are you ready to make the Spanish almond cake, or would you rather do the Camino? Maybe both?
https://spanish sabores.com/tarta-de-santiago-recipe-spanish-almond-cake/
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPSDnpFxNY4/VbEEyeBN2XI/AAAAAAAADGk/Dz09X1-Ec0s/s1600/Tartasantiago10.jpg
La boxeuse amoureuse by Arthur H
Marie-Agnès was "une étoile" (a star) at the Paris Opera Ballet. She has retired from the Opera Ballet, and she is now a choreographer and a ballet teacher. She is so graceful and elegant. So resilient and strong. She had to overcome many obstacles to rise and shine as une étoile. Marie-Agnès is an inspiration.
Read her short bio here: Marie-Agnès Gillot: "I like dance more than anyone" - Teller Report
Reactions from some world leaders after SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v Wade
Emmanuel Macron (French President)
French President Emmanuel Macron [...] expressed "solidarity" with women in the US, and called abortion a "fundamental right for all women" soon after his Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called the decision "appalling."
Pedro Sánchez (President of Spain)
Spanish leader Pedro Sánchez said in a tweet: "We cannot take any right for granted. Social achievements are always at risk of going backwards and their defense has to be our day to day. Women must be able to decide freely about their lives."
Justin Trudeau (Canadian Prime Minister)
"The news coming out of the United States is horrific," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday. "My heart goes out to the millions of American women who are now set to lose their legal right to an abortion. I can't imagine the fear and anger you are feeling right now."
"No government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. I want women in Canada to know that we will always stand up for your right to choose," he added.
United Nations
UN Secretary General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Friday reiterated the organization's position on abortion: "That sexual and reproductive health and rights are the foundation of a life of choice, empowerment and equality for the world's women and girls."
"It's also important to note that restricting access to abortion does not prevent people from seeking abortion; it only makes it more deadly," Dujarric added. "UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) tells us that some 45 per cent of all abortions around the world are unsafe, making it a leading cause of maternal [death]."
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called the ruling a "major setback."
"Access to safe, legal and effective abortion is firmly rooted in international human rights law and is at the core of women and girls' autonomy and ability to make their own choices about their bodies and lives, free of discrimination, violence and coercion," Bachelet said. "This decision strips such autonomy from millions of women in the U.S., in particular those with low incomes and those belonging to racial and ethnic minorities, to the detriment of their fundamental rights."
Boris Johnson (British Prime Minister)
"Look, I'll be absolutely clear with everybody. This is not our court," U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday, according to the Associated Press. "It's another jurisdiction. But clearly, it has massive impacts on people's thinking around the world. It's a very important decision."
"I've got to tell you, I think it's a big step backwards," he added. "I've always believed in a woman's right to choose and I stick to that view and that's why the UK has the laws that it does and actually, if you look, we recently took steps to make sure that those laws were enforced throughout the whole of the U.K."
Nicole Sturgeon (First Minister of Scotland)
"One of the darkest days for women's rights in my lifetime. Obviously the immediate consequences will be suffered by women in the US - but this will embolden anti-abortion & anti-women forces in other countries too. Solidarity doesn't feel enough right now - but it is necessary."
Jonas Gahr Støre (Norwegian Prime Minister)
"The right to abortion can either be banned or tightened in several US states after the US Supreme Court has now overturned the historic ruling from 1972 that surely American women have this right," ( tweet translated to English). "This is a serious step backwards for women's rights!"
Alexander de Croo (Belgian Prime Minister)
"Very concerned about implications of [the Supreme Court] decision on #RoeVWade and the signal it sends to the world," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. "Banning abortion never leads to fewer abortions, only to more unsafe abortions. Belgium will continue to work with other countries to advance #SRHR everywhere."
Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand Prime Minister)
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying the Supreme Court’s elimination of the constitutional right to abortion is a loss for women everywhere.
“When there are so many issues to tackle, so many challenges that face women and girls, we need progress, not to fight the same fights and move backwards,” she said.
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/supreme-court-decision-roe-v-wade-6-24-2022/card/europeans-react-on-roe-v-wade-YQY9SVjtWc4K7DIfB0R8By popular demand from my Spanish students! Rosario: Te lo Digo Todo
In this case, I asked my students to identify the direct and indirect object pronouns and explain their placement in the sentences taken from the song:
"No te digo nada y te lo digo todo". (I do not tell you anything and I tell you everything).
"No te sirve de nada" (It does not help you).
No sé cómo hacerlo (I do not know how to do it).
Do you want to test your Spanish? Could you identify the direct/indirect objects and explain their placement in the sentences?
March 8- International Women's Day
What does it mean? IWD: IWD 2022 campaign theme: #BreakTheBias (internationalwomensday.com)
Imagine a gender equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women's equality.
Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.
Olympic Champions 2022! French Figure Skaters Papadakis and Cizeron
Watch one of their most stunning performances, Made to Love (a song by John Legend), for which they were choreographed by Axelle Munezero, where they incorporated Waacking movements (a queer dance form born in L.A.) to their performance. Absolument magnifique! Et bravo pour cette médaille d'or si bien méritée! (Bravo for that gold medal so well-deserved!)
Francophone singer: Angèle- "Ta Reine"
This song is a remix and it is totally addictive! The title of the song is "Ta Reine" (Your Queen). Angèle is a singer from Belgium who has written and produced two albums. She is one of the biggest Francophone pop stars today. "Bruxelles je t'aime" is one of her most famous singles, although the one I am posting today is one of my favorites.
[Chorus] https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-angele-ta-reine-english-translation-lyrics
But you would like her to be your queen tonight
Even if two queens, it's not too accepted
But you would like her to be your queen tonight
You don't care about kings, it's not what you like
If you like French songs... check this one out!
Prado Museum and Flamenco: perfect combination of art
To celebrate the International Day of Flamenco, the Asociación Nacional de Tablaos Flamenco of Spain, under the direction of the artist Antonio Najarro, created this video at the Prado Museum in Madrid. The video ends highlighting the famous Velázquez's painting, Las Meninas. Check out this beautiful video!
Benefits of being bilingual/beneficios de ser bilingue/bénéfices d'être bilingue
Being bilingual -or trilingual, or a polyglot (speaking many languages)- has many advantages. Not just social advantages such as being able to communicate with other cultures, being more competitive in our global markets, but also personal advantages, linked to cognitive and emotional skills. Indeed, bilingual brains make neurological connections that could delay the onset of cognitive decline, such as dementia and even Alzheimer's. Check the article in the link below to know more about the benefits of being bilingual: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160811-the-amazing-benefits-of-being-bilingual
¿A qué esperas para aprender español? Qu'est-ce que tu attends pour apprendre le français? What are you waiting to learn French or Spanish?
La casa de papel, Temporada 5 (Money Heist, Season 5) is coming!!!
Here is one of my favorite quotes: "La cura del dolor es la distancia" (Berlin) (The cure for pain is distance).
The information I have written above comes from this blog.
Here is a picture of the trailer from Season 5:
Crazy (Fous) about Emma Peters!
Fous means crazy but could also mean "I do not care" as "je m'en fous". In an interview, she explained that when in the song she wrote "cherche pas à leur plaire ("do not try to please them"), she was thinking about writing and composing a song without caring about the results.
Here are the lyrics of Fous translated into English: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/fous-crazy.html
Have you watched Lupin yet?
If you have not, I highly recommend it! If you are taking French, it is great practice for your listening skills; if not, maybe you will be inspired to take French soon! Use the subtitles and enjoy the show. It is going to keep you on your toes! https://www.netflix.com/title/80994082
