Radio Maria
Spain is different. And you don't have to drive over lemons to find this out. I've lived in and around Madrid for 10 years, and it can still surprise me - in a good, bad or just plain that-is-so-weird-it's funny way.
Today, on Telemadrid, a guy on a health discussion panel was complaining gently that in his profession, he had to be careful really - he couldn't eat too much spicy food, smoke too much or drink more than say 3 gin-tonics (Spanish size obviously) in one session. He was a GP.
Reminds me of when I was pregnant with Sammy, number 1 son now 8. "Do you smoke?" asked my gynaecologist at our first meeting. "Not any more" I said proudly. "Well don't torture yourself," he replied in kindly tones. "Better to smoke just a few than get all wound up about it." "How many is a few?" I asked (surely I wasn't hearing this...) "Oh, let's say no more than....." (yes? 1 a month?) "five or so a day".
WHAT??? I didn't smoke that much when I WAS a smoker!
That was a long time ago but as Señor Moderation on TV reminded me, Spain is still different.
This blog is the attempt of a permanent ex-pat to come to terms with the differences, maybe explain some of them, and have a good laugh in the process.
By the way, Radio Maria really exists and is a radio station dedicated to the female God of Spain, the Holy Virgin Mary - but more of that another time maybe.
Today, on Telemadrid, a guy on a health discussion panel was complaining gently that in his profession, he had to be careful really - he couldn't eat too much spicy food, smoke too much or drink more than say 3 gin-tonics (Spanish size obviously) in one session. He was a GP.
Reminds me of when I was pregnant with Sammy, number 1 son now 8. "Do you smoke?" asked my gynaecologist at our first meeting. "Not any more" I said proudly. "Well don't torture yourself," he replied in kindly tones. "Better to smoke just a few than get all wound up about it." "How many is a few?" I asked (surely I wasn't hearing this...) "Oh, let's say no more than....." (yes? 1 a month?) "five or so a day".
WHAT??? I didn't smoke that much when I WAS a smoker!
That was a long time ago but as Señor Moderation on TV reminded me, Spain is still different.
This blog is the attempt of a permanent ex-pat to come to terms with the differences, maybe explain some of them, and have a good laugh in the process.
By the way, Radio Maria really exists and is a radio station dedicated to the female God of Spain, the Holy Virgin Mary - but more of that another time maybe.
posted by Radio Maria at 11:27 PM
3 Comments:
Oh, its you!!! ha ha ha ha ha. Thought Id got a hit from someone I didnt know!! I checked your profile and was slightly suspicious at your choice of authours. "chorizo" gave the game away of course. Good stuff.
While Googling for "Radio Maria" I came accross your sad note: accusing your fellow humans of something that they have not done.
It is quite sad when a person assumes that Catholics view the most blessed mother, the Virgin Mary, as some kind of a godess. I guess it is easier to make a superficial judgement of our fellow man, rather than to take the time to understand their real beliefs.
Maybe this short story will open your mind to this reality:
OUR BLESSED LADY seems to have a strange way of repaying those who insult her. Take, for example, the case of Joshua Young
Joshua Young was a foreman over the immigrant workers laying the track for the Erie Railroad some years before the American Civil War. He was a bigot who took great delight in insulting the Irish-Catholic laborers and their religion.
One day, Joshua approached a young Irishman who was digging the foundations for the track and asked him: Well, Pat, has the Virgin Mary had any more children lately?
Pat turned away and leaned on his shovel. The tears ran down his cheeks as he said: Mr. Young, you have deeply offended me; and you have insulted someone whom I love most dearly. But don’t you ever dare say that again, or will I not be responsible of what I do to you with this shovel!
Impressed by the young mans reaction, the foreman asked himself what there was about the Virgin Mary which could inspire such devotion. So Joshua Young bought himself a catechism and began to study the Catholic religion. He became a convert. Then he went on to become a priest.
And if you ever visit the Cathedral of Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., take a look at the plaque on the wall, which says, Most Reverend Joshua Young, Second Bishop of Erie, Pennsylvania. (This anecdote was reported by Reverend Joseph McDonough, C.SS.R.. in the Catholic Digest.)
Sincerely in Christ,
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls."
Wishing you the best;
Pax et Bonum!
Ray Medina
email: ARAEL25@HOTMAIL.COM
Soy William de India y estudiando Español en Madrid. Quiero escuchar Radio Maria cada día. ¿Podaís dar la frequencía de mismo y en FM,AM o SW?
Gratias
Hasta luego
William
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