WELLCOME TO THE LAND OF SHTIS

"Wellcome to the Land of Shtis" (2008), is a funny film wich was directed and stared by Danny Boon. Most of the film set in Bergues, a small village at the North of France, although a few scenes was filmed in Paris. It's a big French comedy which shows us the stereotypes from lands in the North of France: the bad weather, village manners, different speaking habits.

Because of several problem in his job, Philippe Abrams (stared by Kad Merad) who is a postal service manager in Paris, is sent to work to the Lands of the North. That supposes the worst thing for him and his family. So, he decides to go there alone, while his family is in Paris. The stars of the film are famous French actors and actress.

The film starts showing how a postal service manager is moved to Bergues to go on working, because he tried to cheat a work test to improve in his job. Bergues is famous for its bad weather, it has a different way of speaking (in spite of being in France), people are rude. First, Philippe feels frustrated, he only goes back to Paris twice a month, later, he finds out that people are generous, kind, charming and finally, he even prefers to stay in Bergues than go to see his family at weekend.

I strongly recommend this film because, although the film wasn't shot in special locations, and the soundtrack, costumes and special effects aren't important, but is shows us how much the value of friendship can be in our lives. The film was nominated for important European awards. Any sequel was filmed later, but a few years later, an adaptation was shoot with the same plot but the setting was in the South of Italy, though the result wasn't as successful as the original version.

"ANITA, THE FANTASTIC"

"Anita, The Fantastic" is the nickname of Ana García Obregón is known for us.

She studied Biology although she became an actress when she was very young. She played a film in Hollywood though it didn't success, the she came back to Spain and she worked in the entertainment world: film and theatre actress, dancer, fashion model, manager's TV shows. 

But she's really known because she has always been a show woman. She was the first girlfriend of Miguel Bosé but they broke up soon. After several partners, she had a crush on Fernando Martín, a famous basket player, but unfortunately, he died suddenly. However, she went on with her crazy love life, and she often showed new boyfriends in the magazines. And, of course, every summer she showed everyone, her perfect body in a swimsuit in Mallorca's beach.


She never got married but she had a son with Alexandro Lequio, despite the fact that they never got on well.

Now, she's sixty and she seems more sensible than before, although she carries on having different boyfriend each season.

THE ANECDOTE

This happened a few years ago when my daughter was four. One day, we went together to buy at a supermarket. Even when I always tried not to go with her because she often wanted to catch things that I didn't need.

I was sure that I was going to argue with Núria, my daughter. Although when I finished to fill the basket, Núria hadn´t still asked me for anything.

Then, I payed the bill, I put the things in my bags and we went out. Suddenly, when we were crossing the control exit, a high whistle started to sound and the shop assistant and the rest of customers looked at us.

Núria had hidden some chocolates into her little bag and I didn't notice that!!!

Finally I explained the assistant what had happened and payed the chocolate that Núria had taken. When we arrived home and I told my husband, we all laughed a lot because, after all, it had been a joke.

DO YOU KNOW SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

I hope you enjoy the card that I've made for my classmates. It has some information about this celebration.

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious celebration. It celebrates the death of the Patron Saint of Ireland (385-461 aC), on 17 March.

St. Patrick was born in a Roman Britain into an important Christian family. When he was sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland. He spent six years there working as a shepherd and during this time, he learnt celtic language and he “found God”. He got away and came back home, then he returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. 

According to the legend, St. Patrick used the three leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans. 

Wearing on the green 

Its’s customary to wear shamrocks and/or green clothing or accessories. In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number and the Irish had many triple gods. 

Celebrations

St. Patrick’s feast day, as a kind of national day, was already celebrated by the Irish in Europe. At this moment, it’s celebrated around the world wearing green clothes, enjoying Irish food, drinking beer, staying in parades, concerts, outdoor theatre performances, and fireworks. The biggest parade of St. Patrick’s Day is in New York. 

Irish food

The main dish is cabbage with bacon, Irish stew meat, potatoes with onions and delicious cakes "scones".

“Whisky in the jar” is a famous and traditional Irish song, which is sung in pubs and parades and it has been played for a lot of music groups.

St. Patrick’s Day in Valencia You can enjoy this celebration drinking a black beer in one or all of these pubs: “St Patrick’s Pub” (GV Marqués del Turia, 69); “The Guinnes House” (Pza. Colegio del Patriarca, 6); “Finnegans of Dublin” (Pza. Reina, 19)