1995_05 The Daily Collegian May 1995

              Spain's specialities
Spain's lifestyles
and traditions
San Sebastian is one of the tourist attractions in Spain.
By Lupe Fuentes
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La Voz de Aztlan Writer
Traveling through Spain one
|can find various similarities re¬
lating the "mother country" to
Mexico. In both countries, for
[example, there are "central pla¬
zas" or public squares. The "pla¬
zas" are surrounded by govern¬
ment building such as city hall
(and "tienditas."
Tienditas are small indepen¬
dently owned and family oper-
iated specialty shops which sell a
specific item such meat, bread,
paper and ice cream.
As a tourist walking around
the center plaza one sees the
Catholic Church which is always
the main structure built around
the plazas and the "tienditas."
For example, there are
'camicerias" or meat markets
[where a wide variety of meats
can be purchased such as lamb,
pork, and beef. There are also
"panaderias" or bakeries where
fresh bread is baked and sold
daily.
There are "papelerias" or pa-
Iper supply stores where wrap¬
ping paper, school supplies and
books may be purchased. After
running errands on a hot sum-
mer day, one can take a stroll
jdown to local "neveria" or ice
cream shop for an afternoon
snack to cool down. During the
summer moths various musical
groups perform at the local
"plaza".
The plaza is recognized as
the center of city life where
friends gather around to talk
about daily events and enjoy
good music A typicalSunday
begins by attending mass then
shopping at the various
tienditas and lounging on the
benches to talk with friends.
Many centuries ago in
Spain, the Catholic religion
played a major role within the
country and its political sys¬
tem. This influence is reflected
in the tall cathedral towers
which stand proudly in both
"provincias" and major cities.
Once inside the cathedrals
one can see the Roman style
decor in the interior design and
the magnificent gold statues.
Throughout the various Span¬
ish provinces, cathedrals are
recognized as landmarks
which closely identify a
culture's value's and beliefs.
No matter how small or
large a village may be, there is
always a Catholic church. The
reason for this in Northern
Spain is because many people
live in the "montes" or moun¬
tains and must walk to the
church closest to their home on
Sunday.
College Life
i_ In Spain, college students
can not work part time while
A view of the magniflcant coast of Spain,
attending school. Students have
a choice to either work full time
or take courses full time. It is
impossible for a student to work
part time because businesses
operate between 10am to lpm.
Then at lpm all businesses
close and take a lunch break
until 3pm. After their lunch
break, businesses operate until
8pm.
"... Students can
not work part
time while at-
tending school."
To become successful in a
highly competitive job market,
college students must learn En¬
glish, French, and German.
A strong emphasis is placed
up becoming multi-lingual
while concentrating in any area
of study. Languages are highly
valued for their accessibility into
the global market. There does
not exist the mentality that
emigrants should learn "our"
language, which ever language
that may be.
Dating
During courtship, the Span¬
ish believe in establishing a mo¬
nogamous relationship for
manyyearsbeforesaying"Ido."
The Spanish believe in dat¬
ing the same person for any¬
where from 5 to 10 years before
they decide to settle down and
raise a family. The majority of
Spanish people marry in their
late 20/s or early 3Cs not be-
cause of financial situations and
tradition.
As a result, many Spanish
parents joke about books titles
such as "How To Get Rid of My
Children" because their sons/
daughters leave home at a later
stage in their life. Also, because
life in Spain is very expensive,
the typical couple will haye one,
two or up to a maximum of
three children at the most
Nightlife
Ontheweekends,nightlife
in Northern Spain starts be¬
tween 11pm to 12am as
groupsoffriends get together.
They bar hop all night which
means they walk from on bar
to another all night and have
a few "calimochos" which is
a popular drink made with
Coke or Pepsi and brandy.
Then between lam and 2am,
after a few "calimochos,"
friends get together and meet
at the "disco" where a Basque
band plays live music until
about 4am. After the dance
people go back to these bars
and continue their night life
until approximately noon the
next day.
Strain, Page 2
Cesar Chavez Day celebrated
Eric Paul Zamora/ Vlda en el Valle
A mass was held in the Fresno Convention Center in honor of Cesar Chavez's
birthday, with over 700 people in attend en ce
Br La Voz Staff
"Viva Cesar Chavez!" With about 700 people in attendence at the Exhbit Hall in the Fresno
C^ysntionCenter the first annual Cesar Chavez day celebration was a tremendous sucess.
Eric Paul Zamora/ Vida en el Valle
Flor Valdovinos of Los Danzantes de Aztlan
along with Victor Posas lead the march around the
Fresno convention center
On Sundy,April2. Cesar Chavez day was held in honor of
Chavez's birthday, which is on March 31. Activities throughout the
day were mainly focused on Cesar Chavez and his struggje for
justice and equality for the camr^esinos.
"I think this event((^vezDay)is wonderful. It wiU allow
future generatins to learn the imprtance of Cesar Chavez and the
changes that came about through his woric with the U1W," com-
mented Acting Associate Provost Dr. Lea Iybarra.