My favorite place

I remember when I was studying psychology, about ten years ago or even more, I had a subject called Environmental Psychology. It was about human behavior and its relationship with the environment. As far as I can remember, I think its purpose was mostly to increase productivity in companies and things like that; to find out what places promote teamwork and other skills, like making appropriate decisions or negotiations, and to find out what factors can cause stress in workers. The main factors were noise, light, temperature and the arrangement of the furniture. I believe it wasn’t a very interesting subject; in fact I can barely remember who the teacher was. But what I do remember (more or less) is a study we had to do for the quarter: It was about the people’s favorite places. We had a previous hypothesis that we had to confirm by interviewing a sample of our friends and families.

 When you search for “favorite places” results in “Google” you can see, on the one hand, paradisiacal beaches from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia and lovely landscapes of mountains and lakes, as well as lists of large cities all over the world, and on the other hand places like “my grandparents’ home”, or places related to being with someone you love. What we found in our study is that people’s favorite places are their own homes and bedrooms. It may be surprising at first sight but if we take a look at Maslow's famous hierarchy of needs it is easy to understand.

 At the base of it there are the physiological needs for maintaining homeostasis: breathing, drinking water and eating, sleeping, excreting, or having sex, and maintaining a body temperature which is usually satisfying in one’s home. On the next level of the pyramid there is the need for safety. Where, if not in our own homes, would we feel more secure? In addition, our home is the place we know best and this reduces uncertainty. In the same sense, controlling everything around you makes you feel secure. If we continue climbing this pyramid of human motivation we find the need for love and belonging which usually is supplied by our families and friends at home. And even if we live alone, we often have things at home that remind us that we love and are loved by others. The fourth level, which involves feelings of self-esteem, is fulfilled by the characteristics of our home: where it is located, how big and how comfortable it is, because our home is part of the image we project. At the top of these needs is the feeling of self-realization. When we look at our home, we see what we have achieved in our lives: the careers we have developed, the families we have brought up, and this is how we measure our self-realization.

In conclusion, I might say that we like our homes because they are the places where we can cover all our needs, where we feel secure and loved, where everything reminds us of who we are and who we were and this may be the reason why we feel homesick when we are far away from home, even if we are on one of those gorgeous beaches in the pictures.

Wildcat

My book, my shadow

Books. What can be said about them? Or rather, what can be written about them that still hasn’t been? Honestly I wouldn’t know how to answer. But what I can say, or write, is that I like them and I’m not the only one. Whenever I travel by bus or by metro I see people devouring books eagerly, when I go to my friends´ homes I see the shelves weighed down with them, and when I walk through the bookstores and book fairs, they seem to be always crowded. Why do we like books? Well, there must be many reasons; they teach us very interesting things about deep feelings, about our history, science and many other subjects.

When we were children fairy tales, with their stereotyped characters, taught us morals, the importance of proper social behaviour as well as the threats of life, all decorated with beautiful illustrations. From this age I remember reading books from the publisher “Barco de Vapor” and I was fascinated by Andersen and Perrault.

When I grew up and started high school, I read books like the gripping Diary of Anne Frank, East Wind West Wind by Pearl S. Buck and Like Water For Chocolate by the Mexican Laura Esquivel, which, with its brilliant magical realism, showed me about more profound feelings such as love and passion. At this point, the simple characters stood aside to let more complicated ones pass. What’s more, the happy endings turned into unpleasant situations, where right and wrong were not so obvious. No illustrations were needed beyond the words, as mesmerizing descriptions drew the stories in our imagination.

Later, when I went to college I became more interested in books related to my studies, such as the classic 1984 by George Orwell, the disturbing Brave New World by Aldous Huxley or the spellbinding The Fear of Freedom by Erich Fromm. With these I learned about the human behaviour and the social construction of reality made by humans themselves.

Now that I look back I see that books have accompanied me my whole life, and I have learned many of the things I know from them. But I also see a parallel evolution between my life and the books I have read. What I feel is that I choose books depending on my interests and curiosity at a particular moment and, more than this, I choose them because I am looking for answers to the questions and problems that I have in understanding this world.

Wildcat

They're completely crazy!

I’ve seen them many times and I bet you have too. Although they pass silently and quickly, I’m sure you have laid your eyes on them for a second. You have probably noticed their presence all around the city. No matter if it rains or snows, if it is cold or hot, if it is dark or if the sun is shining. You can see them anywhere at anytime. Not only can you see them alone, but you can see them in couples and in groups. They are of both sexes, and they are between five and ninety-five years old, of any race and social class. They go through the streets, the parks, the mountains and the beaches. Sometimes they go slow, and sometimes as fast as they can, usually saying hello to others they meet on their way, though they don’t know each other’s names, because they recognise them as colleagues. Sometimes they take over the streets for hours and people cheer them on and applaud. They don’t try to beat anybody else but themselves. They compete with their own times, looking at their watches to check their pace. 

The day before a race they prepare their clothes and shoes, feeling as joyful as children the day before Christmas. The night before, they dream about the race, and visualize themselves running through a route in the sky among the clouds. 

 They don’t mind waking up early, or being the last at the finish line. They encourage the other runners, even if they are so tired that they can’t speak, with a smile or a clap. And when they arrive at the end of the race they raise their arms proudly and think “I did it”. Then they check their watches for the last time. They go back home happily thinking that, although they have done a great job, they could have done it better and make up silly excuses. The day after, they can’t help smiling when they feel the stiffness, the product of a great effort. They check the official results, and look for the pictures of the race on the Internet. They spend the whole day remembering the starting line, the hill, the guy that overtook them, the finish line…almost like an obsession.

 

                                                                                                             Wildcat

The trip of the turtles

My last trip was to Costa Rica, a small country in Central America with great biodiversity. I chose it because of the good weather, nice beaches and rich nature, but what I found was much more than I could imagine or that I’d been told. In this country known as the “Swiss America” there are many natural parks to preserve wild life, from Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast to Corcovado on the Pacific. What’s more, the people themselves are very concerned about the environment. This, added to the warm weather, the abundant rains and other features, makes the country an Eden for animals and therefore the dream of any animal lover.

Protected area in Camaronal Beach

There are thousands of kilometers of sand on both sides along the Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. These shelter one of the most incredible phenomena of nature: the egg laying of the marine turtles. It’s definitely one of the symbols of the country and one of the reasons visitors come in masses to observe. And, of course, it’s worth it. If you are lucky to watch it, you’ll never be able to forget it as it is undoubtedly one of the most natural experiences you can have.

Volunteers working at Camaronal beach

Baby turtles

Each turtle digs one or more holes in the beach, usually during the night, and then lays about eighty eggs. After this, it covers them completely to make sure that they are safe from predators. Finally, it returns slowly to the sea. In about forty-five days, the eggs hatch and the baby turtles have to get to the sea. Some won’t ever hatch, some others will be preyed on before arriving, and others will die in their first years of life. Only a small percentage will come back after about fifteen years, when they reach their sexual maturity, to the same beach where they were born and will repeat the ritual exactly like their mothers did. They usually choose night to performance it, and they choose dark beaches, even black sand ones, because they don’t like light. In fact, when watching them you can only use red light. They prefer high tides. Such is their instinct for protection that they may dig more than one hole in order to trick predators like racoons, or birds or even humans. Turtle meat is very appreciated among the habitants because they believe that it is richer and more nutritious than other meats.

A sea turtle laying eggs at Camaronal beach

One of the best known places to watch the turtles is Tortuguero National Park, where the local guides wait for the calls of the observers who walk at night along the beach. When they receive a call, they walk to the beach with the tourists who take turns to watch the turtles. When you are there you have more the perception of a business built around the turtles than a real intention of protecting them.

On Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific coast, there are beaches like Camaronal or Corozalito where you can have a more natural experience. At the first there is a group of volunteers who record the number of turtles each night as well as the number of eggs. They also protect some of the eggs to study what percentage of them live, their weight and other characteristics. At the second you can watch the turtles by yourself, but if you are inexperienced it will be very difficult to see anything.

Getting to these two is more difficult than to Tortuguero, and it is also less known, and so there are fewer tourists here. In any case, I truly believe it is worth the extra effort.

Sunset at Camaronal beach

Sunset at Corozalito beach

Wildcat

A fast guide to eating in Japan

Eating in Japan is an incredible experience that can result in either the most delicious experience ever, or one of the most disastrous. Nevertheless, nihon ryori, or Nippon cuisine, is one of the greatest tourist attractions of this Asian country. What’s more, its gastronomy includes much more than sushi and tempura. The main ingredients you will find are soy sauce, miso, tofu, mame (beans) and, of course, rice.

Plastic food in Nagoya

Rice in Japan is like bread in Spain; without it, no meal is complete. Indeed, in this country 70 kilos of rice are consumed by each person a year on average. For instance, one meal can include a rice bowl with fish and vegetables cooked with soy sauce and mirin (sweet rice wine), with a bowl of miso and garnished with pickled vegetables. Rice is used to prepare rice soup, rice balls and sushi, among other dishes.

Salmon roe sushi

Mame, or beans, are used in all their varieties, from the bigger ones – soybeans - used to prepare miso or tofu, to the smaller ones for the sweets of the tea ceremony, or the red rice beans used to celebrate a girl’s first period.

Miso is eaten three times a day: for breakfast, lunch and dinner, usually cooked in soup. It is a mixed of steamed beans, fermented and salted. Another ingredient made from soy beans is tofu, one of the most sublime creations of Nippon cuisine. You can find it cooked in two different ways: first, in a softer version used in soups such as miso soup, and a harder form fried in soy oil.

Vegetables shop in Kyoto

Although soy sauce is a symbol of this gastronomy, it actually appeared quite recently. Nonetheless, it has quickly become popularized and is frequently used to enhance the flavour of meat and fish.



Conveyor belt of sushi in Tokyo

                                   

Now that we know some of the ingredients that are found in Japanese restaurants, let’s look at some of the most typical dishes.

Noodle soup or ramen is one of the most delicious fast foods in the world, and its high temperature will help the visitor warm up during a cold night. It’s served very hot in a bowl with diverse garnishes such as pork, beans or leeks. Surprisingly, it isn’t considered bad manners to slurp the noodles and in fact, the Japanese do it because they think you can appreciate the taste of the broth better.

Cooking tempura in Kyoto

Okonomiyaki means “cook what you want” and is usually compared with the pizza or the omelette, but it has very little to do with them besides the form. Eating in an okonomiyaki restaurant is a good way to meet people, as long as everyone is seated round a grill where you can either cook your own meal, or you can let the cook do it for you, especially if you are a foreigner. It has a base of flour, eggs and water and then ingredients like meat, shellfish and the sauce are added.



Okonomiyaki restaurant in Hiroshima



Okonomiyaki and sake in Hiroshima

                                         

The internationally known veal of Kobe is found in many restaurants all over the world; however, the best place to eat it is Kobe, a city close to Tokyo. Its exquisite taste is achieved by a selective raising and feeding of the animals. It’s characterized by its high quality and the streak of fat it has.

If the visitor is seeking a more dangerous gastronomic experience, he shouldn’t miss the opportunity to try fugu. The balloonfish used to be known as “the gun” because it could kill imprudent diners in only a few minutes. The reason for this is tetrodotoxin, a transparent poison that is found in some organs of the fish and this is why it needs to be prepared by specialist chefs. This fish and others can be seen in the Tsujiki Market of Tokyo, the biggest seafood market in the world, where more than 2,000 tons of fish are traded every day. There you can also see tunas weighing more than 300 kilos. It’s surrounded by many restaurants, where you can eat fresh sushi sitting in a bar in front of a conveyor belt with different varieties.

    Tuna at Tokyo's Tsujiki Market

As in other countries, there are some customs that you may want to know about before eating in Japan. First of all, it’s not polite to fix the chopsticks in the rice bowl, or to offer food from yours to another diner, as these are funerary rituals. Secondly, it is bad manners to fill your own glass. You should fill the others’ glasses and then wait for them to fill yours. Finally, remember that you can slurp the noodles without shame, as it a normal habit among the Japanese.



 Plastic sushi


I hope this guide is useful and can help you when choosing food at restaurants; if not, don’t worry too much, as many establishments have plastic food reproductions which may give you an idea of what they have.

Wildcat

Art in movement

     
Last January the sixth was the 20th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest dancers ever: Rudolph Nureyev. He became a legend, as did other great 20^th-century artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov or Anna Pavlova.

                                                        Rudolph Nureyev

Dancers have delighted the public with the naturalness of their movements, performing incredible works like Don Quixote, Swan Lake or The Nutcracker, among others. At times with delicate positions that any of us could imitate, at others with astonishing figures only suitable for well conditioned bodies, but always with unbelievable elegance.

Far from spontaneous, these movements require extreme effort. The training of the body demands long hours of work day after day. Elasticity, strength, balance and rhythm are some of the aspects that need to be practised from childhood. In fact, most dancers begin their careers very early, usually distinguishing themselves from other children by their aptitude. The conditioning of muscles that causes suffering in young bodies and the point shoes that produce malformation in growing feet are just some of the sacrifices that are often made.

Not only is the training of the body important, but also of the mind, as dancers often have to deal with fatigue, pain and frustration in an extremely exacting and competitive world. Facing anxiety before a premiere, recovering from an injury or accepting a negative result in an audition are some of the most common situations that need to be faced.

                                                   Rudolph Nureyev

Undoubtedly, becoming a dancer requires a great amount of discipline. Tenacity is the key to putting up with obstacles, both physical and psychological. But this is not enough. To touch the audience, dancers should not only be perfect in technique but must also have soul. They must interpret the music, as if their movements were the lyrics of the song, showing passion, desperation, happiness or sadness. Because if they didn't, it would be no more than a gymnastic exercise. What really makes a dancer is the feeling of the music, the performance of each step, plie and cambre coming from the heart, as if they were writing the most beautiful of poems.

                                         Anna Pavlova - The Dying Swan

                                                                                                             Wildcat

Monuments to love

Love has inspired artists all over the world and most art has to do with love or the lack of it. Amazing works of art have been done dedicated to a beloved person to express passion, desperation, fidelity and other feelings concerned with love. I want to give you here a review of some of the buildings and statues that represent the most astonishing examples of art inspired by love.

When you first think of a monument of love, it isn’t strange that the Taj Mahal comes quickly to your mind. The reason is quite obvious, as it is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Mogol architecture, which is a mix of Indian, Islamic, Persian and even Turkish styles. Not only is the building beautiful, but so is the story that it recalls. It was constructed in India by the emperor Shah Jahan in honour of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. When she died, the emperor was absolutely devastated and ordered the construction of the mausoleum for her, full of gorgeous details. Not in vain is it included among the The Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Another mausoleum dedicated to love is found in the Spanish city of Teruel, where the supposed mummies of Diego and Isabel, the lovers of Teruel, repose. Legend has it that Diego and Isabel were deeply in love, but Diego wasn’t accepted by Isabel’s family because his own family had lost their fortune. He went to war to seek his fortune and marry Isabel, but unfortunately, while he was away she was forced by her parents to marry Don Pedro de Azagra. When Diego returned he asked her eagerly for a kiss, which she sadly denied, out of respect for her husband. It is said that it was the deep pain over the loss of Isabel that killed him on that cold night. At Diego’s funeral, Isabel, extremely regretful, covered her face and head with a dark veil, gave him the kiss and suddenly died.

One of the most popular sculptures inspired by love is a work by the French sculptor, Auguste Rodin. We know it as The Kiss, although its original name is Francesca da Rimini, because it represents the story from Dante’s Inferno in which Francesca fell in love with her husband’s brother, who, by the way, was married. As soon as the deceived man discovered the infidelity, he murdered both lovers. The work was first embossed on Rodin's Doors of Hell, and later was done separately in white marble. There are three copies of the sculpture.

Another monument that has little to do with art, but very much with love, or at least fidelity, is the sculpture of Hachiko, the loyal dog. Hachiko used to wait at Shibuya station in Tokyo for his owner to come back from work at the university. Unfortunately, one day the teacher died and didn’t return. Nevertheless, Hachiko went, every day of his life until he died ten years later, to wait for his owner and friend. The people who saw him fed him and took care of him. After his death, a sculpture of this loyal dog was placed in Shibuya in his memory.

The Homomonument is a modern monument built in Amsterdam and dedicated not only to those homosexuals who were killed by the Nazis, but also to those who have been repressed all over the world, and symbolizes the fight against oppression, negation and discrimination. It is a big triangle composed of three smaller pink triangles made of granite. The triangle was chosen as it was the symbol that homosexuals were forced to display during the Nazi period. What's more, the direction of vertices has a meaning as well: one is pointing to the National War Monument in Dam Square; another to the house of Anne Frank, the little Jewish girl who hid herself from the Nazis; and the last to the site of the oldest homosexual liberation organization. A verse by the gay Jewish poet Jacob Israël de Haan is written in the triangle pointing the Anne Frank House: “Such an infinite wish of friendship”.

The list of constructions inspired by love is a never-ending story, as there are thousands of examples dedicated to those who have loved and been loved, to those who suffered for the loss of their loved ones, and to those who loved the wrong person and died as a result, like war heroes.

                                                                                   

The Wildcat