By Kika Patrick

Well my time in Madrid has come to an end. It’s on to Ciudades Nuevas for me. But what a year it has been. And how much I’ve done. Hark back to September ‘08 when I enrolled myself in TtMadrid. Here I spent a month army drilling various grammar points (along with the odd sushi night) before graduating as a fledgling TEFLer. Helen McRae’s article on Natasha Mason who set up TtMadrid in this month’s European Vibe magazine explores the nature of being an English Teacher in the city today.

When I arrived in Madrid back in June ‘08 it was to become fluent in the Spanish language. Unfortunately no matter how many intercambios I went to with a friend of mine–Español just didn’t materialise. Intercambios are funny things in Madrid. It doesn’t take much for you to come across one. But a lot to find one you like. Most of the time it seemed like an excuse for Spanish men to attempt chatting up foreign totty. However I did manage to find one I liked in Café Madrid on Wednesday nights off Ópera.

It soon became clear that teaching English was my most viable option to fund my lifestyle. Or should I say, my nightlife. Obviously the first club to check out is Joy where European Vibe hosts a few fab party nights. I loved the old theatre layout of this place and I haven’t heard such 90’s poptastic tunes since, well, the 90’s and those dodgy school discos. Joy does like to have the whole spectrum of genre music in one night so whatever your taste–you’re in for a treat.

A highlight of my year was watching Obama’s inaugaration at the Democrats Abroad party back in ???????????. It seemed the world couldn’t stop talking about McCain vs Obama and whilst I searched for jobs after graduating from TtMadrid I chatted with enthused and and unenthused Americans from my class about it. Those Dems Abroad were just everywhere at the time and I remember thinking how lucky Americans were to have their politics represented in Madrid. And how lucky they were at throwing damn good parties.

But I am British and did not come across anything representing any British Parties. Until I came across just recently the Conservatives Abroad who have just set up in Madrid. I am of yet too green to have completely found political faith in any of the parties but I wondered whether Cons. Abroad (ha – I love that abbreviation) would have the same lustre as the US group. Conservatives Abroad’s first event is Monday June 8th at 12:30pm an ‘Aperitivo with President Aznar’ at the FAES HQ on Maria de Molina. Held in conjunction with what seems to be the Republicans abroad and a guest President I’m thinking that it’s worth a look in if not to see what the British have to offer. If you are interested you can get in touch with Ben Harris-Quinny on b.harrisquinney@gmail.com or search Conservatives Abroad on Facebook.

As for me I’m off to Almería to enjoy the good life amidst the European desert. That’s sustainble living with a vegan diet, solar showers and compost loos. It’s gonna be one hell of a change from the city.

by Mary

Q: What kind of car does Mickey Mouse´s wife drive?
A: A Minnie van!

This Sunday, you shouldn´t expect to hear jokes like this one from comedian David O´Doherty. As in, the jokes he tells will actually make you laugh.

The Irish comedian (a one-time cyclist and one-time jazz musician) comes to Madrid´s Giggling Guiri Comedy Club this Sunday, promising to make you smile for only 14 euros.

O´Doherty prefers to sing his comedy aside simple keyboard tunes, similar to Flight of the Concords, Tenancious D (but tamer), or perhaps singer Ben Folds on his funnier days. O´Doherty´s stories revolve around subjects like missent text messages, bad first dates, tan lines and other awkward issues that face young people today. Typically, he´ll tap away at a little battery-operated keyboard and tell you about his embarrassing parents, his bikerides home and his failed lovelife experiences, taking tangents and asides to make his stories even more funny and slightly uncomfortable.

His humor is hard to describe; perhaps the keyboard element throws his comedy into a realm beyond words. O´Doherty has defined it as ¨very low energy musical whimsy,¨ which one might rephrase into monotone-jokes-told-to-keyboard-sounds. Or something like that.

Anyways, you should see him for yourself. If you´re into the hilariously humdrum (think The Office, or Curb Your Enthusiasm) humdrum yet hilarious entertainment, you´d definitely like the quiet, self-deprecating humor of David O´Doherty. I promise his jokes aren´t as lame as mine!