La Sociedad Hispanica de Hong Kong News

Thank you to the more than 40 of you who braved the cold weather to attend yesterday's Get Together (17 02 10) in CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk).

We were treated to a memorable talk given by Ronaldo (see the attached photo) on learning Spanish in Hong Kong. Below you will find some links which can provide you with useful resources to expand your knowledge of Spanish in an enjoyable way in your own home. Regarding RTVE, may I recommend programmes such as "Informe Seminal", "Españoles en el mundo" and "El hombre y la tierra". For all, just press "TVE a la carta" on the home page of RTVE - you will then find access to 5 pages, so you will need to find the page with the programme on. If you have any more advice on the theme of good web resources please send me the link and I'll broadcast it in a future e-mail.

In the next Get Together in CultureClub, 15, Elgin street, Soho District, Omaira will give a talk on her native country, Venezuela. She wants to concentrate on the good things about her country. Please make a note in your diary to support her on March 10. I'm sure it's going to be very enjoyable.

Yesterday we had participants from many levels of Spanish - from a person who just wanted to listen, up to a group of native speakers of Spanish hailing from different countries. I think it true to say that everyone had a good time, as well as the learners of Spanish improving their confidence in speaking the language. Please do not be shy about attending. It has been really noticeable that people who come regularly have experienced a large boost in their confidence to speak Spanish. In addition, everyone enjoys the hospitality of Lennon, the supportive owner of CultureClub.

RTVE -- http://www.rtve.es

Telemadrid -- http://www.telemadrid.es/home.pag

CCTV- Spanish -- http://www.telemadrid.es/home.pag

VOA- Spanish -- www.voanews.com/spanish

Yesterday, January 27, we had an incredible Get Together, in that 70 people attended! Thank you so much to all of you who helped to make it a record attendance. Of course, a special mention must go to Sergio, who gave a most interesting talk on the Spanish Film Director, Almodóvar. Not only did we learn about the director, but also why he, as opposed to other Spanish directors, has become world famous. There was also interesting commentary about Spain and the Spaniards - altogether fascinating, and I am sure many of those present will be inspired to see Almodóvar's new film, Broken Embraces, which opens in Hong Kong today, the 28th.

In addition, thanks must be given to Lennon, the congenial owner of CultureClub, who provided us with free snacks and a warm and friendly atmosphere. Finally, regarding thanks, our appreciation must be given to all the Latin and Spanish native speakers who helped to make the event such fun, as well as provided support for so many of us learning the language.

The next Get Together in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District (www.cultureclub.com.hk), will be on Wednesday, February 17, from 7 p.m. onwards. Please make a note in your diary. Ronaldo, a true friend of the group, who has attended a high percentage of the meetings, will give a talk on learning Spanish in Hong Kong without the aid of attending lessons. This was the theme of a Master's degree which he has recently been awarded. Please give him your support as he is obviously not a native Spanish speaker and he is going to work really hard on his presentation between now and then.

Hope to see you there. Don't forget you will have a truly wonderful opportunity to practise what Spanish you know amongst friends in a welcoming environment.

Yesterday, the 6th of January, 47 of us enjoyed the latest gathering in CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk). Veronica gave a lively, interesting and amusing talk on Bhutan, and we thank her for it.

Our next Get Together will be held on the 27th of August from 7 p.m. and it is expected that Sergio Cardenas, Head of Spanish at South Island School, will give a talk (theme to be announced).

Please remember that everyone with a genuine interest in communicating in Spanish is very welcome to attend. We generally have some native speakers attending and they are invariably good company and very supportive of our effort to improve our grasp of their beautiful language.

Thanks go to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, for being such a welcoming host. We especially value the free bocadillos!

Hope you can make it on the 27th.

Yesterday evening, Dec. 9, 46 of us helped Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, celebrate the 5th anniversary of that establishment. It was a very enjoyable occasion, made more so by a delightful talk from Jessica about her back-packing adventures in various Central American countries. Thank you, Jessica, for the work you put in to prepare for the talk and for "speaking from the heart". We all enjoyed it.

Our next Get Together will, because of Christmas time commitments, be in a month's time, on the 6th of January. I will be returning from Colombia only a few days before and could be suffering serious jet-lag, which will result in the usual reminder e-mail being later than usual, so please make a note in your 2010 calendar or diary NOW.

Veronica has kindly offered to give a talk about her trip to Bhutan. Her previous talk was most enjoyable - please support her.

Thank you for all the support and good friendship given in 2009. Let's hope that during 2010 we can continue practising our Spanish in CultureClub - a warm and welcoming environment!

Special thanks go to the hispano-hablantes who always give us so much support as well as make the gatherings truly international.

Feliz navidad.

Many thanks go to the 44 hardy souls who braved the cold weather to attend the latest Get Together. As usual I think it fair to say we had a very enjoyable evening, made more so by the lively and interesting presentation given by Sylvia on Latin American music. Our especial thanks go to her not only for the delivery, but also for researching the topic so thoroughly.

Our next Get Together will be on December 9th, from 7 p.m., in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District (www.cultureclub.com.hk), so please make a note in your diary to attend this event, which will not only enable you to meet and greet new and old friends, but also will give you the opportunity to practise whatever Spanish you know in comfortable and friendly surroundings. Members of the Society are especially welcome to attend. Get Togethers were started 5 years ago to give students a chance to talk Spanish outside of the classroom. Of course, anyone else interested in expressing themselves in Spanish, including native speakers, are also extremely welcome to come along.

Information should be available in the reminder e-mail about the theme and presenter of the talk on the 9th.

Thank you to the 50+ (I lost count after 50) people who attended the Get Together on the 28th of October. It was good to see new faces from levels 3 to 5 and it is hoped you will continue to come along to future gatherings, both to have an enjoyable time and also to practise and improve your Spanish.

Thanks go also to Billy Chan, who gave a comprehensive, well researched, talk on Guatemala. If we didn't know much about the country before, we certainly do now! At the next Get Together, on November 18, to which you are all welcome, Sylvia, who has links with Guatemala, Ecuador and the USA, and who previously gave a very interesting talk on Independence days in Central America ( 16/9/09), has kindly agreed to give a talk on a selection of Latin Music.

The Get Togethers are always held in CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk) where the genial host, Lennon, provides us with a comfortable environment, free snacks and drinks at Happy Hour prices (after the first). The gatherings start at 7.00 p.m. and because many of us have to work next day early attendance is appreciated, so please make a note in your diary. Everybody with an interest in communicating in Spanish is welcome.

2009 SPANISH FIESTA

Tantalizing buffet dinner with Spanish highlights

¿Dónde? : Poolside, ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB

¿Cuándo? : Friday, 20 November, from 8:00pm to 11:30pm

¿Cuánto cuesto? : $380 for members*; $480 for non-members

*To encourage our members to attend this fun filled Fiesta, the Society is heavily subsidizing the cost.

!!FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT UPDATE!!

Live Afro-Cuban Music!

By popular requests we are again very excited to have renowned Canadian Afro-Cuban Musician David Chala performing. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, David inherited the roots of music from his Cuban fellow musicians and has over 15 years of experience in composing and teaching Latin music, and conducting professional performance in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Canada.

Flamenco Dance

We are delighted to have the Spanish flamenco dance performance by our member to add the energy and romance to our outdoor party. Let's dance together!

Extensive Menu with drinks included

The Club has prepared a fantastic BBQ+buffet menu for us. Drinks will be served during the dinner (house red and white wines, beer and soft drinks). Optional drinks are available at the bar for purchase, please buy the coupon at the Society reception counter.

Simply download and fill in the Form . Send it along with a cheque (made payable to "La Sociedad Hispanica de Hong Kong") to G.P.O. Box 11751, HK or bank-in slip HSBC 002-329498-001 by 11th November. Please note that we must notify the Club in advance to enable them to arrange the catering, so please sign up before the deadline.

No walk-in is entertained.

Yesterday, the 7th, a large crowd of us spent a very enjoyable Get Together in CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk). Thanks must go to Irene, from Spain, who gave an interesting talk on her home region, Murcia. We now know some unusual words, in addition to having a greater knowledge of that area of Spain. Also, our appreciation goes to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, for the free snacks and warm hospitality.

Our next Get Together in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Central (map attached) will be on Wednesday, October 28th from 7 p.m. onwards. Billy Chan, who has spent a lot of his life in Guatemala, has kindly offered to give a talk on that country. I'm sure not too many of us know much about that part of Central America, so it should be interesting - please make a note in your diary to attend.

For those of you who have not been before, you will find it to be an excellent opportunity to practise your Spanish in very friendly surroundings. There does not seem to be much point in learning a language if you do not use it, so please try to take advantage of the opportunity. There is no need to register. Everyone is extremely relaxed, and you will no doubt enjoy the social side, as well the language development aspect. Native speakers are especially welcome.

See you on the 28th?

Thank you to the 52 people who gave their wholehearted support to Sylvia during yesterday's Get Together (16 Oct.). She gave a well-researched, interesting and entertainingly delivered talk on Independence Days in Central America. We have been very lucky to have had so many fascinating talks over the past year and more. Thank you so much to all those who have spent considerable time preparing for those talks.

Next time, on the 7th of October (apologies for saying the sixth at yesterday's gathering), we are very lucky that Irene Villaescusa Illan, from Spain, has promised to give us a "charla" on her home city, Murcia, together with some interesting words from that area - please make a note in your diary.

Our thanks go to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk) for the free snacks and welcoming environment.

It is hoped you can make the next Get Together, where you will have the opportunity to practise your Spanish in the company of, if last night is anything to go by, a fairly large number of native speakers, as well as other friendly aficionados of the language, all of whom you will find are very willing to foster the development of our usage of the language. Also it's fun!!

Newcomers very welcome.

Yesterday, August 26, 49 of us enjoyed a talk, plus a discussion session, led by Tony from Mexico, on the influence of Spain on Latin American culture. The theme is obviously a huge one and it is hoped can be revisited in future Get Togethers. Thanks must go to Tony for provoking a "tertulia" type situation in which intelligent and perceptive comments and questions led to further interesting discussion.

If that all sounds a bit too academic we also had a good time socializing through the medium of the Spanish language. Friendships were instigated as well as consolidated. Welcome to all those who attended for the first time - I hope you enjoyed yourselves.

The next Get Together will be held in CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk) on Wednesday, 16th Sept. from 7.00 p.m. onwards, and it is hoped that as many as possible of you who are interested in conversing in Spanish will be able to make it. Silvia, who I believe has links with Ecuador, Guatemala and the USA, has pointed out that the date is on or close to the Independence Day celebrations of a number of Latin American countries and she has kindly volunteered to give a talk on this theme, so please make a note in your diaries. If you haven't been before I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Thanks, of course, go to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, for the delicious snacks and hospitality.

First, I must say that I was very thrilled with yesterday's (5/8/09) Get Together. Apart from an interesting and informative talk given by Katrina on Granada, 39 people attended. This does not seem many in comparison with some of the recent attendance figures, but the fact was that it was absolutely teeming with rain (lloviendo a cantaros - raining cats and dogs). Especial thanks go to all those who attended - thank you so much for the effort you made. Please remember that weather conditions need to be very extreme for us to cancel our meeting.

The next Get Together at CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk) will be held from 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26. Tony, from Mexico, has indicated that he would like to give a talk on the Spanish Influence on some Aspects of Latin America Culture - should be interesting. Please make a note in your diary to attend. It will be a wonderful opportunity to practise your Spanish and everyone with a desire to do that will be very welcome. If you are a native Spanish Speaker we really value your input and support.

Hope to see you on the 26th.

Yesterday's Get Together (15 July) was a very special one in that, despite a number of regulars being out of Hong Kong, a record number of people attended the gathering. Grateful thanks go to all 60 of you (maybe more, I lost count) who came along and enjoyed a humourous, but ultimately serious commentary about the use of social networks on the internet for communication purposes. The talk was given by Mohamed, who comes from Syria. He spoke in a remarkably clear, correct and, he assured us (confirmed by the female listeners), sexy Spanish. He did a great job, especially considering he left his notes in the taxi. We were all very appreciative.

Next time, on the 5th of August, Katerina, this time from Poland, but who also speaks marvellous Spanish, has promised to give a talk on Granada, where she spent a year. Of course, the Alhambra, one of Spain's major tourist attractions, will be featured. Please make a note in your diaries to attend that Get Together. Remember, that everyone who has an interest in communicating in Spanish will be very welcome. I must emphasise that the primary purpose of the gathering is to practise our Spanish, at whatever level. Socially, the evenings are also extremely enjoyable, but my personal opinion is that if people turn up because of the social aspect, but do not know any Spanish, this tends to deflect us from this primary purpose.

In connection with this motivation, our thanks must go to the native speakers from Paraguay, Spain, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Mexico (any more?) who attended yesterday's meeting. They really spread themselves around and gave valuable support to all those of us who are endeavouring to practise and improve our Spanish.. Every gathering is enhanced by their presence - thank you so much for attending.

Final thanks must go to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub ( www.cultureclub.com.hk), who provided us with a relaxing environment, as well as a lot of free snacks. Please always remember, however, that he is running a business, so do support him in his endeavour.

Thank you to the 40+ of you who attended yesterday's Get Together at CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk). We were treated to an excellent talk, given by Guillermo from Colombia, on the paradise that is his country. Some of the negative aspects were also mentioned, but this helped to give the talk and presentation a good balance. Thank you Guillermo.

Once again, many graduates from Level 3 attended. This is marvellous for us and we hope that this will continue, together with Level 4 graduates!

Lennon generously provided us with delicious "bocadillos", the crab paste ones being my particular favourite. In exchange for his generosity may I ask you to buy at least one drink. Lennon is puzzled why the drink orders often dry up after the talk - any ideas? We have a wonderful location for our Get Together's, so please let us support Lennon.

A very interesting person, who seems to speak every language under the sun, including excellent Spanish, turned up yesterday. He is Mohammed, originally from Syria. He indicated that he would like to give the next talk, with something theatrical being a possibility. It sounds intriguing, so I hope I can give you more information prior to the 15th.

Thank you to all those who came to yesterday's gathering. About 40 people heard, or participated in, a talk given by Claudia from Argentina, on Argentina. It was characterised by interaction, fun and clarity and, besides being very interesting, was a wonderful learning aid for those who are getting to grips with the language - so, our thanks go to Claudia.

It was also very encouraging to see at least 4 members of Level 3 at the Gathering. They really seemed to enjoy themselves and, I'm sure, their confidence in speaking Spanish grew as the evening progressed. I would like to see more of this happening, with a special emphasis on Level 4 members. They should be really itching to try out their Spanish language skills. It would be difficult to find a better opportunity, not only because of the comfortable and welcoming environment that Lennon, the owner of CultureClub offers us, but also due to the wonderful support that the native speakers who attend give us at every meeting. People from Peru, Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, to mention just a few countries, have made significant contributions to our Get Togethers and will always be welcome.

The next meeting at CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk) will be on Wed., June 24, a week later than usual. This is because the Spanish Society will be hosting their Annual Dinner a week before. Guillermo Pelaez, from Colombia, has indicated he would like to give a talk on his country. The exact theme hasn't been fixed, but he said that he wants to show his country to be a place where terrorism and drugs are not the only activities taking place (apologies if I didn't express that very well!). Let you know more in the reminder. Please make a note in your diaries.

Thank you to all those who came to yesterday evening's very successful Get Together in CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk ). We were lucky enough to have 52 people there and I think everyone enjoyed the passionate talk given by Gabriel, from Argentina, a man who lives his football and the tango. We were very grateful to him, and hope that he can give another talk in the future.

Next time, on May 27, Claudia, also from Argentina, has promised to speak to us. She is considering the theme, so the topic will be a nice surprise. She teaches Spanish and English and I think will be very enjoyable to listen to - please make a note in your diary.

Thanks go to Lennon for his generous and welcoming hospitality and also to all the native speakers of Spanish, who invariably support us in such a friendly and helpful fashion. The rest of us need to keep studying, and utilizing our Spanish, so that we can get us much as possible out of the forthcoming Get Togethers! Remember that www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/index.shtml and www.rtve.es are very useful websites for reading and listening.

Thank you to all 41 of you who attended yesterday evening's Get Together. This was despite the rain and the fact that some regulars were out of Hong Kong. It's wonderful to see everyone there, giving so much to the occasion - none more so than Alejandro, who gave a fascinating talk on Mountaineering in Mexico. We learnt that there are some very high volcanoes in that country with lots of treacherous ice on and near the peaks. One of the attached photos shows Alejandro (glasses, grey top, before or after his talk?). The other photo is one of our birthday girl, A Mai, who was kind enough to celebrate her birthday with us. You will see the delicious cake that she brought.

We are very grateful to all those who have given "talks' to the gatherings. It's not easy to talk to relatively large numbers, and everyone has done a terrific job. During our next meeting, on Wednesday, 6th of May, we are likely to have a treat since Gabriel and Carmen, both from Argentina, have indicated that they would like to give a talk on Argentinean culture (concentrating on Tango and Football). Having spoken informally to Gabriel last night, I can assure you that the talk will be passionate!

Thank you also to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk), who provided us with such a relaxing environment, not to speak of the free snacks. I can testify to their taste and nutritional value since I came directly from a movie ("Departures" - recommended) and was hungry.

Please put the date of the next meeting in your diary and do lots of Spanish practice before then (www.rtve.es recommended), so that you can benefit fully from being in an environment where Spanish is the norm.

A reminder that our next Get Together at CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk), 15 Elgin Street, Soho will take place this coming Wednesday, the 15th, from 7 p.m. onwards (early attendance appreciated).

We have been very fortunate of late to have had large turnouts, so let's try to keep the momentum going. The evenings provide a wonderful opportunity to practise Spanish in a friendly and relaxing environment. Some regulars are away on holiday, so it is hoped that you will make a special effort to attend. One of our very welcome native speakers, Alejandro from Mexico, has promised to give a talk, but he is still deciding on the topic, so it should be a pleasant surprise for all of us. Participants from Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Venezuela, and other countries where Spanish is the native language, have continually supported our efforts to improve in the language and we are extremely grateful to them.

Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, after his holiday in Taiwan, will be raring to see us again. We are looking forward to his "tentempies" (I think I got that right, but am ready to stand corrected), as well as drinks at Happy Hour prices (after the first).

There may also be a birthday cake arriving on the scene!

Thanks go to the almost 50 of you who attended Wednesday's Get Together. Crystal gave an entertaining talk on some aspects of living in India, from the point of view of a Mexican - we are grateful to her. In addition, we were appreciative, as always, to the wonderful support given to us by the many native speakers who attended. It's very gratifying to hear, and be able to take part in, some of the lively conversations in Spanish that take place in all areas of CultureClub. Speaking of CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk) thanks must go the owner, Lennon, who supplied us with tasty snacks. "on the house", as well as a comfortable and relaxing environment to practise our Spanish.

The next Get Together will be in 4 weeks time, on the 15th of April, because CultureClub will be closed on the Wednesday of the previous week. Hence, you are all invited to come along on that evening, from 7.00 p.m. onwards, so please make a note in your diary. It is hoped that Alejandro, also from Mexico, will be giving a talk, but I need to confirm that with him in a couple of weeks.

Thank you to all 51 of you who came to yesterday evening's 50th Get Together. It was great to see passers-by in Elgin Street stopping and staring at a CultureClub full of people obviously enjoying themselves. I bet they wished they could speak some Spanish!

Especial thanks go to Amai, who spoke from the heart about how a person with oriental features, but brought up in Spain, can feel and be treated in Hong Kong and China. It was very interesting, as well as thought provoking and there were many questions.

Our next Get Together will be held on Wed. 18th March from 7.00 p.m. onwards. Everybody with an interest in conversing in Spanish is very welcome to attend, so please make a note in your diary. Cristal, from Mexico, has said that she would like to give a talk - more information will be given in the reminder e-mail.

Thanks were given to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, for all the support he has given us since our first gathering in Nov. 2005.

Thank you to all those who attended yesterday's Get Together. Over the course of the evening 50 people turned up and most of these were privileged to hear another electrifying talk from Karen Romero - this time entitled, "Quinceneras". Our thanks go to her, as well as to Ah Mai , who prepared and brought for our consumption, two tasty cakes in honour of Chinese New Year.

Our next Get Together will be special in that it will be Number 50. My thanks go to all of you who have contributed to any of the occasions by offering a talk and also to all of you who have ever attended. It's interesting to note that the average attendance for the first three meetings in 2005 was 8 and the average for our last three meetings was 47. We must be doing something right!

Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, 15, Elgin Street, Soho District, has supported us from the beginning and he has very kindly offered to provide ALL drinks at HAPPY HOUR PRICES on 25 February. We certainly hope you can make it.

Another wonderful turnout yesterday evening - thanks go to all 46 of you who made the Get Together into a really enjoyable event. Especial thanks, of course, go to Tony, who did a lot of work beforehand and astonished us all with his talk on Hawaii.

Because of C.N.Y., our next gathering will be in 4 weeks time, on the 4th of February, starting at 7.00 p.m.. Karen Romero has promised to give a talk entitled, "Quinceneras". This will about the festivities involved when a young Latin lady reaches the age of 15. The last time Karen gave a talk 56 people attended, a record, so be sure to try to make it - you won't be disappointed!

As always the Get Together will take place in CultureClub ( www.cultureclub.com.hk ), 15 Elgin Street, Soho District and no doubt Lennon, the supportive owner, will make us feel welcome with snacks on the house and drinks at Happy Hour prices (after the first). Remember, there is no need to register or pay any entry fee - just turn up and enjoy yourselves whilst practising your Spanish. Usually we are fortunate enough to have some native speakers attending and they are always extremely supportive and friendly. It really is a terrific opportunity to enhance your ability to express yourself in a wonderful language.

Wow - 46 people at yesterday's Get Together! Thank you so much to all those who attended, especially those from Peru, Venezuela, Colombia and Spain, who, of course, gave us so much support in our quest to practise and improve our Spanish. Special thanks also, must go to A Mai, who stepped in at the last minute to give an entertaining talk on Spanish traditions at Christmas time. Tony had to go to Beijing and was unable to give his talk.

As you see from the above, our next Get Together at CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho, will take place on January 7th, from 7 o'clock Please note this in your diary and endeavour to come - everybody who has an interest in speaking Spanish is very welcome to attend. Tony, from Hawaii, has said he will give an assisted talk on that State.

Finally, thanks to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk ), for looking after us so well in our Get Togethers, and thank you to all those of you who have supported our gatherings in 2008 and who have made it into such a successful year.

Thank you to the 32 people who attended yesterday's Get Together, especially Sergio, who gave a lively and interesting talk on the origins of Mexican Culture. We had 4 Mexicans at the gathering, so that country was well represented. Thank you to all the first language Spanish speakers who came. You helped us to practise our Spanish in a productive manner - your attendance is always valued.

Our next Get Together will be held at CultureClub (www.cultureclub.com.hk), 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Hong Kong on Wed., 17th December, starting at 7.00. Tony, also from Mexico, has said he would be delighted to talk, and lead a discussion on the different ways, people of different cultures celebrate Christmas - or something like that! Whatever happens we will have fun, as well as get valuable Spanish practice.

Some regulars will unfortunately be out of town, so please make a special effort to come along if you are available - the more the merrier. Remember that Lennon will provide drinks at Happy Hour prices (after the first) and some free snacks.

Thank you to those of you who attended the Get Together on the 5th. I have been told it was a success, although I am not sure how people were there? Many thanks to Fathers Guillermo and Sergio for the talk on the jungles of Peru - I'm sure it was very interesting. Also my thanks go to Ronaldo, for hosting the meeting, and Lennon for providing the participants with a welcoming venue.

The next meeting in CultureClub (cultureclub@gmail.com) will be held on Wednesday 26th November, starting at 7.00 - hope you can make it! Sergio has indicated that he would like to give a talk on "The Origins of Mexican Culture". His talks are always interesting and I'm sure this will be no exception. Please make a note in your diary, so that you can take advantage of the opportunity to listen as well as to converse in Spanish on that evening.

Yesterday we had a record breaking Get Together, with 56 people attending - great news, especially thinking back to the 8 participants we had at the inaugural meeting 3 years ago in Nov. 2005. Thank you to all those who attended, especially Karen Romero who gave a wonderfully entertaining and captivating talk on what it was like to grow up near the Mexican border. As promised, there were sex, drugs and violence in her talk, topics which may have helped the attendance figure! Yesterday, also, we had participants from Colombia, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela. We were very lucky to have native speakers help us in our effort to speak better Spanish, and our thanks go out to them.

In addition, thanks go to Lennon for providing us with a comfortable environment, as well as free snacks.

The next gathering will be held on Wed., November 5, starting at 7.00 in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Central. I hope you will be able to make it.

Yesterday evening we had another very enjoyable gathering, attended by 31 people. The highlight of the Get Together was a talk on Iran given by Veronica. In a well-prepared presentation she gave us a taste of what it must be like to travel in that country. Our thanks go to her.

As mentioned above our next Get Together will be held on Wednesday, the 15th Oct., from 7 p.m. onwards. The venue, as always, will be CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Central. . We hope you can make this wonderful opportunity to utilize your Spanish. Hispano Hablantes are especially welcome. There is no fee and no need to register - just turn up!

Our next Get Together will take place this coming Wednesday, the 24th, in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, starting at 7.00 p.m.. It is hoped that you can make it in order to enjoy the social aspect of the evening, as well as to take the opportunity to practise your Spanish in convivial surroundings. No registration is necessary. The only expectation is that you buy at least one drink from the bar (Happy Hour prices after the first) because Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, although very generous in his support of our sessions, including giving us free snacks, has a business to run. Thank you in anticipation.

Veronica, who went to Iran in the summer, would like to give an assisted talk about her trip. Please support her.

Hope to see you at the gathering. The last one was superb - let's keep the momentum going. It's a great way to practise your Spanish!

Thank you to all the 25 people who turned up at yesterday's Get Together, with especial thanks going to A Mai who gave an interesting, impromptu talk on the famous Rastro Market, held every Sunday in Madrid. In addition, of course, our thanks go Lennon, the owner of CultureClub who regularly provides us with a very suitable environment in which to practise our Spanish.

Next time, on the 3rd September, Jan, who is a member of the Economist Intelligence Unit, has promised to give a talk on global economic trends - yes, in Spanish! It all sounds rather ambitious, so please make a note to support him in this venture.

Remember, the Get Togethers take place from 7.15 onwards (some people arrive at 7.00) in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Central. Free snacks are provided, as well as drinks at Happy Hour prices, after the first. Just turn up; there is no need to register. Just come with a willingness to socialize and practise your Spanish, at whatever level. In particular, native speakers who attend are welcomed and cherished!

Yesterday, 16 July, we had a wonderful session in CultureClub and thanks go to all those who came and made it such an enjoyable evening. At least 27 people attended; I was starting to lose count. Thanks, of course, go to Lennon for his hospitality, as well as to Tony, who stepped in at the last minute to give an entertaining talk on a Mexican festival which will take place in September. Victoria was suffering from jet-lag, but has promised to chat about her visit to Iran at the next Get Together on August the 6th.

It was mentioned that the Spanish T.V. channel available on internet, www.rtve.es, provides an enjoyable, and frequently interesting, way to utilise your Spanish at home. It is recommended to go to Ir a TVE a la carta at the bottom right hand side of the Home page and then, if you like Telenovelas, try out "Amar en Tiempos Revueltos". There are also more intellectual programmes available.

The next Get Together will be held on July 16 at CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Central. Everyone with an interest in communicating in Spanish is welcome to attend this social gathering. This will be the fortieth time we have met, so it is hoped you can help to make this milestone a memorable one by joining in at whatever level of Spanish you happen to be.

Thanks first must go to Cristina who, despite technical difficulties, at yesterday's gathering gave a splendid talk about her impressions of Cuba. We had loads of questions and comments to make and it was wonderful, once again, to have someone whose first language isn't Spanish give such an impressive presentation. Well done and thank you.

Thanks should also go to Lennon, who provided the comfortable and relaxed location, as well as free snacks, in which 28 of us were able to practise our Spanish.

Our next Get Together will be on June 4 and anybody with an interest in conversing in Spanish, at whatever level, is invited to join us. If you are a student of Spanish it's a brilliant opportunity to try out what you have been learning in class. If you are a native speaker please come and support us in our efforts to master your wonderful language. As usual it will be held in CultureClub, 15 Elgin street, Soho District.

As yet, there is no speaker lined up, so if anybody would like to give a talk on a topic of their choice please get in touch (chrisstu@netvigator.com - Chris Stubbs).

Dear Member of La Sociedad Hispanica,

Those of you who attended yesterday's gathering, and there were 33 participants in total (!), will no doubt have enjoyed the spirited and interesting talk given by Karen (photo attached - dark cardigan). She spoke of previously unknown relatives from the Mexican town of Tamazula who came to visit her family in San Diego. She got on with them so well she returned with them to Tamazula and a lot of the talk was taken up with the cultural differences experienced there - really entertaining - thank you Karen.

As usual the evening was an enjoyable social experience as well as an opportunity to practise and improve our Spanish. There were a number of relative beginners as well as native speakers.

Please note the date of the next Get Together in your diary. I hope as many of you as possible can make it. As if you couldn't forget, the venue will be CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District and we will start at 7.15.

As you will see from the other photo, Lennon, the friendly owner of CultureClub, kindly provides with a pretty ideal environment (quiet, comfortable, free snacks, drinks available at Happy Hour prices - after the first).

Do come along and practise your Spanish. I'm sure you will enjoy it. 

Thank you to all those who made yesterday's session so enjoyable - especially Damaris , who gave a well researched and interesting talk on Spanish language cinema. 28 people turned up and had, I think, a good time, with loads of Spanish spoken and listened to. Of course, all of us who are struggling to get to grips with the language give our special thanks to all the native speakers who attended, giving us invaluable help and support. 

At the next meeting on April 23, Karen has promised to give a talk on Tamazula, a place in Mexico where she went on holiday. The name is enough to show that it should be fascinating!

Hope as many of you as possible can make the next gathering.

The Get Together on the March 12 attracted over 20 people, many of whom were first language speakers of Spanish. They all gave terrific support to the rest of us in the quest to improve our Spanish. Thanks go to Tony, from Mexico, who treated us to an interesting talk on the use of "magic" mushrooms by some of the indigenous people in his country, as well as to Lennon for providing us with free, tasty snacks and a tranquil environment. 

Please turn up on the 12th if you have any interest in practising and improving your grasp of the Spanish language. See below for details of location and time.

The next Get Together in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street,  Soho, will take place on Wednesday, 21 Nov., from 7.15 onwards. Early attendance will be appreciated.  This is a wonderful opportunity to practise oral Spanish in a comfortable and relaxing environment and should not be missed if you have an interest to do this. Their will be on-the-house snacks and drinks available at Happy Hour prices after the first drink. There is no cover charge or booking necessary. Come along, you will enjoy it. 

The last meeting on Thursday 1 Nov. was a resounding success, with 29 people attending and Tony, from Mexico, giving an interesting talk on El Día de Los Muertos, as practised in his country.

Please note that the next  Get Together at CultureClub will be held on a Thursday instead of the usual Wednesday. This is because the 31st, a Wednesday, is already booked because of Halloween. It is hoped this won't be inconvenient and that many of you will be able to make it. As usual, it will start at 7.15 and be held at 15 Elgin Street, Soho.

The last gathering, on the 10th of October, was attended by about 20 people and we were lucky enough to have 3 Venezuelans, 1 Argentinian and 1 Mexican amongst us - a wealth of friendly support to help us practise Spanish. In addition, the free snacks, provided by Lennon, were very tasty, so a good evening was had by all.

If you are learning Spanish , and wish to practise conversation, please attend our Get Togethers. Also, if you are a native speaker, then you are more than welcome to attend - in fact we love you to!

The Get Together on  Sept. 19  was held in CultureClub and over 20 people attended. Tony, from Mexico, gave an interesting talk entitled "Mexico, Past and Present, and Lennon, the owner of CultureClub provided us with tasty snacks and a quiet, relaxing environment in which we could practise our Spanish.

The next Get Together will be held on October 10 in CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho, Central. More details are available in articles below.

Everyone who has an interest in practising oral Spanish is welcome to attend. We usually have some very friendly native speakers attending!

The Get Together on the 5th attracted 26 people and all enjoyed the terrific talk given by Laurie. The main theme of his talk was Bolivia. We were very proud of him because he was the first non-native speaker to give a talk. Also, of course, we were very grateful to Tony and Sergio, both from Mexico, as well as Marcela and Guillermo from Argentina, who attended and supported our efforts to improve our Spanish.

Because the 26th will be a public holiday  it has been decided to make the date of the next Get Together only two weeks after the previous; i.e. on Sept. 19th. it will be interesting to see if we get a good number attending as there is some suggesstion that we should make it into a fortnightly affair. We'll see, but please attend if you can - it is a really good way of practising your Spanish.

Details of location and timing are given in items below.

In terms of numbers the last two Get Togethers have been fantastic - 26 on July 11th and 32 on August 15th (a record). In addition, we've had a good mix of people, with everyone getting some benefit regarding practising their Spanish. Thanks, as usual, must go to the native Spanish speakers who attend - their support is invaluable - as well as Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, who provides us with a comfortable and relaxing location.

The next Get Together will be on Wednesday, September 5, beginning at 7.15.  At that meeting Laurie has kindly agreed to give a talk about his trip to the Amazon. Don't miss it.. He was going to talk in the last meeting, but there was some confusion when another person volunteered and then didn't show up.  Apologies to Laurie and to those of you who attended in the expectation that Laurie would talk - next time!

CultureClub can be found at 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Hong Kong.

The Get Together on June 13 went well. Everybody wanted to speak in Spanish and there was also a very pleasant  atmosphere in CultureClub. In addition, as usual,  thanks must go to Lennon, the owner of the venue, who supplied us with free snacks and drinks at reasonable prices. It really is a good venue for what we are trying to do - converse in Spanish.

The next meeting at CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho, will be on July 11 and a subsequent one will be on August 15, both starting at 7.15.  At the latter, Laurie has promised to show us photos of his recent 6 month trip to South America. Since his Spanish has improved considerably, he'll also give us a commentary (it is hoped). Everyone is welcome - members and friends of the Society - with as many native speakers as possible to give us support and encouragement. Just be willing to try to converse and don't be shy!

Owing to the AGM and Graduation Dinner being held on June 6, to which we hope as many as possible of you can come, the date for the next Get Together is Wednesday, 13 June, starting at 7.15. Please remember that you are all welcome to practise your Spanish with other Members and Friends of the Society, the latter normally including some native speakers. As usual the venue will be CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho - this is easy to find and as an added attraction, apart from many drinks at Happy Hour prices there should be  free snacks provided by Lennon, the friendly and supportive owner.  

Thank you for all those who attended the  meeting on May 16. We had some new faces, but don't forget that everyone who has attended at least one of the previous 21 Get Togethers is very welcome to attend again.

The meeting on April 25 was one of the most successful ever. 25 people turned up, of whom 6 were native speakers! They gave enormous help to the rest of us who were endeavouring to communicate in Spanish. Special thanks must go to Sergio, who gave a very interesting talk on why and how he became a priest - there were many questions and the whole session was fascinating.

As usual, thanks must also go to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, who provided us with a comfortable environment, together with free snacks and most of the drinks at happy hour prices.

Our next gathering will be on Wednesday, May 16, starting at 7.15. A reminder that CultureClub is situated at 15 Elgin Street, Soho (turn right from the escalator coming up from Central at Staunton Street - walk down Staunton Street until you come to Elgin Street on your right, go down there for about 30m. and CultureClub is on your left.

Everyone who is willing to communicate in Spanish is welcome. We generally have all levels from beginners to native speakers and the atmosphere is very informal and relaxed.

Our next Get Together will be held at CultureClub, 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, Central, on Wednesday April 25, starting at 7.15.  Sergio, a Mexican gentleman , living in Hong Kong,  has said he will give us a talk related to his country of origin.  This should not be missed, nor should the opportunity to converse in Spanish in relaxing surroundings with a very pleasant group of people. Everyone is welcome as long as they have an interest in communicating in the language at whatever level.

In addition, Lennon, the friendly and helpful owner of CultureClub, will provide us with tasty snacks, "invitada la casa", as well as drinks at Happy Hour prices (from the second onwards).

The last Get Together, held on April 4, went very well with some people staying until  11 p.m.. It was very nice to see some new faces, especially Patricia from Spain and Jos? a Venezuelan,  who it is hoped will one day agree to be an invited speaker as he has lots of interesting things to say about his country. We are very grateful to all native speakers who attend these gatherings - it's wonderful to have the opportunity to speak and receive support from the very people we are striving to communicate with by learning the language. We are also grateful to the regular participants, who always give us a core of people attending at every session. Hasta la próxima.

The last Get Together, on 14 March, was very successful, both from the point of view of numbers (26 - a record) and the quality of the contribution from Angel, a Friend of the Society, who spoke about some of the changes that have taken place in Spain over the past 30 years. In addition, we were very fortunate in having 5 native speakers to support us - 2 from Argentina, 2 from Spain and one from Mexico. Sergio, from Mexico, a first timer at our reunion has promised to talk at the meeting after next, on April 25.  This should be put into your diary now.

Once again we were very grateful to Lennon, the owner of CultureClub, who supplied us with free, tasty snacks, as well as provided us with Happy Hour price drinks after the first drink. Also, of course, it was a pleasure being able to converse in Spanish in quiet surroundings.

The next Get Together will be held on April 4. We hope as many of you as possible can make it. It really is a marvellous opportunity to practise your Spanish in relaxing surroundings with a very pleasant group of people. Anyone welcome, as long as they have an interest in the language.

For newcomers, CultureClub is located at 15 Elgin Street, Soho District, and our gatherings start at 7.15.