Happy New Year 2018!!!

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Happy New Year 2017 !!!!

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Become a writer about culture, art, food, music, design, architecture...

Are you an aspiring writer? a voraciuos reader? a travel junkie? a lover of all things culture? Then The Culture Trip is your place, it gives you the opportunity to become part of your city's cultural community as a reader, writer or explorer.

The Culture Trip is an online platform dedicated to all things about culture across the globe, with over 155 countries covered and hubs in Paris, NY, Tel Aviv, Brussels, London, San Francisco, Mumbai, Melbore and Barcelona to name a few.

As an English speaking network in Barcelona, AuNZ.Cat has been contacted by them. Tara Jessop, Director of Culture at The Culture Trip, invites us to become new contributors and write articles for this site.

This is not a job opportunity (there is no financial remuneration of any sorts) but it's quite simply an opportunity for those who want to write about their favourite cultural topics in Barcelona (and/or the rest of Catalonia, Australia, New Zealand). They welcome first timers and hobbyists, but there are also a few professional freelancers working with them as a way to gain exposure (the have 2 million+ monthly readers).

Not just local writers but also talented photographers, and videographers are welcome.

Give a try!

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Catalan TV in English

There is a channel which broadcasts an hour in English everyday. Programmes are about news, interviews, debates, etc. The channel is El Punt Avui Televisió and all the programmes are identified with the label "English hour".

A list of some of the programmes you can watch (TV or internet):

The News of the Week

Every Monday and Friday they review what's happening in the world of current affairs. Learn about the most relevant local and international stories, and what's more, all in English.

Going native with Neil Stokes

Each Monday, Neil Stokes talks to a different public figure, including artists, sports people, politicians and actors, for whom English is an everyday reality.

Catalan connections with Marcela Topor

Every Wednesday, Catalonia Today editor Marcela Topor interviews well-known foreign residents in Catalonia. From writers and musicians to entrepreneurs and officials, the interviews provide a unique perspective on living and working in Catalonia.

Small talk with Nicole Millar

Foreign residents are also the focus every Friday, when Catalonia Today's Nicole Millar talks to people from a variety of countries and ways of life about their experiences of adapting to life in Catalonia.

The Week in Football with Barney Griffiths

Every Tuesday, UK journalist Barney Griffiths hosts a discussion of the beautiful game with different guests. After reviewing the previous weekend's football action, the panel also looks ahead to what is coming up in the domestic and European leagues.

Our finest hour with Matthew Tree

Hosted by British writer Matthew Tree, this roundtable debate airs every Thursday. Every week Matthew is joined by differents guests. Including Liz Castro, Patricia Gabancho and Martin Kirby, among others, who discuss the most important events of the week.

The Class

Coordinated by Marta Andreu, the Class follows a group of primary school pupils in Barcelona's Nou Barris neighbourhood and their efforts to learn English. The 15-minute show airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Storytime

Following The Class is Storytime. Produced by Playtime and the British Council, the 10-minute programme has different teachers from the British Council's Young Learners Centre telling a children's story in English.

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Aussie blogger Annabel Candy's Catalan Experience

Catalunya Experience is a programme produced by TV3, a Catalan public TV Station. They show every week the opinion of a guest after visiting some places in Catalonia.

Last week the Catalan host was an actress called Ivana Miño and the guest was Annabel Candy, a blogger from Australia. Her blog is called GetInTheSpot and there she writes about "travel, wellbeing and midlife adventure"

Here you can watch Annabel's experience visiting some impresive spots like Montserrat, Núria, la Pedrera in Barcelona or Carnival in Vilanova.

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Australian media: The Conversation (www.theconversation.com/au)

If you are looking for balanced information about what's happening around the world, about society, technology, arts... there is an interesting Australian option: TheConversation.com/au. The Conversation is a collaboration between editors and academics to provide informed news analysis and commentary that is free to read and republish. They also have UK and US editions.

Before reading the article you can see if the author has or hasn't relevant affiliations related to the issue he or she is writing about.

As an example you can read this one about the "Catalan process".

Enjoy it.

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Book presentation "The Remade Parent" by Brett Hetherington. THANKS FOR COMING.

As we informed, Brett presented his book "The Remade Parent" last Friday.

Brett explained the "backoffice" of the book and read some parts, one of the readings was about the importance of playing, an interesting one. We asked lots of questions to the writer and had an engaging conversation at the end of the presentation.

Recommended book for parents!!!

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Watch Australian Government films from the past 100 years...

The NFSA (National Film and Sound Archive) is the custodian of the Film Australia Collection (FAC), it preserves and provides access to the Australia's documentary record.

Now the NFSA has created a Youtube NFSA Channel and a Flick NFSA Channel  where you can see documents from the past 100 years.

Here one of these documents...

Thanks to Josep Vidal O+

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Book Presentation by the Australian writer and journalist Brett Hetherington: "The ReMade Parent" (Friday 13th June)

"The ReMade Parent" by Brett Hetherington.

Date:  13th June
Time:  6pm-7:30pm
Place: C/Pau Claris 106 (please, confirm sending an email to aunzcat@gmail.com)

Brett Hetherington is originally from Canberra and he is currently living in Catalonia. He has collaborated with some Australian and Catalan Media (OnlyMelbourne.com.au, Catalonia Today, Barcelona Metropolitan).

Brett has worked as a teacher in four countries for more than a decade. 

In The ReMade Parent, Brett offers an optimistic picture of parenthood, he helps mothers and fathers recognize how, why and where their parenting is under the greatest pressure. He explains the deeper reasons for men too often failing in their role as fathers and looks truthfully at the current phenomenon of many mothers increasingly "opting out" of being genuinely involved in their children's lives.

This book says the recent global economic recession has provided us with the perfect moment to re-think and then re-make parenting. Drawing from years of personal experiences, extensive research and original interviews with real parents, the author wakes us up to the simple fact that we can all do better as those responsible for bringing us our kids. He argues that most of young people's problems in the 21st century begin either before or outside of school but too often they become destructive in the classroom. He makes clear how the solutions start with us, as mothers and fathers.

The ReMade Parent also raises serious questions about how our rapid-paced working lives mean that our sons and daughter's needs are too often overlooked and it suggests what to watch out for.

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Thanks for coming to Carlo J. Vella's book presentation

Thanks for coming to Carlo's book presentation on Friday 9th May.
After the speech, Carlos organised a tour around the places that appear in "The Thirteen Tortures", another way of enjoying the book.

By the way, the "The Thirteen Tortures" is available in Amazon.com!

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Contrastos d'Austràlia (photo expo about Australia, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, till 2nd May)

After 9000 Km and 6345 pictures taken, the photographer Jordi Prat Puig has organised this collection of pictures showing lots of faces of Australia. You can also win a copy of your favourite picture!

Click on the picture for more information...

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Book Presentation by the Australian writer Carlo J. Vella (Friday 9th May, 5pm)...

Carlo is an English teacher and writer, he was born in Australia and he is currently living in Barcelona.

Carlo wrote two other books before The Book of Secrets which was released in January 2010. The Book of Secrets combines an interesting plot with historical events, religion, life, love, fear, anger, passion and it gives some context before Carlo's new book The Thirteen Tortures (even though they can be read separately).

In The Thirteen Tortures the team from The Book of Secrets return to investigate the story of Santa Eulàlia, the patron saint of Barcelona, travelling throughout the province in search of what happened to a young girl of 13 who, whe asked to renounce her faith, she let her angels guide her to an unspeakable death. Little did she know that something else was amidst. For centuries angels have been building their armies to fight agains each other, but they have another enemy, its soul blacker than darkness- and it is coming. A horrific though sad, a tale that historically takes you back hundreds of years and returns you to the present where Mary and Gerard open a portal through a painting depicting the death of Santa Eulàlia.

Come to C/Pau Claris 106 BCN next 9th May (5pm-7pm), Carlo is going to talk about his book and it will be a perfect excuse to meet other interesting people!!!!

The attendance is free, please confirm it sending an email here... aunzcat@gmail.com

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New book in our library (C/Pau Claris 106)...

The latest donation to our library & book-crossing place. Thanks Pol...

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Recommended book: The Remade Parent by Brett Hetherington

We recommend this book by Brett Hetherington. Brett is an Australian currently living in Barcelona, some of us know him, he has attended some AuNZ.Cat events. 

Brett is a parent and former foster-parent. He was a secondary school teacher for 15 years in Australia, Japan, England and Catalonia (where he has lived since 2006). He is a regular commentator for Australia's ABC Radio where he reports on family and cultural life. His journalism has appeared in publications including The Guardian and Barcelona Metropolitan. He has also worked as a speechwriter and researcher for a Member of Parliament in Australia, specialising in education and social politics. 

He is currently a staff writer for Catalonia Today Magazine

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Official Barcelona Apps

If you have family or friends coming to Barcelona you could recommend these official apps to start 'tasting' the city.

• Official Guide to Barcelona
• Barcelona Restaurants
• Gaudi's Barcelona
• Medieval Barcelona
• NicePrints Barcelona

We like specially Official Guide to Barcelona, it includes important information and practical data (city map, metro map,...). Available in Apple and Google stores for free.

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Collaboration with The Sydney Morning Herald (article about Barcelona)

A magazine that comes out with the Sydney Morning Herald is going to publish an article about Barcelona in the travel page.

They are looking for Aussies living in BCN (better if they are Sydneysiders, the SMH, you know), they want to know about 10-12 hidden gems from a favourite bar, restaurant, shop, place to stay, ...

If you want to collaborate send an email to aunzcat@gmail.com

TRVL Magazine for ipad

If you have an ipad we have a recommendation for you. It's TRVL Magazine, a free App. Each issue presents a location-specific look at some of the world's most beautiful and fascinating destinations.

One of the reasons of our recommendation is they have published a whole issue about Australia (Red Heart), another one about New Zealand (South Island) and the one about Catalonia (Human Towers).

Enjoy them!!!

COOLABAH - Journal of the Australian Studies Centre at Universitat de Barcelona

Free travel guides (Barcelona, New Zealand, Australia, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney)

Some of these travel guides could be of you interest. Click on the picture to download them..

A book: Barcelona, Catalonia a view from the inside (by Matthew Tree)

We recommend this book about life and politics in Catalonia, as told through the eyes of an Englishman, Matthew Tree. This author collaborates in some Catalan media and has published articles in some British newspapers and magazines.

Matthew gives a vision of Catalonia rarely uncovered by the casual visitor, you will find discussions about Catalonia's future and insider's visions about real life in Barcelona, from doctor's visits to shopping...

Enjoy it.

Matthew Tree's website: matthewtree.cat
Kindle edition available on Amazon (we'll inform when available in other formats):