A week to remember

The last week of April of 2012 shall be remembered in the history of football.

This week the god of Football showed us, reminded us that in this game nothing is written, that there are no unbeatable teams and that even the greatest can fall on their own field. And as once is not enough, this week it happened twice.

First, Barcelona, the best times of last times (some say that the best team ever) was defeated in his own field by Real Madrid.  With this victory Real submitted papers for its new championship. But that was not that special.

The week started to become historical, when the same Barcelona was kicked by Chelsea from the final of the champions league. An epic accomplishment that even Chelsea's coach couldn't believe. Barcelona played the same style of game that made them unique, but failed to find more creative ways to score one its cracks were out of the top (Even Messi missed a penalty and Xavi missed unbelievable oportunities) while Chelsea managed to keep the score with a notorious defending strategy (with Drogba, one of the best 9's of this time, defending as a 4 in the right side). Football reminded that everyone has a chance to win.

Not enough with that, the next day, the Real Madrid, the other super favorite to reach the final, was also kicked out by Bayer Munich. After a soon 2-0, every body thought that the game was over, but not that soon! Bayer scored through a penalty and since then dominated as a visitor the team of Mourinho. Extratime was needed, but still no definition. It was necessary then to move into penalties shout-out. Cristiano Ronaldo missed the first one, Kaká (once the greatest) missed as well, then Casillas stopped two penalties in a row, to then let Ramos send the ball to a new galaxy.

Twice in the same week, football showed that everyone can win!

Later at the end of the week, Josep Guardiola, the coach of the Barcelona announced his non-continuity next season. Some have compared this with the end of the Beatles, because it was him who constructed one of the best teams of history, playing beautiful, and winning continuously, the best things of the Menottism and Bilardism together.

The end of an era seems to end. I am just happy of living this chapter of football history

Football: A ball in the foot!!

Just to avoid any uncomfortable misunderstanding, here we are going to talk about FOOT+BALL, not about other sports with doubtful names!

A poem to Football

I just realized that I have barely written here about one of my passions:  Football.

To remedy that situation, I am officially opening right now the label Football in my blog, where I expect to write down a bit about my love for this game, love inherited from my father and brother, love nurtured by my culture, love enriched by friends from many countries who share it, love that grows with any episode worth to be over-interpreted.

To open this label, nothing better that: A Poem to Football (by Walter Saavedra).

(please forgive me for the translation, I did the best I could, but it is simply impossible to replicate its beauty from Spanish to English)

"How are you going to know what love is,
if you never became a club fan?
How are you going to know what pain is,
if a defender never broke your tibia and fibula?
or being in the "wall" and the ball hit you just there!
How are you going to know what pleasure is,
if you never ran an Olympic Lap as a visitor.
How are you going to know what tender is,
if you never curled the ball hitting it with the outer of your boot
leaving the ball spinning in below the net.
Listen to me, how are you going to know what solidarity is
if you never went to defend a partner kicked from behind?
How are you going to know what poetry is
if you never dribbled.
How are you going to know what humiliation is,
if you were never thrown the ball between your legs,
How are you going to know what friendship is
if you never returned a triangulation,
How are you going to know what panic is
if you were never taken in bad position
during a counterattack
How are you going to know what is to die a bit
if you never picked up the ball from you own goal.
Tell me mate, how are you going to know
what solitude is
if you never stood below the three posts
12 steps away from someone who wanted to shoot you and kill your hope
How are you going to know what mud is
if you never jumped to someone's feet to trow the ball to the side,
How are you going to know what selfishness is
if you never dribbled one more time than you should
while the 9 was alone waiting for it
How are you going to know what art is
if you never ever created a rabona.
How are you going to know what music is
if you never sang from the ultras,
How are you going to know what injustice is
if you never got red card by a bias referee.
tell me, how are you going to know what
insomnia is
if you never went to second division.
How are you going to know what hate is
if you never scored in you own goal.
How, how are you going to know what crying is,
yes, crying,
if you never lost a World Cup final
through a doubtful penalty over the time.
How are you going to know, my dear friend,
How are you going to know what LIFE is
if you never ever played Football"

What I like about Grenoble.

If you asked me where I live I would reply: J`habite á Boringnoble, France

Boringnoble because nothing happens here. Still I have to admit that I don't make great efforts to dig into its guts and discover more of it, so I admit I'm guilty as well.

However, the fact that it's boring doesn't mean that I hate it, I don't love it either, but there are few things I like about it. At this moment I can recall only one: Its graffiti or alike:

  

Personally I love the following series, the sheep "jesuisceuxquejesuis" something like "I am those whom I am", this sheep is everywhere and for me it is the face of Grenoble.

   

       

    

Visa to UK from France

Last thursday (March 15th) I just submitted my papers and passport for my visitor visa to UK and in the process I bothered a friend of mine with a bunch of silly questions about the process. Although I haven't got the visa yet, the purpose of this post is to record the steps I followed just before I forget the details that might help someone else in the future.

The process is made up of 4 stages:

1. Fill in the online application form and pay the application fee (95 euros at March 2012).
To fill in this application form you don't have to upload any paper, you just need to have clear your dates of traveling and the address of the hotel you are going to stay in. Additionally you might be clear about your budget and money available for the trip, they will ask you that.
Once you finish the online application form you will get a .pdf file with the form (which you will have to print, sign and submit with the other papers) with a reference number on it.
Request an appointment here to submit the papers in Paris.
With the reference number gotten, you just follow the steps in that simple website. I applied one Thursday night and there were plenty appointment slots for the following week, so you wouldn't have to worry about applying long time in advance. I booked mine for the following Thursday 14:00
Go to Paris and hand in the papers
My appointment was at 2pm, I arrived like at 1.30pm and still I was allowed to get in. You are not allowed to take anything inside, including cell-phones. The errant inside took me about one hour. The following is a very complete guide of papers given by the Visa service of UK, it is pretty extensive though, this other one is simpler. At the end the papers I took were the following:

• Printed version of the online application form
• 2 pictures
• The passport, obviously, and a copy of its main page.
• A copy of my French visa and my OFII stamp
• My last 3 bank reports (those that I get monthly by post) - original and copy. In French
• A letter of sponsorship from the institution that granted me the scholarship I have to live in France - original and copy. In French.
• One electricity invoice to as proof of accommodation here in France - original and copy. In French.
• Student certificate given by the school. Original. In English
• Flight bookings. Lyon-London, London-Lyon. In English
• Hostel bookings. In English.

As I don't live in Paris, I had to pay for them to send me back my passport, it is like 32 euro more. So have in mind that this application takes about 340 euros (95 of the application, the train tickets costed me 110 euro, the flight tickets costed me 90 euro, the hostel booking about 10 euro, and those 32 euro of the passport delivery). So be prepared!

Disclaimer: This is just my experience and it is not a guide to apply. No responsibility shall be given to the author for any mistake during the application.

---- March 22nd Update ---
I received a SMS saying that my package was sent today

---- March 23rd Update ---
I got a package at my place with my papers and my British visa stamped in my passport, UK there I Go!!