Second Generation Murillo Awards: December 2012

After 3 months for the new Murillos and 6 months for me, the time has come to say goodbye to Sevilla for good and return to England. Blue horizons replaced by grey skies, small tapas sizes supplanted by huge roast dinners, a two-kiss greet changed to a casual ‘alright’. Sevilla’s a place I’ve grown to love like a local and take pride in like a patriot. To celebrate the last 3 months we had the most prestigious of nights celebrating embarrassing events and idiosyncratic traits that we’ve all come to love in the ‘Murillo Awards’.

Although I’m sad not to return, this was the perfect way to say ‘adios’.

Second Generation Murillo Awards

Kim – The ‘eye eye captain’ award for most flattering photographer

Danny – The ‘Scottie too Hottie’ award for most likely to have a Celtic induced heart attack

Liane – The ‘Don’t Blush until you Gush’ award for the most timid and retiring Murillo

Darren – The ‘Dark Horse’ award for partying until the break of dawn

Tom – The ‘Brit abroad’ award for most likely to get naked at a pool party

Amy – The ‘fashion forward’ award for most stylish use of a snood

Luke – The ‘Hips don’t lie’ award for teaching expert level dance to beginners

Stecy – The ‘French fancy’ award for the most expensive taste

Sarah – The ‘Tea lady’ award for unashamedly bringing tea to every event

Howard – The ‘Hermit-athon’ award for the longest period spent indoors

Josh – The ‘The snooze you lose’ award for the most likely to win the lottery and lose the ticket

Stu – The ‘Peter’s protege’ award for outstanding level of improvement in lady love

Peter – The ‘Smooth Operator’ award for most likely to smuggle a spanish girl home

Emilie –  The ‘Bootilicious’ award for style, class and a juicy ass

Malik – The ‘Bet You Think You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ Award for most likely to clear the dancefloor

Camille – The ‘Secret Spanish senorita’ award for sly shenanigans

Freya – The ‘Quirky caffeine queen’ award for copious coffee consumption

Carl – The ‘Pop prince 80s child’ award for being true to all things pop and buzzing your face off and loving life 2k12

Bex – The ‘I kissed a girl and I liked it’ award for finding love in Seville.

Imi – ‘Honorary Kardashian’ Award for Keeping Up with the Oztas’

 

New Murillos

Two months ago I was happy to receive the news that I would be managing the next group of digital media interns (Murillos) in Seville, Spain. This happiness quickly turned to trepidation when I heard that there would be 20 of them….most of them whom can’t speak Spanish…and I would be on my own with them for 3 months.

After giving them a 3 day crash course on everything ‘Virtual School’ in London we set off to Sunny Sevilla which was….actually raining. I knew enough of the local culture to show them the Sevillan gems off the beaten track including an amazing Bolivian restaurant down an alley, a riverside street full of bars with tequila shots for 50 cents and  an illegal local hangout with reggae, flamenco, swing and balcony bars. I felt a bit like Brendan from ‘Coach Trip’ at times. I’m sure places have been remarking ‘the British are coming’ as soon as they see 20 of us arrive. But it’s been an absolute blast and the trepidation has completely subsided now having got to know each of them in their own creative, quirky ways.

There has been a lot of work involved as well. One month in, I’ve seen how talented this group of people are in completely different ways. The diverse nature of collaboration has led to incredible work that’s just getting better and better. Including a Total Eclipse of the Heart parody music video (which I was able to help out on). Watch this space.