I just got back from Patagonia.
Part of me would love to live there. Or a place like that. Even though I've never been to Alaska, it made me think of something that would be similar to Alaska. I really want to go to Alaska as well.
But Patagonia. OH, Patagonia!
We hiked an enormous glacier for two hours and then hiked a mountain and then had a snowball fight in the Andes and then warmed ourselves up in a geodesic dome with Baileys and wine and hot chocolate.
How is life so amazing? I am doing so many things I never thought I would do. Seeing so many things I never thought I would see...
I think it mostly hit me on the glacier. You never think you'll be ON SOMETHING that you only marvel at when it's on Planet Earth. I was so in love with it.
Photos to come. I am tired now.
Also I got a hat that makes me look, as Alejandra says, like a beaver. That's my new name. Beaver. Oh, Alejandra.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
che, boluuuudo....
Allow me a moment to gush about the Argentine accent.
I don't get why there are some people on this program that don't like it. It's one of the most BEAUTIFUL, expressive, enthusiastic, sexy accents I have ever heard in my life (granted, it's also the first foreign one I've lived submerged in.. but still).
Of course, accents are hard to describe. Especially to those reading this who don't even speak Spanish. But ... I don't know. People seem to open their mouths more, have a friendlier way of talking, a more expressive way of being pissed off, have prettier slang. For example "Che, gorDIta," (pronounced "chayyyy, gor-dee-ta!") is so much better than "What up?" The roll of the tongue, the rising and falling noises of the throat... ah!
Some of my favorite Spanish words to hear with an Argentine accent:
-Por alla (por ash-AH)
-vos (y "con vos")
-Bueno
-Chau
-Gorrrda
-Boludo
-Racing (name of the big futbol team here)
-que paso?
Even the way they say "No" in conversation is pretty. I don't know how that happens.
Hah, I was searching YouTube for something, anything, in an Argentine accent to show you... and I don't know who this ass is, but he has all these segments of himself doing different Latin American accents. HAH. He just yammers on for the first minute or so, and then he starts talking with the Argentine accent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy66HJHkQ-w
It's really interesting to compare accents from different Spanish-speaking countries because before learning Spanish I never would have given that a second thought. Sure, Chicagoans sounds different from people from Boston, but there's just something prettier about these comparisons. Oy.
And, of COURSE, the "shhhh." The shhhhh is the best, BEST part.
Okay, a lesson:
In Spanish, the word "rain" is "lluvia." In Spanish, you pronounce a double-l like you would say the letter "y," so you would pronounce it "yuvia."
HOWEVER. If you're an Argentine, you pronounce the double-l as "shhh." Well, really more like "jjjuuu," but it's harder to explain on the internet that way. "Shhhuvia." How is that not the prettiest thing in the world? You just purr every time you talk.
More videos you should watch/listen to:
I'm not totally sure what has happened here, but pay attention most to the guy sitting on the ground in the deep blue t-shirt, how is words have their own rhythm (girl's accent is great, too...but I don't think she's Argentine?):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vssmvHq_VLM
Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCyJeyPKB6c&feature=related
You can look for more but I guess it's annoying, me putting these here for you when maybe you don't speak Spanish and maybe you don't care. But ay! Que linda.
Shhhhhh.
I don't get why there are some people on this program that don't like it. It's one of the most BEAUTIFUL, expressive, enthusiastic, sexy accents I have ever heard in my life (granted, it's also the first foreign one I've lived submerged in.. but still).
Of course, accents are hard to describe. Especially to those reading this who don't even speak Spanish. But ... I don't know. People seem to open their mouths more, have a friendlier way of talking, a more expressive way of being pissed off, have prettier slang. For example "Che, gorDIta," (pronounced "chayyyy, gor-dee-ta!") is so much better than "What up?" The roll of the tongue, the rising and falling noises of the throat... ah!
Some of my favorite Spanish words to hear with an Argentine accent:
-Por alla (por ash-AH)
-vos (y "con vos")
-Bueno
-Chau
-Gorrrda
-Boludo
-Racing (name of the big futbol team here)
-que paso?
Even the way they say "No" in conversation is pretty. I don't know how that happens.
Hah, I was searching YouTube for something, anything, in an Argentine accent to show you... and I don't know who this ass is, but he has all these segments of himself doing different Latin American accents. HAH. He just yammers on for the first minute or so, and then he starts talking with the Argentine accent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy66HJHkQ-w
It's really interesting to compare accents from different Spanish-speaking countries because before learning Spanish I never would have given that a second thought. Sure, Chicagoans sounds different from people from Boston, but there's just something prettier about these comparisons. Oy.
And, of COURSE, the "shhhh." The shhhhh is the best, BEST part.
Okay, a lesson:
In Spanish, the word "rain" is "lluvia." In Spanish, you pronounce a double-l like you would say the letter "y," so you would pronounce it "yuvia."
HOWEVER. If you're an Argentine, you pronounce the double-l as "shhh." Well, really more like "jjjuuu," but it's harder to explain on the internet that way. "Shhhuvia." How is that not the prettiest thing in the world? You just purr every time you talk.
More videos you should watch/listen to:
I'm not totally sure what has happened here, but pay attention most to the guy sitting on the ground in the deep blue t-shirt, how is words have their own rhythm (girl's accent is great, too...but I don't think she's Argentine?):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vssmvHq_VLM
Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCyJeyPKB6c&feature=related
You can look for more but I guess it's annoying, me putting these here for you when maybe you don't speak Spanish and maybe you don't care. But ay! Que linda.
Shhhhhh.
Friday, October 2, 2009
artisan crafts and new opportunities.
I´m sorry I don´t update this more often.
I guess I should start this one by saying we´re all...well, more than shocked that we only have four weeks left here in Buenos Aires. It´s insane. I never realized how long you really have to live in a place to truly know it. Especially in a city this big... well, it ain´t easy, as David Bowie would say.
Also, shit just got real for all of us at school. Up until now, we´ve essentially had no assignments/exams/essays/presentations to do. For two months. Nothing. It´s been smooth sailing. But NOW? We have all of those things at once. And of course it´s even less clear what exactly is expected because, well, it´s all in Spanish. I´m sure we´re all going to come out doing decently well, but right now we´re all in a whirlwind. Buckling down & whatnot...
Also, I think it is being in Buenos Aires that has made me realize my true desire to do journalism for the rest of my life. I could go into that self-discovery for a long time... but really, it just feels so good to be in a different part of the world and still be able to write stories (even for a small college paper like TKS).
most of all- it felt SO GOOD to interview people during an abortion march and interview them IN SPANISH, then translate the quotes and write them into an article. I love it.
In addition to all that neat stuff, I got my Richter Grant for winter break 2010 (awhile from now) to go research/explore/live in/do some Gonzo reporting about communes, co-ops, ecovillages on the west coast. YES YES YES I cannot tell you how excited I am.
Being abroad and seeing what all of the friends I have made within our group have done with money from the school made me realize how broad my opportunities are, I guess. And so, I shall take advantage. For this coming month of December, I have a plane ticket to be in Spain for the month, and though I had the initial plan of working on a farm, I am now applying for an internship with either women´s rights groups in Barcelona or something related to journalism there. That, too, would be amazing.
Overall, life is swell. I might have to actually start studying somewhat intensely, but no matter. Next weekend we go to Calafate (big ass glaciers that we hike on). I cannot wait for Calafate and then Peru and then GALESBURG! Oh, and Uruguay somewhere in the middle of all that.
P.S. - the colectivo is still my favorite part.
I guess I should start this one by saying we´re all...well, more than shocked that we only have four weeks left here in Buenos Aires. It´s insane. I never realized how long you really have to live in a place to truly know it. Especially in a city this big... well, it ain´t easy, as David Bowie would say.
Also, shit just got real for all of us at school. Up until now, we´ve essentially had no assignments/exams/essays/presentations to do. For two months. Nothing. It´s been smooth sailing. But NOW? We have all of those things at once. And of course it´s even less clear what exactly is expected because, well, it´s all in Spanish. I´m sure we´re all going to come out doing decently well, but right now we´re all in a whirlwind. Buckling down & whatnot...
Also, I think it is being in Buenos Aires that has made me realize my true desire to do journalism for the rest of my life. I could go into that self-discovery for a long time... but really, it just feels so good to be in a different part of the world and still be able to write stories (even for a small college paper like TKS).
most of all- it felt SO GOOD to interview people during an abortion march and interview them IN SPANISH, then translate the quotes and write them into an article. I love it.
In addition to all that neat stuff, I got my Richter Grant for winter break 2010 (awhile from now) to go research/explore/live in/do some Gonzo reporting about communes, co-ops, ecovillages on the west coast. YES YES YES I cannot tell you how excited I am.
Being abroad and seeing what all of the friends I have made within our group have done with money from the school made me realize how broad my opportunities are, I guess. And so, I shall take advantage. For this coming month of December, I have a plane ticket to be in Spain for the month, and though I had the initial plan of working on a farm, I am now applying for an internship with either women´s rights groups in Barcelona or something related to journalism there. That, too, would be amazing.
Overall, life is swell. I might have to actually start studying somewhat intensely, but no matter. Next weekend we go to Calafate (big ass glaciers that we hike on). I cannot wait for Calafate and then Peru and then GALESBURG! Oh, and Uruguay somewhere in the middle of all that.
P.S. - the colectivo is still my favorite part.
Monday, September 21, 2009
bein' mice elf.
Life is great.
Here is my future:
1. Finish up my stay in Argentina, which will end on a sure-to-be-lovely Halloween
2. Go to Peru. Hike the Inca Trail for 4 days and spend the other 6 or 7 days exploring.
3. Go home a bit, Thanksgiving.
4. Go to Spain for a month on my own and work on a farm or eco-village. I found a few places on Workaway (website) that need volunteers, and since I already bought a plane ticket, why not? It costs me nothing- I give them work and they give me food and a place to stay. And of course, more Spanish practice!
5. Go back to Knox at the end of December.
Yeah. I like that a lot.
Here is my future:
1. Finish up my stay in Argentina, which will end on a sure-to-be-lovely Halloween
2. Go to Peru. Hike the Inca Trail for 4 days and spend the other 6 or 7 days exploring.
3. Go home a bit, Thanksgiving.
4. Go to Spain for a month on my own and work on a farm or eco-village. I found a few places on Workaway (website) that need volunteers, and since I already bought a plane ticket, why not? It costs me nothing- I give them work and they give me food and a place to stay. And of course, more Spanish practice!
5. Go back to Knox at the end of December.
Yeah. I like that a lot.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
burned my credit card for fuel
I JUST BOUGHT A TICKET TO CUZCO, PERU AND I'M GOING TO HIKE THE INCA TRAIL FOR 4 DAYS AND SEE MACHU PICCHU AND I'M SO FUCKING EXCITED I CAN'T STAND IT!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
thanks for the pepperoni.
Okay. I've officially decided to go back to Knox for winter term.
Some of my friends seemed almost mad at me for making this decision, but, oh well. 'tis what 'tis.
My awesome dad, however, DID offer for me to STILL go on the 2-week trip to Spain at the beginning of December. SWEEEEEEEEEEET.
That said, I'm a little more at ease now with the money situation in Argentina now since I don't have to worry about having a lesser exchange rate in Europe. Ay, Europe... some day. Part of me wants to do something with workaway.info (website) after college for a few months before getting a "real" job. That or maybe WWOOFing in Spain or Italy. Ay ay ay.
I can FEEL my Spanish tongue getting better. I love it.
I REALLY very much hope that I can get off board back at Knox so I can cook again. I miss cooking and I miss the summer.
Oh! This weekend we are going to Puerto Madryn. Google that ASAP and get all good 'n' jealous. I get to scuba dive and see whales and penguins. YES.
The classes here are driving me insane. In my cultura class, the teacher seems like he just jumps from one thing to another while eventually just talking about how mate is such a big part of Buenos Aires culture. In my evolucion class, the teacher talks about the upper class in Buenos Aires in the 1890s-1920s (ish) and rambles too quickly to always understand and it's just THREE HOURS OF BORING. The literature class, I genuinely like, and the teacher seems to be really into what he does, which is always a nice incentive to give a shit.
Tonight I explored a new barrio by the name of Caballito. Well, not new, but new for me. It's where my friends Maja and Anni live and it was quite quaint and adorable and the houses were lovely lookin' from the outside.
I'm getting all kinds of excited for Peru and Bolivia in my future. We are also tentatively planning a camping trip for a weekend in October when it's a tad warmer. Sometimes, just gotta get outta this smelly, littered city. Ay ay ay.
besos y ciao for now, amigos.
Some of my friends seemed almost mad at me for making this decision, but, oh well. 'tis what 'tis.
My awesome dad, however, DID offer for me to STILL go on the 2-week trip to Spain at the beginning of December. SWEEEEEEEEEEET.
That said, I'm a little more at ease now with the money situation in Argentina now since I don't have to worry about having a lesser exchange rate in Europe. Ay, Europe... some day. Part of me wants to do something with workaway.info (website) after college for a few months before getting a "real" job. That or maybe WWOOFing in Spain or Italy. Ay ay ay.
I can FEEL my Spanish tongue getting better. I love it.
I REALLY very much hope that I can get off board back at Knox so I can cook again. I miss cooking and I miss the summer.
Oh! This weekend we are going to Puerto Madryn. Google that ASAP and get all good 'n' jealous. I get to scuba dive and see whales and penguins. YES.
The classes here are driving me insane. In my cultura class, the teacher seems like he just jumps from one thing to another while eventually just talking about how mate is such a big part of Buenos Aires culture. In my evolucion class, the teacher talks about the upper class in Buenos Aires in the 1890s-1920s (ish) and rambles too quickly to always understand and it's just THREE HOURS OF BORING. The literature class, I genuinely like, and the teacher seems to be really into what he does, which is always a nice incentive to give a shit.
Tonight I explored a new barrio by the name of Caballito. Well, not new, but new for me. It's where my friends Maja and Anni live and it was quite quaint and adorable and the houses were lovely lookin' from the outside.
I'm getting all kinds of excited for Peru and Bolivia in my future. We are also tentatively planning a camping trip for a weekend in October when it's a tad warmer. Sometimes, just gotta get outta this smelly, littered city. Ay ay ay.
besos y ciao for now, amigos.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
chankees.
'yankees' pronounced with the Castellano (Castejahno) accent.
So, my internet is a piece of shit. Sorry for not constantly writing like I would at Knox when I live on a computer most nights doing homework.
And yeah, what about homework?
We have started our classes, and I don't know what to think. On the one side, they are ridiculously easy, and on the other, I often have to make sure to listen very closely in class to make sure I understand. There's hardly an "emphasis on class discussion" like at Knox. It's a trendy fashion design school, and I'm taking lit and cultural evolution classes there. Lawlz.
Oh, speaking of school, look what my summer job hath wrought:
http://www.knox.edu/Student-Life/Organizations-and-Clubs.html
I wrote the information for EVERY FUCKING CLUB AND ORGANIZATION at our college. That was my summer job. Good stuffffff. ELVIS WAS A TKE.
Hmmm.... so they give us two weeks to travel after our final exams end here (Oct 31).... I'm thinkin' Peru and Chile. Backpackin'! Wooooohoo!
some Argentine poetry reading
Well, I have a lot lot LOT more photos, and wanted to make these bigger, but I can feel the internet starting to crap out on me already.
Tomorrow I have to:
-take my clothes to the lavadero (THEY wash your clothes for you... I don't even know of a place around here where it's an OPTION for you to wash your own clothes. well, have fun swimming in my funk, dude)
-BUY THE BOOK I HAVE TO READ FOR NEXT WEEK'S LIT CLASS (El reino de este mundo, por Carpentier, creo...) OY.
-Maybe get a bit more done in terms of Peru/Chile travel plans
-nap and try to make this nasty cold get the fuck out of my system.
I think I'm getting better at this whole study abroad thing. I mean, I still miss everyone like mad (especially both Sams in my life and Gabe and Abe) and thinking about everyone that just graduated and left (Maddie/Will) and ABBY AND KATHY.... gahhhhhhhh yuck.
...oh, right, I think I'm getting better at this whole study abroad thing. Sometimes you just have to learn how to leave things and realize the beauty of being able to travel. I keep forgetting that I'm also going to Spain and will get to travel on weekends and shit. EUROPE!
gonna go finish my tea and snooooooooooze.
So, my internet is a piece of shit. Sorry for not constantly writing like I would at Knox when I live on a computer most nights doing homework.
And yeah, what about homework?
We have started our classes, and I don't know what to think. On the one side, they are ridiculously easy, and on the other, I often have to make sure to listen very closely in class to make sure I understand. There's hardly an "emphasis on class discussion" like at Knox. It's a trendy fashion design school, and I'm taking lit and cultural evolution classes there. Lawlz.
Oh, speaking of school, look what my summer job hath wrought:
http://www.knox.edu/Student-Life/Organizations-and-Clubs.html
I wrote the information for EVERY FUCKING CLUB AND ORGANIZATION at our college. That was my summer job. Good stuffffff. ELVIS WAS A TKE.
Hmmm.... so they give us two weeks to travel after our final exams end here (Oct 31).... I'm thinkin' Peru and Chile. Backpackin'! Wooooohoo!
now, some eye candy.
MAX AND VITO, the LOVES OF MY LIFE (when they're not being the loves of each other's lives)
MAX AND VITO, the LOVES OF MY LIFE (when they're not being the loves of each other's lives)
I TOOK THIS PHOTO IT IS NOT FROM GOOGLE IMAGES HOLY FUCK
in one of our first Spanish classes before real classes started, we learned how to make mate (MAH-tay), a traditional tea-like drink here
some Argentine poetry reading
Well, I have a lot lot LOT more photos, and wanted to make these bigger, but I can feel the internet starting to crap out on me already.
Tomorrow I have to:
-take my clothes to the lavadero (THEY wash your clothes for you... I don't even know of a place around here where it's an OPTION for you to wash your own clothes. well, have fun swimming in my funk, dude)
-BUY THE BOOK I HAVE TO READ FOR NEXT WEEK'S LIT CLASS (El reino de este mundo, por Carpentier, creo...) OY.
-Maybe get a bit more done in terms of Peru/Chile travel plans
-nap and try to make this nasty cold get the fuck out of my system.
I think I'm getting better at this whole study abroad thing. I mean, I still miss everyone like mad (especially both Sams in my life and Gabe and Abe) and thinking about everyone that just graduated and left (Maddie/Will) and ABBY AND KATHY.... gahhhhhhhh yuck.
...oh, right, I think I'm getting better at this whole study abroad thing. Sometimes you just have to learn how to leave things and realize the beauty of being able to travel. I keep forgetting that I'm also going to Spain and will get to travel on weekends and shit. EUROPE!
gonna go finish my tea and snooooooooooze.
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