Inspired by some good friends and the full moon, I'm starting a blog about my adventures in Argentina.
Just like the full moon is an ending and a beginning, the end of the waxing phase and the beginning of the waning phase, this week I had the experience of phases coming to an end while others commenced.
This week began:
My blog!
"Che Blog-udo". Let me start by giving an explanation of this seemingly ridiculous blog title for my friends and family in the States. "Che Blog-udo" is a play on the commonly-used Argentine phrase "Che Boludo" meaning roughly "Ayy, dumbass" or something of the like. While it seems a bit harsh, the saying is used among friends jokingly - at least most of the time ;) . And I thought it fitting for the title of my blog as I'm just some boluda from the States trying to figure out her way in Argentina. So to keep with the title of the blog, and since I've never written a blog before, it seems that the theme of my writing will probably have to do with being a little messy, a little goofy but being HERE.
Classes at PECLA!
After four weeks of intensive Spanish classes and one more week of a vacation in Iguazú Falls in the north of Argentina, Tuesday afternoon I attended my first class here in Córdoba. Argentine Literature is the class and, surprisingly, I'm super interested in reading the written manifestations from this culture of which I'm attempting to be a part. Surprisingly, of course, because I was pretty sure that I had gotten my fill of literature in Spanish in my four years at Temple. This place is full of surprises... I'm still waiting to hear from a Speech Pathologist here in Córdoba about starting an internship with her and I'll be sure to post about that when I know more.
This week ended:
Flynn's time in Córdoba.
This is a special shout out to my friend Flynn who spent a little over a month with us here in Córdoba. An equine therapist and student of the world, this chick is ALWAYS up for an adventure. "Te deseo todo lo bueno del mundo en tu futura, querida". I wish you all the best in the world, Flynn. You're already missed here!
My time as a tourist in this city.
As I mentioned briefly above, I spent a week on vacation in Iguazú Falls with a group of the most amazing ladies in the world. We saw giant waterfalls, explored a mine of precious gems, zip-lined through the jungle, and made friends with people from all over the world. The time spent there was incredible and, yes, a well-deserved break from four intensive weeks of Spanish classes. As we headed to the bus station in Puerto Iguazú to board the 22-hour ride back to Córdoba, I had this strange sense that I was returning "home". Equally, when we arrived I no longer felt like a Gringa among Argentinos but rather like a resident, like I am creating a life here, as a local. So who knows exactly what I'll create here but the intention is to do it as an Argentine, totally integrated.
Until next time,
"Suerte"
Argentine phrase of the day: "Che Boludo"
This distinctly Argentine phrase contains two words that you won't hear used in any other part of the world. "Che", a remembrance of the famous revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara (although who really knows which came first, the word or the man...it's a chicken or egg kind of situation), is used in just about any place one might find an interjection. It could mean "Hey!" or "Dude" or neither of the two and could, for some reason, just be placed in the middle of a sentence. When placed in front of "boludo" it means "What a...", as in "What a jerk!", or "Ayyy..." as described above. "Boludo" means "jerk", "dumbass" or, the family-friendly version, "goofball". So "Che Boludo" can be used, for example, when someone cuts you off in traffic, when a referee makes a bad call in soccer, or when you're friend is just being a straight-up goon. Use it in health, friends!
This week began:
My blog!
"Che Blog-udo". Let me start by giving an explanation of this seemingly ridiculous blog title for my friends and family in the States. "Che Blog-udo" is a play on the commonly-used Argentine phrase "Che Boludo" meaning roughly "Ayy, dumbass" or something of the like. While it seems a bit harsh, the saying is used among friends jokingly - at least most of the time ;) . And I thought it fitting for the title of my blog as I'm just some boluda from the States trying to figure out her way in Argentina. So to keep with the title of the blog, and since I've never written a blog before, it seems that the theme of my writing will probably have to do with being a little messy, a little goofy but being HERE.
Classes at PECLA!
After four weeks of intensive Spanish classes and one more week of a vacation in Iguazú Falls in the north of Argentina, Tuesday afternoon I attended my first class here in Córdoba. Argentine Literature is the class and, surprisingly, I'm super interested in reading the written manifestations from this culture of which I'm attempting to be a part. Surprisingly, of course, because I was pretty sure that I had gotten my fill of literature in Spanish in my four years at Temple. This place is full of surprises... I'm still waiting to hear from a Speech Pathologist here in Córdoba about starting an internship with her and I'll be sure to post about that when I know more.
This week ended:
Flynn's time in Córdoba.
This is a special shout out to my friend Flynn who spent a little over a month with us here in Córdoba. An equine therapist and student of the world, this chick is ALWAYS up for an adventure. "Te deseo todo lo bueno del mundo en tu futura, querida". I wish you all the best in the world, Flynn. You're already missed here!
My time as a tourist in this city.
As I mentioned briefly above, I spent a week on vacation in Iguazú Falls with a group of the most amazing ladies in the world. We saw giant waterfalls, explored a mine of precious gems, zip-lined through the jungle, and made friends with people from all over the world. The time spent there was incredible and, yes, a well-deserved break from four intensive weeks of Spanish classes. As we headed to the bus station in Puerto Iguazú to board the 22-hour ride back to Córdoba, I had this strange sense that I was returning "home". Equally, when we arrived I no longer felt like a Gringa among Argentinos but rather like a resident, like I am creating a life here, as a local. So who knows exactly what I'll create here but the intention is to do it as an Argentine, totally integrated.
Until next time,
"Suerte"
Argentine phrase of the day: "Che Boludo"
This distinctly Argentine phrase contains two words that you won't hear used in any other part of the world. "Che", a remembrance of the famous revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara (although who really knows which came first, the word or the man...it's a chicken or egg kind of situation), is used in just about any place one might find an interjection. It could mean "Hey!" or "Dude" or neither of the two and could, for some reason, just be placed in the middle of a sentence. When placed in front of "boludo" it means "What a...", as in "What a jerk!", or "Ayyy..." as described above. "Boludo" means "jerk", "dumbass" or, the family-friendly version, "goofball". So "Che Boludo" can be used, for example, when someone cuts you off in traffic, when a referee makes a bad call in soccer, or when you're friend is just being a straight-up goon. Use it in health, friends!
