A few days ago, I was helping Raquel fix lunch. It was more like I was slicing tomatoes for a salad and she was doing the gourmet cooking. She told me that in groups past, they occasionallly set aside a day in the week to speak nothing but Spanish in the house. This got me very excited and I started priming the idea with people I thought would be into it. The next thing I knew, Wednesday was announced as “El Dia de Espanol.”
I am always one of the first people awake, and this was the best day for it too. People slowly trickled into the kitchen and were mostly silent because they were afraid to just start speaking the Spanish. Awkward. Finally, this goofy , funny guy named Branson walked in and practically yelled, “Buen Dia!” The ice was broken. The rest of the day was just hilarious, filled with huge hand motions, plenty of Spanglish, and scrunched up thinking faces. Some people wouldn’t get into it, much to my dismay. “Why would I speak Spanish when we both understand English?” I don’t understand that. Why go to a foreign country if you want to keep doing everything American. It’s just like the frequent trips to McDonald’s people make for a taste of the worst part of the states. It’s not even cheap here. I don’t get it.
On Thursday night, Eric invited me to an asado with some of his friends from the Catholic University. Most of the people there were part of the international program, aka, from the states, but most of the conversation was in Spanish. The best part, was the house mother of one of the girls. She was this older lady named Susana who hung out with all the 21 year olds until 2 in the morning. She kept on bringing me meat and I would tell her I wasn’t very hungry. I just can’t get into the eating at 11 o’ clock thing. “Pero estas muy flaca” But your so skinny, she would say, and then try again ten minutes later.
Today at 3 in the afternoon, we have a 20 hour bus ride into Brazil. We’re going on a week long trip to see Iguazu falls, the cataracts that tumble from the huge drainage of the Amazon. I had it described to me as Perito Moreno, the incredible glacier I saw, only moving and vital the whole time. Sounds good to me. More on that in a week.
Wow, you’re seeing some really spectacular things. Fun tidbits about Iguazu Falls:
Argentines spells this wonder, “Iguazu”, the Brazilians, “Igaucu.” Both versions are globally correct and widely used.
Iguacu Falls consists of some 275 separate falls during the river’s seasonal low. That number is halved during the rainy season when small rocky islets on the rim of the falls become submerged
Iguazu Falls (which ranks 8 among the world’s top wonders) is rivaled in mightiness only by Victoria Falls in Africa (ranks 14). The world’s other two gold medal winning falls are Angel Falls (ranks 78) and Niagara Falls (87).
Of all many tall cascades that collectively make up Iguazu Falls, the semi-circular Devil’s Throat is by far the most awesome. It is the world’s mightiest single water fall (in terms of water-flow volume) – and its incessant roar is deafening, to the point of being terrifying
There’s not many things worth a 20 hour bus ride, but this may be one of them.
By: Dad on April 4, 2008
at 10:12 am
nice research greg….these are the falls my spanish teacher was talking about….very exciting…i’m with greg about the 20 hour bus ride….or 20 hour anything ride for that matter….sounds like fun at the asado…any details about that? greg…did you share with amanda javier’s translation
By: lisa on April 4, 2008
at 3:19 pm
Glad to hear from you again. I was going through withdrawals. I have to get my Uruguay fix often. What’ll I do when you’re gone?
By: Amy on April 5, 2008
at 9:21 am
I was so happy that WordPress automatically linked me to your blog because our blogs have a topic in common. Here is mine, or perhpas they already let you know about it. http://rojasspanish.wordpress.com/
I think that talking about the process of learning Spanish the language, about the people and about their culture is critical to reaching whatever goals each of us have about getting to know this community better. I enjoyed your post a lot and can completely relate to how one feels rather mute until the “ice is broken”. I am going to check in on you and see what else you are thinking…..keep writing about the process!
Enjoy your trip to Iguazu. – Joan
By: Luis and Joan on April 5, 2008
at 10:26 am
Amen! It’s one of the reasons we’re not always looked kindly upon in various places around the globe.
By: Jay on April 7, 2008
at 5:31 am