Excellent history lesson Glad to see a new blog entry. I especially love the picture of the shooter in the riots and the lack of evidence. That reminds me of what I saw on the news this morning. OJ Simpson has a book and movie coming out called "If I did it, this is how it happened". Great essay though. I definately enjoyed it.
i had a question well no i probably had a comment. however by the time i reached the bottom of this extremely long essay i had plumb forgot whatever it was i wanted to say! ah well i guess the history lesson was good for me. hope you guys are enjoying the south. it is raining here and earl was on. lovelove
similar situation Hi I read your blog and was excited to see you moved to Argentina in a somewhat similar way. I just a plane ticket yesterday, and I took a little Spanish in high school but that was so long ago. I'm hoping to re-learn Spanish and at least be conversational. My plane ticket is only for three months but I can extend it. I have no idea where to find an appartment or where to sign up for classes. Any advice would be appreciated! My email is leximeek@yahoo.com
hahaha hahahahahaha! "It is for the teeth and it looks like cocaine, but it's not cocaine." - That is pure classic, Mark!
I hear ya.
I arrived in Ecuador thinking that suuuurely most people will speak SOME amount of english... Wrong wrong wrong. My crash course in survival spanish was pretty much solely facilitated by remembering what "quiero" meant from the Taco Bell comercials and learning to say "como dice.." and then combine it with 100% charades.
hahaha.. I got a kick out of Step 2 and can fully relate to Step 1. The only thing I really remember from my years of French classes is how to say "Can I go to the bathroom?" and the year of German - "Where are you from?" ...
Take care in BA - I miss Argentina already!!!
Good luck with the past and future tense brother! ;-)
Joe
Why the HELL do you put baking soda on your teeth? I doubt it was your Spanish that confused her but rather your weird ass request! I suggest "Crest White Strips" if you are aiming for a brighter smile!
By the way I do the same shit with Pato... it is just sooooo much easier to say what I gotta say in my native English!
Fascinating! Mark, I'm enjoying both your entries very much. Your insiteful oberservations are truely refreshing. I only wish life was as exciting, here, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Adelante, y mucha suerte!!
runs in the family since it took me four years o' grad school to pass a simple translation exam, i can very much feel your pain...well, kinda, since while the translation exam was a big deal, not passing it for so long didn't stand in the way of me ordering food. but anyway, i think you should make peace with your present-tense existence. if anyone nags you, just say you are studying buddhism and trying to be more in the moment. eh?
disclaimer Another fabulous blog entry!! It´s so true that learning a language is often comical and frustrating at the same time....BUT, for people out there who don´t know you, Mark, or haven´t witnessed your progress over the past half a year...I have to say something (and I think it can be said on behalf of all of us here who have the pleasure of hanging out with you)----Your Spanish efforts and progress are nothing but commendable!!! I admire you so much, for your boldness and the way you let your inhibitions go in your approach to communicating here. I only wish I could be half as brave!!!!
I've been going through the same struggle. . . I had to chuckle when I read your blog because I've been taking Spanish Level 1 for the past 6 years (more years if I count high school and college) so I know what you're going through. I had to hire a private tudor to get me over the present tense hump and onto the past and future tenses and into useful conversational Spanish. If you get the chance, get a book called "Tune Up Your Spanish." It's the best book that I've read on getting over the Spanish learning wall.
oh, this blog reminded me that i need to do my spanish homework too!
today i had a student who was doing a writting assignment so while he was doing that i did my spanish homework. ha ha!
Mark
I laughed so hard when your mom sent me this I cracked my butt. Anyways good to see you have come over form the dark side to join the real football. Have fun in Argentina and send us a recruit.
Go Yellowjackets
From your soccer guru: Aaaargh. Just seen the photo. That's hideous Mark. Pleeeeeeease find another one of you and me. And it's football by the way, NOT soccer!!!!!
This journal is brilliant! Mark,
I was reading your blog and I enjoyed this journal very much, this is what happens to us too!!! hahaha
The situations you specified are fabulous, I think you should write a book with all this notes.
Go ahead writing!!
Best regards,
ME ENCANTA me encanta tus fotos, tus amigos, y las preguntas. I am thinking about copying the questionaire, or maybe just answering it in my own head. I would much rather sleep Christina Kirchner, I've stepped in dog poo with every pair of shoes I have (even the flip flops, gross) and my favorite bus line is 118, my alcohol tolerance has increased, but I refuse to get drunk ever again on vinto tinto after eating only queso y acietunas, my favorite Argentine quirk are the english words used in daily conversations. "Que heavy, este chico es re-dark" "Estoy on fire, despues de ir al shopping, porque no nos sentamos en el living y tomamos un 7up light, dale?" Jaja. Good times. Great fotos, and updates! Besos - Jenica
It's catchy like the plague Mark, you don't even have to live there to infected with the futball bug. I was only there a week now I watch every world cup game that I can and the other day I even watched a soccer game over a cubs game. This would have been unheard of a year ago. Ever since the River Plate game I have enjoyed watching soccer and yelling "PUTA!!!" at the opposing team. In fact, during the last Argentina game I watched I actually ripped my shirt off, swung it over my head, ran around like a newly healed paraplegic and yelled GOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!! Anyways, soccer is definately infectious and I don't want the antedote.
Matt
haha. what you say is true. i have completely become obsessed with a game that i knew nothing about two weeks ago. i even catch myself watching it in my free time because as i say "it looks neat" and have started finding myself able to carry on conversations.
last night i came out to my argentine bf that i love soccer now. I think he is the only Argentine who hates soccer. he says he is rethinking our relationship.
Hahaha!!! This is one of the funniest blogs I have read in a long time!! - Were I not in Argentina it might have made little impact, but since I am here it made me laugh non-stop... I am like you and never really been a soccer fan and yet since arriving in Argentina I find myself converted to the omnipresent religion that is football. It truly is amazing to see just how worked up people get about the whole ordeal and the parts about how soccer players are the world´s biggest babies is so true! ... Canada doesn´t have a WC worthy soccer team so I am in the clear when it comes to cheering for the home team! VAMOS ARGENTINA!!! .. ;-)
- Joseph
I am argentinian...i have the same problem you have. It is very easy in 3 cases: absolutely old people, pregnat ladies, and disabled. But I have when one of these "middle cases" show up...not so old, not so disabled, (not so pregnant?). I feel bad when a lady sits next to me...i keep wondering: "should i give her my sitplace", "will the rest of the passangers think that i am an asshole?", "will she think that i am a macho chauvinist?". Sometimes it is better to stand from the very beginning even if there are free places. Especially when you are a man.
Martin
Abbey
Height: 5'4"
Hair: Blonde
Smile: Big and beautiful
Hometown: Algona, Iowa
Current Home: Buenos Aires
Former Profession: Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Current Profession: English Teacher
Future Profession: Full Time Vigilante Crime Fighter
Loves: The Ocean, Camping apparel, Spanish Linquistics, Red Wine, Saladix, Foot Rubs
Hates: Senseless evil, Nazis, Flan
Endearing Qualities: When she gets sad her bottom lip can quadruple in size
Favorite Flightless Bird: Penguins
Misses: Dolphins, In-N-Out Burgers, Empty spaces that can only be found in the mid-west, Her Family
Mark... full info
Matt
non-member comment
Excellent history lesson
Glad to see a new blog entry. I especially love the picture of the shooter in the riots and the lack of evidence. That reminds me of what I saw on the news this morning. OJ Simpson has a book and movie coming out called "If I did it, this is how it happened". Great essay though. I definately enjoyed it.