Iguazuuuuu

Photo credit: Sarah Janisch

Argentine Feriado (Holiday) el Bicentennario con Familia

Haha I feel silly talking about my north american food exchange without ever having talked about my Argentine food exchange. I came back from Iguazu on tuesday the 25th. Right away Cristina and I scrambled to turn in her Visa application (it has to be completely filled out in under 20 minutes or it times out.... its VERY difficult) As soon as we finished- the doorbell rang. Cristina had invited her family over for locro- a traditional Argentine gaucho stew meant to be eaten with family. They were lovely all of them, very comfortable to talk to, friendly, curious. and to top it all off- the locro (a traditionally VERY meaty dish) was made in a vegetarian style. For me becuase "la nena no le gusta carne" It was really very sweet. Hanging out with the family I learned the word fanfarron (fanfare) and ratoncito (toothfairy). Oh! And i spoke only Spanish the entire day. I think spending the Bicentennario with an Argentine family really was the way to go. : )

Also, despite my camera being broken- they wanted a group picture. This is what resulted:

Ok fine.... a post.... only because tonight was such a success

So, of course every good student should cook a traditional american (norteamerican) meal for their host family. An exchange you know. So tonight we had a very VERY typical american meal in my opinion:

TACOS.



After much debate over how tacos exist, Cristina let me put the ingredients on the table rather than have the tacos pre-prepared. When we started eating she quickly understood why. Cristina regaled my guacamole, but we did have a moment when she exclaimed "or you can use mayonesa!" Oh argentines will you ever learn! I also taught my Argentine host mom new SPANISH words. jajaja.. This is a TACO and this is a BURRITO.




I also showed her pictures of chipotle to show her what gluttons north americans are. The only thing I'm lamenting is mentioning sour cream..... she has no idea what it is and is determined to find out... by making it.

Dear Omi (who reads this blog)

I will probably not be able to post as frequently on account of the likelihood of my not being able to finish the semester. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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Bazooka

...makes no more sense in Castellano than in Hebrew or English.

Con Paciencia... como la uva

No tengo paciencia con la uva! Uvas are grapes, and here they have seeds. It is an EFFORT to eat them and as my host mom says... it requires patience. Pero vale la pena (it's worth it). Argentines in general are very patient. We were taught the very first week about "Argentine time" which is approximately a half an hour after any aforementioned time. We had to learn to simply be patient and go with the flow... or be perpetually frusterated. When wondering about the source of this attitude- I think grapes. The simplest things require patience here, living without it would simply not work.

Thank you James Geary

Cogito Ergo Sum= I think, therefore I am

or more literally

Cogito Ergo Sum = I shake things up, therefore I am

Felicitaciones

Congratulations to all of the recent graduates! In Argentina we would celebrate by all gathering around you and dumping milk, vinegar, mayonaise, eggs, flour, and other food products all over you.

This post needs a picture...

I judge pasaperros (dog walkers) who are walking less than twelve dogs- amateurs

Dancing with the Stars

So the dance off show "videomatch" has now premiered in Argentina and its really really impressionante. It's american equivalent is dancing with the stars, but they are not comparable at all. While that show fed off of talent, hability, and practice... this show feeds off of petty fueds, harsh criticisms, flamboyant showiness, hypersexualized bodies, hypersexualized movements... and ass cheeks.

I had the unfortunate luck of watching the reggaeton episode where one judge, Alfonso, fought with the contestants, fought with the other judges, and always had something to say. On the boludismo news here the large story was over how she said that another one of the judge's mother commited suicide because of him. CHE who says shit like that!?!?

Apparently, reggaeton "good" dancing is the dancing with the most sexualized movements possible, and the most machismo masogynistic violent movements possible. Every dance included the girl with her ass in the air and the guy smacking it gratuitously to the beat. It was sick. Honestly I would've been slightly more comfortable with it if I saw the girl slap the guys ass to the beat once in awhile- but that never happened. It's not like you can justify it with incorporating martial arts into dance (which is very legitimate in a lot of dance) No. This was simply violence put to a a rhythm and it made me feel really uncomfortable.

This is why I like Cumbia....

Dia del Trabajador - May 1

The other night I went to an assembly of the sindicate of textile workers and cartoneros (essentially recycling collectors) run by my internship. There were fun parts to the night, listening to folklore and drinking with the Bolivian women, but there were also impassioned speeches about the state of slavery and workers rights in Argentina and where the fight to overcome it is going. What fascinated me about the speeches I think will fascinate you as well:

They were all centered around the strikes in Chicago. Have you not learned much about this? Because I hadn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Chicago_Teamsters'_strike

The reason that the "Dia del Trabajador" is on May 1st is to commemorate these strikes and what they stood for. ARGENTINES are commemorating the 8 hour day gained from these strikes but AMERICANS aren't? I must admit I felt silly being taught my own countries history by argentines- even if it did make me feel proud to live in the country that hosts their model of humane industry.

And yet it got me thinking- yes for the most part we can boast fair working standards and safe working conditions- but slavery still exists in the US as well. I'm not only horrified by this fact, but embarrassed. Other countries look to us as the model of opportunity and fair circumstance but that just isn't the case.

One of my friends at La Alameda cooked and cared for children in Bolivia before she was enslaved in Buenos Aires. She cared for discapacitated kids, mute kids and deaf kids (she taught me a little Bolivian sign language.) She really would like to go to america one day and was asking me about job opportunities there for her to work in child care. I told her the truth that it exists and that there are opportunities especially for someone as qualified as she is. But then I got to thinking about all of the problems she could run into- worst case scenario she ends up in a slave situation in the US too! Domestic help is one of the top 5 sectors of slavery in the US. The thought that this could happen to her AGAIN and in my country made me sick to my stomach quite frankly. And then other scenarios- what if she moved to Arizona and was subject to discrimination there because of the color of her skin. What if she was discriminated against for having a spanish accent on her english! These things still happen!

US- we have so much work to do.

For those of you who speak spanish and would like to learn more about my internship here's the website:

http://laalameda.wordpress.com/?ref=spelling

Suspira

A bad day can be turned around- with the unacceptable orange in ones closet : )

Colonia, Uruguay

Somewhere, beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me- my love it stands on golden sands- and watches the ships that go sailing....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJswbSZgXrg

What a linda time!
- old timey caballero foto
- running to pick it up
-picture with backyardigans
-lovely views

-pictures of the sea
- the buquebus- the most lavish boat ever
- just walking around talking with good friends : )
-random rasta parade "para bailar"