La Plata was recently in US news: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071401992.html?wpisrc=newsletter for hamburger innovations. Go us!
When we talked about the article in class, I found out that the following things were all invented in Argentina: the digital watch, the bus, pens, fingerprinting, bypass surgery, and pato (Argentina's national sport, similar to polo).
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Dear Mr. Fulbright
Dear Mr. Fulbright,
Thank you for the academic conference in Uruguay the other week. I must be honest with you, ole Fulbrighty, I thought it would be a little boring. And I was a bit tired after our all-night HIP HOP party in La Plata...which rocked...
But it wasn't at all! I met some of the most amazing people ever and got so many ideas about things to do with my university classes from all the great people you've placed at schools in Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. The horseback riding and free wine were also a nice touch.
Half a week later I found myself in Tandil presenting about human rights to a group of high school students in the Jóvenes y Memoria program for the Comisión Provincial por la Memoria.
Good show.
Atentamente suyo,
Charly el yanqui platense
Thank you for the academic conference in Uruguay the other week. I must be honest with you, ole Fulbrighty, I thought it would be a little boring. And I was a bit tired after our all-night HIP HOP party in La Plata...which rocked...
But it wasn't at all! I met some of the most amazing people ever and got so many ideas about things to do with my university classes from all the great people you've placed at schools in Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. The horseback riding and free wine were also a nice touch.
Half a week later I found myself in Tandil presenting about human rights to a group of high school students in the Jóvenes y Memoria program for the Comisión Provincial por la Memoria.
Good show.
Atentamente suyo,
Charly el yanqui platense
Reflections
The first semester is over! Whoa, I'm halfway there! (Whoa-oh, living on a prayer?)
So, what have I learned? What kind of progress have I made? What awaits me?
Reflections (set to Babasónicos, I imagine myself in a Bill Cosby sweater as I write this)...
On being el yanqui platense: I am now at a point where I "pass for" Argentine the majority of the time. You know, walking down the street, talking to people, going through my day, etc. Or at the least I pass for a weird Argentine. I'm at that point where everything here has become pretty normal.
On "culture shock": I'm now at a point where I am adapted to living here and in some ways I can't imagine living somewhere else, at least for now. Every once in a while I feel a small "culture after-shock", like when I get a visit and try to explain things that now feel normal to me, or when people ask me questions about the U.S. I've realized that I have no idea what it's like there now except for what I hear from, well, people like you guys who are reading this. I've also realized that I'm okay with that.
On the future: The future's so bright I can hardly see it. For sure I'll be in North America come December. And that's about all I have to say about that. For now.
Coming adventures:
Winter vacation! Possibilities: Rio de Janeiro (have to work out that visa stuff), Iguazú Falls, Mendoza, etc. I hope to go to all these destinations and more before August 18th when I have to be in class again.
Visit from parents! In 2 days!
So, what have I learned? What kind of progress have I made? What awaits me?
Reflections (set to Babasónicos, I imagine myself in a Bill Cosby sweater as I write this)...
On being el yanqui platense: I am now at a point where I "pass for" Argentine the majority of the time. You know, walking down the street, talking to people, going through my day, etc. Or at the least I pass for a weird Argentine. I'm at that point where everything here has become pretty normal.
On "culture shock": I'm now at a point where I am adapted to living here and in some ways I can't imagine living somewhere else, at least for now. Every once in a while I feel a small "culture after-shock", like when I get a visit and try to explain things that now feel normal to me, or when people ask me questions about the U.S. I've realized that I have no idea what it's like there now except for what I hear from, well, people like you guys who are reading this. I've also realized that I'm okay with that.
On the future: The future's so bright I can hardly see it. For sure I'll be in North America come December. And that's about all I have to say about that. For now.
Coming adventures:
Winter vacation! Possibilities: Rio de Janeiro (have to work out that visa stuff), Iguazú Falls, Mendoza, etc. I hope to go to all these destinations and more before August 18th when I have to be in class again.
Visit from parents! In 2 days!
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