MIL (Most Improved Learner)

I have finally begun my first internship for the program! I'm putting many a lessons under my belt already...  I plan on being the MIL (most improved learner) upon my departure from BA.

For instance, the most helpful phrases I've learned in Spanish thus far are (thanks to mi equipo):
"Deberíamos haber + verbo" = "We should have + action we really should've done"
"Vos sabes dónde está la parada para + nombre de calle" = "Do you know where the (bus) stop is for + name of the street of which we have no idea how to get to"
"Más despacio, por favor" = "Much slower, please" (as in you're speaking way too dang fast for me to even begin to comprehend your Castellano Spanish)

One thing debería haber hecho? Done my research.

Do your research:
-I went to a press conference for Greenpeace (an international environmental organization) last week regarding a 'short' aka a public service announcement that it was launching. The short featured Ricardo Darín narrating the dangers of carbon emissions and the affects on upcoming generations.
Don't know who Darín is? Neither did I... until after the conference. Turns out he's one of 'the faces of Argentina' as a result of his extensive acting career. Something about winning an Oscar last year, that sort of thing.

[On that note: I'd like to say I made eye contact with him quite a few times. May or may not have been the fact that I appear to be a ghost in contrast to all the bronzed bodies in the room... we'll go with because he knew I was going to write an extremely compelling story about the conference.]

Unfortunately, I probably could've taken more advantage of the situation and asked a few questions in shaky Spanish if I had known. Or I could've at least shaken the man's hand and taken a picture with him. Lesson learned.

Here's the short for you guys to enjoy. The animations pretty much communicate what you may or may not be able to understand from Darín's Spanish.

Hot Stuff

My time in BA is heating up, literally and figuratively. I feel like the whole city is melting right now. It was about 94 degrees today and I think I sweat off all of my water weight. Not to mention you have to avoid the dripping air conditioners on the sidewalks.  

Figuratively-- I was just informed of my work assignments today. I had a lovely date with Carolina (the program director here) and we chatted about my two internships and the difficulties of studying abroad in another country. 

Internship #1: Artemisa- La mujer mediatizada (The Determined Woman)

-I get to design a logo and pamphlet for an extension of this feminist organization. It's the only program of its kind in South America that caters to women, and helps improve the role of women in the workplace and the media. The more specific extension that I'm designing a logo for is all about "ecofeminism." Ecofeminism preaches a connection between women and the environment. Does Carolina read minds?! I don't know where this philosophy has been hiding from me, but I'm glad I found it. I'll update you when I know more details! 

-I'll also help design the website for the ecofeminism extension.

Internship #2: Avant Garde (Avante Garde Advertising Agency) 

-I'll be starting for this agency in March after working with Artemisa for a month. I have absolutely no idea what I'll be doing with them, however I do know their clients... and I just about peed my pants when I found them out. Good thing I had already sweat out all the water in my body walking home. Are you ready for this? Some of their larger clients include...

Quilmes (the Budweiser equivalent in Argentina), Tru TV, Johnson & Johnson, Heineken, Tang, Nestle, CNN, Cartoon Network, Ford and Absolut Vodka

-I'll also be worshipping the ground these advertisers walk on.

As far as studying abroad goes? I hate Spanish. There, I said it. I hate Spanish... for now. Carolina told me about her study abroad program to France and how it was the most challenging, yet rewarding experience of her life. She too hated French for awhile before she finally buckled down, took a few nights to study the language instead of lose brain cells to vino, and turn on the radio to listen to copious amounts of talk radio. She recommended I need to stop fighting the language and embrace it. I guess I can do that, especially if that translates to excelling at my internship with Avante Garde. 

¡Che Boludo!

My older sis gave me an absolutely hilarious, and most likely necessary, book this Christmas on the art of Argentine spanish. And I AM OBSESSED. From what I've gathered, Argentines have a language they could call their own once one factors in all the slang.

"Argentines in particular always seem to be just as aware of their shortcomings as they are of other's. This keen sense of discernment is illustrated by the vast quantity of words used to precisely describe an idiot, a braggart, a liar, a scam or the quality of anything from personal character to household appliances."
- James Bracken, author of ¡Che Boludo! A Gringo's Guide to Understanding the Argentines (gasp! that's me!)

Just a few key words and phrases I've been memorizing from this magical book:
apoliyar: [v] to sleep. *from a polilla (moth) sleeping in the cocoon
banana: [f] someone who thinks he/she is really cool but is never taken seriously by others (duly noted in case anyone tries to call me "Ana Banana")
boludo: [m,f] lit. someone with large testicles
1. fool, idiot
2. used as a meaningless interjection or casually between friends, "¡Che Boludo!"
cachengue: [m] a party
"la noche esta en panales": 'the night is in diapers'; the night is young

I wonder if I'll return with a dirtier mouth and a mind deeper in the gutter... who are we kidding? Shit's guaranteed. Oops.