I like learning new vocab. whether it's English, Spanish or Swahili. Hakuna Matata is such a joyful phrase, world-famous Swahili meaning, "there is no trouble here," or "no worries" from the Lion King. Spanish has unique phrases that tickle my fancy too. As a junior in college, I spent a semester in Toledo, Spain. There … Continue reading New Words, New Understandings
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Do people live longer in the United States or in Latin America? Not surprisingly, that depends on which country south of the border we're comparing with the US. I found a gold mine of valuable, reliable statistics in the World Health Organization information database to answer my question. Every year the WHO publishes a report … Continue reading Live Long and Prosper…
In my parents' generation, it was where you were the days that President Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Junior were shot. For those of us born later, it is where we were September 11, 2001. Oddly, Evan and I were in Spanish class that morning in Santiago, Chile. At the morning break around 10:15 … Continue reading 9/11 Far from Home
Cine, Spanish for cinema, is one of my favorite pastimes. Movies are a great introduction to culture, language and history of another region. Director Carlos Saura’s, Carmen, was a key inspiration for my website’s title, Fake Flamenco. The passion I saw in the dancing of the classic opera’s retelling scorched my eyelashes. Latin culture, art … Continue reading Let’s Talk Cinema
No extra money for language classes or international travel? (My hand is raised) Let’s talk. So we've spent a year, five years or ten+ learning a second language. How can we avoid our vocabulary falling away like so many shooting stars? See my top seven ideas for low budget refreshers. The ideas go from free-of-charge … Continue reading 7 Tips to Keep Your Second Language Alive
Our child and I are enjoying the last days of summer. Yesterday afternoon we went kayaking with my good friend Carolyn. I met this dear amiga at a Spanish conversation group 14 years ago. We three paddled in a rented tandem kayak to the wilder side of the lake. Amid the marshy reeds and cattails … Continue reading Global Friendships in Madison
