What's So Attractive About Accents? (ff2)

    I'm sure many of us are familiar with the stereotype of the Latin lover, the dashing Spaniard, or the suave and sure Italian. In fact, studies have shown that Argentine, Spanish, and Italian accents are rated to be the most attractive. Sure, some of us may find the pure phonetics of a language to be appealing...but why is that phenomenon so? Why does the word "ciao" or "calor" sound so impressive? Why do we crave accents?
    Like most any sociological musings, the phenomenon in question always has more to it than meets the eye. For example, if you were asked to picture someone who would have a, let's say a more Mexican accent, the image that comes to mind may be pleasant, unpleasant, familiar, or unfamiliar, etc. Every accent, for an individual, culture, community, etc. has stereotypes attached to it. It's just simple association. Over time, through media, real life examples or experiences, cultural shifts and diffusion, etc. these iconic ideas of people who have certain aspects develop. The culture of a region may also lend itself to the accent's perception. For example, many view South America as a place where love, sensuality, and boldness reign. And in some part, this is true, and becomes amplified. Certainly, there is also what I like to call the "foreign factor": liking something more than one might simply because it's...well, it's foreign, new, exciting...you get the picture.
      So next time a Brazilian Romeo comes to the same corner as you in the dim, foggy nightclub, remember to keep your unconscious sociological training and reinforcement a bit more...conscious. That accent may make you want to hop on a plane and "carpe diem" like there's no tomorrow, but perhaps it's better to simply appreciate the lyrical qualities and diversity such an accent represents.
 

Preview: The Journals of a Revolutionary To Be. (ff1)

Ernesto at the time he traveled with Granados

    Though I seem to rarely have time to read, I have been trying to squeeze in a new book. A few months ago, I picked up a copy of a collection of journal entries entitled "The Motorcycle Diaries", written by Ernesto "Che" Guevara while on a road trip with colleague and friend Alberto Granados through South America in the 1940's. I have  had a strong interest in Che Guevara, as well as his travels, for awhile now, and this opportunity to really see his words was well worth the fifteen dollars.
    While I have only thumbed through a small portion of the novel, I am very familiar with the movie inspired from this book of the same title, "los diarios de moticicletas" (in the original español). Throughout introductions by Aleida Guevara (Che's daughter from his second marriage) and academics, the reader is promised that the following volume portrays one of the most diverse looks at Che ("che" is a colloquial address commonly used in Argentina, where Guevara was born. It's the equivalent of the Puerto Rican use of the word "loco" or the English "dude").  Here, in these various entries detailing all that Ernesto saw and experienced, the reader understands many things.
     First, there is the overall setting and denizens of South America, ranging in social status and climate. Secondly, there is the opportunity to see the formation of Guevara's way of thinking about politics, society, etc. He remarked that these trips had been influential for him immensely. He did not return to Argentine soil as the same man who first departed. Thirdly, from a more literary point of view, this journal contains such a range in Guevara's voice. He is at times extremely impassioned and poetic, always brutally and unflinchingly honest, and other times just blunt or descriptive. It will truly be enticing to flip through a journal with a movie in mind, however with the addition of primary dialogue and thought.

Viajar Está En Mi Sangre (ee2)

      There comes a time when one is just...tired. Anything can signal this feeling, and every once in awhile you just need to leave.
     There's this quote from a book written by John Green, something like "leaving only works when something important is left behind." Now that it's my senior year, it'll soon be time to leave important things behind: home, family, friends that are the same as family to me, the natural surroundings of where I've grown up. But there is a verb that is much greater and I believe more important that has been on my mind: to travel.
     Living in a small town in North America has its advantages for sure, but it also leaves one with an unacceptable thirst for the outside world. Obviously, the Spanish speaking world has its draw for me: the culture, people, food, and both the good and bad things in these places inspire and intrigue me. Beyond of this, there is so much more to see, explore, and be in: Italy, England, Australia, Japan, India, Africa, Germany, Iceland, Oregon...the list is extensive (for myself anyway). All I know is that right now, going someplace new sounds like a refreshing change of pace. It will be interesting to leave behind what I've always known, but to stay would be to close a door to a brilliant future, however unknown and fraught with terrifying joys and sorrows. 
     There are many ways to explore this new world before me. I'm attending a university that's only two hours away from my town, but I feel that it has a secluded yet energetic vibe intended to help all learn as well as really live. Still...the rest of the world beckons. Study abroad will definitely be a part of my experience, hopefully to either Argentina, Chile, or Spain, for a summer, few weeks, or even a year. Sabbaticals provide a promising outlet. The idea of backpacking through the Andes thrills me. And after college...no one will be able to stop me from helping, meeting, and living with others in our small world.
      Maybe this is just a rant belonging to someone whose cabin fever has built up over the last two decades or so. But that can't deny the fact that to travel is in my blood. Viajar está en mi sangre.

I Love Shakira And So Should You (ee1)

   I can remember the first time I ever heard Shakira Mebarak Ripoll. I was roughly six years old, with my sister, listening to a track off of her 2001 English language crossover album "Laundry Service" called "Underneath Your Clothes" (it's a ballad folks, get that idea out of your head.) I remember wondering why this woman with a funny voice was of any interest to my sister. Still, I was hooked. I remember watching the behind-the-scenes MTV video about the making of the music video for "Objection: Tango". Shakira faded in and out of my life with her top hits, but with recent interest in Spanish culture (especially music), I inevitably found myself addicted to this sparky Colombian.
    Shakira, born in Colombia to a Spanish mother and Lebanese American father, knew since about age six that she was going to perform. Despite mild success in Latin America, she didn't catch much U.S. attention until her fifth album, "Laundry Service". Since then, you may have heard such singles as "Hips Don't Lie", She Wolf", or "Empire", or seen her on numerous televised concerts and award shows (The Voice, anyone?)  Her accent and famous hips may be what you only know, but there is so much more.
   For instance, Shakira's music is always a blend. Leaning to rock and pop, she adds the influence of African, Arabic, and Latin or Spanish sounds and instruments, and is fond of belly dancing. Often collaborating with other artists, Shakira has written songs for film, TV, and the FIFA World Cup. She speaks fluent English, Spanish, and Portuguese (like many from the Spanish speaking world), as well as some Italian, Arabic, and others. But what is most impressive, to me at least, is her philanthropic work.
     Shakira's main cause is the use education of the world's coming generations to combat our problems.  Her organization, Piez Descalzos (meaning barefoot), was founded in Columbia in 1997 to help raise funds for schooling for children in poverty. Shakira has served on global councils for education, been invited to speak on her beliefs and efforts for this cause (recently by U.S. president Barack Obama), and works to build schools. She's been named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and has received awards and honors relating to her cause, on top of the massive international success she has had. These and many other reasons (her work ethic, ability to be both a mother and performer, etc.) are why I truly admire Shakira. I hope that the world can see her more than just a hot commodity.

Spanish Playlist: Prom Edition(dd2)

    Now that the spring breezes are finally thawing the frozen North American tundra I call home, it is decided that prom season is in full swing. After experiencing my own prom, it is evident that our common prom playlists need a slight Latin sabor.....or maybe a full blown injection of flavor. Here are my top ten Latin songs for prom that are completely M.I.A.

1. "La Bomba" by Ricky Martin - If you ever need a party starter, go straight to the youtube and load up the dear Ricky Martin. The generous portion of his career is flawless, and his greatest hits can get absolutely anyone to move. "La Bomba" just happens to be my personal favorite, mostly for that syncopated beat aligning with snappy lyrics and a horn section to make anyone feel ready to morph into their Latin self.

2. "Vamo' A Portarnos Mal" by Calle 13 - The trumpets and chant like refrain for this song, one of Calle 13's many tunes, is perfect for any time in life when it's appropriate to be wild and feel pumped. There's a less complicated beat, so those with two left feet might be more comfortable fist pumping instead of moving to a salsa rhythm.

3. "Loba"  by Shakira - Yes, it's just "She Wolf" in Spanish...but then again, it is "She Wolf" in Spanish! This song adds more passion to an already well known dance track. Plus, the familiarity of such a song means you're more likely to pick up a few words and impress your friends with your bilingual abilities.

4. "Salvapantallas" by Jorge Drexler - This ballad, written by Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler, is a lullaby for all. The calming guitar paired with his high vocals calms the raucous crowd down into a room full of peaceful couples. It's a refreshing change up from hearing Lifehouse and the Goo Goo Dolls over...and over...and over.

5. "El Matador" by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, like many Latin artists, blend traditional sounds of the region with others, like rock, ska, reggae, and more. The rhythm of this song gets the room swaying (from excitement, not from heatstroke) and the drums simply incite hip movement. It's guaranteed to work its way into all of your playlists.

6. "A Dios Le Pido" by Juanes - I have a lovely appreciation for Juanes. Though some of his songs can feel repetitive, "A Dios Le Pido" isn't one of his top hits for nothing. The guitar riffs are stellar, and his high vocal range has a crisp pronunciation that likes to hang around your ears and make you feel ready to dance.

7. "La Luz" by Juanes - This tune is catchy beyond all belief, and after hearing it in Target I could not get away from it. For more information, see above.

8. "Las flores de Emilio" by Fiel a la Vega - Fiel a la Vega, an absolutely classic "rock en español" group from Puerto Rico, is my favorite band for any dinner party, drive, or moment where I need to have a good time. This track, off of their first album "Fiel a la Vega" captures the combination of Latin percussion with amazing guitar work.

9. " Bailando Por Ahi" by Juan Magan - Fans of Zumba will recognize this song with it's generic pop background with the absolutely catchy refrain "Ayer la vi". Bonus points if you get this song played AND you remember the Zumba routine.

10. "Escapar" by Enrique Inglesias- If you can dig back into your mind to about 2000, you may remember Enrique's hit "Escape". This is really just the original Spanish version, but I always feel that listening to a song in Spanish after hearing it in English is so refreshing. One can really understand how another language can have its own intonations and layers of sound. This song is also one of my all time favorites, and I do not care how tacky anyone may say it is.

Yo solomente quiero hablar español: un lamento (dd1)

    As time carries on, one interesting thing that happens is that what you really love to spend time doing comes to light. Over the past two years, one of the aspects of life that I have found I love is speaking and learning about Spanish: la lengua, la cultura. la literatura, y más. It has always been a class that has been a part of my curriculum since kindergarten.
     However, this year I was unable to take a Spanish class, only due to the fact that one or two people did not sign up, thus cutting the class list too short for the class to run. This class would have been Spanish V, where a high level of proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking is emphasized. This class may be taken for college credit, and if accepted at an institution can bump a student up to a junior level Spanish course, or fill in space as a completed elective. Spanish V, as a senior level language class, usually boasts a small class size, creating an atmosphere in which individual attention and a personalized education is sought after, among the benefits of working closely with a handful of students.
    While it is true that enough people must sign up for a class in order for it to run, the benefits lost from cutting a class only one or two students behind the count seems wasteful. Other students, along with myself, could have gained much needed practice speaking español with others at a level and speed that we have not had yet before. The small class size allows us to ask questions, have patience, and foster a strong teacher/student relationship.
    Truly, this year I was looking forward to two classes: art and spanish. They are my two main subjects  will be studying in college, and I simply wish I had more time to practica my adopted second language.

Skin Deep (cc2)

     As spring and summertime approach, one's healthy glow, tan, bronze, etc. is called into question as one looks in the mirror. Generally, we here in the U.S. hold the opinion that being more tan means being more healthy or fashionable. Underlying this belief is the subconscious idea  that being tan also means being more successful, wealthy, important, or higher class. But is that really so? In India , "lightening creams" are popular, as is wearing ski masks on the beach in China. So...how did we get this fairly ridiculous idea that how tan you are means anything at all?
    The explanations you will find vary on specifics, but one pattern emerges: over time, socio-economic lifestyles and geography were attributed to social class or ethnicity. The type of skin color valued shifts as society shifts. Let's look into some further examples.
     Europe, as far back and further than the Renaissance, valued paleness. Women put lead and arsenic based whitening creams to appear paler. Shakespeare' praises paleness continuously in his work. In these Anglo-Saxon cultures, including the U.S. and Australia, history has shown that paleness is valued because it meant you could afford to be indoors, instead of outside working as a laborer or farmer. This perfectly illustrates how your job = your tan = an expression of your "class". On the tan side of the coin, showing up more recently, being tan is seen as a sign that you have time to be leisurely, visit the beach, etc., which in turn speaks to being physically healthy and (more subjectively) attractive. This perspective has also been noted on the coast of countries, where the interior tends to feel towards paleness.
    Latin America is no exception to this historic trend of valuing skin shade, but I think Latin America is also a wonderful example of how we can celebrate rich ethnicity. For smaller islands and countries, there is an astronomic density of diversity of background, from German and French to hundreds of indigenous cultures to Caucasian, African, and other Latin countries. There is a deep pride stemming from those who identify as Latino, and they are proud of where they come from. This attitude is also prevalent alongside the obsession of pale vs. tan. Many speak that they are proud to simply be themselves. Maybe someday that will come back into style.