Update:
As I expected, this week went smoother than last week. This week also passed much more quickly, probably because a steady routine builds momentum. But then again, no week in a study abroad program is complete without a few surprises.
Surprise #1--CELU
Right now, my only class is an intensive Spanish course that lasts through March 13 to prepare me for all the other classes that I'll take. In addition to taking classes through PECLA, the study-abroad program, I have the option of taking classes directly through the university. In order to get into university classes, though, I have to pass a standardized test: the CELU, or Certificado de Español, Lengua y Uso. It's a two-part exam with written and oral parts, and with a score of intermediate or advanced, I can get the green-light for university classes.
I knew from my first day of classes that I'd have to take the CELU in March; I didn't know the format of the test. On Thursday, I had an informational meeting/practice CELU, and it gave me a little culture shock. You know how US standardized tests (ACT, SAT, GRE, etc) are mainly multiple choice exams with minimal or optional writing portions?
CELU is nothing like that.
The CELU has two parts: written and oral. The writing portion is composed of four activities that involve creating different types of writing; prompts include things like "write a letter to the editor concering x---- news article" or "write an email to your friend about your vacation to x--, describing x---." The writing portion also contains a section of listening to a recording and producing a written piece based on that info.
The oral part of the test is a twenty-minute interview-style interaction with two proctors. The first five minutes are a brief introduction. Then I'll get a laminate sheet with information to look over & answer questions about. And the last part? An interactive role play between me and one of the proctors.
I knew from my first day of classes that I'd have to take the CELU in March; I didn't know the format of the test. On Thursday, I had an informational meeting/practice CELU, and it gave me a little culture shock. You know how US standardized tests (ACT, SAT, GRE, etc) are mainly multiple choice exams with minimal or optional writing portions?
CELU is nothing like that.
The CELU has two parts: written and oral. The writing portion is composed of four activities that involve creating different types of writing; prompts include things like "write a letter to the editor concering x---- news article" or "write an email to your friend about your vacation to x--, describing x---." The writing portion also contains a section of listening to a recording and producing a written piece based on that info.
The oral part of the test is a twenty-minute interview-style interaction with two proctors. The first five minutes are a brief introduction. Then I'll get a laminate sheet with information to look over & answer questions about. And the last part? An interactive role play between me and one of the proctors.
But not this kind of role play.
Yep. Part of my certification for speaking Spanish will be based on roleplaying.
The CELU is this Thursday, and I'm stuck between knowing I want to study and knowing I don't quite know how to. So far, I've asked a few Spanish-speaking friends if they'll just speak paragraphs to me sot that I can get accustomed to attentive listening.
...And if you get an email from me pertaining to a vacation we've never taken, that is also just practice.
The CELU is this Thursday, and I'm stuck between knowing I want to study and knowing I don't quite know how to. So far, I've asked a few Spanish-speaking friends if they'll just speak paragraphs to me sot that I can get accustomed to attentive listening.
...And if you get an email from me pertaining to a vacation we've never taken, that is also just practice.
Surprise #2--Food...?
I've only been in Argentina for three full weeks, so it's not surprising that almost every day, I eat something new. Most of the time, I can relate my new foods to something comparable from the US. However, a few of my culinary encounters this week have been, um, genuine.
Pastel de polenta con carne:
"Polenta is coarsely or finely ground yellow or white cornmeal boiled with water or stock into a porridge[1] and eaten directly or baked, fried or grilled before serving. As is common with many foods, the term may refer either to the ingredient or a cooked dish made with it." (Thanks, Wikipedia).
Tuesday night, Betty cooked pastel de polenta with a beefy sauce to put on top. The texture was unlike anything I'd ever tasted; it was too light to be cornbread, but too dense to be...I don't know, corn fluff. It was odd.
"Polenta is coarsely or finely ground yellow or white cornmeal boiled with water or stock into a porridge[1] and eaten directly or baked, fried or grilled before serving. As is common with many foods, the term may refer either to the ingredient or a cooked dish made with it." (Thanks, Wikipedia).
Tuesday night, Betty cooked pastel de polenta with a beefy sauce to put on top. The texture was unlike anything I'd ever tasted; it was too light to be cornbread, but too dense to be...I don't know, corn fluff. It was odd.
Gnudi."Gnudi (pronounced "nu-dee") is a type of gnocchi made from ricotta cheese and a little bit of flour. The result is a dumpling that some describe as "nude" ravioli, or filling without the pasta — that is to say, light, fluffy, and creamy." (Thanks, yumsugar.com)
At a restaurant on Friday, I opted for the vegetarian plate, and this is what I got. At the time, I had no clue what I was eating; I assumed at first glance that it was shell-noodles in tomato sauce. My first bite was incredibly soft, and I thought, Huh. The noodles must be cheese filled. Someone sitting near me told me I was eating gnudi, and after a Google search a few hours later, I sat back in my chair, bemused. Huh, I thought, I just ate about half a pound of pure cheese. Go figure.
At a restaurant on Friday, I opted for the vegetarian plate, and this is what I got. At the time, I had no clue what I was eating; I assumed at first glance that it was shell-noodles in tomato sauce. My first bite was incredibly soft, and I thought, Huh. The noodles must be cheese filled. Someone sitting near me told me I was eating gnudi, and after a Google search a few hours later, I sat back in my chair, bemused. Huh, I thought, I just ate about half a pound of pure cheese. Go figure.
No complaints here.
Unidentified Dessert
Thursday after class, I was sitting in a park near school with two friends. A woman and her daughter were selling these little desserts, and we bought 4 for $8 (pesos). I can't remember what they're called, but, like most desserts I've tried here, they're amazing. You can see that they're fried, flaky pastry-type things; what you can't see is the sugar glaze on top, the sprinkles on the bottom two, and the fruit filling inside. Rico!
Thursday after class, I was sitting in a park near school with two friends. A woman and her daughter were selling these little desserts, and we bought 4 for $8 (pesos). I can't remember what they're called, but, like most desserts I've tried here, they're amazing. You can see that they're fried, flaky pastry-type things; what you can't see is the sugar glaze on top, the sprinkles on the bottom two, and the fruit filling inside. Rico!
Surprise #3--Irene
Best surprise all week!
On Thursday, la casa de Betty accepted a new member! Betty casually mentioned to my housemates and I Tuesday night that there'd be a new girl moving in on Thursday. Thanks for the heads up, host mom!
Irene is from Ecuador, and she's moved to Córdoba to take classes at the university to pursue an especialidad in literature. Instead of doing an intercambio portion for part of her college career, though, Irene is here for five years to complete all of her schooling. I admire her determination and bravery to come from home for such a long time. And it's great to have a new friend at home :)
Irene is from Ecuador, and she's moved to Córdoba to take classes at the university to pursue an especialidad in literature. Instead of doing an intercambio portion for part of her college career, though, Irene is here for five years to complete all of her schooling. I admire her determination and bravery to come from home for such a long time. And it's great to have a new friend at home :)
Surprise #4--Jonas Brothers?!
So, chances are that if you're reading this blog, you might not know who the Jonas Brothers are. Go ask your sisters/cousins. Alright. Good. You're in the know.
Oddly enough, the brothers Jonas came to Córdoba on Saturday for a show; also, oddly, it was held in Parque Sarmiento...for free. Much to the chagrin of my friends in the States, I went. This article confirms what I've just written.
Oddly enough, the brothers Jonas came to Córdoba on Saturday for a show; also, oddly, it was held in Parque Sarmiento...for free. Much to the chagrin of my friends in the States, I went. This article confirms what I've just written.
And just in case you're as skeptical about these things as my dad is about everything, here are 25 seconds of Jonas gold for you, taken with my dinky Nikon.
There are many surprising elements of this concert: One is the sheer coincidence that the Jonas Brothers and I both wound up in Córdoba, Argentina at the same time. Another is that they decided to play a show here, as Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, isn't too far away. And the fact that The Jonas Brothers played for free? ...that's just strange, and kind of funny, when I thought about how expensive JoBros tickets are in the States.
I'd never listened to a single Jonas Brothers song by choice before Saturday, but I went to the concert anyway, partially because it was free, but mostly because this will make a great story in a few years.
Week 3
Week 3 flew by--class kept me busy all day and long runs in the afternoon mixed with errands and homework and shenanigans busied the night. Friday was a tourist day in Alta Gracia, a nearby province. My group visited La Estancia Jesuitica, remains of a Jesuit community, as well as Che Guevara's childhood home. Sunday, I enjoyed tea time with Irene and even managed to get some writing done.
Things are easier and calmer now, and I have a nice routine in place. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'm used to everything...as the blog for this week demonstrates, there's always going to be a surprise or