I'm twenty minutes late into the cafe bar where I meet my group –
I'm sure my impromptu lesson on the street corner will stand me in good
stead.
I meet our guide and tutor – Agustina. She's a petite twenty-something. Attractive, with a ready smile and a good sense of humour. I speak to the only other 'student' on the course this week His name is Anthony, also twenty-something, in Buenos Aires for a few days holiday. He wants to learn 10 words of Spanish – he's a Londoner with a very sharp wit.
He attempts to order his second bottle of wine “anuvver wana these, darlin” he says to the charming waitress.
I think Agustina is going to need her sense of humour these next few days. “Good attempt” she tells him - “muy buenos” - in recognition of his command of English. She renames him 'Antoino''. Yup, she'll do.
Agustina is class act – she's highly intelligent, her English is superb, her knowledge of Buenos Aires is first-rate. Oh and she gives me and Antoino as good as she gets from us. No mean feat indeed.
It was a splendid four days course. Espanol Andando uses four barrios of BA and its people as the 'classroom'. We walked San Telmo, Palermo, Recoleta and the city around Plaza de Mayo. We asked directions of passers-by, we checked coach times and fares at the bus station – we rode buses and the subte. We did supermarket shopping (I still think that was really for Agustina!) and checked prices of fruit and veg from street vendors. We went through a food and drinks menu in some detail.
We had to do it in Spanish – Antonio learned his ten words – I feel better about my Spanish.
Just one small thing – the Spanish dialect of Buenos Aires is different to all other S America Spanish, European too come to that. We pronounce y and two ll's as Y as in Yellow. So Marbella is Marbeh-ya and chicken (pollo) is Poy-oh.
Try asking for a chicken salad in Buenos Aires as Ensalada de poy-oh and you'll get some strange quizzical looks. Y or LL in BA is pronounced Sh (as in Should) – so chicken is 'Poh-show and Marbella is 'Mar-beh-shah. Just a point - I understand 'Sh' or 'Che' are also an endearment that Argentinians use – the same as we may use 'mate' or 'pal'. As with Che Guverra.
Espanol Adando was exactly as it said – a Fun, Budget and Different way to see and learn. If you're thinking of visiting Buenos Aires – it should be on your list.
Just a final point their website is about the smartest website (graphically) that I've ever seen – and I've seen a few! I've put a link on the right side of here.
I also made a good mate in Anthony aka Antonio. Well, until we realised it takes two to tango...
Previous comments:
Neil:
September 26, 2008
Hi Warren,
Tarde de Godd, gozando realmente de su blog. Continúe el buen trabajo.
Amazing what you can do with a babel fish!!
Great to hear your adventure is going well, your blog is a real delight to read. Take care mate.
Cheers
Neil
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