enamórese de su ciudad: Lost in translation

Friday, July 22, 2011

Lost in translation

It is an unfortunate fact that the word for "am familiar with" is about the same as "actually know in real life." Talking about how I had Miley Cyrus on my iPod ended up with one really disappointed sister.

No comments:

Post a Comment

A concise listing of the entirety of Bailey's Spanish vocabulary

Buenas — the standard greeting. Works any time of day, better than the more specific and lengthy "buenos dias."

El Búho — the tastiest place in town. Vegetarian cuisine only, and of course, delicious coffee. One of four "places I couldn't live without"

Cafecito — The meal in between lunch and dinner. Consists of delicious Costa Rican coffee.

Cafe Teros — My fave coffee place, because here's what they know how to make: "un latte sobre hielo con leche descremada y sirop endulzada con Splenda de sabor crema irlandesca". on the list of "places I couldn't live without"

Casa del Pie — If my life were "Friends," this would be Central Perk. I have a goal to try every kind of pie before I leave. Also, in the words of Rodi, "Foothouse" (because Pie also means foot). Another of the four "places I couldn't live without"

Check — check

Closet — closet

Colones — the local currency. Perspective: it costs 200 colones to ride the bus, 3000 colones for a spiral notebook, 600 colones for a pastry (it's about 500 to a dollar)

Gallo pinto — rice and beans. What most people have for breakfast. But I have pancakes.

Gringo — essentially any foreigner.

El Grupo — The 12 students in the "Grupo de Kansas." Only like 5 of us actually go to KU. Everyone is wonderful.

Harry Potter — totally legit here, but you say it like this: "Eh-ree Paht-tair"

Juguisimo — Smoothie joint outside the building Letras on campus, where they will blend yogurt with any fruit or veggie you can dream of into a tasty concoction (think tasty CR pineapple with avocado, or almonds and bananas, or honey and ginger and orange). the final of the "places I couldn't life without"

Kaldi — Totally cute little coffeeshop really close to my house. Served me a tiny cup of milk with an espresso shot when I asked for "espresso con leche"... I was thinking a latte, but it's all good

Leggings — leggings

Más por Menos — the local grocery, where I can buy maní garapiñado for less than a dollar

Mosquito — mosquito

Mi novio tico — my anticipated Costa Rican boyfriend; any attractive Costa Rican I see

Office Depot — Office Depot

Piropos — a nice word for when men shout sleazy things at you when you walk down the street wearing shorts or sandals or blonde hair or white skin, etc.

Robot — Robot

Sabanilla — where I live. If San Jose is Kansas City, Sabanilla is Shawnee. If Shawnee were closer.

Sí — works as a response in all situations, especially when the phrase in Spanish is not understood

Sombrilla — Umbrella. I broke my first and now have a cutie purple one. Now I broke the purple one and have a sweet orange one with stars.

Sticker — Sticker

Tico — A Costa Rican

Verancito — "little summer" in which it doesn't rain for more than 48 hours. Occurs in the middle of winter (which is now)

Walk-in closet — Walk-in closet

Favorite songs while I am in Costa Rica

About As Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help At All - Dan Mangan
Anthems for a 17-year-old Girl - Broken Social Scene
Black Eye — Steel Train
By Your Hand - Los Campesinos!
Casting Lines - Jack's Mannequin
Die Die Die — The Avett Brothers
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
For You (Bruce Springsteen cover) - The Format
Heart in Your Heartbreak — The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Hold It In - Jukebox the Ghost
How This All Ends — Bad Books
Murder Me Rachael — The National
Nice Fox — The Rosebuds
People Say - Portugal. The Man
Song for Jo - Scarlett Johansson
Sovay - Andrew Bird
The Rabbit, The Bat and The Reindeer — Dr. Dog
The River — Anathallo
There There, Katie — Jack's Mannequin
We Are Young - Fun.
You're Not So Good At Talking — I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business