La Nochebuena hasta el Dia de los Reyes en Catalunya...

Tenemos un artículo de "New York Times" describiendo cómo se pasa las dos semanas entre La Nochebuena y el Día de los Reyes en Barcelona.

Me parece muy divertido, y a ti, ¿te parece divertido?

Argentine rugby?

So, apparently Argentina not only has a national Rugby association, but it is well supported by its people as well.  Argentines are more european than people from other South American countries due to a huge immigration of European peoples throughout Argentina's history.  Due to this influx of European blood and heritage in Argentina, the people tend to be physically larger than the people from the other South American countries; thus permitting them to participate in a sport as physical as rugby.

Mr. Girodano has sent us a video of the Argentine National team preparing itself during the national anthem (himno nacional).  These Argentines are quite proud to represent their fatherland.

This wikipedia article may also interest you.  It explains the roots of Argentine rugby, and elucidates just how popular it is.

Highlights of Los Pumas.

El desplazamiento lingüístico.

Es un fenómeno que ocurre cuando una lengua presta expresiones o palabras de una lengua de un país vecino.  Por ejemplo, el español mexicano tiene muchas influencias gramaticales del inglés (Pharies).  Unos ejemplos son así:

Chicano (el español mexicano)              El castellano                             El inglés Americano (de EEUU)

                                                                                                                                                                            

Hizo improve mucho                            Mejorar mucho                         To improve a lot

Los están busing para otra escuela       Los están tranportando              They are transporting/busing them

Taipear                                                Escribir a máquina                     To type

Puchar un carro                                    Empujar el carro                       To push the car

Mistir el tren                                         Perder un tren                           To miss the train

Pharies, David. Breve historia de la lengua española. Chicago y Londres: University of Chicago Press, 2007.

The Haka

    Speaking of "los deportes" in class makes it necessary to enlighten you fine young men on the cultural aspect of various sports.  Polynesian Islands such as: Hawaii, Guam, and New Zealand possess a zealous warrior past which is still present today in two of the more popular combat sports, football and rugby.
    The New Zealand "All Blacks", who have been crowned world cup champions various times; as well as The University of Hawaii football team, harness the power of "the Haka" before or after the competition to intimidate opponents or to pay homage to their Polynesian customs.
    As for Guam, or American Samoa (as it is called now-a-days) has produced the most NFL football players of any territory or state its size.

All Blacks Haka

Hawai'i Warriors Haka