Our class began with a lively introduction by Elena"; she had lots to say about various Puerto Rican authors of the 19th and 20th century. The heritage of folklore and chronicles is of importance as Puerto Rican autors define their identity--a mix of Taino, African, and Spanish influence. It is interesting to me how the modern literature is a reflection of today's culture and how youth influence the language. Elena spoke of her students' use of "spanglish"...gufear-to goof off, fafu-fast food, jangear-to hang out, parisear-to party. Amazing! Soon "spanglish"may really come to be a separate language!
Today we learned about the history of Puerto Rican music. Everyone in Puerto Rito loves the salsa with its combination of Caribbean and African beat. We even had lessons from a professional dancer.
The afternoon was a technical work in progress as I struggled with my blog. Then on to the art "museo."
Elena's commentary at the Museo del Arte was both educational and entertaining. She is a fountain of linguistic and artistic information. Of the artists that I viewed today, I especially liked Jose Compeche and Luis Botin.
I had a typical arroz con habichuelas dinner at a local restaurant behind the university. However, the supermarket offered one of my favorites for dessert--an Oh Henry bar!
I also think it is interesting how new words become part of the language. Will you be teaching these words to your students back home?!
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