Sunday, 9:30am- After getting up bright and early and putting on all the layers we could find we arrived at the meeting point and met Andrea, plant enthusiast and coordinator for the organic garden project and the rest of VG team. Slightly unsure of what’s in store we head off to the Centro Cultural El Perro, near Barracas. 10am- We are greeted by David who explains the history of the centre and shows us some of the amazing artwork created there from recycled materials including metal from disused trains and buses. Before starting work we all share some Mate and introduce ourselves to the other volunteers, a good chance to practice some Spanish.

11am- It’s time to get our hands dirty! The ‘huerta’ or garden is very empty and needs some improvements, so we start by digging up the soil and removing any rubbish or large rocks. Andrea gives us a lesson on how to use a spade properly; apparently it’s all in the arms! The other volunteers start to attach wooden frames to the planters in order to create some shade for the plants which they will need come summertime.

1.00pm- We haven’t quite found any buried treasure, only a few worms, but the soil is looking ready to welcome some new plants. Everyone gathers around Andrea as she explains what we will be planting, including small plants called ‘Lazos de amor’ (roughly ‘bows of love’). Everyone takes one and introduces it to its new home in the huerta, with lots of love, of course!  The garden is in a much better condition after a few hours’ work and everyone deserves a pat on the back.

2pm- The smell of fresh empanadas lures everyone inside for a well-deserved break, but not until we’ve washed all the soil off our hands! Time for a quick team photo and our work here is done. Everyone enjoyed the morning and we can’t wait to see what the garden will look like in a few months’ time!

The garden at the Centro Cultural El Perro is now linked with the organic garden in the psychiatric hospital project, for more information on how you can join our volunteer team on these projects click here.

I’m sure you’ve been told that Cervantes’ Don Quixote is the best thing written in the Spanish language, be that as it may, the literature of Latin America, with its diverse influences and literary innovations such as magical realism or, el realismo mágico, makes an interesting change to the western canon. Many of the writers in the following list were a part of the ‘Latin American Boom’, a movement which took place during the 60s and 70s and saw a prolific surge of literary creation. Much of the work of this movement questions the previous literary style in Latin America, and Magical Realism provided a means to do this. Although the term was first used in Europe by the German art critic Franz Roh to refer to visual arts, literary magical realism is a Latin American phenomenon. This form blends fantastical elements with real life and it was adopted for various means: to convey political criticism, mystery, cynicism or sarcasm and criticism of contemporary society, most notably the elite.

In this way, magical realism became an outlet for social oppression, a space where fantasy and reality could be combined. Naomi Lindstrom’s definition of Magical Realism has been widely accepted: "A narrative technique that blurs the distinction between fantasy and reality. It is characterized by an equal acceptance of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Magic realism fuses lyrical and, at times, fantastic writing with an examination of the character of human existence and  an implicit criticism of society, particularly the elite” The following writers have all made important contributions to the Latin American literary genre. Just in case the longer novels seem quite daunting, I’ve included some short stories which are no less worthy of your time. Disfruta!  

1. Mario Vargas Llosa, Perú. Novelist, essayist Los Cachorros (short-story) La Ciudad y los Perros “It’s easy to know what you want to say, but not to say it”

2. Gabriel García Márquez, Colombia. Novelist, short-story writer, journalist, screenwriter La increíble y triste historia de la candida Erendira y de su abuela desalmada (short story, and its brilliant) Cien años de soledad (probably the most famous novel influenced by magical realism, quite complicated to read in Spanish) “There´s no medicine that cures what happiness doesn´t”

3. Isabel Allende, Chile. Novelist La casa de los espíritus (probably her most famous book, influenced by magical realism) Ines del alma mía (a great semi-historical novel about the founding of Santiago, Chile) “We only have what we give”

4. Pablo Neruda, Chile. Poet, political activist Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada (his most famous collection of poems) “Laughter is the language of the soul”  

5. Ernesto Sábato, Argentina. Novelist, essayist, painter, physicist El Túnel (short-story set in Buenos Aires) “I think that life's essence consists in being loyal to what one believes to be one´s destiny”

6. Juan Rulfo, Mexico. Novelist, screenwriter, photographer Pedro Páramo (magical realist short-story) “Nothing can last forever. There isn't any memory, no matter how intense, that doesn't fade out at last”

7. Julio Cortázar, Argentina. Novelist, Essayist, Short-story writer Rayuela (known as Hopscotch in English, this novel is considered Cortázar’s masterpiece. A difficult read for non-native spanish speakers) “Happy was she who could believe without seeing, who was at one with the duration and continuity of life”

8. Alejandro Carpentier, Cuba. Novelist, essayist, musicologist El Acoso (short-story) El reino de este mundo ‘But man's greatness consists in the very fact of wanting to be better than he is’

9. Mario Benedetti, Uruguay. Poet, writer, essayist El mundo que respiro (collection of poems) “Generosity is the only legitimate selfishness”

10. Carlos Fuentes, Mexico. La Muerte de Artemio Cruz (a novel about the mexican revolution) “I need, therefore I imagine”

11. Jorge Luis Borges, Argentina. El sur El fin (Borges is a hard author to read in any language but these two stories are very short as well as very interesting!) “Reality is not always probable, or likely.”

We’ve heard many a story of travellers coming to Argentina with a 3 month spanish language course under their belt and Spanish dictionary in hand only to be faced with baffling mix of Ches, boliches and, of course, boludos. If you are one of those flummoxed foreigners, don’t fear! It’s just Lunfardo. A dialect used in the River Plate region of Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Lunfardo was influenced by a mix of Italian, French, English, Galician, Portuguese, African and indigenous languages such as Quechua, Mapuche and Guaraní. Less confused? I’ll start from the beginning. Waves of immigrants docked in Buenos Aires in the mid 19th century bringing with them new cultures and new languages contributing to the creation of Lunfardo. Since the majority of immigrants came from Italy it is no surprise that Lunfardo has primarily Italian traits.

The word Lunfardo actually comes from Lombardo, the italian dialect spoken in the Northern region Lombardy and you may have noticed the Italian intonation to the words. Lunfardo started as a type of slang used by criminals and lower classes. It allegedly has its genesis in the jails of Buenos Aires, where the prisoners created a new language to confuse their guards. An example of the way inmates disguised their language is ‘verse’, literally the Spanish ‘revés’ (reverse) backwards. This trick consists in creating new words by reversing the original word (surprise, surprise) and so camión (truck) becomes mionca, and calor (heat) becomes lorca. Lunfardo words are often inserted into Rioplatense Spanish sentences and frequently used in the lyrics of Tango songs, and like the Tango, over time Lunfardo gradually infiltrated other social stratas and classes, and became what it is today: the unbridled dialect of Porteños. To make your time a little easier, we have compiled a list of some of the most common Lunfardo words used today, accompanied by some examples of their common uses, and, when it suffices, a short (sometimes very short) explanation of the word’s etymology. Enjoy!

1. Chamuyar Meaning: To smooth talk, convince, seduce, sweet talk, chat up, hit on Example: Este chico te está chamuyando - This guy is hitting on you Spanish synonyms: persuadir, convencer, engañar, embaucar Etymology: It comes from the gypsy slang (caló) chamullar, which means to speak in a low voice, but it was also used to refer to someone who mixed truths and falsehoods in order to get himself out of trouble.

2. Bondi Meaning: Bus Example: Mi bondi va retrasado - My bus is running late Spanish synonyms: autobús, colectivo, omnibus Etymology: The word started being used to refer to public transport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bondi comes from the English word Bond. Since the train lines in Sao Paulo were owned by the English, the word bond referred to the price of a journey on public transport, but eventually came to mean public transport. To make it easier to pronounce, the Brazilians added an ‘e’ to the end of the word creating ‘bonde’, and after being adopted by Italian immigrants the ‘e’ changed to ‘i’ making the word what it is today: ‘bondi’.

3. Bardear Meaning: to mock, insult Examples: ‘¿Me estás bardeando’? - Are you mocking me? ‘Lo está bardeando’ - He’s making fun of it ‘No me bardees’ - Don’t mess with me Spanish synonyms: agredir, molestar, insultar, humillar, descalificar a otro Etymology: One theory is that the word comes from ‘barro’ meaning mud. The theory goes that the word means to insult or speak badly about, equivalent to the spanish saying ‘echarle barro’ literally to throw mud at someone.

4. Bancar Meaning: To hold on, to put up with, to bear Example: No me lo banco - I can’t bear it Yo te banco - I put up with you Ya no te banco más - I can’t stand you anymore Spanish synonyms: aguantar, soportar, avalar Etymology: It is believed that bancar comes from economic support, or la bancada, meaning worksurface.

5.Boliche Meaning: Club Example: !Vamos al boliche! - Let’s go to the club Spanish synonyms: Discoteca, club Etymology: The word comes from the catalan word ‘boltix’, coming from the greek to refer to different types of games.

6. Boludo Meaning: This term has two meanings that vary according to tone, and the intensity with which they are spoken. For example boludo can be an insult, similar to idiot, or a tag used among friends. It can also mean something that is easy to do. Example: Boludo ¿a dónde vamos?’ Where are we going, buddy? ‘Esta apuesta es una boludez’ - This is a foolish bet. Spanish synonyms: Idiota, tonto, buddy Etymology: In various cultures, it is said that individuals with large testicles are unintelligent. This term may come from the Italian word, coglione: a simpleton, or someone with large testicles.

7. Che Meaning: Dude, man, hey Example: Che, dónde estás? - Dude, where are you? Spanish synonyms: oye! Etymology: Some say this Spanish word comes from the Guaraní word che, which is equivalent to the personal pronoun I, or in Spanish, yo, or the possessive pronoun my, or the Spanish mi. Some experts claim che comes from Venecia, Italy, where the word ció was used to mean you.

8. Mina Meaning: Woman, girl Spanish synonyms: Mujer Etymology: This word, which is sometimes considered derogatory, may come from the Italian word femmina or the contraction of the Galician word menina, from which came the play on words used by some pimps arose, since prostitutes’ bodies were compared to minas, or mines, from which they could profit.

9.Pibe Meaning: Kid Spanish synonyms: Niño Etymology: Pibe is an abbreviation of the word pebete, which comes from Catalán word pebet, and refers to something with a foul odor. Some say that the word eventually took on the more colloquial use as a way to refer to children with foul odors. Others claim the word comes from the word pivetto, meaning apprentice.

10. Quilombo Meaning: Disaster, mess, brothel Example: Esto es un quilombo! - This is a disaster! Spanish synonyms: un desastre, un desorden, un caos Etymology: Quilombo is the Portuguese word for whorehouse, coming from the Kimbundu word, kilombo, which may have referred to a settlement of escaped African slaves.

By Robert Benjamin If you’re looking for an enriching, rewarding experience in a foreign country, teaching English is an excellent choice. It will allow you to improve your foreign language skills, build your resume, and provide an important service, all while getting to travel the world. Below are a few tips for volunteers teaching English in a foreign country: 1. Teach to your students’ specific needs Each student comes to English classes for a different reason. One of the first things any teacher should do with a new student is to figure out why the student is there. For example, if your student wants to be able to communicate with English-speaking customers at the cash register, you’ll know immediately that you can start with basic greetings and numbers in English! 2. Don’t expect too much Don’t set your expectations too high for yourself or for your students. It can take several years to become fluent in a foreign language, even when you are speaking it daily, and your students might only get to practice English a couple hours per week. So try to set reasonable goals for yourself and your students. 3. Teach to various learning styles Students learn in a variety of ways. Some learn best by listening, other by speaking, some by reading, and others by writing. Try to have your students do a little bit of each during every lesson, to see which method works the best for each student. 4. Speak their language While some students are skilled enough to benefit from a lesson taught entirely in English, many will require explanations in their native language. Not only will this be great practice for you to speak a foreign language, it will also allow your students to correct you or teach you some new phrases, which can really boost their confidence and lighten the mood. 5. Encourage your students Many adults are embarrassed to try to speak English and are afraid to make mistakes. However, if you encourage them to try, it’s rather likely that they will quickly learn to laugh at their mistakes and move past that stage of discomfort; a student’s ability to concentrate and learn will improve dramatically as soon as he or she stops worrying about making mistakes and starts feeling more confident outside his or her comfort zone.  

By Robert Benjamin

 The community center in the neighborhood of La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where community members come to participate in a variety of programs, one of which is English classes, taught twice a week by volunteer tutors from English-speaking countries. The volunteer coordinator  as well as three English students were recently asked to explain what it means to them to study English. Interviewing the English Workshop Coordinator Community Center  Name: Johan Age: 25 From: Peru What impact do you think Los Pibes has on its members? The community center benefits the entire community. For example, there are a lot of older people who are out of work, but thanks to this community center, they have work to do, instead of staying at home all the time. It changes their lives. They get to do things to help other people; coming to the community center can improve everything about a person, including their physical and mental health. How do you think the students benefit from the English classes here? Johan: Taking English classes allows you to get to know another language and culture and is a place for people to come together. English can help you get a good job. Many employers around here ask if you speak English, especially those related with tourism. English can also be beneficial socially, as it allows you to make friends from all over the world. English teachers also benefit by practicing their Spanish and experiencing the differences between cultures. Interviewing Three Participants in the English Workshop

Name: Marcos Age: 35 From: Peru Occupation: Street Vendor Name: Gustavo Age: 25 From: Peru Occupation: Supermarket Worker Name: Shamila Age: 16 From: Argentina Occupation: Student

Why do you come to learn English? Gustavo: I want to be able to communicate with English-speakers from other countries.At work, sometimes English customers come in and ask me where a certain food is. I like to be able to point them in the right direction. I want to be able to communicate better with the English-speaking customers at the grocery store so I can do a better job helping them find what they need. I would also like to be able to assist tourists who ask me for directions in English and be able to understand English on TV. Marcos: I like to study English out of general curiosity and an interest in the language. I would like to be able to communicate and converse with people in Argentina and all over the world who speak English. Shamila: I like the language, and I also believe it will help me to find better job opportunities in the future. English is fundamental for finding work here, and I would also like to visit New York and be able to speak English for that purpose as well. English classes here at Los Pibes help me with my schoolwork too. I can come here to learn new things about the language that I don’t learn in school, and to correct errors that I’ve made on my schoolwork.

What would you do if you couldn’t study English here at Los Pibes? Gustavo: If this place weren’t here, I wouldn’t study English because other places I could go to study are too far away and I wouldn’t be able to fit it into my busy schedule. Marcos: I would have to study myself, but it is much better to study with foreign teachers because they can teach you the correct way to phrase and pronounce things. It would be very difficult to study alone. Shamila: The other options for studying English outside of school aren’t practical for me given my location and busy schedule.