I'm a geek. I know it. I can't help but find some of the quirky, historical, cultural things we learn en clase interesting...sometimes. But when its cold and rainy outside, it's not that hard to be entertained. Seriously, esta Abril, casi Mayo ya. Que esta pasando???
BTW, I hope my spanglish isn't too annoying. I can't help it, it just makes everything sound so much better. If you don't understand something, I suggest seek the advise of my personal savior for the past few weeks aqui.
En todos modos, this week seemed to be concerned with learning about the best-of-the-best of Spanish culture, including what may be the quintessential Spanish film. Que se llama Viridiana, by Luis Bunuel of course. Obviously filled with references and critiques of sexuality, violation of trust, sin, religion, societal demands, mysticism, morality and what is the point of it all. At a glance it goes over my head, after some time to think, I can see why it's considered a masterpiece.
Ademas, we read parts of a novel/tragic-comedy called La Celestina. It's basically a older, longer, more complex/compelling, Spanish, version of Romeo and Juliet. It's second only to Don Quixote in fame and influence. But I must say this, plus Viridiana in one week culminated into quite frank lectures about sexuality and other related things. Por ejemplo, Celestina is an old bruja that does odd jobs, like housing prostitutes, sends messages between "lovers" and casting weird spells y otras cosas. One of things that people went to brujas like her back in the day, was that in order restore a woman's "honor" before her marriage, they sewed it back together....SEWED IT BACK! That was pretty awkward for the Prof to mime for us....
ANYWAY the novel also has a pre-over-the-ledge-suicide monologue so intense que tu vas a flipar. But according to our Prof, if we read it even in english, "Por favor, cuidate de las ventanas. Porque te convence" Love him!
Y FINALMENTE! We finally got to talk about Las Meninas in the Prado. I never quite understood why Velazquez was such a big deal. Now I do. The ideal painter, master of technique, ever developing his skill and knowledge, and opening the doors (possibly jumping ahead a few hundred years) of imagination for painters to come. God I feel terribly knowledgeable and cultured.
And how do I treat myself after learning oh so much about Spanish culture? A second trip to the Asian market!! This time Ibero-China was open, so I got me more of that sriracha. And guess what?! I FOUND THE QUICKLYS!!! It's actually inside the store. Too bad it looked kinda janky and no one was working it when I was there, but STILL! I saw the Quicklys posters and the machines to seal the drinks. Find a Spanish Quicklys: CHECK.
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