Exams are this week and next. They aren't hard, and I say this in relativity to all other undergrad semesters. My Spanish instructor has been urging me to be a Spanish minor. I am, I am, geez.

I hate how society feels about Spanish. I hate that most intellectuals I know consider it to be too common to be difficult or interesting. The Spanish culture is so RICH, and so interesting, and so full of wonderful literary works that are best read in their native form.

Our best Spanish instructor came and listened to my presentation on a famous Hispanic celebrity (talk about pressure), the other week. I'd chosen to present on Pablo Neruda, who was a wonderful Chilean poet (he died in 1973). He was quite involved with politics, as well, but that's another story. The instructor waited for me to finish and asked if I had a favorite poem by him. Most others that presented didn't actually enjoy their celebrities' works, but I immediately blurted out, "Ah, Vastedad de los Pinos."

She found that interesting, for some reason. All his poems are sensual, so I don't feel like it gave any indication that another of his poems wouldn't have. Maybe she didn't recognize the name and just acted interested to react somehow.

Either way, my point is that she said something that hit the nail on the head for about ninety-eight percent of all Hispanic authors/poets; she said, basically (and I say basically because I'm saying it in English, which she did not), that his poems are beautiful in English...but they're devastatingly beautiful in Spanish.

I get learning Latin for medical school. I totally get it. But Latin, just a PS, IS A DEAD LANGUAGE. It's the antisocial way to get a leg up. You want to be able to help the greatest number of people in the United States that you can? Learn to speak Spanish. If it's really that easy, it shouldn't be inconvenient to plop it on top of studying Latin.


Hmph.

I think Spanish should be required teaching in all public schools. I think it's SO SAD that I don't know any other languages. I'm hoping to get Rosetta Stone or something to learn Spanish, then French, than maybe Italianoooo then who knows what else.

If I'd just had Spanish as a kid, I'd know it now! UGH.

My children will learn a second language, no doubt about it. So many other countries are bilingual, why not the US? ARGH, XENOPHOBIAAAAAAA!
» Amelie on 2012-04-16 02:12:27

I've never encountered someone with the same impression as the intellectuals you mentioned. Maybe because I've spent a lot of my time in the academy around more civil-service oriented folks, but most academics I know'round these parts view spanish as integral to their careers -- either spanish or French, since they're two of the most commonly spoken tongues.

I say fuck dem other hos.


» undisputed on 2012-04-16 02:26:48

re: ur comment
I don't think it's fear of being poor.. if I were to dedicate myself to being a public defender, employed by the state of south carolina and defend indigent people accused of crimes in charleston, i'd start off making a 40,000 salary.. and would earn more and more as time elapsed as long as I stayed in that job. 40 gran da year isn't poor.

If I moved to NYC, it would be more.. or if I wanted to be a prosecutor, it'd be more. If I chose to work for the federal government, it'd also be a lot more.. 60, 7 0grand starting. It's not an issue of being poor or having affluence.. it's about prestige imho.

It's about making 40 grand in half a summer rather than a year. To be honest, there ain't nothing wrong with wanting monies, and a lot of it.. for me the problem comes when you're actively a part of a system that fucks up other people's lives.
» undisputed on 2012-04-16 02:29:44

Latin is lame
» middaymoon on 2012-04-16 05:40:48

Man, Cleopatra was one badass bitch.
» Amelie on 2012-04-16 07:58:11

I would be a Spanish minor if I could but my only option is a double major or a single major. So I become a double major..

I think Spanish would help you with Latin after all, they have to call them Latinos for a reason.
» Nuttz on 2012-04-17 06:12:35

Gaelic is unappreciated compared to Latin.
» middaymoon on 2012-04-18 05:54:04

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