El Estudio

Here is where I spend the majority of my time - The Pascual Bravo Technical Institute.

 

It's a pretty nice, new building, but I'm told that people think it's going to come tumbling down because of fast, cheap construction.  I'm reminded of the condos in Toronto that go up in a few months and hope that this fate does not exist for either scenario.

The studio itself is nice.  Some of the studios I have worked for are essentially warehouses with desks, so I truly enjoy working at a studio with some atmosphere - something Pipeline has at home and here as well.  Palm trees and cut outs of previous shows that I've worked on, a ping pong table to use while relaxing the eyes from staring at a computer, and a little tiki hut that has coffee.  No word on when happy hour is, though.

These are the students I teach every night.

Yesterday, we worked on an angry walk cycle.  I thought it would be fun if we went outside the class and get the feel for an angry walk, so I had everyone stomp around angrily, which was fun.  Today it will be a happy strut, and I'll try to get some video footage.

 

I've learned some of the lingo around here that always brings a smile to my face.  Of course, when I use it, everyone erupts into laughter, as if I've come up with something clever.

Matapasiones

 

Matar = to kill, pasion = passion, so a passion killer.  My favourite word hands down.  Used when you see a disaster walking around that inpsires no love whatsoever.  For example, we were filling up the car with gas at a station, and I was telling a story in confusing Spanish, when a guy walked out of the bathroom of the station.  No shirt, gut hanging over his pants, walking with his legs spread as if he just dismounted a horse, pants undone.  As he walked towards his vehicle, he continuously tried to fasten his belt, but it was to no avail.  I stopped mid sentence in my story and just started laughing, blurting out "matapasiones!" as the other two in our car turned to enjoy the moment.  Bobby - 1, that guy - 0.

Colombianada

When someone is doing something really dumb, but it's common enough among the people to see it regularly.  I didn't take a pic, but borrow this one from the net.  I saw a guy pissing on the side of the road while driving into work with Gonzalo.  With his window open, Gonzalo pointed the guy out and said "Colombianada," and we both had a laugh while the guy was holding his unit.  I found out that if the cops catch you, you get thrown in jail for 4 hours.  Gonzalo told me.  I swear.

Parcero

I read the direct translation and it refers to a "bed buddy," although here it is common to use it like "dude."  The other morning I came into work and exclaimed "Buenos dias, Parceros!"  Instant hero.

Paisa

This is very local to Medellín, as far as I know.  It's kinda like "homeboy" or "bro" and is very common to hear.  The beer that I've been drinking is named Paisa, but Gonzalo refers to it as Pilsen.  Maybe when something is named something cool, it's not cool to use that term.

Bacano, Chevere

Both of these are slang for "cool" and I don't use them yet.  I find them both kind of weird, since Vaca is cow (the letter b and v both sound the same in Spanish) and Chevere reminds me of Cheval, French for horse.  Perhaps yelling out barnyard animals is a trend in South America, and I'll try to get this started in the North. 

There are a few more, but I can't remember them right now.  I'm sure that by the end of the trip, I'll have a few more to add.