Manteca

When someone thinks of the possible issues he/she needs to address in the US, something that will never be an anticipated worry would be having problems with Spanish. In this regard, I feel like the exception to this.
When I first got in the States and I finally leased my apartment, I rushed to the supermarket to get all the necessary things to eat and survive. Close to my apartment, it was "La Hacienda Chiquita", a Mexican supermarket that had all the supplies I needed. Also, not having a car made going to another supermarket somehow difficult.
That day I decided to buy several things. I bought sugar, coffee, meat and I bought manteca. I was surprised about how white, how soft and how tasteless manteca was. But I remembered how Americans are conscious about life and health. I thought it was just part of this consciousness that they did not use any artificial flavors or colors. My mom was also surprised when I showed it to her on Skype. However, I guess that was a little awkward.
After some weeks, on a rainy day, I wanted to make some "tortas fritas", a typical Uruguayan dish people prepare on rainy days. I went to the Mexican supermarket and I asked for "grasa", the Spanish equivalent for "lard" and the butcher told me "It's over there". When I saw the place he had indicated I realized that it was "manteca" and not "grasa". I told him about the misunderstanding and he insisted on what he had told me. In the end, he explained that in Mexico manteca is a synonym for lard and mantequilla was actually butter.
To make this story short, I ate lard instead of butter for several weeks.

The dinosaur is the mascot from Drexel University. He was protecting me during my stay there.

Philadelphia

These are some pictures about the city of Philadelphia. It is a very nice city with a good combination of historical places and modern ones. Some of the most outstanding places there are the Art Museum, the old part of the city, downtown, the bells, everything related to the independence, really nice.
When I was there I was living at Drexel University campus with 30 other guys from different parts of the world. I met people from other countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. It was such an enriching experience as I learnt to live with, know and adapt to other cultures and lifestyles. I was also attending some classes on American Culture, Research Writing, Speaking skills and other workshops.
There I learnt some new vocabulary I want to share with you...
- keep me peppering with questions...
- to distribute or hand out a paper...never deliver
- hand jury: when in the jury 6 members say yes and 6 say no.
- tenure
- snoop around
- branch out (my favorite)
- to make it or to break it
- suck it up: just do it/ deal with the problem
- size somebody up: see how the person is.
- think about the box
- to stare at somebody - to ogle at somebody
- to live beyond your means
- Alcohol can cloud them
- slouch position
- to be waited on (prepare a plate for you)
- be on the safe side
- don't smart off (don't be that smart and start a discussion)
- somebody let you off the book
- just wing it
- I am a little split up
- step on my toes
- jaywalking: the way people walk fast in NY
- deadlock
- line up - queue up

Well this is part of the list of things I learnt and I am really grateful to Fulbright for having given me the chance of starting this wonderful experience in such an amazing city: Philly where the best Philly sandwich lives...

Welcome everyone!

Hi everyone!
I think that the idea of creating a blog is a great one! Even though I have been experiencing with the page for quite a time it is still a very important step in my technological career. In this blog you are going to be able to find stories, photos, anecdotes, presentations that I want to share with you.
Your feedback is valuable to me so feel free to leave some comments on the postings. It will be great you can also share things with me.
Hope you enjoy it and always remember that it is under construction.
Aldo