A Thing For Wor(l)ds

Pan-Asian Town /pan ˈeɪʒ.ən taʊn/ n. The new (and more P.C.) way to speak of a Chinatown that is not only Chinese. Asia’s more than just one country, people. For how complex a system language is, it has a funny way of simplifying things. And for ...Read More

Aseo. /a.’se.o/ n. Language: Spanish. Meaning: Toilet. In Spain, “baño” refers to a full bathroom, complete with shower. It’s best to ask for el aseo at a restaurant, so they don’t think you’re trying to bathe before the first course.  While I was still struggling ...Read More

Pesadilla. /pe.sa.ˈði.ʎa/ n. Language: Spanish. Meaning: Nightmare. Like being outrun by an ax-murderer, or 27 consecutive days of rain in November. I’m not going to sugar coat it here. I didn’t fall head over heels with Bilbao the way I did for Granada when ...Read More

Fanfarronear. /fan.faʀ.o.ne.ˈaɹ/ V. Language: Spanish. Meaning: To brag, to boast. Bilbao has much to fanfarronear about: an epic coastline, pintxos, the strongest economy in Spain, cider, cheese, a famous modern art museum, a competitive futból team, and some good-looking gents, to name a few.  After nine months as an ...Read More

Piso /ˈpi.so/ n. Language: Spanish. Meaning: Apartment or flat. This word has fully replaced its English counterpart in the expat community in Spain. Frequent Spanglish exchanges between my American friends and me: “Let’s meet at your piso for wine” and “I hate my piso ...Read More

Diversity. /dɪ.ˈvɹ̩ː.sɪ.ti/ n. Varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds, skin tones and body piercings; the reason to travel, or, in cases like Chicago, to never set foot outside the city.    Although my re-entry into the U.S. was a gradual process of confusion and burritos, what ...Read More

Gina Fischer is 24 years old and and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Health and Development. She originally traveled to Rio de Janeiro in July 2012 of her senior year to study abroad in Brazil for a semester through the ...Read More