"No puedo sentir mis pies" -- I can't feel my feet.

Ah, Cinco De Mayo.  A grand holiday that brings to mind sombreros, margaritas, awkward family encounters with my cousin’s salsa band… no one?  Just me?  Okay then…

This prestigious holiday marks the warding off of the French from Mexico, and is usually celebrated with parades, etc.  Unless you are a college student; then it’s celebrated by waking up May 6th covered in confetti, wearing a sombrero, and clutching a kazoo.

You may think you’re honoring Mexico’s history with a few too many shots of tequila, but if you wanna celebrate this holiday right, it’s time to embrace Cinco De Mayo full force. And that means speaking its native tongue. So here’s a little Spanish guide with all with the essential phrases you’ll need for this joyous holiday.

Feliz Cinco De Mayo!

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We’re back with another edition of G.W.W.E. (Guys We Wanna Eff)!

Swine flu, the rapidly-spreading illness making headlines across the globe, is probably Mexico’s least popular export at the moment. But let’s talk about my faaaavorite producto de Mexico, Gael Garciá Bernal, whose new film The Limits of Control opens today. Yeow!

The guapo Guadalajaran first caught my attention in Y Tu Mamá También, which is seriously the steamiest movie I’ve ever seen. Gael plays one of two teen boys who have sex with every woman under the sun and eventually take part in a thrilling three-way with a sensual, twenty-something woman (why wasn’t that me!?). While his character was supposed to be young, Gael’s physique alluded to the chiseled heartthrob he would soon become.

Bernal has also starred in the mega-hit biopic The Motorcycle Diaries, about the Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara, whose iconic face adorns many a hipster t-shirt. (Honestly, I’m as enthusiastic for socio-economic reforms as the next gal, but I’d much rather see Gael’s stunning visage on my cotton tee.) But if foreign films aren’t your forte, definitely catch Gael in The Science of Sleep, an indie cult favorite which…okay, it has a bit of French and Spanish in it, too, but accents and foreign tongues are just oh so effable, no? Read More »

Like  many of you, my freshman year of college, I roomed with my best friend from high school. We were two of only a handful of people to come to this school, and we were so excited to be able to live with a friend! Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and we drove each other crazy. So for sophomore year, I opted for the pot-luck roommate draw. I couldn’t be happier. She’s possibly the best roommate I could’ve asked for.

But before I start sounding like a fairy-tale, she does have some, ahem, quirks that some may find annoying, but I personally find endearing. This girl has taught me how to get along with almost anyone, especially complete strangers. (But for her sake, or mine, I’m not going to mention her name. She may do something to me in my sleep)

She Talks In Her Sleep. Even better, she talks in Spanish in her sleep since she’s from Mexico and that’s her native language. Many of you may find this difficult to deal with when trying to sleep, but I just laugh at her and roll over. I usually tease her in the morning for it too.

She Talks to Her Boyfriend on the Phone 24/7. She even has a specific phone just for talking to him because she uses so many minutes. Who knew one person could talk so much to their significant other? But I’ve learned to tune it out. I understand it can be hard having a boyfriend who lives 3 hours away. They have such a good relationship too, so it’s hard to get mad at her. They’re so cute together! Plus he’s a lot of fun to hang around with when he comes to visit. Read More »

It may only be early November, but the holidays are approaching fast.  Just like your major term paper due this semester, holiday shopping is something best approached far in advance. And though I can’t help you research West African history, I can give you a few suggestions on what to get your loved ones this December.

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Every college girl – hell, every college student knows that school requires a lot of sacrifices. You give up things that you would have never otherwise dreamed of giving up beforehand. I’m entirely guilty of that (and don’t act like some of you aren’t, either); I’ve been taking my summer vacation for granted for years now, just vegging out, doing a little summer work, and reading.

But since I transferred after my freshman year, I lost a few credits. I still need to graduate in 2009; with the way tuition is, I can’t afford another semester or even another year. So since I was a little underweight in the distribution section, I decided to do what any smart, responsible college student would do; I signed up for summer classes.

Summer classes are no joke. They last just about a month, maybe a little bit longer. You’re learning things that are usually spread out throughout a semester, but crammed together into four weeks. It’s fast-paced, hectic, and time-consuming. It’s even harder if it’s a subject you’re not familiar with.

I’m taking Spanish 101 and 102 at my local community college to get my language requirement out of the way. Mind you, I’m already pretty well versed in Spanish. I took it for about ten years in baby steps. But now that it’s pretty much being crammed down my throat and even I’m having some difficulty. Read More »

Who says you need to be bilingual to woo the object of your affection in another language?