http://www.hablasalyssa.com A lesson in speaking Alyssa Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:30:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I just passed my one-year anniversary for living in Toronto, meaning that I have proved to myself that I can find my way--literally--in a foreign country and even pick-up a touch of French (from all the bi-lingual labels) and a bit of a Canadian accent (much to the joking pleasure ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2010/06/19/passport-free-travel/ I just recently started thinking in Spanish again.  That is, I will put the thoughts from the inner conversation I have running in my head into Spanish.  Just because.  I like playing this game where I ease-drop on people speaking Spanish on the streets or in the markets, linger a ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2010/04/04/mental-workouts/ Tuesday night was the World Junior Hockey Championships, US versus Canada for the Gold medal (not a part of the Olympics).  A bunch of my friends were going to a bar on campus to watch the game, so I decided to tag along and experience Canada's national sport like a ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2010/01/07/silence-victory/ While many tout that Canada is just like the US, suffering only from a touch of "little brother syndrome," I have found a few peculiarities in the Great White North that I will simply refer to as 'differences.' The Canadian Difference is in the football.  Who can blame them for adoring ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2009/12/26/the-canadian-difference/ I love food.  It's more than oral fixation and sensual infatuation.  More than satisfying cravings or rumbly tummies.  It's about the preparation process and the excitement of what may come.  It's an appreciation of high quality products and the chase that it might entail.  But, most importantly, it's about the ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2009/08/17/a-food-affair/ I have noticed a trend that on Fridays my body is a bit stiffer than normal.  My legs are a tad bit bruised and my knees skinned up a bit.  I have a near-blister on the top of my right foot from wearing crappy, beach flip flops that I don't ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2009/07/25/dedication/ Despite only living in Toronto for just over a month now, I have become quite an expert on the city and its many neighborhoods.  Much like my interests in the past, my knowledge and curiosity seems to be motivated by food--with an emphasis on sweets (e.g. La Bamboche, Miss Cora's ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2009/07/08/food-driven-adventurer/ I am glowing.  So much so that I bet you could see it from another country—like the US.  That's right, I'm abroad again and re-kindling my intentions to maintain this blog.  I should really be saying that I am “abroad” because my move to Toronto at the beginning of the ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2009/07/01/glowing/ Now that I am back, I realize that I can tell stories and offer alternative points of view but it is true that you just have to experience some things yourself to fully understand the differences.  Words are not strong enough to convey it all, but unfortunately they are the ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2008/07/13/fading-memories/ Every country I visited had some sort of manifestation of counter culture.  Variations of weirdly cut and colored hair, dangling chains, screaming banshee music twanging out of cellphones, piercings in painful-looking locations, baggy and ripped clothes were sported by the populace’s rebellious youth.  While each subculture was trying to be ... http://www.hablasalyssa.com/wordpress/2008/07/13/international-culture/