LOS BENEFICIOS DE LA LECTURA 2/10

BENEFITS OF READING 2/10

Reading provides an inextinguishable combustible for the imagination.

SPANISH VERBS: Callejear [to wander (about), to stroll (around) the streets]

CALLEJEAR is a Spanish verb which is associated with the noun 'calle' (street).

The verb  'callejear' implies:

• the existence at least one street and
• being in the appropriate mood that is, being relaxed, idle or curious while walking around.


EXAMPLES:

- Me gusta callejear por Madrid (I like strolling around Madrid)

- Antes los chicos y chicas podían callejear solos; ahora sus padres tienen miedo de que les pase algo malo
(Before boys and girls could wander the streets alone; now parents fear that something bad could happen to them)

- Venga, basta ya de callejear. Vamos para casa
   (Come on, enough of tramping the streets. Let's go home)

POESÍA - Karmelo C. Iribarren (Malos tiempos) (Bad times)

Poema de Karmelo C. Iribarren (San Sebastián, 1959)

MALOS TIEMPOS
Ándate con cuidado,
que no se entere nadie

de que lo pasas bien,
que tu vida funciona,
y eres feliz a ratos.
Hay gente que es capaz
de cualquier cosa,
cuando ve una sonrisa.




BAD TIMES
Watch out,
that no one finds out 
that you are having a good time, 
that your life is working 
and that you are happy from time to time.  
There's people who is capable 
of anything 
when they see a smile. 




Este poema se publicó en la antología "Seguro Que Esta Historia Te Suena". Poesía Completa, 1985-2012

LOS BENEFICIOS DE LA LECTURA 1/10

THE BENEFITS OF READING 1/10:
Reading improves memory & increases intellectual abilities.

SPANISH VERBS: ACOSTARSE (to go to bed)

ACOSTARSE is a reflexive verb that we use when we want  to say we are going to bed.

Cada día me acuesto a las 10 y media 

(Every day I go to bed at 10.30)

PRESENT TENSE (present )

me acuesto

te acuestas,

se acuesta,

nos acostamos,

os acostáis,

se acuestan.

  

Mi hermano menor SE ACUESTA temprano pero yo ME ACUESTO tarde.

 (My younger brother goes to bed early but I go to bed late)

SIMPLE PAST (pretérito indefinido) 

me acosté,

te acostaste,

se acostó,

nos acostamos,

os acostasteis,

se acostaron.
 

Ayer ME ACOSTÉ muy tarde porque salí con mis amigos. Era sábado. 

(Yesterday I went to bed very late because I went out with my friends. It was Saturday)

FUTURE (futuro simple)

me levantaré,

te levantarás,

se levantará,

nos levantaremos,

os levantaréis,

se levantarán.

Mañana me acostaré temprano porque mi vuelo sale a las 6 de la mañana.
(Tomorrow I will go to bed early because my flight leaves at 6am)

Antes de acostarme mi madre y yo leemos un cuento.

(Before going to be, my mother and I read a story).



COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

Es hora de acostarse = it's bed time!
Acostarse con las gallinas = to go to bed early (when the chooks go to bed ;)
Acostarse muy tarde = to have a late night
Acostarse con alguien = to score with s/one
Acostarse y levantarse temprano = to keep early hours
No acostarse en toda la noche = to be up all night

Palabras curiosas: ESCALOFRIANTE (spine-chilling, blood curdling, horrific)

[Spanish]

ESCALOFRIANTE: algo que nos causa escalofrios, ya sea por miedo o porque es una cosa horrible.

Era escalofriante andar en la oscuridad de la noche

It was spine-chilling walking in the darkness of the night

El final de la película fue escalofriante

The ending of the film was hair-raising

Es una historia escalofriante

It's a blood-curdling story

[English]

ESCALOFRIANTE: is something that gives you the shivers, because it is frightening, horrible or terrifying.

"Espeluznante" and "escalofriante" are synonims. There is an entry for espeluznante in this blog.

NEOLOGISMOS: "a flash-mob" (una quedada)

The concept of a 'Flash-mob' is relatively new and is an interesting one.

How to call the sudden gathering in the street of perfect strangers to dance the salsa or to listen to a local group playing Mozart? The term Flash-mob was coined in English and then, the other languages had to find an equivalent word which in some cases it can take some time and a trial and error process.

In Spanish the term 'quedada' (noun) seems to be the most accepted but its meaning can cover many types of gatherings. For example an instant gathering in the street to hear some artistic event or organised through social media, a flash mob.

In Spain the movement "Los indignados" in 2012 met in many public places through social media and these were called "quedadas".

Also a meeting of old friends or school friends can be called 'una quedada' and a group of people who share the same intererest can meet in 'una quedada'. It can be related to interet or sports or hobbies.

It is an old term now but 'una quedada' was an old spinster in Central America; also a bad joke played on someone.

Here are some more examples:

(quedada en bicicleta =  excursion / salida en bicicleta = a group bike ride)

Un grupo de aficionados ha organizado una quedada en bicicleta el próximo domingo a las 8 de la mañana en la Plaza de la Luz. Se saldra a las 8 y media y se hara un recorrido de unos 30 kilómetros por las afueras de la ciudad. Después desayuno en el bar de la plaza.