ArgentinaHaving learned Spanish in California and spoken it in Mexico, Spain, and Puerto Rico, I thought with a little review I'd be ready to take on the Porteños -- city people of Buenos Aires. In the first couple of weeks, as I was still picking up the exaggerated gestures and the altogether different accent, I met a friend for coffee. This friend is from California, but in recent months, had become pretty good at faking "Porteño." I walked up to greet him and he said, "Che gorda!" I stopped and leaned back. "Did you just call me a fat communist?" I asked. After enjoying a hunched-over laugh, he explained that "che" means "yo," and "gorda" is a name to call a close friend or loved one. Moral of the story? Forget grammar. Pick up slang!
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