Faces: People, Places, and Cultures articles from April 2000

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures archives from April 2000

The Pampas at a Glance.
April 1, 2000... Location: The Pampas are a vast plain that extends westward across central Argentina in South America. The Pampas begin at the Atlantic coast and run up against the foothills of the Andes. Area: 295,000 square miles (760,000 square...

Only In ... Argentina.(armadillos)
April 1, 2000... The armadillo is a curious mammal hat originated in Argentina and has migrated all the way to Texas. It has a narrow, tapered, ratlike face, and its body is covered with a suit of layered bony armor. The three-banded armadillo, also called an...

Welcome to the Pampas.
April 1, 2000... Little has changed in the Pampas since British naturalist and writer W.H. Hudson first described it as "... a flat land, its horizon a perfect ring of misty blue colour where the crystal blue dome of the sky rests on the level green world." ...

The Pampas Through Time.
April 1, 2000... C. 11,000 B.C. The first "Argentines" hunt and gather food. A.D. 1536 Pedro de Mendoza founds the city of Buenos Aires. 1810 Argentina declares itself independent from Spain. Buenos Aires is the first Latin American city to revolt...

Cowboys of the Pampas.(gauchos of Argentina)
April 1, 2000... The gauchos pursued the herd of wild cattle across the endless Pampas. As they neared it, they swung their boleadoras (boh-lay-ah-DOE-rahs) overhead, releas-ing them as the circling stones reached the height of acceleration. The stones, joined...

Charles Darwin Rides the Pampas with the Gauchos.
April 1, 2000... Seabirds wheeled overhead one day in August 1833 when Charles Darwin went ashore from the Beagle to study the plants, animals, and fossils of the Pampas. There he met the gauchos of the grasslands. At first glance, they did not seem to have...

Mind Your Manners.(culture of Argentine pampas)
April 1, 2000... A popular joke among the people of the Pampas is that they are "a nation of Italians who speak Spanish and think they are British." That is not far off. Generations of European immigrants have contributed to the very special Pampas melting pot...

Foods of the Pampas.(Argentine cuisine)
April 1, 2000... Unlike that of many other regions of South America, the population of the Pampas is more European than mestizo (mess-TEE-so) or Native American. Traditional recipes from Italian and Spanish settlers probably had the greatest influence on the...

The TANGO.
April 1, 2000... Have you ever heard the expression, "It takes two to tango"? So what is the tango, and what does it have to do with people of the Pampas? The tango is a dance with difficult steps and long slides. It is said to have originated with the...

Gaucho Festivals.(Argentina)
April 1, 2000... The Heritage of Men on Horseback When we think about the Pampas, the first character that comes to mind is the gaucho, the Argentine cowboy. Although it is not very common to see gauchos these days, we can still enjoy them in traditional...

Benito, the Book, and the Wizard.(Play)
April 1, 2000... Cast of Characters: Gaucho, Mama, Benito, and Senior Malvo. Gaucho: Hola, amigos! When a gaucho rides across La Pampa, he hears strange tales. Not so long ago, the rancheros (the owners of the ranches) began to disappear. At the same time,...

A Hero, A Friend.(Poem)
April 1, 2000... A hero can be anyone, It could be you or me. Being fearless, brave, and calm, They would brag, you see. Your hero could save your life. And risk their life too. Facing danger without fear Is what they will...

Colors.(Poem)
April 1, 2000... Visions of pictures Floating through the mind -- Red, orange, yellow, gray, Different colors fill the day. Lit up at night Some express me with fright, With specks of violence, And events of harm. ...

Fear.(Poem)
April 1, 2000... Fooling around with something some do not dare. Eerie, not knowing what is happening or is there. A strange feeling one gets when they are afraid. Racing through their minds, traveling only at night. It...

Who Am I?(Poem)
April 1, 2000... I am a Scottish princess, who is full of spirit. I am also one with the Earth. I was once the stealer, but now I am the protector of my friends so they won't get shot. I will be the watcher of God's most...

Where I'm From.(Poem)
April 1, 2000... I am from tees and clubs, From shining gold trophies. I am from uniforms and batons, From bright blue ribbons. I am from eyes like the ocean, And, orange rain in my face. I am from hair like grains of wood, ...

Leaf Lullaby.(Poem)
April 1, 2000... Sleep, little leaf, sleep. Float gently into your colorful bed. Dream of cool, snowflakes kissing your face. Erin McCoy Camillus, New York

Books.(Review)
April 1, 2000... Chucaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa by Francis Kalnay This 1993 reissue of a 1959 Newbery Honor Book tells the story of a special horse, the young Argentine boy who discovered and loved him, and the wise gaucho who helped keep them together....

Audio.(Review)
April 1, 2000... The Guitar of the Pampas (#7253) This recording features Argentine dance styles in the Pampas tradition. Audio Forum, Guilford, Connecticut, (800) 243-1234