Further Records

When night falls in the city of Buenos Aires, on 9 de Julio Avenue, it is inevitable not to stop for a moment in front of the obelisk, contemplate it for a second, and sigh in awe of its majesty.

It’s impossible to think of the city without its obelisk, that icon built to commemorate the fourth centenary of the founding of Buenos Aires. Yes, you heard that right, Buenos Aires is over 400 years old! Its first foundation was in the year 1536.

But did you know that at first the neighbors opposed it and wanted to tear it down?

Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead with your English practice.

This imposing monument was inaugurated on May 23rd, 1936, in the same place where the church of San Nicolás de Bari was located. Fun fact, the church was the first place where the Argentine flag was raised!

Just like the Eiffel Tower for Paris or the Statue of Liberty for New York, the obelisk is undoubtedly the undisputed emblem for the “porteños”... but not everything was “rosy” from the beginning. There is a very curious fact: its construction was strongly resisted by the neighbors who did not agree with it. “It is aesthetically ugly”, said those who were used to contemplating other kinds of architecture. Even three years after its inauguration, the Deliberating Council sanctioned its demolition, arguing safety, aesthetic and economic reasons. Finally, that decision was questioned by the president and the demolition was suspended.

Thank goodness they didn't demolish it! Today, after so many years of agreements and disagreements, it has become one of the main meeting points for demonstrations and celebrations. We cannot fail to mention that December 2022, when more than 5 million Argentines (yes, you heard right, more than 5 million Argentines) gathered there to celebrate the long-awaited 'third star'. The Argentine National Soccer Team became world champion for the third time, after 36 years, and naturally, we celebrated at the obelisk. 

In terms of structure, we can mention that it is 67.5 meters high, with a staircase of 206 steps and 7 landings to reach its viewpoint. Unfortunately for Argentines, this is not the tallest obelisk, much less the first in history. This is one coronation of glory we cannot take.

So, shall we talk a little history? The truth is that these imposing structures emerged as an emblem of ancient Egypt. These huge pillars of a single piece have exerted an irresistible fascination for different civilizations throughout history.

Today, perhaps the most famous contemporary obelisk is the Washington Monument, dedicated to the first U.S. president, George Washington. In Houston, Texas, the 'world's tallest' obelisk sits (or stands, rather) at 172.92 meters: the San Jacinto Monument. 

Maybe the obelisk of Buenos Aires is not the first, nor the tallest, but if you ask an Argentinean he will surely tell you that it is 'the most beautiful in the world', because the obelisk is, without a doubt, the materialization of the soul of Buenos Aires.

You’ve been listening to Further Records, a podcast by Further Corporate.

In this episode, we used certain phrases associated with today’s topic! Have you heard of these before?

• Landing: A platform inbetween flights of stairs. Usually these separate long stairs, and give an opportunity to take a break.
• Viewpoint: A section in a tall building where there is a window you can look out of
• Aesthetic: The set of rules that supposedly dictate what is beautiful and what isn’t
• Demonstration: An event in which a large number of people concentrate in public for political reasons. A form of demonstration is a protest, for example.
• Undoubtedly: A word which means “without a doubt” or “certainly”
• Undisputed: A word which means “not disputed”, “not questioned”, something that is accepted as fact.

To keep boosting your English journey, you can listen to more of our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also review the vocabulary on our YouTube channel, Further Corporate.

If there’s any other topic you’d like to know more about, send us a message on instagram! It’s @furthercorporate.

See you next time!

Sources:

•  https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/otros-establecimientos/obelisco
• https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2023/05/23/el-obelisco-cumple-87-anos-la-historia-del-monumento-que-fue-construido-donde-se-izo-por-primera-vez-la-bandera-argentina/
• https://historia.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/obeliscos-modernos-mas-alla-egipto-faraonico_20493
• https://historia.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/obeliscos-emblemas-antiguo-egipto_8740
• https://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/Discover/Monument/

Music and SFX:

'Moonlight' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Trio for Piano Violin and Viola Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Xylophone for cartoon (8) by sergeeo -- https://freesound.org/s/202583/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

Laid Back Guitars Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

TRANSCRIPT:

Picture this: You’re having a delicious lunch with your best friend. It’s wonderful, you laughed, you gossiped, you talked about your life issues, you caught up after god-knows-how-long! You think out loud “we should do this more often”. Thankfully this time you picked a nice spot, because last time it wasn’t so good. Your friend paid last time, so this time you pick up the bill. When you open your wallet, you notice you have no cash! Thankfully, you have a credit card.

You have this benefit in the 21st century. But 100 years ago? forget it!

Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead with your English practice. I’m your host, Forest.

Turns out, this EXACT lunch situation happened in 1949 to a man called Frank McNamara. Except, there were no credit cards. The New York businessman was having lunch with some clients, when he opened his wallet and found himself completely penniless. With great shame, he had to call his wife to cover for him, which made him quite embarrassed. That’s when he came up with an idea that would change the entire world as we know it: The credit card… for restaurants.

Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know? It takes time for a new technology to get popular, and credit cards are no exception. The first credit cards were store-specific. Frank McNamara created the Diners’ Club card. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a card for people who dine at restaurants!

One year later, he tested the card at that exact restaurant. He gave the waiter a cardboard card, which had the phrase Diners’ Club. The way it worked is almost the same as how cards work today. His company paid the restaurants, and the people who used the cards then paid Diners’ Club.

At first, the card was not universal at all, but McNamara was a clever businessman. He got many other restaurants to work with the network. Then, the company collaborated with hotels, airports, and so on.

In just 3 years, Diners Club had over 40 thousand members, and had gotten approval to be used in the UK, Canada, Cuba, and Mexico. This made it the first international charge card.

In 1958, American Express created their own cards. Did you know American Express used to be a transportation company? I didn’t, but now the name makes sense. Around this time they got the idea to be a money services company. First it was money orders, then travellers’ checks. This was a safer way for people to transport large amounts of money. In 1958, American Express created their first card. The difference this time was that the merchants paid Amex a small fee for every payment. This was the first form of what is now known as interchange fees.

Later, that same year, the Bank of America created BankAmericard (I know, super creative name). They created a card with a pre-approved limit of $300, and gave it for free to 60 thousand people… Which was a terrible idea, as a lot of people used it for illegal activities. But the idea was good, and many years later, BankAmericard would change its name to Visa.

Why Visa? Because the name is easy to pronounce in multiple languages. Until that point, the cards were used worldwide, and had different names and logos everywhere. With the name change, they began to be more easily recognized. And to be honest, who doesn’t know about Visa?

BankAmericard was hugely successful, and a group of Californian banks noticed it. In 1966, they created the Interbank Card Association. This was the first card accepted by several banks instead of just one bank. The Intercard was the second most popular credit card at the time, and is still the second most popular today? You may recognize it by its new name: Mastercard.

Since then, credit cards have remained mostly the same. Most of the changes were in technology and security. But the concept remained the same, and the use of credit cards is almost universal now.

Who would’ve thought that a simple card could change the entire world in just a few years? And it all started with one lunch, and one lost wallet. Just make sure to pay your card on time, otherwise you’ll have to call your wife again.

You’ve been listening to Further Records, a podcast by Further Corporate.

In this episode, we used certain phrases associated with today’s topic! Have you heard of these before?

• Penniless: Extremely poor, it means you don’t even have a penny in your wallet!
• Rome wasn’t built in a day: An expression which means that great things take time.
• Fee: A payment that must be done in order to complete a service.
• To pick up the bill: When you’re in a restaurant, the person that picks up the bill is the one who pays
• To cover for him: When you cover for someone, it means you get them out of trouble.
• Traveler’s check: A type of check which can be accepted in many countries, and can be replaced if stolen.

If you would like to continue boosting your English journey, you can see more of our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

We want to hear from you too! If there’s any topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast, let us know on our instagram account! It’s @furtherlanguges.

Remember to leave us 5 stars wherever you listen to the podcast! It helps us a lot.

Thank you for listening.

Music and SFX:

Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

 [Transcript]

Sweet, creamy, and oh-so-irresistible—dulce de leche is a beloved treat that has captured hearts across Latin America and beyond.

Made simply from milk and sugar, this caramel-like spread is the result of slow cooking over low heat, where the sugars gradually caramelize, giving it that signature golden-brown color.

Dulce de leche is a staple in countless kitchens, used to enhance everything from morning toast to decadent cakes and pastries.

Although for Argentinians it’s more than just a treat— it's a symbol of identity, tradition, and a way to boost creativity with that particular sweetness that reminds you of something called home.

Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead with your English practice. I’m your host, Forest

Whether it’s filling alfajores, topping a flan, or oozing out of a churro, dulce de leche adds a touch of sweetness to any dish.

There are many legends about the origins of dulce de leche: one of them places it in Argentina and dates back to 1829 when the then governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel Rosas, and his opponent, General Juan Lavalle, were meeting. That day Rosas' cook got distracted: she left some milk on the fire and it burned, giving birth to dulce de leche. However, this is just a legend, historians assure that can be traced back to many more countries outside of the ones around the Rio de La Plata. According to the story, this event happened on October 11th, which is the reason it’s celebrated as the international day of Dulce de Leche.

In 2002, The Argentinian government declared Dulce de Leche an Argentinian cultural heritage, and everybody was happy with that!

You wish.

Uruguay considered that THEY were the people who created dulce de leche, where legend says that a convent of nuns in Montevideo created it. This difference of opinion sparked a small fight between the two countries. In the end, a joint Committee between Argentina and Uruguay ended up deciding that Dulce de Leche would be considered to be indigenous of both countries. At last, there was peace in South America.

But one historian even said that the true origin is in Indonesia! According to the theory, it was then exported to the Philippines. When Spain invaded the Philippines, they took the recipes. The rest, as they say, is history. When they then invaded America, the recipe was propagated until it reached the shores of the La Plata river.

Legends and theories aside, one thing that is certain is that Argentinians are obsessed with this treat. Recent studies show that in Argentina the average person eats 2 kilograms of dulce de leche per year, one of the highest figures in the world. And even then, you know, I see that number and think to myself: that’s not much at all really!

According to the latest industrial survey, there are 112 companies in Argentina that manufacture dulce de leche, and they create all kinds of recipes: brownies, pancakes, and of course we should include the beloved “cones” which are little cookies with a nice dollop of dulce de leche on top, and covered in chocolate. Decadent, really.

One of the most famous recipes, which is included in the list of the best cakes in the world, is the Chocotorta. But honestly, chocotorta deserves its own episode! For now, we’ll just say the love is justified.

“But what about vegans?!” I hear you say. And it’s true, Dulce de leche is made with milk and sugar. However, you can simply change the milk, and you’ll be fine, don’t worry. You can also buy vegan dulce de leche, but those are usually quite expensive.

Truth be told, the best recipes in the world are quite simple. Naturally, so is dulce de leche. But it’s great because it’s simple! It’s versatile, it works with a lot of recipes, and it’s popular around the whole world! When I was a kid, I never thought that it would be popular in the United States, but life is full of surprises!

Argentinians are proud people, and we’re incredibly proud of our food especially. But another quality is that we love sharing. After all, one of our favourite drinks is mate (which, yes, we’ll also talk about in another episode). There’s nothing that makes us more happy than sharing this with the world. Because, let’s be serious, have you tried it? I want a spoonful right now, actually!

You’ve been listening to Further Records, a podcast by Further Corporate.

In this episode, we used certain phrases associated today’s topic! Have you heard of these before?

• Caramelization: The process of cooking sugar so that it transforms in colour and flavour, into a dark brown colour and thick consistency.
• Dollop: A small amount of a soft material, usually food. A dollop is not usually a consistent shape.
• Decadent: Something that gives you excessive pleasure
• Versatile: Something or someone that can do many different things
• The rest is history: A phrase that means "you already know this story" or that the conclusion is obvious
• Staple: As an adjective, staple means something that is regular and common

To keep boosting your English journey, you listen to more of our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’re also on YouTube, it’s Further Corporate!

If there’s any other topic you’d like to know more about, send us a message on instagram! It’s @furtherlanguges.

See you next time!

Music and SFX:

Himno Nacional Argentino from El Cancionero Patrio (https://elcancioneropatrio.com/)



Music: “Tango de Manzana” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

“World Vice” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

“Cumbia No Frills” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

[Transcript]

It's the very first official act of this event that happens every 4 years. Runners cross thousands of kilometres in a relay race to hand over this crucial part of sports history. This is the Olympic Torch! 

Most of us know the history of Ancient Greece and the Olympiads, but what about the torch itself? Its history isn't as ancient as you may think! 

Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead of Your English practice. I'm your host, Forest.

We've all seen illustrations of ancient torches carrying the symbolic flame of the Olympics. It's one of the oldest images we see from the second we learn about the Olympiads. 

Surely, this event has been in place from the very first games, right? Well, you're in for a surprise, because I sure was.

The Olympic flame was first used in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Let me say that again. 1936... in Berlin. Ring a bell?

Alright, this episode will NOT be about Nazi Germany, but we need to know about the context, ok? 

The Olympic flame was the idea of architect Jan Wils, who constructed the stadium for the 1936 games. Hitler (yes)... he was very fond of Ancient Greek gods and culture, and wished to use them to his own benefit. 

Alright, that’s enough World War Two history. 

The NICE meaning of the Olympic Torch is that it's a link to Ancient Greece, where the original games were held. 

During ancient times, every time the games were held, it was a celebration for the king of the Gods, Zeus. And in his honor, a ceremonial flame was lit. The goddess of the Hearth, Hestia, was the one who kept flames secure. And so, thanks to her, the flame continues to burn throughout the entire Olympic Games. Taking the flame from Olympia to wherever the competitions are being held is also a symbolic heritage of the legacy of the original athletes and ceremonies, which continue to this very day. 

Throughout history, not everyone was pleased with the symbol of the flame's original story. Like Barry Larkin, an Australian man, who pranked the Olympic flame relay in 1956. He and his college friends considered the ceremony to be too sacred considering its ties to... well, you know. So they had an idea. They grabbed a wooden chair leg, an aluminium fruit can, and a pair of underwear. Behold, the Olympic underwear torch! They lit it on fire with kerosene, and Barry began his run. 

Crossing the streets of Sydney, surrounded by a cheering crowd, he proudly presented the torch to the Mayor of the City, who took it and celebrated with him. Until somebody whispered in his ear "That's not the torch, sir". The prankster was nowhere to be found, and only revealed his identity years later. 

Nowadays, the ceremony usually goes without a hitch. 

The first runner begins the journey from Olympia, in Greece, where the torch is lit by the rays of the sun. Transportation continues across the several different countries until it reaches its destination. Normally, the torch is carried by marathon runners, but it's travelled on the London Underground, by supersonic aeroplane, and by LASER on different occasions. 

When the torch arrives, it lights the Olympic cauldron, and the Games begin! 

The designs of the torches are meant to represent the host city of those games, while also paying respect to the ancient history of the Olympics (and pretending that part never existed). However, countries always do their best to appear modern and stylish, which is why they change not only the torch, but also many other celebrations. 

This year, 2024, the Paris Olympics decided to change the concept a little bit. 

Instead of having a cauldron which actually burns, they have decided to make the first Electrical Flame for the Olympic Games. How does it work? The "smoke" is actually water mist, and the "fire" is actually 40 high-powered LED lights that flicker like fire.

At night, the “cauldron” is elevated by what seems like a helium balloon, which looks like a hot air balloon but does not burn any fuel.

There is a real fire in Paris, however. It's a lantern in the Jardins des Tuileries, with a plaque that says that "The original flame, lit in Olympia from the sun's rays, continues to glow in this lantern".

It just goes to show that no matter how much revolution we make, no matter what the purpose may be for the message, the flame of the original competition continues to glow. Both in the lantern, and in the hearts of the athletes.

You’ve been listening to Further Records, a podcast by Further Corporate.

In this episode, we used certain phrases associated with today’s topic. Have you heard of these before?

• Hearth, as in, Hestia is the goddess of the Hearth: It's the fireplace inside a home where food is cooked or the house is warmed. 
• Without a hitch: An idiom which means that something happened without issues or problems 
• Cauldron: A large bowl-shaped object, typically used like a pot. In this case, it's a bowl-shaped object which holds the fire inside it. 
• To ring a bell: It means that something sounds familiar, something you can recognise
• Heritage: Traditions or objects that continue from generation to generation
• Continue to this very day: Something that has been happening for a long time and continues to happen, as a tradition
• Truth be told: This phrase is used when you want to say a simple truth

To keep boosting your English journey, you listen to more of our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’re also on YouTube, it’s

[Transcript]

Welcome to Palacio Barolo, one of the most important landmarks in the City of Buenos Aires. Maybe you’ve heard of this building. After all, it’s over 100 years old. You’ve probably seen it and simply thought “oh, it’s just another giant old place”, but actually there’s more to it than meets the eye.

From Dante’s Inferno to government secrets, this building has more than just offices!

Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead with your English practice. I’m your host, Forest

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

The Barolo Gallery was built in 1923. Back then, it was one of the tallest buildings in Latin America. The Palace was the creation of two Italian immigrants. Luigi Barolo was a millionaire thanks to cotton farming, and he gave money for Mario Palanti to be the architect.

Their relationship was special, they met during 1910, during the Centennial celebration of the Argentine Independence. They became collaborators very quickly thanks to the interests they shared.

There is an important theory about the building. According to legend, it was created as a representation of the famous Italian poem: Dante’s Divine Comedy. It’s important to note that the architect, Palanti, never confirmed this fact. The theory was proposed in modern times by Carlos Hilger. However, when you think about it, it begins to make sense!

The Palace itself is 100 metres high, which corresponds to the 100 cantos of the Divine Comedy. It has 22 floors, which represent the 22 stanzas in the poem. And the floors themselves can be divided into the three destinations. The basement and ground levels represent Inferno. At ground level, there are 9 archways, the 9 circles of hell. The middle floors represent Purgatory. And the higher floors represent heaven. At the very top is a lighthouse. The story goes that it is the light of god. Pretty creepy, huh?

Other people argue that the Divine Comedy stuff isn’t nearly as interesting as the fact that the building is completely unique. The style is called “Eclectic”. If you’re not an architect (I’m not, I had to look it up), Eclectic basically means “there is no category for this”. 

Palanti took inspiration from a bunch of places. It was one of the most important structures made of concrete, it was influenced by gothic cathedrals, and (get this) it was inspired by a Hindu temple in India, called the Rajarani.

Unfortunately, Barolo, the millionaire, was never able to see the building get finished. He died the year before its inauguration. The architect, Palanti, had no interest in the Palace after that either, he left the country a short time later to become an architect for Mussolini. Yes, that Mussolini.

The Argentine government then sold the offices, and the rest is history. Supposedly, a few decades ago there were offices for the S.I.D.E., which is like the Argentinian C.I.A. At one point, burglars entered the building and rummaged through the furniture. The story says that they stole from the SIDE’s offices, but this was never officially confirmed.

Nowadays, people come to the Barolo to work in a huge variety of fields: Among the offices, you’ll find law firms, psychologists, and of course the coolest language services company: Further (psst, that’s us!). Yes, right there, in the middle of Purgatory, we have an office in which we offer our service called First Class Learning. 

Besides that, you can visit and spend the day sightseeing, booking a tour through their website, or have a coffee at the delicious Panera Rosa Bakery on the ground floor. There’s so much more we couldn’t tell you in this short episode, but one thing is certain: the people who take care of the building love it very much, and in 1997, it was declared a National Historical Monument of Argentina.

We may never know the truth about the secrets which are kept inside the Palace, but in the end, does it really matter?

You’ve been listening to Further Records, a podcast by Further Corporate.

In this episode, we used certain phrases associated with today’s topic. Have you heard of these before?

• Eclectic: A style that doesn’t only have one influence. It has pieces of many other styles, which do not normally go together
• Concrete: One of the most popular building materials in the world. It’s made of cement, water, and aggregates like sand or gravel
• Furniture: Bookshelves, desks, chairs, beds… you know, items which give purpose to a room
• Landmark: A site or object which is unique to a place. Its location also helps people who are lost
• Basement: The section in a building that is beneath the ground level
• Ground level: The level in a building which is at the same height as the street

To keep boosting your English journey, you listen to more of our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’re also on YouTube, it’s Further Corporate!

If there’s any other topic you’d like to know more about, send us a message on instagram! It’s @furtherlanguges.

See you next time!

Sources:

• https://www.clarin.com/ciudades/biznietos-palacio-barolo-portenos-tomas-miqueas-tharigen-savloff_0_HydLnMtvXl.html
• https://www.clarin.com/ciudades/secretos-misterios-palacio-barolo-mito-incomprobable_0_awwtSBusD.html
• https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2023/08/27/una-escultura-desaparecida-fantasmas-y-muertes-misteriosas-mitos-y-leyendas-del-historico-palacio-barolo/
• https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/radar/9-9389-2013-12-29.html
• https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2022/08/20/el-arquitecto-que-creo-el-palacio-barolo-y-su-obra-fascista-que-elogio-mussolini-y-casi-cambia-roma-para-siempre/
• https://palaciobarolo.com.ar/
• https://palaciobarolo.com.ar/palacio-barolo/divina-comedia/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20151022204341/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/131587/palacio-barolo-buenos-aires-argentina

Music and SFX:

Music: Piano Romantisme by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

AMBISONIC Fireworks Berlin NYE - cheering by Salomé_Lubczanski -- https://freesound.org/s/733778/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

"Egmont Overture" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Music: Mysterious String Quintet by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Music: Tomorrow's Times by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

[Transcript]

Once upon a time, there was a family from Europe who got on a boat. A husband and wife, seeking for better shores, rode for weeks to get to the promised land of South America. There, they hoped to build a better life.

In fact, the woman was pregnant! But… what she would never imagine, was that her baby was going to be born on the boat! The first land that baby would ever see was the soil of the recently founded Republic of Argentina.

Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead of Your English practice. I'm your host, Forest.

Tales like the one you just heard were pretty common back in the day.

Let's be honest. Everybody has a story of immigration in their family tree. Humanity has taken to new sights and territories for thousands of years! In Argentina, a large part of the population has immigrant grandparents

Nearly three million Italian immigrants came to Argentina in the late 19th century. But did you know that Argentina has a pretty big history with Irish immigration?

In the 19th century, around forty thousand immigrants from Ireland arrived in Argentina in search of a better quality of life, and many of them decided to settle in places like Buenos Aires City, Córdoba and Santa Rosa, La Pampa.

Many Irishmen and women sought to make the shores of the La Plata river into their new homes. Settlements were formed, families were raised, farms were… farmed! The whole thing, it was a huge boom in population!

Until… the end of the century. Let’s go all the way back to 1889. In those times, an Irish Archbishop published in the newspaper:

“Buenos Aires is a most cosmopolitan city into which the Revolution (...) has brought the scum of Europe(...).

I most solemnly conjure my poorer countrymen(...) never to set foot on the Argentine Republic however tempted to do so they may be by offers of a passage or an assurance of comfortable homes.”

That publication was already pretty depressing to say about our country. But then, the Dresden Affair happened. At that time, some 2000 Irish immigrants were aboard the ship named City of Dresden. Most of them unfortunately died along the way, leaving very few survivors. Some of them were children, who were left to fend for themselves on the streets of Buenos Aires. And to make things worse, everybody's luggage was completely lost, leaving them with no possessions. And it that point, farmland was increasingly worse for them.

Those who survived went back to Ireland, and the fate of most of the 1772 immigrants remains a mystery to this day. These things effectively ended any new Irish settlements in Argentina.

But, the good news is that those who remained prospered very much!

So much so that Ireland decided to open their first South American embassy right here in Argentina!

As a matter of fact, we have many famous Irish-Argentines in our history, such as: William Brown also known “Almirante Brown”, head and founder of the Argentinian Navy, and Cecilia Grierson, the first female doctor in Argentina.

These and many other Irish folk settled and became rooted in their new home. Nowadays most Irish-Argentines are fourth and fifth generation descendants. And we’ve all heard of Saint Patrick’s Day from TV shows or movies, but isn’t it so cool that we celebrate it right here in Argentina as well?

Last year, over 10,000 people partied in honor of Irish heritage. It’s a testament to how truly influential the Irish and the Argentinians have been in each other’s cultures.

All of them have a little four leaf clover placed right next to their heart.

You’ve been listening to Further Records, a podcast by Further Corporate.

In this episode, we used certain phrases associated with today’s topic! Have you heard of these before?

• Seeking better shores: This is a phrase used for people who are seeking a better quality of life by changing their circumstances. It used to literally be seeking better shores by boat, but now it’s just a figure of speech.
• Settlement: A place where a group of people settles. That is to say, they stay and try to make their lives in that place.
• To become rooted: This means that a person has gotten so comfortable that they are firm in their position. Like a tree that has grown roots, they do not wish to move.
• Once upon a time: A typical phrase that is used at the beginning of fairy tales
• Let's be honest: A phrase used for when you want to speak without limitations
• All the way back: A phrase that refers to a long time ago in the past
• To make things worse: A phrase that is used when you were already talking about something negative, and then there's something else negative
• As a matter of fact: A phrase used to replace "actually", for when you want to explain something exact.

To keep boosting your English journey, you listen to more of our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’re also on YouTube, it’s Further Corporate!

If there’s any other topic you’d like to know more about, send us a message on instagram! It’s @furtherlanguges.

See you next time!

Music and SFX:

Himno Nacional Argentino from El Cancionero Patrio (https://elcancioneropatrio.com/)

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com



“Celtic Impulse” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Episode Transcript:

Ah, the Milanesa. The classic thin cutlet of meat, washed in egg, breaded, and then fried (or baked, if you’re cutting back on oil).

This is one of the most popular foods sin Argentinian cuisine. In Argentina, over 300 million kilos of milanesa are consumed every year. What is the story of this particular meal, and what can we learn about Argentinian culture thanks to it?

Welcome to Further Records, the podcast where you can stay One Step Ahead with your English practice. I’m your host, Forest.

Our story begins with the arrival of Italian immigrants to the shores of the La Plata River. Their travels around the year 1900 brought a great amount of culture. This included food, and in those foods was the Milanesa.

The origin of the Milanesa is considered to be the “cottoletta a la milanese”, an Italian dish. Or is it? Well, according to historical documents, the true origin of the dish… is in France.

I know, I know… I didn’t want to believe it either. The oldest document that can be found regarding the recipe was in a book called “La science du maitre d’hotel”.

It was only later that it was taken to Italy, thanks to a woman named “Maria Luigia di Parma”, who at the time was the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. She lived longer than her husband, and then became duchess of several Italian regions. She took her French cooks with her, of course, and as they say, the rest is history. It’s called the “French revolution cutlet”. The original was fried in butter, as is usual in French cuisine. In Italy, it was changed for oil.

It is not only not originally Italian but also not exclusively Argentinian. Because Italian immigrants came to a variety of countries in Latin America, it’s popular not only in Argentina but also in Uruguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay, and Mexico.

Still, Argentina makes the best ones. Sorry not sorry! You don’t have to believe me. One of our restaurants was awarded for having the Best Milanesa Napolitana in the World.

That said, Milanesa Napolitana is a funny name. Milanesa means it’s from Milan, and Napolitana means it’s from Naples, right? Well, turns out it was never made in Naples. It was created in a restaurant right here in Buenos Aires, which was simply called Nápoli.

Whatever the truth may be, the Milanesa is one of the most Argentinian dishes to exist. We have competitions, we’ve made it into a sandwich, we’ve created the biggest Milanesa in the world (which also required a gigantic deep-fryer, specifically for the biggest milanesa in the world, by the way). Anyway, we’ve also created veggie variations for our friends who can’t eat meat.

It’s a symbol of Argentina itself: A creation inspired by neighbors, made with our personal touch. It creates community, it’s fun to make, and almost everyone has a few in their freezer, just in case they don’t know what to cook that day.

And I hope you too, wherever you are, have a milanesa close by. Thank you, Milanesa.

You’ve been listening to Further Records, a podcast by Further Corporate.

In this episode, we used certain phrases associated with today’s topic! Have you heard of these before?

• Cutlet: A thin slice of meat
• Egg wash: The act of coating a food in egg, usually to then apply breadcrumbs
• Breading: Breadcrumbs which are added to the outside of a food, which is then fried
• Cuisine: The dishes and meals which are characteristic of a specific culture
• Recipe: The steps a cook needs to follow to create a meal
• According to: Used when talking about a specific source of information
• Regarding: Used when talking about something specific
• Thanks to: This means "something happened because of this"
• Whatever the truth may be: This phrase mean "this can be true or false, it doesn't matter.

To keep boosting your English journey, you listen to more of our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’re also on YouTube, it’s Further Corporate!

If there’s any other topic you’d like to know more about, send us a message on instagram! It’s @furtherlanguges.

See you next time!

Sources:

• https://www.losandes.com.ar/la-verdad-de-la-milanesa-esta-es-la-receta-original-del-plato-favorito-de-los-argentinos/
• https://www.ambito.com/lifestyle/premiado-taste-atlas-el-restaurante-argentino-que-tiene-la-mejor-milanesa-napolitana-del-mundo-n5764663
• https://misionesonline.net/2024/04/26/milanesa-gigante-que-llevo-a-posadas-al-record-guinness/
• https://elpais.com/gastronomia/el-comidista/2019/10/16/articulo/1571235264_341430.html
• https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotoletta
• https://st.ilsole24ore.com/art/food/2016-10-28/la-cotoletta-milanese-regalo-rivoluzione-francese-132605.shtml?uuid=ADS4DDlB

Music and SFX:

Music: “Tango de Manzana” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

“Parisian” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

“Funin and Sunin” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Further Corporate presents: Further Records!

Do you want a podcast for learning English that is ACTUALLY INTERESTING? Then Further Records is for you!

Learn about popular knowledge in short episodes which develop your vocabulary and learning skills! Get better at English and learn English at the same time!

Every episode includes a learning section which helps you understand phrases and vocabulary. Focus on the stories and enjoy learning English!