El sistema más ineficiente

Alice, Allyson, and I eating Chilean pastries

This week I became fully exposed to the Chilean university system of inefficiency. Unlike most universities in the US, students here do not buy their books. Instead, they photocopy the pages that are assigned for that night. In most courses, the assignment for each class is from a different book. In some cases, the professor will leave a folder of readings at the photocopy station and you have to go ask for them to be copied and then pay. But in the cases where the professor doesn't leave the readings, you have to go check out the book from the library (usually only available for an hour because it is on reserve) and then take it to the photocopy station to get copied and return for it later. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that every student has to go through this process instead of having all the readings given in class. As far as printing goes, there are computer labs where you can

go but you have to bring your paper and stand in line to give it to the person working at the printer. When you get to the front, you give them the paper, log-on to another computer to make sure you are only printing yours, and then the person hands you your printed documents and your excess paper. I'm definitely not used to having to have a lot of time to print my assignments, but I sure learned this quickly. One of the strangest things about the university is that backpacks are not permitted within the library so you have to leave it in a locker when you enter.

As for my classes, I'm taking five. There are three at La Catolica- 1. Education, Society, and Culture (education) , 2. The Family: Changes and Continuity (sociology) and 3. Swimming II. At the Universidad de Chile I'm taking one course that is called Youth vs. Drugs, Uses and Abuses. I'm also taking one course with CIEE on human rights. I really like all of my courses even though it is hard to understand everything that people say. Generally, the professors are much easier to understand than the people that talk in class. As for my swimm

ing class, I really enjoy it because most people have only been swimming for a semester and I'm finally one of the fastest. It is definitely a bit of a confidence booster which is helpful because I'm often feeling lost with the languag

e.

This week in my free time, I went to an exercise dance class and a yoga class. The yoga class was hard to understand so I had to keep my eyes open and just watch everyone else. It was all elderly women and they were all impressed by my ability to speak and go to a yoga class in a foreign country.

Many people have asked me for a report of the McDonalds trip. All I can say is that I'm glad it's over! Even though we could have easily taken a bus, we took a taxi which the five of us could barely fit into. When we got there, I was very confused because my host mom asked me if I wanted a vegetarian sandwich (not too sure why she thought they'd have that??). I said I'd just have a parfait and juice. She asked me if I wanted a soda and when I said no, she said "how about sprite? It's just like water with bubbles." All of them got happy meals and argued over who should get what toy. When I said I didn't need a toy, they looked at m

e like I was crazy.

I've never experienced so many people trying to get onto a metro at the same time as I did last Friday during rush hour. The people that want to get on often don't want

to let the people getting off to exit first. While I was waiting to get on with the mob of people, this very short lady was trying to get off but couldn't, and started yelling "estoy viviendo

en un mundo de huevónes communistas." (I'm living in a world of communist assholes). It was hilarious because everyone waiting to get on started to laugh but she was very serious.

During my class on Friday, I signed the attendance list and handed it to Tami, the girl sitting next to me. Upon seeing my last name, she turned to me and said "Are you Jewish?" When I said yes, she said "no way! me too!" I really couldn't believe it because I didn't know that Jews living in Santiago would choose to go to a Catholic school. We were both excited to find a commonality and she invited me to her house that night for Shabbat dinner. Tami and her boyfriend picked me up at my house and brought me to her appartment which is only about a 10 minute drive from where I live. The part of her extended family that lives in Santiago (about 20 people) has Shabbat dinner together every week. It was hard to understand them but it was really nice to be so welcomed by a Jewish family here. Of course, there was lots of food, talking, and laughter.

On Saturday night, my host sister invited me to go out with her, her boyfriend, and one of her friends. When I was waiting for her to get ready, my host brother that is 11 entered my room to tell me that she is ready to go. When I said so I am I, he said, "Pero, te faltas un poco maquillaje" (but you lack a little makeup). It was absolutely hilarious coming from him and I had to explain that it is okay for a girl to go out without lots of makeup. We had a great time dancing and it was nice to be with Chileans who know how to get around with any doubts. On Sunday I made cookies from scratch for my family. There were all very excited since it is such a novely that they ate the entire batch. They said, "encantamos las galletas gringas!" (we love gringa cookies!).