Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

It’s inevitable. I actually had to go to class today. Why did I have to break my 20 year streak of never going to school in July? First of all, I had my first real commute using public transportation. I walked to the metro, took the metro one stop, then took the micro or bus about 35 minutes east, still very much in the city, and then walked a bit to campus. It total, it took me 45 minutes to get to the main campus of La Chile (Universidad de Chile). Every class I went to today was just to check it out and see if I want to take it. I’ll be doing that for the next week or so until I figure out exactly what classes I can/want to take. My first class of the semester was Transgresiones Sociales, Criminalización, y la locura a traves la historia de Chile, or Social transgressions, crime, and insanity through the history of Chile. Interesting right? I assume it will be, but I highly doubt I’ll take the class. First of all, my friend Courtney and I were the ONLY students in the class. Apparently older Chilean students don’t go to class the first day or something. Second, the professor seemed nice, but not too excited to have two gringas, with an undetermined level of fluency in her lecture/discussion based class of only 12 almost graduating seniors.

Next Courtney and I went to Historia Sócial de Latinoamerica. This also sounded really interesting and I sure it was except that I couldn’t understand the professor. He spoke clearly enough, but so fast that he could probably fuel a small motor. Imagine Mr. Jewel (history teacher at my old high school- I think Jamie will have him this year?) in Spanish. So unfortunately I don’t think I’ll take that class either.

After that came Literature Española Medieval. Sounds boring right? The teacher was very well organized, class well attended, and she even read the syllabus out load to the class despite the fact we were holding it in our hands. All that and she spoke slowly and clearly. Plus, at the end of class, the TA asked all the extranjeros to come talk to her. She asked us for our email addresses and told us that she would keep in special contact with us to ensure that we were able to keep up with the material. She was very friendly and within 1 hour, we had gotten an email from her with all the materials we went over in class. So despite the fact that I’m not a huge fan of Medieval Lit., I think I might take the class.

After almuerzo, the last class I could handle for the day was Poesia Chileana Contemporeana or Contemporary Chilean Poetry. I thought it was be a fun class because all the students seemed friendly, my age, and it was small. The professor spoke very slowly and clearly, but it was so boring I don’t’ think I can take an entire semester of it. But we’ll see. If I really need another class, I might have to take it.

After class I went and hung out at Courtney’s house. She lives in a really pretty neighborhood in a two story house. It’s quite a change from my urban apartment. I used her internet to email my Spanish professor at Tulane to hopefully get some advice to narrow down what classes I should take. After the 35 minute trek home, I went to mass, than had dinner with Olga. We ate slowly and talked for about an hour. We shared scar stories: I told her about breaking my wrist and she told me about the huge scar she has on her elbow from when she fell down some stairs when she was 17. She told me how it got really infected and swollen and nothing they did could easy the pain. We then talked about times in our lives when we’ve felt very close to God. She has some amazing stories; it’s no wonder she is so faithful. I feel so blessed to have her as a role model and care taker. It’s like I have my own personal spiritual guide with a new lesson or advice every night! I told her how I’m stressed out about what classes to take and she told me that since I am a prayerful woman, everything will work out fine. Remember, she said, that no one said it would be easy, but everything will work out if you continue praying.

With that in mind, I am going to class tomorrow at La Católica (Universidad de Católica) from 10 am to 6 pm, one theology class after another to decide which one (maybe two?) I want to take. From there, I am going to work out my schedule. I figure that I’d might as well take advantage of the fact that I can take theology classes and if that is the base of my schedule, everything else should fall into place.

P.S. Happy Feast Day of St. Ignacious (sp?) of Loyola to all my family (Sara) and friends (Compass kids) at Jesuit institutions. I thought of you today at mass!