Paros and Tomas

Hey y'all,

Once again, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile is in PARO - in other words, stopped - no class - go enjoy yourself, you international students. Actually, this time it's in TOMA - or taken over by the students. When I got to Valpo. today, I found students gathered outside of the school, lots of desks and chairs piled up against the front gates of the Casa Central and the other building I have class in today (Gimpert), and the usual signs up about assemblies to talk about public financing of education, etc. So, I basically don't have class today or tomorrow, as far as I know. Usually, there's a back door open to get in, and we still have class, but this time none were open. Another difference was the lack of very many police - there were just a few carabiñeros on the corner. Other times, you can spot quite a few of their military trucks, and carabiñeros in various places with their shields, etc. This time just 3 or so on the corner, in a regular cop vehicle.

Anyway - so I'm debating on how to spend this once again unexpected free time. I just found out that Alberto, my friend from Santiago, is coming to visit this weekend, so I don't think I can do a full long weekend trip, so I'm contemplating a day trip tomorrow or some such activity. I also need to write a paper for the class I was supposed to have today, read and write for Monday, and figure out what our group that works with kids on Mondays is going to do on Monday, since we can't meet today to plan. Hmm - sorry y'all, now I'm just thinking "out loud".

So, basically, I was told that there are lots of protests and stuff in Latin America, but somehow I didn't really believe it, or maybe just didn't realize it would end up being mainly students doing the protesting - all of the protests/manifestations/marches/class boycotts/etc. that I've experienced or heard of have been from the university students, except maybe on May 21, when I think there were also protests by "workers" outside the congress building.

I hadn't mentioned on here yet either the craziness that we had with class back in March with the Pope's death and Semana Novata. Basically, one week, we were supposed to not have any classes, so the freshmen can all party, but the Pope got sick and then died, so they went ahead with class and postponed the parties until a week or two afterward - except for no class the Monday after he died. So, that week, I had regular classes, but my classes for int'l students were suspended, because so many were traveling. Then, when they had Semana Novata, I had no regular classes, but int'l student classes still met.

And then of course there are always occasions when teachers have to go to funerals, etc., and so there is no class. Basically, you never really know if you're going to have class or not. But, somehow we "cover" all the material, and will end up with real credit at the end.

Good times in Chile. Living in the moment and going with the flow, I suppose, are the lessons learned here. Well, definitely, they're lessons I've been learning here. However humorous, frustrating, etc. they may be.

Everyone have a wonderful time with your lives, however predictable or ever-changing they may be at the moment.

Love, Jessica