The Med Students Strike

Today I got to school, but instead of having class we had a protest! All the med students were protesting because the university raised their tuition without telling them. We protested for a 3 hours before the university caved and lowered the prices again. It was pretty cool.


Protesting with the best of them.


Making Confetti.

Today Was a Good Day

Today I had Biochemistry lab, which wasn't the best. I was, however, happy that I could keep up with the rest of the kids. From the class I went to the post office to pick up my Easter package. Nothing beats candy (thanks Mom & Dad). Then I went home and checked my email. I got my return flight information. I'll be coming home June 3rd at 7:46 PM if anybody wants to come meet me, I fly into South Bend. Today was a pretty good day.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Hoy (Oy) (Today)

Univeristy, Possible Side Effects: Exhaustion

I had my first lab for Anatomy yesterday. I nearly vomited from the stench of dead bodies. I thought the bodies we would be getting would be somewhat recently deceased. They aren't. It looks like they've been dissected two or three times before. My groups body has no head; just a stump with tendon, nerves, arteries, and whatever else coming out of it.

Today was the first day of actual dissection. Only three people at a time can dissect. The teacher chose the first two people off the list and me. I didn't do too badly when it came to skinning the guy, but I wasn't the best at figuring out what was fat and what was nerve. Tomorrow is the test over everything in the arm; nerves, muscles, bones, arteries, and veins. I have yet to figure out the names of any of those. There are about a hundred different things I need to know for tomorrow.

On top of it all, I still smell like dead guy. Yesterday I washed my hands 9 times before the smell went away.

I'm absolutely exhausted.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Hueso (Way So) (Bone)

I've started the real university classes now. The orientation period is over and now I have to do complex chemistry problems which I don't understand. On the bright side another exchange student joined medicine so atleast somebody else knows how hard it is. The materials are going to cost me an arm and a leg, but I'll walk away with my own lab coat.

Life is getting to be pretty routine again. Nothing like a school schedule to keep my going to bed at 9 and waking up at 6.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: mandil (mahn deal) (apron/lab coat)

This So Beats High School

Remember back in October and November when I wrote about how I hated high school because nobody ever talked to me? Well, University here is not at all like that. My first day I made five new friends. They coming over on Sunday and we're going to watch ER, Grey's Anatomy, Nip/Tuck, and House. A whole day of medical shows with friends, can't beat that. Plus being in class keeps me from spending a lot of money.

And we got a new maid (the old one went back at the end of summer). She's a little older than the last one 14 or 15 I would say. And she goes to high school for a four hours at night. So overall, not as a cruel of a situation as having the last one.

Things are really good right now. I'm happy.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Ahorrar (Ah Or `r´) (To Save Money)

University here I come!

I got in! It's official. I gave my schedule today, I get my student ID tomorrow, and I start classes on Monday. I'm excited. The rector was really nice and he did a lot to get us in. And two of my host cousins are in the medicine program there and promised to help me study. Things are going well. I'm going to buy my school supplies tomorrow.

Oh and sorry for the grotesque pictures in the last post. I couldn't resist, you guys wouldn't believe me if I just told you!

-Christopher

Learn Spanish: asco (ahs co) (gross)

Majes: Round Two

I went to my family's farm in Majes, again. I went with my host mom, cousin, aunt and uncles. It was my aunt's birthday and we got up at 5am to drive two hours to eat breakfast with her. There were 7 of us in a 5 person car. Which was not safe or comfortable. We had fish for breakfast (I hate fish) and guinea pig for lunch. I had a good time overall. Here are some pictures of the guinea pigs:

Working Hard So I Can Hardly Work

The last couple days I've been working super hard with two friends to try and get into the university here. First we had to write a letter stating we wanted to take courses there, present it to the Head of Admissions. He told us the letter alone wasn't good enough; we needed a letter from Rotary. So we wrote a letter from Rotary and asked our club president to sign it. But he said he wanted to write his own. The letter is now done and we have to go back and see the Head of Admissions, again. And they told us that we wouldn't be considered students, we'd be "student observers." Which is okay, because it means I don't get grades or have to take exams.

In other news, I am quitting my job at the English institute today. Even if I don't get into the university I'll have to go back to high school. So I won't have time for teaching.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Carta (Car Tah) (Letter)