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)

University

Well, it's getting time for school to start back up around here. Instead of going back to high school here, Rotary gave us permission to go to the university. So, I'm in the process of enrolling. I want to do medicine, but since I'm a free student and not a med student I don't know if I'll be able to do that. I really want to, because you get a cadaver and you have to cut it up. Which sounds gross, but so cool. That would definitely beat the anatomy class they offer in my high school. If I can't do that however, I guess I'll do something like Tourism classes or cooking. I just want something fun and interesting.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Antomía (An at oh MEE ah) (Anatomy)

What Have I Done?

My Lent sacrifice was to give up English. Well, not completely there are some rules.
1) I can speak English to people who don't speak Spanish
2) I can speak English in my English Institute
3) I can speak English in Emergency Situations (ie fire! or you're being robbed)
4) Everytime I say a word in English it costs 50 centavos. And if I use the same word again it goes up by 50 cents.

I started this yesterday. And it was hard. Not that hard, but I was so tired I went to bed at 9. I hope I make it through all of this.

-Chris

Learn Spanish) Cuaresma (Kwor Es mah) (Lent)

Carnaval

Today was the last day of Carnaval. And it was huge! There were hundreds of people in the streets with water balloons, buckets, oil, paint, silly string, and baby powder. It was crazy. I wish this were a holiday we celebrated in the US. I loved it.

Wednesday starts Lent. And I'm giving up speaking English. Not entirely though. I'm still teaching, so I have to speak English for that. And if I talk to anyone who doesn't understand Spanish I'll speak to them in English. But other than that I'm using Spanish. I think this will really take my language skills to the next level.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Renunciar (Ray Noon C R) (To Quit)

The Beach

Sorry I haven't updated in eight days. I was going to do it before I left Arequipa, but I didn't have anything remotely interesting to talk about. But I do now. I didn't go to Puno (Lake Titicaca) because Rotary postponed the trip due to such a small number of interested students. But I did go to Mollendo (a beach town) with my host family. There were 22 of us! We shared a tiny hostel with three rooms for 3 days and 2 nights. The first day I spent hours and hours in the ocean; the waves were huge! But then I got very badly sunburnt and couldn't go out in the sun. So I spent the entire second day at the beach sitting under an umbrella watching the waves. And on the second night my cousins and I went to a club. It was dead so we went back to the hostel and talked til 3 in the morning. Then we got up at 6 the next morning to go have breakfast and go to the beach again. I did swim a little but for no more than an hour. After the beach we had lunch and headed home to Arequipa. I had a really good time. And I think I really needed the vacation, I was so bored before I left. I didn't take my camera, because a friend of mine did and her's was stolen so I didn't want to risk it. So there are no pictures. Only memories.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Quemado (Kay Mah Doh) (Burnt)

Sick

Yesterday I went to meet my friends for brunch. And I started feeling really tired. And in the taxi ride home my head started hurting. And by the time I was home I had a full blown migraine. I spent 15 hours in bed. Today I feel better, but Yesterday was the worst day ever.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Cansado (cahn sah doh) (tired)

Addition: I watched the Superbowl live here and it was awesome!

I'm Getting into Shape

Yesterday I went to this olypmic pool in town with my friends Duncan (US) and Georgia (Australia) and we decided that would start going everyday. So we went and bought caps and goggles last night and this morning met outstide the pool at 6am. It was hard! I'm out of shape I guess. I've gained 15 pounds, mostly in the gut, and I'm determined to work them all off before I come home. I think this will work because we're going as a group so it's not as easy to give up on.

I'm going to Puno (Lake Titicaca) from February 9th to the 14th. So hopefully I'll have some pretty awesome pictures to show you all.

Well, I've got work to do so I'll try to update later.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Nadar (Nah Dar) (To Swim)

New Spanish Lessons

My new Spanish lessons are going pretty well. It's only my second day, but I like my teacher. He's a genius. The man knows 6 languages and plays 4 instruments. The classes are a lot better than the ones I was paying for. I'm reading some Spanish books by Peruvian authors. Pretty interesting stuff.

Tonight the Rotary Club vice president leaves for Canada for a month. She's pretty much the only one whom we're in constant contact with. After I go to say goodbye a group of exchange students are going to the movies for cheap movie night.

I have to go now because I have an English lesson to give in a half hour.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: media hora (meh dee uh or uh) (half hour)

Things Are About to Get Crazy

I took a second job at another English institute. I'm doing a language exchange with them. I teach two hours a day of English and in return I get two free hours a day of Spanish. I'm also going to have more classes starting Feb. 5 at Translex (my first institute). So three days a week I will have 12 hour days and two days a week I will have 4 hour days. Crazy.

My new debit card came today. So now I don't have to worry as much about money. I also get my Rotary allowance tomorrow. So I should be set for a while. February 11, Rotary is taking us on a trip to Lake Titicaca. I'm pretty excited about that.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Ocupado (Oh coo pahd oh) (Busy)

A New Arrival

Today the new exchange student arrived from Australia. Her name is Georgia, and my friend Duncan and I picked her up with Rotary at the airport. Then we went to the Vice President's house and had breakfast. PANCAKES! It was delicious. After breakfast Rotary asked Duncan and I to show her the city and to help her get ahold of the airline to get her lost luggage.

This whole experience reminded me of when I got here. How nervious I was and how new everything was. And I remember getting here and having the previous exchange students speaking perfect Spanish. I was so jealous and wished I could have spoken like them. And then after awhile I became nervous that I wouldn't be able to speak Spanish like the could. But I've now been here the same length of time and I'm proud to say I can. I'm more than halfway through my exchange. I remember getting here and knowing the Australians only had 4 months and thinking it seemed so long. And the time flew. I hope it doesn't fly quite as fast for me.

-Chris

P.S. I think my external hard drive is broken and I might have lost all my pictures, videos, and documents. I hope it's repairable.

Learn Spanish: Panqueques (Pahn Kay Kays) (Pancakes)

Finally A Break!

I've been working and going to Spanish lessons nonstop for about two weeks now. But all my English classes ended and now I only teach on Mondays and Fridays. I still have Spanish lessons everyday, but only for two hours. Next week I'll be cutting my Spanish lessons back to six hours a week so I will have time and money.

I've been watching a lot of movies. In the past week I've seen 6. I've basically quit watching TV (except CNN and BBC News in the morning).

I finally weighed myself the other day and I've gained 15 pounds since I got here.

It's been nearly five months since I left the US and I have approximately 4 1/2 months until I return. Two of those months will I'll be on vacation. Then 2 1/2 months of whatever Rotary decides to make me do (High school, Univiersity, Institute, etc.). And then another three months of vacation.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: libras (Lee Brahs [like zebra with an 'L']) (Pounds)

Things Are Looking Up

Teaching is turning out to be fun. I've only taught three classes, but I already like it. I was really nervous my first day and I hadn't planned enough for the class to do. But now I've got the hang of it. Today I said they could leave five minutes early if they wanted to, but they told me they wanted to stay and talk to me. And one asked for private lessons.

And last night my friend Duncan came back from Cuzco. So now I have somebody to hang out with. Now, if only I had a money tree life would be perfect.


-Christopher


Learn Spanish: arbol (are bowl) (tree)

An Exciting Couple of Days

Well, Saturday I was robbed at knifepoint. That's the biggest and scariest news. And the event with lingering effects.

After the robbery my parents snapped into action and sent me money, so a big thanks to them. And then I went shopping for work clothes. And I got some pretty nice clothes.

Monday I started my Spanish lessons. I'm glad I'm back in them, but I can only afford this week's tuition (which was paid before the robbery). My teacher's nice, she's an English teacher, but her English is absolutely terrible. I also started my new job as an English teacher on Monday. I haven't taught a class yet, but I've been to a meeting about things should be run and today I sat in on a class. Tomorrow is my first class. I'm excited and nervous.


-Chris

Learn Spanish: Ladron (Lah Drone) (Thief)