Estudio de pueblo: Loncoche, Chile

Bus drive to Loncoche

As a practice for our Independent Study Project, which is the capstone project of this study abroad, our academic director set us loose at the bus station in Temuco with $80 each and a small town to go explore for a presentation 2 days later. My group of 3 waited an hour for the bus to Loncoche, where we met several Mormon boys from Utah on their mission to convert southern Chileans to the religion. It was funny to interact in English but we quickly parted as soon as we arrived in Loncoche to find a hostel to spend 2 nights.

There is little to report about Loncoche except that it is a very small town- the 3 restaurants we found only served completos (hot dogs with tomato and avocado) or small sandwiches for dinner, which is typical of pueblos here. Over the 2 days, the highlights were eating a picnic lunch of local cheese and Mapuche tortillas (thick bread, not normal tortillas) next to the river in town and finding dried cranberries. The region produces a lot of fruit and berries but most of it is exported, so we were lucky to run across the only type of berry I have found in Chile that was not in jam-form. We also found an amazing 2 room museum in the town that showcased Mapuche ceramics and leather products, as a local artist uses cow udders to create intricately preserved bowls. It was definitely an interesting experience and a crazy way to get to know a town- getting dropped down in front of the bus and having to figure it out on our own!

Beautiful artificial laguna in Loncoche

Plaza de Armas in Loncoche

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

- Marisa

Temuco, Chile

Here begins my posts to catch up from my trip with horrible internet. The biggest victory was FINALLY finding some green vegetation!! Flying from Arica to Temuco is about the biggest environment change one can undergo in a day- from pure Atacama Desert to lush fields and forest. Everyone on my program literally has been dancing around in the fields and taking advantage of the cooler weather while Arica heats up for summer.

The reason our program comes to Temuco is because Temuco is located in the region of Chile where the largest percentage of Mapuche lives and where intercultural medicine exists as a government incentivized program. The Mapuches are the largest indigenous group in Chile, and dominate traditional culture of the south. We began our excursion in Temuco by visiting several Mapuche health posts. Normal rural health outposts in Chile only incorporate occidental medicine practiced by Chilean doctors. Outside of Temuco, many include traditional medicine into their health practices while others have a separate traditional medicine building or wing.

Mapuche flag

 The traditional medicine man is called a Machi. There are many different jobs that can be done within traditional medicine, and one we were lucky to see was the collection of plants and herbs in the Mapuche forest. After he prayed to the forest to allow us in to learn and collect herbs, the medicine man explained the uses of each plant, and how one could create the remedy drink. It was interesting to hear about the process and how each remedy is individual to the patient, as there are many pharmacies in Temuco offering traditional Mapuche medicine as a sort of farce. Currently, Chilean doctors and Machis are working side by side in order to heal Mapuche patients. In a sense, the Mapuche view the Machi as working to rid the origin and remaining source of the problem while the Chilean doctor cures the symptoms and treats the resulting problems.

Mapuche ruka hut

The most amazing part of our stay around Temuco was when we traveled to Lago Budi to sleep in rukas for a night, which are the Mapuche thatched huts made out of a wood frame and covered with hay and grass. The floors are made of mud and each ruka has a fire pit where cooking and house heating originates. It was amazing to sleep in a comfy bed somewhat exposed to the elements and wake up to homemade bread and delicious jams and cheeses for breakfast. Before leaving, our program coordinator for this leg of the trip lectured about Mapuche cosmovision and told us his personal story, about how he grew up Mapuche in a family that did not respect their Mapuche past. He is currently writing a book to help popularize the study of the Mapudungun language, which has recently gained more popularity in the Mapuche community. Overall, it was amazing to compare the Mapuche community with the Aymara community we have learned about in the north.

- Marisa

Have you heard about GW Basketball???

GW and the DC Metropolitan area are often known for their incredible college basketball environment. In this area, we have the Big East powerhouse Georgetown Hoyas, the NCAA qualifying George Mason Patriots down the road in Fairfax, along with the American University Eagles and a little ways away, the Final Four Men's Virginia Commonwealth Rams. But enough talk about our foes! The George Washington Men's Basketball team finished the 2010-2011 season on the cusp of an Atlantic 10 Conference tournament appearance (with a 5th place finish), but lost in an upset qualifying tournament game to St. Josephs, finishing with an overall 17-14 record. In addition, the GW Women's Basketball team had a rebuilding season, advancing to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament in Lowell, MA where there season ended with a loss to Dayton.

But this year is a whole new season!!!!!

The GW Men's Basketball team has a new face. The new head coach of GW's mens team, Mike Lonergan,  is the former head coach at the neighboring college of the Catholic University of America before serving in his most recent post as the head coach and catalyst of an emerging strong basketball program in Bennington, VT with the American East Conference's University of Vermont Catamounts. The GW men's team will face a tough schedule this year, traveling to Syracuse (#5), UC Berkeley (#18), Harvard, and Kansas State, along with taking on strong conference opponents like Richmond, Xavier (#15), Temple and Duquesne. On top of it all, the men will be taking on the VCU Rams in the 17th Annual BB&T Classic hosted at the Verizon Center here in DC's Chinatown. GW's Tony Taylor was selected to the A-10 Pre-Season first team and will be a great leader for a tough season ahead. It should definitely be an exciting season so look for GW on the headlines and on ESPN and such.


The GW Women's Basketball team will have a schedule that keeps them closer to home, so that just means that much more action for us to see here at the Charles E. Smith Center. The Women will play local foes like Georgetown, UDC, American, George Mason, William & Mary, but also take on foes from larger conferences like the Auburn Tigers, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Virginia Tech Hokies. Mike Bozeman will lead these ladies to what is sure to be a fantastic season here in his 4th with GW and I am so pleases that I will get to see more of the games now that ALL of the band will be at ALL of the Women's games :)

If you are coming up for a tour, make sure you buy some tickets so you can go catch some of the action and feel what the sports environment is like here at GW. Come root alongside the Colonial Army (the student fan section that fills up a side close to the floor level) or watch from home and cheer, root on, and raise high your Buff and Blue!!!

I will continue to update you on the basketball season as I a.) love college basketball and b.) am a part of the band (Colonial Brass) and at every game. Feel free to ask me any questions and best of luck to those of you applying Early Decision about now and for those of you working on your applications. Keep up the good work and reach out if I can help you in any way!

Peace, Love and Hippos

Brandon
brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu

Funky Weather

If you live in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region, chances are it's been snowing where you are.  If you don't, just check Facebook--literally everyone finds it necessary to report the weather via social media--cause no one else has access to the outdoors!  Heh.

All jokes aside, DC's first snow was quite the letdown.  Nothing really stuck down here, but it sure made all the errands I had to run today ANNOYING to accomplish.  Everybody loves the first snow of the season, but this was such a tease!  It looked like snow, felt like snow, tasted like snow, but once it hit the ground it just became a yucky blucky mess.

HOWEVER, this is why I went to school in a city: aside from the *minor* debacle of Snowpocalypse 2010, everything pretty much stays running during trying weather.  You can leave campus easy-peasy, and with the metro soooooooo close by (I live a block away), transportation anywhere and everywhere is also super easy--plus it keeps you out of the elements while in transit!

One piece of advice for incoming freshmen: buy galoshes or some type of weatherproof shoe.  There WILL be days when you have to walk 15 minutes to the other side of campus for class, and you're not gonna want to be sporting fancy flats or those fuzzy furry puffy Uggs you may adore.  Not practical.

Because I'm not midterm-ing anymore, send emails!  Ask any question(s) you'd like! shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~Shireen

Field Trip!

Today, my Modern Iranian Media & Culture class went to Moby Dick's kabob house in Dupont.  It was our way of celebrating the completion of our midterm, and an excellent excuse to go eat some delicious Persian food in great company!

Not really sure why it's called "Moby Dick"... but it's good kabob.

I love that class, and all the students get along really well together, so it was fun to see them all outside of class (though still kinda in class, since it was when we usually met and all).  My professor is all about immersing us in Iranian culture both inside and out of the classroom, so Iranian students and those with absolutely no previous knowledge of the country all profit from the experience.  I'm hoping to get into her Iranian Cinema class next semester (it's under the Classical Studies--Special Topics section of GWeb, if you're interested in registering!).  I just have to make sure it fits in my schedule.  Fingers crossed!

I'm glad GW's opening the Middle Eastern Studies department to include more Persian language and cultural studies classes.  Goodness knows Iran is VERY relevant to all sorts of things these days--it's definitely a worthwhile topic to study!  And a very interesting one, at that.

Oh and I know I tagged this as an 'academic excursion' and it's not quite academic but more of an excursion--so, sorry?  There's no pre-made tag for field trips or playing hooky with your entire class (and professor)!

Email me!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Swanky Luncheon

Today, my friend (and fellow VFC eboard member) and I went to an awards luncheon at The Capital Hilton.  The event was for Planned Parenthood of Metro-Washington, which we are always in contact with for our Voices for Choices goings-on.  So it was fun to see all the people we represent.

It was so high-class!  The butter they served with their rolls was in the shape of the Capitol building--it was so crazy.  And the meal itself was very good too.  They definitely shelled out some big bucks for this one, and I'm all right with that!  It was a splendid affair to honor the awardees: DCAF (The DC Abortion Fund, Fredda S. Sparks, and Ellen Malcolm.  Lizz Winstead, a former Daily Show writer, was the keynote speaker.  AND SHE WAS SO FUNNY!  Definitely check out her link and see if you can go to a show or at least watch a video of hers.  If you're a hippie liberal like myself, you'll love her bit.

Souvenir chocolate in the shape of a birth control pill pack--HILARIOUS.

We're thinking of selling these and similarly hilariously-shaped chocolate goods for a fundraiser--what are your thoughts on that?  I know I'd pay for one of those, I think it's just so funny and crafty.

Let me know your thoughts on that, and ask any questions you desire!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Fojol Bros. of Merlindia

Based on the title, you'd think I was blogging about a traveling circus or the like, right?  OR maybe that wouldn't be your first guess, but it's pretty whimsical nonetheless.  Well, Fojol Bros. describe themselves as "a traveling culinary carnival" and invite you to join in the festivities whenever they stop by your neighborhood!

Yes, this is another food truck blog.  I'm all about them--the posts and the trucks themselves!  And when I saw Fojol Bros. was rated #3 best Indian food in DC by expressnightout.com, I decided I had to check them out.  I mean, for a food truck to rate higher than numerous Indian restaurants throughout the city?  That's pretty good stuff.  Plus they're on campus often, and how can you bypass these outfits?

(photo courtesy of the world wide web!)

While all I really wanted was Butter Chicken, I got the duo of Butter Chicken and Cauliflower with Potatoes served over basmati rice.  I gotta say, I was very pleased with my meal--it got me through my 3:45 class AND I was still fairly full for my 7:10-9:40, which is always pretty tedious.  I have literally no complaints about any aspect of my meal, even the veggie option that I was less excited about than the chicken.  It was all scrumptious and healthy, and great for a chilly fall day!

I also learned through their website that their serving materials are biodegradable and compost-able, and a portion of their proceeds go to programs for at-risk youth in DC.  You really can't go wrong there!  A delicious, hearty, and healthy meal for cheap that benefits the environment and the community?  A+, Fojol Bros!

For more, stay tuned!  I'll definitely be visiting multiple food trucks to come, including their sister (brother?) truck, Fojol Bros. of Benethiopia!

As always, email me!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Apple Picking!

Today, my friends and I went apple picking with GW Trails!  Well, minus the picking.  Turns out all the in-season trees were picked dry, and the rest of the trees didn't have ripe fruit on them yet.

However, we still had a fun time!  We went to a farm about an hour away in Poolesville, MD, and the drive was just as scenic as the destination.  I love fall.  I know I've mentioned it before, but I really, really love changing leaves and crisp air and autum-ness.  So even though there was no picking of apples whatsoever, we still managed to have a great time playing in the hay, petting farm animals, eating caramel apples, apple pie, and hot cider, and using an old-fashioned contraption to core and peel fresh apples.  Still a fall wonderland!

This is my first trip with GW Trails, and I don't think it'll be my last.  Thing is, I'm a novice hiker, so I need to get a bit more experience anyway!  This trip doesn't add a notch to my belt in that sense, but at least I know how Trails trips work now.  This one only cost $15 (plus whatever you buy there), but you can pay on GWorld!  And I didn't take advantage of this, but if you're over 21 and have a license, you can drive people there and go on the trip for free!  They rent cars and get zipcars, that's what the trip cost mostly goes towards.

Here are some pictures from the excursion:

What a cute little baby!!!

Scarecrow--didn't just scare the crows.  Just look at him!

My buds Matt and Emily.

SkyGoat: they had this weird bridge contraption so goats could go
from one pen to another--made me nervous.

Adorable baby cow!

Yay for fall!

Shoot me an email at shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Fin del homestay

In an hour, my whole group will be heading to the airport to fly south to Temuco, Chile for about two weeks. It's crazy how fast this academic semester has passed by, and sad to realize this is the end of my homestay. A few nights ago, we had a farewell dinner with all of the host families and their students. It was really fun to sing "Todos Juntos" (a song we learned in Spanish) as well as "American Pie" to our host families, even though we were very disorganized and it just turned into hilarious entertainment on our part without trying. We also had a slideshow with pictures of our families together and it was fun to see my host mom's reaction to the pictures I picked, and other families' pictures.

After the farewell dinner with Emily, my host mom, and me

While some people are doing their independent study projects in the south of Chile and living in hostels or apartments, some people who choose to stay in Arica stay with their host families. I am really excited to be moving in with 3 of my really good friends on this program into an apartment when we get back from the south in November! I am happy to make this change because I worry that without a solid schedule with classes and clinic visits in November, I think I would have spent a lot of time alone in my homestay house being unproductive and unmotivated. I'm hoping my roommates will be a constant source of motivation but also entertainment!

I'm hoping to blog soon about chilenismos, Chilean slang, and my trip in Temuco focusing on the Mapuche indigenous group and their traditional medicine. Stay tuned :)

- Marisa

Block Party!

Today was the 9th annual Foggy Bottom/West End block party, held on GW's campus in the park behind the metro and next to the hospital.  It was a fun event for local vendors, clubs, and advocacy groups to spread their messages, give away coupons, and regale Foggy Bottom and West End residents with SWAG!

I went with fellow e-board members of The Global Language Network, first to set up a table and get people to sign up, but then to visit the other booths and see what they had to offer!  We got some free cookies from Trader Joe's and Circa, free apple cider from TJ's also, a West End Library card (or the application, at least), and a pickle on a stick from Potbelly's!  So that alone equals a good day.  On top of that, there were live music and dance performances.

Entryway of the block party (from a few years ago)

Fun times had by all!  And it was an absolutely gorgeous day, barely a cloud in the sky and a perfect 74 degrees out, but still with that crisp autumn chill that I love so much.  It was also fun to see parents walking around with their students, I like seeing classmates with their parents--you can often see a bit of them in their kids.  It's just fun to people-watch.

Emails are getting few-er and far-er between.  Send me your GW/college app/life questions!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Bill Maher for Colonials Weekend!

I just got back from Bill Maher's comedy show in the Charles E. Smith Center, and it was hilarious!  I wasn't sure how much I'd like it--or rather, I knew I'd like it, but I wasn't sure if I'd love being there with my parents.  My dad thinks he's hilarious, but sometimes my mom thinks he's too crass--and both of them don't love dirty jokes, something Bill's pretty well-known for.  Luckily though, he managed to make the show great for all of us while still staying true to his style of comedy.

Bill was on campus as part of Colonials Weekend.  That's "Parents' Weekend" to all you laypeople.  I'm sure he was advised to gear his act a bit towards parents and students, but he didn't seem to actually follow those parameters.  Stuff got kinda raunchy!  But it never crossed the line, in my opinion.  It sure got close, straddled the line, possibly, but eventually tip-toed back.  The end note was especially risque, but overall I really enjoyed the show.

The topics ranged from the Republican debates to religion to imperialism to the President to male enhancement drugs, and rather seamlessly so, I might add.  He also had a fun interaction with the audience and the sign language interpreters who had to translate even the grossest of words into their ASL equivalent.  That was too funny.

So all in all, awesome show, great choice for Colonials Weekend (he's pretty much the only reason my parents came...) and I'm POOPED.  Bed time.  No, seriously, I'm going to bed at 10:45 on a Saturday.  Nightnight!

I love reader emails!  Send me one!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~Shireen

WonkyBlog

Today was WRGW's Truckapalooza!  Over 20 food trucks with the DC Food Truck Association came out to one of GW's most successful student org events yet.  Even in the rain (which happily cleared up!) didn't keep vendors or happy patrons away from the good eating!

As you may be able to tell from past blogs, I LOVE food trucks.  They come to campus often, but never in such large numbers--I was overwhelmed!  I will eventually try them all. Eventually.  Today, since we had such a good selection to choose from, I got to try two!  My buddy and I got food from two different trucks: DC Empanadas and Eat Wonky, and we split our meals.  I got Wonky Fries (Canadian Poutine, if you've ever had it) and she got a grilled cheese and an "Asher" empanada--basically calzone filling in an empanada shell.

Everything we tried was good, but the poutine was what really won us over.  That was a perfect 10; I'd go back to that one again and then some.  I had been wanting to try it for so long and I was not disappointed in the least.  So thanks, WRGW!!!  This one was a real hit--and a great way to kick off parents weekend!

Poutine: french fries covered in (vegetarian!) gravy and mozzarella-type cheese

Keep emailing, I love questions and feedback!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu
<3 Shireen

Sigue la huelga de los estudiantes chilenos

In Spanish class today, we talked about how we are getting to see an incredible period of history as all students nationwide in Chile continue to protest for cheaper education. Students are still not going to class and I understand their efforts at trying to get their point across and standing up for what they believe in, but they are holding themselves back academically as this year will have to be repeated. At the end of class, we watched this really well done YouTube video made by a student majoring in film studies right here in Arica. There are some great shots in it of the city and it helps me gain a more dynamic understanding of the protests than by just reading about it in the newspaper.

For more information on the protests, check out the Wikipedia page on the protests.

Hope you enjoy,
Marisa

Tacna, Peru

Hi everyone! One week ago, I was making banana bread for my host mom here to try and packing for Peru. Somehow it's a week later and I have a lot to update you all on!

The border crossing into Peru was exciting for me as it was my first time in Peru! It is a well traveled border, so Chileans don't even need their passports and instead just use their national ID cards. Most chileans end up going into Tacna for cheaper health care or appointments with specialists, plastic surgery, or to stock up on groceries, electronics, and other things. The only thing that can't travel over the border is fruit and vegetables- but pretty much everything else moves in between!

We spent the 3 days in Tacna eating delicious Peruvian food, visiting more health centers, doing a little community service in the poorest slum of Tacna where we painted numbers on each household so that they can be identified during the census and other home visits, interacting with people in the community involved in important projects like a community kitchen, and of course- Alpaca shopping.

The main highlight for me was doing a home visit alongside a nurse to a woman who had given birth 2 months ago and hadn't come in with her baby for her second check up. We spent a long time with her discussing the importance of breast feeding, because she was also feeding the baby whole bottles full of anise water (it is a myth here that anise water will settle a baby's digestion- instead, it is better for the mother to drink for increased milk production!). She also told us about her really horrible experience in the hospital here (the doctor allowed several students in on the Cesarean section and she wasn't fully under anesthesia so she could hear him describing the surgery) and how she wished she could have had a home birth but complications didn't allow it.

Centro de Salud de la Natividad 

Outdoor market (yes, unrefrigerated chickens)

Statue in Tacna illustrating how much they rely on mining

Community kitchen conversation about sanitation measures

6:20 AM army drill down the street in front of our hotel.. we were worried it was a protest!

Education session we attended with pregnant/recent mothers to illustrate portion sizes and healthy meals for infants and toddlers

Dentists and pharmacies line the streets in Tacna

A shop filled with Alpaca where I found some amazing colorful fabric

Hope you enjoy these pictures! I have a week of exams and then we head to the south of Chile to Temuco and then to Bariloche, Argentina for some relax time before our independent study project starts! I am really excited for what is to come as it will all be new and more focused on my interests.

As always, email me! marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu
Marisa

Pie Truck

Today, I treated myself to lunch at one of the food trucks that often frequent campus.  I’ve been to CapMac, Sauca, and a few others, but today I visited Dangerously Delicious Pies!

And I gotta say, my slice really was dangerously delicious.  It was a bit expensive at $7 for a slice of quiche, but it was a big slice and was packed solid—a filling and tasty lunch.  And if you really think about it, a sandwich at any of the other hotspots on campus and off will run about that price or more—though if it’s on GWorld you don’t feel as guilty for spending. (Gworld is our meal plan sorta thing, can be spent at local restaurants--I'll do a separate post explaining that one of these days...)

Anyways, I got the Cowboy Quiche, and it was super tasty and meaty and peppery and cheesy and just good.  My buddy and I ate our lunch on the Toni Morrison “bench by the road” in front of Lisner Auditorium.  It was beautiful and sunny out and I didn’t have to work because of Columbus day, so really the afternoon was just perfect.

This is my favorite time of year—early fall when it’s still warm out but you can wear fall clothes because of the crisp-er air and trees change color and it’s just beautiful!  So expect more posts with me gushing about how lovely it is outside and how much I adore October.

As always, email with whaterr!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

National Coming Out Week

So this week is National Coming Out week and GW is taking part in this very important celebration of diversity at our campus. This is a great time when LGBT students (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender-Queer) are able to celebrate their diversity, remember their community and embrace support for even further change. GW's LGBTQ group, Allied in Pride, has sponsored many events this week and has a very sizable LGBTQ population that is taking part in these events.

An aerial view of the Mount Vernon's Hand Chapel

Tonight, I went to an interfaith service with my amazing friend Abby at the Hand Chapel on the Mount Vernon campus. The Hand Chapel is absolutely gorgeous and has a beautiful view into the wooded area that surrounds the rolling hills campus tucked away in the hills of Northwest DC. At this service, about ten students (allies and LGBT students) showed up to listen to a Father from Dignity Washington (group for LGBT Catholic persons) and an Emaan from a very liberal Islamic sect speak about the strength, divine acceptance and equality that the LGBT community was entitled to and possesses. The message presented by both presented a powerful message using water to illustrate that all people, gay straight, white or non-white, depend on this source and through this "recycling" process, we as a people are all one.

I am looking very forward to the rest of the events the week has to offer and will be sure to make it to as many as I can. To give you some insight as into what the rest of National Coming Out weeks involves, here are some of the events:

1. LGBT Study Abroad and International Careers Information Session
2. Glee Night (I mean isn't that just amazing!!!!)
3. Out of the Closet and On to the Screen: The Changing Images of the LGBT Community on Film and Television
4. LGBT Family Friday: Dessert and Mocktails (Since this weekend is Parent's Day weekend here at GW)
5. OUTing to Town (which is a very popular local LGBT bar here in Northeast DC)


As always, if you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me with any questions and I will give you an answer or find you an answer if I don't know it right off the top of my head. Best of luck to all you Early Decision students and I look forward to continuing to help all of you :)


Peace, Love and Hippos,

Brandon

brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu

Festa Italiana!

Today was the Italian Fest--Festa Italiana in DC!  As a proud Italian-American, I just had to go! So my roomie and I went out to Judiciary Square a while ago to check things out.

There was gelato, cannoli, and pizza, of course, but they were also serving sausage and pepper sandwiches, pastas, and porchetta sandwiches--that's pig roasting on a spit, in case you're wondering.  Not my scene, exactly, but I had my fill of home-made pizza, gelato, and cannoli, for sure.

That's what I'm talking about.

There was also an opera singer and a man who walked on stilts, rode a mini bicycle, and somehow maneuvered on a unicycle, as well.  I'm not sure what the circus act had to do with Italian-ness, but I was all about it.  The festival also had vendors selling various things and a few different raffles, one to win a trip to Italy, even--keep your fingers crossed that I win!

And because of our bombastic Italian pride, there were fancy Italian cars on display--Ferraris, Maseratis, and Lamborghinis, of course.  All in all, good time.  Viva Italia, I say!

Shoot me an email, if you like!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Skype-dates Galore!

I've never been much of a skyper, I'm pretty much only on when I've specifically scheduled a skype-date with someone, otherwise I shut the application off.  Lately though, I've found that I'm constantly making skype-dates and always logging on to hear the rather-annoying *wooooommmmp* sound.

Can you guess why?  All those darned study-abroaders!  I've got so many friends doing Focus on Fall Abroad, or FOFAC (here's fellow blogger Marisa's post on what that actually is).  But as a result, everyone's away and our only way to catch up is through Skype--cause goodness knows calling each other is way too pricey.  So I've got at least a skype-date a week, almost every week.

Now that's difficult enough for me: I have to find about an hour span in the day when I'm not doing work, at my internship, or in class, which is hard enough, but I also have to make sure my computer is charged and I am home in time--I could do it elsewhere, but I don't like people listening in to my Skype conversations.  More so than phone conversations, which is weird of me, but I just don't like it.  So scheduling for myself is a bit of an ordeal.

Not only that, but *most* of these people are in other time zones, so we have to finagle times that we're BOTH not occupied, which is a bit tough with such lengthy time differences--worst so far was 9 hours.  That was rough, one of us had to stay up way past our bedtimes (hint: it was me!)

But it's aiight, really.  If not for this lovely mechanism, I'd be a lot less connected to my buddies abroad this semester, and no one wants that!  Coming home from a semester in another country is hard enough, it's gotta be harder if you feel like you don't even remember your old friends!  So I'm doing best to alleviate that for my pals on other continents--and it's fun for me, too!

Email me, if you like!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~Shireen

Coming to Life

An excerpt from the tour guide life: everyone's favorite question is, what can GW give me that other universities can't? Last week, I got a very resounding answer.

A week ago, prolific Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison graced the GW campus for a one-night engagement in the Lisner. Having read one of her famous novels in high school, it felt like an unbelievable opportunity to get to see her in person. And that it was! Ms. Morrison has arguably done the most for black women in literature in the last few decades than any other author, and to see her sitting up on the all-too-familiar Lisner stage was nothing short of spectacular. She was funny and lighthearted in her storytelling, but also deeply moving and impassioned in her readings from old and new works alike. She even allowed a Q & A session afterwards, where I found she was completely approachable and down to Earth in responding to some intensive questions (typical GW kids). Ms. Morrison also has begun a project here at GW called Bench By the Road, and the new bench in her honor has been placed outside the Auditorium, so stop by and check it out if you're on campus!

This is the thing about GW, though. Where else can you see one of the most groundbreaking writers in modern literature speak FOR FREE on a regular weeknight? It's opportunities like these that make this the place to be. In addition, it really brings what we learn in the classroom out and into a new light, coming full circle. I read this book in high school, saw its author speak in college, and found myself tremendously moved and compelled to go back and re-examine her work now as an older, more mature and capable person. Maybe I'm just nerdy, but I love to learn, and more importantly, I love to relearn, building upon things I already know with new ways of thinking. It is seeing influential people like Toni Morrison that gives a student like me an opportunity to grow and rethink the opinions I have already set forth on the world around me. Moments like that, I just feel honored to be here.

I'll be back soon to tell you all about the whirlwind of my academic/extra-curricular life here at the G-Dub, but until then, pour your heart out to gmdepalo@gwmail.gwu.edu. And also, check out my fellow blogger Shireen's post on Ms. Morrison's night in the Lisner: http://gwadmissions.blogspot.com/2011/09/toni-morrison.html.

See you around campus,
Gina Michele

Student-Athlete Leadership Retreat

As promised, I am going to talk about the student- athlete leadership retreat that was held on Sunday, September 18. While we knew that something was planned, we had no idea what exactly. They wouldn’t tell us or our coaches, as it was meant to be a surprise. We were told to arrive at the Smith Center at 11:30am (only an hour after my team and I arrived back on campus after our red eye flight from San Diego) and grab a colored tshirt (the only thing we were told beforehand was the color of the team we were on- I was orange) from one of the tables set up in the gym. On the back of the shirts was the GW logo and the phrase "Our Nation's First President. Our University. Our Team." After all the athletes were changed into their new shirts and settled back in the bleachers, our new AD, Patrick Nero, spoke to us about the purpose of the day as well as leading us in our fight song with help from part of the colonial army. Immediately after we loaded into 9 coach buses and ventured to our mystery location for the day, which ended up being……...drum roll please…………Mount Vernon. And I don’t mean Mount Vernon as in the Vern (our other campus), but as in the Mount Vernon Estate that was owned by George Washington, located in Virginia.

It was finally revealed that the day would be filled with learning all about the man behind our university, which consisted of the museum, a tour of his mansion, and team-building/ leadership games. The reason behind Mount Vernon as the location? According to Nero, "In order to lay the foundation for our student-athletes to represent the George Washington University and wear his name across our uniforms, I thought it'd be beneficial for all of us to learn about the man." And it was beneficial. Even though my team and I were beyond tired from the weekend, we did learn a lot and even got to meet some athletes that we have never met before. Following all the fore mentioned activities, we were all graciously treated to a BBQ. By this time, it was already past 5pm and it was time to head back to campus and in my case, quickly do some homework and get some long-awaited sleep. If you want to read more about the day, here is the GWSports press release: GW Student-Athletes Learn Leadership Lessons from University Namesake

my orange team

*all photos/ video courtesy of gwsports.com*

AND HERE IS A VIDEO THAT GWSPORTS MADE ABOUT THE DAY (CHECK OUT THE SPEAKING APPEARANCE BY ONE OF MY ROOMMATES/TEAM CAPTAIN- SHE'S AWESOME):

On another volleyball note, my team and I have won our last 2 matches versus Loyola Maryland (on Wednesday) and versus Charlotte (Saturday night here at home). As of right now, our overall record is 12-5 and we are undefeated at home (7-0)!!! And this coming Friday, October 7, we will be trying to keep our streak alive with a home match against Dayton at 7pm (an A10 conference match). If you can please come support us as we take on the defending A10 conference champs!
Feel free to email me with any questions! cbgraf@gwmail.gwu.edu

-Christie

Quite a Fright

There’s a cold chill in the air.  A heightened feeling of trepidation, anxiousness, and general dismay—it’s October, the eeriest time of the year.  Why this sudden sense of fright on campus?  Is it Halloween spirit?  Oh no, my friends, this… is… MIDTERMS!

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!  So much scarier than any Halloween horrors!

Seriously, everybody’s just bugging out, and most tests haven’t even started yet!  We’re just super anxious and stressed out as a result of the coming stress we know we’ll have to deal with.  Psyching ourselves up, it seems.  As of now, my midterm session looks… aiight.  Not fabulous, but ok.  I have 3 in-class tests, one take-home, one paper.  So we’ll see how that goes, I’ll keep you all in the loop.

Here’s the thing about midterms: I don’t know about your high school, but in mine, we only had one week of midterms, and they were very structured.  It was great: you only went to school the days you had tests, and you left after you finished your exams.  Here, midterms could be any time between the first day of school to right before final exams, really (I had one the day before Thanksgiving break last year, as well as one the first week of October.)  That’s quite a span.  Additionally, they can be whatever format your professor wants—as you can see, I have quite a span of categories of exams this year.  It’s gonna be a whirlwind.

But you get through, you always do.  Whether you pull 3 straight all-nighters or finish writing your paper due in your 12:45 class during your 11:10—you get it done.  And that’s what college is about.

Email me, as usual, but as it IS midterm season, don’t expect the quickest response!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3Shireen

Visitas con la clase de español

This past week in Spanish class was surprisingly fun. I will never say that again, 1. because all we have coming up are tests and presentations, and 2. there are no full weeks of class left! It's crazy how fast the academic class section of the SIT study abroad program passes by. Tomorrow, we leave for a 3 day trip to Tacna, Peru, and it's funny to me that I will have been in Peru without visiting larger cities or seeing Machu Picchu... just another reason to come back! Then we have a week of final presentations and exams and another trip, this time to Temuco, Chile (largest concentration of Mapuche ethnicity) and Bariloche, Argentina (basically the swiss alps with a street of chocolate stores.. oh no).

In Spanish class this past week, we talked a lot about mental health in order to complement our visits to the Center for Mental Health, focusing on serious mental health issues, and the Center for Women, which focuses on domestic violence and rehabilitation. With a lot of heavy conversation going on, especially as we heard first person accounts of their marital issues at the Center for Women, a trip to the fish market and the agricultural market was a welcome break. We still had assignments to bring back to class for discussion, but it was mostly learning about the different type of products offered and whether or not the fishermen/vendors knew the health benefits of the foods they sell.

The fish market is currently mostly populated by fish from Southern Chile- everyone told us that they were the best tasting ("mas rico") if you fried them in oil.

Sea lions on the rocky coastline at the port ("lobos marinos")

Fish vendor making ceviche

The agricultural market vendor stalls 

Olive stand

Since students enrolled in the universities here are still on strike, we have continued to be the only students on the alternate Universidad de Tarapaca campus. We have classes at the CFT campus, where all the technical and professional skills classes are held. A few nights ago, several students/mischievous kids (usually the more dangerous stunts aren't done by students, and instead sketchy younger kids) on the main campus were burning tires and forced the police to cut off traffic all around the university. A bunch of us were together at my neighbors' house eating apples with honey for Rosh Hashanah and we could just see the police perimeter that was set up. Thankfully, nothing progressed from there even though the police were prepared with tear gas. This was the first time since we've been here that I've seen any time of confrontation on this issue, but students in Santiago frequently organize marches, protests, and arguments with police.

UTA Campus CFT classrooms and Elizabeth

I also finally snagged this picture from my friend Emily of me with my family during the 18th of September festivities. I finally met my dad, Gonzalo, who works in a town about 10 hours away from Monday through Saturday. He was lucky enough to get the week off to visit Ester and I.

The props were provided for the photo... I did not wear that hat all night

I'll update you all again once we get back from Tacna. Hopefully I will return with lots of amazing alpaca products and insight into how the healthcare system works in Peru in order to make comparisons with the system in Chile. Ciao for now!
- Marisa
marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu

Turkish Festival!

I absolutely love the DC Turkish Festival.  It's held every year on the first weekend of October around 12th to 14th streets on Pennsylvania Avenue (right outside the Federal Triangle metro), and it's been rated DC's best festival by Washington City Paper.  There are performances, a bazaar to buy all your Turkish/Mediterranean/Middle Eastern essentials, and PLENTY of food!  Seriously, there's so much, it's fabulous.

I went last year and loved it, so I had to go again this year.  Let me tell you, I was not disappointed.  They had the best Turkish folk dance troupe in the world perform!  How do I know they were the best?  They won the international competition in Poland last year.  I'm not sure why the Turkish folk dance competition was held in Poland, of all places, but they won!  And so they came all the way from Istanbul (Turkey, not Poland, haha) to perform at the DC Turkish festival!  That's kind of a big deal, if you ask me.

I'm usually pretty open-minded with my palate, but all I wanted today was a chicken Doner sandwich and some baklava.  I gotta tell you though, it hit the spot.  I could have been more adventurous, but I've been looking forward to this festival for so long I already knew what I'd be doing and eating and all that jazz.  No complaints though, it was serious fun.

Image from the DC Turkish Festival's website--pretty legit.

All in all, great day!  Also a great end to a fantastic weekend and a great start to the week!

Send your questions and whatnot to: shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Tattoos!

Not on me... hahaha.  I bet you got excited for a second though, right?

As I mentioned in my last post, Thursday was my roommate's 21st birthday.  Needless to say, it was a party-hearty night.  As was Friday.  And when it's your 21st, the party lasts all weekend. So today, a group of us accompanied her to Georgetown to get a tattoo!

She already has one, but she'd been thinking for a long time she wanted a second, and she had the image planned out for a while.

The design looked a little something like this (can't take a pic cause she's still bandaged up):

et ignotas animum

  dimittit in artes

Which means (roughly) "and he set himself to the study of unknown arts."  It's an excerpt from Ovid's Metamorphosis which was used as the opening line in James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.  I haven't read either... whoops.  But my roomie is really cool, so... yeah.  Interesting quotation though, right?

She got it on her rib which is apparently one of the worst places to get one since it's RIGHT on the bone.  Ouchhhhhhh.  Probably never getting one, though I kind of want to.  I think I'm just 1) too indecisive, and 2) too squeamish about needles.  I passed out while getting some shots at the pediatrician's office when I was younger.  Not good stuff.

But it was still fun!  Jinx Proof in Georgetown is where most GW people seem to go to get their tattoos, it seems.  They're well thought-of and clean, though kinda pricey!

So yeah, while it's not that cool for *me* I still feel like some residual cool factor rubbed off on me for spending an afternoon in a tattoo parlor.  If not, don't burst my bubble, aiight?

Hit up shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu with questions or whatever!

~~~Shireen