Oh goodness. Where to begin with writing about this unconventional Wednesday! Hump day is always our busiest day, given the three classes starting at 8am and ending at 7 at night, but somehow this one seemed extra...special.
Class one: We have an internal struggle each week when that dreaded alarm rings to wake up for our first language class at eight in the morning twice a week. Within three months, I'm proud to say we've only skipped it twice, but this particular morning made us seriously question what exactly we are getting out of this school situation. Everything starts out fine, the professor takes attendance and discusses next week's homework assignment, then proceeds to teach an entire two hour lesson on how to write about "cause and effect." Please. I won't even get into how much of a time-waster topic this was to begin with. Things got really bizarre when we watched a nine minute video on "the life span of a tomato." Oh no, it doesn't end there. The professor that I'm practically in love with asked us to write an entire paragraph about said tomato. Major points lost today, Erika. Major points
Class two: In our other language class, which is detested slightly more than the first course, we watched another Youtube clip about inclusive education in Peru. I was legitimately fascinated by the topic until the unthinkable flashed across the screen. One of the teachers at one of the schools being interviewed was wearing a shirt that read: "I <3 boys, I <3 jocks, I <3 skaters, I <3 music." Brianna and I did our best to stifle outright laughter, but to no avail. I was cracking up for the remainder of the clip, which apparently prompted our professor to direct his first question to me, asking what my opinion was regarding inclusive education. I somehow pulled it together well enough to respectfully share my thoughts, but I am extremely perplexed as to why respectable Peruvians seem to be enticed to wear clothing with such tacky American phrases. I also apparently influenced a Peruvian version of "Ugly Betty" (Brianna's nickname) from our class to get her nose pierced. She rushed in about half an hour late (the usual for her) and ran straight to me, pointing her finger at her nose and shaking her wild hair all over my desk. She said something about how she'd seen my nose and wanted one just like me, but it wasn't worth it because she was still in so much pain. I suppose I was flattered...
Class three: Originally dubbed as "the crazy lady," our professor for our Society and Women in the World class sauntered in after we had taken our seats wearing bright blue leggings, Hello Kitty converse, a yellow skin tight long sleeved t-shirt, and a black vest she most definitely had on backwards. Not that we expected anything less, but Brianna and I exchanged a quick glance and a giggle as the woman whom has won over our hearts and quickly came to be our favorite professor began her teachings on women in politics. Not ten minutes past the start of class, a boy who typically sits kitty-corner from us poked his head in and motioned for the professor's attention. He announced to her and the entire class that he was simply too sad to go to class, and asked if he could be excused. I'm not quite sure what he was thinking, because she never takes attendance, and most certainly is not one to put up with any needless crap. She ridiculed him for a good two minutes, then dismissed him like nothing happened. It was a sight.
Other noteworthy Peruvianisms:
- During elections here, everyone is required to vote. If you don't show up on election day, they fine you close to $300. Also, in attempts to prevent voters for returning to the polls and voting twice, they have this really advanced system of sticking one of their middle fingertips in blue ink, that takes well over two weeks to completely rub off.
- There's really no such thing as a postal service here. There is a place that you can send and receive packages, but they do not deliver daily mail. If you have a water bill, the actual water bill company will come deliver the bill to your mailbox, not a mailman. Therefore, none of you will be getting post cards until I return home, it's just too complicated.
- The McDonald's menu is relatively the same, but I wasn't surprised to see that the meal sizes are drastically different. A small soda would be what I consider a kiddie cup, while a large is about the size of a medium. Other than that, I don't know how Peruvians stay so skinny because they eat so well here!
- People eat Halls cough drops like they are candy. huh.
My apologies if this post seems completely sarcastic...it is. I'm trying to schedule courses for next semester at Nazareth and it's proving to be quite the challenge to even get any answers from professors there. Oh well, it will all be over on Monday at 1:30 when I can register for good.
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