Self evaluation of my academic year (2009)

In this essay I am going to write about my academic performance during this year and to outline some reason that can explain it. To think in a self evaluation includes think about what we did in order to establish if we took right and wrong decisions that could influence our academic results.

Maybe this reflection is not important to some people, but for me it is necessary, because it helps me to define reason of why I am doing this, I mean, study Anthropology. It is probably that the reasons answer to another thing more generally than study this or another career, like a way of life.

I have to say that I tried very hard during this year, even though I did not read all the texts that I should do. I was always worry about works, essays, reports, test´s and oral presentations for each subject of my studies program, in both semesters. I and my classmates have to admit that this year has been very difficult and hard. We must read a lot of texts, and not all of them were easy; actually I spend a lot of time trying to understand some ideas, expressed in those pages.

To tried very hard means: go to classes, make the homework’s, read the texts. The results of your effort could see in your marks. But, a number not always can talk about the things that someone knows, actually, I do not think that the most part of the test that we had to take among the third and fourth semester, can do it.

At least I tried to do those things, and I guess that I did because of two main reasons: one, is because I like to learn new things, in fact I think that this discipline it is too interesting as well as anthropologist’s research in areas like cultural materialism, physical anthropology or ethnography; but the thing is that to read all those papers takes a long time, and I had, and I wanted, to do other activities too. So, I always had to decide between read because I wanted or do it just because I have to. Generally, I used to choose the second alternative… but it has an explanation, which is, at the same time, the second reason of why I tried very hard along this year. I always said to myself that I can not to spend time doing nothing in context of university and things related to it. Behind me, there are my parents and all the effort that they had been doing during all their lives for me and my sisters and brother, and one of its expressions is that they are my support (economic support) so I can not to answer in a different way about my “academic work”. For example to not go to class just for laziness, or something similar, it is not a good choice. I have been seen people who does not care about how difficult is for his/her parents pay the career… I do not want to be like them, never.

As a summary, I can say that this year, as well as the last one, I got good marks in all my subjects, and they are the reflection of my own effort. But more important than this, is that I learn the themes and I can used them when I talk with someone else, for example. In relation to how happy I am for it, I gees that I am too happy and proud of myself because every time that I tried to do a good job, I got it.

Post 11 Anthropology in nowadays

Today I’m going to write about the challenges that Anthropology is currently facing in relation to several areas, like technology, education, social matters, etc.

I have to be honest, and I have to confess that I don’t know what to say. This is, in fact, the worst theme to write about. I really don’t want to do it.. but…. I have to ¬¬

Anyway, in my opinion Anthropology has maaaany maaany challenges to facing, for example related to education, our studies program is too disorganizer and inconsistent , we get some subjects with a big theorical hole. So this semester is exceptionally boring, it makes me feel really unmotivated by the career. Also, professors say different things for just one thing, in the end I don’t know what to think >.>

Out of university, Anthropology has a lot of things to say to the government in related to education system in our country. I think that the education in Chile is not good; boys and girls have to learn a lot of contents that probably they even understand. In that case, I think that there are a lot of research which can provide the tools to improve the education, but this scientist research are, generally, save in the academy. Even that, I hope that a part of all the new knowledge had been used to something useful.

About technology, I think that Archaeology and Physical anthropology has to get the necessary tools to analyze their object of study: like ceramic or bones. Specially bones, needs a lot of cares. Are too fragile and we don’t have to forget that there are part of someone. So, problems related to an anthropological ethic are a challenge too. By the other hand, both careers need special laboratories to work in good conditions. But, social anthropology needs something too: Statistic programs to analyze the data and the computers to use those programs.

I think that Social matters is an area where anthropology, in general, has so much to do. This social science is worry by the social phenomenon that happened everyday and which can exist during a long time. Some of that are not so good, I mean, some of them can become in social troubles and anthropology can study them to give a solution. Public politics are an area where anthropology must say something, because their fail is based, generally, in not to consider the cultural factors.

I Know that Anthropology is more than this, but in this moment I can't write more about it.

bye!

Anthropology and/or money….

Thinking about careers and/or money is very common. Actually, when you chose study any degree it’s very difficult not to think about money. I think that a lot of people choose a lot of things throughout their lives based on getting or not getting money. For some people money is decisive. In my case, I couldn’t to think about it, for me, the main reason to choose anthropology was that the “studies program”. When I applied to university, I thought that it was very interesting. Then, when I got into, the “studies program” changed and it stills doing. After all I still thinking that anthropology is really interesting, but I’m not sure about how to make money by being an anthropologist. In my opinion, today to be a social scientist in Chile isn’t so good, because today our social system “doesn’t need” people who to set out much criticism; people who are working at the government probably don’t want to make changes in our society, so the social study isn’t necessary. .. It is a shame… we can’t ignore our problems and we need to improve some things of our social life. This situation was other reason to study anthropology: I want to do something to help to rest of the people, even though sometimes is too hard work for it.

After all, I couldn’t say what is more important for me: anthropology or money?

I really like to study it, but I can’t stop thinking that I need money to live. I mean, if I don’t have money I couldn’t eat, for example; so I need it. In the future I’ll have to work to get money, even more if I want to have a family. But the thing is… how important is money for me? Well… it is enough important. I know that I need it, I know how can I getting it, and I know that there are a lot things more important for me, like have a family and/or friends or to be in good health; and those things money can’t pay.

I want to make any money on December working in a big shop as “Christmas support”; with that money I hope to buy some presents to my family and boyfriend for Christmas and to keep it for any “unexpected situation”. Actually I’m very careful spending money.

Good Bye!

source: the money tree http://www.toleads.com/Photos/money_tree.jpg and an anthropologist http://media.photobucket.com/image/antropologo/ariferret/evanspritchard.jpg

My beloved faculty

Hello

I study Anthropology in Social Science Faculty in the University of Chile. My faculty is located in Campus Juan Gomez Millas, and near of it are other faculties: Arts, Natural Science, Philosophy and Humanities, the Institute of Communication and Image and College. This Campus isn't very pretty as others ones of the same University. Although, it has something more important than the order of the buildings or if it has great and perfect gardens: this campus has an active university life! There are so many people that walk everyday across the campus, and any single person has their own style, then it is too picturesque to see them. Also, in the "grasses" always are people talking, studying, reading, playing music, or drinking , even more if is Friday in the afternoon.

About my faculty, this is like a big brown box, but more than that, the building is like a big big stairs. You can see this figure if you stand up in the "bridge” and look it up.

Inside, the first floor it is too cold, even if we are in summer or winter, but while you are going up stairs the air becomes hotter than before.

I think that the "immaterial" things are really well in this faculty in sense of relationships among students, coexistence, activities, or spiritual environment, but the material thing isn’t so well: bathrooms don’t have enough toilet paper, and it is complicated when there are a lot of people who wants to do pipi. Besides, the library doesn’t have all the books that we, as students, need. It is a shame because sometimes we need some texts to do our essays and reports and sometimes we have to go to other faculties to looking for them; also, there is not enough space for all of us, and it isn’t like a real library because we can’t have enough “privacy” and silence to study or read.

Related to our “program” or subjects, I think that it is not really well. In my opinion we are in a “test period” and we’ve been (sometimes) spend our time for nothing. It really makes me feel angry because I would use in a better way that time. In fact I didn’t learn so many things because I did a lot of works under pressure, then I couldn’t internalize them very well and the contents of each matter neither. I would like to have less subjects and more free time to study all my subjects in a better way.

I think that there are things that I couldn’t to resolve directly (like the toilet paper), but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have anything to do for it: I can say that there are some problems and contribute to their solution, no matter the way.

Finally there is something that I really don’t’ like: there isn’t any bench in all the campus!!!!!!!!!! I like to sit down in the grass, but I prefer a bench….

And this is all for today, bye!

Dania

M U S I C

Today I’m going to talk about music. Unfortunately this is a topic very complicated for me, ‘cause I don’t know much about music, even that I have a favourite band (and it calls Incubus), I don’t know any famous or important singer and I couldn’t recognize different kind of music or musical instruments.
I think that I’ve never felt a high interest to learn it, even that my father always was taught me things related whit music. He likes folklore, especially Andean music and some national singers, so the most part of the time, he was showed me his music tape and his cd’s. But the thing is that he likes it because he felt (and still feel) something very especial for the Indian populations and for poor people. Music, for him, it’s something very important, which can express a lot of thing that words can’t say and when he is listen to music is like if he was living that expressions.
In my case, I’ve never felt music in the same way of my father. For me, music is a way of expression and it can remind me persons or situations, but it is not like a compromise as my father does.
Anyway, now I listen to music because I want to listen some nice melodies, or because I want to remember something or someone. As I said, my favourite band is Incubus. I couldn’t say in which kind of music are they are, because today there is a big classification and they have been changing their style. However, I could say that they have a rock style, like “Anglo rock”. The first time that I listen to them I was like 10 years old and I was watching mtv, in that time I saw one of their music videos: Pardon Me. I don’t know why I loved so much that song if I even understand it. Now, I am 19 years old, but I’m not sure if I really understand it or not… maybe yes …. Maybe not… is't difficult
Also Incubus, I listened other bands and singers, but I fell a bit shame to enumerate them… so forget it ..
They come to Chile in 2007 and gave two concerts in Santiago. I went with my boyfriend and we had a great time. I felt very happy because they sound like in their discs and the show was too adrenalin, I was really crazy because there were a lot of energy.
Even that I don’t know much about music I’m always have my ears open to listenall kind of music, just for placer.

Bye!!

Dania.

Good Food

Today is a nice day because I'm going to talk about something that makes me really happy: Good Food.

Eating is an activity very important and necessary in my life, in fact, if I don't eat I'm going to die. I love all kinds of foods: salad, sandwich, dessert, dishes, cakes, soup, etc.

The typical food of Chile is good too, and dishes which my mom makes are better than those one. But, I’m a lucky girl... my boyfriend cooks really delicious food and he makes a lot of different food. Sometimes I help him to cook, but there are others situations when he has a lunch ready for me.

I like a lot of vegetables, but carrot, spinach, onion, tomato, potato are my favorite ones. Also I like to eat beef, pork, chicken, turkey as well as fish and others sea animals. In the other hand I like to eat cakes with chocolate and cookies, my favorite ones are brandy cook, and If you want to know… I love the ice cream of chocolate with raspberry jam.

Every day I have to feed myself, so every day I enjoy while I’m eating, it makes me happy and very grateful for can eat them.

I’ve cooked few times, actually in my house I don’t do because my parents does, but in my boyfriend’s house he has to do for his family so when I’m there I help him. Some of our specialty is lasagna, spaghettis with salsa boloñesa, pizza, and other ones. Once, I was in his house and I made a salad with mushroom, scallion and pepper, also it had so much juice lemon; in the end all his family loved my salad and nowadays his mom makes it.

I don’t have much to say in relation a memories and smells. Throughout my life I’ve eaten a lot of foods and these has been present in many situations, so I don’t have, in my mind, a specific moment related whit a specific food.

If I had the possibility to learn how to cook, professionally, I would do a course meal about dessert, because I don’t usually eat them and the reason is that I don’t know how to make them.

Well this post makes me feel hungry……………..Good Bye!

Santiago for Foreigners

Hello, in this oportunity I'm going to talk about place that you can visit and things to do in Santiago of Chile

Santiago is the capital of Chile, which is in South America. It’s a place very similar to others cities around the world. It has museums, amusement park, church and zoo; in addition it has some typical places to visit, even if they continue the “European style”, Chilean people have mixed this style with they own style.

Some places to visit are:

Mercado Central; it is located in the center of the city. You can get there by the subway, and then you have to step off in Cal y Canto station. There you can try a lot of typical Chilean food, like cazuela, empanadas, pastel de choclo (corn cake) and seafish.
Plaza de Armas and surroundings. This place dates from the colony period, when Spanish tried to conquest this territory. Around it, there are a lot of important buildings, like Center Post Office, the principal church of the city, the pre-Columbian museum, and others. It is an important place because the Chilean people develop their civic life there, as in the first time of the nation.

These places are much closed so you can go for a walk in Plaza de Armas and then you should go to eat something in Mercado Central.

The Cerro Santa Lucia it’s a beautiful place to visit, it was a strategic place when Spanish were fighting with the natives. Then in the republic period until today, the hill has been intervene by architect and landscape designer, who build a kind of “little city” on the hill. Today it is very important because it’s the long of the city in order to help to clean the its air.

Parks and traditional neighborhood are very nice to visit. Around these places there are restaurant, cafes, bookstore, and handmade fair. Some examples are: Barrio Lastarria, Parque Forestal, which are near of Santa Lucia hill, or Barrio Concha y Toro and Barrio Yungay, which are near to Plaza de Armas.

Furthermore you can do something very very typically of Chilean people: travel by Transantiago. In it, you can know how Chilean people travel everyday and you can see the real face of this city. Probably you will see some “ugly” things.

After all... I hope that you have a greatt time in this city. Enjoy it =)!!

Good Bye!

pd: for more information visit this websites http: //www.municipalidaddesantiago.cl/turismo/datos.php,

http://www.chilesites.com/turismo_chile.php?reg=13, http://www.mercadocentral.cl/inicio.htm , http://www.barriolastarria.com/ Good Luck!

Addictions

Hello!

The topic for this season is Addictions! And I don't know what to say 'cause I think that I don't have one...or maybe yes... and...I haven't noted it yet >.>!

Anyway... I have to write something...

I like to drink coke and it could become in an addiction if I had enough money to buy it every day. But I don't have enough money... and if I had it I won't spend on it, 'cause there are a lot of other things that I could get with the same money. Actually, when I was in the high school I smoked ('cause my friends do too) but I gave up by the same reason.

If I drink it a lot I would get yellow tooth and a high level of caffeine in my blood, which would be very dangerous for my health: it makes me vulnerable to some nervous disorder, like insomnia or anxiety.

In my opinion a person who suffers any addictions didn’t received enough love during his/her live and probably she/he is looking for it in materials things. Cigarette and alcohol (for example wine, beer, whisky, etc.) are two things that people usually use to “feel better” when they had any problem or when the feel nervous. In my case I take a deep breath.

Although I could have enough money to buy every day coke, I wouldn’t become in an addicted, since after a while I would get bored of it. Through my life I’ve been changing my favorite things: when I was a child I loved superocho (it is a chocolate bar) and chocman (a delicious mini cake to cover of chocolate) and I almost was an addicted… but then… I get bored of them.

I like much eat chocolates, candies, cakes, cookies, pizza, hot dog, spaghettis, and other things, I mean... I love eat, but I think that I’ll never be an addicted of one of this food.

I hope that if someone nears to me had any addiction, I could help his/her, but if his/her problem is too complicated, maybe a specialist will be more indicate.

Probably I won’t stop drinking coke, but I’m sure that I can control it.

Good Bye!