Today was my first day as an educator at the Universidad de Chile. I am very happy with the experience. The students seem great; the administration, the staff, the nice men and women who work at the Café, everyone is just wonderful.
I left my house pretty early (because I wasn’t sure how the morning traffic would be) and arrived way ahead of schedule. It took me twenty five minutes to drive to he campus. I first walked around the social sciences building (to the right if you’re coming from the parking lot), past the Jose Carrasco hall (named after an important journalist who was murdered during the dictatorship), and made my way up the journalism building (where the legendary journalist Juan Pablo Cardenas teaches and where he also has his office).
I remember visiting this campus a few years back when I interviewed Juan Pablo for a documentary film I am producing (stay tuned for some clips), which will, hopefully, be finished by the end of the year. I remember I followed Juan Pablo with a camera as he made his way to his office and then his class. I even filmed him as he taught his undergraduate students all about “la crónica periodistica”.
Judging by all the banners, flyers, and informational pamphlets that can be seen everywhere around campus, the students here at the Universidad de Chile must be very well organized. There are countless groups, organizations, federations, clubs,etc. There is a feeling of solidarity which seems to be aimed at various social justice campaigns. I also noticed quite a few flyers that expressed concern with higher education. It’s clear that the students of this university are far from apathetic and that they are taking advantage of campus life to engage with social and political struggles.
On my way into the social sciences building, I walked by a dog that seemed quite at peace sleeping in the middle of the pathway. I noticed the same dog a day earlier. He was just as relaxed as he was today. I think this dog is some sort of campus mascot. I need to find out his name!
The social science building is very nice. There is a huge mural of Che Guevara on the first floor. On one of the higher floors there is a beautiful rendition of Victor Jara too! Also on the first floor there is a café. An older gentleman sits behind the main counter and he seems like a very nice person. He was quite friendly with a pair of professors who came in after I did. The café’s patrons seem to enjoy chitchatting with him.
There was some confusion when I ordered a coffee. I wasn’t clear what the options were so I ended up simply getting a Nescafe “grano” coffee. I had left my giant Starbucks Latte in the car, not wanting to give the wrong impression by walking into the Universidad de Chile as an agent of American Cultural Imperialism. Then when I asked the woman at the kitchen end of the café for a little milk in my coffee, she said that the milk was extra (a lot extra) but that she would look the other way this time. So sweet.
After talking to Belen, my friend and colleague, outside of my class for a few minutes, I went into the classroom in order to set up my exciting powerpoint presentation. My level 2 students trickled in one by one as I started to talk about the mechanics of the course (as well as some housekeeping issues). Many of the students seemed quite shy but in the end, everyone participated at least once and I have a good feeling that they’re going to engage and learn a lot this semester.
Overall, my first level 2 class gets an A (so far).
Oh yeah, and I forgot that the class ends a quarter to 12PM and not at 12PM. I already owe my students fifteen minutes!!!!
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