School updates

What?! You're actually STUDYING while studying abroad? Yes. I know from the look of this blog that it appears that I'm just using this opportunity to hang out and have fun for a semester (right, Dad?). Who does that? Contrary to popular belief, I am actually doing something productive (at least some of the time :) ). School is almost three weeks underway and I’m starting to actually feel settled in here. With the Intensive Language Program, Carnaval, and summer vacation behind me, it now seems like less of a vacation and more like I am actually living here.

This semester I am taking Portuguese, Brazilian Foreign Policy, Social Political & Economic History of Brazil, and Community Development. All of my classes are in Portuguese and with Brazilian students except for the Foreign Policy class which is taught in English. In my history class, I am the only exchange student. So cool, right? I’m really excited about it because already several people in the class have introduced themselves and offered to help me out if I ever have questions. This makes a huge difference! Especially when the teacher talks rather quickly and writes illegibly. The class also includes a group project in which we study one particular aspect of Brazilian history/culture and give a presentation about it to the class. SCARY! Fortunately, my group seems really cool and I don’t have to go until June. Hopefully by then I’ll speak well enough not to completely embarrass myself :/

The Brazilian Foreign Policy class is so interesting and right up my alley. The flamboyant professor is constantly parading around the room theatrically so it’s rather easy to stay awake despite the fact that it is during my usual afternoon nap ☺. It’s crazy how much Brazilian foreign policy (and history too for that matter) is dependent on US actions. We spent 70-80% of our last class just discussing how the US policies have affected Brazil, and many were not for the best. There are many examples of the US going back on treaties and agreements that we made with Brazil when it was in our own best interest. We just left ‘em hanging. It’s not that Brazilians are bitter towards the US, but it is clear that they don’t agree with our foreign policy in recent years... but I don’t know many Americans that do either. Oops, I didn’t mean for this to be a political commentary, but I blame it on the great documentary I just watched tonight. Check it out if you want to here some interesting interviews with the top government people about the decision to invade Iraq. It's called "Uncovered : The whole truth about the war in Iraq."

The Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro (aka pook-ey ☺). It is a private Catholic school located in the wealthy south zone of the city. The students who go there are typically very well off, and you can definitely tell. Let’s just say they don’t roll into their 9am class in pajamas. Although PUC students sometimes get the reputation of being stuck-up and rude, the ones that I have met have certainly not fit that stereotype. One thing that is different for me though, is some students are very rude to their professors. It is not uncommon for students to talk throughout the whole class, answer their phones, get up and leave ten minutes into class, or even have a full-on make-out session in the back of the room. (Ok, the last one is definitely not “common” but my friend did witness this last week). But for that matter, professors have a much different attitude about class as well. For one thing, most classes start at least 15 minutes after the time on your schedule. Sometimes the teachers come in 20-30 minutes late (but so do the students). I even hung out in a class for an hour once before the teacher finally started teaching. Although after 3 weeks I should know this, I can’t bring myself to be over 5 minutes late to class. I just can’t do it. I blame the years of conditioning. Maybe a few more weeks of sitting in an empty classroom and doing crossword puzzles, reading the newspaper, and awkwardly pretending to text people will crack me. Only time will tell.

More updates on school are sure to come. Thanks for reading!