This year, the second of my career, and the final of basic cycle, I have much more in-depth anthropological discipline, but also I learned a lot about my academic preferences: subjects that I really don’t like and others which made me feel like a wild horse, eager for knowledge. I believe that 2009 was filled with a wealth of experiences, both good and bad (good and bad classes, and good and bad teachers), who have helped me in my academic training. These two terms were useful in preparation, not had much to do with archaeology, but it helped me to find the relations between this area of anthropology and the social and physical.

At the beginning of the academic year, in the first term, I must admit that my performance don’t left me nothing satisfied: I fell down my ratings and I had to give a lot of exams. I think that was very good reasons for this precarious situation: some health and personal problems produced for my soul many concerns, also the fatigue doing jobs, essays and tests left a bitter taste in my little heart.

But I would like to rescue good subjects like Anthropology III, Linguistics, Physical Anthropology and Statistics: they gave me solid theoretical bases for next year in my specialty: Archaeology. Apparently, these elements have no relation with the sub discipline, but that is a common mistake: there are a lot of good stuff from other areas and allowing development in Archaeology in Chile.

The second term, otherwise, I felt as the new energy (thanks to well-deserved vacation) through my body. I became a good student, very applied in my works, responsible, caring: an example worthy of emulation... until the second week. Well, my responsibility doesn’t last long. But my performance in this term is better than the first of this year. Probably because academic load is lower than at the beginning of the year, also because my heart is now in total equilibrium. About subjects, I don’t like most of these: Ethnology (although the teacher was really handsome), Ethnohistory, Ethnography, ethnos ethnos ethnos… really boring.

Anyway, I feel relieved now that these two terms are finally ending, I think I need a break (although I don't know if it is deserved) that allows completely renew the spirits, thus beginning the next year with a whole new vision: also that after 2010 things will change considerably. For example, I will not be with all my friend in classes because everyone will take different paths, the overchanging of specialty study will involve... so I'll have to be doubly prepared for this new challenge!

That's all... I guess
: )

Challenges and Levi.

(In memoriam. - Claude Levi-Strauss: 1908-2009)

Anthropology is a discipline very problematic, specially because of the fact the diversity in each area. I can mention a lot of issues with social anthropology (like relativism, or the little connection that sometimes have with the society), or physical anthropology (specificity tends to enclose this area, disconnected from the others). But I want to further the area of archaeology:
Archaeology always been surrounded of a lot of problems and challenges, so scholars of the discipline have debated for year about this topics. In my opinion, I think that one of the most important challenge in my discipline is related with the intervention on the places where archaeologists make their excavation, prospecting and, in general, all the investigate work that involved site’s analysis which is related too with our own spaces of interaction.
Thus, work with communities are essential: is very important to maintain a goo relation with natives, because the are who can contribute valuable data for the reconstruction of the past, as well as also to discover some practices that actually still conducted, which are part of an ancient legacy (since first population of an area in particular).
Also, we must to be careful with the geography of the site: is important do no harm or make a negative intervention with the structure related with flora and fauna.
On the other hand, an important challenge to highlight is inside of documents of each investigation, data recollection and their systematization. They will allow, largely, the successful development of the archaeological discipline. We must to pay attention to these elements and be aware of the importance of scientific methods. Only with these factors we can make a good argumentation and theory about places of interaction.
Finally, at the moment to write conclusions, we must to overcome the challenge of bad preconceptions and argue with rationale our theories (with strong anthropological bases adequately explain human interaction) that make a contribution to the discipline. We cannot forget that diffusion of these researches are a challenge still to surpass.

GETTING MARRIED

In my opinion, the most beautiful moment for a romantic person like me is get marry some day with a long white dress and a bouquet of roses. Also I think that person to marry me doesn’t care at all: the most essential thing is that my wedding will be wonderful.
First, I want all things in white: tables, chairs and people! Everybody must be like angels, and for that I want to each person with white thin clothes. Particularly, I want to give myself to my future-husband with a long white dress like a beautiful creature from paradise.
Then, after that we joined in holy matrimony… I want a big party! Yeah, all people will enjoy my wedding, so I’ll invite to all people: my family, my friends, friends of my friends, my English’s teacher (obviously), and friends of my English’s teacher.
That’s will be the most wonderful dream come true.
Nevertheless, I feel that my wedding will be a bit difficult to do… specially because I think that nobody wants to follow this romantic dream.
Mmmh, or probably if I hire to some people: false parents, false friends and a fake husband.Maybe with a fake wedding, I don’t know… probably I’ll feel a little sad… but it’ll be a dream come true… I hope.

And that's all... I guess.

The most embarrassing moment in my life.-

I think that my life is a string of bad events. But the most embarrassing moment happened when I was in a pleasure travel with my family in a very very elegant hostel. One day, when my parents were out shopping, my brother and I decided to play outdoors. So we went to a place away from the hostel: there were beautiful flowers and trees, as well as a lot of little birds. It was the most wonderful landscape that I never had seen in my poor life. Like two kids awed by the spectacle, we begin to explore this new world. And then, decided to make a play: we must run around grassland and the first to touch the longest branch of the last tree win some chocolates and, obviously, the honour of the day. Unfortunately, I had not seen that grass of that holy place was fully upholstered of... horse poop! So, when I started to run... Really disgusting. Immediately, I fell off – ridiculously – over the grassland. I felt like the most miserable person in the world: dirty, sore and very embarrassed. When I returned to hte hostel, completely soaked with poop horse – and my brother laughing out loud – all the people saw me in this shameful situation. And when I tried to open the door of my room... I couldn’t because my hands were slippery and full of shit! I hope never been in a situation like that. ANYMORE IN MY LIFE!
That’s all... I guess.
Regards.

FACSO

FA C SO.
There are a lot of structural and financial problems related to this faculty, and some fundamental (and shameful) deficiences with our own academic background. First, the construction of our faculty are weaker tan other faculties, the walls are somewhat flimsy, so imagine what could happen if a seismic movement sweeping our beloved academy! We must to accept that the construction are undersized for so many careers, and places like library, laboratories and casino become very small. Also, important archaeological and antrhopological material is not an appropiate place where being deposited.

A second topic talks about financial problems: we don't have enough fundings to make projects or optimum working equipment. This unfair situation has relation, moreover, with the unequal distribution troughout the university.

Finally, shameful deficiences with our study material has relation to the por inversion in this faculty: we don't have some fundamental books, or not enough copies for all students.

Well, despite of the fact that this problems are quite serious, I think is not impossible find a solution (obviously, there are some topics harder to sorve tan others). For example, a better organization in regard to the money that coming from the central fund, rethinking priorities.Probably, if administrative authoritie take these problems seriously, we migth have a better faculty.
:)

The secret of ancient Rome.

The secrets of ancient Rome.
It's very interesting the phenomenon that this important capital of the world produces in a lot of archaeologists' souls, obviously, this is largely because of the fact that this very old city has had a special site in the historical and prehistoric development of a variety of peoples and empires.
Also, we can see that still now this site holds so many secrets and treasures in their ground!
A few weeks ago, for example, a new about the discovery of a hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold, which was totally forgotten for a lot of year, reveals fundamental information in relation to the operation and networkings of the large community 2,000 years ago. The project, now directec by Simon Key, is the key for the understanding of economic lifeblood of the greatest empire the world had known.
As Rome, there are a countless of beautiful places which seduces with their great wonders. This is the case of Stonehenge, Angkor Wat, temples of Tenochtitlan in Mexico, Cleopatra's palace, and many others.
But this findings are not only responsability of good archaeologists: also the climate change has a particular role in this unexpected events. Things like lakes shrivel, sand blows or coastlines shift help us to rediscover our past, and certainly, to continue to maintain our source of labor!

My favorite dirty movie.

My favorite movie (and probably the only one that I’ve seen in my life) is called dirty dancing: I feel so identified with the main carácter, the bored girl who met a handsome man in a paradise place.
But first, some information about the movie: it was filmed in 1987 by Emile Ardolino, the film features, Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Obrach, were a very good cast. Also, this movie was nominated and won a lot of awards, like Globe Golden Awards by the best actor, actress and motion picture (1988), Grammy Awards for the best song and pop performance by a duo (1988) and American Films Institutes for their songs.
The plot is about Baby (a 17 year-old girl) and her family in the summer of 1983. They went to a resort in the Catskill Mountains during their familly summer vacation. There, she met a dance instructor (Johnny) who taught her the beautiful world of the dance and love. This i show, during the dance lessons, both protagonists fall into the clutches of love and passion and start a clandestine relationship. But the problems came when Penny (a woman who worked at the restort), abort her son and Baby must to ask for help to her father, an important doctor. He thought that the father was Johnny and he forbids Baby to have any contact with him and his friends. But Baby, as a romantic girl, defies her father and continues the affair. After a series of confusions, she decided to dance with her dance instructor (and fianceè), no matter what people think.
Like a dream come true, the film ends with all people dance together in a dirty dancing.
Well, as you can see, I really like this movie. Specially for the passion of the dance. Oh God.
That’s all. : )