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. : )

WHERE TO GO IN SANTIAGO

I don’t like very much this city, nevertheless I must to accept that there is a lot of places to visit in Santiago. Even more, here is a list of things that a tourist can do in a day:
I recommended to go in the morning to San Cristobal hill, you can go biking or walking, so when you will be in the top of the place, buy a delicious “mote con huesillo” and then, go to the virgin and, if you want, pray and ask for the humanity.
At noon (specially when the sun is in the higher of the sky), you can go to the center or walk by the beautiful streets of Ñuñoa. I bet you that your feet will be so tired and your mouth will be very dry, so you needed a cool place to stay in the afternoon.
By the same, the most appropiate destiny to go at lunch is “Emporio La Rosa” because there you can drink a variety of ice cream and enjoy of the wonderful view of “Parque Forestal” (and see the kids playing and lovers kissing passionately).
Then, you can walk by “Barrio Lastarria”: you find a lot of books and interesting antiques! And later, go to Melinka’s and drink an elegant cup of coffee with a fine pie…
I know I know… this parts are very snob… So, to do more miscellaneous this route, I recommended going to “Kmasu”, in this famous disco, you can talk, dance and have fun with a lot of famous people: beautiful guys like Pablo Vargas or Nelson Mauri! Yeah, a great panorama to end the visit, don’t you?

: )

Transantiago-

The transport system Transantiago is very polemic for a lot of reasons: good and bad things. First, I think that it improve the safety and the routes are more structurated than years ago, also the people can wait in the bus stop without money (because of bip cards) and it is less noisy than the others buses.
But, there`s a lot of problems, too. For example, the waiting time – speciallly at night – is very long, sometimes, the buses are more crowed than before, and the design of those machines are, in some situations, very uncomfortable (imagine an extremely strong stop, you can hit with an iron, or a chair, or the driver… I think that authorities should make more objects to supported).
In my own experience, the saddiest thing that happens to my romantic heart is that I lost the trust in the subway,now there`s more people, more dirt, more noise, more pollution and, obviuosly, is more disgusting than before.
In the begginig of the system – particularly when I have to go to the school, by the subway – people were impolite (more than usually) and the transport was terrible! Thanks God, currently the situation has improve, but I still feel that there`s much to do.
On the other hand, I don`t like that TV, radio and printing press pay great attention in the new transport system, I think that there are more problems (specially in other regions), probably more important than Transantiago.
That`s all… I guess.

Michael C Hsiung

I wanna talk about the most important drawer of the universe, his name is Michael C Hsiung. He has thirty three year-old, and he was born in Los Ángeles, United States, but he has hte facially features of a typical asian (he’s chinese-american descent). The most interesting characteristic that identifies, is his a large moustache in contrast with his pale skin. Michael C Hsiung is recognized for his outlandish style, he usually wear clothes clothes or feathers in his hair: definitely, he’s a very interesting person.

In his art, he’s known for his black-white ink drawings, and he can draw all kinds of things: from bears, little children ion different actions, old men within animals, until important persons from political sphere. His drawings are ironic, controversial and very creative.

I really enjoy to see his drawing, also I think that he has a large brain! His mind is a world where fantastic creatures like centarurs , dragons or animals created by himself. People in his drawings are in uncomfortable and dangerous situations and sometimes I ask how this man can image that terrific images in his mind!

Now, Michael C Hsiung is working in differents projects, doing illustrations and showing his beautiful art.

In my opinion, he’s the best (and he’s so cute!)

That’s all… I guess.

Good and bad points

The last term was a strange experience in the money, the health an love (also in my studies, but that's not too important for a romantic person like me).
Well, I'm going to start with academic aspect (the most boring)... I fell down my ratings considerably - luckily I can pass a subject with the minimun qualification - also, I had to stay a lot of complete nigths doing jobs, essays, studing for test... It was really exhausting.
About the money, oh my god, I fell into bankruptcy: I spent all my millions on photocopies, medical exams, food (because I was very anxious) and social events. I really don't know what happened, but in one moment I fell that my life will go to the deepest hole.
The health was worst: I found an hormonal problems and respiratory affections.
But when you think that nothing could be worse, my heart said me the contrary: my great love left me alone with my illusion and a bouquet of flowers on my hand...
Fortunately, my friends were always next to me. So I enjoyed beautiful moments with them besides to met new people than now are an important part of my life (like DANIELA ÑÚNEZ, my spectacular fianceè).
And finally, I expect that this new term will be better, gives me just happy experiences (if not, I know that my lover and my friends will be with me), and good notices about all the areas of my terrific life!
That's all... I guess.

A country I would like to visit

I would like to visit Malta, it's a beautiful place on the mediterranean sea. I know a very little about the history of that country, but I saw spectacular photos of landscapes and the neighborhoods, so I think the people is very nice, too.
In Malta, I would like to relax and have fun with my fianceè DANIELA NUÑEZ. Probably stay in a hospitable home, and walk by the beach, the streets, and the marvelous sorprises that love will give me in that romantic country.
Also, I don't like to go to Malta just in a travel for pleasure, but I want to stay a very long period of time, working as a waitress to mantain my future wife, then, I don't know, maybe I will to study in an important university or make a very successful television career.
I know that this beautiful dream it's very hard to make true, but from now I'm guarding money to travel to this country and a lot of places more: sites on Europe like France, Italy and Spain.
I forget another country that I would like to visit: Iceland. Oh, that's my favorite place around the world! Because there's the very best group of music: Sigur Rós. And my fianceè also enjoy that music band, so we would go to a lot of concerts, listen that music alive!
Well, I would like to visit Malta and Iceland. I couldn't prefer one or another.
Mmmh, that's all... I guess.

Subject that I like

One of my favourite subject is Anthropology III, and is taught by Andrés Aedo, a social antrhopologist. The subject is principally about cultural materialism. One of the reason I like is the perspective of differents social process, also, I like the authors that we read for tests.

Despite the fact that classes are very long and sometimes I get bored because they begin early, the approach is very interesting and is an important tool for my career.

Another reason is the charisma of my teacher, I really have fun with his stories and jokes... he's a very good teacher, also.

In addition, historic materialism and cultural materialism is strong theorical current, in opposition to others relatives theories. I don't like so much ethnology because is very particularist and we cannot to observe cultural bosses.

Finally, I like this subject because is the most complete of my semester, and is the only one where I can learn about marxism, ecological antrhopology and historical materialism. And I believe that this knowledge will be very important to my future.

That's all.

My ideal job.

Well, my ideal job would be related with my career, obsviously, so I wanna find a job as archaeologist for some important project (specially south of Chile, because I like so much that zone). I really would like to live in that area, I can't stand the city, the noise and the pollution, so, if I could live a couple of years... that's would be a pause in my life (a necessary pause). In addition, I'd like to work with persons who has a renowned career to learn a lot about his experiences. But it's really hard to find job like this, probably I'd need to go another country to study a master or anything else.

Mmh, I think I'm good at drawing, so I can draw the variety of objects that people find in excavations, I don't know... it could be.

And yes, I know it's difficult to find this kind of job, and I know I must to strengthen a lot if I want to work in the things that I really like.

Or maybe... I don't know... If a wouldn't realize this beautiful dream, always the possibility is married with a millionarie man, have a lot of children, and work as an ideal houswife... but I don't like to cook, or wash the laundry, or take care of children.

Probably the best option would be work as an archaeologist, before to work as an horrible housewife.


That's all. I guess :)

Future life. .

I don't really know what will gonna happen in future, nevertheless I guess in five years from now I'll probably graduate from the university, and maybe I'll go to live alone in the most expensive loft from Santiago. In addition, I might travel around the world, make a lot of friends and find the cure for some important disease. That's will be a brilliant future.

Personally, in a few years I'll marry, maybe with an elegant millionaire or an arabic sheikh. Also, I would to like have eleven children - after having travelled around de world, obviously - and spend the most of my time with them. That's will be a beautiful family.

I expect to work in an important enterprise as general manager and boss of the bosses.
Perhaps I will transform partly of socialité, and I'll be in contact with Julita Astaburuaga, Julito Videla and 'Kike' Morandé.

Or it's possible that I have no idea about my ideal future, but I hope will be a great future.


That's all.

. . The Best In My Field

I don't know which is the best person in my field, but I have a favourite that I think is the most interesting to describe: Donald Jackson. He's a chilean archaeologist, but he studied at Mexico University (also he has an magister in archaeology on 2002), so he knows a lot about mesoamerican culture and he gave classes in that country some years. Then, when he came at Chile, he started to work in different places of this country: north, central and south zones where he did a lot of investigations with his colleagues. He wrote a great quantity of issues, like:
Coexistencia e interacción cultural de comunidades de cazadores recolectores en el arcaico semiárido, Nuevas evidencias estratigráficas para el Complejo Huentelauquén en la Provincia del Choapa, IV Región and Estrategias tecnológicas y conjunto lítico del contexto paleoindio de Cueva Lago Sofía 1, última esperanza, Magallanes.

To me, Donald Jackson is one of the best archaeologist because he's a very good investigator, he has a lot of experience in this field and now I'm very eager to have class with him (because he gives classes of Chile's Prehistory).

That's all.

MY CAREER

It's hard to explain some aspects of me and my career, especially why I am studying anthropology ... I can say I decided to study this about thirteen, as expected, my decision was not given good way for my family, and my friends have no idea what means anthropology, however, a strange driving me more and more interested to study anthropology and human behavior. In general, anthropology was responsible for the variability of this behavior over time.

Anthropologists working in teams of public policies, while in the private sector are related in aspects of human resources of each company. Also, as physical anthropologists may work in the legal medical service along with human remains recently. Nevertheless, archeology, which is my favorite subject, is responsible for the investigation of remains from past cultures (and not so past), which may contribute to an area in the field of tourism, in the installation of museums, and reconfiguratin in the building of a past identity.

That's all. I guess :)

A photograph that I like-.

I really don't like to take photos, probably because I feel I have not that special instinct to capture an image. Nevertheless, I like so much to collect and searching by the internet pictures related with famous photographers, one of them is Robert Frank, he took beautiful photos with also the crudeness of the World War II. Furthermore, my favourite photo is of him, its name is 'Sick of goodbyes', from 'The Americans' collection.

That black-and-white photograph was taken in 1978. It shows mirrors which is written probably with a paint, lipstick or blood (who knows). The picture is dirty, unripe, terrible and ironic. Words in the mirrors: Sick Of Goodbyes, dripping down the image, the liquid falling across the cold material, and the little doll seems to be the soul of the photographer.

I searching by the web some references about the context in which this photo was taken, and I founded a site where it explains how terrible moment was crossing Frank: his daughter was killed in a plane crash and his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I think his photos show his feelings, and because of it I like his way of doing photography.

That's all. I guess :)

A career-related website. .

A day searching by the web different links about antrhopology, I came across a site that give me important information about the events related with my career in Lationamerica, the site is called grupo NAyA, and the link is: http://www.naya.org.ar
I usually visit every month, I read about new discoveries, works or papers. In addition, gives me once a month the information about symposiums, congresses, conferences, workshops, etc.
I like this website because it keeps me informed about differents events in the world of antrhopology and archaeology, the last one is that more I feel interested.
In addition, there are others sites that I like because gives me information in english, so, besides important topics about my career, I can learn in other language. Here's an example of that:
http://www.archaeology.org/
I recommended to you; it's an interesting, interactive and fun website!

That's all-.

My favourite piece of technology-.

Regarding technology, I think that the best piece of technology is personal computer, I love it!
I got it two years ago, it came at my home a beautiful day on january. Since that moment, the pc and me are just one.
I usually use it for doing my homerwork, reading papers from university, finding out interesting things, knowing about social events and chating with my friends (specially those who are far far away).
I often use every week. When I arrived at home. Or when I feel unhappy, I just listen to the music (very romantic music) that's inside my pc... very reconfortable.
I like it because I can go to every place with it, it tells me all that I want!
If I didn't have my pc, my life would be the same.
Yeah, because personal computers are, finally, just a machine.




That's all.

About Me. .

Well, here is some information:

I'm Sandra Rebolledo and I'm nineteen years old. I study anthropology at Universidad de Chile.
Actually I live with my parents, my big brother, my grandmom and my two dogs: Morrison and Homero (the first one is the oldest dog around the world, but he has a lot of style and experience!)

My hobbies are draw, walk by the street and I like so much is to read, my favorite writers are Borges, Cortázar and Baricc. About music, I like to listen to indie, groups as Sigur Rós, Múm and Bang Gang, also I like french music, and Brigitte Bardot is one of my favorite singers in that style (she's so beautiful, too). Also, I love cats and elephants.

For this class, I expect be able to speak fluently and have fun.

That's all. I hope.
: )