Two weeks ago the students of Austral voted to return to classes for an abbreviated second semester. On campus, the change is just shy of astounding. When I first arrived in August, one might see a couple of grad students wandering around, professors working, or high school students taking a shortcut. A few clubs and student organizations were functioning, but really there just weren't any people. It felt more like a park than a school. About a month ago, the consejo general of the student organization voted to finish up the first semester that had originally been interrupted by the protests last autumn (April/May). The week that followed we had more students. People sat in desks in classrooms, sat for exams, studied (ostensibly), and brought a little more life to the place, but it still felt empty.
Now that the second semester has started, however, the university actually feels like a university. There are so many people yelling, laughing, reading, going to classes, etc. that I am starting to appreciate how much I've missed out on during out little, ad hoc academic program that's been taking place in the limbo period of paro nacional. I feel like there is so much going on and so many people to meet and yet I have so little time left that I feel like it's too late to get involved in anything new. It's frustrating. At the same time, I have a strong desire to enjoy to the fullest that which I have already found and gotten involved in here in the five weeks I have left in Chile.
New blogging strategy: write with more brevity and greater frequency. I think that's how it's supposed to work anyways. My apologies for venting frustration. The next post will be more concrete and informative.
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