I have mentioned in the past how the schedules (los horarios) of the day anchor me and that I often make a plan to start each day with some routine and go on from there. In Santiago, this is also important, as things do work differently (cosas sirven diferentemente) and examining these differences is an important part of my learning experience here at la UMCE. In fact, I am in no way able to really make any tangible connections, as I am just beginning to understand how things work here. I know I am a practitioner and here to teach and demonstrate educational concepts and ideas, but I am also an observer, and I am using this time to be quick to listen (escuchar) and slow to speak (hablar), as the world around me has a lot to say and offer to me.
For example, the organization of the day at the university (la universidad) is set around 90 minute blocks of time, with the first block (I) beginning at 8 AM and the last block (VII) ending at 8 PM or 20:00 hours (horas). The 90-minute block periods have a regimented 15-minute break (un descanso) between the blocks, and classes in science education (educación de ciencia) typically covering 2 of these blocks. The students and the professors usually take a break in the mid-morning to have a coffee (un café) or some juice (unos jugos), and there is usually an extended lunch (un almuerzo) beginning at 1 PM (13:00 horas) which is a longer break of around 90 minutes and is usually the biggest meal of the day. Later in the day, there is another late afternoon break with more relaxed conversation and coffee or tea and then a final push until people head out for the day.
It appears that the students (los estudiantes) and the professors (los profesores) actually spend more time in class than we do in the US. It also seems that the students and the faculty actually spend more time on campus, typically coming in each day in the morning and staying throughout the day, at least until 6 PM (18:00 horas). I have found that I am expected to be on campus regularly and I get there to the office each day by 9 AM. When I try and comment that I am going to work at home (trabajo en casa), the other professors snicker and laugh, as “working at home” to them really means going shopping or heading out to the pub for a happy hour.
The pace of the workday (el día laboral), although quite regimented in its operation and organization, is actually quite relaxed and facilitated in a more laid back manner than the hectic manner I am used to back in the US. My usual manner is to run from my home to my office at UTEP to my class in order to meet my students who are running to class (están corriendo a clase) from the extreme outskirts of the campus where they have to park. In fact, most of my work life can be seen as running from one place to another, trying to keep up with the pace of the day and all the time running, and in effect, missing a lot of quality moments. I think what I need to do is not only live in the moment, but be available in all the moments, and that is where my mentors here in Santiago have me beat.
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