Random Thoughts

So I am waiting at the University of Belgrano right now for my teacher to give my class of 100 people our grades from the exam we just took, and I thought I would reflect on some random things about my time in Argentina. I am longing for efficiency. The inefficiency here is starting to get to me. For example, in order to take final exams every student has to go to the advisors office to get a piece of paper for the teacher to write our final grades on. We also have to bring one of the several copies of our passports we have had to provide at this university for our professor to look at to make sure we are actually legally students here. Today was my Literature I exam. Last week, our professor told us that our exam would be mainly multiple choice with a few quick answer questions and only on the second half of the class after the midterm. When she passed out the exam, the test was all short response questions with questions ab out the first and second half of the class and they were all very vague and difficult to answer. We only had 40 minutes to complete the exam and then she said she would take an hour and a half to grade the exams and then call us in individually to give us our grades on our piece of paper aka hoja de situacion (literally paper of situation). So we all have been waiting for an hour and a half, and she just told us that she needs another hour to finish grading and then we can have our grades, or we have the option to just go to an office tomorrow and pick up our hoja de situacion. Why wouldnt she just tell us that before?! Also, not to mention that she had her assistant guy who happens to do everything with scheduling and random stuff at this school tell us in a hallway full of shouting people. It really doesnt make sense. Since I have already been waiting and do not have much time to do anything productive until dinner I decided to just wait and complain through writing.

Another thing I dont really understand is how they express grades here. When I got my midterm grade for my globalization class, the professor just read everyones grades allowed to the whole class. And for our final he just posted them outside an office. In the states people would sue over student privacy laws. I suppose it isnt a huge deal, but I think grades are everyones personal business. I dont think an entire class should be able to know everyone elses grades.

Also, I keep forgetting to mention the difficulties with getting change back here. When I go to the bank I normally take out 980 pesos (about 250 dollars to avoid several small atm fees). The reason why I take out that amount is so I dont end up with only 100 peso bills because it is really difficult to get change for 100 pesos (about 25USD). I understand that it can be a lot of money at times, but honestly its not! When I was in Bariloche I was renting ski equipment for 35 pesos and paid with a 50 and the man couldnt even give me 15 pesos back! He told me he would have change for me when I came back the next day to return my equipment. And I just thought to myself..Come on, people buy expensive ski stuff here all day, and this man does not have change?! Another issue here is the shortage of coins (centavos). The first week I was here, one of the ISA staff told us it is due to the mafia with holding and selling the coins. Franco told Liz and I it is because the colectivos (buses) which are the only reason you need coins, receive the majority of the coins and for some reason cannot figure out a way to redistribute them. If I return to Argentina, I would like to figure out a way to solve this problem. I really dont think it would be difficult. It is funny cause sometimes stores and kioskos would rather not sell you something than give you change. Sometimes my friends and I have to scavenge around Buenos Aires to find coins. It can get a little ridiculous.

Thats enough complaining for now.