Since I lived in Argentina as part of a study abroad program, I’ll begin by discussing my academic experiences. First semester was particularly difficult. I struggled because I barely understood the professors and the complex and often boring texts. (Remember, all my classes were taught in Spanish, and four of the six were with local students.) Furthermore, the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) seriously lacks organization and order. Understandably, its severely underpaid professors often went on strike in hopes of making higher salaries, and students often protested the actions of the university administration and the government. Sometimes I showed up to class not knowing it was cancelled due to strikes. Imagine the burden these uncertainties put on people who took one- to two-hour commutes by train and/or bus to get to campus. After a semester at UBA, I looked for alternatives. The second half of the school year was much better. I took classes at Torcuato di Tella University (UTDT), a private institution filled to the rim with beautiful preppy rich kids. UBA, on the other hand, draws a more economically and ideologically diverse crowd since it’s a public university and thus free. The system at UTDT has far more in common with that of American universities, and it generally runs smoothly and without major problems. According to some people, it’s one of the best universities in South America. Maybe, but I can surely say my high school was larger and better equipped.

Neither of the universities I attended, like most in Argentina, had a true campus. Most students in the US live in university housing, or they live in dorms, apartments, and houses located closely to campus. However, most students in Buenos Aires live at home if they’re from the area or in apartments if they come from other regions. As a result, the universities’ buildings are simply a place to attend classes and, sometimes, study. The universities don’t foster a true sense of community. You don’t see people wearing shirts displaying their university’s name, and highly-competitive collegiate sports simply don’t exist. Because most college students in the US live on campus or close to it, it becomes an autonomous entity, separate from the rest of the surrounding town or city. Thus, a strong sense of university identity is usually created. I missed the traditional American campus. I missed walking through a quad. I missed hanging out in a student union. Lifeless university buildings located throughout a city just don’t cut it.

(more…)

I’m thinking about growing my hair out again. It was shaggy and almost down to my neck last December, but I had it trimmed to make it more manageable and then buzzed down to half an inch in January to make a fresh start. It’s been about the same length ever since. Because I’m a conflicted man with thin (no, not thinning; it’s always been relatively thin) hair, I often switch back from shaggy hair to buzzcuts. I know I look better with long hair, but it’s just so high maintenance, and it gets messed up easily. Blah. I can never decide what to stick with.

Actually, if I could, I would grow an Afro. Not a huge one; just long enough to stick a pick in it.

While I’m still on the topic of fashion in this city, I’ve tinkered with the idea of piercing my ears and getting diamond studs. I’d look so slick and dangerous, especially if I kept my hair buzzed. And I’m totally not dangerous; I almost cried twice when I watched The Namesake three weekends ago.

This is what living in Buenos Aires does to you. Too many corrupting, pierced youngsters and their shaggy hair and mullets.

Since Gen. David H. Petraeus, now the overall American commander in Iraq, oversaw the drafting of the Army’s new counterinsurgency manual last year, the strategy has become the new mantra of the military. A recent American military operation here offered a window into how efforts to apply the new approach are playing out on the ground in counterintuitive ways.

In interviews, American officers lavishly praised the anthropology program, saying that the scientists’ advice has proved to be “brilliant,” helping them see the situation from an Afghan perspective and allowing them to cut back on combat operations.

The aim, they say, is to improve the performance of local government officials, persuade tribesmen to join the police, ease poverty and protect villagers from the Taliban and criminals. (more)

Um, isn’t it obvious that learning the savage’s culture is essential for civilizing, er, I mean, bringing democracy to them? You can bomb and shoot them all you want, but it takes much more to keep them under control.

Anthropology arose during the great era of European colonization when the white man traveled the world and encountered strange and interesting savages. Due to his superior culture and intellect, he realized early on that he must learn about the cultures of his subjects to find ways to best dominate and civilize them. Perhaps America’s military leaders should have learned from the masters. How else are you gonna play your subjects against each other if you don’t know what ticks them off?

In the video, Col. Martin Schweitzer, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division unit, discusses the changes that the social scientists have brought to the military’s tactics: “… [I]n ‘02 we used to kick in doors, and ‘07, the Afghan army or Afghan police knock on the door and request to come in.” And they needed academics to tell them that kicking in doors instead of kindly knocking pisses people off?

Okay, it’s good the Army finally realizes that force alone does more harm than good, but it just amazes me that it took them nearly six years to seriously ask why the Afghans behave the way they do. Dude, just do a friggin’ Wikipedia search! If look beyond your own narrow world view, it’s really not that hard to learn about someone else’s culture.