quite alive, but bored

FINALLY ... connected to the world again.

It seems like the students protests that have paralised the school system for almost two weeks now have finally made the international news. If you don't know what I'm talking about...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5048130.stm

I've been out of work since my kids 'took over' our schoool last wednesday. That's pretty much the scene across the country -- the mobilisation has been totally remarkable. Last tuesday we went down town to the center of the action. It was pretty crazy -- we got gassed and hosed down by the cops, despite the fact that the protests were largely peaceful. We did get some good photos, though -- check out Chris' on facebook:
http://mcgill.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027651&l=8ae3f&id=13602199
Wednesday's protests were more violent, mostly backlash against the inappropriate response of 'Carabineros' on Tuesday. The government presented its proposal on Friday, student assemblies were not convinced, and so today they called for a national strike day. Other groups have joined the high schoolers -- teachers, uni students, health workers, etc.

So, I've been torn between total boredom (living in Puente Alto with no school SUCKS) and absolute infactuation with the politics of this all. It's neat to hear what all the teachers have to say about this too. There is a lot of support for the students. These 16- and 17- year old student leaders are total celebrities, they're on the news all the time. They have behaved with more composure than many of the ministers, with a clear sense of what they want and unparalleled legitimacy. One of the teachers this morning was talking about how these kids have given the adults and education professionals in particular a lesson in civics and democracy. Ah, the power of youth...

I go to visit my kids pretty much everyday because I have nothing else to do. They all look very sleep deprived, but they're keeping the school clean and staying fed. On Saturday night they had a bbq; when I got to school yesterday afternoon they were eating spaghetti out of the biggest pot I have ever seen. They play cards and fiddle with guitars, take turns guarding the gates and watching the news. And they smoke, pretty much non-stop. I have pictures, but this computer runs windows 98 and I'd have to download a driver to get my pen drive to work. Also, the way the usb works I basically have a choice between the pen drive or the mouse, so I guess I'll have to update my photos (and other entries I have already written...) another time.

Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm alive -- and that whatever you are seeing on the news or in the papers about violence and protests and casualties is really not the meat of what's going on here .