I'm working with two professors on their research--both work in developmental psychology and I'm the only undergraduate who regularly works with either of them. Right now "working" with them consists mainly of going to meets although for both projects I'm supposed to start helping with the actually conducting of research soon. One project is focused around technology--we use iPads and iPods to evaluate kids. Basically we find games that require different kinds of skills, then we have kids play them and evaluate them based on different variables. The eventual hope is that with the games they will be able to diagnose different things: like ADD, dyslexia, etc. It's a project that's in the trial stage, so it's interesting to see how projects develop. The other project evaluates kids learning in school--it's a longitudinal study that just started this year. There are 5 different tests that are administered (although not all kids get all 5 tests)...for the most part the tests are focused on language and memory. It's administered in (I think) 8 or 10 different public schools from around the city.
Finding out how to get in touch with professors was a bit of an adventure when I first got here. It's not at all like Berkeley where all the undergraduates want to work with professors and there's a whole system set up to find Research Assistants and what not. During the first week or so of classes I went to the Psychology departments main office and told the secretary I was an exchange student who was interested in working with professors in Developmental Psychology on their research. She gave the names and emails of a few of the professors in the department. I emailed them explaining who I was and a little bit about the work I had done in the states, everyone I emailed was super friendly and either offered to meet with me or referred me to another professor who they thought I would be better suited working with. In the end, I chose the two professors I'm working with because their projects sounded the most interesting and most like what I could potentially be interested in doing in the future. I'm the only undergraduate who works with either of them (although with the project that's in the schools I met one other undergraduate who goes to the schools and helps evaluate the kids), but other than that it's me, a few graduate students and a few faculty members. It's been a really great experience because all of the professors are really friendly and open, and interested in me and the projects I do the states, how I'm feeling in Chile, etc, which is cool. And, the fact that they let me tag along with their research is awesome since it's not something common for undergraduates here.
My other main activity outside of class is soccer. It took a while to find, but I eventually found the girls soccer team for La Catolica. We have practice twice a week in the evening (luckily on the days where I have class later too). Although I can't play in the regular games this season (because it's the middle of the year for them, and they have to have their team ready at the beginning of the year...or something like that) I get to practice with them and I'll get to play in some of the end of the season tournaments with them. The coach is really nice and so are all the girls...and it's nice to get out and exercise a couple times a week (the smog is still awful, so I haven't been going running).
Other than that I hang out with friends, wander around the city, do my homework...
Oh yeah! And my culinary abilities have expanded while I've been here too. I can now make rice on the stove and refried beans from dried beans. I was very excited when I successfully made beans, because they are a staple in my diet in Berkeley and I had been missing them (they have canned refried beans here, but they cost $4 per can)...and it was totally worth the 3 hours it took them to cook on the stove.
Well, until next time...
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