Bodega Arizu.... when work mixes wonderfully with play!!

When my geography professors gave our class (essentially) free-reign on our final projects for the semester, a group of my friends/classmates were thrilled... they (Michelle, Celeste & Ana) and I had been throwing around the idea for several weeks of relating the physical geography of Mendoza (part of the specialization of our class) resulting in a climate that is no less than ideal for the growth, production and exportation of a class of wine/grape called the Malbec, to the nitch this particular wine has carved out for itself in the international market. My classmate Michelle, as it just so happened, was the niece of a local vineyard owner. YAY!

And that was how... on a beautiful Friday morning... the four of us girls found our way into Lujan's sunny countryside

 

Here in Mendoza, they use roses as indicators to detect diseases and insect infestations, that way they can save the more valuable vines before significant damage is done... And I thought they were decorative ;-p
pretty cool beans huh!!

Ana & Celeste peering into the champagne vault through the window into the basement

exploring the history of Arizu

The collection

Celeste & Michelle gleaning information for our project...

Carvings by a local artist commissioned by la bedega, documenting the history of Arizu and the wine-making process.

A glimpse of the Andes

Oye Presidenta! ¿Estas loca?

Last week was entertaining.  La señora Cristina Kirchner has declared a increase of national holidays... and this in a country that already has a vacation day for everything from strikes, kids and wine.

The intention behind this publicity stunt (besides bolster her already sketchy public image) is supposedly to encourage tourism through freeing people up to travel and spend money. Genious that...

The problem is, these long weekend (especially the large number of them) wreck havoc on the education system. There are other negative effects to be sure, but these breaks in continuty of teaching a subject or material is really what has my fellow professors up in flames.

It's difficult enough as it is to convince our students that the do in fact need to attend class in order to pass their exams and finals; that they do in fact need to learn to write essays, analyze literature (not just translate it), or you know... maybe turn in assignments once every blue moon. Difficult when attendance is mandatory to only a fraction of the students.

I should probably explain a bit more. After all .... it took me almost a full month for me to figure out the system.
Those students who are "promocional" are required to show up to all classes (ish), turn in all assignments, and as a result if they do well  (8 out of 10 or above) are not required to take the end of the year finals.
"Regular" students don't show nearly as often, are touch and go with assignments and have to take all exams.
And there's a strange classification which they call "libre"  (direct translation is "free"). These students are expected to show when they show and their exams have an extra level difficulty. But if they pass they are allowed to move on to the next set of classes even though they haven't been attending classes. This third classing has its advantages for women with young children or those who have to work during scheduled class hours. But man it does not make our jobs any easier as educators!

Mom I am so proud of you right now!!