My New University

In less than a month I'll be the newest student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Lima. Its Spanish initials are PUCP, commonly referred to as La PUC (a name I think I'll need some getting used to cause it sounds kinda gross). I've been told by both my advisor and Peruvian students that its a demanding university. Jorge, my friend who studies there now, says its the best University in Peru and has a great reputation in the rest of South America. I've also been told by my friend Kevin, who studied there last year, that it can be easy if you pick the right classes. Lets hope i do!

Conflicting information has inspired me to do some of my own research.

Founded in 1917, the Pontifical Catholic University was Peru's first private school for higher education, it also claims to be the first institute in Peru to use the internet and have e-mail. While it carries the title of Pontifical university, it is not governed by the Catholic church. Its composed of over 17,500 students (+me!!) and 3,000 staff members.

Apparently the majority of Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission after Fujimori was composed of PUCP professors and notable alumni include Alan Garcia (current president of Perú). I'm really interested in human rights (as a career and in general) and Jorge said "los derechos humanos" is basically the most said phrase on campus. One of the reasons I chose Lima over other locations in South America.

From all that I can tell, meaning from what I read on wikipedia,

La PUC is pretty impressive. The only thing that worried me were some of the images that resulted from my google search. Mainly though, just this drunk/dead squirrel...I've been told theres a lot of wildlife on campus, including free range dear. The campus is gated, so the animals can run free, and only faculty, staff and students are allowed in. This makes the university one of the safest places in Lima, a huge capital city, which true to form, has its fair share of crime...but I'll talk about my new home in the next post!

Most institutions in South America run on Latin Time...which means whenever you feel like it. Its expected for everyone to arrive late, and "pressing matters" don't really exist. However, the Intercambios office at PUCP seems on top of everything. The actually respond to e-mails! And I've already been contacted about getting a PUC Buddy, their version of OU cousins. An instant friend whose going to help me get used to the school and the way things work. Even though I don't know any of the classes I am taking or what to really expect from my new university, I'm not worried. La PUC sounds awesome!!