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April 06, 2013

THE UNIVERSITY OF CONCEPCION, CHILE AND ITS ROLE IN SPANISH AMERICA




HULLO!



My Blog group provided the following prompt for this week’s FTSF Blog Hop post:


“A typical day in my life looks like….. a mountain of paper!”


I seem to spend my time covered in paper work, to such an extent that I very often shout: “I hate papers!”


I think that when I die and somebody buries me, my coffin will be lined with all the printed pages of paper that keep falling on top of me every time I try to move something.


What with the numerous handouts for my students, the lists of exercises I provide for homework, the various printouts I use in class and the screed of documents I normally work with, I always seem to be carting piles of paper around all the time.


This is especially true because at the moment I have no whiteboard and no laptop, so I’m using paper, paper and more paper!


As I have recently been obliged to go back to writing with “pen-and-paper”, I have discovered that I’m more creative and the words seem to flow more easily. I think this is because of my age. I learnt to use a computer when I was over 50 and words on the screen don’t speak to me like words on paper do. So I will probably end up collecting more and more pages with notes, jotted ideas and so on. Paper, paper, paper!


Luckily my training for academic work is good; I actually can work quite fast and get a lot done in spite of not using a computer for everything.


This brings me to my chosen topic for this post: my Alma Mater, the University of Concepcion, Chile.



THE “UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION”, AN OUTSTANDING HIGHER LEARNING CENTER IN SPANISH AMERICA.


ENTRANCE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CONCEPCION





Source: Tomas Jorquera, CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons




This University occupies a large campus in my home town, Concepcion. It has an interesting history due to the fact that it was founded by a group of city fathers at the start of the twentieth century (1919). To begin with there were three main areas, the School of Dentistry, the School of Chemistry and Pharmacy and the School of Education for teachers of English.


The land on which the main campus is situated was part of a farm on the outskirts of the city, and was donated by the owner of this property.


A lottery was also authorized by the government, so as to provide funds for the maintenance and development of the University. This lottery still exists and the amount of the main prize has increased to an incredible sum. Every few months a new multimillionaire is born! 


The founders were free-thinking professionals. A high percentage of them were Masons and they set the tone and style of the center of learning they created.


I’m happy to say that this University has survived through many events of a disruptive nature, such as civil unrest, dictatorships of various types, and natural catastrophes that have devastated the locality, such as the terrible major earthquakes of 1939, 1960 and 2010.


A TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDERS OF THE UNIVERSITY





 Source: Tomas Ravassa Coronel, CC BY SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons





AN ANECDOTE OF THE 1960 EARTHQUAKE.



One particular anecdote relates to the catastrophic 1960 earthquakes that devastated the south of Chile, tsunami included.


The University had just inaugurated the broadcasts from the new radio station, an important technological achievement at that time.


Along came the earthquakes and the entire southern area of Chile lost all communication with the rest of the country and with the central government.


Some enterprising engineers volunteered to set the radio going again, and as there was a total blackout, they dismantled a bicycle and attached it to a generator, and a few hours later the radio was up and running.


All sorts of people took turns in shifts to pedal on the static bicycle and generate enough energy for a very weak signal that fortunately was picked up by amateur radio enthusiasts. The information was relayed in this manner through a chain of voluntary operators that stayed by their equipment round the clock, helping to get the news out to the central authorities and to the various emergency services, both national and international.


I remember sitting in the dark with my family, lit by a couple of candles, and the thrill of actually hearing the first transmissions in the midst of the terrible after-shakes.


We were without electricity for about ten days, and that bicycle never flagged!


I must point out that the series of earthquakes we suffered in 1960 included the strongest one every registered world-wide, 9.5 on the Richter scale. The tsunami was of course included in the general devastation.


You can find more about these earthquakes in my article at Hubpages, the link is: 








THE SYMBOLS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CONCEPCION.




There are two main symbols: the Emblem and the Anthem.


Both of them reflect the spirit with which the University started life: the power of free thinking!



The emblem.




The central image is a torch that represents the “Torch of Learning”


THE EMBLEM






Source: Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons


The Anthem




The verses express the following ideas:


  • “For the free development of the spirit, the University will ever stand.”

  • “Ideas are like torches that fire the soul”

  • “The use of reason will always be highlighted!”

  • “Our hearts will ever be courageous”

  • “Sing! And let the wind carry our song!”


HERE IS THE VIDEO!









LAST WORDS


 

This post has provided me with some pleasant moments, remembering my Alma Mater, the University at Concepcion, Chile. I do hope you have found this interesting.


Just yesterday there was an article in the local newspaper about the welcoming ceremony for the newly arrived interchange students for this semester. There are 70 in all, and they come from North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. They have all received scholarships from their home Universities that maintain exchange programs with our local University here in Concepción. It was a colorful ceremony, presided by the Vice-Rector!




The “Universidad de Concepción” rocks!




See you on the next post!


PARTIAL VIEW OF THE MURAL "PRESENCE OF LATIN AMERICA

PAINTER: JORGE GONZALEZ CAMAREA, MEXICO






Source: Farison, CC BY SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons


ANOTHER SYMBOL





Source: Farison, CC BY SA 3.0.  Wikimedia Commons





SPANISH VERSION




(This Blog is bilingual)



HOLA!




El desafío propuesto por mi grupo para el  Blog Hop FTSF de esta semana, consistió en ¡describir un día típico en mi vida!


Lo más típico en mi diario vivir son las pilas de papel impreso que parecen marcar mi destino. Es increíble como se me juntan las páginas y páginas de material, considerando las listas de ejercicios para mis alumnos, el material de apoyo para realizar mis clases y los diversos textos que uso como material de lectura y referencia en general.


Por estos días estoy escribiendo con “papel y lápiz” porque no cuento con un computador portátil, y he encontrado que mis ideas fluyen en forma más creativa que usando la pantalla electrónica.


Pero sigo acumulando papeles y más papeles. Considero que soy afortunada en cuanto a mi preparación académica, gracias a mis estudios realizados en la Universidad de Concepción (Chile), mi Alma Mater.


¡Este es el tema de este Blog post sobre la América Hispana!





LA UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION,
 

IMPORTANTE CENTRO DE EDUCACION SUPERIOR EN LA AMERICA HISPANA.




Esta Universidad ocupa un amplio campus en la ciudad de Concepción, Chile. 

Su historia es interesante, ya que fue creada por un grupo de ilustres ciudadanos de esta ciudad de larga historia. Su creación data desde Mayo de 1919 y sus actividades iniciales se repartieron en tres Facultades: Odontología, Química y Farmacia y Pedagogía en Inglés.


El terreno que ocupa el campus era parte de una propiedad agrícola en las afueras de la ciudad, y fue donado por el dueño de esta propiedad.


Simultáneamente se inició una lotería, que fue autorizada por el gobierno central, con el fin de proveer fondos para la mantención y el desarrollo de la Universidad.


La Lotería de Concepción todavía existe y su premio mayor ha crecido enormemente, de modo que cada cierto tiempo ¡un ganador se transforma en un nuevo multi-millonario!


Los fundadores eran profesionales muy libre pensadores. Un alto porcentaje de ellos pertenecía a la Masonería. Ellos establecieron el sello del centro de estudios que crearon: ¡Por el Desarrollo Libre del Espíritu!


Puedo afirmar con orgullo que la Universidad de Concepción ha perdurado a través de épocas de inestabilidad social, de las dictaduras de diversos tipos y de catástrofes naturales que han devastado la localidad, tales como los terribles mega terremotos de 1939, 1960 y 2010.


Una particular anécdota se relaciona con los grandes terremotos de 1960. La Universidad de Concepción había recién inaugurado sus transmisiones radiales a través de su nueva radio, un importante logro tecnológico en esa época. El terremoto azotó la zona y todo Chile desde Concepción hasta el extremo sur quedó sin comunicación con el resto del país y con el gobierno central.


Algunos ingenieros emprendedores se ofrecieron voluntariamente para echar a andar la radio nuevamente, y debido a la falta total de energía eléctrica, desmantelaron una bicicleta y la conectaron a un generador. Pocas horas más tarde, la radio volvió a salir al aire. Numerosos voluntarios se turnaron para pedalear en la bicicleta y así generar suficiente energía para transmitir una débil señal. Las transmisiones fueron captadas por varios radio-aficionados, quienes formaron una cadena para hacer llegar las informaciones al gobierno central y a las estaciones de emergencias tanto nacionales como internacionales.


Recuerdo estar sentada en la oscuridad con mi familia, iluminada por un par de velas, y la emoción que sentimos cuando captamos nuevamente las transmisiones de la Radio de la Universidad de Concepción, en medio de las terribles réplicas del terremoto.


Estuvimos sin energía durante unos diez días ¡y la famosa bicicleta nunca se detuvo en todo ese tiempo!


Cabe señalar que los devastadores sismos de 1960 con tsunami incluido han sido lo9s más intensos registrados en el mundo a la fecha, grado 9.5 Richter.


(Ver mi artículo en inglés en el link proporcionado más arriba)




SÍMBOLOS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION.



Hay dos símbolos principales: El Emblema y el Himno.



El Emblema.



Es una antorcha: “La Antorcha del Saber”



El Himno.




La letra es la siguiente:



Por el desarrollo libre del espíritu

Universitarios arriba, arriba, de pie.

La idea es antorcha que enciende las almas

Y es flecha que toca, los astros, la fe.


Siempre en las alturas puesta el pensamiento

Arca de heroísmo hecho el corazón.

¡Cantemos! ¡Cantemos!

Y llenen la boca del viento

Las líricas voces de nuestra canción.


Por el desarrollo libre del espíritu

Universitarios arriba, arriba, de pie.





PALABRAS FINALES.




El Emblema y el Himno son un fiel reflejo de la filosofía que anima a la Universidad de Concepción en su actuar. 



Espero les haya gustado este post, y ¡los veré en la próxima!







More about similar topics in a future post.     Más sobre temas similares en un próximo post.





LANGUAGE TIPS FOR ENGLISH




Words that go together!  * Have a haircut   - * Take a rest  - * Catch a thief    - * Save someone a seat   – * Get a job  






LANGUAGE TIPS FOR SPANISH.




Expresiones de uso frecuente: * Hacer borrón y cuenta nueva - * La esperanza es lo último que se pierde   - * Mal de muchos, consuelo de tontos 





How is your level of comprehension?    ¿Cómo está su nivel de comprensión?





© 2013  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)





I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just click the word “comments” lower down.
























4 comments:

  1. Beautiful tribute Joan and I totally here you in living in a world of papers!! Thank you as always for linking up with us and hope you are having a great weekend!! :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Janine! Many thanks for your comment! I will be back to read the Blogs entered by the Hoppers, don't have time now! Have a good day!

      Delete
  2. That's a lot of information! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there, so happy to have you visit! I do tend to include a lot of information, although from my perspective, my blog posts are so short! It's just that there is so much to write about, and I'm really passionate on the topics! Hope to see you soon,and have a good day!

      Delete

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