PICK UP TRUCKS

Hi SUSI guys!
one more day and one more professor to enlighten our way to a deeper knowledge of American culture and civilization. In this case, Peter Hales, former director of SUSI, has just come our way to talk about myths and symbols and America and its need for expansion, liberty, self justification and so forth...
Still not used to witnessing how close and familiar professors are to us. Peter (I'm allowed to call him so) just keeps on talking about this schizophrenic duality of his, being a farmer and a UIC professor...totally unbelievable for a so called respectable university professor in Spain (like myself, I guess :) happy enough to have a nice suit and tie to talk about Chomsky !
Anyway, quick lunch (for a change) and rush into the Chicago History Museum.
Wow, man! I cannot stop feeling surprised about the capacity of Americans to create something worthwhile out of "not much" (or so Europeans historians would say...) It's more than funny to see an Oscar Mayer sausage can within the objects shown to the public and all typical pop culture objects associated with the history of the city. What can I say? I'm used to Greek friezes, Velazquez paintings or Rodin sculptures! and now I come across a Michael Jordan's basketball shirt!!! Once again, welcome to America...!
Visit to the zoo and nice talk to professor Arnesen about education, edutainment, American universities and Spanish universities from which I've learnt soooo much. The best thing about Eric is that you know that if you ask him something, he's certainly gonna answer you in the best outstanding way coming out from his overwhelming knowledge and intelligence. I feel really relieved as I 100% agree with him (the evolution from homo literatus to homo videns is here to stay folks, thanks Giovanni Sartori) as far as our students' studying habits are concerned...yeap, call me old fashioned or simply old, but I cannot understand these students studying on top of their beds in the most twisted ways, holding a cup of Starbucks coffee, listening to their Ipods and with their History books in front of their faces!!! Ain't gotta go to Ikea to see there's something called desk and chair, and even lamp which may be pretty helpful once one decides he or she wanna study something! (Gosh I do sound like my dad...!)
Anyway, after the zoo (can't be bothered to talk about tired hot animals in the sun) our lovely flatmate Mark (from Japan) leads some of us to this sushi place where we have our dinner...needless to say that me, an educated man, pretended everything was delicious, but my friends did notice I was having a hard time fighting against this rare fish (first time I ever had sushi) and sort of helped me out offering some kinda softer stuff (thanks Jutta!) Mark was really lucky we are Fulbright lovely teachers as I was just about to make him pay his recommendation to me (tune sushi is very Japanese!!) MY GOODNESS!!!
Anyway, we hit the road back with our dinner fulfilled (well, their dinner fulfilled) and ready to take a rest.
As this blog is now known by my dearest SUSI friends, I thought telling double colour eyed Neil would be a nice idea, so he can sort of watch me over and warn me if I'm going beyond the red line, but I think I'll be alright. Thank God I use the English Language, I can tell I wouldn't be able to be so nice, polite, soft and happy in Spanish (too much swearing, I'm afraid)\
By the way, a general warning for all of you, it is confirmed: NEIL IS A MUTANT (self confession) so be careful from now onwards ... :)
See you on the road, guys, but careful with so called pedestrian crossings!!! (especially if you are a brave impulsive Italian woman!)

Javier Barbero