def parse_user(line):
    """
    Parses a user in MovieLens format userID::gender::age::occupation::zip

    Parameters
    ----------
    line : str
        The line that contains user information

    Returns
    -------
    list : list
        A list containing userID, gender, age, occupation, zip
    """
    fields = line.strip().split("::")
    return [str(fields[0]), str(fields[1]),
            str(fields[2])]