Primer Semana de Clases... Y Otras Cosas

WOOOHHH!!! FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES!!! I guess everyone already knows I'm a bit of a dork, but you know you're a dork when the highligh of your 5 month vacation to a foreign country is the studying... But you know, it's more than just that. I'm excited to actually have a schedule again. I've spent two weeks here, and I feel like we have things to do but nothing is mandatory, nothing is concrete, and nothing is like.... real life. Plus I've spent this week, well and all summer... doing basically nothing. So I'm excited to get back to being busy me again. Busy me is usually also a happier me, aside from the occasional emotional breakdown.

So my class schedule would ideally be, Grammar Class Monday Through Thursday 845-945 (Language), Class at the Universidad 1030-1130 (sexology -- don't ask)  and IES class 1230-2 (immigration class)  Monday Wedneday, IES class 11-1230 (Lorca Lit Class) Tuesday Thursday, IES class 630-8  (internship class) Wednesday Night, Internship 5-8 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday nights (Spanish and Latin American Government Municipal Group). NOW the odds of this happening right now are pretty much slim to none. Right now, all I have going for me is the Language class, the Immigration class and the Lorca class. I may or may not have an intership, a class at the University, or another IES class, or a functional schedule. But you know in Spain, nothing really stresses anyone out! For everything, "TRANQUILA GUAPA, no pasa nada." So I'm trying not to worry so much.... although if you know me at all, you know im freaking out.... a little... a lot....

Anyway the three classes that I am taking I'm really enjoying, the Language class is a good balance of easy and challenging, although now mostly easy for me. My grammar is what needs the work, not really my speaking, but I'm sure we're getting to it pronto (soon). Neither my Lorca or my Immigration classes are going to be easy, but its in the subject area of my major and what I want my career to be in, so you know I'm just eating it up. I'm still really hopeful about my internship, it would be so sweet, but as I can only work in the afternoons, it's not really as likely :( I'll certainly keep you updated on how everything works out.

On a more personal note, here are some things I would like to remember:

1. Schawarma: A Spanish food, known to most Spaniards as late night food, and is a combination of a pita, and a burrito, and is delicious.

2. We live in el barrio (neighborhood) Realejo, and it is an old Jewish neighborhood. For those of you who do not know your jewish history, they were hated in Spain for a long time too! And were discriminated against, treated poorly, couldn't get jobs etc. Ironically this is now the nice part of town, and so every time I walk home a statue of a Jewish prophet (all dark brown metal but with gold colored shoes?) greets me as a walk home. We always say, "I love that little Jewish man, he knows where I'm going."

3. I've lost weight here! Most of you are probably rolling your eyes at this but I'M excited, so whatever to you! Anyway they eat a lot of red meat here, especially pork, which I do not, and so I've been living mostly on fruit, vegetables, and freshly baked bread. I nearly cry for joy every time we have chicken, twice since I've been here.

4. If you asked me how I was adjusting to Spain your answer would vary depending on any of the following: if I'm out at a bar, if I'm dancing, if I'm hungry, if I'm in class, if I'm speaking Spanish, if I'm speaking English, what time of day it is, the general placement of the furniture in the room, the temperature outside, how many people I have talked to today. I go back and forth a lot. I obviously miss home, especially my family and friends from school and home, especially my sister, and meg, who I feel would love it here, and would certainly help me keep my sanity. Other times I am in love with this country and the language and the people, and can't imagine leaving. Other times I resent it for their lack of fast food restaurants, grass, and parking lots. Other times, I'd give anything to be home in the states doing what I already know how to do. Other times, I feel so lucky and special to have an opportunity like this, and that I'll learn so much, and I can't wait to explore. And other times, I am all of these, in which case I try to sleep, as it is far to trying on my brain to comprehend myself. To quote Harry Potter, "One person couldn't feel all that at once. They'd explode."

Although, ALL IS WELL and I am loving it here, and missing everything from home, but not letting it stop me from living it up. More soon, it's almost lunch time... and I thought I saw some patatas fritas!

Yours.