"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions, but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."
- Atticus Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird
Not only do I have to adjust to three day weekends, but I now have to get used to not having classes on Tuesdays! However will I make it? Ha, I must seriously have the easiest college schedule in the world right now. It's ridiculous. It doesn't help que la mayoria de mis clases no son muy dificiles...I really hope I don't turn into a huge procrastinator.
I won't be without class every Tuesday, though, once mi minicurso empieza. I like the fact that the curso doesn't start until 4 or something like that, and it's only a few Tuesdays every month. That means I can sleep in, get something in my tummy, and then head to class late and still get back reasonably. So yeah, procrastination may still be a problem...
That being said, I've already mentioned how I'm excited for the first paper I have to write. Sad much? I really am looking forward to it, though, because I enjoy essays and writing more than multiple choice and exams. I think once I start writing papers constantly, as I did last semester, that's when the Spanish will definitely kick it into high gear -- I remember last semester how it became difficult to write papers in English because most of my essays had been in Spanish. That's how it's starting to get. Even writing this blog or emails or messages has been problematic at times, because I'm in the mind set of writing solely Spanish (all my notes are in Spanish, too...); my typos are frequent, and sometimes I'll go back and forth between English and Spanish unintentionally. But surely, this is a good thing.
On the topic of language, I really like my language course, which I know I've said already, but it's definitely my hardest yet most beneficial class. It's not only teaching me to correct errors, but it's also teaching me new frases, and also how to say things "fluently" (as in say things how an everyday person would say them). It seems so simple and yet tough at the same time, but that's what it's like learning a language I guess. Sometimes I feel like there's so little about this language that I actually know, and that everything that I've been taught has been in some ways wrong, or just not natural. They're not 'wrong' obviously, but I'm learning the language of a true Spaniard, and I'm really happy about that.
La Noche en Blanco I'd say was on the disappointing side. There were lots of different activities going on, like big screens of dances being taught to la gente, hundreds of balloons, bands playing all over (nothing "popular" though), and there were plenty of places open late, but none of it was really...spectacular, I guess. I thought the city would be lit up like a Christmas lights show, especially los jardines botanicos, but it was actually kind of lame. One might call it weird more than anything, because las luces de los jardines looked like IV bags from hospitals. As far as the rest of the city goes, there were some cool lighting effects, but, as said before, still nothing mind blowing. I still had a pretty good time, though; it was kind of like a nice chill walk in the evening. But good lord, la gente was ridiculous; there were so many people. I felt that my space was invaded even more that night than the nights we went to the discotecas. It was alright at first, but it got annoying after a while, especially when you had a really old and slow couple walking in front of you...
Next day we got to see una carrera de ciclismo (bicycle race). It wasn't a big tour or anything, but it was still really cool to see. I was really afraid that it was going to be like El Encierro de los Toros, where it all happened so fast that you didn't even get to see anything. Thankfully, however, that was not the case. I'm not entirely sure how the rules work, but I guess once the bikers got to a certain point, they had to take six laps around a large loop (it was in Atocha). We were right by the loop, at one of the ends, so we had a pretty good view. I got some pretty good shots, too -- my camera has a 'sports' mode, which I found to be the most magical thing for una situacion like this.
This weekend is a big CIEE Excursion that is going to take the whole weekend (leave Friday and don't come back until Sunday) en La Rioja, which is like a winery and wine field. It's supposed to be pretty different than anything we've seen or done thus far, so I am really excited for it. Honestly, this place is constantly tempting you with alcohol...
Robby and I are set to go to Ireland now! I'm thrilled to be able to visit some really good friends as well as the hilly, lucious green land! Apparently, they've already started planning stuff (and we had a few things in mind as well), so it should be an awesome weekend when we go.
- Atticus Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird
Not only do I have to adjust to three day weekends, but I now have to get used to not having classes on Tuesdays! However will I make it? Ha, I must seriously have the easiest college schedule in the world right now. It's ridiculous. It doesn't help que la mayoria de mis clases no son muy dificiles...I really hope I don't turn into a huge procrastinator.
I won't be without class every Tuesday, though, once mi minicurso empieza. I like the fact that the curso doesn't start until 4 or something like that, and it's only a few Tuesdays every month. That means I can sleep in, get something in my tummy, and then head to class late and still get back reasonably. So yeah, procrastination may still be a problem...
That being said, I've already mentioned how I'm excited for the first paper I have to write. Sad much? I really am looking forward to it, though, because I enjoy essays and writing more than multiple choice and exams. I think once I start writing papers constantly, as I did last semester, that's when the Spanish will definitely kick it into high gear -- I remember last semester how it became difficult to write papers in English because most of my essays had been in Spanish. That's how it's starting to get. Even writing this blog or emails or messages has been problematic at times, because I'm in the mind set of writing solely Spanish (all my notes are in Spanish, too...); my typos are frequent, and sometimes I'll go back and forth between English and Spanish unintentionally. But surely, this is a good thing.
On the topic of language, I really like my language course, which I know I've said already, but it's definitely my hardest yet most beneficial class. It's not only teaching me to correct errors, but it's also teaching me new frases, and also how to say things "fluently" (as in say things how an everyday person would say them). It seems so simple and yet tough at the same time, but that's what it's like learning a language I guess. Sometimes I feel like there's so little about this language that I actually know, and that everything that I've been taught has been in some ways wrong, or just not natural. They're not 'wrong' obviously, but I'm learning the language of a true Spaniard, and I'm really happy about that.
La Noche en Blanco I'd say was on the disappointing side. There were lots of different activities going on, like big screens of dances being taught to la gente, hundreds of balloons, bands playing all over (nothing "popular" though), and there were plenty of places open late, but none of it was really...spectacular, I guess. I thought the city would be lit up like a Christmas lights show, especially los jardines botanicos, but it was actually kind of lame. One might call it weird more than anything, because las luces de los jardines looked like IV bags from hospitals. As far as the rest of the city goes, there were some cool lighting effects, but, as said before, still nothing mind blowing. I still had a pretty good time, though; it was kind of like a nice chill walk in the evening. But good lord, la gente was ridiculous; there were so many people. I felt that my space was invaded even more that night than the nights we went to the discotecas. It was alright at first, but it got annoying after a while, especially when you had a really old and slow couple walking in front of you...
Next day we got to see una carrera de ciclismo (bicycle race). It wasn't a big tour or anything, but it was still really cool to see. I was really afraid that it was going to be like El Encierro de los Toros, where it all happened so fast that you didn't even get to see anything. Thankfully, however, that was not the case. I'm not entirely sure how the rules work, but I guess once the bikers got to a certain point, they had to take six laps around a large loop (it was in Atocha). We were right by the loop, at one of the ends, so we had a pretty good view. I got some pretty good shots, too -- my camera has a 'sports' mode, which I found to be the most magical thing for una situacion like this.
This weekend is a big CIEE Excursion that is going to take the whole weekend (leave Friday and don't come back until Sunday) en La Rioja, which is like a winery and wine field. It's supposed to be pretty different than anything we've seen or done thus far, so I am really excited for it. Honestly, this place is constantly tempting you with alcohol...
Robby and I are set to go to Ireland now! I'm thrilled to be able to visit some really good friends as well as the hilly, lucious green land! Apparently, they've already started planning stuff (and we had a few things in mind as well), so it should be an awesome weekend when we go.
Trinity moved to a new house here in Madrid (aka her host moved). It's only a little bit less than ten minutes than her old place, and it's much bigger and right down the road from a cathedral that looks over a part of the city. It's a nice new place.
Mom's birthday was yesterday. Happy Birthday again!
I've heard about the gnat/aphid/small insect problem that's going on in Bloomington-Normal, and I'm really glad to be away from it. I remember last year, too, there were small, gnat-like insect that would fly onto you and bite you; most annoying thing ever. Glad not to be part of it this year. But the rest of you folk in that area...keep your wits about you I guess, even though they're not really dangerous...
My sleep is still kind of messed up. I'm thinking early bed time tonight.
(and by early, I mean 12:30 or 1...)
Here's a bunch of pictures.
Hasta luego.
~ LSquared
Top left, right, bottom left: La Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; Metropolis (I think it's a bank); Los Jardines Botanicos (IV BAGS!)
Top left, right, bottom left: I wasn't kidding about the IV bags; Un Palacio; La escultura afuera del palacio
Me by a statue (Poseidon?); the cycling race (the big crowd); another picture of the cycling race (I have lots more)
Me at the cycling race (guy to my right refused to move); catedral cerca de la casa nueva de Trinity; looking out from Trinity's old balcony
An awesome shot of Gaston, the cat that used to visit Trinity's casa; soccer kitty; the amazing trio with Gaston -- anoraremos a ti, Gaston!
The first shot of the bikes is amazing, looks like a postcard shot. You look happy. There sure are many people in the streets. I agree that the lights look like IV bags. Thank you for the blog.
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