First week of classes

So I have been a little preoccupied this week and unable to blog because classes finally started! Everything went pretty smoothly except for the fact that I had to figure out how to have the drop/add conversation in Spanish. It is a little bit of a struggle having 9:00 a.m. classes every morning when you have a 45 minute commute and a very different sleep schedule but I am slowly adjusting with the help of a morning cup of coffee (I know, I am now a coffee drinker).

My first class on Monday and Wednesday mornings is a Spanish Language for Business class that compares and contrasts business structures of Spain to those of the United States and covers the vocabulary needed for the business world. After that I go to my Grammar class that I was placed into based on an oral interview and a composition. It is weird to be back in a Spanish grammar class because I haven't had a language class solely based on grammar since high school. After that I have a break until 4:00 and then make the commute again for my History of Spanish Painting class. The class sounds so interesting and on Wednesdays the class meets in the Prado Museum. It isn't everyday you can say that you have class in a place like the Prado. Each of my classes are an hour and twenty minutes long which can make for a long day with back to back classes! I guess I will quickly learn the beauty of the siesta tradition (time of day when Spain basically shuts down for nap time).

My schedule for Tuesday and Thursday starts with a History of Madrid class which also looks to be very interesting. My teacher is very good about using powerpoint pictures to go along with her lecture. It is so interesting to be learning the history of all of the sites that I pass by everyday! I then go to Grammar class again which is the only class that I have to take everyday so I better be GREAT at Spanish when I return. Lastly I have Management of Cultural Heritage which covers the heritage of Spain through site visits and museum visits, along with lectures. It sounds like the class could be really good since my teacher is very familiar with the United States and therefore makes a lot of comparisons and contrasts that creates a different perspective. She also has an archeology degree that puts a different spin on history as well. As you can see most of my classes, with the exception of the Spanish for Business class, have nothing to do with my major at Wofford. Since I am not receiving class credit I decided to take classes I would never have another opportunity to take and those that sounded the most interesting. I am very excited about starting the semester and getting into a routine.

This week I also joined a gym to keep up my routine. I attended my first spin class ever Monday night which also happened to be led by a guy in full yellow spandex, waving a towel, and bumping along to Celine Dion. I am pretty sure I was the only one that couldn't control my laughter so this must not be so out of the ordinary??? I really enjoyed the spin class and got a great workout which I desperately needed after two weeks of high stress levels. I also joined a Teaching Assistant program through my IES program in which I will volunteer for a public school every Tuesday afternoon. I will serve as a Teacher's Assistant in a class of 6-12 year olds and help the kids to learn English. I decided this would be the best way to interact in Spanish in a very non- judgmental environment and be around kids! Things are starting to fall into place and I am really excited about some of the things I am beginning to do. This weekend I am taking my first trip...BARCELONA! Almost all of the Wofford girls studying abroad in Europe are coming into Barcelona for the weekend and celebrating one of our friends' 21st birthdays. Needless to say I am more than excited to be around some southern twang and people from home! I am praying everything goes well figuring out how to travel tomorrow and I will definitely be blogging about Barcelona when I get back!