So I have officially been here for over a month. I’ve been a little slacking on the posts due to classes and looking for another place to live. One where the wifi works! I’m finally settled with my classes and professors. Instead of the class on countries colonized by Europe, I’m taking a history class on Imperial Rome. We’ll see how that goes. Other than that, I’ve been busy looking at pisos (apartments), sleeping, and going to class. The workload so far hasn’t been bad but I need to start doing some outside reading for the lectures. The weather here has been getting nicer and nicer, although today it’s a little overcast. Sorry to those in Wisconsin!
I didn’t end up going to el escorial. I am waiting for nicer weather. It’s been a little warmer but not warm enough to spend the whole day outside. I start my other classes on Thursday and am pretty excited. Barb’s visit is also getting closer which I am excited about.
I went to a meeting last night about volunteering. There are two that I am interested in, one is working with homeless people and another is working with Moroccans in an immigrant neighborhood. It sounds really interesting. It will also be a chance to work on my Spanish. Anyways, I am also going to post some photos from my time here so far! I hope you enjoy!
Toledo - This is from our group day trip to Toledo
I have offically figured out my classes for this semester. They might change but I don’t think so. I am taking El Isam (a history course on Islam in Spain), Contemporary History of Spain, and Spanish Art History of the 20th century in the program for other northamerican colleges. The other courses I am taking are with the other normal Spanish students and they are mentalities and beliefs in the 19th and 20th century and a class about colonization of countries in Africa and Asia, more or less. All of the classes will be in spanish.
I think tomorrow I am going to go to El Escorial, which is about an hour away on the train for the day. I think most of the people from my program are going. So far I have made a day trip to Toledo and a night trip to Segovia. The landscape is really pretty. I am going to post a few photos. Anyways, I probably won’t have the internet until Monday so I hope this will be enough for now. I have also tried mucho vino and it has all be good. At the supermercado you can get vino for under 1 euro that tastes pretty good for being that cheap.
So i finally got the time to sit down and figure this stuff out. So everything is starting to get settled. I moved into my apartment which seems nice. I live with a brother and sister from Bolivia, a boy from the north of spain, and another girl who i don’t really know much about. I started some of my classes this week and they seem good. I’m taking a class on Islam, Art in the 20th century (spain), and contemporary history of spain. All the professors seem good and interesting too. I have to figure out if my other classes start next week or the following. It’s a little intimidating that they are all in spanish but it should make my spanish better. Anyways, the weather here is ok, it’s been rainy and cold but better than in the US. I’ve been seeing our spanish friend Laura at least once a week which is really nice. Her and her boyfriend have been very nice and really helpful. Anyways, I have to go figure out what time my classes start. I think I will be able to start writing regularly!
