Monday
Literatura Española
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Another literature class for my Hispanic Studies major - the professor speaks quite quickly sometimes, especially when she tries to be clever and witty and make a joke in Spanish. Having class in the morning does not help me in my difficulties. Anecdote: one day a student entered the class unannounced and asked if he could make an announcement to the students about some social movement he was involved in. The professor politely responded that during the break (there's a break for a few minutes in the middle of class) he would be more than welcome. He couldn't do that, so he left. But because he and the professor were both speaking in Catalan during this break, the professor just continued speaking Catalan - much to the dismay of the Spanish and international students - for almost 15 minutes before someone let her know what she had done. She claimed she didn't even notice the switch. I'm unsure whether I believe her or not.
Català (A2)
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
This is a language class. I am learning Catalan, and its amazing. Anecdote: someone was trying to say "I have two pets" and said "Tinc dos pets". In Catalan, the word pet means "fart". Our teacher laughed and called the poor girl's statement very surrealista. It was a kind-hearted laugh, just to clarify.
Lunch
1:30 - 2:00(?) PM
Generally a kebab (especially because of no more marathon training). But Makamaka had this amazing burger of the month... Brie, asparagus, caramelized unions. On a burger. Actually heaven.
Internship
2:00 - 6:00 PM
I work at an urban planning firm a few days of the week, helping with whatever my boss, Manuela, thinks I should help with. Recently they have been preparing a few electric motorcycle reports for the greater European Union - that, of course, means I've been translating a few of the more important documents to English for all the world to hear. The people in the office are very nice, and boy do they love that I try to speak Catalan!
Tuesday
Contemporary History I
9:00 - 11:00 AM
History of the world wars and the interwar period. Counts for my history core requirement at BC. The one catch - it's taught in Catalan! So Will has to pay very close attention.
Amics de la gent gran
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
I volunteer with this group that sends people to accompany retired people who have few or no family to hang out with. Victoria is 92 years old, and awesome. But also had a cold, and apparently when you get a cold when you're 92, that means two weeks of bed time. So this is on hold. But it's a great experience.
Wednesday
Literatura Española
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Català (A2)
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Internship
2:00 - 6:00 PM
Thursday
Contemporary History I
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Internship Seminar
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
The five students doing the internship option also have a weekly seminar that talks about intercultural exchange and a bunch of aspects to it. Usually leave with something new to think about.
Friday
Literatura Española
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Internship
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM (they end early on Fridays)
English classes
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
No, I'm not forgetting English. I teach it, to small Catalan children in this one family. They're awesome, and it's always a great time. The kids are pretty small, so there are no intensive grammar structures covered... mostly just vocabulary.
Yeah those are my weeks. I thought they would feel stressful and busy, but it's actually very relaxing, still. Tuesday and Thursday look like beach afternoon days, and the weekend are more well-received after a full week, for sure.
Highlights from the last month or so:
Know your audience. Somehow I was elected despite the farcical nature of my campaign.
I sure messed with people in a great way on this Saturday in Boston - I slicked my hair back, put on a fake mustache, and had my friends who had already been duped introduce me to other people as if I were a different person. The reactions were priceless.
Not the most confident of faces, but there I am. Running. Final time was 3:02:00! There weren't that many people my age running around me, but I didn't expect to get 2nd in my age group! That sure was a surprise.
I cross the finish line on the far right.
An enormous bowl of homemade paella at Carlos' house in Sitges. About 10 of us made our way on the train down the coast to his house - he's an amazing cook and all-round excellent human. I'm actually on a roll with eating home-cooked meals in the last few days. One of the older guys who plays soccer on Wednesdays invited me to meet his family and have dinner for the Champions League game a few nights ago - his son, Derek, is my age, and they are all really nice people. Then Thursday, the BC crew had dinner with the homestay family of Sam and Addison (Sam - girl - is currently in the homestay; Addison - guy - was in a homestay with a family friend last fall). Another bomb dinner. Then Sitges and Carlos' house! What a great last few days, topped off, as always, with some Sunday night soccer.
