My second day in Spain has been a whirl! We first had breakfast in la cafeteria, yummy cereal with orange juice. the orange juice here is somehow different from the processed orange juice that we have in America, somehow? It would be interesting to research the difference between processed/unprocessed foods in America versus foods in Europe. It had rained the night before so the ground was wet, not quite slippery, thanks to good shoes, but it definitely smelled like dew and wet ground. I usually have a friend that i hang out with for the most part, but we usually sit with different people every meal. I have met a good array of people doing the ACA thing as well. Here there is about 80 ACA students, with a quarter being from Walla Walla and another big percentage from PUC/California area. So i have met a lot of people from the West Coast. Only a few people from the East Coast... so it has been an interesting experience!
After breakfast we started our day at a class "orientation" thing. The director gave us a sheet of paper that had all the classes divided up in groups A, B, C, D, E, and F. A and B being Intermediate Spainish, C and D being Advanced 1, and then E and F being Advanced 2. Where we were placed depended on how we did on the placement exam yesterday. I thought i didn't do well, but alas, i was placed in group C, Advanced 1. That placement was pretty exciting because it was a surprise. Additional to the group placements we had to select an additional six credits to fulfill a single 18 credit trimester, so i chose to do History of Espana and Europe, Spanish Literature, and finally History of Art. Those are the main classes that i saw in the ACA calendar that i would of like to take, but i thought i wouldn't be able to place in the 300 level group to be able to take them. There was also the chance to take Flamenco classes, but group C can take them next trimester so i will be able to do that January time frame. After we chose all our classes and electives we handed in the paper and went off in our groups (In C with me were chicas that i met at the airport, and my friend that i have been hanging out with, and i met other new people!) and got our books, not very many books, but enough for our classes.
I have heard that the classes here are not very hard, but they will have the additional challenge of being in another language. This is true, although, when we actually went to class i was able to understand about 95% of what was being said! Talking about classes, we had two classes so far, gramatica y conversation. In gramatica, the teacher is very nice, her name is Licia, and she is known for teaching Spanish folklore! Her personality is beautiful and energetic! So far the class seems ok, mas o menos (more or less). After gramatica we all gathered together for lunch, pizza....and mashed potatoes..does that make sense? There are alot of carbs here so, im not sure whats going to happen :D, then went off to other classes. My next class was conversation with one of the guy's deans...i think. That class was interesting. He encouraged us, like we had any doubt, to speak in constant Spanish. After i got out of the class i felt like i needed to speak it 24/7, but i will do as much as i can for now. The day is yet to continue, with supper and some orientation javie. Maybe i will explore the campus and walk around for a bit afterwards, i need some exercise, especially after that lunch!
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