We finished the language program this week. It was a good experience, but I’m glad it’s over. I was getting pretty burned out from so much class, and we were sort of reaching the point of diminishing returns anyway. To really learn more of the language I think I would have to go back and spend some more time with the fundamentals.
Adam (my roommate) got in on Monday. It’s been nice to have somebody around to talk to. We’ve done quite a bit of grocery shopping, and I think we now have a pretty well stocked kitchen. A lot of pasta, but I suppose that’s to be expected.
Over the last few days I’ve taken the opportunity to visit some places around the city. Yesterday I went with Adam and Saiying to one of the art museums. There was an exhibition on “Durer and his Contemporaries” that we wanted to see, and we took the opportunity to browse the rather extensive permanent collection. The Durer exhibition was really cool. It was a series of woodblock prints that were almost Dr. Suess like in their imaginativeness. There was one piece that consisted of over a hundred prints that depicted a fifty meter long parade. We spent quite some time examining it, but there were so many details I feel as though I could stare at it for hours.
Yesterday evening I was planning to stay around the appartment, but Adam suggested that we look for a cafe we could sit at and read. Partway through our search we ran into George and Jamie, who are here for a cognitive science program. We ended up hanging out with them for a while and discussing some of the differences between our respective programs. They are housed in a sort of dorm, which I suppose has advantages and disadvantages. They get internet access, but they don’t have a kitchen or washing machine. While I’d be willing to sacrifice quite a bit for internet access, I think I’m glad we are living in an appartment. It’s a little bit more independent, and I’ve learned a lot just by doing things like grocery shopping.
We have orientation this afternoon. We should finally get the official course schedule and get a chance to meet some of the professors. I’m actually really looking forward to starting classes on Monday. It will be really nice to have a regular routine and to be a student again.
Divya‘s practicing for sex. I think. They‘re having to build stamina b/c there‘s two (TWO) performances this year to accomondate the larger class. So this time it‘s just me. (Wow, I feel odd that I should preface like that, but it is probably necessary.)
Question: How‘s Adam learning the language if he got in after it finished/while it was finishing? Not that it really matters but….I‘m nosy?
Comment: Reading your descriptions of grocery shopping, I‘d say it is probably a good thing that you don‘t have internet and you have do have a kitchen. Because then there‘s less temptation to stay in your room (yay Adam for getting you out to read *feels hypocritical for being inside writing this*) AND there‘s the motivation for getting out. Besides you keep saying how you want to learn more about how to cook.
(Sidebar. Lentils are my friend. They‘re about the same difficulty as pasta. Can be eaten with pita or other bread. Dressed up with feta, herbs, spices, tomatoes, etc. And usually freeze well for later reheating and quicker meals later in the week. But pasta‘s good too. I approve.)
Continuation of above comment. “I‘ve learned a lot just by doing things like grocery shopping.†Somehow that reminds me of this year‘s common reading and just thinking about immigrant‘s expierences and how picking up a language has to be so difficult. Especially without the benifet of classes. Icky.
And this comment feels rather long. Sorry, it IS in response to a longish entry though. That said, have fun on your first day of classes and being a student again (what were you in the language program?) Good luck with all the “normal†classes.
Ack. I promise before I previewed the previous comment I said who I was and clicked the other button and everything. Silly thing putting me anonymous again….