5th week
Hi everyone!
So I know that it has been quite a while since I last updated you- frankly I have some very good reasons. Yesterday, Thursday the 23rd, we finished our five-week-intensive course program load. These weeks have been filled with the stereotypical French "grève" (strike) that so often fill history textbooks. The transportation has been hard to manage as there are so many more people. Meetings with internship directors, class visits outside of regular class time- we have had it all these past couple of weeks. That does include the sporadic weather conditions that we have been having lately. Before that, on that Monday, we had a Dissertation which is the French take on the essay. I decided no that I appreciate so much more English essays! Perhaps it is because writing a strong essay comes with years of practice and here we are trying to dive head-first into one. The week before that, by Wednesday, I had agreed to translate my host-mom's speech. At the moment, and for the past week she has been in Indiana (in the US) at one of the universities so that she could give a speech about the libraries in France during medieval times. Well, I can tell you that after ten pages of single-spaced translation, I know much more about a French library (in particular that of the Sorbonne and the Navarre) in the 13th and 14th centuries than I ever thought I would have learned. After that, I decided that translating is difficult only because there is a set of specialized vocabulary with which I am unfamiliar. So, if you want to know about the libraries, just ask me and I am sure that I will be able to respond. As for this week, after that essay for Monday, we had an in-class dissertation on Thursday. It was the last day and like on many last days, we had our exam. Although I cannot say that I feel like I did particularly well, class is over and our week and a half of vacation has begun.
With that being said, I will be going back to Madrid for about 5 days and 4 nights. All I have to say is that I am ecstatic. I get to see our great friends in the Cafeteria Calvin. Thinking about it now, that one assignment to become a regular somewhere, and for Alyssa, Heather and me-- that assignment is brilliant. Many great memories of our delectable lunches at that Cafeteria pour into my brain when I think of what Madrid means to me. It is unfortunate that not everyone can have the same experience, but that also takes an effort on both parties' behalf. 5 days- I will get to have some of mouth-watering paella that is so delicious- and of course my cortado (my espresso with just a hint of milk). I also cannot wait to roam the streets of Madrid once more. To go back to those routes that I would take when I was going to school- visiting the couple of coffee shops that I fell in love with, and of course to enjoy some chocolate and churros at 3 in the morning...
Well enough of that! I have things written all over the place that I need to type so that I may catch you up. I have been on many more trips; I have visited Versaille, explored more of Paris, tasted more delicious food, and I have learned so much more in class- things and ideas that are representative of French culture and that have thus helped me better comprehend it. But alas, as I promised I would not write a 3 page long post, I shall leave you with a couple of pictures. However, I do promise to post some items soon!
Have a great weekend!
So I know that it has been quite a while since I last updated you- frankly I have some very good reasons. Yesterday, Thursday the 23rd, we finished our five-week-intensive course program load. These weeks have been filled with the stereotypical French "grève" (strike) that so often fill history textbooks. The transportation has been hard to manage as there are so many more people. Meetings with internship directors, class visits outside of regular class time- we have had it all these past couple of weeks. That does include the sporadic weather conditions that we have been having lately. Before that, on that Monday, we had a Dissertation which is the French take on the essay. I decided no that I appreciate so much more English essays! Perhaps it is because writing a strong essay comes with years of practice and here we are trying to dive head-first into one. The week before that, by Wednesday, I had agreed to translate my host-mom's speech. At the moment, and for the past week she has been in Indiana (in the US) at one of the universities so that she could give a speech about the libraries in France during medieval times. Well, I can tell you that after ten pages of single-spaced translation, I know much more about a French library (in particular that of the Sorbonne and the Navarre) in the 13th and 14th centuries than I ever thought I would have learned. After that, I decided that translating is difficult only because there is a set of specialized vocabulary with which I am unfamiliar. So, if you want to know about the libraries, just ask me and I am sure that I will be able to respond. As for this week, after that essay for Monday, we had an in-class dissertation on Thursday. It was the last day and like on many last days, we had our exam. Although I cannot say that I feel like I did particularly well, class is over and our week and a half of vacation has begun.
With that being said, I will be going back to Madrid for about 5 days and 4 nights. All I have to say is that I am ecstatic. I get to see our great friends in the Cafeteria Calvin. Thinking about it now, that one assignment to become a regular somewhere, and for Alyssa, Heather and me-- that assignment is brilliant. Many great memories of our delectable lunches at that Cafeteria pour into my brain when I think of what Madrid means to me. It is unfortunate that not everyone can have the same experience, but that also takes an effort on both parties' behalf. 5 days- I will get to have some of mouth-watering paella that is so delicious- and of course my cortado (my espresso with just a hint of milk). I also cannot wait to roam the streets of Madrid once more. To go back to those routes that I would take when I was going to school- visiting the couple of coffee shops that I fell in love with, and of course to enjoy some chocolate and churros at 3 in the morning...
Well enough of that! I have things written all over the place that I need to type so that I may catch you up. I have been on many more trips; I have visited Versaille, explored more of Paris, tasted more delicious food, and I have learned so much more in class- things and ideas that are representative of French culture and that have thus helped me better comprehend it. But alas, as I promised I would not write a 3 page long post, I shall leave you with a couple of pictures. However, I do promise to post some items soon!
Have a great weekend!
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| Hai, Kaamna, and me after a long day of pictures |
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| Me in front of a magnificent church in the 1st arrondissement |
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