Mis clases...

Before I tell about my classes on Monday, it is very important to understand that my Spanish is not perfect. With that said, I can give you a run down of what classes were like for me. My first class that I had was a video class. Going into it, I thought it was a class where we watched movies and critiqued them. Well, strike one. It is a movie making class!!!! We had to get into groups and write our names and e-mails down for each other. At first I was really scared, because I do not know anything about making movies. Then I realized that it is a starter course, so no one has that much experience. So instead of running, I decided to stay and take the course. I am actually pretty excited to take it. That was my first error of not understanding Spanish.

My next class was a culture class that I happen to have with another CMU student, Ben. We waited outside the classroom and waited for other students to go in before we charged in. Once the professor got there we all went in. I noticed one of my group members from my video class was in this class, too, so I said hello to him. He and I started talking and he said something like, "Oh, you are in this class?" I said that I was.

He then asked me if I liked to swim....I said that I did. But I did not understand why he was asking me about swimming. He said something else, but like I said, my Spanish is not perfect. Ben and I decided to sit next to him. He asked us why we chose this class. I told him that we need so many cultural, literature, and writing classes for our majors in Spanish. He said, but why this class? I was not following apparently, because another student turned around and asked us the same thing. I said, because of the culture. It is a culture class and we need it while we are here. He gave me a funny look, and then another student asked us do you like to swim? I said yes, why? They responded with, "We will be going to a swimming pool and swimming." I thought that sounded a little random for a culture class. So I asked, "What is the name of this course?" The other student said in English,"How do you say it....safe swimming."

Strike two.

Ben and I looked at each other and started to laugh. We were in the wrong classroom. We were told the wrong room, and we almost sat through a swimming class. We both laughed and said we had our swim suits so it wouldn't have been a problem. If it wasn't during our other class we totally would have taken it.

We ended up leaving, but now knowing where our classroom was. We ran into Eduardo, our advisor, and he showed us the room. It was in the same building, but we went to the wrong room. We introduced ourselves to our professor and he asked us a few questions, and then continued with his lesson plan. The professor then asked me a question, which I didn't quite understand. He asked it again, but I still did not it. He tried a different way of saying it, and then Ben said, what year were you born? WOW!! Strike three!!

I really need to get working on my Spanish. Other than my lack of Spanish skills, my classes seem like they are going to be really interesting. I have a literature class with Andie and Will, gringos from Central, along with two other students from the U.S. and about six Chilean students. It is a small class, and the professor is nice. I think I will learn a lot, and hopefully fast.

I also have a creative writing class, that should be really challenging and very helpful. I have that class tonight. I only have classes on Monday and Wednesday!!! That will give me an opportunity to explore and study.

This weekend is Semana Santa, and the University is closed on Friday. So this is a really crazy weekend for students to travel. My group and I have not decided for sure what we are going to do, but I think that we are planning on going to Pucón, a city in Chile. No matter where we go or what we do I will be sure to take pictures.

Chao for now,
Sarah