Dia Seis

I arrived at FLACSO at the normal 9:45 time. We sat for 2 hours in our small groups and asked questions and listened to a lecture about how to register for classes. After that, I went to lunch with a fairly large group of girls. We ate at a café, apparently just like all the other cafés… but the food was amazing. I had a spinach and ricotta filled crepe with some kind of parmesan white cheese sauce on it. It was really fun. And I am starting to know a few people’s names. We broke up a bit depending on who wanted or needed to get back to FLACSO and when. Me and the other last two girls walked around a bit to work off all the cheese sauce and returned to FLACSO early enough for me to check my email.

In the afternoon we sat in the auditorium and got our results of our tests that told us our level of Spanish going from 0-7+. The lowest anyone got in the program was a three, and she also has required tutoring or something like that. I got a four, along with a good number of others. Many received fives, a few sixes, and two or three got sevens. The sevens are not required to take Spanish courses. There are three options of types of classes to take: regular classes (of each level) that are 4 credits and meet for 2 hours twice a week for 16 weeks, intensive classes that are also 4 credits but meet for 2 hours 4 times a week for 8 weeks, and special objective classes that study Spanish through things like music and literature and movies. I had asked a couple of the advisors what they suggested for me to take because I am staying for two semesters (I think there are only a few doing that, the rest are only here for a semester. There’s a part of me that’s jealous of them.) Anyway the advisors suggested that I take two intensive classes (one the first 8 weeks and the second the other 8 weeks) so that I would be super comfortable by the next semester and able to take whatever classes I want. This past year I wasn’t excited about taking Spanish anymore, but I see their point so I took their advice and signed up for an intensive level 4 and an intensive level 5.

We are required to take 15 credits per semester and my Spanish classes are 8 credits total. That means I need 7 more. We have to take at least one FLACSO course which are 3 credits each. All the other courses at UBA, UCA, and IUNA vary in credits and recommended level of Spanish. Most of the dance classes at IUNA are 6 credits each! That’s exciting but also means that not only will I only be able to take one, I will have 17 credits. I’m not worried though. I think I’m also going to take a dance class at the cultural center for an elective 2 credits.

Anyway, after the Spanish registration I returned to the house. Sebi had told me that they played drums in the living room at 4:30 on Wednesdays and sure enough when I got home that was true. I sat in my room for like 2 hours playing Free Cell and Spider while I listened to the drums and Spanish conversation. It was rather boring without homework, internet, or the new Harry Potter book which is keeping everyone else busy. When everyone finally left, Sebi and Vero also left. So I was again… still, alone. I made some eggs and toast for dinner and went to bed, reading the program handbook.

I could feel myself turning cold to the whole thing. I began to think about this trip as a job from which I could return to my life. I started trying to decide when would be the best time to return to the U.S. during summer (winter for you) break. I think often of Kana and how she felt during her time in Alaska. I remember how I felt the same way I do now about UNC for the first few weeks. I try to tell myself that I know it will get better. But my heart freezes while I stand next to the electric heater in the kitchen. It disturbs me my lack of patience in myself and my undeniable need for friendship. It has been a week…