Classes - the reason I came to Spain?

Classes so far: 

I love going to these classes, and I chose them because I knew that I couldn't take them anywhere else, especially in dear 'ole Clemson. It seems odd to think about, because most of my pictures are adventures on the weekends, 

Spanish Painters 

Love it, and the old man professor and he can tell who is really iterated in the class. I raised my hand to answer a question (I was not being an overachiever… just getting the class to move along.. no one would answer what circa meant in spanish, but everyone knew) And he was like - Oh I can tell you really like art history and when people answer questions well I want to make sure that I write that down so that it can boost your grade at the very end of the semester. Yay! Now I will be sure to be even more interested in everything he says (like it's hard - I love all of it) And poo on everyone who thinks Art History is boring! (thanks Mom for showing me it's not) 

Cooking and Literature

Yep, I am taking a cooking and literature class. The literature is about cooking and the movies are about cooking and the cooking is about me eating whatever we are cooking, and I wish that I could just become a cook. Then I could feed everyone and no one would ever be hungry again. But, as of right now I can't, so this class will have to continue to ensile motivation in me to continue my love of cooking, and all things related to it. 

I love the professor, he's so wonderful and I can tell that he appreciates a good meal (little round around the tummy area - whatever he's happy) and he knows a lot about cooking and things related to cooking. We are supposed to read books about cooking and/or watch movies related to cooking (think Julie and Julia) and then write a paper about it explaining why we liked it and what we thought about the movie or book. (I know - it doesn't quite seem real - it is, I made sure to pinch myself a few times during the first class) 

Our first cooking day - Wednesday - we made something uniquely spanish and something that only Spaniards would really appreciate. Rabo de Toro. The tail of a bull. But not just any bull - one of the bulls that I saw die when I went to the bull fight. Odd how things come full circle. However, I was pleased to see that this is a delicacy and that the entirety of the bull is eaten or used. The bull's tail was surprisingly large and long, who would have thought? 

Flamenco: 

As soon as you read this you think - ohh, she's learning the Flamenco dance.. No, not really. This has been my most surprising class - it's not about the dance, it's not about the culture, it's about the music. I like music, but I have never studied it. My professor is going through the basics of the rhythm and everything. I am struggling, since I have never taken any sort of musical studies. Luckily, I have a friend (Carolyn) in the class who is a music major and she explains most things and helps me out with everything. That part makes the class significantly better, otherwise I think I would switch. 

History of Medieval Spain: 

I love this class. I never thought that medieval anything was going to be my favorite but I have been proved wrong. The professor is a tiny man with a large mustache and a quick manner of speaking. The only thing that I am having a little bit of trouble with are the notes on the power point (wonderful and they are the main point) and having to listen to him while taking notes, all in Spanish. I know he's really passionate about what he is teaching and what he wants us to learn, but I feel like some of the time I am missing out on what he has to say. I wish I could just record everything and that way I could remember everything. 

Image of Spain in Film:

I love my professor in this class, he makes it wonderful. He is funny and upfront about the films we watch and what he likes and thinks is "estupid".  He has a really wide range of movies that he wants to show to us, and I love that he is so enthusicatic about it. He also (wonderfully) started in the 1930s with a classic in Spain, "Carmen, de la Tirana" and I love it. 

Overall, I love all of my classes, and I am fortunate not to have any of them change or cancelled.