"lo siento"

My sincerest apologies for not writing lately.
With the exams... the strike... and tarea, I have been a bit overwhelmed.
Plus the lack of internet, that has become a lot more frequent here in the apartment.

For the most part exams went well... I did not get any A's though... which is funny... I should talk to my linguistics professor because I do not believe I deserved a C. But, ya está, it is done. over. Furthermore, I have one week left before two weeks off! I am so excited. and if you, dear reader (being a university student), care to complain... let me tell you that my classes are all longer than normal to make up for the vacation. This happens in the spring because there are Fallas, and this year they have squished Fallas and Easter/ "Spring Break" together. We lose a day of Fallas too. We also make up for it by having classes on Fridays every few weeks.

Yeah... I know... that does not really sound that tough at all. Right. I know :) So I have no complaints. But... let me tell you... when I come home I will never complain about walking ANYWHERE!

I am really looking forward to Spring Break, I believe I will be able to see Sharon! :-) That would be Awesome! OH, and I have decided that if I cannot sleep... during Fallas I may go visit Tania. I need to go visit her regardless, but this could make for two visits. Funny thing, all the Valencians leave during Fallas and our city becomes unbelievably full of tourist. Sooo full that the buses and metros do not run. To lessen the shock the buses are already on strike, but only from 6 to 9 in the morning and night. Not bad at all. In fact walking to class twice a week has been beautiful. Granted... today I was three minutes late and Zugsay was not happy... but he had not even started class! If he marks off any points for being slightly tardy I will be very upset! He too has been late to class due to the "huelga."

Yesterday I worked for four hours in a translation, so I hope I redeemed myself from my first project... and from my midterm. Now, I worked on it for a long time, but I also got six hours of sleep. So this is good :)

Today I received my second letter in the mail from Grandpa Billy! :-) Oh, I love this man! For those that do not know, Grandpa BIlly is not of blood relation, just a wonderfully animated member of my congregation at First Presbyterian Church of (good o') Ypsilanti. There are so many I miss there, I love that congregation--my family, home.

Tomorrow(!) I will be meeting my intercambio Alba (which I find funny because in literature and translation class we have talked a lot about how Alba means dawn and white... purity... oh Bernalda Alba...)!!! I am very excited, Margaret and I are going to meet with two girls--spaniards--at six pm at the statue at the plaza de toros!
Intercambio is a program we have at school that matches us with someone to speak spanish first for one hour and then english for another hour. So while we are bettering our spanish, later we can help to better their english! -PLUS- I haven't any spaniard friends here... the city... is a little hard to find spaniards to hang out with.

I have a lot of homework again this weekend, and a BIG paper due on friday for Zugsay, which means I have to do well. He is by far the most demanding teacher I have ever had. He stresses me out a lot, and I always have a headache in my linguistics class by the end of tuesdays and thursdays. . . really too bad because I admire him. A lot. Just a tough teacher.

On Saturday I may or may not be going to Xátiva. It depends if there is enough room on the bus (field trip type thing through the school). You'll know dear AMM News Blogger readers, soon enough.

And so to end this blog-write, I want to share a funny story that happened today in class. Translation of course, one of my favorites (but my grade... not my favorite). Well, today we were talking about calques and afterwards Chad (classmate, only boy in our class--minus prof.) says, "lo siento" and Zugsay responds with, "really? you really are feeling it?" (with emphasis on the it). Hahaha, I Love calques.

Love,
AMM