9/8/10

I woke up around 7:30 again and after getting ready, I took the metro to the university. It takes me about a half hour between walking, taking the green line and taking the red line. Today I took the green line to the purple line, which seemed a lot faster. The metro system here blows the metro systems in the U.S. out of the water (granted I’ve only been to the ones in Boston and D.C.) Unlike the T, you don’t look outside the window and see sparks coming from the rails. Also, in Boston, the T has its own traffic lights to follow, but here the is nothing stopping the subway from getting from one stop to another. Another feature that the metro has here is a digital sign above the platform that tells how long until the train arrives. They come about every 3 minutes, so the wait is not long at all. There are also plenty of signs that make it easy to know which direction your going in or need to go. Overall, I am pretty impressed by the public transportation here, as I expected to be.


I used the computers at the University before class to check my e-mail and such. I apologize for the delay in the blog, but I haven’t lugged my computer to campus yet, so as soon as I do, you will get all the posts that I’ve been typing on my laptop. Class was alright, I’m kind of getting bored of the orientation classes, so it will be nice to start up our other classes next week.

After class, I went home for lunch because we had a long break before our art class at 6:30. I ate with my host mom and her daughter. Her daughter must work nearby, since she comes over for lunch every day (Mom will you let me do that when I’m like 30? Just kidding). Pepita also brings her grandkids to school and picks them up afterschool for her daughter, but I haven’t met them yet. Pepita’s daughter whipped out a cigarette after we ate, which surprised me because I don’t think I have ever been inside a house where someone has smoked/ known anyone who has smoked. I assumed she would walk out onto the terrace with it, but she didn’t. Smoking seems to be very popular here, and I’m not sure if it is a European thing or a city thing. I think it is less about being addicted and more of a social thing here though. Pepita said her daughter only smokes after she eats, but she also said her son smokes like a chimney, so I haven’t made up my mind if is social or an addiction.

I took siesta, because I still am feeling a little down from whatever virus has decided to attack my throat. Me duele la garganta. After sleeping, I took the metro back to the university, but took about an hour to shop. I am looking for an across the shoulder bag. I might not get one though, because it might just be a European thing, that will never be in style back home and that I would ever use again. If anyone predicts this becoming a new trend, let me know and I’ll make the investment. Art history class was interesting because we moved on from the influence of the Greeks and Romans, to the influence of the Moors, and then we discussed different architectural features of the Gothic period. I am really excited to take our trip and look for architecture from the different periods that we have learned about. Dinner was good as usual. I had some potatoes, green vegetables (no idea what they are), white asparagus for the first time, eggs, and strawberries for dessert! Now that I’ve finished writing this I’ll do my homework. Also, if you have any questions or just want to update me on what is going on back home, feel free to e-mail me! kflagg@bowdoin.edu