Who would have thought

Ugh, so second day of classes, and get this...they expect me to do work! And here I thought Spain was going to be a 9 month long vacation. Apparently I have to go to school, and on top of that, do homework. Just like back in the States! They are so advanced, I don't see any third world countries giving out reading assignments. Did you know they even have running water and electricity here? Who would have thought?

Let's keep track, starting now. Breakfast: microwaved, instant café con leche + dry galletas. Lunch: bean soup + pan. Let's see if that changes at all throughout the next 9 months. Although I've found myself dying for lentil soup for lunch nowadays (yes I count that as part of my bean soup regimen). I was walking home from class going "I really wish we have lentil soup and bread today instead of pinto bean soup and bread." Something is wrong. Lentil soup appears to be an acquired taste like beer or coffee. Curious as to what dinner is tonight...

Another day, another few hours sitting in the Plaza just charlaring. Bought books for classes (so if you see a 30€ charge from "Libería Diogenes" on the Visa mother and father it's for classes...). On Tuesday/Thursdays I have two literature classes. Introduction to literary analysis (the only course that counts as 224) and introduction to Spanish literature. So plenty of reading. Which is good, I suppose, since I like reading. But castellano antiguo (think Old English) is a chore to read. That, and anything Spanish poetry (they like to use those special words you don't learn in class). It will be a challenging, but rewarding, and worthwhile semester. At the end I may be exhausted (already am a bit) but the Spanish will be much, much better (¡Ojalá!).

Finished reading Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell today. Convinced me he's my favorite writer of the 20th century. Only read 1984, Animal Farm, and this, but his description of the horrors of fascism and just political bastards in general is so haunting and horrifying that I fear for the world we live in. Also makes me really wish I was around during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. I would like to think I'd be part of the POUM or International Column fighting Franco. Barcelona during this period sounds amazing yet frightening at the same time. When he first arrived in December of 1936, he describes a nearly fully socialist society where everyone is addressed in the informal "tu" form and there is no class. Everyone is happy and the economy actually functions. As he states, the closest the world might ever get to true socialism. Then he comes back in May when there was the infighting. The Communists and Socialists were both fighting against Franco but the Communists were gaining control of the Republican government (now headed out of Valencia). The Communist press (in and out of Spain) kept calling the POUM (the socialist party of which Orwell served in their militia) a secret Fascist group working for Franco. In May the Communist controlled Civil Guards seized the Telecomm station that was controlled by the Anarchists and for nearly a week it was the Communists versus the POUM and Anarchists (all three sides were AGAINST Franco) fighting amongst themselves, killing each other, while Franco and his troops were gaining strength on the fronts, where these men that were dying for no reason in Barcelona could have been used. The whole thing really turned out to be a mess and I can see why he ended up writing Animal Farm and 1984...most likely his time in Spain played a whole role in the writing of those books. Highly recommend picking up Homage to Catalonia if you want a gripping, non fiction, look at not only the Spanish Civil War but also the troubled world of politics...