Coger

coger = in Spain, "to take" (classes, for example) or "to get". In Latin America however... I'll let you look that one up.

Classes in the university have started this week, and that's literally been the only thing on my mind since then. I am currently "shopping" for different classes, trying to find interesting subject matter taught by professors who speak clearly and who do more than sit at their desk. Easy, right? Hah.

Before I get to the professors, I'd like to describe the university. One of the coolest things about Cornell is how old some places are. University of Seville blows it out of the water. (That photo is of a fountain in one of the many courtyards). The History/Philology departments are in the old tobacco factory, which was built in the 18th century and is the setting for Bizet's Carmen. History oozes out of the cracks; it's remarkable. But don't worry, I shan't "confuse the smell of old buildings with learning." (BryanPoints to whomever can name what I am quoting)

That also means that it is impossible to navigate. Rooms are eclectically numbered with a mix of roman numerals and regular numbers. Asking directions is usually fruitless:

“Perdón, dónde está aula XXII?”

“lmvadfnwdocmgwedfinhgytzjnxop” -intense gesticulation-

“Repite, por favor, con más despacio”

“LMVADFNWDOCMGWEDFINHGYTZJNXOP” -more intense gesticulation-

Most people don't know how to slow down their speech. But (un)luckily, I stumbled into a high-security area and the security guard--after patting me down like a potential threat--pointed me in the right direction.

Now, on to classes. I have visited: Escritura Creativa (keeper), Historia del Cine (maybe too hard), Lope de Vega (definitely no), Espana Actual (not this section) , America Prehispanica (way too hard), Historia Contemporanea de Andalucia (unbearably awkward), Espana Actual (better professor), Historia contemporanea de Iberoamerica (maybe), Antropologia de la Salud (not sure), Relaciones Internacionales del siglo XX (really boring)

Yes, that is a lot.

Just a note: the professor for Prehispanic America (which is really interesting--aztecs and incas and such) speaks way too quickly. So quickly that even he admits that he talks fast. To understand what I mean, turn on Univision. Press fast forward once. Now imagine them talking without saying any s's. Welcome to that class.

One really interesting thing about some of these classes are the students. Most Spanish students are unbelievably cliquey (they have known these people since kindergarten, after all), but I have met a bunch of people from other European countries. I bonded with this French girl in my America Prehispanica class over our non-ability to understand fluent Spanish. It's cool how the only way we can communicate is through a language neither of us has completely 100% mastered.

Anyway, I am going to try to take Neuroethology (possibly the only class that can earn me some useful credit) tomorrow, which is in a completely different building and requires a bus to get to. Wish me luck.