What happened to Summer 2011? Somehow it slipped away in my bouncing between the workweek in Northampton and the weekends Weld. I was chatting with a friend a few days ago about my absence and realized that I haven’t been in Northampton for a weekend since the beginning of June. I don’t find this hard to believe at all considering how great Weld is, but apparently I’ve been missed. And I’m about to extend my absence even more, because…. I’m going to Córdoba, España!
One week from now will be my final night stateside, and although I still have a week (or 7 days or 168+ hours, whichever you prefer), the countdown is on. Yesterday I picked up my student Visa at the Spanish Consulate in Boston. My good friend Katherine was nice enough to host me on my way down from Maine the previous evening, and outfit me with some excellent “going-out” attire from when she studied a few years ago at the London School of Economics. Maybe she’ll even wear one with me when she visits me in Spain next month before she starts her new job! Today was yet another Target run (laundry bag, travel pillow), and more work. Hopefully between work and packing I’ll be able to snag a few minutes with my Northampton friends who are departing back to school and with my Smithie friends who are beginning to arrive on campus.
I also heard from Esteban, PRESHCO’s Resident Director at the Universidad de Córdoba, about housing. We had the option to live with a host family or in a dorm (which are called “residencias” in the Spanish system), and since I live at home in Northampton, I decided to try the residencia. At the last second, my assigned roommate decided she wanted to move to a homestay. As Esteban wrote to me, “This change has the unintended consequences that you will be the only American student living among approximately 40 Spaniards. Since the rooming at the residencia is by "double" most likely you will end up with a Spaniard student as your roommate.” GREAT! Sounds like the most authentic experience possible. It is scary to think about being away from both home and school, but I’m sure once I transition (agrgh!) and settled, the semester will be incredible.
So one week from now… wow. Hurricane Irene is brewing in the Caribbean and is on track to hit New England this weekend. Sadly, the foul weather means my summer in Weld is over, but in a more positive light, it also means I have a weekend here in Northampton to do some crucial organizing and say hello/goodbye to a handful of friends. I need both.
So now for the final scramble out the door… and maybe next update from Spain (or en route)!
Bye summer!
