Despite not having been in classes at Smith since last April, I DO remember how to study.

I think the title of this entry pretty much sums up what I've been doing all day. I have a exam in my "Música de España" class on Wednesday that's covering everything since the beginning of the semester. We have to be able to identify and write about any of the pieces we've covered this semester, from which Pilar will pick two. I wouldn't be worried, except that this is Pilar, and as I've previously recounted she is crazy. I'm imagining her picking the most obscure piece and shouting over it while we desperately try to listen and discern what to write. Its a fear that I know will become a reality on Wednesday. Until then, however, I'm making lots of study guides and listening to the selected tracks from our CD non-stop. Additionally, Jess, Sarah, and Laura, the other three girls from my class, are coming over tomorrow after dinner to have one final study session and make sure we're all ready to "face the music." Ha. Funny. I can handle facing the music, but I might go deaf if I try to face Pilar.

Today we also celebrated this month's birthday in the Preshco office, including Sarita. However, as perhaps the only vegan in Spain, Esteban and the Preshco team were unable to find her a cake. Thus, they gave her a watermelon with a candle. I think it was a pretty creative solution, not to mention hilarious to watch her hauling a watermelon around Córdoba for the rest of the day.

Today was the 56th birthday of Carlos, my host dad. Maricarmen and one of her best friends Mila baked and decorated a cake, which we enjoyed after dinner. Carlos is a urologist, so they even made his little while lab coat. They were up half the night last night decorating it, but from what they were saying that's customary here. Birthdays are a big deal. After seeing this cake, I was a little sad that Maricarmen was out of town for my birthday and I didn't get one like this!

Entirely edible 

Carlos and Maricarmen

Tomorrow will be more running and cramming, with a short break at exactly 1:30pm (7:30am east coast time) to register for Spring 2012 classes at Smith. I can't believe I'm already going to be a second semester junior in college...