Keep breathing

Ah yes, the joy of final exams. Córdoba exams are hardly stressful in comparison to Smith, but still. An exam is an exam, and should be taken seriously. Today, however, the proved to be more than I could handle.

This morning I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch since I was going to be prepping for my music exam at the facultad during lunch hour with the other girls in my class. I got a nice bag of green beans to munch on, and they tasted great. Everyone had a few, but I ate the majority for lunch and felt lightly satisfied and great. Five minutes into the Music exam, however, was a change of tune. No pun intended.

We had to identify two pieces and be able to write an essay on both of them talking about the musical and historical components of both. Normally this would have been no problem, but in the hour and a half I had to write two essays, I barely made it through one. I guess the beans must have been bad or something, because I literally ran back and forth to the bathroom five times during class to yack my brains out. In the times when I came back to class to write I ended up just sitting and focusing on breathing and making my hands not shake. Needless to say I felt badly for the other girls in the class with my running in and out- I had to take the exam though. At least the first half, that it. Pilar called time and I had only done 50%. I asked her if I could possibly write the other at home in bed and turn it into her tomorrow.

When she laughed at my question I thought I was about to burst into tears. She said no, but instead of writing at all she had me just come talk through what I would have written about. I still had to get up during our conversation and run for the baño, but I managed to not have to write an essay. GRACíAS PILAR!

The rest of the afternoon was spent jumping between bed and the bathroom floor, but after a nice nap and some dinner I felt great. It was most definitely food poisoning, and I’m thankful for that. I thought my last 24 hours here in Córdoba were going to be like my first days here in Spain- sick sick sick.

Anyways- hurray! Also, at dinner Maricarmen gave Kim and I eat two big boxes of holiday goodies like marzipan and turron to bring home to our families. And as a special gift for us, she got us each a really beautiful ring that was handmade by the best friend of one of our neighbors. I’m so touched and honored!

I particularly like that you can see my suitcase and Sevillanas dress in the background. 

I have to say that as much as I am excited to go home tomorrow, I will miss this place. Golfo, one of the dogs, tied to put himself in my suitcase today.

The rest of the evening has been a Sevillanas rehearsal for our big performance tomorrow night at the final Preshco party. I’m going to the party with all by suitcases packed, and leaving form the party on a 1am bus to Madrid. I arrive at the airport around 7, and check in for my departure to New York at 11. Oddly enough, I arrive at 1:30-something. Only a two and a half hour flight? No. 8.5+ hours. And then my mom and I will drive home. I’m going to be exhausted. Its also weird to think that I’m not sure where I’ll be posting from next time. Could be the US? The only thing I know for sure is that I'll be listening to Citizen Cope- My Way Home as I touch down on American soil. I've been planning it all semester, and now its less than 48 hours away. Loca!

Ah Córdoba, if this is the last time I blog from within the confines of your historic old city walls on Calle Postrera, let me just say that this semester has been spectacular. No puedo agradecerles lo suficiente por todas mis experncias.